the importance of editing & proofreading
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Scientific Publication: The importance of editing & proofreading
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Objective
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This is an example text. Go ahead and replace it
To show how editing & proofreading can help achieve better language quality to make the manuscript consistent, logical and meaningful and thus improve its communication & readability.
To show how editing & proofreading can help achieve better language quality to make the manuscript consistent, logical and meaningful and thus improve its communication & readability.
To present opinions and suggestions to help you assess and improve the quality of your manuscript.
PUBLISHING A SCIENTIFIC PAPER
Your Logo
Whe
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t to
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Write a paperH
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I START?
Figures Pie chart ?Line graph? Points ?Bar charts ?
PUBLISHING A SCIENTIFIC PAPER
Tables : which data to put in tables ?
Experimental ?
Abstract ?
RESULTS & DISCUSSION
Keywords ?
References?
Style and format.APA, MLA ? INTRODUCTION
WHY WRITE & PUBLISH RESEARCH PAPERS?
Ideally – to share research findings and discoveries with the
hope of advancing knowledge.
Practically – to get funding to get promotion to get a job to retain a job!
Completion of research
Preparation of manuscript
Submission of manuscript
Assignment and review
DecisionRevision
Resubmission
Re-reviewAcceptance
Publication
Rejection
Rejection
START
Publication Process: From Author to Journal
Confirmatory (not novel) Poor experimental design
- Poor controls - Hypothesis not adequately tested
Inappropriate for journal Poorly written (Improper ENGLISH) Other factors
Major reasons for rejection
Sand-Jenson in Oikos 2007, 116 723 (C&E News Sept 10, 2007)
Ten characteristics of a dull paper
1. Avoid Focus2. Avoid originality and personality3. Make the article really really long4. Do not indicate any potential implications5. Leave out illustrations (…too much effort to draw a
sensible drawing)6. Omit necessary steps of reasoning7. Use abbreviations and technical terms that only specialists in
the field can understand8. Make it sound too serious with no significant discussion9. Focus only on statistics10. Support every statement with a reference
Author Responsibilities
Preparation and Submission of Manuscripts:General Rules:
Ensure that the work is new and original research Ensure that all the authors listed on the manuscript are
aware of submission and agree with content and support submission
Authors agree that the manuscript can be examined by anonymous reviewers.
Obtain copyright permission if figures, tables from other publications need to be reproduced
Include proper affiliation
To do even better …. The authors should make every effort to make a
good presentation with proper usage of English grammar.
“English is not my Native Language” is not a valid justification for reviewer who cannot comprehend.
Reviewers do not wish to review papers that are not readable. Badly written papers are often recommended as “REJECT” by the Reviewers
Some Publication office helps to edit the language for accepted manuscripts, but this only happens if the English is good enough to be reviewed.
Role of Editing in Enhancing Language Quality Example
Nature and the Nature research journals copyedit (subedit) scientific research papers to
Ensure that the journal reads in correct English Enhance the reader’s perception of the journal
Attention to language quality will impact target audience— more people will read it, cite it, it will receive more media coverage,
and so on.
SOURCE: www.nature.com/nature/authors/get_published/index.html
Attributes of Good Writing
Structure and flow of writing Style of writing / ease of reading Support and evidence for points being made /thought and argument Relevance to the purpose of the writing Language, style, clarity, formatting Editing and proofing Proper referencing and bibliography
Grammar and spelling
Grammar and spelling add to the image of a documentErrors in grammar and spelling suggest carelessness, or lack of professionalismGrammatical errors can cause confusion and slow the reader downGrammatical and spelling errors can (subconsciously) cause the reader to turn against you
Competitive price
CLARITY -Example
Less Correct
We have analyzed thisprocess exhaustively andfound, at the end of ourinvestigations, that the publicprocurement procedureinvolved with regard to theefforts at procurement in thiscase are in line with currentlegislative requirements.
More correct
This process conforms topublic procurementlegislation.
EDITING & PROOFREADING
Editing• Structure• Logic• Flow• Look: formatting• Style: jargon; familiar; formal; professional?• Necessity• Inclusion/exclusion• Hierarchy• Sequential• Language• Numbering
Proofreading
• Spelling• Grammar• Mistakes• Repetition• Final checks– Revision control– Overall presentation– Objectives achieved?– Any guidelines?– Distribution
Impact of Editing on Language Quality
Journal finds language weak and suggests professional editing
Author submits an unedited manuscript to a journal
Author gets manuscript edited & resubmits it to the journal
A. Unedited manuscript
In this paper, an online tool wear estimation method, based on feed motor current signals is proposed. A special attention has been done on effect of work piece clamping method on measured current signals and it has shown that the signals vary by respecting to distance of cutting force from clamping points.
B. Professionally edited manuscriptIn this paper, an online method, based on the feed motor current signals, has been proposed for tool wear estimation during machining. A special attention has been given on monitoring the effect of work piece clamping method on current signals. It has been shown that the current signals vary as a function of the distance of cutting force from clamping points.
Example
Output has
Correct grammar
Formal tone
Good readability
Impact of Editing on Language Quality
C. Published after proofreading
In this work the possibility of obtaining a rectilinear motion of bodies partially or totally submerged without using propellers is evaluated.
In this study, we investigate the possibility of measuring phosphate groups in phostides by using a microscopic Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) and assess whether this technique is easier and faster thanusing established methods.
D. Published after editing
The possibility of obtaining rectilinear motion of bodies without the use of propellers, when partially or totally submerged, is evaluated .
In this stureport a new technique for measuring phosphate groups in phospides uurier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), and assess whether this technique is easier and faster than using established methods
Technical oversight corrected
Sentence is more concise
Better word choice
Example
No proofreading errorsReadability is low
No proofreading errors Improved readability
Impact of Editing on Language Quality
Good editing ensuresCorrect English
No grammar and punctuation errors No spelling errors No word/phrase choice errors
Better Readability Native English Crisp, formal tone and consistent style Elimination of ambiguity or poor logic
Good editing depends on
(1)Skills and expertise of the professional editor (which depends on the author’s ability to select a good editor)
(2) The process and tools the editor uses to
ensure that there are no oversights and the
correct style is followed
(3) Quality of the original manuscript (which depends on the
author/translator’s English skills)
A Suggested Approach before sending to journals
sure you have followed all the requirements of the journal about electronic submission etc
Make sure to get your manuscript edited by professional editors . Listen to what they say, especially if same criticism comes up several times.
Review the edited manuscript and check it for consistency in language quality, style, tone, and format.
Ensure that the editing is made contextually, i.e. the meaning of the sentences do not get changed after editing.
1. Refer to author instructions/guidelines of reputed journals.
2. Get it edited by your colleagues or avail the services of an editing professional.
3. Create a template for manuscript submission.
1. Make a judicious selection of professional editors.
2. Keep a ready list of these editors in your website.
3. Ask for a sample editing .
1. Build an in-house review team, or2. Collaborate with professional editors
What to do How to do itStep1
Step 2
Step 3
Summary
Editing enhances the quality of a manuscript by correcting errors in English and improving readability.
Improperly written manuscript is often neglected by the reviewers.
Availing the services of professional editors and proofreaders will help in greatly improving the quality of communication and producing an error free professional manuscript written in clear and concise English .