§ 271. so-called / self-styled. 3. Word Choice. The American Heritage Book of English Usage. 1996

The American Heritage® Book of English Usage.

A Practical and Authoritative Guide to Contemporary English. 1996.

3. Word Choice: New Uses, Common Confusion, and Constraints

§ 271. so-called / self-styled

You should not use quotation marks to set off descriptions that follow expressions such as so-called and self-styled, which themselves relieve the writer of responsibility for the attribution: his so-called foolproof method (not “foolproof method”).	1