Substantive Editing: Style Sheet Entries
Status * | Issue | Resolution | Authority | Date |
D | anthropomorphism |
Do not anthropomorphize software, hardware, or machines. Incorrect: LCMS software products are primarily responsible for creating, managing, … Correct: Administrators use LCMS software products to create, manage, … |
Judith A. Tarutz, Technical Editing, p. 107 | 11/5/02 |
D | methodology for method |
Methods: the tools of scientific investigation. Methodology: the principles that determine how such tools are deployed and interpreted. Incorrect: The oil company has not yet decided on a methodology for restoring the beaches. Correct: The oil company has not yet decided on a method for restoring the beaches. Correct: He reviewed the methodology of modern cognitive psychology. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. (Online ed.) Definition and usage at www.bartleby.com/ 61/47/M0254700.html |
11/18/02 |
D | abstract | Summarize the contents of the paper in the abstract. Where possible, use clear, general language. Where new terms must be included, provide a short definition. |
Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL). “The Paragraph” owl.english.purdue.edu/ workshops/hypertext/ reportW/abstract.html |
11/18/02 |
D | positive statements |
Prefer positive statements. Preferred: Completely self-replicating systems may prove unnecessary for nanotechnology … Not preferred: Completely self-replicating systems may not prove necessary for nanotechnology |
Strunk & White, The Elements of Style" 4th ed, Principles of Composition Rule 15. |
11/18/02 |
D | dash, em |
Use em dashes to set off an abrupt break or interruption and to announce a long appositive or summary. Break: His first thought on getting out of bed—if he had any thought at all—was to get back in again. Appositive: The rear axle began to make a noise—a grinding, chattering, teeth-gritting rasp. |
Strunk & White, The Elements of Style, 4th ed, Elementary Rules of Usage, Rule 8. |
11/18/02 |
D | units, SI prefixes |
Use the proper unit prefix abbreviation. Incorrect: um (for micrometer, 10-6 meter) Correct: μm (prefix is the Greek letter mu) |
Sears, Zemansky, and Young, University Physics, 5th ed. | 11/18/02 |
D | Figure, in caption labels and references |
Capitalize the word "Figure" in caption labels and references.
Set "Figure" and number in boldface. When the figure number
is followed by a caption or legend, place a period after the figure
number. Incorrect: …as shown in figure 2d. Correct: …as shown in Figure 2d. |
Chicago Manual of Style, 14th ed, 11.29, 11.30 |
11/19/02 |
D | coordinate axes |
Refer to the coordinate axes in lower case. When specifying a particular
axis, hyphenate. Incorrect: X, Y, and Z translating mechanism Correct: The x, y, and z translating mechanism Correct: The x-axis. |
Per usage in CRC Standard Mathematical Tables, CRC Press, 26th ed. | 11/19/02 |
D | Cartesian |
Capitalize the proper adjective Cartesian. Incorrect: cartesian system Correct: Cartesian system |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth
Edition. 2000. (Online ed.) www.bartleby.com/ 61/18/C0131800.html |
11/19/02 |
D | 2N, 2N |
In exponential assembly, 2N stations are assembled after
N sequences. Incorrect: 2N (means 2 times N) Correct: 2N |
11/19/02 | |
D | concise writing |
Be concise. “Omit needless words.” Not preferred: The surfaces are then translated such that site A(1,1) is across from B(2,1), which implies that the newly constructed B(1,1) is across from A(2,1) as shown in Figure 2c. Preferred: The surfaces are translated so that A(1,1) faces B(2,1) and B(1,1) faces A(2,1). See Figure 2c. |
Strunk & White, The Elements of Style, 4th ed, Principles of composition, Rule 13. |
11/19/02 |
* Status: D=Decided U=Undecided
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