HOME

TheInfoList



Click Here for Items Related To - Microsoft Manual of Style
OR:
Microsoft Manual of Style on:   [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Amazon]

The ''Microsoft Manual of Style: Your Everyday Guide to Usage, Terminology, and Style for Professional Technical Communications'' (MSTP), in former editions the ''Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical Publications'', was a
style guide A style guide is a set of standards for the writing, formatting, and design of documents. A book-length style guide is often called a style manual or a manual of style. A short style guide, typically ranging from several to several dozen page ...
published by
Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company, technology conglomerate headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Founded in 1975, the company became influential in the History of personal computers#The ear ...
. The fourth edition, , was published in 2012.
Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company, technology conglomerate headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Founded in 1975, the company became influential in the History of personal computers#The ear ...
employees and partners also had access to a
Microsoft Compressed HTML Help Microsoft Compiled HTML Help (CHM) is a Microsoft proprietary online help format, consisting of a collection of HTML pages, an index and other navigation tools. The files are compressed and deployed in a binary format with the extension .CHM. Th ...
(CHM) version. In 2018, the book was replaced by a website, th
Microsoft Writing Style Guide
joining other online guides like th
Apple Style Guide
an
Google Developer Documentation Style Guide


History

*First Edition: Published in 1995 () *Second Edition: Published in June 1998 () *Third Edition: Published in June 2004 () *Fourth Edition: Published in January 2012 ()


Purpose

Like any
style guide A style guide is a set of standards for the writing, formatting, and design of documents. A book-length style guide is often called a style manual or a manual of style. A short style guide, typically ranging from several to several dozen page ...
, the MSTP establishes standards and serves as a reference for writers. The MSTP has the specific purpose of guiding technical writers, editors, and content managers working with
Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company, technology conglomerate headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Founded in 1975, the company became influential in the History of personal computers#The ear ...
products. While the manual in some parts focuses on usage particular to these products, the guide also serves as a general tool for technical writers. Content ranges from specific instructions for naming particular elements of specific programs to general rules of
grammar In linguistics, grammar is the set of rules for how a natural language is structured, as demonstrated by its speakers or writers. Grammar rules may concern the use of clauses, phrases, and words. The term may also refer to the study of such rul ...
.


Contents

The MSTP is divided into two parts, preceded by a foreword and introduction. Part 1 is titled "General Topics" and is sub-divided into the following 11 chapters: # Content for the web: Defines parameters for all types of web content, including web, video, blog, international considerations and accessibility and legal considerations. # Microsoft style and voice: Basic principles and style guide. # Content for a worldwide audience: Provides instructions for ensuring that documents will be understood throughout the world by avoiding local references and making texts easy to translate. # Accessible Content: Talks about accessibility in all areas including design, graphics and text; refers to acceptable terminology. # The user interface: Provides standardized names for elements of the
Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company, technology conglomerate headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Founded in 1975, the company became influential in the History of personal computers#The ear ...
user interface In the industrial design field of human–computer interaction, a user interface (UI) is the space where interactions between humans and machines occur. The goal of this interaction is to allow effective operation and control of the machine fro ...
. # Procedures and technical content: Provides guidelines for consistent formatting of procedures and other technical content to help users find important information quickly and efficiently # Practical issues of style: Points out common problems ranging from capitalization to the formatting of style elements such as dates, numbers, and measurements. # Grammar: Contains sections on the general usage of verbs and nouns. # Punctuation: Contains information about using punctuation. # Indexes and keywords: Provides guidelines for indexing and/or attributing content to ensure that it is discoverable for users. # Acronyms and other abbreviations: Provides guidelines on consistent use of acronyms and abbreviations, including how and when to use them to avoid confusion. It also contains a list of acronyms and abbreviations. Part 2 is an alphabetically arranged "Usage Dictionary" of terms commonly used in technical writing.


External links

* {{Official, https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/style-guide/welcome/ Style guides for technical and scientific writing Microsoft culture Microsoft initiatives Microsoft Press books