Author Academy- Your guide to publication success€¦ · Edanz Group 21 May 2014 Author Academy-...

Melanie de Souza and Richard HaaseSenior Editors Edanz Group21 May 2014

Author Academy- Your guide to publication

success

Customer ServiceIntroductionAbout Melanie …

Senior Editor

Customer ServiceIntroductionAbout Richard …

Senior Editor

Mathematical physics

Student

Post‐doctorate

Researcher

Lecturer

Associate Professor

Senior PhysicalSciences Editor

Customer ServiceIntroduction

•atomic and molecular systems•nuclear and particle physics – quarks systems •condensed matter physics – spin systems •astrophysics – neutron  and quark stars•space‐time physics with geometric algebras

My research interest is symmetries in nature

Customer ServiceIntroductionToday’s presentation

• Effective communication

• Target Journal

• Avoid Rejection– Structure a manuscript

– Reader Expectations

Photo credit: Visualphotos.com/ local.de/textileartscenterblog.com / telegraph.co.uk 

Where would you be…?

Scientific publishing Native language vsEnglish language

Implement 

locally

Implement ideas locally

National collaborations

Regulatory authorities

Write and communicate in your ownlanguage

International collaborations

Grant applications

Career advancements

Publish manuscripts in English to exchange ideas globally

International reputation

Scientific publishing Adopt a winning strategy

Publication recordWin games

Footballer Scientist

Preparation

Communication

Knowledge

Tactics

Physical  fitness

Team members

Rules of the game

Opposition

Understanding

Manuscript

Publication process

Published literature

Results

PreparationGood data

Results

Impact

Target audience• Who will benefit? 

• Implications?

• Novel?• Significance?• Importance?

Coverage and Staffing PlanHints and tips Give group presentations

1. Outline 2. Figure

• Short title• What you did 

• Trends

• Unexpected results

3. Discussion

• New models

• Next experiments

Good research question + Clear scientific message for readers

Presenter Create discussionNew ideas

Audience Alternative explanations

Solutions

Before you start …Journal selection

Traditional model

Open Access model

Impact factor Publishing language Indexing status (SCI, SCOPUS, Pubmed)

Fast publication time

Society membership

Popular appeal

Coverage and Staffing PlanHints and tips Publication model

Open Access Membership Programs

Funding/grants

Open Access Option

Submit manuscript

Peer Review

AcceptedOpen Access

Authors pay(Article processing charge (APC) 1,000‐5,000 USD)

Traditional

Subscription based (Readers/institutes pay 

subscription fee)

Copyright

Creative Common Licenses 

Author retains copyright

No length constraints

Rapid Publication times

More readers, more citations

Coverage and Staffing PlanHints and tips Hybrid Model

Subscription‐based journal offers Open Access

Coverage and Staffing PlanHints and tips Your target journal in

minutes not days

Text

Click

Free!

Coverage and Staffing PlanHints and tips Journal selector

Advanced matching

Recommended journals

Click

Coverage and Staffing PlanHints and tips Journal selector

Semantic matching terms

ClickJournal 

information 

Similar published articles

Update your 

references!

KnowledgeRead regularly

Established researchersJournals Improve your 

writing

Published Literature

• Aims and Scope• Topics• Layout• Structure

• Styles• Phrases• Data• Scientific flow• Argument

structure

• Field develops• Implications of 

research• Applications• Choose reviewers

Knowledge Which journal/articles should I read?

Identify appropriate journals

Established researchers

• Visit websites • Journals • Collaborators

Journal Websites

Email alerts

Identify appropriatearticles

Top cited/Popular = Good science + well written

KnowledgeJournal club

Peer Reviewer

8‐12 people

Discuss literature

Topic scientifically relevant?

Topic scientifically relevant?

Good layout/structure?

Good layout/structure?

Methods/design 

appropriate?

Methods/design 

appropriate?

Conclusions logical?

Conclusions logical?Critically 

examine manuscriptsIdentify good manuscripts

• Different groups, same department • Aim to review 4‐6 Journals in your field• Each member reviews 1 or 2 journals• One member selects 1 manuscript per week• Rotate who selects paper• Distribute paper 3 days in advance 

Any questions?

Structuring your manuscript Manuscript structure

Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

and

Discussion

The beginning

The end

The middle

IMRaD

Structuring your manuscript

TitleAbstract

IntroductionDiscussion

MethodsResults

The ‘write’ order

After selecting target journal

During your research

Write last

Structuring your manuscript Methods and Results

Methods

Results

• List all methods• Details of unusual/new methods• Researchers can repeat experiments

Write for your readersWrite for 

your readers

• Coherent and logical • Use Figures/Tables• Do not overcrowd • Use Supporting Info• Unbiased analysis• No duplication of data

Effectively convey scientific messageEffectively convey scientific message

PHRASES

• A similar procedure as reported by X et al. was used…..• The advantages of using our method are….• Prior to commencing the study, ethical clearance was sought from…

Structuring your manuscript Discussion

• Explain trends vs. literature• Propose models/theories• Relate to the original hypothesis• Coherent interpretation• Relevance

Convince readers of results

Convince readers of results

Discussion

Know target journal

Better ScientistThink criticallyFind solutions

Do not repeat results

Do not use assumptions

Support claims

Illustrate ideas/concepts

Examine/evaluate your data

Understand the findings

Organized logical flow

Structuring your manuscript

Conclusions and Introduction

Conclusions• Short and concise• Implications/benefits• Future work• No references

Write for your readersWrite for 

your readers

Know target journal

IntroductionEngage readersEngage readers

• Summarize current understanding• Scientific gaps• Clear hypothesis and aims • Include recent citations

What is the study about? Why is it important? How does it advance field?

Structuring your manuscript Abstract and Keywords

Photo credit: www.pistonheads.com/www.menstylefashion.com

Abstract

Free to read on journal websites

Free to read on journal websites

• Word limits• Structured vs. Unstructured• Avoid references/jargon

First impressions

count!

Keywords • Used for indexing/searching• Avoid acronyms• Appear in Abstract

Guide for your readersGuide for 

your readers

Coverage and Staffing PlanHints and tips Clear Abstract

Background

Methods

Results/Conclusions

Implications

Aims

Coverage and Staffing PlanHints and tips Title

Title• Short and informative• Concise

Write for your readersWrite for 

your readers

Novel Method for Indirect Determination of Iodine in Marine Products by Atomic 

Fluorescence Spectrometry

Iodine Determination via H2HgI4 Complex using Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry

• Change words• Be specific• Novel method

• The study/effect/investigation of…Improved and excellent CO sensing properties 

of Au nanorods

Different phenotypes of CD8+ T cells was associated with bacterial load in active 

tuberculosis

Sentence Statement

Enhanced abilities

• Change words• Reduce words

Coverage and Staffing PlanHints and tips After the first draft….

Update references

• 75% from the last 5 years• Avoid self-citations• International citations

Topical fieldTopical field

Most referencesIntroduction

DiscussionMethods Some references

No referencesConclusion AbstractResults

Coverage and Staffing PlanHints and tips After the first draft….

Format manuscript

Meet journal requirementsMeet journal requirements

• Journal template• Word limits• Section headings• English grammar is correct

Revise manuscript

Tell an interesting 

story

Tell an interesting 

story

• Proofread• Input from colleague• Edit to reduce by 15%• Clearly labeled figures/tables• Readability and flow

Communication Manuscript

Tell an interesting story

Visual guides

Meet reader expectations

Good English/readable

Clear scientific message

Figures, schemes, tables

Updated references

Highlight applications/

benefits

Logical flow

Any questions?

Outlining your manuscript with the IMRaD format follows a logical structure

•Title, Authors, Addresses •Abstract, Key words•Introduction •Methods •Results•Discussion•Conclusions•Acknowledgements•References•Appendices

Scientific articles follow this format so that readers can extract the content they need quickly and efficiently

What was the problem studied?Background, cite relevant publicationsHypothesis, objectives

How the problem was studied?Experimental procedures

What data were recorded?Organize tables and/or figures

What do the findings means?Analyse results and evaluate proceduresCompare and interpret resultsDescribe limitations of experiments State conclusions in order of importance

• Determine your purpose in writing• Determine your target audience and journal• Develop your argument

Group ideas under headings

Label headings

List ideas

列出提纲有助于写作过程

Develop an outline to aid the writing process

An outline is a general plan of the material showing topic ordering, relative importance and relationship between the various parts 

An outline of your manuscript reflects logical thinking

文章的提纲能够反映出思想的逻辑性

Synthesis of Large Area, Homogeneous, Single Layer Graphyne Films (GF) by Annealing Amorphous Carbon

ABSTRACTKEYWORDS Single layer graphene, amorphous carbon, epitaxial metal, annealing INTRODUCTION

• Graphene, a quasi two‐dimensional (2‐D) material; Extraordinary mobility in single‐layer GF

• Method to synthesize films suitable for large scale production• Formation on single  crystal transition metal substrates• Catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CVD); The segregation and 

precipitation of C atoms on polycrystalline transition metals• Need to control the number of layers in the GF

METHOD• Grow  large  area, continuous, and single layer GFs on thin film metal 

surfaces• Details of the process rapid ramp‐staging‐rapid cooling• Figure 1: Schematic illustration of the graphene growth process• transport properties of graphene by making a graphene‐based field 

effect transistor (FET)ANALYSIS

• Optical analysis of the resulting graphene (optical microscopy; atomic force microscopy; transmission electron microscopy)

• spectro‐photometry for transmittance measurements• Figure 2 Characterization of the transferred GF; Figure 3 (a) Optical 

microscope images of GFs  (b) Raman spectra• GFs with different a‐C thicknesses and cool down rates

RESULTS• segregation mechanism on highly crystalline substrates, 

with fewer grain boundaries, appears self‐limited• carrier mobility and Dirac‐point shift showing a p‐type 

behaviorDISCUSSION

• increased sheet resistances• transfer process onto SiO2/Si produced cracks or tears; • contribution of the PMMA to GF sheet resistance; • contribution of the contact resistance of the electrode 

and graphene;• the relatively high number of intrinsic defects

CONCLUSION• large area, homogenous, single layer graphene films on  

metals with  high  solubility carbon by annealing the amorphous carbon

• homogeneity of the film is independent of the cool down rate

• presence of very few grain boundaries in our  crystalline substrate suppresses the precipitation of  carbon

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSREFERENCES

• Geim et al 2007

The Concept of Reader Expectations*

* Gopen and Swan “The Science of Scientific Writing” (Am.Sci.,1990)

To improve your writing, you need to understand how English readers read

我们应该更好地了解读者的阅读习惯以便最大程度地提高写作质量

Information is easier to interpret if placed where most readers expect to find it

Good writers are aware of these expectations

把信息放在读者最想看到的地方以便于读者理解

Readers make important interpretations about substance based on clues from structure

World Population in 2010: 6,975,200,00

Brazil 190,755,799; China 1,339,724,852;  India 1,210,193,422; Indonesia 237,641,326; Nigeria 162,471,000; Pakistan 177,825,000; United States 312,615,000.

a)

b) c) Country Population

China 1,339,724,852

India 1,210,193,422

United States  312,615,000

Indonesia 237,641,326

Brazil  190,755,799

Pakistan 177,825,000

Nigeria  162,471,000

Population Country

1,339,724,852 China

1,210,193,422 India

312,615,000 United States 

237,641,326 Indonesia

190,755,799 Brazil 

177,825,000 Pakistan

162,471,000 Nigeria 

读者会根据文字结构的提示总结出自己对文字主旨的理解

How you structure your text matters

Readers interpret as they read

“Based on the lattice Boltzmann method, the static and dynamic wetting property of hydrophobic surfaces with micro and micro‐nano dual‐scale structures were studied. The simulation results show that the apparent contact angle of water droplets on the hydrophobic surface with micro‐scale structures increased as the solid area decreased, and the dual‐scale micro/nano structures would not only increase surface hydrophobicity of the surface, but also make the Cassie state of droplet more stable.” 

读者不单单是在阅读，他们还会根据自己的理解去领会

文章结构十分重要

“We report on our study of the static and dynamic wetting property of hydrophobic surfaces with micro‐ and dual micro/nano‐scale structures. Simulations based on the lattice Boltzmann method showed that the apparent contact angle of water droplets on surfaces with micro‐scale structures increasesas solid area decreases. In contrast, dual micro/nano‐scale structures not only increase surface hydrophobicity but also stabilize the Cassie state of the droplet.” 

Coherent and concise writing is best simple and direct

• With shorter, familiar, and precise words, sentences are most easily understood, most forceful and memorable.

• Avoid wordiness, jargon, pompous phrases, and generalities. 

Facilitate helpUtilize use

Elucidate explainEdify instruct

Affect effectWhile whereas

It’s kind of like a …In the context of the current study, …It is interesting to note that …

一致简明的写作就是简单和直接的最好体现

Readers expect the verb to follow closely the subject

读者希望句子的主语后面紧跟着动词

Subject

Verb

Sentence

.

Sentence SubjectVerb

Phrases intervening between subject‐verb divert the reader’s attention 

Example

Three‐ and four‐photon nonlinear absorptions are reported for ZnS and1% Mn2+‐doped ZnS quantum dots (QDs). Measurements were obtainedby the z‐scan technique using the fundamental and second harmonicradiation from a Q‐switched Nd:YAG laser corresponding to 532 and1064 nm wavelengths respectively.

Three‐ and four‐photon nonlinear absorptions by the z‐scan technique in ZnS and 1% Mn2+‐doped ZnS quantum dots (QDs) with 532 and 1064 nm radiation, respectively, from a Q‐switched Nd:YAG laser fundamental and its second harmonic radiation, are reported.

DO

Readers use the verb to determine the action of the sentence

Use active voice for greater understanding

SubjectVerb

读者通过动词判断句子的作用。

Use active voice for better writing

Honey is made by bees.o Bees make honey.

The students were taught by the professor.

o The professor taught the students.

My first visit to Beijing will always be remembered by me.o I will always remember my first visit to Beijing.

Recent work on colloidal stability mass was presented by Dr Wang.

o Dr Wang presented his recent work on colloidal stability .

Improvements in hydrodynamic performance have not been found from simulations based on this simple model.

o We have not found improvements in hydrodynamic performance from simulations based on this simple model.

Use verbs that convey action Confirmation of these results cannot be obtained.

o These results cannot be confirmed.

Scaling up or optimization of intrinsic processes from laboratory to industrial settings is extremely difficult.

o Intrinsic processes from laboratories are extremely difficult to scale up or optimize to industrial settings.

The separation of A from B was effected.

o A was separated from B.

Readers expect related words to be kept together

Professor Yang Chen Ning will give a lecture on Monday evening in the department, to which the public is invited, on "My Experiences in Physics" at eight P.M.

In the department on Monday evening at eight, Professor Yang Chen Ning will give a public lecture on "My Experiences in Physics”.

Place  Time  Presenter  Lecture  Title

Readers interpret information more easily if it’s presented in the order they expect

Stress position

.

Subject

Readers naturally focus on information that is at the end of a sentence

Verb

Information is interpreted more easily if placed where readers expect to find it

读者会自然而然地将重点放在句子末尾处

把信息放在读者最想看到的地方以便于读者理解

The dog sat when her mistress offered a treat. The dog sat when a treat was offered by her mistress. When the mistress offered a treat, the dog sat.

The stress position usually contains the new information of the text

Readers take away information that is at the end of a sentence.

topic position

The researchers found all three new graphyne pattern types capable of producing a Dirac cone. 

All three new graphyne pattern types were found capable of producing a Dirac cone by  the researchers.

.

Readers expect a sentence to be about whoever shows up first读者希望主语出现在句首

句首出现的信息决定了句子的描述重点。

Information at the beginning of a sentence establishes what the sentence is about

.

.

topic position

stress position

All the family went into the courtyard to see the new puppy. The puppy sat when her owner offered a treat. Everyone was so excited, they broke into applause.

The topic position provides context for new information and links back to old information

For example….Graphene’s allotropes may be more useful

“The past eight years have seen an explosion in research dedicated to graphene. A nearly constant stream of news reported new discoveries regarding its attributes. Now, graphene is about to be upstaged by a more interesting allotrope called graphyne. Whereas graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a regular hexagonal array, graphyne comes in several different more versatile irregular hexagonal arrays. Properties have been studied in computer simulations by a team of researchers, who reported that their research shows that some types of graphyne structures allow for electron flow in just one direction.”

“The past eight years have seen an explosion in research dedicated to graphene. A nearly constant stream of news reported new discoveries regarding its attributes. Now, graphene is about to be upstaged by a more interesting allotrope called graphyne.Whereas graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a regular hexagon array, graphyne comes in several different, more versatile, irregular hexagon arrays. Properties have been studied in computer simulations by a team of researchers, who reported that their research shows that some types of graphyne structures allow for electron flow in just one direction.”

.

.

Readability is the ease in which text can be read an understood

Stress positions

Topic positions

Subject‐verb separation,active voice, strong verbs

可读性是指文字能够易读易懂

Assertion: is a topic sentencecoming at or near the beginning

that introduces the theme

Evidence: explains or establishes or develops the statement

made in the topic sentence

Affirmation: emphasizes the thought of the topic sentence or states some

important consequence

好的段落使读者信服

Structure paragraphs to persuade readers

In the single‐phase SCTFO, Co2+ doping encourages the magnetic anisotropy to change from axial to planar, whereas Ti4+ substitution interrupts the magnetic interactions between the two blocks RS and R*S*, resulting in SCTFO having a high enough resistivity to ensure magneto‐electric measurements. This is seen in Fig.1, the values of P decrease monotonously with increasing magnetic field. According to Eq. (1), the spin cone in SCTFO closes with application of a magnetic field, leading to a correspondingly decrease in P. Moreover, the values of M decrease with increasing E, as seen in Fig.2. The remanent magnetization of SCTFO, given in Fig.5, can be reversibly and reproducibly controlled by an electric field, suggesting a potential application in non‐volatile welling RAM with multiferroic hexaferrites.

Thus, we prepared a single‐phase multiferroic SCTFO. The substitution of Co2+‐Ti4+ pair for two Fe3+cations produces a spiral conical magnetic structure and high resistivity in SCTFO. This special spin structure can induce spontaneous P via spin‐orbit coupling, suggestive of strong magnetoelectric coupling within SCTFOs. Our magnetization and MFM measurements confirm the electric control of magnetism. The excellent magneto‐electric performance in SCTFO gives a valuable contribution to magneto‐electric studies enabling electric controlling of magnetization in magneto‐electric devices.

Structure paragraphs to persuade readersIn the single‐phase SCTFO, Co2+ doping encourages the magnetic anisotropy to change from axial to planar, whereas Ti4+ substitution interrupts the magnetic interactions between the two blocks RS and R*S*, resulting in SCTFO having a high enough resistivity to ensure magneto‐electric measurements. This is seen in Fig.1, the values of P decrease monotonously with increasing magnetic field. According to Eq. (1), the spin cone in SCTFO closes with application of a magnetic field, leading to a correspondingly decrease in P. Moreover, the values of M decrease with increasing E, as seen in Fig.2. The remanent magnetization of SCTFO, given in Fig.5, can be reversibly and reproducibly controlled by an electric field, suggesting a potential application in non‐volatile welling RAM with multiferroic hexaferrites.

Thus, we prepared a single‐phase multiferroic SCTFO. The substitution of Co2+‐Ti4+ pair for two Fe3+cations produces a spiral conical magnetic structure and high resistivity in SCTFO. This special spin structure can induce spontaneous P via spin‐orbit coupling, suggestive of strong magnetoelectric coupling within SCTFOs. Our magnetization and MFM measurements confirm the electric control of magnetism. The excellent magneto‐electric performance in SCTFO gives a valuable contribution to magneto‐electric studies enabling electric controlling of magnetization in magneto‐electric devices.

Topics from each paragraph are logically linked by providing background  and context to the new topic

DMake paragraphs the unit of composition

Any questions?

Scientific publishingIntroducing Dr. Long

Dr. Long

Coverage and Staffing PlanHints and tips

Dear Editor‐in‐Chief,

I am sending you our manuscript entitled “Optimizing the morphology in high‐performance hybrid organic photovoltaic cells” by Long et al. We would like tohave the manuscript considered for publication in Nano Research.

Please let me know of your decision at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely yours,Dr. Long, PhD

Write a cover letter!

Sells your researchGuides the Editor

Coverage and Staffing PlanHints and tips

Done/Found

Interest to readers

An effective cover letter

List reviewers

Compliance statementsCorresponding author

H. DaiEditor‐in‐ChiefNano Research

13 December 2013

Dear Dr. Dai,

Please find enclosed our manuscript entitled “Optimizing the morphology in high‐performance hybrid organicphotovoltaic cells”, by Long et al., which we would like to submit as a Research Paper in Nano Research.

Recent studies have revealed that the morphology of heterojunction organic photovoltaic cells controls theperformance efficiencies of devices. Measuring this morphology, however, remains a challenge as.….

To investigate this, we observed the morphology in a high performance blend of PFT:C60BM blends. Our fluorescenceand exciton diffusion studies indicate that the formation of regular, narrow domains......

We believe our findings would appeal to a broad audience, such as the readership of Nano Research. As a wide‐reaching journal publishing original research on all aspects of nanotechnology…

We suggest the following potential reviewers:

Conflict of interest forms are attached.…….Please address all correspondence to….

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written?

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quality?   Readers interested?  Readers 

interested?  Journal 

met?

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met?

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Strong research motive

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Proper analysisProper analysis

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Publication ethicsPublication ethics Accurate conclusionsAccurate 

conclusions

Complete data presentationComplete data presentation

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Contacts Editorial office

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Rejection letters:Without reviewer comments: Rapid rejectionWith reviewer comments: After peer reviewAction: Revise and submit to another/same journal

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Thank youGood luck!

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Appendix: structured abstracts

Follow the IMRaD format:Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion

CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) recommends Structured Abstract for RCT papers (randomized controlled trials).

Why?Easy for authors to writeEasy for readers to understandGood for computerized indexing

Appendix: structured abstracts Example

Here, we present…

Here, we show…

Here, we report…

In this work we introduce… 

Appendix: useful set phrases Abstract

These results show…

To test whether (past tense), we performed....

To examine if (past tense) we (past tense)

We used XX to YY. Using this approach, we 

identified ZZ

Appendix: useful set phrases Abstract

We demonstrated previously…

Previous studies have shown that…

We have previously shown that…

The topic of XX has recently been reviewed1. (insert reference)

To determine whether …

The purpose of this study was …

Appendix: useful set phrases Introduction

Therefore, we tested the hypothesis …

This report describes experiments designed to determine whether …

Therefore, our first objective in these studies was to determine whether …

In this study, we sought to extend our observations and specifically test …

Appendix: useful set phrases Introduction

To test whether XX (past tense), we performed....

To examine if XX (paste tense) we performed…

Appendix: useful set phrases Methods

Among the cases we analyzed…

XX was/were observed….

The results are summarized in Table 1.

Figure 2a shows the effect of X on Y.

Group X showed higher/lower levels of Y than the control group.

Appendix: useful set phrases Results

In the current study, we have shown…

In summary…

To conclude…

In conclusion…

In demonstrating XX, our findings show that/illustrate that…

Taken together these results suggest…

Appendix: useful set phrases Discussion

The above data collectively show…

Our data supports the idea that XX

Our study supports the hypothesis that ZZ

Our study is limited by…

There were some limitations to the current study.

Appendix: useful set phrases Discussion

Appendix: useful set phrases Cover lettersPlease find enclosed our manuscript entitled (title)  by (First Author) et al., which we would like to submit for publication as a (Publication Type) in (Journal name).

To our knowledge, this is the first report showing… 

We believe our findings would appeal to the readership of (Journal name).

Please address all correspondence to:

We shall look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Appendix: statements Cover letters

We confirm that this manuscript has not been published elsewhere and is not under consideration by another journal.

All authors have approved the manuscript and agree with submission to (Journal Name).

All cover letters should contain these sentences: 

Appendix: statements Cover letters

We have read and have abided by the statement of ethical standards for manuscripts submitted to (Journal Name).

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Mostmedical research cover letters should contain these or similar sentences: 

Or…briefly give information describing any conflicts…

Appendix: useful set phrases Response letters

Please find enclosed our revisedmanuscript entitled (title)  by (First Author) et al., which we would like to resubmit for publication as a (Publication Type) in (Journal name).

Your comments and those of the reviewers were very helpful. 

In the following pages are our point‐by‐point responses to each of the comments of the reviewers.

Consult an expert!

State the statistical tests used to analyze data

Provide the name, version and maker of the statistical package used 

E.g. SPSS 11.0; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA 

Only use the word “significant” when describing statistically significant differences

Alternatives: notable, substantial, marked

Appendix: statistics

Appendix: statistics A few rules

Precision: Life expectancy of 22.085 years  22 yearsAlways give numerator and denominator e.g., 25% (740/2958)Avoid using percentages to summarize small samplesBe very clear with percentages within subgroups:“Of the 1000 patients, 800 (80%) were women; (31%) had a BMI of…”

“Of the 1000 patients, 800 (80%) were women; of these, 250 (31%) had a BMI of…”

Appendix: simple wordsPrefer Avoidmore additionalenough adequateclear apparenttry attemptshow demonstratetry endeavorvery exceedingly

Appendix: simple wordsPrefer  Avoidsize magnitudeaim objectivetake part participatedone performedasked requestedlives resideskeep retain

Prefer  Avoidlater subsequentlyenough sufficientend terminateuse utilization

Appendix: simple words

Here, we present…

Here, we show…

Here, we report…

In this work we introduce… 

Appendix: useful set phrases Abstract

These results show…

To test whether (past tense), we performed....

To examine if (past tense) we (past tense)

We used XX to YY. Using this approach, we 

identified ZZ

Appendix: useful set phrases Abstract

We demonstrated previously…

Previous studies have shown that…

We have previously shown that…

The topic of XX has recently been reviewed1. (insert reference)

To determine whether …

The purpose of this study was …

Appendix: useful set phrases Introduction

Therefore, we tested the hypothesis …

This report describes experiments designed to determine whether …

Therefore, our first objective in these studies was to determine whether …

In this study, we sought to extend our observations and specifically test …

Appendix: useful set phrases Introduction

To test whether XX (past tense), we performed....

To examine if XX (paste tense) we performed…

Appendix: useful set phrases Methods

Among the cases we analyzed…

XX was/were observed….

The results are summarized in Table 1.

Figure 2a shows the effect of X on Y.

Group X showed higher/lower levels of Y than the control group.

Appendix: useful set phrases Results

In the current study, we have shown…

In summary…

To conclude…

In conclusion…

In demonstrating XX, our findings show that/illustrate that…

Taken together these results suggest…

Appendix: useful set phrases Discussion

The above data collectively show…

Our data supports the idea that XX

Our study supports the hypothesis that ZZ

Our study is limited by…

There were some limitations to the current study.

Appendix: useful set phrases Discussion