RESEARCH TIPS FOR WRITERS

Consider the source! All information providers are not equal. It's especially important to be cautious when quoting from the Internet, where anyone with a computer is free to post information. Before you decide to accept the "facts" on a Web site, try to discover who's doing the posting and what that person's credentials are. Even better, double-check with a reliable print resource or a known expert if possible.

An almanac should be part of every writer's reference shelf. Almanacs are a great source of quick facts and statistics on a wide range of subjects, from the official language of countries around the world to the text of the U. S. Constitution. Most almanacs include a perpetual calendar and equivalent measurement tables. Don't forget to replace them every couple of years or so.

Still using your old high school dictionary? If so, you're not getting the most from this valuable resource. Dictionaries need to be updated every so often -- new words are continually entering the language and usage rules change over time. Besides, you can find all sorts of other information in the dictionary, from potted biographies to proofreaders' marks to the full text of the Declaration of Independence. A good unabridged dictionary isn't cheap, but it's a worthwhile investment.

Are split infinitives okay? What about ending a sentence with a preposition? Definitions of acceptable style evolve over time, so it's important to keep one or two current style and usage guides close at hand when you are writing. The Oxford Dictionary of American Usage and Style is useful. You may also be interested in one of the many guides aimed specifically at writers -- which one to choose is mainly a matter of personal taste.

Dozens of one-volume encyclopedias exist, covering every conceivable topic from Asian art to zoology. At least one is sure to be devoted to your area of interest. If you write about a particular topic frequently, the convenience of owning a comprehensive overview can outweigh the book's cost. Certain publishers, such as Oxford University Press and Facts on File, produce stacks of one-volume reference books on a wide variety of topics -- literature, art, music, food, politics, law, medicine, word and phrase origins, science and math, nature, and more. Other publishers offer general reference books for their topic strength -- gardening, parenting, cultural history, sports, and the like. If you're interested in finding a general reference resource on your topic, check offerings from publishers that specialize in that area.

Research Tips, page 2