I admit it. I like to read online styleguides.
I particularly like the ones created by experienced British editors, because they have had to adjust their pure ideals to accommodate their quarrelsome writers, who often object to the guidelines, pointing out exceptions, making the case for slang, jargon, and fresh language. You can almost hear the debate.
The BBC speaks
If you haven’t read the BBC Styleguide, you should.
You get wry advice for the reporters who have to speak their articles on the air. And between the lines you can hear the reporters pushing back, fighting to get free of the constraints. Like all good styleguides, this one reflects the conversations going on inside the newsrooms…and invites comments from listeners, too.
Yes, now you can discuss the recommendations with the writer, er, editor, John Allen. In the Styleguide Forum, each thread begins with a short opinion piece by Allen, after which the postings appear in reverse chronological order.
The tone resembles the Letters column of the London Times. People can get very upset about the misuse of a single word.
Examples of complaints about jargon
I get very cross when people use the word 'orchestrate' to mean 'organise'. The word has two very precise musical meanings: when you're composing, it means making the best disposition of notes and phrases among the instruments you are using to create the effects you are seeking; or carrying out the same process for a piece you haven't written yourself. …
The most upsetting thing is that there is also a really brilliant metaphorical use of the word, as in 'a carefully-orchestrated whispering campaign' - in other words, giving the right phrases and words to the right people to say at the right time in order to achieve the desired effect. But the word, presumably because of its aural similarity to 'organise' has become completed debased in the course of about five years.
Catherine Rose, Olney, Bucks, 22/1/2004
Your style guide advises against the use of 'key' yet the BBC (tv and radio) are one of the worst offenders. I stand listening to Today in the morning and every time I hear it (frequently) I shout out 'KEY!' It's infuriating -- especially if you consider there are at least 21 synonyms for this nasty little word
Sarah Maxey, Manchester, 11/12/2003
http://www.bbctraining.com/styleguideArticle.asp?articleID=20
On Olde Englishe
Olde is a made-up word. There is no e on the end of old in old English - probably invented by modern signwriters to make boozers look traditional.
Dave, London, UK, 11/12/2003
http://www.bbctraining.com/styleguideArticle.asp?articleID=14
There is even a fake course, free, online, for one hour. Turns out that what you do in the course is download and read the styleguide. The secret button that leads to the styleguide says Open Guide 1. That’s clear, isn’t it?
The Guardian
The Guardian, a newspaper that claims it is written for writers, has put its styleguide online, but unfortunately, they have arranged it as an A-to-Z of terms (what to use, how to spell it, what the right abbreviation is). Not nearly as thoughtful as the BBC guide…but they do have professorial cartoons for most letters.
Typical outburst:
The rash of contractions such as aren't, can't, couldn't, hasn't, don't, I'm, it's, there's and what's has reached epidemic proportions (even the horrific "there've" has appeared in the paper).
While they might make a piece more colloquial or easier to read, they can be an irritant and a distraction, and make a serious article sound frivolous. And they look pretty horrible, particularly when the system attempts to hyphenate them. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/styleguide/page/0,5817,184844,00.html)
Nice opening quote:
"When I see my name spelt with one word, I want to slap and choke people. If you do that, you have got to be a moron. It's on every poster, every album and every ticket as two words. If you spell it as one, you're an idiot. Bottom line." --Meat Loaf
The Economist
The best of the British styleguides comes from John Grimond, editor at the Economist, the most literate newsmagazine in English. Instead of a usage list, you get carefully thought out, relatively short, very articulate essays.
On metaphors, for instance, Grimond says:
Some of these are tired, and will therefore tire the reader. Most are so exhausted that they may be considered dead, and are therefore permissible. But use all metaphors, dead or alive, sparingly; otherwise you will make trouble for yourself.
Here’s the entire sermonette on short words:
Use them. They are often Anglo-Saxon rather than Latin in origin. They are easy to spell and easy to understand. Thus prefer about to approximately, after to following, let to permit, but to however, use to utilise, make to manufacture, plant to facility, take part to participate, set up to establish, enough to sufficient, show to demonstrate and so on. Underdeveloped countries are often better described as poor. Substantive often means real or big. “Short words are best and the old words when short are best of all.” (Winston Churchill)
You might expect that a British editor would come out against most Americanisms, but he gives a funny, and balanced tour of American bunkum and inventiveness. For instance, his alert ear catches our tendency to add prepositions to verbs unnecessarily (Do not write meet with or outside of: outside America, nowadays, you just meet people. Do not figure out if you can work out. To deliver on a promise means to keep it.)
But he recognizes the vitality of some of our inventions, such as spam and scam. To his British team, he says:
Do not feel obliged to follow American fashion in overusing such words as constituency (try supporters), perception (try belief or view) and rhetoric (of which there is too little, not too much—try language or speeches or exaggeration if that is what you mean). And if you must use American expressions, use them correctly (a rain-check does not imply checking on the shower activity).
(http://www.economist.com/research/styleGuide/index.cfm?page=673931)
Other fun rants:
Want to see if you are as articulate as John Grimond, the editor who put together the styleguide?
Take the Style quiz.
10:16:58 AM 
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