The Document Drafting Handbook (DDH) is intended to help agencies prepare documents for publication in the Federal Register.

October 1998 Revision

• Read the DDH Online
• Download the DDH
• Do I Need This Book?
• How Do I Read or Print It?
• Can I Still Use My Old DDH?
• I Want To Comment

Supplements to the October 1998 Revision

• Supplement 1, April 12, 2004; Incorporation by Reference Language:   ASCII  |  PDF
• Supplement 2, May 1, 2004; Corrections to a Rule:   ASCII  |  PDF

New "ADDRESSES" Template

The OFR has improved the format of the "ADDRESSES" paragraph in document preambles to implement the E-Government Act and the Regulations.gov eRulemaking initiative. This new format supplements guidance contained in the October 1998 Document Drafting Handbook.

Do I Need This Book?

The National Archives and Records Administration, through the Office of the Federal Register (OFR), offers the Document Drafting Handbook (DDH) to assist Federal officials who prepare documents that will appear in the Federal Register.

It provides guidance to help you create and submit documents that comply with OFR's publication requirements. Numerous examples illustrate common situations and suggest solutions to drafting problems.

How Do I Read or Print It?

The DDH consists of sixteen files that are in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Using the Acrobat Reader program, you can read these online, or you can download them to read or print from your system.

You will not be able to read or print the DDH, or any other PDF files, unless you have Acrobat Reader, available free of charge from Adobe Systems, Inc.

Read DDH Online | Download DDH | About Acrobat and PDF | Get Acrobat

Can I Still Use My Old DDH?

Yes. There is nothing in this October 1998 Revision that contradicts or changes the material in the April 1997 Revision.

However, we have added some new topics, and have rewritten many sections and added more examples to clarify and expand our coverage.

Appendix D of the October 1998 DDH describes in detail how this revision differs from the April 1997 Revision.

I Want to Comment

We need your help to make the DDH dynamic, responsive, and above all, useful to our customers.

In fact, many of the improvements in this revision are based on comments or suggestions from readers of previous editions.

If you think we left something out, or should have done something differently, please tell us:

• Send us an email at info@fedreg.nara.gov
  
  
• or write to:

  Federal Register (NF)
  National Archives and Records Administration
  700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
  Washington, DC   20408-0001