Magazine style, online at last

More and more glossy monthlies have been making the big leap to the Web. And now, finally, so is their bible of style.

No, not fashion style; you can find plenty of glam gospel online, especially if you're into offbeat journals like Manolo's Shoe Blog. I'm referring to copy style. Spelling, citation, punctuation, hyphenation, jargon, libel--all the things nerdy editors like myself try to keep a close eye on.

Journalists at traditional papers and sites such as CNET News.com have been able to search online for up-to-date missives from their primary style guide, the AP Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law--albeit after subscribing and signing in--for several years. Reporters and editors at The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, the BBC and other media outlets have also been able to look up their house style rulings online.

Magazine copy cops, however, have had to stick with the cumbersome paper version of their primary source of guidance: The Chicago Manual of Style.

But they won't for much longer. The University of Chicago next month plans to release an online version of its legendary book, which differs from the Associated Press guide in many ways, not the least of which is its ruling on the serial comma.

Using Google Mini technology, which is designed to help small organizations enhance online searches of their "digital assets," the school plans to provide Web access to "all the tools that writers, editors, and publishers need"--note the extra comma--for an "introductory" annual subscription of $25.

Registered site members will be offered a free 30-day trial, and a CD-ROM version will also be available by mid-September.