Yesterday I learned that my new blog home at Lingua Franca* does not use Chicago style. My first response was nonchalance; I know that not everyone uses CMOS. But overnight it hit me the way a sniffle on Wednesday is a cold by Thursday, and now I’m in full-bore whining mode.
I have never in my life used any style guide but Chicago. And it hasn’t been a casual brand-loyalty kind of thing, the way I’ve always used, say, Alka-Seltzer. For decades, CMOS has been within arm’s reach, like reading glasses or a pencil. I’m what they call a “power user.” For pete’s sake—I’m one of its editors.
I won’t cheapen my feelings by comparing them to cheating—on a diet, a lover. What I feel is not guilt or treason. It’s more like unreasoned homesickness and fear. I know Chicago style so intimately, so automatically. Typing the serial comma by now is as much in my fingers as in my brain.
And on to the serious whining: I have to learn a new style! Go ahead and throw in my face my cheerful pep talking about learning CMOS 16. I don’t know how to learn a new style! I can’t even find online a serious list of the main points of NYT style—although a copy of the manual is even now winging its way to my desk.
Until my copy arrives, I would love to learn some of the most common differences between New York Times and Chicago styles. I know about using Mr. and Ms. I know NYT eschews the serial comma.
Please tell me what you know! Maybe that will bring relief.
______
*At the Chronicle of Higher Education, beginning the week of August 29; I will post the link here each week.
I have a feeling that most of your readers are loyal to Chicago. I am. Good luck.
Posted by: Suburbaneditor | 08/19/2011 at 11:28 AM
NYT style? I love the Times, but I don't know if I could ever place an apostrophe in DVDs, as they insist upon doing.
Posted by: Scott Rollans | 08/19/2011 at 03:13 PM
Be of good cheer. NYT style is in fact no worse than a bad cold.
Posted by: Johnemcintyre | 08/19/2011 at 04:38 PM