Chicago Manual of Style and editing gurus
This week I have been introduced to something previously unknown to me, and probably millions of other people. A “book of rules” for American English. I admit to being less than perfect when it comes to my use of grammar/punctuation etc – way beyond less than perfect, I’m sure my editor would attest to. Even with a very switched on critique partner I doubt I could ever achieve the perfection necessary to abide with these “Chicago” rules. Seeing just how exacting they are, it’s time for me to pay homage to the lady who adjusted my writing to fit. I still cringe when I remember how many errors she managed to find in my “perfect” manuscript. The worst thing of all, though, was how obvious all those mistakes actually were. I owe her, owe her big time.