[U.S. Government Printing Office Style Manual]
[Chapter 1 - Advice to Authors and Editors]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
The GPO Style Manual is intended to facilitate Government printing.
Careful observance of the following suggestions will aid in expediting
your publication and also reduce printing costs.
1.1. Making changes after submission of copy delays the production
of the publication and adds to the expense of the work;
therefore, copy must be carefully edited before being submitted
to the Government Printing Office.
1.2. Legible copy, not faint reproductions, must be furnished.
1.3. Copy should be on one side only with each sheet numbered
consecutively. If both sides of copy are to be used, a duplicate
set of copy must be furnished.
1.4. To avoid unnecessary expense, it is advisable to have each page
begin with a new paragraph.
1.5. Proper names, signatures, figures, foreign words, and technical
terms should be written plainly.
1.6. Chemical symbols, such as Al, Cl, Tl are sometimes mistaken for
A1, C1, T1. Editors must indicate whether the second character
is a letter or a figure.
1.7. Footnote reference marks in text and tables should be arranged
consecutively from left to right across each page of copy.
1.8. Photographs, drawings, and legends being used for illustrations
should be placed in the manuscript where they are to appear in
the publication. They should be on individual sheets, as they
are handled separately during typesetting.
1.9. If a publication is composed of several parts, a scheme of the
desired arrangement must accompany the first installment of copy.
1.10. To reduce the possibility of costly blank pages, avoid use of
new odd pages and halftitles whenever possible. Generally these
refinements should be limited to quality bookwork.
1.11. Samples should be furnished if possible. They should be plainly
marked showing the desired type, size of type page, illustrations
if any, paper, trim, lettering, and binding.
1.12. In looseleaf or perforated-on-fold work, indicate folio sequence,
including blank pages, by circling in blue. Begin with first
text page (title). Do not folio separate covers or dividers.
1.13. Indicate on copy if separate or self-cover. When reverse printing
in whole or in part is required, indicate if solid or tone.
1.14. Avoid use of oversize fold-ins wherever possible. This can be
done by splitting a would-be fold-in and arranging the material
to appear as facing pages in the text. Where fold-ins are
numerous and cannot be split, consideration should be given to
folding and inserting these into an envelope pasted to the inside
back cover.
1.15. Every effort should be made to keep complete jobs of over 4
pages to signatures (folded units) of 8, 12, 16, 24, or 32 pages.
Where possible, avoid having more than two blank pages at the
end.
1.16. Indicate alternative choice of paper on the requisition. Where
possible, confine choice of paper to general use items carried
in inventory as shown in the GPO Paper Catalog.
1.17. If nonstandard trim sizes and/or type areas are used, indicate
head and back margins. Otherwise, GPO will determine the margins.
1.18. Customers should submit copy for running heads and indicate
the numbering sequence for folios, including the preliminary
pages.
1.19. Corrections should be made on first proofs returned, as later
proofs are intended for verification only. All corrections must
be indicated on the ``R'' (revise) set of proofs, and only that
set should be returned to GPO.
1.20. Corrections should be marked in the margins of a proof opposite
the indicated errors, not by writing over the print or between
the lines. All queries on proofs must be answered.
1.21. The following GPO publications relate to material included in
this Manual. They may be purchased from the Superintendent of
Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.
Word Division: Supplement to the United States Government Printing
Office Style Manual
This publication serves as a quick reference guide for finding
correct word divisions, as well as a spelling and pronunciation guide.
In addition to the list of words with divisions, it also contains
wordbreak rules and line-ending rules. Prepared especially for GPO
printers and proofreaders, this supplement is equally useful for
keyboarding. 1987.
Government Paper Specifications
The purpose of these standards is to achieve compliance with relevant
statutes regarding printing papers; address environmental, workplace
safety, and paper longevity issues; and achieve maximum savings in
the Government's paper purchases. 2008.
GPO Paper Samples
This publication is a supplement to Government Paper Specification
Standards. It includes samples of papers used by GPO. Used as a
planning aid and guide in selecting an adequate grade, weight, and
color of paper for a job of printing. 2008.
For the latest information about the availability of these and other
such publications, go to: http://bookstore.gpo.gov.
1.22. Corrections made to proofs should be indicated as follows:
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\1\ In lieu of the traditional mark ``tr'' used to indicate letter or
number transpositions, the striking out of the incorrect letters or
numbers and the placement of the correct matter in the margin of the
proof is the preferred method of indicating transposition corrections.
\2\ Corrections involving more than two characters should be marked
by striking out the entire word or number and placing the correct form
in the margin. This mark should be reserved to show transposition
of words.
\3\ The form of any query carried should be such that an answer may
be given simply by crossing out the complete query if a negative
decision is made or the right-hand (question mark) portion to indicate
an affirmative answer.
[GRAPHIC OMITTED IN TIFF FORMAT(S)]
Note.--The system of marking proofs can be made easier by the use
of an imaginary vertical line through the center of the type area.
The placement of corrections in the left-hand margin for those errors
found in the left-hand portion of the proof and in the right-hand
margin for right-side errors prevents overcrowding of marks and
facilitates corrections.