Re: Journal format change

[cmorgan@wiley.co.uk]

Here is a �good rule of thumb that I was taught: the width of a line (its
"measure") in picas (where 1 pica = 12 points = 1/6 of an inch) should be
no more than three times the height of the type (including the inter-line
space, or "leading") in points.

For example, if you are setting a line in 11 on 12 point, it should not
measure more than 36 picas; if you are setting it in 9 on 10 point, it
should not measure more than 30 picas.

If you go beyond the "three times point" rule, the eye finds it more
difficult to keep on the line of text or saccade from the end of one line
to the beginning of the next.

I can't quote a source for this rule but I do notice that when it is
broken (which alas is all too common), it does make reading the text more
difficult.

In my view, an 8 1/2 �x 11 inch format does not lend itself to
single-column text, unless you use the fore-edge margin to put in lots of
space for "shout quotes" or the like.

Many maths texts are set in double column - long equations can be borken
within the column according to well-established equation-breaking rules
(e.g. break after an operator).

Hope this helps.

Cliff Morgan

Planning & Development Director
John Wiley & Sons Ltd
The Atrium, Southern Gate
Chichester
West Sussex PO19 8SQ

Tel. +44 (0) 1243 770 440
Fax +44 (0) 1243 770 437

cmorgan@wiley.co.uk

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||   "Shaffer, Patricia"           |                                      |
||   <patricia.shaffer@informs.org>|                                      |
||   23/11/2004 21:02              |  
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Forgive me for a somewhat more plebian question than usually is addressed
on this listserv. I have an editor in chief who is pushing hard to expand
his print journal from 6 3/4 by 10 inches to 8 1/2 by 11 inches. That
alone is not the issue that concerns me, although I know that librarians
are not happy when journals no longer fit on the shelves as configured.
(We would only make this change at the start of a volume year.) While the
journal is also published online, subscriptions have not been abandoning
the print version.

What does concern me is that this journal has heavy math content with long
equations. It would not work in a two-column format. What are the
implications of formatting a journal in the larger trim size in one
column, as this editor wants to do? I've been unable to find readability
standards for print that address line length, although there must be some.
A number of Elsevier journals have adapted this format, but I have not yet
found another publisher who would make such a change. Is this a trend that
may become commonplace in certain disciplines?

This change would be author-friendly but I'm not sure it would be
reader-friendly. I would appreciate any comments from the library
community or publishers, especially those of you working with math
journals.

Thanks!

Patricia S. Shaffer
Director of Publications
Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS)
patricia.shaffer@informs.org � � <http://www.informs.org