"Glossary," which is commonly called "Terms and Definitions," usually appears after "Scope." Committees are strongly urged to provide a Terms and Definitions section in each book for the users' convenience. This area of text, which generally appears in the body of the book, is text font, full column measure, flush left, justified, with runover flush left.
Terms listed in this section are italic, lowercase (unless a proper noun/name), followed by a colon, and are either defined or cross-referenced. See Sample. Do not list a term as a head for a group or category of terms.
Terms are listed in alphabetical order letter by letter, across commas, hyphens, slashes, and apostrophes.
Entries beginning with a number should be listed in numerical order at the beginning of the list, before items beginning with “A.” When the numerals do not come first in the entry but follow a common element, they should be listed in numerical order.
For a list of common terms, the most basic version of the term should appear first among those terms being alphabetized on that word. However, do not list that basic term alone (like a heading, without a definition). The grouping of like terms listed below the lead term should be set as glossary subterms and will appear indented one em space. See the example below.
Following the rules above, the terms would appear in the order shown in the example below.
EXAMPLE:
B1 series
B54 series
back-connected
back end
back-feed
back focal distance
BeV (billion electronvolts)
bookcase
book-form drawing
bookrack
booster 1
booster 2
boost rocket
brake
brake, drag
brake, friction-type
brake, holding
brake, parking
brakeless
braking
braking, control
braking, dynamic
braking means
braking, pneumatic
Btu (Britsh thermal unit)
Definitions should be set roman, begin lowercase, and end with a period, regardless of whether or not the definition is a complete sentence. Definitions may consist of more than one sentence. See Sample.
In some cases, there may be a term with its own definition as well as subterms and subdefinitions. These subterms, indented one em space, should also appear alphabetically as explained above. See Sample.
If another term is mentioned in a definition, it should also be roman. If two different terms have the same definition, present the definition with the term that appears first. Do not repeat the definition after the second term. Instead, the definition should simply read as follows: see term. The cross-reference must be used after all subsequent terms with the same definition. Do not repeat the definition after these terms. See Sample.
If the definition includes a cross-reference, it should appear at the end of the definition after the period and read as follows: (See also term.) This is the only time a term within a definition should appear in italic
On rare occasions, a breakdown may occur within a definition. Normal breakdown indents and scheme should be applied. See Sample.
When terms are used within the body of the book outside of the Glossary/Definitions area, they should appear roman, not italic.
