Similar strategies can be used to standardize the spacing around mathematical operators (e.g.,, =, ±). In the following example, using the wildcard term “” allows you to search for and add a space after any digit directly followed by a given unit instead of having to perform the search separately for each digit. This case is slightly trickier because it involves the use of wildcards (i.e., you will need to check the “Use wildcards” box in the find and replace tool). Replace: “☌” or “%” ( or vice versa, depending on your preference)Īnother common spacing error is the omission of a space between a number and a unit of measurement.To address these inconsistencies, try the following: In these cases, either convention is considered acceptable, but only one should be used throughout the entire manuscript. One common inconsistency in technical papers is the inclusion or omission of spaces between a number and degree symbol or percent sign. Note: these can be switched, depending on your spelling preference. Because these terms have multiple forms that should all be hyphenated in the same way, I recommend performing find and replace for just the first part of the word, which will catch all the related forms. In bioscience papers especially, the terms up- and down-regulation/ regulate/ regulates and over-expression/ expressed are often hyphenated inconsistently. When in doubt, consult your target journal’s guidelines. Some journals also prefer to have a separate abbreviations list or ask that abbreviations be defined separately in each section. It is also worth noting that some abbreviations, like PCR and ASTM, are so common in their fields that they likely do not need to be defined.
#MICROSOFT WORD FIND AND REPLACE ITALICS ONLINE FULL#
To ensure that abbreviations are used consistently, search for the full definition to ensure that it only comes up once in the main text, and then replace subsequent instances with the acronym, if necessary. Ensuring that the conventions you choose to apply are consistent with their guidelines means that you won’t have to repeat the formatting procedure later on! Abbreviation/acronym usageĪbbreviations and acronyms are typically defined the first time they are used within the abstract or main text and then used throughout the remainder of the manuscript. I do suggest that you consult your target journal before starting, as well.
Each category includes an example, and some also include a screenshot of the process. In this article, I’ve compiled a list of several common inconsistencies and their find/replace solutions, which I hope will help make this process a little easier. In my experience, the find and replace tool in Microsoft Word can be very helpful in addressing these issues.
Finding and eliminating inconsistencies in spacing, punctuation, abbreviation/acronym usage and so on can be one of the most frustrating and time-consuming parts of preparing a manuscript.