Reference Sources for Betas and Writers (Updated Dec. 4, 2010)
Reference Sources for Betas and Writers
Copyright 2009, 2010, 2011
This is a list of useful sites for writers. The emphasis is mainly on grammar, but there are also some reference sites listed.
The list is basically composed of random sites that I found when I needed to refer to something. There are also some sites that others have suggested.
The criteria for inclusion are:
-- The site is easy to navigate
-- The explanations are clear and thorough
-- You do not need to register to use the site.
Comments or suggestions are very welcome.
On the Web
Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling Guides
Rutgers University (I recommend this as the first place you try for general questions.)
Purdue University (Also a good beginning point)
American Heritage
How to Use English Punctuation Correctly (good basic reference)
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation includes quizzes
Oxford Dictionary
University of California, Irving
Wikipedia
Online Technical Writing
Grammar Cheat Sheet from Cliff's Notes - (very basic grammar and tips)
Common Errors or Commonly Confused Words
http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~brians/errors/index.html
http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/conford.html
http://www.confusingwords.com
Franklin's Grammar Cheat Sheet - (lists common grammar, syntax, and usage errors)
Fan Fiction Terms:
Glossary of FanFiction Terms by Ellen Druda
Specific Questions
"A" versus "An"
Using Articles ("A" and "An" versus "The")
"Because" vs. "since"
- http://www.writersblock.ca/tips/monthtip/tipsep98.htm
- http://www.imoat.net/handbook/because.htm
Body Language
- Examples of Body Language
- Hand/Body language
- Body Language Cheatsheet for Writers
- The Real People's Love Doctor
Capital letters, using
Citations
- MLA style
- Chicago Manual of style
- APA style
Clichés, finding
- MLA style
- http://www.clichesite.com/index.asp
- Movie cliches (a list of the most annoying and common logic flaws and stereotypes found in movies.)
Colons versus Semi-Colons
Commas, using
- Using Commas and Extended Rules for Using Commas
-Quick Reference
-Kim's Korner for Teaching (and yes, the cutsie spelling makes me wonder about her skills...)
Dashs, Hyphens or Ellipsis?
Conjunctions, beginning sentences with
Dialog, punctuation
"Good" vs. "Well"
Italics vs underlining
Lie vs. Lay
- J. Lynch - Rutgers
- Grammar Girl
- You'll Lay an Egg If You Don't Lie Down
- College of St. Benedict, St. John's University
- The Grammar Curmudgeon
"Like" vs. "as"
- Grammar Girl
- www.grammar.cl
Limericks
"Me" vs. "I"
Quotation marks
- http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_quote.html
- http://www.writersblock.ca/tips/monthtip/tipmay96.htm
Scientific terminology
"Shook" vs. "Shaken"
Split infinitives
"That" versus "Which"
Titles (job ones), Capitalizing
- MLA style
- Chicago Manual of Style
- Capital letters, using
"Who" versus "Whom"
"Who" vs. "Whom"
Online Dictionaries/Thesauruses
- http://www.yourdictionary.com/
- http://thesaurus.reference.com/
- http://dictionary.reference.com/help/faq/language/browsefaq.html
- http://www.onelook.com/
English as a Second Language:
Style Manuals
- Summary list of styles
- Chicago Manual of Style
- MLA
Translations:
- http://babelfish.altavista.com/
- http://www.onelook.com
Lists of Other Sites
Yahoo - http://dir.yahoo.com/Social_Science/Linguistics_and_Human_Languages/Languages/Specific_Languages/English/Grammar__Usage__and_Style/ (you may have to cut and paste this link.)
Dictionary.com
General Reference Sites
- Virtual Reference Shelf (Sources selected by Library of Congress):
- Firstgov.gov (US Gov't web portal.) Good source for federal, state, local and information, data, and statistics:
Internet Public Library
Reference books Online
Librarians Internet Index (Websites you can trust)
MLA Citation Style
British Style
- Punctuation & Quotation Marks
- Spelling
- http://home.ncia.com/~slarsson/USUK.html
- http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwesl/egw/jones/differences.htm
British vs. American words
Harry Potter sites
The Harry Potter Lexicon (includes Potterwords)
Sugar Quill
Mugglenet
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
The Fans From U.N.C.L.E. (information on background, actors, guest stars, episodes, NYC in the sixties and much more)
Titles and Airdates Guide
Norman Felton collection - (a list of donations by Mr. Felton to the University of Iowa
The Museum Of Broadcast Communications. Article by st_crispins
Memorable quotes
Illya-isms
Napoleonisms
David McCallum Quotes
The Agents' New York - by st_crispins
The Agents' New York II
The Agents' New York III
Writers Guide and Screen Captures - Loebel-Clark website
Sixties City - bringing on back the good times!
Fashion History Costume Trends - includes a section on 1960s-80s
The Man From U.N.C.L.E. episode guide by Bill Koenig Note: this was on AOL hometown, which is defunct. I don't know where it is now.
Man From U.N.C.L.E. writers guide
Robert Vaughn on IMDB
David McCallum on IMDB
Frame Capture Library
Russian
- Swearing
- Tender words
- Basic-English Russian phrases
- Affectionate Russian Phrases
NCIS
- NCIS Wiki
- CBS site
In Print
1. A Manual of Style University of Chicago Press (also titled: Chicago Manual of Style.)
2. MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing by Joseph Gibaldi
3. Lapsing into a comma: a curmudgeon's guide to the many things that can go wrong by Walsh, Bill
4. Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss
5. Write Source 2000: A Guide to Writing, Thinking and Learning by Patrick Sebranek, Dave Kemper, and Verne Meyer. My kids used this in school and I refer to it for basics. Don't let the fact that it's sold as a text book fool you.
6. Bryson's Dictionary of Troublesome Words: A Writer's Guide to Getting It Right and Bryson's Dictionary for Writers and Editors, both by Bill Bryson
7. The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White A classic, and still valid today.
Copyright 2009, 2010, 2011
This is a list of useful sites for writers. The emphasis is mainly on grammar, but there are also some reference sites listed.
The list is basically composed of random sites that I found when I needed to refer to something. There are also some sites that others have suggested.
The criteria for inclusion are:
-- The site is easy to navigate
-- The explanations are clear and thorough
-- You do not need to register to use the site.
Comments or suggestions are very welcome.
On the Web
Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling Guides
Rutgers University (I recommend this as the first place you try for general questions.)
Purdue University (Also a good beginning point)
American Heritage
How to Use English Punctuation Correctly (good basic reference)
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation includes quizzes
Oxford Dictionary
University of California, Irving
Wikipedia
Online Technical Writing
Grammar Cheat Sheet from Cliff's Notes - (very basic grammar and tips)
Common Errors or Commonly Confused Words
http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~brians/errors/index.html
http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/conford.html
http://www.confusingwords.com
Franklin's Grammar Cheat Sheet - (lists common grammar, syntax, and usage errors)
Fan Fiction Terms:
Glossary of FanFiction Terms by Ellen Druda
Specific Questions
"A" versus "An"
Using Articles ("A" and "An" versus "The")
"Because" vs. "since"
- http://www.writersblock.ca/tips/monthtip/tipsep98.htm
- http://www.imoat.net/handbook/because.htm
Body Language
- Examples of Body Language
- Hand/Body language
- Body Language Cheatsheet for Writers
- The Real People's Love Doctor
Capital letters, using
Citations
- MLA style
- Chicago Manual of style
- APA style
Clichés, finding
- MLA style
- http://www.clichesite.com/index.asp
- Movie cliches (a list of the most annoying and common logic flaws and stereotypes found in movies.)
Colons versus Semi-Colons
Commas, using
- Using Commas and Extended Rules for Using Commas
-Quick Reference
-Kim's Korner for Teaching (and yes, the cutsie spelling makes me wonder about her skills...)
Dashs, Hyphens or Ellipsis?
Conjunctions, beginning sentences with
Dialog, punctuation
"Good" vs. "Well"
Italics vs underlining
Lie vs. Lay
- J. Lynch - Rutgers
- Grammar Girl
- You'll Lay an Egg If You Don't Lie Down
- College of St. Benedict, St. John's University
- The Grammar Curmudgeon
"Like" vs. "as"
- Grammar Girl
- www.grammar.cl
Limericks
"Me" vs. "I"
Quotation marks
- http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_quote.html
- http://www.writersblock.ca/tips/monthtip/tipmay96.htm
Scientific terminology
"Shook" vs. "Shaken"
Split infinitives
"That" versus "Which"
Titles (job ones), Capitalizing
- MLA style
- Chicago Manual of Style
- Capital letters, using
"Who" versus "Whom"
"Who" vs. "Whom"
Online Dictionaries/Thesauruses
- http://www.yourdictionary.com/
- http://thesaurus.reference.com/
- http://dictionary.reference.com/help/faq/language/browsefaq.html
- http://www.onelook.com/
English as a Second Language:
Style Manuals
- Summary list of styles
- Chicago Manual of Style
- MLA
Translations:
- http://babelfish.altavista.com/
- http://www.onelook.com
Lists of Other Sites
Yahoo - http://dir.yahoo.com/Social_Science/Linguistics_and_Human_Languages/Languages/Specific_Languages/English/Grammar__Usage__and_Style/ (you may have to cut and paste this link.)
Dictionary.com
General Reference Sites
- Virtual Reference Shelf (Sources selected by Library of Congress):
- Firstgov.gov (US Gov't web portal.) Good source for federal, state, local and information, data, and statistics:
Internet Public Library
Reference books Online
Librarians Internet Index (Websites you can trust)
MLA Citation Style
British Style
- Punctuation & Quotation Marks
- Spelling
- http://home.ncia.com/~slarsson/USUK.html
- http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwesl/egw/jones/differences.htm
British vs. American words
Harry Potter sites
The Harry Potter Lexicon (includes Potterwords)
Sugar Quill
Mugglenet
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
The Fans From U.N.C.L.E. (information on background, actors, guest stars, episodes, NYC in the sixties and much more)
Titles and Airdates Guide
Norman Felton collection - (a list of donations by Mr. Felton to the University of Iowa
The Museum Of Broadcast Communications. Article by st_crispins
Memorable quotes
Illya-isms
Napoleonisms
David McCallum Quotes
The Agents' New York - by st_crispins
The Agents' New York II
The Agents' New York III
Writers Guide and Screen Captures - Loebel-Clark website
Sixties City - bringing on back the good times!
Fashion History Costume Trends - includes a section on 1960s-80s
The Man From U.N.C.L.E. episode guide by Bill Koenig Note: this was on AOL hometown, which is defunct. I don't know where it is now.
Man From U.N.C.L.E. writers guide
Robert Vaughn on IMDB
David McCallum on IMDB
Frame Capture Library
Russian
- Swearing
- Tender words
- Basic-English Russian phrases
- Affectionate Russian Phrases
NCIS
- NCIS Wiki
- CBS site
In Print
1. A Manual of Style University of Chicago Press (also titled: Chicago Manual of Style.)
2. MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing by Joseph Gibaldi
3. Lapsing into a comma: a curmudgeon's guide to the many things that can go wrong by Walsh, Bill
4. Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss
5. Write Source 2000: A Guide to Writing, Thinking and Learning by Patrick Sebranek, Dave Kemper, and Verne Meyer. My kids used this in school and I refer to it for basics. Don't let the fact that it's sold as a text book fool you.
6. Bryson's Dictionary of Troublesome Words: A Writer's Guide to Getting It Right and Bryson's Dictionary for Writers and Editors, both by Bill Bryson
7. The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White A classic, and still valid today.