13 



graph with a paragraph-title which merely 

 gives the subject, and then to write the text 

 in such a way as to bring in the additional 

 words or phrases which the analysis has shown 

 are needed as additional subtitles to indicate 

 with precision the information involved. When 

 several subtitles are coordinate, as, for in- 

 stance, in the third sample abstract above, I 

 call attention to this fact, when it can be done 

 conveniently, by numbering them. The main 

 thing, however, besides seeing that the neces- 

 sary subtitles are included, is to make the ab- 

 stract as informing as practicable. It should 

 never be merely a sketch of the scope of the 

 article unless this contains no new informa- 

 tion. 



EuLE 4. A separate paragraph should be used 

 for each distinct subject involved, but no more 

 paragraphs than necessary. All material which can 

 easily be grouped together under a single title 

 should be summarized in the same paragraph. 

 Parts of subtitles may be scattered through the 

 text but the subject of each paragraph must be 

 given at the beginning. Underscore subtitles but 

 no other words or phrases. 



Rule 5. The text should summarize the author's 

 conclusions and should transcribe all numerical re- 

 sults of general interest including all that might 

 be looked for in a table of physical and chemical 

 constants. It should give all the information that 

 any one, not a specialist in the narrow field in- 

 volved, might care to have in his notebook. 



Rule 6. Complete sentences should be used ex- 

 cept in the case of subtitles. The abstract should 

 be made as readable as the necessary brevity will 

 permit. 



As to what should constitute a group and 

 how many groups should be made, rules can 

 not be given which will cover all cases. Since 

 abstracts should be as unified as is practicable 

 without defeating the purpose of the abstract, 

 it is my policy to group together as much as 



