Box heads.—Box heads should be run across whenever practicable; if it is necessary to run them up, reduce to the minimum depth.

In boxes of two or more lines which run across, or where two or more boxes occur in the same head, use en quads above and below the greater number of lines.

In boxes of three lines or more in depth and 10 ems or more in width over reading columns or over several figure columns, and in all run-up heads of three lines or more, make hanging indention; otherwise center each line.

In boxes containing two lines the first line must be the longer when possible.

Contractions.—In columns of names of persons, follow copy in the use of contractions of given names; but to avoid overruns always contract such names as William and Charles. Use “Co.” for “Company” where the name of the company is given; use “R. R.” for railroad and “Rwy.” for railway where the name of the railroad or railway is given, and use Bro. and Bros. in firm names. Contract names of months whenever the day of the month is given, excepting in first columns consisting of dates only, which may, however, be contracted to save overruns. All other well-known contractions can be used, by direction of copy preparer, to save overruns. The following contractions for months of the year will be used:

Use of “dittoes.”—Ditto whenever it can properly be done, and ditto under blank spaces in all cases excepting center heads, but never ditto under leaders.

In columns less than 6 ems in width use 1½ ems of quads (in addition to en quad used for bearing off) or 2 ems of leaders, as may be required, before the “do.”; in columns of 6 ems and over, use 2 ems of quads (in addition to en quad used for bearing off) or 2½ ems of leaders.

In first columns, where flush headings are used with indentions under them, proportionate allowance must be made for those indentions, and it will generally be indicated by the copy preparer.

Date columns.—In 7-em date columns, bear off 3-em space from rules, use only en commas after day of month, and put the remaining space between month and day. Observe same style in 5-em date columns, with the exception of using en quads instead of 3-em spaces in bearing off from rules.

Ditto in both 5 and 7 em columns.

Leading from top or bottom lines.—Where there is only one reading column, lead from the bottom; if more than one, from the top.

Date columns are not classified as reading columns in connection with leading from top line.

In parallel tables, where the lines are numbered on the outside of each page, lead from the top.

Where the last word in a leader line runs close to the rule, use en leader if space permits; if not, use a thin space, but never use a full point, excepting where a reference mark follows an abbreviation.

Unless specially directed otherwise, continue leaders across entire width of tables when the right-hand columns are of figures; when the last column is a reading column, omit the leaders from that column only.

Figures in reading columns.—Numerical expressions in reading columns will be expressed in figures, even at the beginning of the sentence: 155 days from Dec. 1; trains 3 times a day.

Figures from or against rules.—In figure columns bear off an en quad from rules on right of figures; and so make the cast as to bear off the longest line of figures an en quad from the rule on the left where possible. If crowded, and but few figures will touch, close up on the left; if still more crowded, close up on the right. If found necessary to set the figures in one column against the rule on the right (which, by the way, must always be done before closing up on the left when the mass of figures is of nearly even width), do the same with the remaining columns of the table. Exceptions will be marked by copy preparer.

Common fractions to be set against rules unless otherwise indicated.

Decimals.—In columns of figures containing decimals omit the point and ciphers where no decimal occurs. This rule does not apply to money columns consisting of both dollars and cents, where the points and ciphers will be used. Always align the decimal points.

Dollar mark.—Repeat dollar mark under rules in continuous tables; also in leader work where center heads occur indicating a separate or independent statement. But in statements where amounts are added to make a general aggregate do not repeat the dollar mark, even where center heads occur.

Parallel dashes.—Use parallel dashes in figure columns in all cases where necessary to cut off from figures following. This rule will apply also to leader work.

Tables in rules.—In tables inclosed in rules, where the first column consists of figures, do not use leaders. [This rule will not apply to date columns or to reading columns clearly requiring leaders.] Bear off matter one em from side rules.

Full point in leader lines.—Use full point between abbreviation and reference mark in leader lines, as Boston, Mass.† ...

Blanks for center heads.—Use full blank line above and below all center heads in stubs or reading columns, excepting where leaders run back far enough to clear the head, in which case use only a line of en quads below.

Plus and minus marks.—Plus and minus marks in figure columns must be aligned when occurring at left of figures.

Dates and figures in reading columns.—Do not range dates or figures in first or reading columns unless figures are added up to make a total. This rule will apply also to leader work.

En-quadded tables.—Use en quads in runovers [copy preparers will give instructions when change is desired]; scabbard will not be allowed; all box heads solid.

Reference marks.—Set off all reference marks a 5-em space when preceding words or figures. Use superior figures (¹, ², ³, etc.) for reference marks and footnotes in all cases, unless otherwise instructed. In a series of short footnotes range the reference marks, and also the first letter of the note.

Words in figure columns.—Range all words occurring in figure columns one en from rule on right; also capitalize and use full point.

Indention from rules.—An indention from a rule means so many ems in addition to the en quad used for bearing off.

Word “number.”—Spell the word “number,” referring to quantity or things, in box heads where possible. Where necessary to abbreviate or where used in connection with serial figures, use “No.”

Flush and sub heads.—Use colons after flush heads and em dashes after heads subordinate thereto.

Units of quantity.—Units of quantity to the right of reading columns and over figure columns will be spelled where possible. Where the space available demands a contraction, use the following forms: Dolls., galls., lbs., oz., bbls., cwt., yds., ft., in. (inches), doz., bush., M, sq. feet, M feet, cub. feet, kilo., kilos. Observe style of the following table:

Leader work.—Leader work is not classified as tabular work.

Continued heads.—Continued heads over tables must be condensed into one line where possible.