What Is the Standard Manuscript Format?
Many publishers expect submissions to use a standard manuscript format. As a proofreader or an editor, knowing what the standard format requires will allow you to better help your clients.
Read on to find out what the standard manuscript format is and when it should be used.
What Is a Manuscript in Publishing?
In publishing, a manuscript is the original version of a writer’s work submitted for consideration before it’s edited or typeset. Authors usually submit manuscripts in digital form, although they are still sometimes submitted in print. A written manuscript can be any type of content, such as a short story, a romance novel, an essay, an academic research paper, or a memoir.
A manuscript is not a finished product, and it hasn’t been professionally designed or formatted for printing. It’s simply the writer’s raw, unedited work, prepared for evaluation by an agent, an editor, or a publisher.
Why Is Manuscript Formatting Important?
Publishers and other organizations often require manuscripts to follow a specific structure and layout, known as standard manuscript format. But why should formatting matter for a written manuscript that hasn’t been formally published?
Essentially, manuscript formatting makes a difference in how a writer’s work is initially received and reviewed. Using the prescribed guidelines for submission shows editors and agents that the writer takes industry standards seriously and demonstrates professionalism. In addition to appearances, following the standard manuscript format ensures reviewers can evaluate all submissions fairly. This is because it removes unnecessary visual distractions and allows them to focus on the content. Elements such as double line spacing, consistent fonts, and standard margins also make a manuscript easy to read. This is especially true for agents reviewing dozens (or hundreds) of submissions.
As an editor, it’s important to understand basic manuscript formatting so that you can help your clients prepare their work for submission. There are many different types of clients who might submit a manuscript for review. For example, fiction writers, researchers, and biographers. In addition, you could work with self-published authors. They may not be familiar with the formatting requirements of different publishing houses or agencies.
What Is the Standard Manuscript Format?
The standard manuscript format refers to a set of common conventions for formatting a manuscript before submitting it to an agent or a publisher.
As an editor, you may be asked to check that a manuscript meets these conventions before it is submitted or even help your client prepare the manuscript itself.
In either case, you’ll need to know the key features of the standard manuscript format, which consist of the following:
- Either 8.5 by 11 inches or A4 page size
- Written in a black, easy-to-read font, such as Courier New or Times New Roman
- Written in a font size of 10 or 12 points
- Double spaced
- Bordered by 1-, 1.25-, or 1.5-inch margins on all sides
- Indented by 0.5 inches at the start of each new paragraph
- Left-aligned text
- Having 24 or 25 lines of text per page
- Printed single-sided
- Concluded with “The End” written on the final page
There are several further requirements for the first page of the manuscript:
- Your client should provide their name and contact information in the top left corner.
- In the top right, they should write the manuscript’s word count.
- The manuscript’s title should be written several lines beneath this information, be center-aligned, and use title case (i.e., with each word capitalized).
- A byline should be written under the title, consisting of your client’s name or pen name.
Each subsequent page should then include a right-aligned header containing the author’s name, the manuscript title (shortened if necessary), and the page number in the following format:
NAME / TITLE / 1
Doing so means that if the printed manuscript is dropped or shuffled while passed around, it can easily be reassembled.
The standard manuscript format is widely accepted by many publishers, but as you’ll see in the next section, it might not always be the right way to format your client’s work.
When Not to Use the Standard Manuscript Submission Format
The standard manuscript format isn’t a rule for how every manuscript should be presented. Rather, it’s a series of guidelines generally considered acceptable.
If the agent or publisher your client is submitting to has their own style guide or submission guidelines, it will take priority over the standard format, even if it contradicts any of the details we’ve covered above.
When it comes to formatting a manuscript, always check the publisher’s requirements. If your client has no agent or publisher in mind, advise them to look for any relevant guidelines when they finally submit their manuscript.
Becoming An Editor
If editing creative writing is your dream career, our Becoming An Editor course can help you achieve it. From the basics of editing to a dedicated creative writing module, the course comes with everything you need – and lifetime access to all of it.
And if you pass our Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor courses with a distinction score of at least 80%, you’re guaranteed work with our partner company, Proofed. Sign up for some free lessons today!
Your email address will not be published.