The SBL Handbook of Style 2nd Edition

It seems like the abbreviations they make you use could be shorter.

Absolute necessity for seminary students.

This is a major upgrade on the first edition. I use SBL style occasionally as a copyeditor, and I wasn't aware there was a second edition until I encountered a job that required it. So I ordered the book and liked it--except for the price. But this has much more detail than the first edition, with nice cross-refs to the Chicago Manual of Style, and I'm hoping it will be a valuable reference tool for the next several years.

This book is crucial for any professional who works with biblical and related literature. I just wish it contained a few more examples; much of the book consists of abbreviations and their meaning.

I enjoyed how the SBL spoke from a descriptive, rather than prescriptive, understanding of formatting. It didn't try to invent rules or new patterns, but instead looked for agreement among the styles being used by Bible scholars. This text is a five-star text because it names in clear ways how writers of Bible stuff can better convey meaning and name the way others are informing their thoughts within the text.

As a copy editor who sometimes runs across questions in the field, I've found it a great resource. When I first received it (first edition), I thought there would be couple portions I could use. When I started checking it, those "couple" turned to "many." The book has moved to my primary, go-to, within-easy-reach shelf.

Helping me tremendously with papers. Still having difficulty with finding exact documentation style at times.

Great academic asset!