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First, write in a conversational tone, to avoid sounding like an
encyclopedia.
Next, read the MRH Style Guide:
This short document sets forth basic writing guidelines and
advice for grammar and spelling. It includes common modeling
and railroad terms, plus product and manufacturer names.
The guide shows how to include Web links and Internet terms in
your article.
In this age of 24x7 instant communication, it is easy to be misled
about grammar. If you read a dozen Web pages that say, “The
company released it’s newest model,” it is tempting to think that
all those people must be right, and “it’s” always (or never) has
an apostrophe. Not true. See the style guide.
Give yourself some credit! You once knew proper grammar and
how to spell. Read the style guide to refresh your memory and
improve your writing. Pay particular attention to commas in a
series, apostrophes, and how to write numbers.
There’s more to writing than grammar and spelling. Model
railroaders are a knowledgeable bunch. You gain credibility when
you use correct railroad terms, names, and abbreviations. Even
seemingly minor errors like “SD-40-2,” instead of the correct
“SD40-2,” or “back head” instead of “backhead” are sure to
catch people’s attention.
Each error is a “bump” that slows reading and comprehension.
As the style guide says, make life easy for readers.
No bumps,
please.
Refer to the MRH Style Guide to see how MRH wants you to use
certain terms. One example is “boxcar,” not “box car.” But use
“flat car” instead of “flatcar.” These styles might seem like nit-
Writing for MRH - 4
picking, but consistency helps MRH maintain its high standards
and good reputation.
Spell and punctuate company and brand names according to the
guide. Most of these are the shown as the companies actually
use them, but sometimes MRH wants a variation that is easier
to read. One example is X-ACTO, the hobby knife company. It
is spelled with all capital letters and a hyphen, but MRH uses
“X-Acto” because it doesn’t SHOUT at you.
If you run across a brand name that isn’t in the style guide, write it
the way the company does, and MRH editors will decide if it is OK.
Likewise, if you are an expert on a topic and know that a word
or phrase should be used differently than the style guide shows,
drop a note to the editor and tell him. An example might
be a Pullman passenger car. The guide says to use “Pullman
Standard,” but that company didn’t exist until 1934. So, if you’re
writing about a 1928 observation car, “Pullman” is the correct
company name. Kudos to you for knowing that! Tell MRH.
What happens if you don’t quite follow the style guide? MRH has
copy editors who go over all of the articles and correct errors.
But if the article is difficult to read and contains many errors, the
editors will balk. Correcting errors at the last minute is difficult
and time-consuming.
As an author, you are the manufacturer, and MRH is the
customer. If you deliver a sloppy product, MRH might send it
back and ask you to fix it, or you might get paid less because
MRH needs to clean it up. Or worse yet, MRH may simply reject
it. As the customer, we are under no obligation to purchase a
product (your article) was slapped together.
Spend the time and make the effort to deliver a well-written
article. It will benefit everyone.
MRH-Mar 2013
