Writing for research

Fundamentals of manuscript preparation

As you embark on your publishing career, it can feel like there’s an endless array of procedures, protocols and best practice to absorb.

In this series of modules, we walk you through some of the key points you should pay attention to during that all-important manuscript preparation stage.

We explain how the publishing cycle works from submission and peer review through to decision time! You will learn about the various elements in a traditional research article and receive valuable tips on how to maximize their potential. Additionally, we highlight the importance of the abstract and how you can make sure yours packs a punch.

What you will find
  • An introduction to the publishing process
  • Insights into how to build an article
  • Top tips for writing a great abstract
9 modules
54 m
Fundamentals of manuscript preparation

Thinking numbers in pictures: Data visualization for research articles

Imagine a research article without graphs or plots! How difficult would it be to understand or explain science without data visualization?
17 m
Fundamentals of manuscript preparation

From article to art: Creating visual abstracts - Parts 1 & 2: A Guide to Visual Abstracts

What is a visual abstract and why should you use visual abstracts in your research? How can you create a visual abstract and what message from your research should you select?
20 m
Fundamentals of manuscript preparation

From article to art: Creating visual abstracts - Part 3: Designing

Part 3 of our "From article to art: Creating visual abstracts" module focuses on Design tips to make visual abstracts accessible and engaging.
13 m
Fundamentals of manuscript preparation

From article to art: Creating visual abstracts - Part 4: Sketching the appropriate visual elements

In Part 4 of our "From article to art: Creating visual abstracts" module, Mark Belan will guide you in selecting your visual components and portraying the outcome precisely, as well as preparing a
1.5 h
Fundamentals of manuscript preparation

From article to art: Creating visual abstracts

One of the most daunting activities when submitting a research article could be preparing a visual abstract.
40 m
Fundamentals of manuscript preparation

Structuring your article correctly

In this in-depth guide to structuring an article, we shine a spotlight on each of the article elements in turn.
45 m
Fundamentals of manuscript preparation

Guide to reference managers: How to effectively manage your references

Learn how reference managers can make your research life simpler while helping you make the most of your data.
40 m
Fundamentals of manuscript preparation

How to prepare your manuscript

This introduction to the publishing process contains helpful insights for those preparing to submit a manuscript for the first time.
40 m
Fundamentals of manuscript preparation

How to write an abstract and improve your article

An abstract can make or break an article. Our guide contains the know-how you need to ensure yours is a success.

Writing skills

No matter how novel your research, or how much time you’ve invested in your work, you still need to pay attention to some basic writing rules if you want to get published.

Our writing skills modules contain some helpful advice so you can ensure poor use of language or sloppy article structure doesn’t let you down.

You will discover the 10 most common mistakes researchers make in their manuscripts, from ambiguity and inconsistency to incorrect referencing. And then, of course, there’s the ethics issue of plagiarism….

We also look at the topic of manuscript language in detail, and offer some advice on where you can find support to improve it.

What you will find
  • Information on common writing mistakes
  • Advice on how to avoid those errors
  • A guide to correct manuscript language
9 modules
1 h
Writing skills

How to prepare a proposal for a review article

At many journals, the process for submitting a review article is much different from the process for a research article: rather than uploading your research manuscript and clicking Submit, it might
30 m
Writing skills

Writing a persuasive cover letter for your manuscript

Submitting your manuscript without a cover letter or an incomplete one can impact the outcome of your submission.
1 h
Writing skills

How to turn your thesis into an article

The process of writing a manuscript is considerably different from the work undertaken for academic degree requirements.
45 m
Writing skills

5 Diseases ailing research – and how to cure them

Learn how you can avoid or be cured of the 5 diseases affecting academic writing and research.
40 m
Writing skills

Using proper manuscript language

Why poor manuscript language can prevent your research getting the recognition it deserves – and what you can do about it.
52 m
Writing skills

10 tips for writing a truly terrible journal article

These top tips on how NOT to write a research article will help you avoid some common pitfalls.
60 h
Writing skills

寫作技巧:如何為論文寫一封有說服力的投稿信

投稿論文的時候如果沒有投稿信或者投稿信的內容不完整會影響到您投稿成功與否。一封有說服力的投稿信能夠有效地讓編輯了解您的研究,以及您的論文如何契合期刊的內容並推進學科的發展。 
1 h
Writing skills

寫作技巧:如何進行跨學科論文寫作

隨著跨學科研究成為當前學術研究的一大趨勢,對研究者而言,很多時候研究話題並不局限於一個特定的研究領域。相比起普通的學術論文,跨學科研究面向更國際化也更廣泛多樣來自各學科領域的研究群體。在進行跨學科研究時,研究過程中的各個環節,從語言的運用、文章的架構到研究範圍的確定都對研究者提出了挑戰。 
10 m
Writing skills

如何使用恰當的學術語言

糟糕的語言品質可能會延後甚至造成稿件不被出版。若編輯們與審稿者們無法理解你的英文,他們將無法抓到你的研究重要影響或是訊息。即便你的研究能夠拓展新視野,糟糕的語言品質代表著你可能無法得到相對的認識。 

Technical writing skills

Depending on your field of study, there are different types of articles and formats you’ll need to master. The LaTeX typesetting system, for example, has proven to be a powerful tool for researchers in fields where tables, figures, and formulae are regular manuscript features. Like any technology, there are tips and tricks that can make it easier to use. In this beginners’ guide, we walk you through them. 

What you will find
  • Practical advice to get you started
  • Guidance on using the system
  • Some golden rules and common mistakes
7 modules
1 h
Technical writing skills

How to design effective figures for review articles

A great research article or review is about more than listing research results: it is about telling a story through the data or giving your readers some insight they could not get from reading the
1 h
Technical writing skills

How to write for an interdisciplinary audience

As a researcher, you may have a story to tell that contributes not just to members of your own specific field of study, but that is of interest to a wider international interdisciplinary audienc
1 h
Technical writing skills

An editor’s guide to writing a review article

Writing a compelling review article is about more than picking an interesting topic and gathering the latest references.
1 h
Technical writing skills

How to write case reports

Case reports provide valuable information by throwing light on rare and unusual clinical presentations, symptoms or diseases.
1 h
Technical writing skills

Systematic reviews 101

Systematic reviews are used to rigorously analyze and aggregate current research to answer a question based on making best use of existing evidence rather than commissioning new primary studies.
28 m
Technical writing skills

Make the most of your research: publish your data & methods

From data collection, sampling choices and methodological considerations, there are many parts of your research that deserve more attention than they get in traditional journal articles.
40 m
Technical writing skills

Beginners’ guide to writing a manuscript in LaTeX

Everything you need to know about using LaTeX to ensure your formula-heavy manuscript has a professional polish.

Book writing

Becoming a book author or editor can be a useful career move and help position you as an expert in your field. In this series of book writing modules, we explore the various ways you can become involved in book publishing and what you should consider before taking that step.

If books prove to be the right path for you, we offer advice on the various types available, the process of writing a book proposal, and how to identify the right publisher. Once your book finally hits the shelves, you’ll want to maximize discoverability – we show you how. 

What you will find
  • Why you should publish a book
  • Advice on writing a compelling proposal
  • Ideas for promoting your work 
3 modules
12 m
Book writing

Why write a book?

Find out why it’s time to think about adding ‘book author’ to your CV.
12 m
Book writing

How to get your book published

How to write a compelling book proposal and increase your chances of getting that all important ‘yes’.
14 m
Book writing

Discoverability: top tips to get your book out there

Discoverability – we determine what it means and how it can help your book reach the right readers.