Barbara, I don't think your reading of the NSF font requirements is correct. They say: ***** An Arial, Helvetica, Palatino (for Machintosh), Palatino Linotype (for Windows), Computer Modern (TeX only), or Georgia typeface, a black font color, and a font size of 10 points or larger must be used. (A Symbol font may be used to insert Greek letters or special characters; however, the font size requirement still applies.) ***** I interpret this to mean that PC users can choose Arial, Helvetica, Palatino Linotype, or Georgia; Mac users can choose Arial, Helvetica, Palatino, or Georgia. That gives more choices than you thought. I hope I've interpreted the guidelines correctly! Liz ------------------------------------------------------- Liz Lieberman Director, Office of Sponsored Research Assistant Dean of the College Wellesley College 106 Central Street Wellesley, MA 02481-8203 Phone: (781) 283-3587; Fax: (781) 283-3695 E-mail: xxxxxx@wellesley.edu Research Administration Discussion List <xxxxxx@hrinet.org> on Monday, May 21, 2007 at 5:01 PM -0500 wrote: >All, > >Before y’all think that I must not have enough work to do, let me preface >this by telling you that several years ago, one of my PIs had an NSF >proposal rejected on characters per inch on an NSF submission after the >pdf conversion software slightly shrunk the font size. So I have some >concern with the new NSF typeface instructions that will become effective >on June 1. My understanding is that specific fonts are now prescribed to >“level the playing field.” I am a PC/Word user and so I have >experimented with the two possible typefaces (Georgia and Palatino >Linotype). In my experiment, I used a font size of 10, the minimum that >NSF says it will accept. Like most PIs, I was aiming to maximize the >amount of text I could fit in the fifteen pages of narrative. > >I found it quite interesting that, using Georgia 10 point at the default >line spacing setting (single-spaced), I could fit 56 lines of text on a >page with the 1” margins. I could only fit 48 lines of Palatino Linotype >10 point on a page. I’m not using a precision ruler, but six lines of >the Palatino Linotype 10 point also appear to be a smidgeon greater than >the allowable maximum of six lines per 1” vertical height. Both type >faces have the same “horizontal” measurements. So if the PI doesn’t >realize the default line spacing is different for the different type >faces and opts to use Palatino Linotype, s/he ends up with 120 lines >(more than two pages) of text fewer for the narrative than if s/he had >selected the Georgia typeface. (To correct, one would have to set the >line spacing for Palatino Linotype at “exactly 11.5 points,” which also >results in the six lines fitting within the 1” vertical measurement >allowance.) > >And to make matters more complicated, both the Georgia 10 point and the >Palatino Linotype 10 point had 16 characters per inch in my experiment, >more than the allowable 15 characters per inch per the new GPG. In order >to hit the 15 characters per inch, one would need to use a 10.5 point >font for the Georgia typeface. I didn’t do this part of the experiment >with Palatino Linotype, as two changes of default settings are just too >much to deal with. > >I’m not a Mac user, so I don’t know if the same problems exist with the >four approved Mac typefaces (Arial, Helvetica, Palatino, and Georgia). >Perhaps a Mac user will volunteer to check out those four fonts in the >same way. > >I think that, without guidance, most PIs will arbitrarily pick the font >they think looks best and will not bother to pull out the ruler. I’ve >recommended that our PC-using PIs use Georgia because of the extra lines >per page with the default line spacing. But what, if anything do I need >to advise PIs about font size? Will the 10 point setting that results in >16 characters per inch cause proposals to be declined? Or can I assume >that NSF will accept 10 point because they establish that as the minimum >size font, even though it exceeds the stated characters per inch >maximum? > >Does anyone else share my concerns that (1) the playing field doesn’t >appear to be leveled for PC/Word users and (2) the instructions seem to >conflict? > >The specific directions on formatting from the new GPG section of the >combined policy and procedures manual is as follows: > >“Grant Proposal Guide II-2 NSF 07-140 > >a. An Arial, Helvetica, Palatino (for Machintosh), Palatino Linotype (for >Windows), Computer Modern (TeX > >only), or Georgia typeface, a black font color, and a font size of 10 >points or larger must be used. (A Symbol font > >may be used to insert Greek letters or special characters; however, the >font size requirement still applies.) > >b. Type density, including characters and spaces, must be no more than 15 >characters per inch; > >c. No more than 6 lines of type within a vertical space of 1 inch; and > >d. Margins, in all directions, must be at least an inch. > >3. Page Formatting > >…The guidelines specified above establish the minimum type size >requirements; however, PIs are advised that > >readability is of paramount importance and should take precedence in >selection of an appropriate font for use in > >the proposal. Small type size makes it difficult for reviewers to read >the proposal; consequently, the use > >of small type not in compliance with the above guidelines may be grounds >for NSF to return the > >proposal without review. Adherence to type size and line spacing >requirements also is necessary to ensure > >that no proposer will have an unfair advantage, by using smaller type or >line spacing to provide more text in the > >proposal.” > > >Thanks for your thoughts. >Barbara > >Barbara H. Gray >Director of Grants & Contracts >Valdosta State University >1500 North Patterson Street >Valdosta, GA 31698-0429 > >Telephone: 229-333-7837 >Fax: 229-245-3853 >Email: xxxxxx@valdosta.edu > >====================================================================== >Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including >subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available via >our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists") >====================================================================== ====================================================================== Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists") ======================================================================
