THE MANUSCRIPT 231 



even if he has found the title appeaHng. The title is not repeated in the 

 abstract, but the two complement each other. Describe the problem, the 

 methods, the results, and the conclusions or interpretations. Point out 

 any especially significant new findings. To do all this in 200 words re- 

 quires a great deal of writing, editing, rewriting, pruning, and rearrange- 

 ment. Words must be used more accurately and efficiently than in 

 almost any other kind of writing. 



SELECTED REFERENCES 



Conference of Biological Editors, Committee on Form and Style. 

 1960. Style manual for biological journals. Am. Inst. Biol. Sci. Wash- 

 ington. 92 p. This manual has been prepared with the hope of stand- 

 ardizing and improving biological writing. It includes useful hints 

 for improving style, together with information about the actual prep- 

 aration of the paper. Every biologist should have a copy and use it. 



University of Chicago Press. 1949. A manual of style: containing 

 typographical and other rules for authors, printers, and publishers 

 recommended by the University of Chicago Press. University of Chi- 

 cago Press. Chicago. 522 p. The Chicago manual has become one of 

 the most widely-used reference manuals. In a number of instances 

 it has become the authority governing writing and publishing in a 

 variety of subjects. 



Dictionary. An up-to-date, authoritative dictionary is the indispensa- 

 ble tool of the writer and the reader. Webster's New International 

 Dictionary is the usual authority, but some of the smaller books may 

 be more convenient on the desk. 



