Customer Reviews

Scientific Style And Format: The CSE Manual for Authors, Editors, And Publishers (CSE, Scientific Style and Format)

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This is the 7th edition of the CBE Manual, now renamed as CSE. I'm a science proofreader and typesetter and I must say I'm somewhat disappointed. In only a couple of hours browsing the book I've found a lot of mistakes in the math notation. Examples: 5.2.1.3, 2), missed + after dots; 13.3.1, the last integral has the pi misplaced (a serious problem, as the example is intended to show how indexes are placed); Table 12.11, f(x,y) should be italics, not upright; 12.3.2.1, |z> for the state of a system is wrong, as the character used is 'greater than' an not an angle bracket (which is not mentioned at all); according to 12.2.1.1, 3) space in units (eg, V s) is discouraged and a centered dot is preferred (V·s), but except in this chapter the book uses the space (rightly), etc. The Chicago Manual is much better in math. Now I wonder if the rest of the book has similar mistakes and the information is reliable. Selection of topics is also questionable. Still a valuable reference, but it should be used warily.

I bought the 7th edition as soon as it hit the shelves.
I had a well-thumbed copy of the 6th edition, and was eagerly looking forward to the updated 7th.
However, although I am sure that the 7th edition has more up-to-date content in there somewhere, I never use it (that is NEVER). I always go for the 6th edition. Why? Because the index on the 7th edition is so poor as to render it completely useless as a reference.

I am looking forward to an improved 8th edition.

Everyone who is a scholar or academician must know how to handle various formats of documentation styles. CSE represents one of these, specifically in the field of the natural and physical sciences. Another one is APA published by the American Psychological Association, which is mainly utilized in the social sciences. Finally, in the humanities, especially language, literature and folklore, fine arts, etc., a scholar needs to use the MLA, Moderna Language Association style. By the way, here at Amazon you can get the latest edition of the MLA, 3rd ed., just published in May, 2008. Good luck in your scholarship ///Dr. Serafin Roldan

This is the 7th edition of the CBE Manual, now renamed as CSE. I'm a science proofreader and typesetter and I must say I'm somewhat disappointed. In only a couple of hours browsing the book I've found a lot of mistakes in the math notation. Examples: 5.2.1.3, 2), missed + after dots; 13.3.1, the last integral has the pi misplaced (a serious problem, as the example is intended to show how indexes are placed); Table 12.11, f(x,y) should be italics, not upright; 12.3.2.1, |z> for the state of a system is wrong, as the character used is 'greater than' an not an angle bracket (which is not mentioned at all); according to 12.2.1.1, 3) space in units (eg, V s) is discouraged and a centered dot is preferred (V·s), but except in this chapter the book uses the space (rightly), etc. The Chicago Manual is much better in math. Now I wonder if the rest of the book has similar mistakes and the information is reliable. Selection of topics is also questionable. Still a valuable reference, but it should be used warily.

An excellent manual for science writers and editors. Covers everything from general syntax to handling of genetic nomenclature. The 'comma' is a thing of the past.