References, Dictionaries and Style Guides
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American Heritage Dictionary, 4th Edition
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Beyond Paper: The Official Guide to Adobe Acrobat. (Adobe Press, 19??). ISBN: 1-56830-050-6. To order call Hayden Publishers at 1-800-428-5331.
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Citation and Style GuidesAcademic References
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DDM: The Documentation Development Methodology, by Sandra Pakin & Associates, Inc. Publications Division, 6007 N. Sheridan Rd. Chicago IL, 60660.
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Designing and writing online documentation: Hypermedia for self-supporting products, William Horton, (John Wiley & Sons, 1994; reviewed in the May 1996 issue of Technical communication) NOTE: Information about writing for online presentation -- great companion to Microsoft Style Guide
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Designing, Writing, and Producing Computer Documentation, by Lynn Denton and Jody Kelly. (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1993). 258 pages, softcover.
- Designing Instructional Text, by James Hartley. (East Brunswick NJ: Nichols, 1994).
Developing Procedures, Policies, and Documentation, (Course Workbook) by Information Mapping, Inc., 300 Third Avenue, Waltham, MA 02154 (617) 890-7003
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Developing Quality Technical Information : A Handbook for Writers and Editors by Gretchen Hargis (Editor),Ann Hernandez, Polly Hughes, Jim Ramaker, (October 1997) Prentice Hall; ISBN: 0137903200
- Dictionaries Academic Compilation of References
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Effective Professional and Technical Writing, by Michael Keene. (D.C. Heath & Co., 1993). 652 pages.
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English as a Second Language Academic Compilation of resources
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Follow the Yellow Brick Road: Learning to Give, Take and Use Instructions, by Richard Saul Wurman, Bantam, 1992, ISBN 0-55-307425-3.
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Handbook of Technical Writing, by Charles T. Brusaw, Gerald J. Alred and Walter E. Oliu. 4th edition, St. Martin's Press, 1993, 800+ pages.
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How to Communicate Technical Information, by Jonathan Price & Henry Korman., Redwood City, CA: Benjamin/Cummings, 1993. ISBN 0-8503-6829-9. Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Co., 390 Bridge Parkway, Redwood City, CA 94065.
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How to Write a Manual, by Elizabeth Slatkin, Berkeley, CA: 10 Speed Press, P.O. Box 7123, Berkeley, CA 94707. ISBN 0-89815-430-8
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How to Write and Present Technical Information, by Charles H. Sides. 2nd ed., Phoenix: Oryx Press, 1991, ISBN 0-89774-627-9.
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How to Write Usable User Documentation, by Edmond H. Weiss. Second edition., Oryx Press, 1991. ISBN 089-774-6392. Contact Oryx Press toll-free at (fax) 1-800-279-4663, or (602)265-2651, or by mail to Oryx Press, 4041 North Central at Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85012-3397.
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IEEE Standard 1063, "IEEE standard for software user documentation" , A very short book - around 30 pages that contains useful information and recommendations backed by highly respected standards organizations
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ISO/IED 12119:1994, "Information technology: Software packages, quality requirements and testing." A very short book - around 30 pages that contains useful information and recommendations backed by highly respected standards organizations
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Managing Your Documentation Projects, by JoAnn T. Hackos, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1994. 630 pages, softcover.
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Mapping Hypertext: Analysis, Linkage, and Display of Knowledge for the Next Generation of Online Text and Graphics, by Robert Horn, Information Mapping Inc., 1989, 289 pages, softcover. Order from Information Mapping Inc. at 1-617-890-7003).
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Mastering Documentation (With Document Masters for Systems Development, Control & Delivery. Paula Bell & Charlotte Evans, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1989. Hardcover edition ISBN 0-471-41497-1.
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Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical Publications apparently a great starting off point according to review offered on the Society of Technical Communicators web site. http://www.stc-va.org/
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Procedure writing: Principles and Practices, Douglas Wieringa, Christopher Moore, and Valerie Barnes. 1998. 2nd ed. Columbus, OH: Battelle Press., ISBN 1-57477-052-7. 243 pages, including index. Includes principles, ideas and rationale on procedure writing style. It is especially useful for procedure writers using the more traditional approach to communicating a procedure as a stand-alone document and with a hierarchical outline format of steps.
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Read me first! A style guide for the computer industry, Sun Technical Publications, Prentice Hall, 1996; reviewed in the November 1997 issue of Technical communication. Includes information on document templates that seems missing from the Microsoft book; includes FrameMaker document templates.
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Secrets of User-Seductive Documents, by William Horton, Second Edition -- Available from STC
An unread document communicates nothing. It answers no questions, enables no action, solves no problems. A document must do more than allow access to information. It must compel reading and understanding and action. It must seduce the reader. This booklet employs seduction as its organizing metaphor for the task of motivating reluctant readers of technical documents. Borrowing from pop sociology, it demonstrates seductive techniques to ensure that your document is read, understood, and acted upon. ISBN: 914548964, Published 1997, 83 pages
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Standards for online communication, JoAnn T. Hackos and Dawn M. Stevens, John Wiley & Sons, 1997; reviewed in the February 1998 issue of Technical communication. A great companion to Microsoft Style Guide, it includes excellent information about writing for online presentation.
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Technical Communications, by Rebecca E. Burnett. Third edition, Belmont,CA: Wadsworth Publishing, 1994.
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Techniques for Technical Communicators, by Carol M. Barnum and Saul Carliner, 1993, MacMillan Publishing Company.
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The Art of Technical Documentation, Katherine Haramundanis, 1998, 2nd ed, Boston, MA: Digital Press, ISBN 1-55558-182-X. 282 pages, including index. Traditional methodology to web applications.
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The Desktop Style Guide, by James Felici, New York: Bantam, 1991, ISBN: 0-553-35445-0.
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The Elements of Style, William Strunk Jr, Ithaca, NY: W.P. Humphrey, 1918, New Yrok: Bartleby.com.1999
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The Elements of Technical Writing (Elements of Series), Robert W. Blye, Gary Blake, Robert W. Bly (Contributor), MacMillan Distribution; ISBN: 0020130856
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The Fine Art of Technical Writing, by Carol Rosenblum Perry. (Blue Heron, 1991).ISBN 0-926085-24-X.
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The Hacker's Guide to Word for Windows, 2nd Ed. by Leonhard, Chen and Krueger, NY: Addison-Wesley, 19??, ISBN 0-201-40763-9.
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The Underground Guide to Word for Windows, by Woody Leonhard. (NY: Addison-Wesley, 19??, ISBN 0-201-40650-0.
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Web Wisdom: How to Evaluate and Create Information Quality on the Web, Marsha Ann Tate, Janet E. Alexander; Lawrence Eribaum Associates, 1999
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The World Factbook, 2003, Washington, DC, Central Intelligence Agency, 2003, New York: Bartleby.com, 2003
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The Word for Windows Design Companion, by Katherine Pfeiffer, Ventana Press, 19??. ISBN: 0-940087-77-4.
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http://www.webstyleguide.com/
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Wired style: Principles of English usage in the digital age, Constance Hale, HardWired, 1996, reviewed in the August 1997 issue of Technical communication
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Writing Better Computer User Documentation, by R. John Brockmann, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1990. 364 pages, softcover.
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Writing Effective Policies and Procedures: A Step-by-step Resource for Clear Communication, Nancy J. Campbell. 1998. New York, NY: AMACOM, ISBN 0-8144-7960-X. 400 pages, including index. Topics covered include defining P&P, starting a P&P program, wording, formatting, distributing, maintaining and placing P&P documents online.
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