HTML Layout Guidelines for The Internet TESL Journal

Author's Name
your@name.email.com
http://your.webpage.com/~if_you_have_one/
Affiliation (City Name, State, Country)

This is for writers who are willing to do their own HTML layout for The Internet TESL Journal. Not only will you learn the basic HTML codes to use, but you can use this document as a template for your submission.

Introduction

We do accept non-formatted submissions. However, if your submission is formatted it will save us a lot of time and also give you more control over how your submission will look.

Our Main Design Goal

We want our pages to download quickly and be readable by any computer using any browser. We also want our pages to be usable if printed and read offline.

HTML Code Which We Use

Please limit your HTML code to these.

<H1>Main Title</H1>
<H2>Sub-titles</H2>
<H3>The Next Level of Sub-titles, If Needed</h3>
<BR> Single line breaks.
<P> Double line breaks. Use one after each paragraph.
<UL></UL> Unordered lists.
<OL></OL> Ordered lists.
<LI> List items.
<B></B> Bold.
<I></I> Italics are avoided if possible.
<BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE> is used for the abstract and any blockquoted material in the article.
<CENTER></CENTER> is used for the main title, sub-titles are not centered.
<A HREF="http://www.aitech.ac.jp/~iteslj/"> http://www.aitech.ac.jp/~iteslj/</A> Please show the URL, so that it is visible. Remember that some readers print the articles.
<A HREF="mailto:mailto:iteslj@ge.aitech.ac.jp"> mailto:iteslj@ge.aitech.ac.jp</A> Email addresses should also be shown.

Things Which We Avoid

Briefly, we avoid using code which is browser specific or primarily cosmetic. We want our pages to download quickly and be usable by everyone. Here is a list of things we avoid and the substitutions we use.

<FONT></FONT> Please do not insert font size changes and font color changes.
<I></I> Italics are avoided if possible since it is difficult to read on many computer screens. In many cases <B></B> can be used instead.
<U></U> Underlines don't show on all computers, please use <B></B> instead.
  This code is inserted by many HTML editors, but causes problems with certain computers, use a space instead.
Non-English Letters Even with the &...; alternative codes, these are unreadable on certain computers.
Smart quotes & smart apostrophes are not acceptable in HTML, so use plain ones.
</P> and </LI> We always eliminate these. Since browsers are backward compatible, these are unnecessary and only add to the filesize.
<STRONG></STRONG> We use the shorter <B></B> which is the same or similar on most computers.

Table Formatting

If possible, format your table using a mono-space font, then use <PRE></PRE>. This will allow all readers to view your table.

Table formatting using <TABLE></TABLE> is acceptable only if it is absolutely necessary. If you need to use <TABLE> formatting, please avoid adding colors since this increases the filesize and downloading time. Also, please do not include any width commands that requires over 440 pixles to display, since this will make printing the document impossible.

Images

To promote fast downloading and offline reading, images are avoided if possible.

If your article requires images (ie. tables, charts), then please submit them as GIF files.

Follow these guidlines to optimize the GIF image file for quick downloading.

Use the minimum number of colors. In most cases, two colors should be enough.
Limit the physical size. Images should be as small as possible, but large enough so they are understandable. Images should NEVER be over 440 pixels wide or 420 pixels high.

Titles and Sub-Titles

Don't use all capital letters.
Follow capitalization rules for titles.

Optimize Your HTML Document for Speed

To get the filesize as small as possible, please eliminate everything that is not absolutely necessary.

Eliminate extra RETURNS, SPACES, and TABS which don't show on the screen.
Eliminate any unneeded HTML code.

Special Note for Those Who Use HTML Editors

HTML editing software often inserts a lot of extra duplicate code. If you understand HTML, please eliminate this before emailing the submission to us. You may also eliminate the unnecessary <META ...> code which tells which HTML editor you used.

Use This Page as a Template

Save this document as source to your hard disk. Your browser probably has that option under the File menu. There are some hidden comments (<--Footer-->, etc.) which can be seen if you are using a text editor.

The Internet TESL Journal, Vol. ??, No. ?, Month 1998
http://www.aitech.ac.jp/~iteslj/