Style Guides and Dictionaries

Which Style Guides Do You Prefer?

As a scientific author or publisher, you may need your documents to conform with a specific style before publication.

Let me help you format and style your document by using any of the following manuals.

If your preferred style manual is not listed here, just ask—I will be happy to work with your chosen style or to recommend someone who can.

• APA style: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.)
• AMA style: AMA Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors (10th ed.)
• Vancouver style: Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)
• CSE style: Scientific Style and Format: CSE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers (7th ed.)
• Chicago style: The Chicago Manual of Style (15th ed.)
• Client's house style: Your own manual
• Consistent style: If no guide specified

If you have prepared a manuscript for a specific journal, the journal's author instructions may indicate which style to use.

Most medical manuscripts can be edited in AMA style and formatted in Vancouver style. Many social science manuscripts can be edited and formatted in APA style.

Some style manuals prescribe which dictionary to use as a spelling reference. APA, for instance, identifies Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary as the standard reference.

If you are not required to use a particular dictionary for your writing project, simply tell me which dictionary you prefer or which consistent spelling style to use: American, British, or Canadian.

Questions or comments? Please call 1-780-418-1969 or contact the BioMedical Editor online.