Be sure the information is accurate and complete. A report may be rejected due to lack of replication or if data seem incomplete, are of little significance, or are difficult to interpret.

Have two colleagues review your report before you submit it.

Statistical analysis or a suitable measure of variability of the data must be provided for all reports.

Use complete sentences and be concise.

Use of either metric or English units of measurement is acceptable; choice of a system should be guided by the likely audience for the data. Do not use the two systems interchangeably within a report.

Use approved abbreviations from the CBE Style Manual (Council of Biology Editors, Bethesda, MD). The following are almost always abbreviated:

acre = A

amount = amt

average = avg

bushel = bu

Celsius = C

centimeter = cm

circa = ca.

colony forming units = cfu

diameter = diam

Fahrenheit = F

fluid ounce = fl oz

foot = ft

gallon = gal

gram = g

hectare = ha

hour = hr

inch = in.

kilogram = kg

liter = L

maximum = max

meter = m

miles per hour = mph

milligram = mg

milliliter = ml

millimeter = mm

minute = min

month = mo

number = no.

ounce = oz

percent = %

pound = lb

pounds per square inch = psi

second = sec

temperature = temp

ton = t

ton (metric) = MT or Mg

week = wk

year = yr

Abbreviations are never plural (e.g., 3 lb, not 3 lbs) and, except for circa, inch, and number, are rarely followed by periods.

Indicate dates by day, three-letter abbreviation of month, and year as in 14 Oct 99; do not indicate dates as October 14, 1999, or 10/14/99.

If you have questions regarding preparation and submission of reports, please contact the editor-in-chief, Frank Wong,
Phone: (951) 315-0101
Fax: (951) 827-4294
Email: frank.wong@ucr.edu