In science, scientific writing as a tool to produce, communicate and preserve scientific results is important and so are books and other sources that show us how to do it.
The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) for a lot of writers, scientists and researchers is maybe the go to standard. And so is maybe Kate Turabian’s A Manual for Writers or The Craft of Research (Wayne Booth et al). On every researcher or scientist desk maybe, there is a dictionary, an Oxford dictionary and thesaurus and maybe a Merriam Webster Dictionary of English Usage or a Fowler. I do carry my ‘Strunk and White’ (The Elements of Style) with me, not for its scientific approach, but for its clarity and its pocket size convenience. Also for the reason of clarity, not science, I have William Zinsser ‘On Writing Well’ and Words into Type (Majorie Skillin and Robert Gay) on my desk besides some scientific manuals. Every scientific journal has its own guidelines and so does every publisher or publishing house.
Dear colleagues, what is on your desk, your finger tips, the back of your head or in your blood when you do scientific research or write? What would you recommend to other researchers and writers?
Other sources in other languages besides English are also welcome.
My intention here is to collect the most valuable sources used by practicing writers and scientists, so that others can learn from them. The collection of contribution itself can function as a reference source for the community.
Dear Rudi Darson ,
For improving the basics I would recommend Grammarly, Manchester Academic Phrasebank and Andy Gillett's Using English for Academic Purposes website.
I have written 10 top tips for journal publications which contains a few citations.
Dear Rudi Darson ,
For improving the basics I would recommend Grammarly, Manchester Academic Phrasebank and Andy Gillett's Using English for Academic Purposes website.
I have written 10 top tips for journal publications which contains a few citations.
Rudi - that is a good range of resources that you have on your desk and have at your disposal. I, personally, don't have a 'standard' range of resources. I'm always looking for new ones - and there is usually something that I can find online as opposed to hard copy. I try to 'adapt' with each new publication - especially as I have a lot of RHD supervisions who are all different - so I like to search for 'exclusive' sources for them. I write myself on the process of disseminating research findings for publication. I don't use the sources myself but, of course, I do follow them and 'preach' them to peers and colleagues in publication workshops etc. I get consistent feedback that my 'process' is useful - but I appreciate that it would not work for all. That said, I'm mainly suggesting generic 'good tips for practice' and nothing revolutionary. The attached chapter is an example.
Dear Peter Samuels , thanks. The app Grammarly, see https://app.grammarly.com, I knew, but I did't know the Manchester Academic Phrasebook, see http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk, and Andy Gillett's Using English for Academic Purposes, http://www.uefap.com. I just scan through them. Useful. Thanks once more.
Dear Dean Whitehead , thanks for your chapter 'Writing and presenting research findings for dissemination' with Zevia Schneider. Yes, I do indeed buy some books, I guess Iike the feel of the hard copy, but I'm trying to rely more on the digital sources. They are easier to approach if you have Internet connection available and you don't have to carry them around.
Good approach to keep looking for new sources and those research higher degree supervisions you have, keep you of course on your toes.
Speaking about research paper styles, mostly two of them have been used. APA (American Psychological Association) and MLA (Modern Language Association style).
Other applicable research paper styles which you may use are Harvard, Chicago and Turabian writing formats. All of them are practically the same, but have some local variants. It is necessary to mention, that every higher educational establishment has its own, so called “house”, writing format, which is based on one of the two main writing styles...
https://termpaperwriter.org/research-paper-styles
References are attached bellow.
https://www.amazon.com/Style-Manual-Guide-Scholarly-Publishing/dp/0873522974
https://apastyle.apa.org/manual/
Hi, I will not emphasise specific books and guidelines. My approach is one that encourages constant updates in the field of research in your field, relevant fields as well as current developments in teaching and learning. I make an effort to be part of relevant societies and to subscribe myself to newsletters such as by the HE Academy. I believe being current and informed is the best answer to improving research and writing. Networking is a good tool as well, along with an attitude that no one is perfect and we are all on a journey to self-improvement rather than an endless competition to discredit the others first.
Dear Myria Christophini Njenga , thanks for your reaction. The approach of using the current or latest updates of sources, relevant to your field, is wonderful. But maybe there are some of those sources you can point to, which you use yourself and which you can recommend here. Which societies you are part of that are helping you with your writing?
Indeed that attitude that no one is perfect is a good starting point to keep learning.
Dear Ljubomir Jacić , thanks for pointing to the APA and the MLA style, as well as to the Harvard Style. The Harvard Referencing Style Guide (Harvard Style) is not as extensive as the other styles: APA, MLA or the Chicago Style. But Mendeley, the publication platform of Elseviers, has it on its website as do some universities and they mention it as their preferred style. I think that the Harvard Referencing Style Guide is derived from the Style Manual: For Authors, Editors and Printers (Wiley), but this book is very expensive. I think it was an initiative of the Australian government.
It's an important and interesting subject to discuss. Yet, I believe the role of a research leader is also quite important, and sometimes is a decisive one.
Dear Len Leonid Mizrah , it is true that the research leader plays a deciding role, but very often there is a discussion what to choose or to design an own guideline. And which reference sources do you use yourself if it is not dependent on someone else? What is your preference? It doesn't have to be those sources mentioned here.
Dear Rudy Darson,
With all due respect, there are several typical cases - a researcher knows the targeted journal, or conference, or a book's publishing house, and fits the article/ book chapter/book to the styles accepted/required there. There are beginning researchers who don't have an appropriate guidance in writing research articles, and for them published guidelines are the most relevant and important indeed. Moreover, even experienced researchers should be encouraged and motivated to look over the best of such guidelines - some unknown hidden pearls could be found there.
I do not limit my platform in any shape or form.
"Contextual Exploration", is my recommendation.
Hi Rudi - For a quick reference, I would recommend The Science of Scientific Writing by George Gopen and Judith Swan. I've attached the PDF for ease of access. I think the article is particularly useful for academics early in their career and/or researchers who use English as a second language. It provides some tangible examples of common issues in technical writing and suggestions on how to improve.
Hamed Bazaz, Founder / Managing Director (www.journaledit.com)
Dear Mehri Takhvar , can you explain what you mean by 'Contextual Exploration'. What does that process look like? Are there certain steps you take? Is it a formal approach?
Rudi Darson ,
Dear Rudi,
Thank you for most insightful question.
Dealing with SRELF, There are various processES in progress: intrinsically and extrinsically.
Inner self is mainly known by SELF internally with Esoteric Knowledge.
Individual has personal attribution for the external world, based on ESOTERICK KNOWLEDGE.
A single CONTEXT at any moment is CONTEXTUAL in PROGRESS.
The individual being within "self ", Intrinsically MOTIVATED whilst being Extrinsically STIMULATED as well( two in one/Dualism.
Therefore: CONTEXT OF THE SINGLE CONTEXTUAL EVENT is open to EXPLORATIONS BY TWO PROCESSES ' OVERT" COVERT": dualism in one; nether one nor two.
CONTEXT OF PLAY, A LONGITUDINALLY EXPLORED THE ISSUES: Mehri Takhvar, September, 1985.
The same study followed up with the same Independent Scientis continuously to collect dat. IT IS STILL ON GOING.
MT_pyramid Wholistic Geometric Quester: mtpyramid.weebly.com//
; The Model is register IP under FOUR CATEGORIES: 16, 41, 42 & 44.
; Self health suffered through EDUCATION//
: faced Linear Diagnoses and Treatment//
;leading to DISABILITY//
;further diagnoses of 2x Neurological conditions//
; one of which faced 2x neurosurgeries "shunting"//
; the second diagnoses is pending further CONTEXTUAL EXPLORATION between epilepsy V side effect of the "shunt"//
; diagnoses of Cancers three times//
; the case survived CONTEXTUAL EXPLORATION: carcinoid cancer, 2002, bowl cancer, 2016, ovarian cancer 2018//
THCASE SURVIVED "CONTEXTUAL EXPLORATION//
she is out of wheelchair, no medicine, with five consultants monitoring her conditions regularly//
; intervals of reviewing changed from 2 monthly to 3 and 4 monthly//
; the scan has been taken for each revision//
: the one before the last revealed: "tumour is shrinking"//
; the last meeting with Specialist, gynaecologist oncologist confirmed
"CONTEXTUAL EXPLORATION" being the right approach.
There are various Cases to be studied in place of "speculating" in research:
EXPLORING "SEL'F" WITIN THE CONTEXT//
MODELING SPATIAL GEOMETRY OF SELF.
There are number of real cases to be examined.
ONE CASE IS FULLY DOCUMENTED; IS AVAILABE TO BE RE-OPNED FOR LEARNING & EDUCATION WITHIN: THEORIES OF MIND & LIFE SCIENCE.
MY CONTACT ADDRSS:
MT- pyramid Wholistic Geometric Quester: mtpyramid.weebly.com
Tel: 44 o77 247 63 800
Address: 170 Chorley Road
Sheffield, South Yorkshire
United Kingdom
Dear Len Leonid Mizrah , thanks. Indeed, every publishing house, every scientific journal, government, every university has its own publication or reference style or manual. What I am after is to collect through the contribution of colleagues here, their (favorite or mandatory) handbooks, platforms, guidelines or their own creation or that of others on scientific writing, that work, and that collection to function as a place of reference. And of course in that process I am also learning. Thanks for your contribution.
Dear Rudi Darson
Check these links it may help you
1- Academic Phrasebank by Dr John Morley
https://www.tu-chemnitz.de/phil/english/sections/ling/NEWS4SEE/Academic%20Phrasebank%202015.pdf
2- Choosing Your Words and Improving Your Writing "University of Nottingham"
https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studentservices/support/supportforyourstudies/academicsupport/studyresources/writing/choosingyourwordsandimprovingyourwriting.aspx
@ Dear Zainab Siddiqui, what do you mean by Ping? Is that a handbook? Can you send me more information about it?
I benefit a lot by reading Robert Day How to write and publish a scientific paper when I was a graduate student.
https://www.amazon.com/How-write-publish-scientific-paper/dp/0894950088
The PDF file of this book is available online free of charge.
The later edition of this book is not as good as the old one, because there is one extra author participated.
I do warmly recommend a book by our RG colleague Ian Kennedy :
How to do Research: Today's Tips and Tools
- July 2016
- Edition: 1st
- Publisher: Ian Geoffrey Kennedy via Amazon E-books
- Editor: Ian Geoffrey Kennedy
- ISBN: ISBN 978-0-620-71929-2
Book How to do Research: Today's Tips and Tools
https://www.amazon.com/How-Research-Todays-Tips-Tools-ebook/dp/B01I5JJDXC
As a spatial geometric thinker, everything is interconnected for me: within theories of mind and IQ< EQ & SQ//
; actively engaged with SELF: exploration, realisation and Achievement.
For writing research papers and theses, you have to follow specific documentation styles appropriate for your discipline or subject field. Although there are several style guides, five among them are much popular. Along with the style of preparation of documents including grammar, writing style, use of symbols, and abbreviations, the documentation style guides also prescribe specific citation and referencing systems.
Probably, the most popular style guide is that of the Council of Science Editors (CSE), which is recommended for all science disciplines. Refer to the book, Scientific Style and Format: The CSE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers (8th Ed.) (CSE, 2014).
Another popular documentary system is the APA (American Psychological Association) system, commonly used for documentation in social and behavioural sciences such as psychology, sociology, and education. Refer to the book, Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th Ed.) (APA, 2013).
The American Medical Association prescribes AMA Manual of Style for journals published by the American Medical Association. You can go through the 10th edition of AMA Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors (AMA, 2007).
The Modern Language Association developed the MLA Style for language and literature. Refer to MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (8th Ed.). MLA (2016).
The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) is the most popular style guide in the United States, which deals mainly with American English. Refer to the book, Chicago Manual of Style (UChicago , 2007).
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