IIPREPARING THE MANUSCRIPT
The first requisite of good manuscript is obviously legibility. To this end we suggest the following:
Typing.—Manuscript should be typewritten in black on one side of white paper, uniform in size and preferably 8½×11 inches. A paper of reasonable thickness and toughness is desirable. Thin, "manifold" paper should not be used for the publisher's copy.
The same spacing should be used as far as practicable on each sheet to facilitate estimates as to the number of words in the complete manuscript. A margin of at least an inch should be left at top, bottom, and left-hand side. Single spacing should be avoided.
A carbon copy should invariably be made and retained by the author, both for his reference and to protect him against possible loss of the original. The original or ribbon copy should be sent to the publisher.
Numbering the Pages.—Sheets should be numbered consecutively in the upper right-hand corner from beginning to end and arranged in order of their numbers. Interpolated pages may be marked 36a, 36b, and so forth, in accordance with the number of the preceding page. If any pages are removed from the manuscript for any reason, the preceding page should be double numbered, as, for example: 36 & 7 or 36-40.
Copy for Footnotes.—Footnotes, if used, should be put into the body of the manuscript immediately following the reference and separated from the text by parallel lines above and below. The number referring to the footnote should be placed in the text and before the footnote. Generally speaking, we prefer the use of arabic numerals for footnotes,1which should be carried out consecutivelythrough each chapter, when the footnotes are numerous, with a new series for each chapter. In cases where footnotes are relatively few, the numerals may be repeated without risk of confusion from page to page as the footnotes occur.
1:This footnote is to show the size of type (8 point) which we generally use for footnotes. Incidentally this booklet is set up in 10 point, and in the general typographical style of our reference and textbooks, as distinguished from handbooks. The dimensions of the type page and the trimmed size of the page are those we usually adopt for the standard 6×9-inch book.
1:This footnote is to show the size of type (8 point) which we generally use for footnotes. Incidentally this booklet is set up in 10 point, and in the general typographical style of our reference and textbooks, as distinguished from handbooks. The dimensions of the type page and the trimmed size of the page are those we usually adopt for the standard 6×9-inch book.
Copy for Illustrations.—Drawings and photographs, which are discussed more fully later, should not be inserted in the manuscript, because illustrations are sent to the engraver at the same time that the manuscript is sent to the printer. Small drawings should be pasted on separate sheets of paper, one drawing to the sheet, but large drawings and photographs should not be treated in this manner. Mounted photographs are entirely satisfactory, but unmounted photographs should not be pasted on sheets or mounted, except by an expert. All illustrations should be referred to by figure numbers in the text and numbered correspondingly for identification on the copy. We prefer to have illustrations numbered consecutively from the beginning to the end of the manuscript.
Subdividing the Text.—In modern textbooks and scientific works the tendency is toward clearly marked subdivisions of the text. To this end center-headings, side-headings, and subheadings are constantly used. It is in general advisable that all manuscripts be prepared in this way. As far as is possible the divisions should be of reasonable length in order that the text may be broken up sharply into its subdivisions. In the case of textbooks intended for classroom use, we find that teachers generally prefer divisions of approximately equal size and not over a page in length. Where the division is longer than a page, subdivisions with side-headings in italics may be used.
Bold-face headings may be indicated in the manuscript either by the lettersb. f.or by underlining with a wavy line. Italics may be indicated by underlining with a straight line. If bold-face capitals are required, markb. f. caps.
In the designation of headings and subheadings particular care should be taken to follow a consistent and easily understood plan.
Some of our editors strongly recommend that every chapter should begin with an uncaptioned introductory paragraph to avoid the bald-headed appearance that results if a chapter begins immediately with a bold-face caption.
If a text is designed for one of the numerous series which we publish, the author should consult the editor of the series for his preference in this and similar matters.
Some Details of Typography.—For classroom use the majority of teachers seem to prefer to have the side-headings numbered consecutively throughout the book.
Tables and illustrations should be numbered consecutively throughout the book but in separate series. Tables should have an appropriate caption above, and, generally speaking, illustrations should have a descriptive legend below. Tables should be arranged, if possible, so that they can be printed across the page.
When equations and formulas are numerous, and especially in books designed for classroom use, it is often advantageous to number them consecutively throughout the text.
For chapters and tables roman numerals should be used; for all other series, arabic.
Excerpts from the works of other authors (when they are more than a phrase or sentence), problems, examples and test questions are generally set in smaller type than the body of the text itself. Accordingly they should be clearly marked.
Bibliographies.—Bibliographic references by footnotes serve in most books. Bibliographies of greater extent should be arranged alphabetically at the end of each chapter of the book, or numbered serially and referred to by numbers in the text. The custom is to print the titles of books in roman and the titles of periodicals in italics. Abbreviations should conform to the well-established style sheets of technical societies. We recommend particularly the abbreviations of:
The extent of the bibliography will vary, of course, with the nature of the subject and the treatment. The tendency to-day appears to be toward rather excessive bibliographies, which do not seem to us generally to be justified. For a simple rule, we recommend "bibliographies of easily accessible sources."
Tables of Contents.—Detailed tables of contents to run in the front of the book serve a useful purpose. They should, however, be kept down to reasonable limits.
There are three forms of contents used in our books:
(1) A simple list of chapter headings. In many cases this is sufficient.(2) Chapter headings with all articles or sub-headings given underneath. These may either be listed or "run in." With a good index, such a full table of contents seems hardly to serve a useful purpose.(3) The chapter headings with the outstanding sub-headings listed or "run in" underneath. When these headings are selected carefully they give a quick but comprehensive picture of the contents.
(1) A simple list of chapter headings. In many cases this is sufficient.
(2) Chapter headings with all articles or sub-headings given underneath. These may either be listed or "run in." With a good index, such a full table of contents seems hardly to serve a useful purpose.
(3) The chapter headings with the outstanding sub-headings listed or "run in" underneath. When these headings are selected carefully they give a quick but comprehensive picture of the contents.
Lists of illustrations are nowadays generally regarded as unnecessary in a technical book, and should be prepared only for the guidance of the author and the publisher.
Indexes.—A good subject index is necessary in all technical works. A widely-read periodical in New York at one time published regularly the following notice of subject books which were submitted to it for review and found to be without indexes:
The publisher and the author did not think well enough of this book to supply it with a suitable index. We feel, therefore, that it is hardly worthy of a review in our columns.
The publisher and the author did not think well enough of this book to supply it with a suitable index. We feel, therefore, that it is hardly worthy of a review in our columns.
A good index is one which enables the reader or student to locate readily the subject or item which he seeks. It is usually best for an author to make his own index. A professional indexer is inclined to overload an index; the author, with his knowledge of the subject and a little study, will generally produce a better working index.
Our usual style of index is two columns to the page, set in 8-point type, with not more than two indentions. The following example shows the use of the single and double indentions:
Serious objection is properly made to numerous page references under a single heading. For example, in a book on Petroleum, references to every page on which the wordpetroleumappears would obviously be valueless. The solution lies in concise qualifications of the main titles to reduce to the minimum the actual number of page references opposite each heading.
In the preparation of an index the use of 3×5-inch cards, or paper of sufficient weight to be handled easily and of similar dimensions, is advisable. This enables the author to arrange his subject matter alphabetically and assemble his duplicate references easily. The single and double indentions should be marked on these cards, and the guide words stricken out when indentions are indicated. For single indentions use this mark◻. For double indentions use◻◻. If, after the cards are so arranged and marked, it is possible for the author to have the index typewritten in manuscript form, the risk of mixing and loss of cards is minimized and the work of the printer is facilitated.
Some Details of Style.—Because we do not seek uniformity throughout our entire list of books but ask only for uniformity within a manuscript itself, with adherence to any conservative and well-recognized standard, we do not issue a style sheet.
The periodicals with which we are associated (the publications of the McGraw-Hill Company, Inc., Tenth Avenue and 36th Street, New York) have a sheet which is excellent, and which may well serve as a guide to the author who is undertaking the preparation of a manuscript. Or the author may use as his guide any good writer's manual. At the risk of monotonous repetition, however, we urge once more the importance of uniformity throughout the manuscript itself. To this end, we suggest the following:
Spelling.—Follow any one of the standard and well-recognized dictionaries, but follow it consistently. We encounter difficulties especially in the matter of hyphenated words; in using hyphens follow the dictionary.
Abbreviations.—Again, any well-recognized standard will satisfy us. Dictionaries do not, in general, cover the abbreviations of scientific words to a satisfactory extent. We would suggest, therefore, that the author secure the style sheet of one of the leading technical societies in the field in which he works.
All of these technical societies have not only worked out their style sheets with care, but they have, in general, accustomed their numerous members to the details of these style sheets.
Copyright Infringements.—All publishers have noted in recent years a great increase in the number of copyright infringementcases. Many of these appear to spring from the habit of first preparing lecture notes, which are compiled or dictated from various sources without thought of publication. By the time the plan to produce a book matures, the source of the original material is often entirely forgotten.
No question is more common in the technical publishing field than "How far can I make excerpts, with credit but without permission, from the writings of other authors?"
To this question no definite and entirely satisfactory answer can be given. Certainly, where illustrations, tables, or important abstracts are to be made, the author should ask permission of the publisher or author from whose work he wishes to quote. In addition he should take special pains to see that full credit is given in the form required by the author or publisher from whom he has secured permission.
The copyright law and the penalties for infringement of copyright are drastic, but the decisions which have been rendered in cases that have gone to trial do not furnish any particularly safe guide.
In our experience the safest guide is a simple rule of courtesy. Neither the author nor the publisher of a work will refuse any reasonable request, though he may greatly resent borrowing without the courtesy of a request. It is safer, therefore, to obtain permission from author or publisher before borrowing from another work.
Shipping the Manuscript.—Manuscript should invariably be shipped flat, not folded or rolled.
Manuscript and drawings should be sent together and not in instalments. Except in rare instances, we do not undertake piecemeal manufacture of a book. In our experience such publication methods save little or no time and more often result in confusion and expense.
Manuscript, before it has been set up in type, should be shipped by express with a suitable valuation placed thereon. After the manuscript has been set up in type, the manuscript and proof may best be sent by parcel post, special delivery.