Anyone faced with the task of preparing material for publication needs guidance. This sixth edition of the Style Manual provides guidance and detailed advice on publishing in both print and electronic formats. It represents a substantial revision in response to the rapid and extensive changes that have occurred in publishing since the fifth edition was produced in 1994.The new Style Manual continues to provide detailed information and recommendations on the best practices in design, editing, production and writing.This edition builds on the Style Manual's reputation as an outstanding Australian reference standard for all those who understand the value of effective communication.
Essential! This is a life-saver if you're trying to write something for official Australian government use. It seems to tackle an awful lot of potential questions, including how to refer to or address particular government representatives. This isn't the UK and it isn't the US, but we have to tread a line somewhere between them, stylistically speaking.
As an Australian editor, this is the "bible". Doesn't mean you have to agree with everything in it or follow every word without thinking, but it's worth knowing what it says. Good background on publishing and printing too, as well as the basics of language copyediting. This 2002 edition is well overdue for an update, as language and practices change over time (the government is working on it).
25.11.2011: Reading/referencing it as I copy-edit a PhD thesis that will be submitted to an Australian university.
It's interesting to see the differences among Aus style, US style and UK style, but I have to say that it's only increasing my love for The Chicago Manual of Style.
I sometimes find info hard to find, and don't always like the layout, but it's not like I have a choice. As an editor in Australia, this is the bible. Hopefully the next edition will have improvements.