Scientific Writing - Easy When You Know How - J Peat (BMJ 2002) Episode 13 pps

research unit, you will need to search further afield. You may
find one person to mentor your career path, one to provide
research support, and one to help you through the writing and
publication processes. If you want a mentor to further your
career, you will need someone who is interested in your future.
If you want to improve your publication rate, you will need
someone who may be a coauthor on your papers, who has an
impressive publication record, or who teaches research or
scientific writing skills. It doesn’t matter how many mentors
you have as long as you have all bases covered.
As your career progresses, you will find yourself separating
from your mentor. This can be an uncomfortable time but it is
part of a natural progression. By then, you will have acquired
the skills to successfully mentor those who follow after you.
This graduation of junior researchers and sharing of skills and
knowledge throughout a research unit can make a huge
difference to the success of individual researchers and their
research teams.
Acknowledgements
The Newton quote has been produced with permission from Collins Concise
Dictionary of Quotations, 3rd edn. London: Harper Collins, 1998 (p 226). The
Picasso quote has been produced with permission from the Picasso estate
(Succession Picasso 2002). All other referenced quotes have been produced
with permission.
Websites
1 The Writing Program, University of Pennsylvania
/>Provides access to online reference texts and resources including Grammar
Style and Notes by Jack Lynch, Strunk’s Elements of Style, Oxford English
Dictionary, Webster’s Dictionary, Roget’s Thesaurus, citation styles, etc.
2 Yahoo
/>Human_Languages/Languages/Specific_Languages/English/

Grammar__Usage__and_Style/
Provides access to resources for grammar, English usage, and style,
including books and rules of grammar, common errors, and tips to
improve your writing
3 Bartelby Online Books

Access to online books such as the American Heritage

dictionary, American
Support systems
285
Heritage

book of English usage, Roget’s thesaurus, Strunk’s elements of style,
Gray’s anatomy, etc.
4 Modern Language Association (MLA) of America

Information about the MLA
style manual, which documents the style recommended by the Modern
Language Association for preparing scholarly manuscripts and student
research papers. Concerns itself with the mechanics of writing, such as
punctuation, quotation, and documentation of sources. Also includes
guidelines for citing sources from the World Wide Web
5 Plain English Campaign

Guides to writing medical information, letters, reports, alternative words,
etc. for writing in plain English
6 Google
/>A unified global search engine
7 Altavista

/>A unified global search engine
8 All-the-web, all-the-time
/>A unified global search engine
9 Google Help Central
/>Provides access to a range of search tips, features, and frequently asked
questions
10 Altavista’s help site
/>Help page with cheat sheets and various searching features
11 Altavista’s translation feature
Access to
babelfish site that translates from one language to another
12 The Spire Project
/>Provides access to articles and techniques on internet searching
13 Bright Plant
/>Provides a guide to effective searching
14 National Library of Medicine, United States
/>Provides access to abstracts published in MEDLINE

via PubMed

15 Massachusetts Medical Society

Scientific Writing
286
Allows health researchers and providers worldwide to establish personal
and professional contacts that may lead to cooperative relationships
16 TeamNet, University of North Texas
/>Electronic community with more than 600 potential mentors who
provide a sounding board for ideas and questions
17 Team Center, Washington

Offers articles and tools on effective team building including material on
how to ask good questions during meetings, sources of stress in teams,
and case studies on teams that work
References
1 Lammott A. Some instructions on writing and life. Peterborough: Anchor
Books, 1994; p 153.
2 Swap W, Leonard D, Sheilds M, Abrams L. Using mentoring and story
telling to transfer knowledge in the workplace. J Manag Inform Systems
2001;18:95–114.
3 Beech N, Brockbank A. Power/knowledge and psychosocial dynamics in
mentoring. Manag Learning 1999;30:7–24.
4 Gibb S. The usefulness of theory: A case study in evaluating formal
mentoring schemes. Human Relations 1999;52:1055–75.
5 McCabe LL, McCabe ERB. Establishing personal goals and tracking your
career. In: How to succeed in academics. London: Academic Press, 2000.
6 Daft RL, Lengel RH. Organizational information requirements, media
richness and structural design. Manag Sci 1986;32:554–71.
Support systems
287
abbreviations 257–8, 267–8
abstract
in Cochrane review 174
conference, citing 105
rewriting in writers’ groups 279
your paper 49–50
acceptance 9–10, 112, 125–6
editorial decisions on 123, 125–6,
130–1, 132–3
rates 18, 19

accountability, author 35
acknowledgements 43–4
active verb 223
addresses, authors’ 100–1
adjectival clauses 240, 241, 243
adjectives 219–21
commas between 263
demonstrative 231–5
nouns used as 218–19
adverbs 229–31
age, participants 69
aims see objectives
Americans
comma use 266
spelling 259
annotations 170
anonymity, reviewer 124
apostrophe 266–7
appeals 133
appendices, postgraduate thesis 182–3
archiving 116–17
as 253–4
assertive sentence title 98–9
audience, scientific 13, 64
authors/authorship 14, 29–41 see also
coauthors
coauthors 20
“ghost” 40–1
“gift” 32, 40
“guest” 41

instructions to 14, 23–4, 110–12
numbers 34
order 30, 31–2, 36–40
standard guidelines/criteria 29–31
baseline characteristics 68
because 253–4
bias 62, 63, 82
bibliographic databases, authors in 38
brackets 267–9
case 248
case-control studies 58, 71–2
case reports 58, 176–8
central tendency, measures 82, 83
checklists 110–12
citations see impact factor; references;
Science Citation Index
clauses 240–3
adjectival 240, 241, 243
clinical assessments 62
clinical trials see trials
coauthors 20, 33
meeting/cooperating with 280–1
order 30, 31–2, 36–40
peer review by 106–10
responsibilities 33
Cochrane Collaboration, review 29, 42,
57, 172–6
cohort study 57
colons 262–3
commas 263–6

communications 165–8
personal, citing 105
rapid 153
compound sentences 240
computers
graphics generated by 80
word processing 13–14
concentrations 255
conclusions
in abstract 50
postgraduate thesis 182
conferences/scientific meetings
citing abstracts of 105
publication in conference
proceedings 148
confidence intervals, 95% 82, 83
conjunctions 198, 230, 235–9
Consolidated Standards of
Reporting Trials (CONSORT) 24–5,
26–7, 71, 111
construction see structure
contingency tables 85
continuity (flow) 199–202
contributions to paper 33, 35, 41–2
acknowledgement of 43
statisticians 36, 37
copyright laws 135
correlate and correlation
197, 219
288

Index
Page numbers in bold type refer to figures; those in italic refer to tables or boxed material.
coworkers
acknowledgement or inclusion as
authors or contributors 43
peer review by 106–10
creativity, achieving 7–8
credit point system, authorship 39
criticism
letters offering 167–8
self 108
cross-sectional study 58, 66
dashes 270
data
analysis 67–8
results v 65
sharing, policies 150–2
databases, electronic, reference
management 102, 103
dates 265
definite article 220
“demographics” 69
design, study 56
statistical contribution 37
determiners 231–5
discussion 85–9, 90
checklist questions 112
in draft 14, 15, 16
material in introduction v 52
postgraduate thesis 182

in randomised controlled trials,
reporting guidelines 26–7
verb tense in 224
documentation, archiving 116–17
double negatives 257
double-spacing 113
drafts 14–17
number 14, 15, 108–9
review 107–8
duplicate publication 147–9
early release 133, 152–3
ecological studies 58
editor/editorial team 121–3, 132–3
acceptance/rejection decisions by 123,
125–6, 130–1, 132–3
becoming an editor 143–5
review by 121–2
submission to see submission
editorials 168–9
electronic databases, reference
management 102, 103
electronic journal 153–7
electronic Science Citation Index 158
electronic submission 116
e-letters 153–5
ellipses 262
email, time management 280
embargoes 137–8
emotive terms 251–3
em-rule 270

Endnote

102
en-rule 270
epidemiological studies
features 57–8
reporting
guidelines 25
large studies 150
errors
final check 134
references 103–4
type I and II 60–1
ethical approval 55–6
ethnic groups 219
exclamation marks 262
fast-track publishing 133, 152–3
feedback 9, 108, 109–10, 276–7
figures 78, 78–82, 90, 114
checklist questions 112
in Cochrane review 174
in draft 15, 16
final check 134
finishing your paper 93–120
flow of ideas 199–202
fog, eliminating 192–5, 211, 278
font 114
format and formatting 90, 113
postgraduate thesis 181–2
see also structure

framework 14
full-stop 261–2
galleys 133–4
gender-specific pronouns 235
“ghost” authors 40–1
“gift” authors 32, 40
grammar 214–45
graphs/graphics 78–82
groups in tables 76–8
guarantors 41
“guest” authors 40–1
histograms, multidimensional 80–1
hyphenation 114, 270–1
ICMJE (International Council of Medical
Journal Editors) 21–2, 24
impact factors 158–62
indefinite article 220
independence, author 35
Index Medicus, journals listed 17
infinitives 225–6
Ingelfinger rule 137
instructions to authors 14, 23–4, 110–12
intellectual contributions to paper 33
International Council of Medical Journal
Editors (ICMJE) 21–2, 24
Internet, searching 273–4
Index
289
see also web; websites
interquartile range 82, 83

interventions 61–2
introduction 51–4, 90
checklist questions 111
draft form 14, 15
verb tense in 224, 224–5
it 234
journals
choice 17–21
electronic 153–7
impact factors 158–62
peer-reviewed 17, 121–4
rapid response features 154, 168
website see website
justification, left 114
key words 101
large studies, reporting results 149–50
left justification 114
legends, figure 82
length
abstract 50
sentence 203–4, 207
thesis 178
title 94, 95
whole paper 14–17
instructions to authors 23–4
word 250, 251
letters 165–8
levels 255
literature review
article written as see narrative review

in paper 52, 53
in postgraduate thesis 179–80, 182
log sheets, data sharing 151–2
materials see method
mean 82, 83
meaning (words/terms), wrong 250
media, mass, releasing results to 136–8
median 82, 83
mentoring 282–5
Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in
Epidemiology 25
method(s), materials and 54–64, 90
checklist questions 111
criticisms of 132
in draft 14, 15, 16
in postgraduate thesis 182
in randomised controlled trials,
reporting guidelines 26–7
verb tense in 224
methodology studies 58
MOOSE checklist 25
multicentre studies, reporting results
149–50
multidimensional histograms 80–1
multivariate analyses 84–5
names, researchers’, citation 104–5
narrative review 169–72
postgraduate literature review written
as 179–80
see also Cochrane Collaboration;

systematic review
negatives 255–7
netprints 155–7
nouns 215–19
antecedent 232
apostrophes in 267
verbs and, muddling 228
numbers
participants (sample size) 59–61,
73–4, 75–6, 78
reporting 74–6
object(s) 191–2, 198, 209
pronouns as 232
objectives/aims
in abstract 50
in discussion 86
in introduction 53
objectivity 72
observational studies, reporting
guidelines 25
odds ratio, small 73–4
online information see Internet; websites
and entries under electronic
orphan lines 114
outcome measures in abstract 50
packaging 113
page proofs 133–4
paragraphs
discussion 86–9
introduction 51

results 64
topic sentences at beginning 64, 66,
189–91, 199, 211
parallel structures 208–10
parentheses 267–9
participants 248–50
in abstracts 50
baseline characteristics 68
in methods 56–9
number (sample size) 59–61, 73–4,
75–6, 78
passive verb 223
peer review
by coauthors/coworkers 106–10
electronic articles and 156
by journal 17, 121–4
of letter 168
pejorative terms 249
performed 229
Index
290
personal communications, citing 105
photographs 81
phrases 195, 239, 242
long and redundant 203
pie charts 79
plain English 188–9
planning stage 12–17
plurals 216–18
apostrophes 267

postgraduate theses 178–85
power 61
precision measures 83
preposition(s) 235–9
verbs interchanged with 228
prepositional clause 240, 241
presentation 112–15
press, releasing results to 136–8
prestige, journal 21
probability (P) 61, 72, 73, 74, 84
pronouns 231–5, 243–4, 249–50
proofs and proofreading 133–4
public health actions recommended in
discussion 89
Public Library of Science 155
publishing 147–64
fast-track/early release 133, 152–3
your reasons for 1–3
punctuation 261–72
title 97
“quadrant II activity” 5–7
quality see scientific merit and quality
Quality of Reporting of Meta-analyses
(QUOROM) statement 25–8
question, in title 98
question marks 262
questionnaires 61
randomised controlled trials 71
baseline characteristics 69, 70
CONSORT reporting guidelines 24–5,

26–7, 71, 111
features 57
flow chart 28
range 82, 83
rapid communication 153
rapid response features of journals
154, 168
redundant phrases 203
redundant publication 147–9
reference(s) and citations 62, 90, 101–6
checklist questions 112
in Cochrane review 174
in draft 15, 16
see also impact factor; literature review;
Science Citation Index
Reference Manager

102
rejection 130–2, 133
appeals 133
repetition, avoiding 201–2
see also tautology
reporting
numbers 74–6
standardised guidelines 24–9
responsibilities, research
conduct of research 35
postgraduate 178–9
resubmission 125–6, 132
results 63–85, 90

abstract 50
checklist questions 111–12
Cochrane review 174, 175
draft 14, 15, 16
figures explaining 79
interpretation 72–4
introduction 53–4
large studies, reporting 149–50
postgraduate thesis 182
press release 136–8
randomised controlled trials, reporting
guidelines 26–7
reasons for publishing 1–3
verb tense in 224
review 121–46
letters 168
paper 112, 121–46
by coauthors/coworkers 106–10
electronic articles and 156
electronic post-publication 154
peer review see peer review
writer’s group 277
see also literature review
reviewer
anonymity 124
becoming a 5, 138–46
checklists 110–11
comments 140–3
replying to 127–30
criticising methods 132

Review Manager

(RevMan) 29, 173, 175
revision 125–6
running title 101
sample size, study 59–61, 73–4, 75–6, 78
Science Citation Index 157–8
scientific meetings see conferences
scientific merit and quality
evaluation 157, 160–1
reviewers on 112
search engines 273–4
semicolons 263
sentences
adverbs at beginning 229–30
assertive, in title 98–9
compound 240
flow between 199–202
grammar 214–45
length 203–4, 207
Index
291
parallel 208–10
punctuation see punctuation
topic 64, 66, 189–91, 199, 211
transition words at beginning 198, 200
verbs at end 229
significance 61, 63, 72, 73, 74, 84
slashes 270
space, physical (for writing) 7–8

spelling 258–9
split infinitives 225–6
spread, measures of 82, 83
square brackets 269
standard deviation 69, 82, 83
standard error 69, 82, 83, 83–4
standardised reporting guidelines 24–9
statistician, role 36, 37
statistics 63, 82–4, 85
sample size calculations 60–1
in tables of baseline characteristics 69
storage 116–17
structure (construction) 9, 12–92
guidelines 90
planning 12–17
see also format and specific parts
of paper
study design see design
style 9, 188–213
citations 102–3
writing reviewer comments 141
subject 191–2, 198, 209
pronouns as 232
submission 115–16
to another journal 126, 131
resubmission 125–6, 132
systematic review 29, 57, 172–6
tables 76–8, 90, 114
baseline characteristics in 68, 69, 70
checklist questions 112

in Cochrane review 174
in draft 15, 16
for response to reviewer
comments 127–30
tautology 205–6
terms
emotive 251–3
standardising 246–8
that 243–4, 249–50
theses 178–85
those 234
thought 9
tight writing 202–6
time
of day/week for writing 8
management 5–7, 280
title 93–101
annotations/review 170
figure 82
letter 166
paper 90, 93–101
rewriting, in writers’ groups 278
table 78
title page 100–1
topic sentences 64, 66, 189–91,
199, 211
transition words 198, 200
trials 24–9, 71–2
characteristics 57–8
standardised reporting guidelines 24–9

see also specific types of trials
typeface (font) 114
type I and II error 60–1
uniform requirements 21–2
unpublished work, citing 105
Vancouver guidelines/criteria 21
authorship 30, 31, 38, 39, 43
citation style 102, 103
verbs 191–2, 198, 209, 221–9
visual appearance 112–15
web, citing information on 105–6
websites see also Internet
cited by this book
documents other than papers 185–6
finishing your paper 118–19
preparation/planning stage 44–5
publishing 162–3
punctuation 271–2
review and editorial processes 145
search engine help 274
style 212–13
support systems 285–6
words 260–1
writing your paper 91
citing address of 105–6
journal
early release on 153
rapid response on 154, 168
your, your paper on 135
which 243–4

withdrawal from a journal 126
word(s) 246–66
choice 246–66
order of 197–9
total number of see length
transition 198, 200
unnecessary 205–8
word processors 13–14
writer’s block 281–2
writers’ groups 274–81
writing, principles 48–92
postgraduate thesis 181–5
Index
292