New Edition of the GPO Style Manual

Floor Speech

New Edition of the GPO Style Manual -- (Extensions of Remarks - April 28, 2009)

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, the GPO is currently distributing copies of the latest edition of the U.S. Government Printing Office Style Manual, the first revision to this authoritative style guide since 2000.

The GPO Style Manual, as it is popularly known, is issued under the authority of section 1105 of Title 44 of the U.S. Code, which requires the Public Printer, as head of the GPO, to ``determine the form and style in which the printing ..... ordered by a department is executed ..... having proper regard to economy, workmanship, and the purposes for which the work is needed.'' The Manual is prepared by the GPO Style Board, composed of proofreading, printing, and Government documents specialists from within GPO, where all congressional publications and many other key Federal Government documents are produced.

The first GPO Style Manual appeared in 1894. It was developed originally as a printer's stylebook to standardize word and type treatment and remains so today. Through successive editions, however, the GPO Style Manual has come to be widely recognized by writers and editors both within and outside the Federal Government as one of the most useful resources in the editorial arsenal.

The new edition of the GPO Style Manual has been thoroughly redesigned to make it more modern and easier to read, and the content has been updated generally throughout in keeping with current usage. In addition, a variety of suggestions offered by users since the last edition was published have been incorporated. In addition to Members of Congress, copies are being distributed to Federal agencies and Federal depository libraries, and are being offered for sale to the public. There is also a free online version of the Manual at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/stylemanual/index.html.

As Chairman of the Joint Committee on Printing during the 110th Congress, when the new edition of the Style Manual was prepared, I commend the staff of the GPO for the production of this handsome volume, and I commend its use to my colleagues and their staffs in both this House and the Senate.

Source