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The Yahoo! Style Guide: The Ultimate Sourcebook for Writing, Editing and Creating Content for the Web
Is it Web site, website or web site? What's the best on-screen placement for a top story? How can I better know my site's audience? The rapid growth of the Web has meant having to rely on style guides that are intended for print publishing and do not address writing for the Internet. The Yahoo! Style Guide does. Writers and programmers at Yahoo!, faced with a lack of industry guidance fifteen years ago, began creating a set of guidelines for web writing. The seeds of The Yahoo! Style Guide were planted with their first in-house reference, which has been added to ever since, making it the go-to manual inside Yahoo!
Polished and expanded for its public debut, this resource will cover the basics of grammar and punctuation as well as Web-specific ways to perfect a site. It includes: identifying the audience and making the site accessible to everyone; constructing a clear and compelling story; developing a site's unique voice; streamlining text for mobile devices; optimizing webpages to increase the changes of appearing in search results; streamling text so it can be read at Internet speed.
785 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
21 people are currently reading
252 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 3, 2010
Great style guide. Replaces the out-of-date Microsoft Manual of Technical Publications. I can't believe that I'm writing about a frickin' style guide. I have no life.
July 24, 2010
It has been a while since I actually read a style usage book. As a writer, I read and write constantly, so every book, article, website, brochure, email, and even utility bills I peruse are style manuals of sorts. I always notice what words and style conventions are used in texts I read.
But with the instantaneous pace of writing and publishing these days, there’s much inconsistency when it comes to grammar and punctuation rules, word usage and style, readability standards, and just plane old clear concise writing. There’s not a day go by that I don’t read articles, including my own, that are in need of a copy editor to check for grammar errors and wordiness. Most bloggers and web content writers must write, edit, and proofread their work like lonely housewives in need of help with daily chores. It’s nearly impossible to do it all effectively.
This is where The Yahoo! Style Guide can be useful. It’s one of the only sourcebooks I know that is written—as it subtitle says—“for writing, editing, and creating content for the digital world.” When I purchased the book, I thought I’d simply park it on a bookshelf near my work area, but as started scanning through it, I realized it would be useful for me as a writer to read it cover-to-cover. And quite surprisingly, it is actually a sourcebook that you can read in its entirety. Sure, there were some sections that I scanned because I was thoroughly familiar with the content, but for the most part, the book was not only a good refresher course, but it made me aware of some issues of usage and style that I need to keep an eye on when I write.
I particularly bookmarked a useful "superfluous phrases" list, marking some of the extraneous and redundant words that sometimes crop up in my own writing. I also like authors’ suggestion for keeping a style word list, for keeping track of how you will use certain words (e.g., p.m. or pm, African-American or African American, screenshot, not screen shot.) The book ends with 40 pages of Yahoo.com’s own word list, which you will find quite consistent with word style usage across the net and in paper publications.
Another section I bookmarked is about using “consistent terminology for your calls to action” (e.g. edit, change, uncheck, deselect, IM, type or enter.) And every writer who post his/her work on the World Wide Web should read the chapter, “Be Inclusive, Write for the World.” The authors of this Guide make good points about how people from different parts of world read words in English differently. They advise, “do not assume that you know who’s reading your website.” They give tips on writing for an audience that is not homogenous. For example, they talk about using “signposts” that help readers see how the parts of a sentence relate. They talk about producing gender-neutral copy, and avoiding slang and idioms that might be unfamiliar to many readers.
Easy to read examples are included on nearly ever page of the Guide, and some chapters conclude with exercises that reinforce the previously covered material.
I know there are other style books (such as the AP Stylebook and the Chicago Stylebook) have been around for quite some time, but this sourcebook should be the definitive guide for writing in general and web content writing in particular.
But with the instantaneous pace of writing and publishing these days, there’s much inconsistency when it comes to grammar and punctuation rules, word usage and style, readability standards, and just plane old clear concise writing. There’s not a day go by that I don’t read articles, including my own, that are in need of a copy editor to check for grammar errors and wordiness. Most bloggers and web content writers must write, edit, and proofread their work like lonely housewives in need of help with daily chores. It’s nearly impossible to do it all effectively.
This is where The Yahoo! Style Guide can be useful. It’s one of the only sourcebooks I know that is written—as it subtitle says—“for writing, editing, and creating content for the digital world.” When I purchased the book, I thought I’d simply park it on a bookshelf near my work area, but as started scanning through it, I realized it would be useful for me as a writer to read it cover-to-cover. And quite surprisingly, it is actually a sourcebook that you can read in its entirety. Sure, there were some sections that I scanned because I was thoroughly familiar with the content, but for the most part, the book was not only a good refresher course, but it made me aware of some issues of usage and style that I need to keep an eye on when I write.
I particularly bookmarked a useful "superfluous phrases" list, marking some of the extraneous and redundant words that sometimes crop up in my own writing. I also like authors’ suggestion for keeping a style word list, for keeping track of how you will use certain words (e.g., p.m. or pm, African-American or African American, screenshot, not screen shot.) The book ends with 40 pages of Yahoo.com’s own word list, which you will find quite consistent with word style usage across the net and in paper publications.
Another section I bookmarked is about using “consistent terminology for your calls to action” (e.g. edit, change, uncheck, deselect, IM, type or enter.) And every writer who post his/her work on the World Wide Web should read the chapter, “Be Inclusive, Write for the World.” The authors of this Guide make good points about how people from different parts of world read words in English differently. They advise, “do not assume that you know who’s reading your website.” They give tips on writing for an audience that is not homogenous. For example, they talk about using “signposts” that help readers see how the parts of a sentence relate. They talk about producing gender-neutral copy, and avoiding slang and idioms that might be unfamiliar to many readers.
Easy to read examples are included on nearly ever page of the Guide, and some chapters conclude with exercises that reinforce the previously covered material.
I know there are other style books (such as the AP Stylebook and the Chicago Stylebook) have been around for quite some time, but this sourcebook should be the definitive guide for writing in general and web content writing in particular.
May 31, 2015
I paid the full price of $23.99 for the Yahoo! Style Guide with some misgivings. Yahoo!’s homepage has become an overstuffed amalgam of the worst kind of clickbait (“Does this teen’s dress reveal too much?”), promotions of its own products with news-like headlines, a trending list of items no one’s thought about for months, and ads for things nobody needs. Five minutes on the site and I want to wipe my face with a hot towel.
Another concern was the guide’s publication date: 2010. You don’t need a cliché to express how long five years is in Internet time. I feared that the instant I click on Add to Cart, pallets of new editions would be loaded into trucks headed for bookstores and Amazon warehouses everywhere.
Much of the copy editing I do is web based these days, however, so I bought the book, figuring I’d get at least a few pointers.
I was wrong.
This book is an essential source for anyone who plans to write something longer than a tweet. The amount of useful advice in its 512 pages is enormous.
Don’t think of it as a style guide in the sense of the Associate Press’ Stylebook. Go by its subtitle: “The ultimate sourcebook for writing, editing, and creating content for the digital world.” The guide goes beyond an alphabetical listing of word usage (though there is that) and provides the guide’s users with the hows and whys of Web writing. Clarity, consistency, and conciseness are prime points, all practiced on Yahoo!’s own site even at its worst, and all usually ignored by other sites that pay large sums to page designers but consider good, tight copy an unnecessary expense.
The tone of the book is not what I would have expected from a company that uses an exclamation point in its name. It’s conversational but never cute like other guides targeted for general audiences. The closest to it I can think of would be Amy Einsohn’s excellent The Copyeditor’s Handbook. The guide is logically organized and visually clear. Each chapter ends with an exercise that many will find helpful for review, even when scanned later.
The last section, Resources, is more technical and involves coding for the Web, SEO, and legal issues. Readers will know what parts of this they can skip, but it would be wise to read them all as they’re written for laypeople and being conversant in Web issues always helps. Besides, some of the guide’s many bits of wisdom are in this section, including one on page 437 any copyeditor—maybe, especially, the one writing this review—can always use:
The guide is a big book, and the three endorsement blurbs on the back cover may not scream must-buy. (I’d only heard of Arianna Huffington. Seth Godin? Jakob Nielsen?)
It is, though. Honest.
Another concern was the guide’s publication date: 2010. You don’t need a cliché to express how long five years is in Internet time. I feared that the instant I click on Add to Cart, pallets of new editions would be loaded into trucks headed for bookstores and Amazon warehouses everywhere.
Much of the copy editing I do is web based these days, however, so I bought the book, figuring I’d get at least a few pointers.
I was wrong.
This book is an essential source for anyone who plans to write something longer than a tweet. The amount of useful advice in its 512 pages is enormous.
Don’t think of it as a style guide in the sense of the Associate Press’ Stylebook. Go by its subtitle: “The ultimate sourcebook for writing, editing, and creating content for the digital world.” The guide goes beyond an alphabetical listing of word usage (though there is that) and provides the guide’s users with the hows and whys of Web writing. Clarity, consistency, and conciseness are prime points, all practiced on Yahoo!’s own site even at its worst, and all usually ignored by other sites that pay large sums to page designers but consider good, tight copy an unnecessary expense.
The tone of the book is not what I would have expected from a company that uses an exclamation point in its name. It’s conversational but never cute like other guides targeted for general audiences. The closest to it I can think of would be Amy Einsohn’s excellent The Copyeditor’s Handbook. The guide is logically organized and visually clear. Each chapter ends with an exercise that many will find helpful for review, even when scanned later.
The last section, Resources, is more technical and involves coding for the Web, SEO, and legal issues. Readers will know what parts of this they can skip, but it would be wise to read them all as they’re written for laypeople and being conversant in Web issues always helps. Besides, some of the guide’s many bits of wisdom are in this section, including one on page 437 any copyeditor—maybe, especially, the one writing this review—can always use:
Choose your battles. Be prepared to defend your editorial choices: Know how a point of consistency or style affects the site’s credibility, readability, navigability, searchability, and so forth. But while you defend, don’t be defensive; be positive, helpful, and open to changing the decision. Consider which points are deal breakers—you wouldn’t compromise on the spelling of the company name, for example—and which points have a lower priority or are hard to fix, such as news-feed headlines that automatically appear in title case on a page that otherwise uses sentence case.
The guide is a big book, and the three endorsement blurbs on the back cover may not scream must-buy. (I’d only heard of Arianna Huffington. Seth Godin? Jakob Nielsen?)
It is, though. Honest.
October 17, 2017
I just want to see this book before purchasing. Thanks.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2019
It’s a giant study guide/reference tool. Helpful and I may refer to it from time to time but for the most part: simply informative.
March 25, 2011
Provides tons of examples of how to write and format text for the web.
Am going to have to actually buy it, I think, if just for Chapter 13 which covers how to shorten and strengthen sentences. I am just too WORDY!
Notes:
Readability statistics can be generated through Microsoft Word. (Flesch Reading Ease = 60+, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level Test = 6 or less.)
Alternatives to "Click here" = Learn more. Buy here.
Keep "if" before "then".
Concept of parallel structure (p.59)
Express one main point per sentence.
Front-load your sentences.
Keep subject and verb close together.
Stay positive. (Avoid using no, not, unfortunately, etc.)
Use the term "deaf people" instead of "the deaf", "elderly people" instead of "the elderly".
Make sure all headings and subheadings can provide context all on their own, without any other context.
Am going to have to actually buy it, I think, if just for Chapter 13 which covers how to shorten and strengthen sentences. I am just too WORDY!
Notes:
Readability statistics can be generated through Microsoft Word. (Flesch Reading Ease = 60+, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level Test = 6 or less.)
Alternatives to "Click here" = Learn more. Buy here.
Keep "if" before "then".
Concept of parallel structure (p.59)
Express one main point per sentence.
Front-load your sentences.
Keep subject and verb close together.
Stay positive. (Avoid using no, not, unfortunately, etc.)
Use the term "deaf people" instead of "the deaf", "elderly people" instead of "the elderly".
Make sure all headings and subheadings can provide context all on their own, without any other context.
December 22, 2010
The Yahoo! Style Guide is an excellent introduction to writing for the web. It is concise and covers all the major concerns for how web writing is different from writing in traditional formats. It also addresses such important topics as search engine optimization, accessibility, proper html tagging methods, laws concerning online content and basic webpage coding. There are also clear, fairly thorough sections concerning such important traditional style guide matters as punctuation, grammar and proofreading. I would definitely recommend this style guide to anyone interested in writing for the web (particularly those new to the medium and younger people who also need information on basic punctuation and grammar).
April 20, 2013
I was not sure what to think of this book. I understand the basic premise that we need to keep things simple when promoting and writing for a blog or website online. My problem lies in the fact that this style guide teaches you to have no substance in your writing. Maybe I'm just too traditional.
It is more or less Strunk's Style guide for the web and new age digital media. Nonetheless, it is a great resource for the modern blogger.
It is more or less Strunk's Style guide for the web and new age digital media. Nonetheless, it is a great resource for the modern blogger.
July 13, 2012
A comprehensive style guide for creating digital content; kind of like Strunk's Elements of Style for the digital space. The book gets less than a perfect review because DANG, it's huge!! It's definitely a desk reference. Would be nice to have something a bit more portable that I could toss into my laptop bag, but I guess that's what the Kindle version is for, right?
November 23, 2013
The Yahoo Guide is the online Chicago Manual of Style. A must for all writers to train for writing for the net. The lists and many examples get a bit mundane and do not lend to the work being an interesting read throughout, but such is the case of most manuals. If you are a writer and it is not in your library, you need to purchase it and have it among your reference books.
September 4, 2010
Somewhere between Strunk and White's Elements of Style and The Chicago Manual of Style for web writers. I think the book could be a good reference source, but some chapters are too basic for content creators.
September 22, 2010
Not exactly finished with this book as it is a manual that I am sure I will refer to all the time. Fantastic resource.
January 11, 2011
Every writer should read this!
January 8, 2012
All the essentials for writing good English and for making top-notch Web pages presented simply, clearly = best how to make the best digital content!!
May 18, 2018
An interesting read, but there are exceptions to every rule in the book and it's a lot to remember!
March 31, 2014
On my desk
November 7, 2014
My friend recommended this to me and it really is very very comprehensive and also very readable. I learned a lot from it and will be returning to it when I start putting text in interfaces soon.
January 29, 2015
This ultimate guide lives up to its name. Lively and well-written, it answers all of your online content creation and optimization questions.
Want to read
March 31, 2017Page 103.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews