SECTION 1
part 1
part 2
part 3
part 4SECTION 2
part 1
part 2
part 3
SECTION 3
part 1
part 2
part 3
part 4
part 5
SECTION 4
part 1
part 2
part 3
part 4
part 5
part 6
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Check List for Reviewing Manuscripts
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#1
 General |
Only units of the SI and
those units recognized for use with the SI are used to express the values of quantities.
Equivalent values in other units are given in parentheses following values in acceptable
units only when deemed necessary for the intended audience. |
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#2
Abbreviations |
Abbreviations such as
sec, cc, or mps are avoided and only standard unit symbols, prefix symbols, unit names,
and prefix names are used. |
| proper: |
s or second; cm3 or cubic
centimeter; m/s or meter per second |
| improper: |
sec; cc; mps |
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#3
Plurals |
Unit symbols are
unaltered in the plural. |
proper: |
l = 75 cm |
improper: |
l = 75 cms |
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#4
Punctuation |
Unit symbols are not
followed by a period unless at the end of a sentence. |
proper: |
The length of the bar is 75 cm.
The bar is 75 cm long. |
improper: |
The bar is 75 cm. long. |
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#5
Multiplication
& division |
A space or half-high dot
is used to signify the multiplication of units. A solidus (i.e., slash), horizontal
line, or negative exponent is used to signify the division of units. The solidus must not
be repeated on the same line unless parentheses are used. |
proper:
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The speed of sound is about 344 m·s-1 (meters
per second)
The decay rate of 113Cs is about 21 ms-1 (reciprocal
milliseconds)
m/s, m·s-2, m·kg/(s3·A), m·kg·s-3·A-1
m/s, m s-2, m kg/(s3 A),
m kg s-3 A-1 |
improper:
|
The speed of sound is about 344 ms-1 (reciprocal
milliseconds)
The decay rate of 113Cs is about 21 m·s-1 (meters
per second)
m ÷ s, m/s/s, m·kg/s3/A |
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#6
Typeface |
Variables and quantity
symbols are in italic type. Unit symbols are in roman type. Numbers should generally be
written in roman type. These rules apply irrespective of the typeface used in the
surrounding text. For more details, see Typefaces for symbols in scientific
manuscripts |
proper: |
She exclaimed, "That dog
weighs 10 kg!"
t = 3 s, where t is time and s is second
T = 22 K, where T is thermodynamic temperature, and K is kelvin |
improper: |
He exclaimed, "That dog
weighs 10 kg!
t = 3 s, where t is time and s is second
T = 22 K, where T is thermodynamic temperature, and K is kelvin |
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#7
Typeface |
Superscripts and
subscripts are in italic type if they represent variables, quantities, or running numbers.
They are in roman type if they are descriptive. |
| subscript
category |
|
typeface |
|
proper usage |
| quantity |
|
italic |
|
cp, specific heat
capacity at constant pressure |
| descriptive |
|
roman |
|
mp, mass of a
proton |
| running number |
|
italic |
|
 |
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#8
Abbreviations |
The combinations of
letters "ppm," "ppb," and "ppt," and the terms part per
million, part per billion, and part per trillion, and the like, are not used to express
the values of quantities. |
| proper: |
2.0 µL/L; 2.0 x 10-6 V;
4.3 nm/m; 4.3 x 10-9 l;
7 ps/s; 7 x 10-12 t,
where V, l, and t are the quantity symbols for volume, length, and
time. |
| improper: |
"ppm," "ppb," and
"ppt," and the terms part per million, part per billion, and part per trillion,
and the like |
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#9
Unit
modifications |
Unit symbols (or names)
are not modified by the addition of subscripts or other information. The following forms,
for example, are used instead. |
| proper: |
Vmax = 1000 V
a mass fraction of 10 % |
| improper: |
V= 1000 Vmax
10 % (m/m) or 10 % (by weight) |
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#10
Percent |
The symbol % is used to
represent simply the number 0.01. |
| proper: |
l1= l2(1
+ 0.2 %), or
D= 0.2 %,
where D is defined by the relation D= (l1 + l2)/l2.
|
| improper: |
the length l1 exceeds
the length l2 by 0.2 % |
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#11
Information
& units |
Information is not mixed
with unit symbols or names. |
| proper: |
the water content is 20 mL/kg |
| improper: |
20 mL H2O/ kg
20 mL of water/ kg |
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#12
Math
notation
|
It is clear to which unit
symbol a numerical value belongs and which mathematical operation applies to the value of
a quantity. |
| proper: |
35 cm x 48 cm
1 MHz to 10 MHz or (1 to 10) MHz
20 °C to 30 °C or (20 to 30) °C
123 g ± 2 g or (123 ± 2) g
70 % ± 5 % or (70 ± 5) %
240 x (1 ± 10 %) V
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improper:
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35 x 48 cm
1 MHz-10 MHz or 1 to 10 MHz
20 °C-30 °C or 20 to 30 °C
123 ± 2 g
70 ± 5 %
240 V ± 10 % (one cannot add 240 V and 10 %) |
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#13
Unit
symbols
& names
|
Unit symbols and unit
names are not mixed and mathematical operations are not applied to unit names. |
| proper: |
kg/m3, kg · m-3,
or kilogram per cubic meter |
| improper: |
kilogram/m3, kg/cubic
meter, kilogram/cubic meter, kg per m3, or kilogram per meter3. |
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#14
Numerals &
unit
symbols |
Values of quantities are
expressed in acceptable units using Arabic numerals and symbols for units. |
| proper: |
m = 5 kg
the current was 15 A |
| improper: |
m = five kilograms
m = five kg
the current was 15 amperes |
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#15
Unit
spacing |
There is a space between
the numerical value and unit symbol, even when the value is used in an adjectival sense,
except in the case of superscript units for plane angle. |
| proper: |
a 25 kg sphere
an angle of 2° 3' 4"
If the spelled-out name of a unit is used, the normal rules of English apply: "a roll
of 35-millimeter film." |
| improper: |
a 25-kg sphere
an angle of 2 ° 3 ' 4 " |
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#16
Digit
spacing |
The digits of numerical
values having more than four digits on either side of the decimal marker are separated
into groups of three using a thin, fixed space counting from both the left and right of
the decimal marker. Commas are not used to separate digits into groups of three. |
proper: |
15 739.012 53 |
improper: |
15739.01253
15,739.012 53 |
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#17
Quantity
equations |
Equations between
quantities are used in preference to equations between numerical values, and symbols
representing numerical values are different from symbols representing the corresponding
quantities. When a numerical-value equation is used, it is properly written and the
corresponding quantity equation is given where possible. |
proper:
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(l/m) = 3.6-1
[v/(km/h)](t/s) |
improper:
|
l = 3.6-1 vt,
accompanied by text saying,
"where l is in meters, v is in kilometers per second, and t is
in seconds" |
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#18
Standard
symbols |
Standardized quantity
symbols are used. Similarly, standardized mathematical signs and symbols are used. More
specifically, the base of "log" in equations is specified when required by
writing loga x (meaning log to the base aof x),
lb x (meaning log2 x), ln x
(meaning loge x), or lg x (meaning log10
x). |
| proper: |
tan x
R for resistance
Ar for relative atomic mass |
| improper: |
tg x for tangent of x
words, acronyms, or ad hoc groups of letters |
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#19
Weight vs.
mass |
When the word
"weight" is used, the intended meaning is clear. (In science and technology,
weight is a force, for which the SI unit is the newton; in commerce and everyday use,
weight is usually a synonym for mass, for which the SI unit is the kilogram.) |
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#20
Quotient
quantity |
A quotient quantity is
written explicitly. |
| proper: |
mass divided by volume |
| improper: |
mass per unit volume |
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#21
Object &
quantity |
An object and any
quantity describing the object are distinguished. (Note the difference between
"surface" and "area," "body" and "mass,"
"resistor" and "resistance," "coil" and
"inductance.") |
| proper: |
A body of mass 5 g |
| improper: |
A mass of 5 g |
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#22
Obsolete
Terms |
The obsolete terms
normality, molarity, and molal and their symbols N, M, and m are not used. |
| proper: |
amount-of-substance concentration of
B (more commonly called concentration of B), and its symbol cB and SI
unit mol/m3 (or a related acceptable unit)
molality of solute B, and its symbol bB
or mB and SI unit mol/kg (or a related unit of the SI) |
| improper: |
normality and the symbol N,
molarity and the symbol M
molal and the symbol m |
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DISCOVERY SCIENCE CENTER 