McGraw-Hill Publishing Company

“ To obtain a standard of editorial details as uniformly high as that of the subject-matter of our books.
Let it be understood, first of all, that these are suggestions, not rules. Although we endeavor to maintain high standards, we do not insist upon uniformity of style or consistency throughout the books in our widely diversified list. The editor of a periodical or the proceedings of a society properly insists upon uniformity, generally issues a style sheet to guide his contributors, and edits all manuscript to fixed standards. ”

“ Throughout a single manuscript, however, in details of punctuation, spelling, abbreviation, compounding of words, side- and center-headings, notation, bibliographic references, etc., we do [pg 2] ask for the adoption of a conservative, well-recognized standard. Even uniformity throughout a manuscript seems, curiously enough, most difficult to secure, although the lack of it leads to misunderstandings, delays and author's corrections, with their attendant avoidable expenses. ”

“ The publisher, to protect himself against the author who practically rewrites his manuscript after it has been set up in type, usually provides in his contract that corrections in excess of a certain percentage of the cost of composition shall be charged to and paid for by the author. The printer makes a careful distinction between printer's corrections and author's corrections. Corrections marked in galley and page proofs of a book where the printer has not followed copy are printer's corrections. ”

“ Proof-reading.—In technical books especially, good proof-reading is essential. We use every effort to submit proofs which follow closely the original copy, but the experienced author knows that he himself cannot exercise too much care in proof-reading. The amount of damage which has been done to the reputation and sales of many otherwise excellent technical books, by carelessness in proof-reading, would astound the inexperienced author.
One set of galley and one set of page proofs which the author receives are marked with the printer's corrections, generally in green or red ink. ”

“ Galley Proofs.—These proofs in duplicate (one set is for the author's files) are first submitted to the author, and accompanying these is a cut dummy which shows the illustrations reproduced as they will appear in the book.
Galley proofs should be read with extreme care, and wherever possible the author should call in some associate or assistant to read them as well, for it is our experience that the author who has spent a great deal of time in the preparation of a manuscript often reads with his memory rather than his eyes and passes the most obvious errors. ”

“ Our attempts to market books in foreign languages from New York, or from one of our foreign agencies, have not been encouraging. Accordingly, the first question, when we are endeavoring to arrange for a translation, is for us to find a publisher in the country selected who will undertake the work of securing a translator and publishing the book. When a translator offers his services, we find it necessary to ask him first to interest a publisher in his own country in the venture. ”

“ Prompt Publication.—From the standpoint of both the author and the publisher it is desirable that a book should be put on the market as soon as possible after the manuscript is completed.
From the moment the publisher undertakes to manufacture a book he has an investment which grows rapidly and yields nothing until the sales of the book begin. ”

“ A good index is one which enables the reader or student to locate readily the subject or item which he seeks. It is usually best for an author to make his own index. A professional indexer is inclined to overload an index; the author, with his knowledge of the subject and a little study, will generally produce a better working index.
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Our usual style of index is two columns to the page, set in 8-point type, with not more than two indentions. ”

“ From the beginning we adopted the slogan, Better Books in Text and Manufacture. It was evident to the men who had brought the leading technical journals of the country from comparative insignificance to positions of influence that there was need of a new technical literature—a literature for classroom and reference which should adequately supplement their periodicals. ”

“ The author fails to return his proofs and manuscript copy promptly. The prompt reading and return of proofs is of the greatest importance.
(3) The copy for the index does not follow closely upon the return of the final batch of page proofs.
The printer, the engraver, the paper manufacturer, the binder or the publisher may also interfere with prompt publication; but if the author's end of the work is handled systematically and promptly, we are generally able to control the manufacturing details. ”

“ Color plates and maps in color are prohibitively expensive for most technical books, but systems of shading and cross-hatching can be employed as a substitute for colors in many forms of illustration. ”

“ They are the "natural resources" which simplified the problems of our early years and made possible our rapid development and growth, until today, by the application of the same editorial standards and marketing methods, in broader fields, we are able to offer to the author of technical books a highly developed machinery of publication and distribution. ”

“ It is safer, therefore, to obtain permission from author or publisher before borrowing from another work.
Shipping the Manuscript.—Manuscript should invariably be shipped flat, not folded or rolled.
Manuscript and drawings should be sent together and not in instalments. Except in rare instances, we do not undertake piecemeal manufacture of a book. In our experience such publication methods save little or no time and more often result in confusion and expense. ”

“ Copy for Illustrations.—Drawings and photographs, which are discussed more fully later, should not be inserted in the manuscript, because illustrations are sent to the engraver at the same time that the manuscript is sent to the printer. Small drawings should be pasted on separate sheets of paper, one drawing to the sheet, but large drawings and photographs should not be treated in this manner. Mounted photographs are entirely satisfactory, but unmounted photographs should not be pasted on sheets or mounted, except by an expert. ”

“ In technical work such as ours the illustrations are of two classes: (1) line drawings; (2) photographic or halftone illustrations.
Line Drawings.—Copy for line drawings should be made two to three times the dimensions of the completed illustration. The weight of line, and especially the lettering, should be carefully worked out to give desired results. The following illustrations, taken from "Engineering Drawing," by Thomas E. French, will serve as a guide to the draftsman preparing these illustrations. ”

“ The extent of the bibliography will vary, of course, with the nature of the subject and the treatment. The tendency to-day appears to be toward rather excessive bibliographies, which do not seem to us generally to be justified. ”

“ In both cases the engraver adds the numbers or letters on the print in the manner best suited to reproduction.
Drawing for two-thirds reduction.
Two-thirds reduction.
Manufacturers' cuts can sometimes be used when the nature of the text calls for them. If possible the manufacturer should be asked to supply the original photograph or drawing. If this is [pg 13] not available, then the original cut—not an electrotype—should be secured. Electrotypes can often be used, but the results are not of the standard which we like to maintain. ”