Estimates of Finished Length
As an aid to the author, we provide two guidelines for estimating the finished length of an article. The first is very simple and approximate, and can be used for rough estimates. Usually this will suffice. The second is more complex and considerably better. Neither is guaranteed. Regardless of estimates, the final journal article must be no longer than three pages.
(1) Rough Estimate
Disregard the title, authors' names and institutions, abstract, and list of references. Limit the remainder to 2000 words, or its equivalent. One "word" is 7 characters (spaces count as characters). This will produce a paper of 2 to 3 journal pages most of the time. The typical figure, with its caption, is reduced to the width of a single column, and displaces about 220 words of text. Reduce the 2000-word limit accordingly.
If there are figures of unusual size, many authors from different institutions, a lengthy abstract or list of references, many equations, or several tables, etc., the author is advised to use guideline (2) below.
(2) Refined Estimate
All calculations are made in terms of single-column lines; 118 lines equal one page. Whenever a rule gives a line equivalent for a number of words, the phrase "or fraction thereof" is to be understood. Again, one "word" is 7 characters (where spaces count as characters).
- The title takes 3 lines for every 7 words.
- Each group of authors from a single institution, with its address, takes 5 lines. If there are more than 5 authors from one institution, add 2 lines; if an institutional name and address contain more than 85 characters, add another 2 lines.
- The receipt date takes 3 lines.
- The abstract takes 2 lines for every 14 words.
- The text, not counting displayed equations, takes one line for every 9 words.
- A short equation (less than 40 characters) with no built-up fractions or matrices, etc., takes 3 lines. If it contains a built-up fraction, it takes 4 lines. If it contains a large matrix, it takes at least 2 lines per row of the matrix plus 2 lines. A long equation, typed across two columns, takes at least double these amounts; a very long complex equation may easily take 20 lines. Note that, when there are a number of two-column equations, intervening short equations will often also be given two-column space.
- Each reference or footnote takes one line for every 10 words.
- A figure, which can be reduced to one column width (8.5 cm) takes 24 lines per 10 cm of reduced height; if it requires more than one column width, it will take twice as many lines.
- Each figure caption takes one line for every 10 words. Also, there is one line between a figure and its caption, and 2 lines between captions or figures and text.
- Each line in a table and its caption become one line if the table fits into one column, and 2 lines if it is wider. Two lines separate a table from text. Large or complex tables should be calculated as if they were figures.
