Friday, November 12, 2010

It's All About Style

by Sue Hudson, Open Session 4 Moderator

You know you’re a medical writer when. . .

. . .you were one of about 200 writers and editors who packed a meeting room at the Milwaukee Convention Center Thursday morning to hear Cheryl Iverson and Devora Krischer talk about the AMA and CSE Style guides. (The speaker for the APA style guide was unable to join us.)

In response to Cheryl’s question, almost everyone said they use the print version of the AMA Manual of  Style, and many use the online version. But only one person raised her hand when she asked who had used the latest feature of the online site, My Style, which allows a user to save up to 15 searches and bookmark or annotate specific items. Cheryl , who led team of writers and editors who created the AMA guide, highlighted other useful features of the online guide, including:

the ability to copy and paste passages into a document, so you can show your author why you dared to edit his or her perfect prose
an electronic SI unit converter
quizzes on matters of style, which can help to prepare for the BELS exam or be used (with permission) for your own training classes
editor’s tips such as cures for “link rot” or how to write good titles for an article

Devora noted that the CSE style guide (Scientific Style and Formatting, 7th edition) goes beyond the medical and biological sciences, providing resources for scientists from geology to astronomy. With the lines blurring between genetics, chemistry, and biology, this resource is important for editors who need a broad background. Devora noted that the CSE guide contains information for writers and editors working on pieces designed for publication in European journals, including tips for converting between English and American spelling and usage. Work is beginning on a new edition of the CSE guide.

Audience members peppered the panel with questions, including how to choose a style guide when the target journal is unknown. The answer? Comply with the uniform requirement of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). After that, it’s easy to tweak a manuscript for a specific publication and its style requirements, Cheryl and Devora agreed.

Related Links
AMWA home page for link to AMWA members-only discounts for AMA Manual of Style (hard copy and online versions)
Council of Science Editors information page on CSE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers

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