WSJ’s style guru Martin is retiring

Paul Martin, who has been affiliated with The Wall Street Journal since 1960 and has run a style blog for it for the past 26 years, is retiring.

At the end of his latest “Style & Substance,” Martin wrote, “With this issue of Style & Substance, midway into my 27^th year as the founding editor, I will be yielding the reins. As part of my 53-year association with The Wall Street Journal, it has been a good run, indeed. Thanks to all of you, staffers and outside readers of the blog, for your many contributions and critiques to help uphold the highest standards for English usage in the Journal.”

Martin became the paper’s copy desk chief in 1972 and compiled and edited “The Wall Street Journal Stylebook” since its first internal publication in 1981.

Laster, as assistant managing editor, he was also the news department’s ombudsman for responding to readers’ comments, and a final reader for major Journal stories.

In 2000, Martin received the Elliott V. Bell Award from the New York Financial Writers’ Association. The Bell Award is given each year to the person the association deems has made a significant, long-term contribution to the professional of financial journalism.

Martin is a graduate of Dartmouth College.

On a personal note, Martin and his “Wall Street Journal Guide to Business Style and Usage” was one of the inspirations for “The SABEW Stylebook.”