Information relating to particular subject areas

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Mathematics and physics
• Medicine

Biology

• Italicise gene names, but not protein names.
• Check that all Latin names are up to date, and correctly spelt and italicised, e.g.:

  Phalaris arundinacea var. picta
  Plantago spp.
  Cornutia pyramidata L.
  Zea mays
  Escherichia coli
  Alocasia × sedenii
  Trichopilia fragrans (Lindley) Reichenbach

• Authorities are rarely necessary, but if used should be given after the introduction of each name.
• If you are using a local name for an animal or plant, consider also giving the Latin name to pinpoint the species.
• Always write the genus name in full at the first occurrence; be particularly careful to write in full when there may be ambiguity, e.g. two genus names beginning with the same first letter.

Chemistry

• Please ensure that names of chemical compounds follow an approved (e.g. IUPAC/IUB) system.
• Use ¹⁴C for carbon-14, ³H for tritium; for labelled compounds use [¹⁴C]thymine etc. Use , Fe³⁺ etc. (never , Fe⁺⁺⁺).
• Reproduction of chemical structures in running text can be difficult, so please use the most compact form of notation unless it is absolutely necessary to give a chemical structure explicitly. For example, in running text use :

Ph	not
(CH3)2CO	not

• Chemical structures should be provided as illustrations. If you are not able to provide them as finished artwork please discuss this with your Press editor. If you provide roughs for redrawing, please ensure that there is no ambiguity regarding which atoms are bonded to each other or where charges are localised. You should provide large, clear sketches giving guidance where necessary about bond angles, bond lengths etc. A note to the copy-editor, giving examples of preferred style for the representation of three-dimensional effects, such as the chair and boat forms of cyclic compounds or the tetrahedral arrangement of carbon compounds, will help to ensure that these appear in the correct form in the finished book.
• Ensure that you are consistent in your use of :

Me	and	CH
	and
	and

Mathematics and physics

If a book is to be set electronically please use mathematical typesetting software such as TeX, LaTeX, Scientific Word or equation editor (in Microsoft Word). There is an email helpline to assist if you have any problems with TeX (texsupport@techbooks.com). For further details contact your Press editor.

• All variables must be italicised.
• Clearly indicate all vector and matrix notation. Preferred style for vectors is bold roman. (An over-arrow may be used only when trying to distinguish between different types of vector.) Symbols for matrices should be bold upright.
• The preferred form for exponential e, imaginary i and differential d is roman.
• The end-of-proof symbol should be an open box, ranged right.
• All multiplication dots should be raised.
• Equations should be consistently either punctuated or not punctuated.
• Subscripts and superscripts should be typed clearly as they can easily be misunderstood. Take particular care with alignment or staggering when this is significant (usually they should be aligned) and make a note for the copy-editor of any peculiarities in the alignment.
• Avoid use of second-order sub-/superscripts wherever possible.
• Check that your use of e and exp is consistent.
• Display equations unless they are simple. Equations in running text often cause problems with the line spacings.

Medicine

• If quoting drug names, make sure that your terminology is consistent with either the US (the International Non-proprietary Name, INN) or the UK (the British Approved Name) nomenclature, using one system throughout your book.
• Always quote the generic name for a given drug, with the proprietary name, if required, in parentheses.
• Generic drug names should begin with a lower-case letter, proprietary names with an upper-case letter.
• If journal titles are to be abbreviated in your reference list, abbreviate them according to Index Medicus.
• Our medical books have an international readership, so try to avoid the use of terms that apply in only one country (e.g. use 'primary physician' or 'primary care physician' rather than 'GP').
• Distinguish between 'sex' (a genetic definition) and 'gender' (a social construct).
• Note that for micro-organisms the Latin name is italicised and capitalised as normal, e.g. Salmonella sp., but the common name is not italic, and starts with a lower-case letter, e.g. a salmonella infection.
• Virus Latin names are italicised (e.g. Enterovirus); common names are lower-case roman.
• Please follow the International Union of Biochemistry (IUB) and Royal Society of Medicine recommendations for terms and symbols.
• Case studies should be treated sensitively, with identities concealed and permissions obtained.