Rules of Thumb: A Guide for Writers, Seventh Edition (repost)

Brevity and practicality are the hallmarks of Rules of Thumb. Reflecting the most current MLA, APA, and Chicago documentation styles, the seventh edition remains the ideal handbook for improving grammar without overwhelming student writers with specialized terminology.

This book is for you if you love to write, but itĺs also for you if you have to write. Rules of Thumb is a quick guide that you can use easily, on your own, and feel confident in your writing.
The authors suggest that you read Rules of Thumb in small doses, out of order, when you need it. Itĺs not like a novel that keeps you up late into the night. Youĺll need to read a few lines and then pause to see if you understand. After ten minutes, set the book aside. From time to time, look at the same points again as a reminder.

Part 1, "The Basics: Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar," covers the most common mistakes. We put these rules first because they are what most students worry about and will want to have handy. However, when you are writing your ideas, donĺt get distracted with correctness; afterwards, take the time to look up the rules you need.
Part 2, "Putting a Paper Together," takes you through the stages of writing an essayŚfrom coming up with ideas to proofreading and formatting. In addition, we have included specific instructions for writing an essay in class and for writing about literature.
Part 3, "The Research Paper," tells you how to conduct a research project with confidence.
Part 4, "Style," will help you to develop a clear, strong style of writing.