Scientific Publication: The importance of editing & proofreading

Let see how editing & proofreading can help achieve better language quality to make the manuscript consistent, logical and meaningful and thus improve its communication & readability.

Transcript

1. Scientific Publication: The importance of editing & proofreading Manuscriptedit www.manuscriptedit.com www.manuscriptedit.com
2. Objective Your Logo 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.
3. PUBLISHING A SCIENTIFIC PAPER Your Logo Jdgfjgds fbebfhkjdhkh bhfkjf hfheh jlkeoiio hjfhfkklkehjjjgngu hngbhhklghkhgfkhefh hkfhefhewhfhewofi Gkufehkjehfieofhlkfglef jlewjflkejwflkj Hfhelwukfhewiufywfoy wiyrwelfiuhewlifuhwefl iuwhoih;owhj o Bhgfiuewhfewhih khj kl hkjehhekjkwkkwkkwkj hhfrhhfrururjwjhjwv Write a paper 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
4. “Scientists are rated by what they finish, not by what they attempt” MANUSCRIPTEDIT.COM
5. 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!
6. Your Logo Journal Authors Reviewer Scientific Publication is a Team Effort
7. Completion of research Preparation of manuscript Submission of manuscript Assignment and review Decision Revision Resubmission Re-review Acceptance Publication Rejection Rejection START Publication Process: From Author to Journal
8.  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
9. Sand-Jenson in Oikos 2007, 116 723 (C&E News Sept 10, 2007) Ten characteristics of a dull paper 1. Avoid Focus 2. Avoid originality and personality 3. Make the article really really long 4. Do not indicate any potential implications 5. Leave out illustrations (…too much effort to draw a sensible drawing) 6. Omit necessary steps of reasoning 7. Use abbreviations and technical terms that only specialists in the field can understand 8. Make it sound too serious with no significant discussion 9. Focus only on statistics 10. Support every statement with a reference
10. 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
11. 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.
12. 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
13. 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
14. Grammar and spelling Grammar and spelling add to the image of a document Errors in grammar and spelling suggest carelessness, or lack of professionalism Grammatical errors can cause confusion and slow the reader down Grammatical and spelling errors can (subconsciously) cause the reader to turn against you
15. Competitive price CLARITY -Example Less Correct We have analyzed this process exhaustively and found, at the end of our investigations, that the public procurement procedure involved with regard to the efforts at procurement in this case are in line with current legislative requirements. More correct This process conforms to public procurement legislation.
16. 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
17. 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 manuscript In 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
18. 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 than using 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 errors Readability is low No proofreading errors Improved readability
19. Impact of Editing on Language Quality Good editing ensures Correct 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)
20. 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, or 2. Collaborate with professional editors What to do How to do it Step1 Step 2 Step 3
21. 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 .
22. www.manuscriptedit.com To avail services
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