Q: Is a space necessary before and after the sign of equality/inequality?
Which format is preferable in the following example?p = 0.05、p=0.05、p =0.05p < 0.01、p<0.01、p <0.01n = 100、n=100、n =10011.0 < Hb < 14.0、11.0<Hb<14.0、11.0 <Hb <14.0、11.0< Hb <14.0My supervisors have differing opinions on this, and every time I have to spend time for making these corrections. It affects the number of the words also, so I am troubled when creating the abstract with a restriction on the number of words. Is there a common rule for use of space before and after the sign of equality/inequality?
As per the AMA Manual of Style, a single space should be used before and after the signs of equality and inequality. So, if you submit your paper to a journal that follows the AMA style guide, you can adhere to this rule. Thus, in the examples you have provided, the first option would be preferable.
p = 0.05
p < 0.01
n = 100
11.0 < Hb < 14.0