Science Writing Skills Greensboro NC

1. Learn APA style. All major scientific journals require submissions to follow the latest APA style publication manual. Knowing the ins and outs of this writing style will help reduce the time it takes to revise and format after the article is written and you will be able to focus more on content than mechanics. Purchase the latest publication manual for handy reference and follow it exactly.
   
2. Read as many scientific journal articles as possible. This will give you a feel for expected tone and writing style. Read both primary research articles and literature reviews to note the similarities and differences. It is important to know your audience and the purpose of what you are writing in order to select the correct tone and style.
   
3. Write as much as possible and then edit. Your first draft should include as much detail as possible. The intent of a scientific article is so other scientists can reproduce your results and corroborate your claims. If the article is lacking in detail, results will come out different and your work will not be able to be verified. The same rule applies to protocols. If you are not specific with amounts used or times incubated, the instructions are useless. If it is too long for publication, you can edit out what is unnecessary from the literature review or discussion. Methods can also be shortened by referencing an earlier published article for an identical procedure.
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Author: Heather Scoville