The thirty-ninth and final edition of Hart’s Rules was published in 1983, and 182 pages long—2 pages shorter than the preceding edition. It was similar in format to the two preceding editions, but with a different dustjacket (click to see pop-up image, 112k).

• Full-title (click to see pop-up image, 37k)
• Preface (click to see pop-up image, 82k)

A new preface (see below) was followed by the—by now traditional—reprinting of Hart’s 1914 preface.

PREFACE TO THE
THIRTY-NINTH EDITION

With the replacing of Collins, Authors and Printers Dictionary, by the new Oxford Dictionary for Writers and Editors, it was almost inevitable that another edition of this little book would follow. It has been revised and updated and all word-lists brought into line generally with ODWE. Many users will have both books on their shelves; no doubt it will be appreciated that one may always be slightly ahead of the other in some way.

The swiftly changing face of the industry is reflected in a new section (in the Appendix) on Machine Readable Codes, whilst the multiplicity of new setting systems has meant taking a seemingly backwards step. In the previous edition values for spacing were based on the Monotype 18-unit system. Now it has been decided, in the interest of clarity, to reintroduce older terms and give to each a percentage-value related to the em-space (see p. xi).

Recent editions of Hart’s Rules have seen the gradual expansion of the Foreign Languages section. This, the 39th (reset) edition, carries on this tradition by including a valuable (if overdue) guide to the setting of Welsh, and of Dutch and Afrikaans.

Once more I must point out that the revision of this publication is the work of several people, and I should like to draw attention to the valuable help given by the Oxford Dictionaries staff. A special word of thanks is due to Harold Boyce, who has carried the main burden of responsibility for editions and revisions during the last twenty-five years while he was Head Reader here.

E.B.

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