The only writing and editing resources you’ll ever need
Even though there are thousands of writing and editing resources to choose from, you don’t need a bookcase filled with them to be a great communicator in the financial services industry.
If you can spell, have a broad vocabulary and know the core rules of grammar, you’ll be ahead of the crowd. And if you have a few style tricks up your sleeve, even better.
To make your life easier, we’ve narrowed down the list of writing and editing resources to just seven.
Dictionaries
You only need two dictionaries to make sure your spelling is correct:
1. Canadian Oxford Dictionary: the #1 dictionary for Canadians
2. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary: good if you’re writing for a U.S. audience
Thesauruses
If you’re looking for another word but it’s just out of reach, grab one of these thesauruses instead:
3. Concise Oxford Thesaurus: an Ext. Marketing Inc. favourite
4. Roget’s International Thesaurus: it can’t hurt to have a second thesaurus, can it?
Style guides
Things get dicey in the world of style guides and to say there are differences of opinion is an understatement. It’s also important to note that when you start picking and choosing from these resources, you’ll have to make your own in-house style guide.
5. The Canadian Press Stylebook: this is what Canadian newspapers use
6. The Chicago Manual of Style: a more literary alternative to the above and very important for writing in the U.S.
7. Editing Canadian English: an extremely useful resource from the Editors’ Association of Canada
Although there are plenty of other style resources, from The Elements of Style to Eats, Shoots & Leaves, the books mentioned above are more than enough to ensure clear and consistent communications.