Throughout a single manuscript, however, in details of punctuation, spelling, abbreviation, compounding of words, side- and center-headings, notation, bibliographic references, etc., we do ask for the adoption of a conservative, well-recognized standard. Even uniformity throughout a manuscript seems, curiously enough, most difficult to secure, although the lack of it leads to misunderstandings, delays and author's corrections, with their attendant avoidable expenses.
We have used the phrase "conservative, well-recognized standard" advisedly. Departure from such standards, either in spelling, punctuation, systems of notation or otherwise, is not advisable, for whatever convictions the author and the publisher may have it is quite certain that the majority of the readers of any given book will be conservative and more often annoyed than otherwise by any radical departures from common practice.
Without reference to our own views on simplified spelling, for example, we are confident that the radical simplified speller is neither surprised nor disturbed to find in a book what he would term old-fashioned spelling. The conservative speller, on the other hand, is shocked even at tho and thru, and the book suffers accordingly. Nevertheless, we have no quarrel with sulfur in our manuscripts on chemical subjects, or with any other spelling which has been approved officially by the leading technical society in the particular field of the manuscript.
To secure consistency in details throughout his manuscript it is best for an author to adopt as his guides, at the very beginning of his work, some standard unabridged dictionary and an authoritative writer's manual, and to stick to these alone until his book is on the market. By this method he will give his book not only a high standard but uniformity in details.
II
PREPARING 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.