Methods are described for calculating true fluorescence emission and excitation spectra, and correction curves for the authors' equipment are presented. The advantages of using "true" spectra are discussed, and the use of true emission spectra to determine fluorescence quantum efficiencies is described. The "fluorescence sensitivity" of most substances can be defined completely from the fluorescence efficiency, the true fluorescence emission spectrum and the absorption spectrum.It is proposed that published data obtained by spectrofluorimetry should whenever possible be presented in a standard form, so as to be of maximum value to other workers. Results are provided for six substances that fluoresce in the visible region.NOW that commercial spectrofluorimeters are coming into common use, the number of fluorescence spectra appearing in the literature is likely to increase rapidly and it is most desirable to get some general agreement on the method of reporting results, so that they will be of maximum value to other workers. All commercial spectrofluorimeters at present available record "apparent fluorescence emission spectra'' and "apparent fluorescence excitation spectra," both of which, in some regions of the spectrum, are grossly distorted versions of the true spectra. Although for one instrumental set-up the results will be reproducible and can therefore be used directly for analytical work without correction, they are likely to differ considerably from the results obtained in another laboratory with an instrument 588

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