Lu’s Tech Writing Bookshelf

 There are many books out there for technical writing, editing, content creation, information design, and technical communication in general.   These are the books I find useful. I will add to the list occasionally.

 
Books I Use For My Classes

The book my Advanced Technical Communication class uses (use the latest version although most of the changes from edition to edition are mainly minor).

  • Technical Communication, Bedford/St. Martin’s, by Mike
    Markel. ISBN 0-312-55532-6 use current version

An optional text for my classes which is a must-have (in my opinion but I try to keep buying books to a minimum for students). Worth every penny.

  • Handbook for Technical Writing by Charles T. Brusaw, Gerald J. Alred, and
    Walter E. Oliu, published by St. Martin’s Press. Get the latest edition.
Other Books That A Tech Writer Should Consider Having On Their Bookshelf
  • The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition, by William Strunk Jr., E.B. White, Roger Angell, ISBN 0-205-30902-X
  • The Chicago Manual of Style (look for the newest edition when purchasing) by
    The University of Chicago Press (2003), ISBN 0-226-10403-6
  • Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Sixth Edition, by American Psychological Association (2009), Print ISBN-10: 1433805618 also in Kindle format
  • Technical Communication (13th Edition), by John Lannon & Laura Gurak, Longman (2014), ISBN-10: 0321899970 • ISBN-13: 9780321899972
  • MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (get latest edition), by Modern Language Association of America (2009), ISBN: 1603290249
  • Technical Editing: The Practical Guide for Editors and Writers by Judith A Tarutz
    Perseus Books (1992) ISBN 0-201-56356-8
  • Developing Quality Technical Information: A Handbook for Writers and Editors, 2nd Edition, by Gretchen Hargis; Michelle Carey; Ann Kilty Hernandez; Polly Hughes; Deirdre Longo; Shannon Rouiller; Elizabeth Wilde, Publisher: IBM Press (2004), Print ISBN-10: 0-13-147749-8,  Print ISBN-13: 978-0-13-147749-0
  • Adobe Classroom in a book, by The Adobe Creative Team, Adobe Press. Note there is one for virtually all of Adobe’s software. I have several and think you should buy as you need.  For example the Photoshop book is excellent.
  • There are many more fine books out there, especially in the Allyn & Bacon Series of tech books.  I particularly like the Writing in the Sciences: Exploring Conventions of Scientific Discourse.

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