Difference between revisions of "Slashes and hyphens"
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| + | There is a great deal of confusion on the use of slashes, hyphens, spaces, or no spaces to indicate the combination of techniques, particularly when acronyms and abbreviations are used. | ||
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{{Slashes and hyphens}} | {{Slashes and hyphens}} | ||
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:time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS) | :time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS) | ||
| + | Ionization methods are set apart by a space, cor example | ||
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| + | :electron ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (EI TOFMS) | ||
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| + | ==Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry== | ||
| + | The journal Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry has in the past given instructions to authors on combined techniques. For example, from the ''July 12, 2009'' RCM: | ||
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| + | The Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry author guidelines state | ||
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| + | :"A single analytical technique, or a type of instrument, is abbreviated without hyphens. Thus, TOFMS, FTICRMS." | ||
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| + | :"A hyphen is used when highlighting a particular component or feature of an instrument or technique. Thus, MALDI-TOFMS, ESI-MS/MS. When 2 or more different analytical techniques are coupled in tandem, this is represented by a solidus placed between the abbreviations for the techniques. Thus we write Py/GC/EI-MS, CZE/TOFMS." | ||
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| + | Thus a hyphen is used to highlight an instrument component and a slash (also called a solidus, virgule, diagonal, stroke, or separatrix) is used to denote combined techniques. [[Mass Spec Desk Reference|Sparkman]] suggests that, for example, GC/MS be used to describe the technique of gas chromatography with mass spectrometry detection and GC-MS to indicate the instrument. Thus one uses a GC-MS to obtain a GC/MS. | ||
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| + | The revised IUPAC Standard Definitions of Terms Relating to Mass Spectrometry document must contain a general recommendation on when to use punctuation, when to use a hyphen and when to use a slash when describing combined techniques. | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||