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King County Editorial Style Manual

Online and Print | Writing Tools | On the Intranet | Staff Resources

Online and Print Resources

For writing questions not answered in this online manual, contact a member of the style manual team or check the recommended print and online references below (external links) and elsewhere on this page:

• American Heritage Book of English Usage, 1996
• American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, 2000
• The Associated Press Stylebook, 2006 | Online version available by subscription
• Chicago Manual of Style, 15th Edition, 2003 | Questions and Answers | Online version available by subscription
• Common Errors in English Usage, 2003, Paul Brians | Common Errors in English Usage.
• A Dictionary of Modern American Usage, Second Edition, 1965, H.W. Fowler, Ernest Gowers | Fowler's The King's English, Second Edition, 1908,
• The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition, 1999, William Strunk Jr., E.B. White | Strunk's 1918 edition.
• Encarta Webster's Dictionary of the English Language, Second Edition, 2004 | MSN Encarta Dictionary.
• Garner's Modern American Usage, Second Edition, 2003, Bryan A. Garner | Garner's Usage Tip of the Day
• Gregg Reference Manual, 10th Edition, 2004, William A. Sabin | Frequently Asked Questions
• Lapsing Into a Comma, 2000, and The Elephants of Style, 2004, Bill Walsh | Assorted Sharp Points by the author
• Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition, 2003 | Dictionary and Thesaurus
• The New Oxford American Dictionary, 2005 | Oxford Better Writing
• Webster's New World Collegiate Dictionary, Fourth Edition, 1998, official dictionary of the Associated Press

Also see Plain Language Resources, King County Plain Language Writing Guide.

Why Associated Press style?

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King County Writing Tools

King County Plain Language Writing Guide: How to write clearly to meet the needs of your readers--Plain language principles can help you write clearly and concisely. Plain language (or plain English) is an approach to writing that concentrates on the needs of your readers. This clear writing approach is for public sector employees who write to and for King County taxpayers, ratepayers and other clients and customers.

Guide to Concise Writing: Concise alternatives to pompous words and wordy, redundant phrases--Use this guide to help make your King County documents easier to read and understand. Its three sections provide concise alternatives to overstated, pompous words; wordy, bureaucratic phrases; and redundant phrases.

Top 20 Tips--Excerpts to answer the most frequently asked questions about the King County Editorial Style Manual (in Microsoft Word, DOC)

King County Editorial Style Guide (DOC, 420KB)--A summary of key entries in the county's online Editorial Style Manual. If you need a printed version of the manual, download this condensed style guide. Except for this Word document, there is no print version of the whole style manual. Updated April 11, 2006.

King County Graphic Standards & Guidelines--Designed to create a greater visual consistency, clarity and recognition of King County government. Also see King County Metro Graphic Standards & Guidelines (internal link)--for applying county standards to Metro Transit products and services.

Martin Luther King Logo--Background, news and FAQ about new county logo honoring the civil rights leader; approved March 12, 2007.

Resources on the King County Intranet
(internal links)

Individual Development Classes: Business Writing | Grammar and Punctuation, Training and Organization Development, Office of Human Resources Management

Printing and Graphic Design Services (Internet), Department of Executive Services--includes the county's Graphic Design Standards and Guidelines and information on getting the county logo

Publications List, Disability Access and Compliance Program, Office of Civil Rights, Department of Executive Services--includes information on disability language and etiquette; alternative formats; how to announce accessibility to public meetings, hearings, conferences and events; access symbols; and TTY use. Also available is a checklist for accessible printed materials.

Web Services, Department of Executive Services--includes information on King County Web site goals, requirements, standards, management and development.

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Staff Resources

The employee team that developed this online manual doesn't expect everyone to become experts on style, grammar and usage. Comments, questions or suggestions about writing or this Web site? Contact one of these style manual developers:

• Cliff Chase
• Anna Clemenger
• Al Dams
• Bobbie Egan
• Logan Harris
• Annie Kolb-Nelson
• Gary Larson
• Jim Lindler
• Linda Thielke.

Your work group's communications specialist(s) and your department's public information officer(s) also can help. Earlier versions of this manual were developed by editors of the former Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle (Metro) and King County Department of Transportation.

Background on developing the King County style manual.

Statistics on use of King County's writing Web site.

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