Below is the copy editor's style sheet for Nicholson Baker's House of Holes, which The New York Times has called both a "porny Alice in Wonderland" and a "hideously glorious filthfest" (Sam Lipsyte said the latter; Sam Lipsyte would know) and which accomplishes what all great modern literature aspires to: using "Malcolm Gladwell' as a synonym for penis.
Enjoy.
Timothy Mennel
STYLE SHEET, 6 Dec 10
Nicholson Baker, House of HolesPrincipal sources
Chicago Manual of Style, 15th ed.
Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th ed.
Words into Type, 3d ed.
www.urbandictionary.comGeneral
spell out large round numbers and numbers under 100set decades as digits: "the 1950s," but "the fifties" and "the nineteenth century"
use serial comma
set letters used as letters roman and capitalized; set words used as words in quotes (see 225)
set sound effects, noises, and thoughts roman and without quotation marks
capitalize full sentences after colons: Do it like this
sentence fragments OK
commaless adjective stacking sometimes OK: e.g., "some huge soft heavy sad hangers"
use double possession: He was a friend of Bill's.
a row of dots under a letter, word, or phrase generally means "In some contexts this should be styled differently, but here it is fine as is" unless there is a query in the margin at that point, in which case it means "This is what the query is referring to."
Small angle brackets around the bottom of a phrase mean "See the query in the margin."
terms or names on the following pages that are in brackets do not appear explicitly in the text
starred items on the following pages have not been independently confirmed
Alphabetical
a-holes (38)
assbones (44)
assbuns (199)
asscheek (33)
assclenching (200)
asscrack (239)
assfucking (175)
ass jeans (240; see query)
assjunk (180)
ass pants (241; see query)
assplay (224)
ass-slappy (220)
ass-squeezer (27)
asstrunk (180)
asswood (57)babymaker (165)
backcheeks (241; see note)
backthighs (241)
ball-hankie (106)
ballkeeper (81)
ball load (97; see query)
ballsack (31; see query)
batshit (272)
beardwater (91)*
beatstick (228)
bitchgroove (242)
blookie (168)
blowload (97; see note)
bodyboy (204)
bonky (183)
boobfat (236)
boobflesh (236)
boobosity (236)
booby (118)
boothbay (79)*
bottom cheeks (110; see note)
boycone (127)
brimmingness (236)
britneys (98)*
bug spray (139)
bun boy (227; see query)
bungee hole (61; see query)
bunny-fucking (175; see query)
bye (5)cameltoe (119)
camerone (89; see query)*
charliehorse (198; see note)
cheekpump (177)
clitordynia (135)
clit hood (65; see note)
clitty (7)
cockbranch (237)
cockbrisket (172)
cock bundle (253; see query)
cockfuckedfulness (275)
cockhead (218)
cockhelmet (242; see query)
cockhole (101)
cockitude (273)
cockjerking (268)
cockjuice (275)
cockknob (73)
cockmeat (106)
cockness (21)
cockpole (53)
cockpumpings (156)
cock root (229; see query)
cockskin (273)
cocksman (223)
cockstroker (267)
cocksucking (239)
cocky (meaning "like a cock" not "arrogant"; 271; see query)
cods (232)
come (n., v.; 41; see query)
come-drops (267; see query)
comeload (77)
come ride (156; see query)
comesack (131; see query)
come shudders (131; see query)
come-squirts (267; see query)
come window (267; see query)
crotchal (63)
crotch hole (68; see query)
crotchy (21)
cumshot (34)
cunny (98)
cunnyhole (226)
cuntatious (248)
cunt canal (274; see query)
cuntcall (258)
cuntgash (200)
cunthole (257)
cuntlips (258)
cuntpussy (251)
cuntsplitter (166)
cuntspot (59)darlin' (106)
derriere (180)
dickboys (99)
dickitude (275)
dickjerking (166)
dick juice (97; see query)
dickknob (153)
dicklust (97)
dickmeat (22)
dickstick (274)
dickstrokes (156)
dickybird (161)
dogfuck (155)
doodle-goo (174)
dry hump (v.; 209)eggmate (279)
elongational (163)falafel (193)
Fallopian tubes (138)
fast-jack (v.; 167)
fingerblock (119)
fingerbones (132)
finger-O (5)
finger-snappings (4)*
flash drive (196)
fleshball (260)
fleshbone (166)
floof (v.; 267)
flump (v.; 212)
footbone (213)
frig (v.; 65)
fuckalope (154)
fuckery (256)
fuckfinger (225)
fuckfountains (25)
fucky; fucky-fuck; sucky-suck (198; 246)glissando (v.; 18)
gloryhole (165)
god (21)
goody (199)
groanroom (174)hah (154; watch)
handrest (197)
headroom, the (206; see query)
heaven (134)
hip-jouncing (v.; 255)
hmm (4)
holefucking (259)
hooch (v.; 274; see query)innerness (n.; 179)
jacksons (n.; 171)
jacquard (222)
jerries (95)
jiggy (259)
jill (v.; 252)
jizm (34)
jizz; jizz hopper; jizz bomb (94; 106; 267)
jizzblast (v.; 267)
jizzler (v.; 275)
johnny-stick (142; see query)
joywave (49)
judder (n.; 211)
juicy-lucy (246)Kegel (v.; 101)
kelly green (224)
keycard (125)
knocker-jug-bosom-boobs (236)
kundalini (130; see note)ladyboy (139)
lady friend (54)
lemondrop (slang; 136)
li'l (47)
loinstem (274)
lord (253)
loungey (33)
loverman; lovercream (200; 268)mandingo (215)
man-jack (adj.; 156; see query)
manjig (211; see query)
manslurp (97)
manwater (212)
mashup (194)
masturboats (13)
maximus cheeks (200)
meatstick (25)
meat wagon (105; see query)
mike (247; see query)
moneyshot (267; watch ante)
Monsieur Twinklestump (225)
monster hand (261; see query)
Mr. Thick Dicky (218)
murfle; murflement (v.; 18; 271)*
musclecakes (208)
muscly (72)neckhole (209)
nipplerider (138)
nippletips (235)
nub (v.; 254)
nutbag (11)
nutload (275)
nutsack (251)oftener (222)*
okay (2)packmule (219)
pearwood (232)
peckerdickcock (22)
peeny wanger (58)
pelvisy (51)
penhole (110)
penisbranch (238)
peniswood (236)
pete (n.; 171)
pinkie (57)
pish-posh (259)
poof (v.; 28)
pooter (47)
pornfume (258)
pornhand (257)
pornmonster (256)
pornsludge (101)
pornslurry (258)
pornstarch (143)
pornsucker (36)
precum (154)
pudendum (250; see query)
puffylipped (202)
punany (123)
purseness (151)
pussyboarder (140)
pussybone (120; see note)
pussyfinger (191)
pussyfloss (98)
pussy-fucker (241)
pussy hair (119; see query)
pussyhole (22)
pussylips (140)
pussypilots (36)
pussyrug (263)
pussysurfer (147)
pussytwat (21)
pussywall (264)
putz (98)riddler (212)
ring-ding (v.; 273)sackshot (106; see query)
scants (178)
scrotatiousness (11)
seedstick (122)
sexmeat (274)
sex place (120)
shrimp locker (33; see query)*
shudderation (275)
silly string (98; see note)
slide-slam (v.; 65)
sloosh (v.; 240)
slutfucking (168)
snatch hole (187; see query)
snowboarder (72)
southern (226)
spicetime (100)*
spiffle (259; see query)
splatterment (260)
splaylegged (199)
spunkbomb (268)
stonker (274)
suckslut (165)
swervie (73)*
swizzle (v.; 65)ten-spot (51)
teryllium (8)
testosterodick (274; see query)
thermos (182)
thingy (67)
three-pack (114)
thrummiest (44)
thumb-tweak (v.; 232)
thumper bean (62)
thundertube (22)
titboobs (82)
tit-cozies (170; see note)
titfat (236)
titmilk; tittymilk (137; 248)
tooter (156)
treefucking (238)
twat (v.; 254)
twathole (237)
twelvemo (198)*
twitchet (264)
twizzle (v.; 212; see query on 275)uhm (94)
underdick (131)
united parcel (96)
up-country (38)
upsticking (42)
urgie-splurgey (109; see query)vadge (200)
vermilion (257)wang (v.; 105)
wanky (29)
weeperhole (258; see query)
whipflick (98)
whuffle (v.; 106)
wigwag (v.; 251)*
windowlight (114)
wonderbreasts (106)
wonderloaves (179)
wonk (v.; 275)
woody (220)
woopsie; woops (19; 145)
wuffly (46)yoga (248; see query)
People (fictional unless noted)
Angelo (37)
Aunt Maven (39)Benassi Brothers (real; 260; see note)
Betsy (110)
Birch, Diane (163; real?)
Bohsulav; Bohu (prince; 87, 89)*
Bono (58)
Borodin, Alexander; Alex (18; real?)*
Bosco (112)
Brigid (127)Cardell; Card (44, 224)
Carmichael, Hoagy (49; real)*
Cheyenne (69)
Chief; Chief Cock (165, 166)
Chilli (183)
Chuck; Chucky (13, 21)
Chuzzlewit, Martin (Dickens; 46)
Crackers (101)Daggett (26)
Dave; Davie (1, 40)
Dennis (149)
Dickens, Charles (46; real)
DiFranco, Ani (244; real)
Donna (162; perhaps not really her name)
Dune (32)Friggley (pornmonster; 261)
Gallanos (277)
Gladwell, Malcolm (198; real)
Glenn (186)
Gumball (dog; 185)Harry (256)
Hawking, [Stephen] (258; real)
Hax (32)
Helena (158)
Henriette (134)Jackie (44)
Jason (232)
Jeff (158)
Jessica (111)
Jimmy Stewart (14; real)
June (102; see query)Kathy (203)
King Nynus (86)
Koizumi (55)
Krock (74)Lanasha (58)
Leo the Lord of Tan (15)
Lila (4)
Lonny; Lonny-body (207; see query)
Loxie (26)
Luna (13)McFerrin, Bobby (116; real)
Marcela; Lucky Eyes; Marcie (55, 58, 248)
Marky Mark (38; real)
Mellinnas (278)
Mindy (149)
Mischa (161)Natasha (127)
Ned; Nedbody (8, 207)
Number 53 (177)Pearloiner, the; Madame Pearloiner (35, 263)
Pendle (23)
Polly (158)
Pootie (38)Reese (205)
Rhumpa (76)
Rianne (3)
Rimsky-Korsakov, Nicolai (19; real)*
Ross (59)
Ruzty (31)Sade (30; real)
Saucie (162)
Shandee (1)Tendresse (8)
Thomas, Marlo (real; 110)
Trix (169)Wade (100)
Woo Ha; Woo (9)Zilka (30)
Places (fictional unless noted)
Arch (St. Louis; real; 73)
Aswan Dam (real; 239)
Avenue of the Men Who Need to Suck on Twat Every Day (240)Bean Warp (108)
Big Top Sports (169)
Bohrania (89)*Carbon Fiber (real?; 69)*
Cockstorm Room (266)Darkrooms, the; a darkroom (66, 266)
18th Street (53)
Garden of the Wholesome Fuckers (66; see query on 174)
Grover Avenue (53)Hall of the Penises, the (162)
H.O.H. (House of Holes; 97; see queries on 132, 159)*
HOHMA (132)
Hotel du Trou (186; see queries)
House of Holes; the House (4, 41; watch short form)
House of Holes Hotel (231)
House of Holes Residence Suites (244)International Couch (28)
Jason's Woods (232)
Lascaux (real; 104)
Loulou Avenue (173)Man Line, the (177)
Merry-Go-Round, the (139)
midway, the (188)Ocean Playground (256)
O Street (27)Penis Wash (39; watch)
planet earth, the (real; 200)
Porndecahedron (28)
Portalino Extended Stay Suites (241)
Pussyboard, the; a pussyboard (139)Quim Street (173)
room 28L (16)
St. Louis (real; 67)
Tan Wizards (14)
Triple O Raunch (101)
Trou, the (66)Upskirt Street (240)
Velvet Room (16)
Wade for Me (store; 37)
Wenham Lake (real?; 48)*
White Lake (139)
Wiggle Room (real?; 66)Other Proper Names and Terms (many fictional)
Active Grid (kind of pouch; 169)*
Apple Pie and Farewell Handjob Festival, the (262, 263, 266, 268; see notes and queries)
Appleseed (band; 6)*
AR-24 Pornsucker; AR-24 Recon/Pornsucker; a pornsucker ship (143; 36)Baggie (69)
Be Good Tanyas (band; 126)*
Belt of Jingly Boobs (137)
Buildings and Grounds (36; department)Cable of Induhash (135)*
Cape (kind of house; 8)
Cock Ness Monster (140)
Contemporary Crochet (30)*Dendro (brand; 232)*
Deprivos (79)*
Dick for a Day; Dick for a Couple of Weeks (247)
Discovery Channel (144)
Duplo (trademark; 180)Eddie Bauer (8)
Everclear (248)First Conundrum (9)*
Fruit Loops (104)Gouttelettes de Bonheur (Droplets of Happiness; 91)* (translation not confirmed)
Gumuz (59)Hokey Pokey (dance; 29)
Intake (36; department)
Internet, the (185)Ka-Chiang (100)
Laundromat (53)
Leo's Tanlord Bronzer; Tanlord Bronzer (14, 15)*
Luleh (brand; 82)*Magic Kentucky Lime; Kentucky Lime (fruit; also Purple Cometwat; 62, 63)*
Olivia Wallenstein (brand; 82)*
Pantone (trademark; 182)
Parcheesi (trademark; 110)
Play-Doh (trademark; 11)
Polovetsian Dances (18)*
Push (lubricant; 225)*Red Vines (candy; 197)
Scheherazade (19)*
Scientific American (23)
Sennheiser (brand; 251)*
Sex Now (button; 125)
Silken Flesh Communicator (81)*
"Smooth Operator" (song; 30)
Snapple (215)
Squat Line (29)*Tastefully Done (book; 210)*
Terranova (lipstick color; 3)*
The Rooster (23)*
Thompson Heftyshot; Heftyshot (bathing suit; 169, 170)
Tit Swarm (86)*
Transportation Security Administration (264)
Tweenella (247; see query)Uniques (type of woman; 89)*
Untamed Wanderer (book series; 210)*"When Are We Going (to Do It)" (song; 6)*
Winchester Little Cigars (245)
Photo via the Toronto Star.