research writing

Word usage errors in research papers written by non-native speakers of English are more common than other mistakes and are only topped by errors in style. Since the main purpose of academic writing is to clearly convey information, knowing how to use words correctly and effectively is absolutely crucial. Some problems with word choice stem […]

What is a DOI and what does it do? You have probably seen reference lists with citations that end in a long number preceded by the abbreviation “doi,” or been told that your list is missing those. But what does “DOI” stand for? A DOI, meaning digital object identifier, is a unique alphanumeric string that […]

The articles (“a,” “an,” and “the”) are constantly used in both everyday speaking and writing and in academic writing. However, knowing which articles to use in different contexts in academic writing can be difficult. This video will explore the different usages of articles as they might appear in a research paper. This video includes: Video […]

Different style guides have different rules regarding the formatting of headings and subheadings in a paper, but what information you should actually put into your subheadings is a different question and often up to personal taste. Here we quickly summarize general guidelines, different approaches, and what not to do when choosing headings for a research […]

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. 

What is Academic Writing? Academic writing communicates information and ideas to a narrow or wider academic readership.Academic writing can be descriptive (e.g., a results section), analytical (e.g., a comparison of different theories), persuasive (your own point of view), or critical (when you discuss other peoples’ points of view). This type of writing always has a […]

Being Informed About Reasons for Manuscript Rejection In the world of journal publications, rejections are the norm rather than the exception. There are of course many identifiable reasons for a manuscript not to be published–from lack of relevance, to the size of the submissions pool, to the specific tastes of a journal’s readership. However, researchers […]

If you are a PhD doctoral or Master’s student approaching graduation, then a large research project, dissertation, or thesis is in your future. These capstone research projects take months if not years of preparation, and the first step in this process is first writing a compelling, organized, and effective research proposal. Check out thekey differences […]

Some academic editors are better than others Deciding whichacademic editing service to trust to edit and proofread youracademicand professionaldocumentsis difficult. The only sure way to discover the quality of any service is to send your document and your money and then wait anxiously to see what the editors will do to your precious work. But […]

When to Use the Active or Passive Voice in Research Writing One decision thatgives pause to thousands of beginning researchers is whether to use the active or passive voice in their research papers. You may have been taught in school that you should always use the active voice, especially when giving speeches and when writing […]

What is a Medical Case Report Abstract Used For? Medical and clinical case reports (or “clinical vignettes”) are integral inrecording unusual and rare cases of diseases, disorders, and injuries. They provide not only the details of a given case, but also briefly include background and establish the wider significance of a case in the medical […]

The Importance of Making an Impact with a Research Paper Abstract The abstract is one of the very most important components of your research paper: it summarizes all of the important information in the body of your paper, helping researchers decide whether to read your article further, and potentially determining whether a journal publishes your […]