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4/15/11

Experiences from writing and editing for Monthly Weather

Review:One Person’s ViewJosh Hacker, Naval Postgraduate School

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Make reviewers’ lives easy

• A reviewer who can easily comprehend what you have written is far more likely to provide a favorable review.

• Do not rely on reviewers to……organize your manuscript.

…check spelling and grammar.

…perform a literature review.

…interpret the results of your experiments. 4/15/11 22

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Writing is hard work

• Most of us are not gifted writers.

• We need to work hard to communicate our science (even to other experts).

• More time spent in manuscript preparation usually results in less time spent responding to reviews.

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Introductions are important

• Make a clear statement about the problem you are addressing.

• Clearly point out what is novel in your work.

• Clearly point out how your work fits into the broader scientific goals of the community.

• Ensure that your literature review is complete but focused.– It is important to give credit to the correct people.

– If you cite a paper, note why it is is cited.

– Avoid citing irrelevant papers.

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Maximize content, minimize length

• Every paragraph, and every sentence, should be important.

• Every figure should be necessary to illustrate a point.

• Eliminate repetitive statements.

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Use precise language

• Choose the correct word or phrase for a given situation.

• Accurately describe figures and tables.

• Avoid jargon.

Conference papers and presentations are generally bad models for this practice!

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Provide interpretation

• It is the author’s job to explain the meaning and implications of a result.

• It is not the author’s job to speculate, but limited speculation supported by circumstantial evidence may be acceptable.

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A note on personal style:

• Distinguish between good use of English and style.– Personal writing style more often increases

confusion rather than decreasing it.

– Quality writing is most important, and personal style (or flair) should be secondary.

• Examples:– Use good grammar.

– Avoid repetitive words or statements.

– Avoid passive tense.

– Avoid extraneous words and phrases that begin or end sentences: however, thus, on the other hand, etc., except when absolutely necessary.

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