Project:Style Guide

Work in Progress - as of January 2025

Introduction

What is a Style Guide?

Style guides include a wide range of rules and guidelines for works in their respective fields, from citations and grammar and language use to the font and size of headings in a work. Generally, style manuals include everything a writer needs to know in order to make their work look and read just like every other work written in that style — the look of the page, the way other authors are referenced in the body of the work, and even the tone of the writing. (from: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/avoiding_plagiarism/guide_overview%20.html)

Who uses this Style Guide?

Anyone who is writing for an AIC and FAIC publication should rely on the style guides listed here. Readers can also use the style guide to understand why and how documents are shaped. This helps create a common language for our publications, which are authored by many people with varied expertise.

Authority

What is an Authority?

An authority is an agreed upon resource that we use to answer questions about style, grammar, and definitions. We selected one style guide (Chicago Manual of Style) and Webster’s dictionaries to base our guides on, adding information that may apply only to our industry.

Statement about Chicago Style: AIC’s publications use the Chicago Manual of Style (currently 17th edition) as the basis for our communications. In places where our industry has specific terms or unique spellings or usage, please see the Grammar and Technical Terms section.

AIC Publications and Platforms

While we refer to the Chicago Manual of Style (CMS), some of our platforms have their own styles that may be more or less formal and may not require references, for example. See the list below and each section will contain a summary and brief list of deviations from CMS for each.

AIC Style Guide

AIC print and web publications each have slightly different style requirements, which recognize differences in audience, formality, technology and platform. All AIC publications utilize the Chicago Manual of Style and the JAIC Style Guide as the basis for grammar questions, references and citations. Taylor and Francis (JAIC’s publisher) also has a useful guide.

These pages outline the various style guidelines and note exceptions where relevant

[To be written: This should be a general style guide, with exceptions listed above?]

This document does not include blog posts, Specialty Group and Network newsletters. See the Volunteer Leadership Handbook and AIC Communications Guide for more information about publications that are not covered in this document.

Publication Management & Oversight

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Article Structure & Components

Publications including JAIC articles, AIC News lead article and research-based articles, postprint articles, and books and book chapters follow publication specific formats and include components such as word count limits, images, captions, and tables.

• Most wiki articles do not use this structure in full, but some elements may be included in some wiki article templates.
• A JAIC Research Article will have all of these sections, but others might not; exceptions include JAIC review articles, ethics and standards discussions book reviews (see scope), extended abstracts in postprints.
• Specialty Group Postprints are organized using format and component structures designed by each group; front matter and other style issues are consistent for all groups. See:
• STASHc uses a specific article template; articles can be submitted via the online form or as a word document that follows template guidelines. The template can be found on the STASHc website.
• STiCH - [To be completed]

Formal Structure & Components

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Abstracts

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Body

• JAIC Research Articles: JAIC author guidelines. Text should have: Introduction, Body (methods, research if applicable), Conclusion, although structure may vary depending on topic.
  • JAIC Research Article sections should have headers; JAIC prefers numbering in addition to headers
• AIC News: Insert AIC News column guidelines for column styles and word count limits.
• Postprints: See Best Practices documents (2012)
• Wiki:
• Website:
• STASHc: Link to Template on the website [TBD]
• STiCH: TBD

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Captions

All figures, tables, photographic images, and illustrations should include a caption to describe the contents of the image/chart. Include references and credits within the caption.

Accessibility

For all electronic publications (i.e. AIC website, AIC wiki, STASHc, STiCH) all figures, photographic images, and illustrations must include alt text to describe the contents of the image, including any text and findings, for use by screen readers and other assistive devices. The alt text should not repeat the information included in the captions. This applies to anything presented in an image file. “A decorative image” or “stock image of people” can be used, but images that contribute to the understanding of the material should be described more fully. To find resources on accessibility, visit https://www.section508.gov/. For the AIC wiki - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Accessibility/Alternative_text_for_images

Wiki Content Guidelines pages

OSG - https://www.conservation-wiki.com/wiki/Objects_Wiki_Content_Guides WAG - https://www.conservation-wiki.com/wiki/Wooden_Artifacts_Wiki_Content_Guides Health & Safety - https://www.conservation-wiki.com/wiki/Health_%26_Safety:_Guide_Template

Article Endmatter Section in order of placement

Below is JAIC’s guide which lists all possible endmatter materials. This can be adapted for other publications.

Sources of materials

Include manufacturers or distributors of equipment that is specific to your research/results. Also specify the model or other details of materials and equipment that are key to reproducing the technique, method, or results.

• Include equipment (microscope, slides, etc.) and materials (chemicals, fabrics, adhesive, surfactant, brand, batch number, formula) if they are not commonly produced, interchanged, or available
• Include manufacturer and contact details
• Example:

Acetic acid, Acetone, Chalk, Ethanol, Primal AC-33, Powder pigment, Sodium hydroxide (pellets), White spirit – D40

Blick Art

Mostowa 28 Street, 87–100 Toruń, Poland

Source: https://doi.org/10.1080/01971360.2021.1907673

Jerome 431-X Mercury sensor

Field Environmental Instructions, Inc.

301 Brushton Ave, Suite A, Pittsburgh, PA 15221 USA

Tel: 1-800-393-4009 https://www.fieldenvironmental.com/equipment-rentals/air-rentals/air-quality/gas-mercury-helium-hydrogen-analyzers/jerome-431-x-mercury-vapor-analyzer.html

Source: https://doi.org/10.1080/01971360.2022.2097810

Chart on Usage of Sources of Materials

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Notes/endnotes

(JAIC allows a maximum of 3) (not to be confused with reference lists)

• This is extra information not vital to your article. However, endnotes are limited because most information should be kept within the text of the article so the reader can easily get the information without having to move back and forth.
• Most information should be captured in the text, reference section, or acknowledgements.
• Example:

The Cooperstown Graduate Programs consisted of the Museum Studies and the American Folk Culture Programs from inception in 1964 through 1970 when Art Conservation joined as the third program. The programs were affiliated with the New York State Historical Association and with the SUNY College at Oneonta which awarded Masters level degrees to graduates of the Programs. In 1983 the Conservation Program was brought under the aegis of SUNY Buffalo State, leaving the Cooperstown Graduate Program group administratively. In 1987 the conservation program was physically transferred to the Buffalo campus. The American Folk Culture Program closed in 1979 and the Museum Studies Program continues to this day. Source: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01971360.2023.2237785Since the visual inspection was made by the author where only the front was visible, a 3D model of the Di Carlo statue has been made available online. (https://www.europeana.eu/et/item/281/PM_ABR_ 3D_0009). Source: https://doi.org/10.1080/01971360.2023.2219935

Chart on Usage of Endnotes and Footnotes

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Acknowledgements

It provides appropriate recognition to all contributors

• See authorship statements and articles
• Include people and institutions that supported the work but did not materially contribute to the text, research, or imagery (those should be co-authors).
• This may include mentors, people or organizations that provided space or materials, colleagues who encouraged your work, draft readers, etc.

Disclosure statement

• List any possible conflicts of interest, such as funding that may have influenced the subject, materials used, methods, etc.
• “A conflict of interest can also be known as ‘competing interest.’ A conflict of interest can occur when you, or your employer, or sponsor have a financial, commercial, legal, or professional relationship with other organizations, or with the people working with them, that could influence your research.” T&F
• List possible personal conflicts or cultural conflicts that may have impacted your research, if not included in the text of the article.
• Example: A pigment company donated materials for your research.

Funding

• List grants, granting agencies/organizations, and/or grant numbers if applicable.

Notes on contributors (author biographies)

• Keep short at 1-2 paragraphs.
• Include current role/title, organization, degrees, and past experience.
• Include contact details.

Author ORCID details

• Anyone can register for a free ORCID at https://orcid.org/
• “ORCID provides a persistent digital identifier (an ORCID iD) that you own and control, and that distinguishes you from every other researcher. You can connect your iD with your professional information — affiliations, grants, publications, peer review, and more. You can use your iD to share your information with other systems, ensuring you get recognition for all your contributions, saving you time and hassle, and reducing the risk of errors.”
• ORCIDs are especially helpful if you have a common name.
• Add this number to your articles.

Chart on Authorship

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References

• See the references section; we use the Chicago Manual of Style as the basis.

Further reading

• Include material that was not cited directly in the article but could help inform the reader about the topic generally or if there are deep dives that could be sparked by your work.
• Provide this list styled in the same format as the reference section.

Appendices

• Included in the print article but at the end, past the references section.
• This can be templates, tables, formula, etc., that are too lengthy to place in the running text or body but will be of use to the reader.

Supplemental Information

• Posted online for the journal; it’s not included in the article but can be linked.
• Citations for supplemental data should appear as a footnote on the first page
• Supplemental information can be:
  • Datasets
  • Video and audio, including video figures (example) (example)
  • Infographics and 3D models
  • Handbooks, guides, templates
  • More

Data availability statement

https://authorservices.taylorandfrancis.com/data-sharing/share-your-data/data-availability-statements/

Chart on References, Further Reading, Supplemental Information

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Capitalization, Hyphenation, Spelling, Italics

Capitalize words such as brand names, tra