As an IT consultant, conference speaker, and blogger, I have found the recently updated Microsoft Manual of Style to be indispensable. Although not a full-time writer, I spend a great deal of time creating project documentation, training manuals, and short articles. Because I’m an engineer by training and not an English major, a guide written by Microsoft is much more helpful to me than a generic style guide such as the Chicago Manual of Style, since the latter is written for non-technical journalists.
This manual is well-balanced between technical issues and writing issues. On the technical side, the book deals with writing content for the web and how to properly refer to visual elements in Microsoft operating systems (including mobile). On the writing side, the book deals with writing for a worldwide audience (helpful, as 50% of my blog readers are outside the United States), punctuation, and voice. The authors present examples in “Microsoft Style” and “Not Microsoft Style”, allowing the reader to see style concepts in actual usage. Microsoft® Manual of Style is also available in several electronic formats including Amazon Kindle format, Barnes and Noble Nook format, ePub, Mobi and Adobe PDF (the latter three from O’Reilly’s web site), making it easy to take anywhere.
Thanks to O’Reilly Media for providing an e-book review copy of this book as part of the O’Reilly Reader Reviews Program.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
