#STYLE SHEETS FOR MANUSCRIPTS SERIAL#

the use (or not) of the serial (Oxford) commaĮach style sheet should also contain a separate word list – this is essential for every job.

-ise or -ize forms for verbs such as recognise, organise, etc.

the form of English used (British, US, Indian, Canadian …).

It will help the typesetter (TS): your style sheet should include a list of any silent changes you have made to the manuscript (ie those made without tracked changes switched on), a list of text features (see the list below), and any instructions you have given the TS in the edited manuscript (such as ).Īll style sheets should include information about how language and SPaG (spelling, punctuation and grammar) are used in the manuscript, such as: If they have a query, they should be able to search your style sheet and find an answer. Consistency helps the reader to enjoy the reading experience more – and reduces the risk of negative reviews for authors.Ī style sheet is also useful to other editorial professionals who see the text after you, such as a proofreader.

Why compile a style sheet?Ī style sheet will be useful to the author – it shows them the spellings and style conventions you have used, and it ensures that their novel is consistent throughout, so James is not allergic to gluten in Chapter 1 but in Chapter 2 he’s happily eating a sandwich.

Always keep your client in mind: how will they benefit from the style sheet you are lovingly compiling for their work? You could think in terms of why, what and how. It’s easy to get carried away and create a style sheet that’s several pages long, but this might not be helpful for the client. Jane Hammett looks at some of the topics to consider if you’re working on fiction. Creating a style sheet is an essential part of the editing process, but what you might include in your style sheet depends on what kind of text you’re editing.

Style sheets for manuscripts