Style Guide: Overview

Updated July 31, 2024

METS house style generally follows that of Medieval Institute Publications (MIP), which in turn is adapted from the 17th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style. METS makes modifications to adjust for the specific needs of editing medieval texts. Guidelines and examples are below, but what matters most is internal consistency within the edition.

Keep in mind that METS editions have a wide readership, and are used by both scholars and students. Assume that some readers will include students encountering Middle English for the first time. Be sure that your glosses are thorough and that your explanatory notes cover general medieval context as well as more detailed scholarship for advanced readers. See individual sections below for more detail.

METS does not expect camera-ready copy from volume editors, though submissions should be as close to final as possible. All volumes go through production in METS’s headquarters at the University of Rochester, and then are professionally typeset by MIP in Kalamazoo, MI. See Submission Instructions for details on formatting and submitting your edition.

NB: This Style Guide pertains only to print editions. Editors need not worry about formatting for digital editions, which is handled in-house by staff. METS digital editions, available here, reproduce the content of print editions, but format them slightly differently for user convenience.