Resources
This information is meant to be a guide as to whether a given variable should be italicized or not and to help provide you with its most common definition. Query the author to verify the definition of any author-undefined variable.
Entries highlighted in yellow do not require explicit definition in a manuscript.
| Variable | Common Definition |
|---|---|
| Variables that should be set in Roman type | |
| α | statistic |
| β | binding coefficient |
| δ | derivative |
| ε | strain |
| μ | viscosity |
| ν | velocity |
| σ | stress |
| τ | time constant |
| b | binding coefficient |
| C | concentration |
| d | derivative |
| D | diffusion |
| F | flow, fraction, force, fluorescence |
| I | intensity |
| P | pressure |
| T | temperature |
| V | volume, consumption |
| W | work |
| Variables that should be italicized | |
| A | area, amplitude, absorbance |
| C | compliance, capacitance, circumference |
| d | diameter |
| e | exponent |
| E | elastance, potential |
| f | function, flux, frequency |
| F | Faraday's constant |
| g | conductance |
| G | conductance |
| h | height |
| i | general variable |
| I | current |
| j | flux, general variable |
| J | flux |
| k | constant |
| K | constant |
| l | length |
| m | slope, mass |
| n | number |
| N | number |
| P | probability |
| r | statistic, radius |
| R | statistic, resistance, gas constant |
| t | time |
| v | velocity |
| V | velocity, voltage |
| w | width |
| x | general variable, axis |
| y | general variable, axis |
| z | axis, ion valence |
| Z | impedence |