Tuesday Tips : From The Telegraph

I am currently using the Telegraph's style book, no not the latest in dress sense from Italian Fashion Week, but a guide to grammar, wording and layout of language - their writing style and use - used at the newspaper. Prospective journalists can check exactly how the newspaper's editors expect to see a person's name mentioned for the second time in the article (for example: Mr. Smith said, not Smith said and the first mention should be in full) and what their preferences are on the use of the word 'that'. Of course, some of this is specific to this newspaper, but it also contains general remarks around grammar and punctuation, the use of might vs may, a particularly interesting read.

Although I was referring to it for a journalistic item, it struck me that much of it would be relevant for any kind of writing. On careful review of my own wording, I realised how easy it is for your own style to contain common grammatical errors, which are almost 'acceptable' within common spoken word, but would jump out in the written form as a mistake.

It will take some time to read it all, as it covers a number of areas, but is well worth reading.

This style book for the moment is a work in progress, and will be on the website for a consultation period of around three months. A pdf version is being designed and will soon be available for download via The Telegraph's site. I'll be looking for it when it comes out.

It will also be published as a hard copy.

Image is that used on the Telegraph's style book webapge as referred to above. No name given.