The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07.
style, in printing
in printing, arbitrary rule or collection of rules governing the practice of a printer or a publisher in doubtful or disputed matters to obtain consistency. Correct spelling is a matter of literacy, but a rule prescribing the use of one of two correct spellings is a matter of style. The stylebook of a printer or a publisher is a collection of rules governing office usage in matters of style. It is not a substitute for grammars and reference works. Frequently used stylebooks are The Chicago Manual of Style, (15th ed. 2003) published by the Univ. of Chicago Press, the Style Manual of the United States Government Printing Office, Skillin and Gay’s Words into Type, and the Associated Press Style Book and Libel Manual.
