Supplemental Guidelines for Volume Editors

Download a PDF version of these guidelines.

Editing. In addition to compiling the chapters in the volume, the volume editor is responsible for reading each chapter for sense and grammar. Watch for and delete inappropriate material (this is especially important for papers originally presented orally and for matter that has been previously published).

Contributors’ agreements. We will send you publishing agreements to distribute to all contributors. Please collect the signed forms and forward them to the Press when all have been returned to you.

Permissions. The Press must have on file written permission to reprint any previously published material. The manuscript will not be sent to the typesetter until all permissions are cleared. The Press cannot assume responsibility for applying for permissions or for paying any necessary fees. Obtaining permissions can be a time-consuming process and should be started as soon as possible.

Front matter. Provide manuscript for title page, table of contents, and any prefatory material.

Notes. Assume that notes for each chapter will be set together at the end of that chapter. Notes should be numbered consecutively within each chapter.

  • All contributors should cite the same editions of standard works.
  • Notes throughout the manuscript should be prepared according to the same citation style (preferably MLA or Chicago Manual of Style).
  • The volume editor should make sure that all the contributors have included complete publication information in the notes or bibliographies.
  • If abbreviations are used for works cited in the text, the volume editor should include with the manuscript a list of abbreviations.

Bibliographies. Confer with your editor about whether to include a bibliography for each chapter, a combined bibliography for the entire book, or none at all. In any case, we prefer that either all chapters have bibliographies or none have them.

List of contributors. Compile an alphabetical list of contributors. It is appropriate to include each contributor’s academic rank and affiliation and to mention a few recent publications. The list of contributors should be placed at the end of the manuscript, following the bibliography, if any.

Form of manuscript. The entire manuscript must be double-spaced. Double-space everything: text, notes, quoted material, lists, tables, notes, and bibliographies.

Illustrations. Any illustrations to be included in the book should be with the manuscript by the time copyediting begins. For photographs we require clear, sharp black-and-white glossy prints, preferably 8″ x 10″. Line art (maps, graphs, schematic drawings, etc.) should be professionally drawn and are subject to the approval of the Press. All final illustrations should be shipped flat in rigid packaging. Permissions for illustrations are dealt with in the same manner as permissions for written material.

Manuscript and proof review. Volume editors and contributors will have the opportunity to review the edited manuscript. Our schedules do not allow time for proof to be sent to individual contributors; proofreading is the responsibility of the volume editor.

Index. The volume editor is responsible for the preparation of the volume’s index, which must be returned with the page proof. The Press will provide indexing guidelines when page proof is sent to the volume editor, or earlier at the editor’s request.