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Table of Contents
Rules Pertaining to Manuscripts
Generally, any documents composed by personnel at MCh needs to contain:
- author's name
- date of compilation
- page numbering
When compiling documents in MS Word, always use:
- font: Helvetica,
- size: 12 pt
- spacing: double spaced
For ease of orientation, the following naming conventions for compiled manuscripts are enforced:
- DOC file: YYYY_MM_DD_xy_#n_Vx.doc
- PDF file: YYYY_MM_DD_xy_#n.pdf
- figures only PDF: F_YYYY_MM_DD_xy_#n.pdf
Here, YYYY stands for year, MM for month, DD for day, xy is your initials, #n corresponds to manuscript number n, and Vx represents version x of the manuscript. Below is an example for a third version of a second manuscript compiled by Franz Kafka on 23.01.1900:
- DOC: 1900_01_23_fk_#2_V03.doc
- PDF: 1900_01_23_fk_#2.pdf
Generally, it is a good idea to add a leading zero when introducing information about version as it allows easier sorting. As long as the version number does not reach 100 (or more), a single leading zero is fully sufficient.
Publications
This section covers general workflow when working on a publication manuscript, as well as how to approach manuscripts in work with external partners.
Workflow
- compile manuscript skeleton:
- first page:
- RQ answered or addressed by the manuscript
- overall story in 5+1 sentences (hypothesis, experiments + calculations, observation, explanation)
- second page:
- title of the manuscript
- authors
- target journals for publishing
- subsequent pages:
- include all figures with a concise description of the key data
- upload skeleton & sent by email to JMS
- once the skeleton is agreed upon with JMS, draft the full paper
- format:
- formatting: Helvetica 12 pt, double spaced, justified text
- include figures, tables and captions in the text where they are discussed
- figures formatted “In Line with Text”
- always check spelling
- printing:
- in color
- single page