Some Notes on Science Style
Following are some general guidelines on preferred style for manuscripts submitted to Science.
- Confirm that all numbered citations for references and notes are presented in numerical order, first through the text and then through the references and the table and figure legends.
- Ensure that all notations and symbols in figures (including dashed or dotted lines, color codes, and gradations in color or grayscale) are explained in figure legends. Conversely, ensure that no data mentioned in figure legends (or in the text where the figure is discussed) are missing from the corresponding figures.
- Avoid jargon; explain obscure terms and define acronyms (keep in mind that many potential readers of your work will not be specialists in your field).
- After introducing an acronym, use only the acronym.
- Use active voice when suitable, particularly when necessary for correct syntax (e.g., "To address this possibility, we constructed a lZap library . . .," not "To address this possibility, a lZap library was constructed . . .").
- Write concisely (e.g., "even though," not "in spite of the fact that").
- When two or more similar terms are used throughout text, either make the usage consistent or clarify the distinction(s), as appropriate.
- Avoid using "-fold" because expressions such as "20-fold smaller" are imprecise; use percentages, proportions, orders of magnitude, or "factor of" instead. (Exception: Usage such as "1000-fold excess" is appropriate.)
- Avoid using "times more," "times less" (see above).
- Use "significant" only when discussing statistical significance.
- Avoid using terms such as "novel," "first," or "Our laboratory has pioneered…" to describe the present work. Do not mention your own work in progress within the text (although a numbered reference to specific work submitted for publication is acceptable; see "in preparation" in reference examples below).
- Omit academic or other titles from affiliations and acknowledgments.
