Getting the Writing Details Right
This article first appeared in Writer’s Digest.
You interviewed the best sources, hit all the points your editor asked for, and came as close to the word count as you could without resorting to text message-speak. All done. Right?
Not quite. You’ll impress your editor even more by minding the details of style and spelling. Your job is to make your editor’s job easier, and making sure the article you turn in conforms to the magazine’s style is a good way to do that.
When the editor bestows an assignment upon you, ask if she prefers that you follow any specific style guide, such as the Chicago Manual of Style. (You may also be able to find this information in the writer’s guidelines.) If she replies with the electronic or phone equivalent of a blank stare, take matters into your own hands by taking cues from at the magazine. Here are some of the details you need to pay attention to:
* State abbreviations. Some magazines use two-letter postal abbreviations (TN for Tennessee), some use old-style abbreviations (Tenn. for Tennessee), and some spell out the entire state name (Tennessee for Tennessee, natch). If you’re not certain of a state’s postal or old-style abbreviation, refer to the list on AcronymFinder.
* E-terms. Does the magazine use e-mail or email? Web site or website? Internet (with a capital I) or internet? Do web addresses start with http:// or jump right into the www?
* Numbers. I was taught in school to spell out numbers under 10, but some magazines use numerals for all numbers. And an editor at a parenting magazine told me that no matter what a style guide says regarding numbers, ages are always written in numerals, which was news to me. So be sure to check.
* Source attributions. Look at the information the magazine provides with the first mention of a source. For example, many women’s magazines give the source’s age and state: Uwanna Payme, 34, of Poughkeepsie, NY. Others, such as many parenting magazines, tell how many kids the source has: Ima Mudder, mom of two children ages 3 and 5. A magazine may also give the source’s professional title, educational degrees, or other information. Note that the format may differ for “real people” sources and experts; for instance, a magazine may give a “real person” source’s age and state, but an expert source’s job title and degree.
* Form of address. Check to see if the magazine, after introducing a source, refers to the source by first name only, last name only, or something else. I write for one magazine that refers to people as Mr. Source and Ms. Source, so I go through the article before turning it in and make sure all the source names follow that format.
* Accents. Résumé or resume? Soupçon or soupcon? Crazy New Yorker-like umlauts on words like coöperate and preëminent? Check the magazine if you’re not sure.
You’ve heard the expression “The devil’s in the details.” Well, I just made up a new expression: “Happy editors, multiple assignments, and fat bank accounts are in the details.” Pay attention to the little things and watch more assignments land in your email inbox — or is that e-mail in-box? [lf]
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Nov 2, 2008 Writing
Nice! I admit, some of these are things I hadn’t thought of (like the accents), so, phew! Lucky you were here….
Great information. The age thing, always written in numerals, is new to me. I’ve always wondered about some of these things like website vs. web site and internet, Insternet – thought I was obsessing again. Thanks.
Another good source to have at hand is the Associated Press Stylebook, particularly for things such as forms of address and words like “Web site” or “website” (it’s “Web site,” so sayeth the sacred AP). I write primarily for a local newspaper, and my own copy of the APS is positively bristling with sticky notes so I don’t have to fuss about trying to find things I double-check frequently. (Good habit to get into, BTW. Double-check! Double-check!) If you’re familiar with the AP rules (or with Chicago Manual of Style), it doesn’t hurt to mention that in your query letter, thus giving an editor a heads-up regarding your writing style and – hopefully – encouraging them to let you know if their style is markedly different.
Thanks for the information. I am writing for a local magazine and I notice what you mean about the way sources are addressed. They use the last name format and I’ve adopted this approach as well. But, as I get more work from different magazines I will keep these tips in mind.