Based on Style Guide for ASABE Technical Publications
Further reference: ASAE Standard EP285.7: “Use of SI (Metric) Units.”
Numbers
- From one to nine, use words, BUT always use digits for values followed by abbreviated units.
e.g. Use 5 mL of water
- From ten onward, use digits.
- Two numbers occurs as adjacent, spell out the first one
e.g. There were thirty 9 mm holes in the first section
- When a number BEGINS a sentence, SPELL IT OUT or rewrite the sentence
e.g. Fifty samples were prepare.
OR We prepared 50 sample.
Unit of Measurement
- Express all units of measure in SI (metric) units
- There should be a space between the number and the unit, EXCEPT for percentage and degrees
e.g. 5 g; 20 ha
e.g. 37%; 27°C
- In a series of measurements, indicate the unit at the end, EXCEPT for percentages and degrees:
e.g. 3, 6 and 8 cm
e.g. 2°C to 10°C (NOT 2 to 10°C); 15% to 25% (NOT 15 to 20%)
- Use a comma for four-digit and larger numbers:
e.g. 10,000 kg (NOT 10000 kg)
- Express derived units in exponent form with spaces between the elements of the derived unit
e.g. 12 kg m^-2
Dates
- Write all dates in day-month-year format, with no punctuation and with names, rather than numbers, for the months:
e.g. 12 January 2002
e.g. 29 April to 17 May
e.g. 4 to 16 August
- In tables, the names of months may be abbreviated to save space, as:
e.g. Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., May., Jun., Jul., Aug., Spet, Oct., Nov., Dec.
Abbreviations in Text
- Spell out abbreviations that might be unfamiliar to the ASABE audience ONLY at their first occurrence.
- Form plurals for abbreviations without an apostrophe
e.g. PCs, CVs, PhDs
- Omit periods after abbreviated units (expect "in." for inch);
e.g. 5 m, 3.5 in., 30 cm
- Abbreviate units only after a numeric value:
e.g. 24 h v.s. Several hours later
Common abbreviations:
dry basis d.b.
standard deviation SD
wet basis w.b.
Abbreviations in References
- Do not abbreviate any words in titles of articles, chapters, books, or dissertations.
- Use conventional abbreviations (not postal abbreviations) for names of states and territories.
ONLY abbreviate names of states and territories in references!
- ASABE journals are abbreviated as Trans. ASABE, Applied Eng. in Agric., J. Agric. Safety and Health, and Biol. Eng. Trans.
See complete list of abbreviation for journals as well as states and territories in the Style Guide (Link in the 1st line)
Figures
ASABE applies the term "figure" to all types of illustration, including line drawings, graphs and charts, photographs, computer screen captures, etc.
Size (Note: 1 pica = 1/6 of an inch or 0.1666... in.)
For Applied Engineering in Agriculture and Transactions of the ASABE figures are general the width of a column (20 picas, ~8.5 cm, ~3.33 in.), but may be as wide as a page (41 picas, ~17.4 cm, ~6.83 in.). For other publications, make each figure no wider than the page width (for Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health and Biological Engineering Transactions, this is 28 picas, ~11.9 cm, ~4.67 in.).
Other rules
- Insert each figure AFTER the paragraph that first mentions it. Every figure must be explicitly mentioned in the text of the article. number figures in order of their citation in the text and refer to them as figure 1, figure 2, etc. Abbreviate the word "figure" ONLY in parentheses, e.g., (fig. 1).
- Type a descriptive caption below each figure. The caption may be a sentence fragment or a few sentences long.
- NO titles in figures.
- Place the legent either directly below the figure or within it.
- Generally, It is NOT necessary to show all the data points and coordinate rulings.
- If a point represents the mean of a number of observations, indicate the magnitude of the variability by a vertical line at each point.
- Use boldface ONLY for x- and y-axis titles. Use all capitals only when necessary (e.g., for acronyms).
- If a figure contains multiple elements, label them (a), (b), (c), etc., using eight point bold, and identify them in the caption (as shown in sample figure below).
- You may horizontal or vertical type alignment, but NO other angles.
- All lines must be at least one-half point to reproduce in print and distinct from each other in appearance.
- Color figures will display in color in the web version, but will be printed in grayscale. Please choose colors that reproduce as distinct gray values. DO NOT use yellow. Choose DISTINCT line types (dashed, dotted, etc.) as well as different colors.
- Do NOT CROP IN WORD because the cropping will not be retained as the figure moves through out production process. Instead, open the figure and delete the unwanted elements, or crop the figure then cut it and "Paste Special" as a picture or metafile to eliminate the cropped materials.
- Please provide .jpg or .tif files of photographs in case we need to enhance the images. When using a digital camera for your photos, use at least a medium setting for quality/file size.
- For scans, use 600 dpi for black and white line art, and 300 dpi for color or grayscale (including photos).
Tables
The data presented in tables should neither be duplicated in figures nor reviewed extensively in the text.
Size
For Transactions of the ASABE and Applpied Engineering in Agriculture, prepare each table to fit either one column (20 picas, ~8,.5 cm) or the page width (41 picas, ~17.4 cm). Tables in Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health and Biological Engineering Transactions should be NO wider than 28 picas, ~11.9 cm.
Other formatting rules
- Number the tables consecutively and refer to them in the text as table 1, table 2, etc.
- Supply a descriptive caption for each table
- Please make your table in MS Word. Do not submit tables in a graphic format.
- Do not include excessive text in the column headings. Place explantory information in the table caption, in the manuscript text, or in a footnote at the bottom of the table.
- Do not include columns of data that can be easily calculated from other columns
- Use horizontal rules to separate elements within a table. You may place additional rules under subheads or under heads that span two or more columns, and you may need to insert blank columns to achieve this. (as in the sample table).
- Use bracketed superscripted letters ([a], [b], [c], etc.) for explanatory footnotes within the table (as in the sample table). Assign footnotes to elements within a table in a left-to-right, top-to-bottom sequence.
- Use asteriks (*, **) to indicate statistical significance, and explain the significance in a footnote.
- Use lowercase letters (a, b, c, etc.) to indicate statistical relationships among elements within a table, and explain the relationships in a footnote.
Equations
Rules on Equation
- Do NOT derive or reproduce recognized equations; rather, cite a reference to a source and refer to the equation by its standard name. State only those assumptions and initial boundary conditions needed to understand the development of the equation.
- For new equations, state all assumptions and initial boundary conditions and give sufficient derivation for the reader to understand the development. Show only those mathematical steps required for comprehension. Interpret the significance of the mathematics, and indicate the accuracy and range of usefulness of the equations.
Other formatting rules
Insert each equation into your manuscript at the point where you would like it to appear in the published article. Small equations may be incorporated in the text. Equations that are separate from the text are introduced by the preceding text and a colon (see the sample equation). These equations are numbered consecutively. Refer to numbered equation as equation 1, equation 2, or in parentheses as. e.g., (eq. 1)
- When you can, prepare equations in using standard word-processing functions, superscripting, subscripting, and the Symbol font. Other use equation-editing software such as Equation Editor or MathType. Do not create equations that become graphic elements in Word as these cannot be edited.
- The type style in the equation must match the type style in the corresponding text. Italicize lowercase variables. Do not italicize Greek Letters.
- Supply the equation number, in parentheses, to the RIGHT of the equation. Do not include the equation number within the equation editor box.
- Definte variables and supply SI units. If there are more than two such elements in an equation, then list them individually after the equation (as in the sample equation).
References
List all cited references at the end of the text in the References section.
Rules on General Organization of References
- Arrange the list alphabetically by the name of the first author; for references with more than on author, further arrange the list alphabetically by the names of the second author, third author, etc,
- List CHRONOLOGICALLY two or more references by the same author (or authors) from oldest to most recent.
- indicate, by adding letters after the year of publication, two or more references by the same author(s) in the same year
e.g., 2007a, 2007b
- For use of abbreviations in references, see above in "Abbreviations in References".
