Page 101 - How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper, 8th Edition 8th Edition

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manuscript). In the real world, however, busy editors and reviewers, who serve without salary in most operations,
simply cannot and will not take the time to deal with messy, incomplete manuscripts. Further, most experienced
editors believe that there is a direct relationship involved: A poorly prepared manuscript is, almost without fail, the
carrier vehicle of poor science.

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Therefore, my advice to you is firm on this point. If you want your manuscript to be published (and why else would
you be submitting it?), make very sure that the submitted manuscript is typed neatly, without errors, in the style of the
journal, and that it is complete in all respects. This is a must.

Your manuscript should be typed or printed out on white bond paper, 216 by 279 mm (8½ by 11 in.), or ISO A4 (212
by 297 mm), with margins of at least 25 mm (1 in.). This "hardcopy" is submitted with a disk if that is a requirement
of the publisher.

Paging the Manuscript

It is advisable to start each section of a manuscript on a new page. The title and authors' names and addresses are
usually on the first page, and this page should be number 1. The Abstract is on the second page. The Introduction
starts on the third page, and each succeeding section (Materials and Methods, Results, etc.) then starts on a new page.
Figure legends are grouped on one separate page. The tables and figures (and figure legends) should be assembled at
the back of the manuscript, not interspersed through it.

Historically, the "new page" system was a requirement of many journals because the older typesetting technology
required separation of different material. If, for example, the journal style called for 8-point type in the Abstract and
9-point type in the Introduction, these two sections had to go to different lead-casting machines. Thus, the copy had to
be cut unless the natural divisions were provided for in advance.

Because of the flexibility of modern phototypesetters, copy no longer has to be cut. Yet, it is still a good idea to
preserve these natural divisions. Even if the divisions no longer aid the typesetting process, they often are useful to
you in the manuscript revision process. Often, for example, you may decide (or the reviewers may decree) that a
particular method should be added, expanded, shortened, or deleted. The chances are that the Materials and Methods
section could be retyped, from the page of the change to the end, without disturbing the rest of the manuscript.
Probably only the amount of white space on the last page of Materials and Methods would change. Even if the new
material requires additional space, you need not disturb the later sections. Suppose, for example, that the Materials and
Methods section in your original

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manuscript concludes on page 5, the Results begin on page 6, and there isn't enough white space on page 5 to allow
for insertion of the needed new material. Simply retype Materials and Methods from the page of change on, going
from page 5 to page 5a (and 5b, etc., if necessary). The Results and later sections need not be touched.

Margins and Headings

Your manuscript should have wide margins. A full inch (ca. 25 mm) at the top, bottom, and both sides is about
minimum. You will need this space yourself during revisions of the manuscript. Later, the copyeditor and the
compositor will need this space to enter necessary instructions. Also, it is advantageous to use paper with numbered
lines, for ease in pointing to problems throughout the editorial and printing process.

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