Manuscript Preparation

Manuscript organization

• Title
• Author(s) and full address(es), including e-mail
• Acknowledgments, if any
• Abstract (no more than 250 words)
• Text (use headings and no more than two classes of subheadings)
   - double-spaced, include line numbers, font size no less than 12 pt.
• Appendix(es), if any
• References Cited
• Figure captions (listed on a separate sheet)
• Figures (as individual files not included in text)
• Tables (as individual files not included in text)
• Supplementary data (please see “Datashare” below)

General rules

• Use metric units of measure with the English unit equivalent in parentheses or, conversely, English units with metric equivalents in parentheses. Laboratory measurements do not require conversions.
• Do not use abbreviations except for units of measure.
• Limit the use of acronyms. Please define all acronyms and nonstandard abbreviations used within figures and tables in each figure caption and table footnote.
• Figures must be cited in numerical order.
• Cite all references and include complete information for each citation in “References Cited” section.
• Follow the North American Stratigraphic Code and use Geochronologic and Chronostratigraphic Nomenclature.

Figure requirements

• All figures must include scales.
• Axes must be labeled on graphs.
• Scale bars must be included on photomicrographs.
• All maps and associated manuscript text must adhere to United Nations published geographic names and boundary lines (see https://www.un.org/geospatial/mapsgeo/generalmaps) with the exception of the Persian Gulf, which can also be referred to as the Arabian Gulf.
• Each map must contain a scale bar, north arrow, and sufficient number (at least two) of coordinate (latitude, longitude) points to position, orient, and scale it.
• Each cross section and seismic line, as proprietary considerations allow, should be located on a map that includes the map information outlined in the previous requirement. If known, projection and geodetic datum information should be included.
• Satellite imagery, orthophotos, and similar metric photography should be treated as maps.

Reference style

Text Citations

• All references cited in the manuscript must be listed in the References Cited.
• Names, spellings, and dates between the text and the References Cited must be consistent.
• Unpublished references must be cited as personal communications (i.e., J. Smith, 2012, personal communication) and should not be listed in the References Cited.
• Initials should be used within the text when referencing two or more authors who have the same last name (i.e., W. Brooks, 1995; P. Brooks, 1995).
• Articles or books that have three or more authors or editors should be cited with the senior author’s name plus “et al.” (i.e., Smith et al., 1999).
• Works should be cited chronologically first, then alphabetically (i.e., Harvey et al., 1989, 1992; Smithers, 1990; Zink et al., 1990, 2000; Jordan et al., 1993; Abercrombie, 1994; Fernandez, 2002).
• A page number should be given when a direct quote is used (i.e., Smith, 1991, p. 1492).

References Cited

• All references must be complete and accurate.
• Referencing works accepted for publication but not yet published is discouraged. However, when vital to the manuscript, cite as “in press;” with no year given (i.e., Jones, R. B., in press, Fluvial and lacustrine rocks…).
• For works that list one author, two authors, or a group of authors that have more than one publication in one year, differentiate the publications by adding a, b, c, etc., after the year (i.e., 1991a, 1991b).

Order of Cited Information

• Journal Article: author name(s), year of publication, title of article, name of journal, volume number, issue number (optional), page numbers, doi number (i.e., Carstens, H., 1978, Origin of abnormal formation pressures in central North Sea Lower Tertiary clastics: The Log Analyst, v. 129, no. 1, p. 24–28, doi 10.1306/256A937.).
• Book Article: author name(s), year of publication, title of article, editor(s) of book, title of book, city of publication, publisher, series and any number, volume number, page range, doi number (i.e., Posamentier, H. W., 1988, Eustatic controls on clastic deposition, in C. Wilgus, ed., Sea-level changes: SEPM Special Publication 42, p. 125–154.).
• Book: author or editor name(s), year of publication, title of book, city of publication, publisher, number of pages, doi number (i.e., Riley, J., and R. Chester, 1971, Introduction to marine chemistry: New York, Academic Press, 465 p.).
• Map: author name(s), year of publication, title of work, city of publication, publisher, series and any number, scale, number of sheets, doi number (i.e., Harris, A., J. Epstein, and L. B. Harris, 1978, Oil and gas data from Paleozoic rocks in the Appalachian basin: U. S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Map I-917-E, scale 1:2,500,000, 4 sheets.).
• Thesis: author name, year of publication, title of work, name of the degree, university, city of location, number of pages (i.e., Smith, J., 1997, Giant carbonate reservoirs, Master’s thesis, Rice University, Houston, Texas, 200 p.).
• Internet: author name(s), year of publication or last revision, title of document, title of complete work (if applicable), date of access, URL (i.e., Rocky, I., 1998, Oil patch, accessed January 31, 2011, http://[email protected]/article.html).

Order of References Cited

• Works are ordered alphabetically by author, regardless of number of authors.
• If an author or set of authors has more than one work, order by date, oldest to newest.

Datashare: Authors of AAPG Bulletin articles or book chapters may share data files related to but not necessarily included in articles. Large data sets, spreadsheets, and oversized or animated images may be placed online on the Datashare page and can be accessed at http://www.aapg.org/publications/journals/bulletin/datashare. The material will be referenced in the printed article and linked in the online version.