35. How to write scientific English
Helena Liira
National editor, Finland
Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care
36. Write an interesting title
Keep the structure clear
Write as short as possible
37. Title
• Think about the target audience = the
editor and reviewers first
• Make the title interesting - but again check
the journal’s style of titles
• Be concise and brief, use key words
• #
38. Structure
• Structure is easy in a scientific paper: - just check
Instructions to authors!
• Every journal has its rules: AND it is crucial to follow
them!
39.
40. Language
Short sentences are usually better than long
Use verbs with care
Avoid passive, instead use active voice when
possible ”We found” instead of ”This study
showed”
Be consistant regarding tense – past tense
throughout
Edit the English before submitting
41. Style
– Every journal has its style for Tables,
References, you name it!
– Editors love manuscripts that follow
instructions
42. Style
– Avoid long sentences, superlatives and more than
one adjective
– If you can choose between two words – one long
and the other short – describing the same thing –
use the short word!
43. First write – then edit and revise
• Don’t write, edit and revise at the same time
• To write an introduction should take no more than
half an hour!
• If you write, edit and revise at the same time you will
suffer writer’s block!
• Writing comes first
• Editing and revising comes later
47. A cover letter is
…the editors first encounter with your manuscript
(ms).
…the place to state the novelty and importance of
your findings and the reason why it merits
publication.
…a chance to distinguish your ms from other
submissions
48. …a sales pitch
… you want to sell your ms convincing the editorial board of
its fit to the journal and its readers
…move the ms status from ”rejected without review” to
”sent out to review”
…possibly mentioning referenced articles from the journal
you are submitting to (impact factor frenzy…)
49. How to write it:
In the first paragraph…
…include the title of your paper, the authors’ names and
type of submission.
…state type of ms, using the journal’s own submission type
names. (Check Guidelines for Authors)
i.e “Original Article” or ”Short Report”.
If you are submitting more than one file, list each part of the
submission; for example, “There are three files in all: the main
manuscript file, a Figures file (containing 4 figures) and a Tables file
(containing 2 tables).”
50. make a good first
impression…
…write a short, concise and convincing letter preparing
editors to read your work.
…specify name and title of the Editor-in-Chief of the journal,
and the journal’s name
…avoid long descriptions
…summarize findings, their relevance and application in ONE
paragraph
51. therefore…
• …write carefully the paragraph summarizing findings, their
relevance and application
…avoid numbers and statistics
…English should be good, preferably error-free
52. don’t hesitate to…
…make bolder claims than in the ms
…highlight important results and conclusions
…mention if your ms builds on articles published in that journal
53. don’t forget the formalities
”Previously unpublished, original research”
”Not considered for publication elsewhere”
”No conflicts of interest”