The Associated Press Stylebook is probably as close as we have to a definitive guide on news writing using American English.
But what if you write for newspapers that use British rules of spelling and punctuation? What is the best book to purchase?
I'm particularly interested in learning about punctuation as there is a free style guide online here: Guardian style guide
I would also be interested to read about common mistakes made when writing English. I used to have a link to a great website that had articles about problem areas such as "toe the line" but I've lost that somehow. Links are good as are recommendations for books.
Finally if there are any great books out there for native speakers to improve their written English then please tell me. I'm sure there are loads but I imagine most are not very useful.
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<hr>I would also be interested to read about common mistakes made when writing English.<hr></blockquote>
One distressingly common mistake is using the word "good" when the word "well" is actually required.
You could start with The Elements of Style, a bestseller in this category since its first edition was released in 1918.
#1 -- Another distressing mistake is the failure to recognize irony when the ironic statement is unaccompanied by a smiley face.
Ha. If the OP's goof was, indeed, intentional, I deserve that, I suppose.
No, on second thought, I don't. A thread-heading is a clumsy place to attempt irony, and I think #3 is giving credit where credit isn't due.
Count_Zero is an articulate poster, and I'm surprised that even in this OP there could be any mistake about his intentional misuse of "good" for "well."
Here's a link to Common Errors in English
As to the question about "great books for native speakers to improve their written English," I dunno about great, but there are good books aimed at various aspects of writing--for native speakers with a weak understanding of grammar, syntax, etc.; for those who want to develop skills for a particular style of writing (short story, novel, newspaper reporting, business reports, etc. etc.). I don't know what your resources might be in China, OP, but a university bookstore might be of help?? As you already realize, there's a great deal online as well. Here are a few links you might check out at your leisure:
A great site with many links for style guides, on and on
The University College of London has several online offerings, including an Internet Grammar study program
And here's a link to the University of Victoria's Writer's Guide.
Enough?
Many publications have their own house style sheets, probably not as thorough as the Guardian's. I have found them for professional journals and trade magazines which deal with a lot of specialized vocabulary and usage. If you're submitting something, or writing on contract, it's a good idea to inquire whether they have a house style sheet or, if not, which more general one they follow.
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<hr>If you're submitting something, or writing on contract, it's a good idea to inquire whether they have a house style sheet or, if not, which more general one they follow. <hr></blockquote>You know, I'm not sure that's such a big deal. If you're writing for a newspaper and you put "per cent" when they prefer "percent" they'll just change it and not think any less of you.
However, I once wrote a travel article for a newspaper and, God knows why, I made a reference to "the well-healed tourist". One of the proofreaders was a bit more on the ball than me and changed it to the correct "well-heeled". I now know the saying originates from cock-fighting and how to spell it but that was kind of embarrassing.
Also I recently had quite a long feature published which I'm pleased to say they barely changed at all. One sentence they did edit however was where I made a reference to a doctor and wrote "while he and others agree that…"
It would seem that I'm still capable of a clumsy sentence now and again.
I like the sound of "good books aimed at various aspects of writing--for native speakers with a weak understanding of grammar" mentioned above. I'm quite sure there are many many aspects of grammar that I don't understand, or at least I don't understand the reasons behind the rules.
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