Undergrad Typographical question: the section sign

[nomadreid]

I have seen the section sign \S mainly in legal documents. However, an acquaintance is writing a physics paper in which she uses this sign to refer to a section of another paper in which the section sign was not used (sections just being marked off by number), is it OK to use the section sign, or is it preferable to write out the word "Section"? (Sorry for the twisted phrasing, so rephrasing: in article A, no section sign was used. In article B there is a reference to a section in B. Should one use the section sign or the word "Section"?)
Thanks.

 

[DrClaude]

I don't remember having ever seen $\S$ in "modern" scientific articles.

In any case, publishers usually have specific rules concerning this. Physics Review requires it to be abbreviated to Sec., with a capital S. Most other publishers ask it be spelled out, some requiring always a capital S. She should check the author instructions for the journal she plans to submit to.

 

[nomadreid]

Thanks, DrClaude. That completely answers the question .