Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

Preface

xv

 

A Word to International Readers

xix

 

Acknowledgments

xxi

PART I

SOME PRELIMINARIES

 

1

What is Scientific Writing?

3

 

The Scope of Scientific Writing

3

 

The Need for Clarity

3

 

Receiving the Signals

4

 

Understanding the Signals

4

 

Organization and Language in Scientific Writing

4

2

Historical Perspectives

6

 

The Early History

6

 

The Electronic Era

7

 

The IMRAD Story

8

3

Approaching a Writing Project

11

 

Establishing the Mind-Set

11

 

Preparing to Write

12

 

Doing the Writing

13

 

Revising Your Work

15

4

What is a Scientific Paper?

18

 

Definition of a Scientific Paper

18

 

Organization of a Scientific Paper

20

 

Other Definitions

22

5

Ethics in Scientific Publishing

24

 

Ethics as a Foundation

24

 

Authenticity and Accuracy

24

 

Originality

25

 

Credit

26

 

Ethical Treatment of Humans and Animals

27

 

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

27

6

Where to Submit Your Manuscript

28

 

Why Decide Early, Why Decide Well

28

 

Prestige, Access, and Impact

30

 

Other Factors to Consider

33

 

Using Instructions to Authors

34

PART II

PREPARING THE TEXT

 

7

How to Prepare the Title

39

 

Importance of the Title

39

 

Length of the Title

40

 

Need for Specific Titles

40

 

Importance of Syntax

41

 

The Title as a Label

42

 

Abbreviations and Jargon

43

 

Series Titles

43

8

How to List the Authors and Addresses

45

 

The Order of the Names

45

 

Definition of Authorship

47

 

Defining the Order: An Example

48

 

Specifying Contributions

49

 

Proper and Consistent Form

49

 

Listing the Addresses

50

 

Purposes

51

9

How to Prepare the Abstract

53

 

Definition

53

 

Types of Abstracts

55

 

Economy of Words

57

10

How to Write the Introduction

59

 

Suggested Rules

59

 

Reasons for the Rules

60

 

Some Exceptions

61

 

Citations and Abbreviations

61

11

How to Write the Materials and Methods Section

63

 

Purpose of the Section

63

 

Materials

64

 

Methods

65

 

Headings

65

 

Measurements and Analysis

65

 

Need for References

66

 

Tables and Figures

66

 

Correct Form and Grammar

67

12

How to Write the Results

69

 

Content of the Results

69

 

How to Handle Numbers

70

 

Strive for Clarity

70

 

Avoid Redundancy

71

 

A Supplement on Supplementary Material Online 7]

 

13

How to Write the Discussion

72

 

Discussion and Verbiage

72

 

Components of the Discussion

73

 

Factual Relationships

73

 

Noting Strengths and Limitations

74

 

Significance of the Paper

75

 

Defining Scientific Truth

75

14

How to State the Acknowledgments

76

 

Ingredients of the Acknowledgments

76

 

Being Courteous

76

15

How to Cite the References

78

 

Rules to Follow

78

 

Electronic Aids to Citation

79

 

Citation in the Text

79

 

Reference Styles

80

 

Name and Year System

81

 

Alphabet-Number System

82

 

Citation Order System

82

 

Titles and Inclusive Pages

83

 

Journal Abbreviations

83

 

Examples of Different Reference Styles

84

 

Citing Electronic Material

85

 

One More Reason to Cite Carefully

85

PART III

PREPARING THE TABLES AND FIGURES

 

16

How to Design Effective Tables

89

 

When to Use Tables

89

 

How to Arrange Tabular Material

92

 

Exponents in Table Headings

94

 

Following the Journal’s Instructions

94

 

Titles, Footnotes, and Abbreviations

95

 

Additional Tips on Tables

95

17

How to Prepare Effective Graphs

97

 

When Not to Use Graphs

97

 

When to Use Graphs

99

 

How to Prepare Graphs

99

 

Symbols and Legends

102

 

A Few More Tips on Graphs

103

18

How to Prepare Effective Photographs

104

 

Photographs and Micrographs

104

 

Submission Formats

104

 

Cropping

105

 

Necessary Keys and Guides

105

 

Color

109

 

Line Drawings

109

PART IV

PUBLISHING THE PAPER

 

19

Rights and Permissions

113

 

What is Copyright?

113

 

Copyright Considerations

114

 

Copyright and Electronic Publishing

115

20

How to Submit the Manuscript

117

 

Checking Your Manuscript

117

 

Submitting Your Manuscript

118

 

Electronic Submission

118

 

Conventional Submission

119

 

The Cover Letter

120

 

Sample Cover Letter

120

 

Electronic Cover Letters

121

 

Confirmation of Receipt

121

21

The Review Process (How to Deal with Editors)

122

 

Functions of Editors, Managing Editors, and

 

 

Manuscript Editors

122

 

The Review Process

124

 

The Editor’s Decision

127

 

The Accept Letter

128

 

The Modify Letter

129

 

The Reject Letter

131

 

Editors as Gatekeepers

134

22

The Publishing Process (How to Deal with Proofs)

135

 

The Copyediring and Proofing Processes

135

 

Why Proofs Are Sent to Authors

136

 

Misspelled Words

136

 

Marking the Corrections

138

 

Additions to the Proofs

139

 

Addition of References

140

 

Proofing the Illustrations

141

 

When to Complain

141

 

Reprints

142

PART V

DOING OTHER WRITING FOR PUBLICATION

 

23

How to Write a Review Paper

147

 

Characteristics of a Review Paper

147

 

Preparing an Outline

148

 

Types of Reviews

149

 

Writing for the Audience

150

 

Importance of Introductory Paragraphs

150

 

Importance of Conclusions

150

24

How to Write Opinion (Book Reviews, Editorials, and Letters to the Editor)

152

 

Writing Informed Opinion

152

 

Book Reviews

152

 

Editorials

154

 

Letters to the Editor

154

25

How to Write a Book Chapter or a Book

156

 

How to Write a Book Chapter

156

 

Why (or Why Not) to Write a Book

157

 

How to Find a Publisher

157

 

How to Prepare a Book Manuscript

159

 

How to Participate in the Publication Process

160

 

How to Help Market Your Book

162

26

How to Write for the Public

164

 

Why Write for General Readerships?

164

 

Finding Publication Venues

164

 

Engaging the Audience

166

 

Conveying Content Clearly

167

 

Emulating the Best

168

PART VI

CONFERENCE COMMUNICATIONS

 

27

How to Present a Paper Orally

173

 

How to Get to Present a Paper

173

 

Organization of the Paper

174

 

Presentation of the Paper

174

 

Slides

175

 

The Audience

176

 

A Few Answers on Questions

177

28

How to Prepare a Poster

179

 

Popularity of Posters

179

 

Organization

180

 

Preparing the Poster

181

 

Presenting the Poster

182

29

How to Write a Conference Report

184

 

Definition

184

 

Format

185

 

Presenting the New Ideas

186

 

Editing and Publishing

186

PART VII

SCIENTIFIC STYLE

 

30

Use and Misuse of English

191

 

Keep it Simple

191

 

Dangling Modifiers

192

 

The Ten Commandments of Good Writing

193

 

Metaphorically Speaking

194

 

Misuse of Words

195

 

Tense in Scientific Writing

197

 

Active versus Passive Voice

198

 

Euphemisms

199

 

Singulars and Plurals

199

 

Noun Problems

200

 

Numbers

201

 

Odds and Ends

201

31

Avoiding Jargon

204

 

Definition of Jargon

204

 

Mumblespeak and Other Sins

204

 

Mottoes to Live By

206

 

Bureaucratese

206

 

Special Cases

208

32

How and When to Use Abbreviations

210

 

General Principles

210

 

Good Practice

211

 

Units of Measurement

212

 

Special Problems

212

 

SI (Système International) Units

213

 

Other Abbreviations

213

33

Writing Clearly Across Cultures and Media

214

 

Readable Writing

214

 

Consistency in Wording

216

 

Serving International Readers

216

 

A Few Words on E-Mail Style

217

 

Writing for Online Reading

217

34

How to Write Science in English as a Foreign Language

219

 

English as the International Language of Science

219

 

The Essentials: Content, Organization, and Clarity

219

 

Cultural Differences to Consider

220

 

Some Common Language Challenges

222

 

More Strategies for English-Language Writing

222

 

More Resources

223

PART VIII

OTHER TOPICS IN SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION

 

35

How to Write a Thesis

227

 

Purpose of the Thesis

227

 

Tips on Writing

228

 

When to Write the Thesis

230

 

Relationship to the Outside World

231

 

From Thesis to Publication

231

36

How to Prepare a Curriculum Yitae

233

 

What’s a CV? What’s It Good For?

233

 

What to Put In (and What to Leave Out)

235

 

Other Suggestions

235

 

Preparing a Cover Letter

236

 

Writing a Personal Statement

237

37

How to Prepare Grant Proposals and Progress Reports

239

 

Preparing a Grant Proposal

239

 

Identifying Potential Sources of Funding

240

 

Preliminary Letters and Proposals

240

 

Common Parts of a Proposal

241

 

Preparing to Write the Proposal

242

 

Writing the Proposal

242

 

Common Reasons for Rejection

244

 

Other Problems to Watch For

245

 

Resubmitting a Proposal

246

 

Two Closing Comments

247

 

Writing a Progress Report

247

 

Basic Structure

248

 

Some Suggestions

248

38

How to Write a Recommendation Letterand How to Ask for One

249

 

Deciding Whether to Write the Letter

249

 

Gathering the Information

250

 

Writing the Letter(s)

250

 

A Light Aside

251

 

If You’re Seeking Recommendation Letters

252

39

How to Work with the Media

253

 

Before the Interview

253

 

During the Interview

254

 

After the Interview

255

40

How to Provide Peer Review

257

 

Responding to a Request for Peer Review

257

 

Peer Reviewing a Scientific Paper

258

 

Providing Informal Peer Review

261

41

How to Seek a Scientific-Communication Career

262

 

Career Options in Scientific Communication

262

 

An Admittedly Unvalidated Quiz

263

 

Career Preparation

264

 

Entering the Field and Keeping Up

265

Appendix 1

Selected Journal Title Word Abbreviations

267

Appendix 2

Words and Expressions to Avoid

271

Appendix 3

Prefixes and Abbreviations for SI (Système International) Units

277

Appendix 4

Some Helpful Websites

279

 

Glossary of Technical Terms

281

 

References

287

 

Index

293