Manuscript Preparation

Have you ever been confused about which words to capitalize in the title of your manuscript? You have probably seen titles where only the first word is capitalized (so-called “sentence case”), titles where all words seem to be capitalized (“title case”), and also titles that look like combinations of the two. And you might have […]

A research paper is usually more concise and succinct than an essay, because, if it is written well, it focuses on one specific question, describes the method that was used to answer that one question, describes and explains the results, and guides the reader in a logical way from the introduction to the discussion without going on tangents or digging into not absolutely relevant topics. The conclusion section at the end of a research manuscript should therefore not start with a long-winded repetition of what was done and why and how, but rather get to the point in as few words as possible. Instead of beginning with “In conclusion, in this study, we investigated the effect of stress on the brain using fMRI…”, you should try to find a way to incorporate the repetition of the essential (and only the essential) details into the summary of the key points. “The findings of this fMRI study on the effect of stress on the brain suggest that…” or “While it has been known for a long time that stress has an effect on the brain, the findings of this fMRI study show that, surprisingly…” would be better ways to start a conclusion. 

Researchers and readers are first introduced to your journal article through its title and images. Think about when you browse social media, news sites, or online magazines. What makes you stop skimming and encourages you to read the content? The captivating title or a cool image, of course! The same principle is true for journal […]

As a researcher, you know you need to provide a background for your study and a clear rationale and to formulate the statement of the problem in a way that leaves no doubt that your work is relevant and important. You also need to guide the reader carefully through your story from beginning to end […]

What is a thesis statement? A thesis statement summarizes the main idea of a paper or an essay. Similar to the statement of the problem in research, it prepares the reader for what is to come and ties together the evidence and examples that are presented and the arguments and claims that are made later. […]

We publish because we want to share our knowledge and because we want recognition for our work. We acknowledge people’s ideas and findings by providing citations. Unfortunately, however, the rules regarding this common practice are not always easy to decipher, even for the best of us! We have published a number of other articles that […]

The rationale of the study is the reason for why the study was conducted (in an article or thesis) or should be conducted (in a proposal). That means the study rationale should explain to the reader or examiner why the study is/was necessary. It is also sometimes called “purpose” or “justification” of a study. While […]

No matter how surprising and important the findings of your study are, if you do not provide the reader with the necessary background information, they will not be able to understand your reasons for studying the specific problem you chose and why you think your study is relevant. And more importantly, an editor who does […]

Every research paper describes the investigation of a problem: by adding knowledge to the existing literature, by revisiting known observations, or by finding concrete solutions. What contribution your publication makes to your field or the scientific community at large depends on whether your research is “basic” (i.e., mainly interested in providing further knowledge that researchers […]

Why Should You Paraphrase? “Paraphrasing” is expressing the meaning of someone else’s words in your own words instead of quoting directly. Paraphrasing is applied both by the author of the text and by paper editors during the revision process. By paraphrasing effectively, you can: save space and keep your study more focused distill complex information […]

Why Use In-Text Citation? When writing a journal article, literature review, convention paper, or any other academic document, authors must include in-text citations whenever they refer to, summarize, paraphrase, or quote from another source. In addition, every time a work is cited within a paper (in APA style, a parenthetical citation), a corresponding entry must […]

Punctuation rules should generally be followed in academic writing. Putting a comma between two independent clauses will confuse your readers and make your work frustrating to read. On the other hand, using a semicolon correctly can add nuance and subtlety to any kind of writing. But what is a semicolon? How do colons and dashes […]