Article Submission Guidelines

Preparing an Article for Publication

The following guidance is intended to assist authors in preparing manuscripts for submission to Over the Front. Please consult with the Managing Editor or an Issue Editor before beginning work. This ensures your chosen topic is appropriate and not too similar to recently published material.

Working with the Editorial Staff

• Refer to the latest edition of the Chicago Manual of Style and any style notes provided by the Managing Editor.
• Submit your article in Microsoft Word (preferred) or another widely used word-processing format.
• Use standard 8.5" x 11" pages with 1" margins and single spacing. Include page numbers.
• Provide a printed copy for reference during editing (helpful even in today’s digital process).
• Ensure accurate spelling of all names, ranks, foreign words, and numerals. Use your word processor’s spellcheck, but verify with a reliable dictionary.
• When introducing individuals, include their full name, rank, unit, and other relevant identifiers.
• Document evidence with endnotes. If assumptions are necessary, state them clearly and provide reasoning.

Working with Photographs

• Submit original high-resolution image files (TIFF or JPEG preferred). Prints may still be requested for quality scanning and will be returned after publication.
• Avoid glossy or textured photo paper, as it produces glare or scanning artifacts.
• Photocopies, laser prints, and low-resolution scans are not acceptable substitutes.
• Provide detailed captions, identifying individuals by name, rank, unit, and other known details. Include dates, locations, and aircraft identification where possible.
• If images are under copyright, provide the source and acknowledgment details.
• Number each photo and provide captions in a separate “Illustrations” section at the end of your manuscript.

Manuscript Elements

• Headers: Each page should include a header with your article title or identifier plus the page number.
• Endnotes: Use automatic numbering in your word processor.
• Bibliography: List sources following Chicago Manual of Style conventions. Examples:
  • Bodenschatz, Karl. Jagd in Flanderns Himmel. Munich: Knorr & Hirth, 1935, p. 206.
  • Bailey, Frank W., and Alan L. Roesler. “The History of Groupe de Combat 14.” Over the Front 16, no. 3 (2001): 241–242.
• Acknowledgments: Keep concise and relevant.

Foreign Words

• Spell out and translate foreign words on first use: Bremsklötze weg! (German for “Pull the chocks”).
• Spell out foreign ranks with translation on first use, then abbreviate thereafter.
• Consult standard references for accuracy (e.g., Alex Imrie’s Pictorial History of the German Army Air Service).

Numbers

• Spell out one through ten; use numerals for 11 and higher.
• If beginning a sentence with a number over ten, spell it out.

Unit Designations

• Use historically accurate forms:
  • 95th Pursuit Squadron, USAS
  • No. 206 Squadron, RAF
  • Jagdstaffel 40
  • Escadrille SPA 103

Aircraft Designations and Serial Numbers

• Use period-accurate designations (e.g., S.E.5a, Albatros D.Va, Fokker Dr.I).
• No apostrophes in plurals: “DH-4s,” not “DH-4’s.”
• Examples of correct serials: S.E.5a C.1057; Pfalz D.IIIa 8143/17; Fokker D.VII (OAW) 8425/18.

Accent Marks

• Include proper accents and diacritical marks: Armée, Pour le Mérite, Schütte-Lanz.

Abbreviations and Ranks

• Use consistent, period-appropriate abbreviations.
• A comprehensive list of WWI ranks is maintained by the editorial staff; consult it where possible.

Miscellaneous Style Points

• Dates: Follow the convention of the country of origin (e.g., 9 May 1917).
• Times: Use 12-hour clock with a.m./p.m. unless the source uses 24-hour military time.
• Apostrophes: Use only for possession, not for plurals (SPADs, not SPAD’s).
• Hyphens vs. dashes: Use hyphens for compound words, en dashes for ranges, and em dashes for breaks in thought.

These guidelines are intended to ensure clarity, consistency, and historical accuracy in Over the Front. As our style evolves, updates will be shared. Suggestions and corrections are welcome and should be sent to the Managing Editor.