Scientific Writing

Today we have addressed the topic of how to present data in written form, focusing mainly on writing papers for biomedical journals. Why is writing important in science? Scientists need to communicate their findings and this is usually achieved via publishing their work in scientific journals. Thus, a critical aspect of the scientific process is to share your information and experience with the scientific community. Reporting your new results in biomedical journals is a quick way to disseminate the information to the specialized community contributing to increase the knowledge within a discipline as well as to help others interpret their own results.

Types of articles

We have mentioned in class the different types of articles and their main characteristics. While most articles published are original research papers, there are also reviews, editorials, commentaries, perspectives, case reports or letters to the editor, among others.



Fundamental style considerations

In the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors - ICMJE) you can find the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts. Most biomedical journals have their own format, structure and writing styles. Therefore, it is important that you are familiar with the Instructions for Authors of the specific journal you aim to submit your manuscript.

Your text should conform to the conventions of standard written English (sentence form, grammar, spelling, etc.). Structure your sentences carefully using the basic division into subject, verb, and complement. In addition, the structure of the sentence will convey emphasis, draw attention to the most important part at the same time as help readers to interpret your meaning correctly. Moreover, you should structure your sentences and paragraphs to flow, conferring your article cohesion and coherence.
 
Your ideas will have little impact, no matter how good the research is, if they are not communicated effectively!

Keep in mind that scientific terminology has precise meaning. Thus, be certain you select your words correctly and adequately; write clearly and concisely. Writing and thinking are very closely linked, "fuzzy writing reflects fuzzy thinking". When people have difficulties in translating their ideas into words, it generally reflects that they may not be fully aware of what they want to transmit.

• Adapt to the special requirements of your selected audience, journal and type of article.

• Be precise and accurate: Scientific terminology carries specific meaning; learn to use it appropriately and consistently. In fact, it takes a deeper understanding to explain a complex topic simply and succinctly. 

• Be clear and concise: Write briefly and to the point. Say what you mean simply and clearly avoiding embellishment with unnecessary words or phrases. Brevity is very important. Do not use colloquial speech or slang; do not use contractions like for example "don't" or "isn't".

"Brevity is the soul of wit" (W. Shakespeare)

Considerations for the preparation of a research article

One of the initial considerations is to choose the appropriate readership for your article. Usually you will be writing to your peers. Knowing your audience will help you to decide what information to include. Obviously, you write a very different article for a highly specialized, technical, disciplinary journal as opposed to a more general publication that covers a broad range of disciplines.  Another relevant aspect to take into account is the impact factor of the journal. 

The first step in the process of writing is to order and organize the information you wish to present. Another critical point when preparing your first draft is to decide the authors and their specific order. The choice of a good title is also extraordinarily important; it should be informative at the same time as attractive and objective. Some people work well from an outline, others do not. Whatever system you follow, be aware that scientific writing requires special attention to order and organization. Because the paper will be divided into sections, you need to know what information will go into each.

The following video very nicely summarizes the main sections of an article and their content.

• You need to know the different types of articles (original research papers, reviews, editorials, commentaries, perspectives, case reports and letters to the editor, among others) together with their main characteristics and usefulness.

• In addition, you have to be familiarized with the main sections of a research article, how to structure and develop them in order to communicate effectively.