Although text published in the magazine is copyedited, time can be saved in the publication process if the initially submitted article conforms reasonably with ACM Crossroads style. The author should, at least, be aware of the elements of style listed here:
For those style questions not answered here, refer to The Chicago Manual of Style (14th ed., University of Chicago Press, 1993) or Words into Type (3d ed., Prentice Hall, 1974), or contact the ACM Crossroads copy editor.
It is our policy to use American spelling and we WILL change spellings to the American version.
Acronyms do not take articles. For example, refer to CORBA, not "the CORBA." Acronyms often reduce readability. Consequently, authors are strongly encouraged to limit their use of acronyms. Acronyms should only be used for terms which appear 5 or more times in the text and should be parenthetically defined at a term's first usage.
Active voice replaces passive voice whenever possible.
Use all capital letters only with acronyms (for example, ICP for interactive control panel). Systems, programs, commands, routines, and so on, however, appear in small capital letters.
ACM Crossroads follows a down style. All words appear lowercase except a title preceding a name (President George Washington or George Washington, the president); acronyms (ICP or GPS); a person's name; or the official title of a program, conference, article section, figure references or department or group.
Avoid using footnotes
Use he/she, not he or she alone. If possible, rewrite sentence to use 'they'
Use the singular pronoun I (not we) for a singular author.
Use italics to highlight words you are emphasizing. This should rarely be necessary; the text should already read with the appropriate emphasis.
Use boldface to highlight words you are defining, when you introduce and define a term and when you use mathematical terms and equations.
Jargon is eliminated and the text rewritten. Articles in ACM Crossroads must be readable by a wide range of individuals, including those not familiar with the jargon of a particular subfield. If no other term or phrase can be found to replace the jargon, use of the term or phrase must be approved by a ACM Crossroads editor, and a definition must be given.
Do not include (TM), reg., or (c) symbols within your article. Following standard publishing practice, trademarked terms are used for editorial purposes only.
Spell out numbers one through nine; use numerals for numbers 10 and over. In a series or sentence containing both, use numerals for all. Spell out numbers when they begin a sentence. Use numerals with units of measure or as values. Write four-digit numerals without commas; write numerals of five digits or more with commas. In a table or sentence containing both, use commas with all.
Use commas in all sentence groups of three elements or more (one, two, and three).
Quotation marks should encapsulate terminal punctuation. For example: "end". should be "end."
Split infinitives only if doing so makes the text easier to read.
Use since to indicate time and because to indicate reason.
Use that in restrictive clauses (those without a comma) and which in nonrestrictive clauses (those with a comma).
The antecedent of this or these must always be clear. Referents should always be defined.
Use while to mean "at the same time" and although to mean "in spite of the fact."
Follow Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, or American Heritage Dictionary for spelling and division of words. ACM Crossroads uses the preferred term, given first in dictionary entries, if more than one spelling is provided. For those words not cited in these dictionaries, the copyeditor will maintain a word list. A copy of this list is available on request.