Canons for Writing and Editing Manuscripts

Abstract

Writing is much like any other activity-the more you read and write, the more proficient you become as a scientist. Here, I provide canons for writing and editing scientific papers that should help novice writers avoid common hazards that could render a manuscript unpublishable. Abstracts should be well-written and concise and contain all the major results and conclusions. The manuscript should be well organized. Sentences in all paragraphs should stick to the central theme of the paragraph. Writers should provide Latin names for species analyzed, and should use SI units in all cases. The use of bulleted lists, active voice, and commas after introductory phrases will improve the clarity of the manuscript. Tables and figures should be clear, well-organized, stand-alone accessories to the text, and usually convey data and results that are numerous or complex. Writers should avoid both plagiarism and self-plagiarism, and should have their manuscript proofread before submitting to a journal. Finally, authors should consult primary references (such as Scientific Style and Format, published by the Council of Biology Editors in 1994) to become familiar with troublesome words and phrases.