on Facebook
on Twitter
on YouTube
RAND Corporation Style Manual
Version 3.0
On the New Edition
The front-matter lists are much more detailed than in the second edition; in particular, the list of tables is now complete. These, in concert with the Acrobat bookmarks, should improve your ability to find material. Users who download the PDF may either use the manual in that form and search it electronically or may print out the document.
The most significant changes are in the sections on citations and bibliographies. Also note that the positioning of figure numbers and titles has changed. The list of abbreviations is now a separate document: A Sampling of Abbreviations. Finally, numerous additions have been made to the various lists of examples. We hope to provide additional reference material in the future, including more citation examples and, eventually, an Editorial Tip of the Month archive.
We appreciate hearing any suggestions you might have; we expect to make minor amendments more often than in the past.
Purpose and Objectives
The primary purpose of the RAND Corporation Style Manual is to guide RAND associates in handling the mechanics of style—the treatment of words and numbers, citation of sources, and various other conventions—while preparing written documents for RAND and its clients. The overall objective is to simplify the writing, editing, and proofreading processes by establishing standards, recording them, and ensuring that everyone has access to them. In part to assist that effort, this manual also addresses the rules of punctuation, spelling, and usage that elude everyone from time to time. RAND does not expect everyone to know everything contained in this volume; indeed, that is the very reason for documenting it. The quality of the writing and the scholarship RAND associates produce should, however, be high enough that documents do not require more than a standard edit.
What this Manual Covers
This manual covers punctuation, spelling and compound words, capitalization of names and terms, abbreviations and symbols, treatment of numbers, use of footnotes, and creating references and bibliographies. The appendixes following the main text touch on what is involved in typography, explain proofreading symbols, address common challenges in English usage, and present editorial policies. A bibliography provides information on other sources of information on style, including specialized volumes for legal, medical, and other documents.
What this Manual Does Not Cover
Except in passing, usually by way of example, this manual does not cover unit and corporate content requirements, formats and templates, art styles, classification marking, procedures for publishing documents at RAND, or grammar. Some units have additional requirements, such as standard text that prefaces must include, material that prefaces and summaries must address, and sections that must be included; consult individual unit intranet sites for the specifics.
Further Assistance
The bibliography to this manual mentions and briefly describes a few works that may be of interest.
The editorial staff hopes that the RAND Corporation Style Manual will provide quick and authoritative answers to most questions that arise about RAND style. Additional questions and comments may be addressed to members of the editorial staff.
—Phyllis Gilmore
Senior Research Editor
RAND Publications and Creative Services
Top