Jan K., The Proofer's Recommended Book List

There are several "must have" reference books for both
aspiring and
established proofreaders and copyeditors. I have these books and
some of them are well thumbed and often used. A few have come in
handy, and the rest I refer to when I am working for clients who are
following specific writing formats (these books are specific to
collegiate papers and dissertations).
I encourage you to add these to your reference bookshelf! For your
convenience, I've included click-through links to an online
bookstore that carries the book listed (as applicable) and the
approximate current price. Don't forget to check out the
possibility
of purchasing used books (Barnes & Noble offers many of these books
in "used" condition). If you prefer to shop at a
brick-and-mortar
store, you should jot down the exact title as I have it here in
order to locate and/or order the book.
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, eleventh edition
Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.
approx. $25.00
The publishing industry, overall, uses spellings and word usages
that follow Webster's. This edition, or the most recent, contains
many computer- and Internet-related terms and terminologies, slang,
and high-tech words. It is not a "doorstop"-sized book, but
rather
the size of a college textbook. Personally, I find it easier to use
a real book than any online dictionary.
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus
Barnes & Noble
approx. $15.00
I don't really have a specific preference for a thesaurus---just
GET
ONE! The thesaurus that is included in your word processing software
is adequate, but there are times when you need just that one certain
word. I often find that I look up a word to find another word to
look up, and then I hunt until I find the perfect word for the
situation. I frequently offer suggested rewrites to my clients, and
I find that I am often able to impress them by having found just
that one perfect word. Your computer's thesaurus just doesn't
cut it.
The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2004
Hardback approx. $25.00
Paperback approx. $15.00
If you've never thought of it as a reference source, then think
again! The Almanac is filled with information about the United
States and the world. Interesting tidbits like state flowers,
mottos, etc., along with a comprehensive listing of cities,
counties, and the like. Maps galore and all sorts of oddities.
I've
reached for my Almanac on more occasions than I can count, to verify
spellings, dates, what other countries call their currency, and the
list goes on.
The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th Edition
approx. $50.00
The publishing industry (in general) looks to Chicago for standard
formatting of texts and other printed materials. Chicago establishes
rules for grammar, punctuation, text layout formats, tables, word-
form variations (plurals, capitalization, terms and terminologies),
and styles of within-text citations and references. A comprehensive,
end-of-text indexing section makes it easy to navigate through the
book. Most major publishing houses follow Chicago and if you are
planning on embarking on a career as a copyeditor/proofreader, then
it is a must have.
A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations
Kate L. Turabian
approx. $15.00
Similar to The Chicago Manual of Style, Kate Turabian's book is
one
of two guides for all academic papers. Turabian's Manual is
indexed
similarly to Chicago and it is easy to use the index to direct you
to the section of the book that provides styles for text
presentation. If you will be working in the academia arena, then you
need to be familiar with the standard styles as set forth by
Turabian.
Mastering APA Style, Student's Workbook and Training Guide
approx. $20.00
APA (American Psychological Association) is the other guide for
academic paper style and formats. This workbook guides you through
its style guides with examples and exercises designed to help you
become familiar with the APA style. Although it does not have an end-
of-text index, the Table of Contents is complete enough to help you
find the style/format rules you need.
Webster's New World Pocket Style Guide
approx. $10.00
This slim, pocket-sized guide gives you "concise and definitive
rules of grammar and punctuation" and "clear advice on
writing style
and word usage." I like the book for the extensive glossaries of
often misused words, word usages (when to use affect vs. effect, for
example), and the easy-to-understand grammar rules. Although I do
not suggest that you depend solely on this guidebook for all your
grammar needs, it is a good supplement. It is reasonably priced and
should be added to your library of reference materials.
Cliff's Quick Review, Writing: Grammar, Usage, and Style
approx. $15.00
If you remember "Cliff Notes" from your high school and
academic
years, Cliff's Quick Review is a good supplement to your grammar
stylebooks. Along with grammar rules, Cliff's also includes
guidelines for writing texts of any sort. I find that by having more
than one grammar primer, I can always find a precise, direct answer
for my grammar question. As another reasonably priced resource book,
you should consider adding it to your other reference books.
The Princeton Review, Grammar Smart A Guide to Perfect Usage
approx. $15.00
This is my personal favorite grammar primer. Written in a light-
hearted manner, this book uses humorous example texts to help you
through the muddle of the English language. At the end of each
section, there is a "Quick Quiz" for you to practice the
grammar
rules just reviewed. Grammar Smart's low cost makes it another
appealing resource for your grammar needs.
Powerful Proofreading Skills
$10.00-$15.00
For the novice proofreader, or if you are considering becoming a
proofreader, this slim guidebook will give you a good foundation in
proofreading. It helps you along with what to look for and then how
to mark found errors with standard proofreading marks. This book
also includes short exercises that run you through the topic of that
particular section.
Grammatically Correct, by Anne Stillman
This pocket-sized book contains quite a bit of detail, and I found
it too hard to read. However, I have found a few explanations for
quirky grammar situations that were helpful
Merriam-Webster's Guide to Punctuation and Style, 2nd edition
This book has a very good section on copyediting and proofreading,
although it is oriented toward hardcopy editing/proofing. There is a
three-page section on "Electronic Editing" that you might find
helpful if you are new to editing/proofreading directly to a Word
document. This resource book is also nicely indexed to help you find
the answers you need.
Copyediting, A Practical Guide, 3rd edition
This text is essentially focused on copyediting for major publishing
houses, is hardcopy-oriented, and pays lip service to electronic
copyediting/proofreading. However, it does contain an excellent
review of what is expected at the copyediting level. This text also
contains specialized tips for copyediting/proofreading medical,
math, and science texts. Jan K., The Proofer is freelance proofreader and copyeditor. Visit
http://www.jansportal.com for more information about Jan's
proofreading and copyediting services and Jan's other free
resources. Please visit Mom's Break (http://www.momsbreak.com/) for
free printable crafts and projects. © Copyright 2005. All rights
reserved.


Article Source: http://www.articlepros.com