manuscript writing

What are the limitations of a study? The limitations of a study are the elements of methodology or study design that impact the interpretation of your research results. The limitations essentially detail any flaws or shortcomings in your study. Study limitations can exist due to constraints on research design, methodology, materials, etc., and these factors […]

We all know there are citation rules for books and journal articles, but modern media come in many more formats, and it might not always be clear how they need to be referenced. Here, we look at the rules for how to cite a podcast and walk you through the common referencing styles. When to […]

What is a case study? A case study is a research approach that provides an in-depth examination of a particular phenomenon, event, organization, or individual. It involves analyzing and interpreting data to provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject under investigation. Case studies can be used in various disciplines, including business, social sciences, medicine (clinical […]

What is IEEE citation style? IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) style is a widely used citation style for writing research papers in computer science and electrical engineering. The IEEE citation style is known for its use of numerical referencing within square brackets, rather than the traditional use of superscript numbers. This referencing system […]

What are research methods? Research methods are the techniques and procedures used to collect and analyze data in order to answer research questions and test a research hypothesis. There are several different types of research methods, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Common Types of Research Methods There are several main types of research […]

When conducting research for an academic paper, it is important to understand the differences between primary and secondary sources. Primary sources are original, firsthand accounts of an event or phenomenon, while secondary sources are any materials that are not primary sources, such as books or articles that analyze or interpret primary sources. This article will […]

What are figure legends in research papers? Pick up any journal and take a look at one of the articles. Without reading the main text, examine one of the figures and ask yourself, “What can I conclude from this image?” Are you able to answer this question? Based on the figure, can you guess what […]

What is the manuscript format for journal submission? Most journals require authors to format their paper according to very specific guidelines at initial submission (although the “Your Paper Your Way” concept has found its way into many scientific journals since its introduction in 2011). This often includes rules for font type, margin size, and number […]

Movies are a valid source of information for research papers, but you might not have heard about how to cite movies in your classes on citation practices. In this article, you will learn how to correctly reference different types of movies in all the common formatting styles. The elements that should always be included are […]

Specific rules for citing visual media (paintings, infographics, maps, etc.) in papers and formal presentations are often not included in the basic how-to guides, but they do exist and vary depending on the style guide you have to follow. Here we explain what information you need to cite and how—see below for examples in APA, […]

According to Merriam Webster, a preposition is “a word or group of words that combines with a noun or pronoun to form a phrase that usually acts as an adverb, adjective, or noun”. You have probably heard explanations like this one many times. But you might still be a bit unsure what a preposition is […]

Are punctuation mistakes common? Although our client document data shows that punctuation mistakes are somewhat less common than other types of mistakes (e.g., grammar mistakes or spelling errors) in academic texts written by non-native speakers of English, these mistakes nevertheless get in the way of conveying important information about your research to your readers. These […]