🔤 Garbl’s Editorial Style and Usage Guide

Questions about punctuation, capitalization, numbers, and word usage?

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A–B | C–D | E–L | M–O | P–R | S–Z
Introduction | Punctuation | Commonly Confused Words

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Garbl’s Editorial Style and Usage Guide can help you write clearly, correctly, and consistently. Use this manual for help in writing articles, books, brochures, correspondence, essays, flyers, newsletters, reports, webpages, and other documents.

This guide mostly follows Associated Press style but also reflects guidance from other respected writing manuals, along with my judgment in applying those standards.

It’s designed for quick reference, clarity, and consistency—not as a textbook on grammar or a substitute for the AP Stylebook. This guide focuses on U.S. standards for abbreviations, capitalization, grammar, numbers, punctuation, and spelling.

Entries are listed alphabetically, like a dictionary, with cross-references to related items; I wish Substack enabled active links to them. Punctuation and commonly confused words have separate sections. Used together with my Plain Language Writing Guide, this guide supports writing that is clear, consistent, and reader-focused.

I have relied on editorial style manuals for more than 55 years, beginning with the AP Stylebook. I’ve used AP in journalism classes, newspaper offices, and public relations and communications roles. I’ve also consulted other respected resources, including the Chicago Manual of Style, Gregg Reference Manual, and Garner’s Modern American Usage.

Beginning with colleagues while working for King County, Washington, I have developed and managed style guides for public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and my former website, Garbl’s Writing Center.

This guide distills and streamlines my earlier online manual into a practical tool for everyday writing. Consistent style strengthens clarity and builds credibility.

Whatever their acclaim or position, all writers need editors. I don’t have one for this guide. If you spot a typo, unclear message, broken link, or error, please let me know.

If you have questions about the advice or suggestions for new entries, I’d like to hear from you. You can leave a public comment below or send me a private message through Substack.

Clear, consistent writing isn’t about showing off rules. It’s about helping readers understand the message the first time they read it.

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Alphabetical Entries

A–B—From abbreviations and acronyms through brand names

C–D—From capitalization through dollars

E–L—From e.g, i.e. through lists

M–O—From magazine names through organizational structure

P–R—From page numbers through rooms

S–Z—From scores through ZIP code

Additional Sections

Punctuation—From ampersand to slash

Commonly Confused Words—From a, an, the through will, would

Also see:

Garbl’s Plain Language Writing Guide—Helping you write clearly and concisely—so your readers get what you're saying.

Garbl’s Inclusive Language Guide—Writing that respects people and makes meaning clear

Garbl’s Writing Bookshelf—A lifelong editor’s favorite guides to writing, clarity, and style

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