How to go about an ACS reference letter format
In order to format, cite and reference letters, the ACS formatting guidelines show how a person is to design his or her message. The type of letter provides the main information shortly so that scientists can grab the main idea of an article or essay.
The margins, fonts, and line spacing are one of the most considered factors when formatting reference letters in ACS format. Variations in the formatting of works done in ACS format exist in the type of work that is being done. This means that the formatting of reference letters is different from the formatting of journals, books or even websites that are done in the same format. The formatting of reference letters in ACS format is important since knowledge about ACS formatting would be an added advantage to the reputation that a skilled scientist is about to portray in his or her letter.
What to look out for in an ACS reference letter sample
When writing reference letters in ACS format, there are some critical requirements which should be taken into consideration. For example, one should be keen on the margins, fonts, line spacing and even indentation. ACS Reference Letter is supposed to have correct sentence structure and proper organization to help the work have a more efficient and understandable atmosphere. This structural presentation of information in the letter also contributes to the logical aspect of the information that is being provided. Additionally, reference letters in ACS format are required to have short and straightforward declarative sentences. Moreover, the plot and main idea of an article or essay have to be followed through the text, leading a reader to concrete and understandable conclusion. This feature makes the message unpretentious to the reader. Reference letters should make statements rather than ask questions to the reader. At the same time, making too many short sentences might be too much of a burden to the reader. The remedy to this is to opt for the use of compound sentences. Compound sentences offer the writer to present more than one idea and relate each approach to the core purpose of the letter.
Formatting Guidelines
In the process of writing a reference letter the following formatting is considered:
- Punctuation
- Spelling
- Correct grammar and subject-verb agreement
- Right acronyms
- Line spacing
- Font
- margins
- Indentation
- Text alignment
- Citing reference in the text
- Reference lists
Reference letters are required to follow the correct formatting strategies for better understandability. In reference letters, various punctuations have different meanings. For example, parenthesis can be used to identify a manufacturer for a specific item that is involved with the main idea in the letter. Additionally, scientific terms should have correct spelling and used properly to convey a certain meaning in the letter. Acronyms in the ACS formatting style require that they are all correct and related to the preferred structure that is provided by the system. If a person uses an acronym that may not make sense to the reader, he or she may fail to correctly deliver information. The ACS formatting provides preferred acronyms that should be used if need be. The reader should, therefore, make sure that the complexity of the acronym does not affect the logic and understandability of the letter. The font used depends on the type of data that is being presented. For example, the user should prefer using an easily readable font such as times new roman or Arial. All these fonts should be of standard size, preferable size 12. However, there are exceptions such as in the use of chemical reactions, structures, tables and other special elements.
In reference letters in ACS format, the line spacing should be double. This is to increase visibility and reduce the burden on the reader. This spacing should continue throughout the letter even in sections such as quotations and list of works cited. Additionally, the writer should leave one space after a period or any other punctuation marks that mean conclusion. In some cases, the instructor may say otherwise, and hence the writer should strictly follow the instruction given on the spacing in the reference letter. In the reference letter, the preferred indentation is the hanging indent. The spacing should be 0.5” in the cited pages.
When citing reference letters in ACS format, the publication year should be in bold followed by a comma in bold. If the reference has more than one author, the names are cited in the order in which they appear on the title page or article. When there are two authors, one should use “and,” and when there are more than two authors to the reference, the writer should use “et al.”. If the reference has no author, the writer should start the citation with the name of the resource. When citing websites, the writer should make sure to include the date that that website was accessed. For example (accessed February 20, 2018)
The ACS style of formatting reference letters requires that when a writer is quoting more than 50 words, he or she should do this on a new line. At the same time, the quotation should be indented on both sides of the margin. The quotation should not any quotation marks and essentially be on the block. In this formatting style, an entry should be included in the reference list for any form of interviews, personal communications or even mails. This ensures that all the important information gets space in the reference letter. Consequently, when a writer follows all these formatting guidelines when writing an ACS reference letter sample, he or she has a higher chance of providing the best information to the reader or receiver of the letter. The guidelines for the ACS Reference Letter Format are therefore essential in the conveying of scientific ideas and information when writing recommendation letters.