Rocky road ice cream, ranch dressing, Reuben sandwich, semisweet chocolate, romaine lettuces… talk about eccentric! The Associated Press Stylebook contains a pretty remarkable range of topics, ranging from wacky expressions to subjects as profound as homicides and governmental titles.
My facial expression while scanning the pages of this 400 page stylebook for the first time was constantly changing. I grinned when reading that “scuba”, a word that I often use back home (which is pretty self-evident, considering that I was raised on a tropical island) is actually an abbreviation for “self-contained underwater breathing apparatus”. I raised my eyebrows in astonishment when learning the Seven Seas, and nodded my head about the Seven Wonders of the World. I also shuddered as I read about hurricanes, a natural disaster that I have been confronted to many times before. However, I was speechless when my eyes suddenly halted at a familiar word: the stylebook even mentions the Netherlands Antilles, the chain of islands that my island, St. Maarten, is part of. The description stated that this chain of islands should not be abbreviated as “NA”. I laughed internally, remembering how many times I finished writing down my address as “St. Maarten, NA”. These examples really prove how much variety is hidden in these 400 pages. Even a chain of islands, almost never even shown on a world map, is mentioned… Pretty impressive!
I think I have just met my new writing partner. Not only does this stylebook lend a helping hand in knowing the sense of the words you use, but it also has the ability to make you laugh, wonder, and frown... all on the same page!
All I can really say is that I am definitely a fan.
I could not believe my eyes at some of the words that are in the Stylebook. Who would have known that there would be so many ways of using the same word or interpreting it. I agree completely when you say that the Stylebook is your new writing partner. It shows you specifically what words to use when writing about certain situations.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely about the style book. Looking through it I was amazed to find that it had explanations on such a wide range of topics. This book will make writing much easier . I don't think that there will ever be a time when writing that I won't have a need to consult the style book
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you. I couldn't stop laughing at some of the random words and entries I found within the AP stylebook.
ReplyDeleteThey even mentioned how to write Portuguese names, which i found very interesting but random at the same time.
Just as you did, i also became a fan of it.
You are so right! This is one of the best companions when you're writing. There really isn't much you won't find in there!
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