TCMOS – Mathematics – Chapter 12

Sunday, February 9, 2020
Blog #14 – learnings from #TheChicagoManualOfStyle.

This blogpost is only applicable to those in the sciences who use Math, and I write humbly about a topic I relate very little to, even though I minored in it and did well academically.

1. LaTeX is a software/system used by authors who have mathematical formulas, etc. in their manuscript.
2. Be consistent. E.g., Using capital, italic A, B, and C for sets, then use lowercase x, y, z for elements within the set.
3. Don’t translate math symbols into English. (Don’t say x is less than z. Instead write: x<y)
4. Drop excessive elements. The following example from CMOS: There is no integer n between 0 and 1. Omitting n, takes nothing away from the sentence. Chop.
5. Don’t start a sentence with a symbol, and separate consecutive symbols in adjacent formula’s with a word.
6. Group closely related items together with proper spacing.
7. Use regular punctuation with mathematical formulas as you would for plain English.
8. For elided (shortened) lists, use punctuation only when followed by another element. Note, no comma in first example, and a comma and the preceding space in second. y = 0, 1, 2, … and y = 0, 1, 2, … , 10
9. (In a multiplication statement) Center align ellipsis when using a dot for multiplication but align on the baseline when using a cross instead.
10. Number and display (set on its own line) mathematical expression that are important and will be referenced.
11. To number a displayed equation (that is centered – see 12), right align and enclose in parentheses. (1.1)
12. Equations are usually center aligned when displayed.
13. When expression overflows a line, break it into a new line by adding ellipses at the end of the first line and repeating the operators on the new line. The operator on the new line is lined to the right hand side of equation with a slight space.
14. Delimiters
    1. {[()]} is the order of delimiters when nested although each delimiter is used in different situations.
    2. Use parenthesis to group expressions.
    3. Use braces for sets
    4. Use parenthesis to specify interval with help of [] to denote inclusion. E.g., (a,b) is interval in which both a and b are not included. In [a,b), a is included, not b.
15. Fractions
    1. Use slash for simple fractions. 1/2. (ax + b) / (cx + d)
    2. Horizontal bar can be used in certain situations
    3. Enclose fractions in parenthesis if followed by a symbol
    4. Note: Slash connects the item immediately following it. Use horizontal bar or parenthesis to avoid confusion.
    5. Fractions in superscript always use a slash, not bar.
    6. You can use a negative superscript for denominator placed above. ab (cd)-1 = ab/cd
16. Theorems – Use a stronger heading and type. E.g., from TCMOS:
    DEFINITION: A permutation is a one-to-one transformation of a finite set into itself.
    THEOREM 1: …
17. Boldface, script, Fraktur, and sans serif are often used in mathematical expressions.

My Takeaway

This was a difficult chapter to study and write, knowing its irrelevance to my immediate world. Hence, I’m proud I read it and wrote the summary anyhow.

Next week, is going to be tougher. Chapter 14 is upon me that gets into citations and bibliography and is hundred and fifty pages long. Stay tuned.

The Chicago Manual of Style, SEVENTEEN EDITION (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2017), https://doi.org/10.7208/cmos17

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