Some academic styles require important mathematical expressions to be numbered for reference, much like figures and tables. Other symbols should generally not be italicized, such as Arabic numerals, Greek letters, script, and double-struck characters. For example, “cos A,” with “cos” set in Roman type, indicates the cosine of angle A, while cos, set in italics, would indicate the product of the three variables c, o, and s all multiplied together-quite a different proposition! Mathematical expressions may occasionally include functions expressed in words or abbreviations of words. To avoid confusion, then, alphabetic variables should always be italicized, whether they appear in the inline text or on a separate line. Some of these symbols do double duty as the twenty-six letters of the standard English alphabet. An expression that appears on a separate line may still be part of a sentence that begins on the line above and ends on the line below, as shown here.Ī variety of symbols can stand for variables, constants, and functions in mathematical expressions. Even when a line of text is interrupted in this way, though, punctuate appropriately. Using the correct symbols in an equation is as important as properly spelling the words of a sentence.īrief or incidental mathematical expressions can be integrated right into the body text: “Einstein’s theory of general relativity is expressed as E = mc 2, where E represents energy, m stands for mass, and c is the constant speed of light.” Expressions critical to understanding the content of the paper should appear on a separate line, usually indented by a half-inch. ![]() ![]() You can find the plus (+), equals (=), and division (/) operators on a standard keyboard for the multiplication (×), subtraction (–), and other operators, click over to the Insert tab and check the Symbol menu on the far right. Neither should you use a hyphen to indicate subtraction. It’s a different character from the lowercase letter X, and the two should not be used interchangeably. Note the multiplication symbol in the example. As shown in the example below, this convention is useful as a way to avoid excessive use of parentheses to separate discrete mathematical operations. And when multiplying variables, the multiplication sign is usually omitted altogether placing the variables next to one another with no intervening space serves to indicate the multiplication function. When the operational symbol is actually a part of the numeral or variable, as in the case of negative numbers (e.g., –1), no space is inserted. There are a couple of important exceptions. As with words in the sentence, the symbols in a mathematical expression should be separated by a single space, as shown below. Numbers and variables are nouns operational symbols may variously act as conjunctions, adverbs, adjectives, prepositions, or transitive verbs. In a mathematical expression, numbers, variables, and operators act like the parts of speech. Let’s look at some of the conventions that govern mathematical grammar at all levels. Get your free sample back in 3 to 6 hours! But we don’t get many papers with that particular equation. “Two plus two equals four,” for instance, is a grammatically correct sentence you could diagram it like any other. Simple equations can easily be expressed in words. If mathematics is (as is often said) a language, then a formula or equation is analogous to a sentence. So our interest is, as always, with grammar and syntax. ![]() ![]() Generally, we are not expected to check the math for accuracy because, to be practical, we don’t match editors to clients according to academic background, and to be ethical, that would be crossing the line from editing to co-authorship. The way we edit these passages is a little different from how we handle prose. We expect a great deal of math in papers on the physical sciences, but formulas can show up in any subject that uses statistical analysis, including economics, sociology, history, and even literature. Projects of this kind are likely to feature equations and formulas. At ProofreadingPal, we’re often tasked with proofing academic and professional math and science documents.
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