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 .............. 71
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 Proofe) .......... 135
The Copyediting 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 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 Vitae ......................... 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 Letter - and 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 Appendix 4: Some Helpful Websites .... 279
Glossary of Technical Terms .................................. 281
References ................................................... 287
Index ........................................................ 293
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