A Pocket Style Manual covers five sections on writing: clarity, grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and--the most important of all--citations. Straightforward and clear, this manual offers no frills, just the basics to writing research papers.

The new fifth edition teaches how to cite new sources (podcasts, Wikipedia, blogs, MP3s, etc.) and even where to find citation information. It also includes more diverse research paper examples (including nursing and business) and offers more help to ESL students.

Personally, I used A Pocket Style Manual just for its sections on citations. It covers MLA, APA, and Chicago style. Many of my college courses would demand different styles for research papers, and having this slim, accessible book made it much easier to skip from style to style. I barely used the other sections, not because they were faulty, but because there are more engaging resources out there.

Overall, it's a solid resource to have if you're a college student. Diane Hacker also has a useful Web site (http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/pocket5e/) that contains much of the same information as her pocket book. I have the print version, because it's useful to have on hand at anytime, and I hate reading books online. Get the cheaper fourth edition (A Pocket Style Manual), if you think the fifth (see second paragraph) doesn't add anything you need.

I had to buy this book for a class, and it is pointless. All the information can be found for free online, so it is pretty much a waste of $20.

I am excited to use the MLA tools in this pocket guide for writing my college papers. There is so much in this little book, and was worth ever cent of my purchase. There are lots of little things that students forget like noun/verb agreement, and possession. It is very helpful, and every student should have this!

its an excently book to have handy. its very helpful for every class thats consists of writting.