A Few Suggestions to McGraw-Hill Authors. / Details of manuscript preparation, typograpy, proof-reading and other matters in the production of manuscripts and books.

by McGraw-Hill Publishing Company

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,[¹] which should be carried out consecutively through 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.

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 letters b. f. or by underlining with a wavy line. Italics may be indicated by underlining with a straight line. If bold-face capitals are required, mark b. 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.