Q. I’m not sure if this is covered by CMOS, but I don’t know who else can help me here. I’m creating a PowerPoint presentation on a publishing company, and in their brochure they classify novels, phrase books, and coffee table books under “trade publications.” Is this correct? I understand a trade publication to be material directed at a certain industry. Thank you for your help.
A. Novels, phrase books, and coffee table books are indeed all trade books, which means you will find them in bookstores for the general public. Materials directed at a certain industry are not usually considered trade books, unless they have broader application. The definitions are a little confusing, because you might think that “trade” has to do with “the trades,” meaning industries, but here it doesn’t.