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Use American spelling.
Use the serial comma (i.e., always use a comma after the second-to-last item in a series of three or more).
The grocery list includes bread, milk, eggs, and butter.
Bold, italics, single quotes, and caps used for emphasis are not permitted. Double quotes and italics for new terminology are permitted at first use only.
Avoid defining abbreviations in headings.
Do not spell out abbreviations starting a sentence, once they are defined.
Use nonsexist language: change "man" to "humans;" etc. However, do not change "mankind" to "humans." Also, change "females" to "women" and "males" to "men" when referring to human adults. "Males/females" is fine when referring to mixed groups of adults and children/adolescents.
If the article is part of a larger series of research papers published in the same issue, the words "companion paper" should be used when referring to a companion paper, not "manuscript" or "article." The author may refer to the "preceding" or "following" paper. The companion paper must be included as a complete entry (not "in press") in the reference list and as a reference in text. Companion papers should be edited and proofread by the same copy editor for consistency.
Latin or foreign words or phrases should be roman, not italic.
ad libitum
cf.
de novo
e.g.
i.e.
in situ
in vitro
in vivo
re
viz.
vs.
However, always italicize genus/species names. Spell out both parts of the name at first mention, and abbreviate the first name (genus) thereafter for any species of the same genus.
at first mention
Panulirus marginatus
thereafter
P. marginatus
P. penicillatus
P.
interruptus
Anatomic names in Latin are not capitalized or italicized, but they do follow the same abbreviation pattern as genus/species names; e.g., "stratum pyramidale" at first use, "s. pyramidale" thereafter. Check Stedman's for correct spelling.
s. granulosum
s. radiatum
triceps brachii (t. brachii)
musculus vastus lateralis (m. vastus lateralis)
fasciculus longitudinalis medialis (f. longitudinalis medialis)
nucleus tractus solitarii (often misspelled as "solitarius")
If a term is a combination of English and Latin, do not change to the Latin term; do not abbreviate.
A "designator" is a word plus a number or letter assigned to a specific entity. The word is always lowercase. Follow manuscript for arabic or roman numerals or letters (usually caps). In APS Style designators may be either roman or italic. A designator that is accepted terminology used in a particular field (not just in one particular paper), is set roman. Usually the use of numbers or letters (or both) is the same; however, the copy editor should follow the manuscript.
area 17
area 3b
area V1
class 1
classes i and ii
laminae I-III
layer IV
type IIb
A designator that is assigned to a particular entity (individual or group) for a given article is set italic. Follow manuscript for use of numbers or letters
cat C3
cell 3110
delays 1 and 2
experiment OG1
group 4
group A
neuron 2319
time 0
toe 1
Do not use commas with numbers of more than 4 digits in a designator.
Do not use the number symbol ("#") with a designator; delete or change to "no."
model no. D320
model D320
time 0 is always italic even if no other specific times are designated.
Use the «p» code to indicate the beginning of an indented paragraph in text.
Use the «f» code to indicate a paragraph that should begin flush left (e.g., after a displayed equation).
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last edited 07/30/03