LawProse Lesson #437: Did you hear about the new Chicago Manual?

LawProse Lesson #437: Did you hear about the new Chicago Manual?

The 18th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style has just been published. It’s the most comprehensive style manual ever, and it will answer virtually every question you might have. (Except, that is, for the kinds of legal-style issues that are answered in The Redbook: A Manual of Legal Style, published in its fifth edition in 2023.) 

Since the 15th edition of 2003, the Chicago Manual has featured a chapter 5 on grammar and usage—written by none other than our Professor Bryan A. Garner. It tells you everything you need to know about English grammar and usage.

In the new 18th edition, Professor Garner tackles questions of inclusiveness, gender, the singular use of they, and what all these things mean in terms of Standard Written English. It’s thoroughly up to date.

The Chicago Manual is the bible among book publishers. With it, you can settle any office debate about punctuation, words, and capitalization. We think you’ll want to be the first owner of the book in your office. To make that happen, order here.

Once your colleagues see your copy, though, it’ll probably go wandering from your office. So to be prudent, order two copies and keep one locked safely away.

Live seminars this year with Professor Bryan A. Garner: Advanced Legal Writing & Editing

Attend the most popular CLE seminar of all time. More than 215,000 people—including lawyers, judges, law clerks, and paralegals—have benefited since the early 1990s. You'll learn the keys to professional writing and acquire no-nonsense techniques to make your letters, memos, and briefs more powerful.

You'll also learn what doesn't work and why—know-how gathered through Professor Garner's unique experience in training lawyers at the country's top law firms, state and federal courts, government agencies, and Fortune 500 companies.

Professor Garner gives you the keys to make the most of your writing aptitude—in letters, memos, briefs, and more. The seminar covers five essential skills for persuasive writing:

  • framing issues that arrest the readers' attention;
  • cutting wordiness that wastes readers' time;
  • using transitions deftly to make your argument flow;
  • quoting authority more effectively; and
  • tackling your writing projects more efficiently.

He teaches dozens of techniques that make a big difference. Most important, he shows you what doesn't work—and why—and how to cultivate skillfulness.

Register to reserve your spot today.

Have you wanted to bring Professor Garner to teach your group? Contact us at info@lawprose.org for more information about in-house seminars.

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