writing tips

What is a Hypothesis? A hypothesis is an attempt at explaining a phenomenon or the relationships between phenomena/variables in the real world. Hypotheses are sometimes called “educated guesses”, but they are in fact (or let’s say they should be) based on previous observations, existing theories, scientific evidence, and logic. A hypothesis is also not a […]

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. 

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

So, you have started your college application process and are hitting a wall. You got your high school transcripts and letters of recommendation in order. Your SAT scores are on the way. But your college personal statement is sitting there unfinished, and the deadline is coming fast! But have no fear! Because Wordvice edits thousands […]

Graduate school recommendation letters are an essential part of every graduate school application package–even in this (almost) post-COVID era of remote work and Zoom classes. Nearly all applications to graduate school still require at least two recommendation letters from individuals who can discuss your abilities, competencies, and personal character in a coherent way and recommend […]

Why Does the Research Title Matter? How to title a research paper is perhaps the most important question when writing an article for publication. The research title is the first thing that journal editors and reviewers see when they look at your paper and the only piece of information that fellow researchers will see in […]

You sometimes have to submit an essay or a research proposal outline for a research project before you do most of the actual research to show that you have understood the assignment, defined a good research question or hypothesis, and contemplated the structure of your research paper. You can find various templates and examples for […]

Errors in word usage in research papers written by non-native speakers of English are more common than most 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 […]