Author and Style Guides
Introduction
A style guide is an established set of general rules for writing and editing. A style guide should be used when writing an open textbook to ensure that style and formatting is consistent throughout the work. It's also an opportunity to provide a guide for inclusive language. In addition, if you are working with a team on an open textbook project, it helps keep everyone on the same page. Finally, a style guide is a key element to defining your imprint, as a consistent style across multiple publications will ultimately define your publishing program's brand.
An author's guide is similar to a style guide. It outlines the requirements for submitting a manuscript to your publishing program that is consistent with your expectations and in keeping with your imprint. These requirements can also be incorporated into the contract.
Select the Style Guide Early
It's best to agree on a style guide with the author at the beginning of the project, before that person starts writing, so that there is an attempt to work within the style guide from the very start.
Commonly used style guides include:
- APA Style: Links to an external site. APA (American Psychological Association) style is typically used to cite and style works in the social sciences and education.
- The Chicago Manual of Style Online: Links to an external site. Chicago (CMS) style is most often used to cite and style works in the humanities.
- MLA Style Manual: Links to an external site. MLA (Modern Language Association of America) style is most frequently used to cite and style works in the literary and humanities fields.
Adapted from Create a Style Sheet Links to an external site., Self-Publishing Guide Links to an external site. by Lauri M. Aesoph (CC BY).
Inclusive Style Guides
The Council of Editors of Learned Journals (CELJ) is working to provide inclusive copyediting resources for its editors. Go to the CELJ website Links to an external site. for a list inclusive style guides.
Author Trainings
You may want to offer an in-person workshop or asynchronous training to walk authors through the guidelines for your program, including manuscript requirements. For example, Open Oregon has developed Open Oregon's OER Grant Course (CC BY) Links to an external site. for faculty grantees that includes, "...information that you're likely to need when you redesign a course using open educational resources." The course can be adapted for your open textbook writing and publishing program.
Author Guide Examples
- Portland State University Open Access Textbooks Author Guidelines (CC BY SA) Links to an external site.
- PDXscholar & Self Publishing Academic Work (PowerPoint Presentation, CC BY) Download PDXscholar & Self Publishing Academic Work (PowerPoint Presentation, CC BY)
- University of Michigan Press Author's Guide Links to an external site.
- University of Minnesota Press Manuscript Guidelines
Style Sheets
A style sheet is specific to a project. Below are two editorial style sheets (adapted styles from APA and CMS) for open textbooks. We suggest sharing a style sheet with authors, editing professionals and other working on the project.
You'll notice in the style sheets linked below that there are open fields for book title and author. You're welcome to create a copy of the styles sheet and customize it for each project.