FORMAmING SURVEY MANUSCRIPTS FOR 

REVIEW AND EDITING 

T HIS SECTION TELLS HOW GENERAL GU~DEL~NES to format a Survey manuscript for technical review, editing, FOR THE ENTIRE 

and Director's approval, whether MAN USCR~ PT formatted by a typist or by you 

yourself. General guidelines that 1. Use S1/2- by 11-inch white 

apply to the entire manuscript are paper; continuous-feed comlisted first, followed by details puter paper is acceptable, 

specific to particular parts. Few but you should set the page 

manuscripts are likely to have ,length so that copy does not 

every part listed here. Most of the print on or close to the botinformation applies to any techni- tom or side perforations. 

cal manuscript; information that is 2, Leave a margin of at least 

specific to formal USGS series 1 inch all around each page. 

books or maps is so indicated. 3. Number pages consecutively; 

if there is a break, indicate in 

the following manner which 

WHERE TO BEGIN page follows: 

Before you begin work on your 18 (p. 34 follows) 

manuscript, gather all needed 

materials. You will need a recent This kind of notation assures 

sample of the publication, publish- a reader that no pages are 

er's instructions, pertinent style missing. Letters can be added 

manuals (such as this book), pub- to page numbers (when 

lished examples of particular items material is inserted, for ex- 

(such as measured sections), and ample), but the page followany specialized dictionaries or ing the last lettered number 

reference books. Of course for should be indicated in the 

checking spelling and word usage same way: 

you will have access to a dictionary (USGS and GPO recommend 18d (p. 34 follows) 

"~ebster's Third New International Dictionary" for spelling), 

and "The Glossary of Geology, 

third edition" (Bates and Jackson, 

1987). If your manuscript is to be 

published by the USGS, your local 

manuscript processing office will 

have guidelines for you. Take a 

Double space all text, tables, 

and figure captions. 

Avoid dividing ,words at the 

end of a line; use the wraparound feature on word 

processor or computer (so 

there are no carriage returns 

at the ends of sentences 

few minutes to look through what within a paragraph). 

is appropriate in those instructions 6. Complete paragraphs on a 

and books so that your keyboard- page, for easier review and 

ing session will be efficient and editing, even if the page runs 

fruitful. short. 

7. Rank of heading is indicated 

by number of spaces the 

heading is indented in the 

table of "Contents." 

Professional Papers. 

CENTER AND CAPITALIZE 

ALL HEADINGS 

Bulletins, Circulars, and 

Water-Supply Papers. Type 

headings flush left for first 

three ranks and center headings of lower rank; capitalize 

or lowercase letters as 

follows: 

FIRST-RANK HEADING ALL CAPS, 

flush left 

Second-Rank Heading Cap and 

Lowercase, flush left 

Third-Rank Heading Cap and 

Lowercase, flush left 

Fourth-Rank Heading Cap and 

Lowercase, center 

8. Leave right margins ragged 

(not right-justified)-copy is 

easier to read. 

9. Underline letters or words 

that are to be typeset in 

italic if your word processor 

does not have an italic 

typeface. 

10. CapitJize and abbreviate according to guides in this book 

and in the GPO Style Manual 

for reports to be published by 

the USCS. Follow publisher's 

guide for reports to be published outside the USGS. 

250 Formatting Survey manuscripts for review and editing 
NOTE FOR "NEW 

PUBLICATIONS OF THE 

U.S. GEOLOGICAL 

SURVEY" 

All USGS books and all maps 

that are accompanied by text must 

have a brief note for the monthly 

list "New Publications of the U.S. 

Geological Survey." This note, 

written by the author and generally limited to about 75 words, may 

be titled "Note for Monthly List 

of Survey Publications" or perhaps just "Note for Monthly List." 

In the sample below, note format, 

spacing, and punctuation. Price is 

not entered for USGS Circulars 

because they are free. Make copy 

double spaced, with l-inch 

margins. 

Observe that the note for the 

monthly list is neither an abstract 

nor a synopsis. It describes 'the 

general content of the report but 

states no technical conclusions. 

Front matter includes a title 

page and a table of contents that 

generally includes lists of illustrations and tables. Front matter also 

may include a frontispiece, false 

title page, foreword, and preface. 

If there is to be an art cover, you 

sho$dd provide a brief description 

of it; this description is printed 

on one of the first inside pages 

of the book. You may be asked 

to provide copy for the cover and 

backstrip of a USGS book. Any 

cooperative statement is placed on 

the coKer, as well as on the title 

page. Double space all text in 

front mattef. 

Professional Paper 

NOTE FOR MONTHLY LIST 

Plant spores and other miorofoseile from Upper Devonian and 

Lower Mississippian rocks of Ohio, by M.R. Winslow. 19 . p. $ . 

About 80 species of miorofossils have been described and 

illustrated from beds usually regarded as sparsely foeeiliferoue. About 

130 horizons from 10 looallties in northern and central Ohio were 

sampled from Outorops, ooree, and well outtings to establish the basic 

pattern of dietribution for land plant spores and sporelike marine 

miorofossils in Upper Devonian and Lower Missiesippian Formations. 

Thirty-five of the most abundant and oharaoterietio speoiee have been 

named; four new genera are represented. 

Use the title page of a recent 

version of the series in which your 

report will be published as a guide 

to style, capitalization, and spacing. If words on the printed page 

are in italic (such as the word 

"By"), underline similar words on 

the copy you are preparing to indicate to the typesetter that those 

words should be set in italic. Follow the style of any descriptive 

note or cooperative statement for 

the particular series. Double space 

everything. 

Use a recent version of the 

publication as a guide to formatting the contents, including lists of 

tables and illustrations. Align figure and table numbers on the 

period. Pay particular attention to 

indention of headings, as this indention indicates rank. Five spaces 

is the general rule for indentions; 

overruns are indented five spaces 

also, but may be indented more to 

avoid conflict. On a typewriter, 

word processor, or computer, use 

tab settings for these indentions 

rather than spaces. If headings are 

continued on a succeeding page, 

write each continued heading as 

follows so that the rank is 

preserved: 

Contents 251 
Beoond-rank heading (indented five spaoe8)--Continued 

I New third-rank headtng (indented five spaces) ----------------- 

1 I 

Either dot or dash leaders are ac- LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ceptable. Run the leader from the 

last line of the entry (see sample The list of illustrations, which 

"Illustrations" page). Some publi- follows the "Contents," consists of 

cations, such as the S1/2- by 11-inch short titles (not necessarily the 

USGS Bulletin, have no leaders at entire caption), in which the illusall. Type page numbers at the end trations are identified as to kind, 

of the leaders to indicate to the such as map, diagram, or photoreviewer or editor the page in the graph. Four or more similar kinds 

manuscript on which the item of illustrations listed consecutively 

(such as a figure) appears or the may be grouped and indented 

page on which it is first men- under one descriptor (see 3-6 in 

tioned. Double space all entries, sample on facing page). Plates are 

and leave 1-inch margins. listed before figures, regardless of 

[Sample of contents page] 

Page 

[Ehd sample contents page] 

where plates appear in the manuscript. Numbers are aligned on the 

period. Overruns are indented five 

spaces. A copy of the publication 

is your best guide to capitalization 

of "figure" and "plate." Double 

space all entries. Leave 1-inch 

margins. 

Type the list of tables the same 

way as the list of illustrations. 

Tables also can have short titles 

and be grouped according to kind. 

Overruns are indented five spaces, 

numbers are aligned on the decimal, and all entries are double 

spaced. 

Title, authorship, and abstract 

generally go on the first page, but 

a recent copy of the publication 

will be your best guide. A long 

abstract may continue for several 

pages.l Page numbering begins 

with Arabic 1 on the first page 

and continues to the end of the 

report. (See also item 3 under 

"General Guidelines for the Entire Manuscript.") Leave at least 

1-inch margin on all sides. 

'A footnote before the end of the 

abstraot (such a8 for an author's affiliation) 

is double spaoed at the end of the abstract 

under a line about 16 spaoes long. The footnote number is a supersoript, the first line of 

the footnote is indented five spaoes (use a 

tab), and any overruns are flush left. Footnotes are numbered ooneeoutively throughout 

the text. Footnotes in tables are independent 

of those in text. 

252 List of illustrations 
[Sample list of illustrations page] 

ILLUSTRATIONS 

Page 

Plate 1. ~08811s found in the Santa Rita quadrangle .................... 46 \ 

[If plathpre an oversize map, it would be shown as 

follows:] 

2. Qeologio map of the Santa Pita quadrangle ------------- In pocket 

Figure 1. Index map of New Mexico [this entry is being extended 

to show that overrun is indented five spaoes 

and that entries are leadered from the last 

line] ---.---------.--------.----------------------------.----------------- 6 

2. Columnar eeotion of layered rooks ---------.--------.-----.-------- 10 

3-6. Photographs: 

3. Peroha Shale-Lake Valley Limestone oontaot---- 18 

4. Box Member of peroha, Shale .-.-----.-. .-----.--------- 23 

8. Oswaldo Formation -------------------.---.-..----.--.--.--- 28 

6. Syrena Formation -.------------.---------------------------- 31 

7. Diagram showing Larsen plot of volcanic rooks-----.-------- 34 

8. Map showing internal structure of rhyolite plug ------------ 36 

iii 

[End sample list of illustrations page] 

Double space all text. Allow at 

least 1-inch margins all around 

each page. Indent paragraphs five 

spaces (use a tab). Try to complete 

each paragraph on a page. 

ParagraDh heading.--Type the paragraph heading as shown here-- 

indent as for a paragraph, undersoore, period, hyphen, hyphen (in 

print the hyphens will be replaoed by a long solid line called a one-em 

dash). This heading is used for topics that require only a paragraph or 

two, suoh as the desoription of a series of minerals found in a oertain 

rook unit. Paragraph headings may be a subheading under any order 

of heading and usually are omitted from "Contents." 

Body of text 253 
FIGURE AND TABLE 

REFERENCES IN TEXT 

After the paragraph that has the 

principal reference to a figure or 

table, insert a note indicating 

where the figure or table is to be 

placed in the printed text as 

shown in the following sample: 

[blank line] 

[blank line] 

[blank line] 

[blank line] 

Leave a blank line above and 

below the insert, as shown. Note 

that the insert is typed in boldface (but plain capitals are acceptable if your machine won't accommodate bold). No such insert is 

needed for a plate reference, 

because plates are either at the 

end of the book or in a pocket. In 

a USGS series publication, figure 

and table references in the text 

are not capitalized, and "table" is 

never abbreviated. "Figure" and 

"plate" are abbreviated (fig. and 

pl.) only where they appear inside 

parentheses or in tables. 

[Sample text pages] 

254 Figure and table references in text 

HISTORY OF THE VOLCANO 

Mount St. Helene is a symmetrioal voloanic oone in southwestern 

Washington about 75 km northeast of Portland, Oreg. (fig. 1). Most of 

the visible part of the oone has been formed within the last thousand 

years, but it overlies an older voloania center that evidently came into 

existenoe before 36,000 years ago (Hyde, lQ75, p. B10). Mount St. 

Helens has had a long history of spasmodic explosive aotivity, and we 

believe it to be an espeoially dangerous voloano beaause of its past 

behavior and the relatively high frequency of its eruptions during the 

last 4,800 years (table 1). 

< 
In the future, Mount 0t. Helens probably will erupt violently and I 

intermittently just as it has in the reoent geologio past,' and these I 

future eruptions will affeot human life and health, property, I 

agrioulture, and general eoonomio welfare over a broad area. I 

'plaoe a footnote under a rule about 16 spaoee long at the end of 

the pwagraph in whioh the footn~te is first used, The footnote 

number is a supersoript, the fipet line of the footnote is indented 

(tabbed) five sp86es, any overrQne are flush left, and oopy is double 

spaoed. 

[End sample text pages] 

~LLUSTRAT~ONS AND 

THEIR TITLES (CAPTIONS) 

Each illustration (figure, plate, 

map) has a title or caption. An ' 

illustration can also have text, 

such as an explanation or 

description of map units. All 

captions and any text that is 

part of a figure or plate should 

be typed double spaced for 

reviewing and editing. 

Each illustration must be referred 

to in the text. 

Number illustrations consecutively 

in the order of their principal 

reference. If illustrations ,are 

added, combined, or deleted 

during review or editing, do 

not renumber at this stage 

(which might introduce errors). 

Use the following scheme and 

indicate changes in the short 

list of illustrations in 

"Contents." 

1. Illustration added-Add 

letter to number of previous figure. Thus, an illustration added after figure 

2 would be numbered 

figure 2A. 

2. Illustrations combinedUse lowest figure number 

of illustrations combined. 

Thus, combined figures 3, 

5, and 6 would be numbered figure 3. 

3. Illustration deleted-Show 

deletion in "Contents" list. 

Formatting illustrations and their titles (captions) 255 
Show these transactions in the 

"Contents" short list of illustra 

tions as follows: 

Figure 1 .................... 

Figure 2 ------------------------. 

Figure 2A (added)---------- 

Figure 3 ------------------------. 

Figure 4 (deleted) 

Figure 5 (combined with 

figure 3) 

Figure 6 (combined with 

Illustrations are renumbered 

before Director's approval. 

A duplicate of the illustrations list 

is a useful inventory item to 

accompany the illustrations 

themselves in the mill copy of 

your report during further 

processing. 

The mode of publication determines placement of figure and 

caption in the draft copy of 

the manuscript, as follows: 

USGS book and map series 

only. Each figure caption is 

on a page by itself. Attach 

figure caption page to the mill 

copy of the figure; also attach 

a completed "Author's Check 

List" to the mill copy of the 

figure or map. The "Author's 

Check List" is the yellow 

sheet-Form 9-1517 (revised 

March 1987). Do not interleave 

the illustrations themselves in 

the manuscript; place them at 

the end of the mill copy of the 

report (with the figure caption 

and the "Author's Check 

List"). 

USGS Open-File Reports 

only. Place caption below 

illustration on the same page, 

Reports for outside publication. Follow instructions 

from journal or publisher. 

SAMPLE FIGURE CAPTIONS 

Use the following styles for 

figure captions in USGS book 

reports. Note capitalization, punctuation, and spacing. Underline 

letters that represent parts of the 

figure (A,B) to indicate italic. The 

caption for fossil photographs that 

will be plates in a USGS book has 

a different style. A good general 

rule is to follow the style of a 

recent publication. 

USGS Professional Paper and 

Techniques of Water-Resources 

Investigations 

FIGURE 13.--Fort Union Formation, east side 

of Crooks Gap, Wyo.. in NW1/4NW1/4 

sec. 17, T. 28 N., R. 92 W. A, Localities 

from which pollen samples were 

collected (open circles); B, Uranium 

prospects (solid circles). 

If more than two lines, the first 

line of caption is flush left and 

overruns are indented five spaces. 

USGS Bulletin, Circular, and 

Water-Supply Paper 

Figure 1. Fort Union Form8tiOn. east side of 

Cmoks Gap. Wyo., in NW1/4NW1/4 sac. 17, 

T. 28 N., R. 92 W. A. Localities from which 

pollen samples were collected (open circles); 

- B, Uranium prospects (solid circles). 

Note that this format differs 

slightly in that "Figure" is cap 

and lowercase, no dash follows 

period, and first line and overruns 

are flush left; all other elements 

remain the same. 

Short Title 

The following example shows 

how to condense the long caption 

to a short title for the "Contents" 

list of illustrations (indention 

depends on style of publication). 

Maps showing localities of pollen samples 

and uranium prospects in the Fort 

Union Formation near Cmoh Gap, 

Wyo. 

FORMATTING AND 

TYPING TABLES 

Tables for review or editing 

should be typed double spaced, except for column heads, which may 

be single spaced. If tables are long 

and time is of the essence, legible 

handwritten copy is acceptable. 

Keep in mind, however, that the 

tables will have to be keyboarded 

and proofed at some stage, so you 

must plan time for that. Follow 

the style and format of the book 

or map in which the table will be 

published. (See also section on 

tables, p. 216.) 

Margins on the table must 

be adequate-at least 1 inch, 

and preferably as much as 1% 

inches-on all four sides. Fold 

oversize tables to page size if 

possible using accordian-type folds 

so that the table number and at 

least part of the title appear at 

the top and the page number appears at the bottom. Make folds 

between columns to avoid damage 

to the typed matter. (Extremely 

large tables may need to be rolled 

instead of folded, and camera-copy 

originals should not be folded.) 

At the end of the paragraph 

that contains the first principal 

reference to a table, insert a note 

indicating where the table is to be 

printed (see preceding section on 

figure and table references). The 

table itself is the next page of text 

(except for tables so large that 

they must be rolled instead of 

folded), and each sheet of the 

table is given a sequential text 

page number. (If you are preparing camera-ready tables, talk first 

to an editor.) 

PARTS OF A TABLE 

Title 

All tables, like figures, should 

stand alone-that is, a reader 

should be able to get the gist of a 

table without having to refer to 

256 Formatting and typing tables 
any other part of the report. The 

title, therefore, should include as 

much information as is necessary 

for comprehension, including the 

geographic location. No ending 

period follows the title in USGS 

publications (unless the last word 

is abbreviated). Some titles should 

be underlined for italic. If a table 

is continued from one sheet to 

another, repeat (1) the title followed by "-Continued," (2) any 

explanatory material, either inside 

or outside brackets, between the 

title and the body of the table, and 

(3) any column headings. Follow 

the style of the book or map series 

in which you plan to publish the 

table. Use sample figure captions 

as guides for typing titles of 

various lengths. 

Bracketed Headnote 

Include qualifying or explanatory 

information relevant to the table 

in a bracketed headnote. Brackets 

are the preferred punctuation 

mark for indicating such supplied 

information. 

[A bracketed headnote follows the title and is 

typed double spaced. Use sample figure 

captions as guide to placement of lines and 

indentions. Headnote can be written in 

telegraphic style (as is a figure caption). 

Headnote contains such items as the 

definition of any abbreviations or acronyms 

used in the table: ppm, parts per million; Tr., 

trace; m, meters. Analysts: Dorothy Cove1 and 

Benton Curtis. Internal punctuation can be 

used, but no period at the end (unless the last 

word is abbreviated)] 

Leaders 

Leaders in a table serve (1) to 

carry the eye from a reading column to the next column and (2) 

to indicate something within a 

column. Use dot or dash leaders 

for the first type and three 

hyphens, ---, for the second. Define 

the second type in the bracketed 

headnote. 

Horizontal and Vertical Rules 

Place a rule the width of the 

table at the beginning and end of 

the table; if the table is 10 pages 

long, the end rule goes only at the 

end of the table on page 10, not at 

the end of each page of the table. 

The GPO style manual describes 

use of rules within the table. Use 

vertical rules sparingly. 

CAMERA-READY 

TEXT AND TABLES 

Because of the cost savings involved, camera-ready text and 

tables (those that can be photographed onto a printing plate for 

reproduction) are becoming increasingly popular. They are used 

in many Survey reports and maps 

(for example, USGS Professional 

Papers 852 and 1052, and Circular 

827). Many outside publishers 

require camera-ready copy, particularly for abstracts. Cameraready text and tables must be 

typed perfectly because the copy 

is the final one required for 

reproduction. 

Print text or tables on a 

letter-quality printer after final 

corrections and formatting. Use 

good-quality bond paper; continuous form paper is not recommended but is acceptable if 

nothing else is available (do not 

print on perforations). 

Text or tables stored in a computer can be transmitted electronically to another system 

and printed out on any good quality printer linked to the system. 

Printing terminals allow different 

print fonts, line spacing, 10 or 

12 characters per inch (pitch), 

and even fine touches such as 

justification with incremental 

wordletter spacing and line measures (number of picas). Copy 

from a line printer or from dot 

matrix printers generally does 

not make good camera-ready 

COPY. 

The following guidelines are 

useful for typing camera-ready 

tables: 

Width is the most important 

dimension of the table. For 

best results, type tables at 

least 10 percent larger than 

publication size, but not larger 

than 50 percent. Use all the 

horizontal space. To arrange 

the data neatly within the 

allotted space, try this method: 

Select the longest line from 

each column and type all the 

words on one line. Check to 

see if the line will reduce to 

column width, page width, or 

broad measure. Then divide 

the space remaining between 

the end of this line and the 

right-hand margin for the required width into equal parts 

and apportion this space between the columns. Be sure to 

separate columns by at least 

two spaces. 

2. Type all material in cameraready tables single spaced, 

with the following exceptions: 

2.1 Use half-spaces above and 

below all horizontal rules 

(except above the top 

horizontal rule). 

Camera-ready text and tables 257 
To make tables easier to 

read, insert a blank line 

after every four or five 

lines of data. To decide 

when to skip a line, add 

up the number of lines, 

and then determine what 

number the total is most 

easily divided by-four, 

five, or six-and place 

blank lines accordingly. 

2.3 If subscripts or superscripts overlap adjacent 

lines, allow more space 

between lines. The 

method for doing this 

varies with the machine. 

If titles and bracketed headnotes of tables in USGS books 

will be set by the typesetter, 

type the title on a separate 

page. At the top of cameraready copy of the table, type 

the table number and title, and 

the name and typeface of the 

element (or the name of the 

print wheel or program) you 

used, so that corrections can 

be made if necessary. 

4 Center column headings horizontally above the columns and 

vertically between the cross 

rules or as close to vertical as 

is possible. 

5. Type horizontal rules if your 

printer makes a smooth, neat 

line. If not, mark the rules in 

blue pencil and have them 

drafted. If vertical rules are 

necessary (they seldom are) 

have them drafted. 

6. Type footnote numbers within 

and at the bottom of the table 

as superscript numbers. The 

shelf (-I), which sometimes is 

marked on manuscript copy to 

indicate footnote numbers, 

should not be typed on cameraready copy. If a Greek-math 

typing element, print wheel, 

or program is available, the 

small numerals on it should be EQUATIONS 

used instead of full-size 

superscripts. 

Avoid underlining (to indicate 

italic) in tabular matter. If 

italic type is required in a 

table, use an italic print wheel 

or typing element that makes 

a crisp, dark imprint. Paleontologic names may be underlined, however, if italic is 

unavailable. 

MAXIMUM, MINIMUM, AND IDEAL 

WIDTHS FOR CAMERA-READY 

TABLES PREPARED FOR USGS 

PUBLICATIONS 

Widths are herein listed in 

inches. Widths are based on 

readable reductions of standard 

12-pitch type (12 characters per 

inch). Tables typed in 10-pitch 

type (10 characters per inch) can 

be about 20 percent wider (table 15). 

Equations can be typed or handwritten legibly for review and 

editorial purposes. Most letter 

symbols in equations are set in 

italic; logarithmic and trigonometric functions, chemical symbols, and units of measure are not 

italic. Indicate italic to the typesetter by underlining each letter. 

Underlining can be done by hand 

on typed copy, if it is too difficult 

or time consuming to do on a 

machine. Center equation on the 

manuscript page and place the 

equation number in parentheses at 

the right margin. 

In text, reference is to equation l (no parentheses around 

number). The equations on the 

facing page show format, spacing, 

and usage (U.S. GPO Style Manual, p. 155-156). If you need to 

prepare camera copy of equations, 

your local editor may have 

current advice. 

Table 15. Widths, in inches, for camera-ready tables 

of ublication and Ype om o P presentation 

Professional Pa r: column wig ------------------- py wid: ::I-------------------. 

Si e title .................... 

Bulletin, Circular, Water-Supply Paper: Column width ------------------- 

Techniques of WaterResources Investigations Column width ------------------- Py wid? :I:-------------------- 

Si e title .................... MF map: Column width2------- 

Other maps: Column width2-- 

T~rvl- mrncn.cuyy widths -. - 

'Tables wider than the sug ested maximums may be unavoidable, but be aware that 

every extra fraction of an in% over the maximum decreases the legibility and quality - ~ 

of re reduction of the table. 

?l'&les ma be designed to span any number of text columns. To find recommended 

size for t dlcop multi ly the column-width figure by the number of text columns to 

be spannzand tten ada0.5 in. for each column more than one. 
General directions for preparing 

measured sections are given on 

page 54. Instructions for keyboarding follow: 

Measured sections are similar in 

format to tables in many 

ways. For example, the title 

of a section is underlined for 

italic, and the final period in 

the title is omitted (unless the 

list word is abbreviated). Abbreviate units of measurement, 

such as m and cm, when used 

with a value. Double space all 

entriks in manuscript. 

Repeat the title of a measured 

section (followed by "-Continued") and the column 

headings on continued pages. 

This repetition helps the typesetter and reader maintain 

correct stratigraphic ordering. 

To avoid excessive repetition, 

especially if the title is long, 

use paper longer than regular 

manuscript paper. Do not 

repeat the bracketed headnote. 

Do not break the description of individual stratigraphic units at 

the bottom of a page. However, the section may be 

broken between units, with the 

proper headings repeated on 

the next page followed by 

"-Continued" as shown on 

the sample measured section. 

Measured sections 259 
If description requires more than 

one line, indent overruns at 

least two spaces. Indent total 

lines about three or four 

spaces more than the spaces 

allowed for overruns so as to 

emphasize the total. In deciding whether to put rules above 

or below the total values, 

much depends on what is 

being totaled throughout the 

section. Look at published 

sections, use judgment, and 

perhaps seek the advice of an 

editor. The annotated section 

that follows may be useful. 

Some reports contain many 

measured sections, which may 

be scattered through the text 

or grouped at the end of the 

report. If many sections are 

grouped together, you may 

number the sections ("Section 

1,'' "Section 2," and so on) to 

facilitate cross reference (see 

sample). 

[Sample measured section] 

The Geological Survey has a 

longstanding policy of avoiding the 

use of trade, product, industry, or 

firm names in its reports. The purpose of this policy is to maintain 

the Survey's unbiased objectivity 

in the eyes of its readers. At 

times, however, the Survey must and company (product) names 

use trade or product names to disclaimer on the back of the title 

identify particular things that bave page of all Survey book reports, 

unique pro~erties. Indw6ry w regardless of whether or not any 

firm names rarely must be used such name@ are ysed in a given 

to aid in identifying~sanpliqg or report. Use the wording given in 

study si$es, especial& if 4tbs+ sites the footnotesl.& right (but without 

have been publicly identified. !@he the fwtpote number and end 

use of iadustry or fb nemepirin period). In Survey,pap series 

connectian with statewnt~bout reports, place the same disclaimer 

source8 of .pol&u:hnts or $mfiorn@j in the lower right corner of the 

causing~chaw$s h,imWd yr+stl.. mag, above the for~ale note. 

tificial tspiteme! b&%t&vw been : Swey ,~ukh~rs publishing outside 

permit4ed. Bind l@@Jbi&w~ + tbq, $uwgy shsyld foAqtgote the 

policy ,has been to PUG@) first, yswe of, 8uoh s~ gqme apd 

Section 1.--Three Forka, Jeffereon, and Maywood Formations, and 

Devils Glen Dolomite along ridge on west aide of George Gulch 

[SW1/4 sec. 31, T. 22 N., R. 9 W.; measured by M. R. Mudge, 

August 19741 

Thickness 

place the disclaimer at the end of 

that paragraph as you would any 

footnote, as follows: 

'~n~ use of trade, product, or firm 

@ 

@ 

names is for descriptive purposes only and 

does not imply endorsement by the U.8. 

Government. 

The following disclaimer may occasionally be appropriate, and the 

same guidelines apply: 

3 3 

(metera) 

Allan Mountain Limestone. 

Three Forka Formation: 

a 12!oLimestone, very fine grained, grayish-brown. 

very thick bedded; weathers gray; brachiopod I fragments--------------------------------------- 25.9 

11.0Evaporite-solution breccia containing fragments 

Uof limestone and magnesium limestone, lightyellowish-brown, massive; forms prominent ledge- 18.5 

m~otal Three Forka Formation----------------- 44.4 - Jefferson Formation: 

m~irdbear Member: 

@do .a Limestone, dolomitic, very pale orange, thick 

a bedded; forma ledge----------------------------- 12.2 

$9. Dolomite, calcitic, light-brownish gray; very thin 

0 bedded; weathers platy-------------------------- - 6 .l ' la Total Birdbear Member----------------------- - 18 .3 

m~ower member: 

[1) 68. ODolomite, finely crystalline, dark-yellowish-brown; I I Oweathers yellowish gray; calcite-line pita------ 8 .2 
Section 1. Three Forks, Jefferson, and Maywood Formations, and 

Devels Glen Dolomite along ridge on west side of Big George 

Gulch--Continued 

Thickness 

dark-brown; werthese blocky, 

14 .6 

~~t~l lower member------------------------- - 22.8 

Total Jefferson Formation------------------ - 41 .1 

lnco,nform,ty. 

MayQood Formation: 

@~pper member: 

a a6. D~irnestone, magnesium, brownish-gray, thin-bedded-- 18.3 

I b. ~l~olomite, pale-yellow, thin-bedded; weathers blocky 15.2 1 1 1 alTOtal upper me;be1------ ------------------- - 

33.5 

@Lower member: 

I a p. O$udstone, gray, iron-stained; weathers olive green- 6.1 

I I* .~&imestone, dolomitic, grayish-brown; fine 

I ( 1 nlaminaced in upper part---------- --------------- 9 .1 

( I I l~otal Maywood Formation--------------------- - 56.3 

[End of sample measured section] 

'The use of trade, Product, induetry, or parts of the disclaimer that actualfirm names in thie report is for descriptive or ly apply to the report. 

location purposes only and does not 

constitute endorsement of products by the 1. For reports generated within 

U.S. c3overnment nor impute responsibility the Survey: 

for any present or potentisll effects on the This report (map) is preliminary and has 

natural reeowoes. not been reviewed for conformity with 

Two other types of disclaimers U.S. Geological Survey editorial 

also are used by the Survey. The standards or with the North American 

first generally is used on Open- Stratlgraphio ,Code. 

File Reports, but either may be 

appropriate for other types ,of 2. For reports prepared by conreports as well. Use only those tractors or grantees: 

This report (map) was prepared under 

(contract to) (a grant from) the U.S. 

Geological Survey and has not been 

reviewed for conformity with US08 

editorial standards or with the North 

American Stratigraphic Code. Opinions 

and conclusions expressed herein do not 

neoesearily represent those of the USG8. 

If you plan to publish a computer 

program, you may want to include 

a disclaimer either on the title 

page or in the introduction. There 

is no formal wording for such a 

disclaimer, but what you want to 

tell readers is that the program 

runs on your machine but might 

not run on theirs. 

The reference list in Survey 

publications generally is called 

"References Cited." Basic guidelines for formatting references are 

summarized here. Detailed instructions for preparing references in 

USGS style are given in the section "Preparing References for 

Survey Reports," page 234. 

All entries are double spaced. 

Overruns in a reference are 

indented five spaces. 

References are arranged alphabetically by author and chronologically under each author's 

name, the earliest publication 

first. 

A dash about six typewritten 

spaces long (use underline) can 

take the place of exactly the 

same name(s) in the previous 

citation. 

If there is more than one 

reference by the same author 

(or exactly the same group of 

authors) in the same year, 

letters are added to the year 

to make the distinction. 

References cited 261 
Authors' initials have periods, 

but no spaces, between them. 

All journal names are spelled 

out. 

Only first words and proper 

names are capitalized. 

Generally, only one colon per 

reference is used-after the 

title. 

Brackets indicate supplied 

information [translation of a 

title, for example]. 

The following generalized format 

is used for each citation in the 

reference list, depending on type 

of publication: 

Author, Initial,Initial, year, Title: 

City, State, publisher, pagination (for book); 

Journal name, volume, 

pagination; 

Series name and number, 

pagination. 

Unless approved for publication, 

a report "in preparation" is not 

listed under "References Cited"- 

to do so would mislead your 

reader. Such material is cited in 

text as unpublished data or unpublished mapping. Information 

acquired from other workers is 

also cited only in text and as a 

written or oral communication. 

If the name is a logical part of 

the sentence, cite in text as 

follows: 

The cave was explored by P.C. Noble 

P.C. Noble (unpub. mapping, 1979). or 

P.C. Noble (oral commun.. 1980). or 

P.C. Noble (written commun., 1981) 

If the name is not a logical part 

of the sentence, put the citation at 

the end, as in the following 

example: 

The cave walls are mainly limestone (P.C. 

Noble, unpub. mapping, 1979). 

Add an affiliation and an address 

after the name, if such information would be useful to the reader. 

References in text of Survey 

publications are cited as follows: 

If a paper has one or two authors, 

both authors' names should be 

used-in and out of parentheses. 

If the paper has three or more 

authors and if only one reference 

can be cited in that way, the 

reference should be to the first 

author "and others." 

Samples of References Cited in 

Typed Text 

Some of the pyrite with the uranium 

minerals is frarnboidal, according to Daniels 

and Gilbert (1968). According to Wilson and 

others (1973). however, the pyrite *. 

This report was prepared on the basis of 

earlier work in the area (Turner and 

Verhwgen, 1960; Wilson and others, 1973; 

SON. 1978; J.E. Hogan. written COmmun.. 

1973). 

Two papers by exactly the same 

author (or exactly the same group 

of authors) in the same year are 

cited in text as "* * * according 

to Smith (1979a, b)." 

Note punctuation (semicolons, 

commas, ellipses) and spacing. See 

section "Preparing References for 

Survey Reports" for more detailed 

instructions (p. 234). 

A halftitle page is used in a 

USGS book report before a group 

of items (tables or fossil plates, for 

example) at the end of a report to 

designate what follows. Double 

space this material and center it 

vertically on the page with a 

double rule before and after 

the typed material. (See facing 

page.) 

Appendixes are placed at the 

end of a USGS report and generally are preceded by a halftitle 

page. For more than one appendix, number (not letter) them consecutively. Type them in the same 

manner as text or tables and 

follow the same general rules for 

format, style, and spacing. List 

them in "Contents" after 

"References Cited." 

FORMATTING ABSTRACTS 

FOR SCIENTIFIC 

MEETINGS 

Prepare double-spaced copy for 

review and editing as you would 

any manuscript. Send all technical 

review copies with the mill copy. 

You can print the abstract on a 

copy of the society's form to check 

the fit and ensure that you've 

made the best possible use of the 

space, but wait until Director's approval to print out the final copy. 

The USGS asks authors to list 

their government mail address (as 

well as affiliation) so that readers 

know where to direct inquiries. 

You'll need to be aware of how 

the society will process your 

abstract. Will the abstract be 

reduced from your camera-ready 

copy? If so, resist squeezing too 

much into too little space. Leave 

the right margin ragged because 

it's easier to read than rightjustified text. Avoid ornate 

typefaces. Past programs are a 

source of both good and bad ideas. 

Copy from a proportional-space 

printer looks more typeset than 

that from other printers. An impact printer produces sharper copy 

than a thermal or dot-matrix 

printer. A reducing copier will 

help you see how your abstract 

looks when reduced. 

262 Halftitle page 
I [Sample halftitle page] 

PLATES 2-7 

Contact photographs of the plates [here, photographs of foeeile] in this 

report are available, at oost, from the U.S. Oeologioal Survey 

Photograph10 Library, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80228. 

[The number of lines in the title determinee plaoement; follow guides in 

preoeding section "Sample Figure Captions." The statement about 

oontaot photographs should aooompany any fossil plates.] 

[End of sample halftitle page] 

If your abstract is past deadline, CHECKLISTS please write a note to reviewers 

and editors explaining the circumstances. If they don't know it's 

late, they probably will assume 

you have already submitted it 

and will see little point in spending their time in offering 

suggestions. 

See section "Abstracts for Talks 

at Scientific Meetings" (p. 23) for 

information about writing the 

abstract. 

General Guidelines 

Copy is on 8l/2- by 11-inch 

white paper. 

Cover and title page are in 

style of publication. 

Cooperative note is on both 

cover and title page. 

Author affiliation and address 

are given, if appropriate. 

Top of first page of text has 

ll/z-inch margin. 

Each succeeding page has 

1-inch margin all around. 

Pages are numbered 

consecutively. 

All textual material, including 

tables and figure captions, is 

double spaced. Wrap-around 

feature on word processor is 

used. 

Words are not divided at the 

end of a line. 

Paragraphs are indented five 

spaces using a tab. > 

Paragraphs are complete on a 

page if possible. 

All headings in a USGS Professional Paper are centered 

and all words are capitalized. 

Headings in a USGS Bulletin, 

Circular, or Water-Supply 

Paper are flush left for first 

three ranks and centered for 

lower ranks. Ca~italization 

follows scheme shown on 

page 250 in section "General 

Guidelines for the Entire 

Manuscript." 

Right margin is ragged (not 

right justified). 

Abbreviation and capitalization 

follow publisher's style. 

Words to be set in italic are 

underlined. 

Note for USGS monthly list is 

in correct format. 

Contents, Lists of Illustrations, 

and Tables 

Overruns in "Contents," 

"Illustrations," and "Tables" 

are indented five spaces. 

Rank of heading is identified 

by indention. 

Illustrations list (in "Contents") identifies figures as 

to kind. 

Short titles of figures are used 

in list of illustrations. 

Figure and table numbers 

are aligned on period in 

"Contents." 

Checklist for completed manuscript ' 263 
Footnotes 

Footnotes are placed under a 

rule about 16 typewritten 

spaces long at the end of the 

paragraph in which they first 

appear. The first line of a 

footnote is indented five 

spaces and overruns are flush 

left. 

.Footnotes are numbered consecutively throughout text. 

.Footnote numbers are 

superscripts. 

Figure and Table Citations in Text 

The following notation is made 

at the end of the first paragraph that contains the principal citation to the figure or 

table, and a blank line precedes and follows each such 

notation. 

FIGURE X.--NEAR HERE 

TABLE X.--NEAR HERE 

.Figure and table citations in 

text are capitalized and abbreviated according to publisher's style. USGS style is 

figure 1 and table 1 outside 

parentheses (and fig. 1 and 

table 1 inside parentheses). 

Illustrations and Their Captions 

nlustrations are numbered 

oonsecutively. 

Figure caption is in proper 

place in manuscript. 

Tables 

Tables are numbered consecutively and are interleaved in 

text. 

Tables have margins of at 

least 1 inch all around. 

Bracketed headnote in table or 

measured section has no 

period at the end. 

Tables have one top (head) 

and one bottom (end) rule. 

.Entries in table are centered 

under column head. 

.Entries in table are aligned on 

decimal point or hyphen 

(denoting range). 

Equations 

Equation number is in parentheses at right margin. 

Reference to equation in text 

is not parenthesized. 

Letters are properly underlined for italic. 

Measured Sections 

Measured sections are in format and style of publisher. 

.Each stratigraphic unit in a 

measured section is complete 

on a page. 

.Ordering is maintained in 

measured sections by repeating headings and 

"-Continued" at the top 

of the following page. 

.Overruns are consistently 

spaced in measured sections. 

Disclaimers 

Appropriate disclaimers are 

used, if needed. 

References 

Reference citations are in 

correct format in both text 

and list. 

Appendixes 

Appendixes are numbered 

consecutively and are at the 

end of the report. 

Copy is double spaced. 

Survey author's affiliation and 

address are given. 

Right margin is ragged. 

Technical review copies are 

with mill copy. 

264 Checklist for comoleted manuscriot