Scientific writing tips

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Núria Vendrell shares this folder with useful tips and visuals: https://iciq-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/nvendrell_iciq_es/EuiY15hZqolHph0-R2LZ5kYBRitHcU3-KPX4SSsUQ7-fnQ?e=qlkPGb

(and also a list of books in PDF, find it at the bottom of this page)

SIMPLE IS BEAUTIFUL!

The KISS principle: Keep it Short and Simple, repeat it like a mantra!

Clear and concise technical writing

How to write in plain English

Plain English-Alternative words

See the section "Phrases you can omit": http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/concise.htm

http://home.comcast.net/~garbl/stylemanual/words.htm

See also a list of words and expressions to avoid and the text "How to write scientific papers" (thanks Alfons!):

How to write scientific papers by Dr R. Sommaruga

BOOKS ON SCIENTIFIC WRITING ETC

BOOKS IN PDF

• File:Scientific Writing; A Reader and Writer's Guide.pdf - How to write a paper, poster, talk, thesis, project, CV, slides etc.

• File:Scientific Writing - Easy When You Know How.pdf

• File:Rogers Mastering Scientific and Medical Writing-A Self-Help Guide.pdf

• File:How to Write and Illustrate a Scientific Paper 052187890X.pdf

• File:Writing Successfully in Science.pdf

• File:Cite Right.pdf - How to cite, manual by University of Chicago Press

• File:Academic vocab in use.pdf- Text & tests (with key)

'The Mayfield Handbook of technical and scientific writing' http://www.mhhe.com/mayfieldpub/tsw/home.htm

https://pdfroom.com/books/writing-academic-english/qlgyyvGmgMG

POSTERS:

Ten Simple Rules for a Good Poster Presentation http://www.ploscompbiol.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pcbi.0030102

How to structure a poster: https://twitter.com/DrasmaJabeen1/status/1750184279760347167/photo/1

ARTICLES, PAPERS:

File:How to write a scientific paper.pdf

http://abacus.bates.edu/~ganderso/biology/resources/writing/HTWtoc.html

http://www.uaf.edu/csem/ashsss/paper_guidelines.html

Mastering the Art of Scientific Publication - Part 1 https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/jz502010v and Part 2: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/acsenergylett.3c00300

• Words to avoid File:Words 2 avoid &How 2 write scientific papers.pdf

• Writefull App blog short articles

• Title generator 07/04/2021 (paste abstract and you'll get titles to choose from): [1]

RESOURCES

• Basic tips on how to write your first paper by Laura McCaslin [2]

• Whitesides' Group: Writing a Paper [3]

• 10 Simple Steps to Writing a Scientific Paper [4]

[5]

• Surviving in the scientific world "A PhD is NOT enough" - download here: http://englishtips.org/index.php?newsid=1150797343

• Academic writing "Academic Writing: Exploring Processes and Strategies" (Cambridge Univ. Press)- dowloadable here http://englishtips.org/index.php?newsid=1150801632

• Scientific writing in English for non-natives - downloadable here: http://englishtips.org/index.php?newsid=1150797981 and here http://mihd.net/xh25sa Chapters 4-19 focus on how to write a good paper - Chapter 10 is devoted to posters - Chapter 11 to Oral presentations (password: englishtips.org)

• some useful phrasal verbs: File:Useful-phrasal-verbs.pdf

• ACS Guide [6]

• Nature Education [7]

• Writing Guidelines [8]

• Two useful, straightforward guides (includes a chapter on Theses!-- Ch 13) http://www.mhra.org.uk/Publications/Books/StyleGuide/StyleGuideV2.pdf and https://www.e-education.psu.edu/styleforstudents/

• Duke Graduate School Scientific Writing Resource [9]

• https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-02918-5

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

• Scientists Must Speak --- if you'd like to have the PDF book ask Núria, see contents here File:Binder1.pdf

• Oral skills "Essential Communication Strategies: For Scientists, Engineers, and Technology Professionals" - downloadable here http://englishtips.org/index.php?newsid=1150801232 (password: englishtips.org)

• Oral skills, how to prepare an oral presentation: http://caes.hku.hk/tops/ and http://www.ploscompbiol.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pcbi.0030077

• some useful expressions: File:Useful-vocab-presentations.pdf

• Tips: http://www.ecf.utoronto.ca/~writing/handbook-oral.html and http://www.etsu.edu/scitech/langskil/oral.htm

TIPS ON DESIGN

• Design Tips for Creating Scientific Figures [10]

• Creating effective scientific figures is crucial for communicating research findings clearly and professionally. Here are some design tips to help you create high-quality scientific figures:

1. Clarity and Simplicity

   Focus on the Message: Ensure that the figure conveys the main message clearly. Avoid clutter and unnecessary details.
   Use Simple Graphics: Opt for simple, clean lines and shapes. Avoid overly complex graphics that can distract from the data.

2. Consistency

   Consistent Style: Use a consistent style throughout the figure, including fonts, colors, and line styles.
   Uniform Units: Ensure all axes and labels use uniform units and scales.

3. Color Usage

   Color Blindness: Use color schemes that are accessible to people with color blindness. Tools like ColorBrewer can help.
   Contrast: Ensure there is enough contrast between different elements to make them distinguishable.
   Limit Colors: Use a limited color palette to avoid overwhelming the viewer.

4. Labels and Annotations

   Clear Labels: Label all axes, data points, and important features clearly. Use a legible font size.
   Annotations: Use annotations to highlight key points or findings. Ensure they are concise and informative.

5. Data Representation

   Appropriate Charts: Choose the appropriate type of chart or graph for your data (e.g., bar charts for comparisons, line graphs for trends).
   Error Bars: Include error bars or confidence intervals where applicable to indicate variability or uncertainty.

6. Resolution and Quality

   High Resolution: Ensure the figure is high resolution to avoid pixelation, especially if it will be printed.
   Vector Graphics: Use vector graphics (e.g., SVG, EPS) for scalability and better quality.

7. Accessibility

   Alt Text: Provide alternative text descriptions for figures to make them accessible to screen readers.
   Legends: Include a legend if the figure contains multiple data series or symbols.

8. Software Tools

   Graphing Software: Use specialized software like GraphPad Prism, MATLAB, R, or Python libraries (e.g., Matplotlib, Seaborn) for creating scientific figures.
   Design Software: Tools like Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, or Affinity Designer can be used for final touches and enhancing the visual appeal.

9. Review and Feedback

   Peer Review: Have colleagues or peers review your figures to ensure they are clear and effective.
   Iterative Design: Be prepared to make multiple iterations based on feedback and testing.

10. Ethical Considerations

   Accuracy: Ensure that the data is represented accurately and without manipulation.
   Citations: Properly cite any figures or data that are not your own.

By following these tips, you can create scientific figures that are not only visually appealing but also effective in communicating your research findings.

Design resources: https://www.biorender.com/

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LIST OF PDF BOOKS (ask Núria V. if you'd like to have a copy or have a look) File:E-BOOKS-APR-25.pdf