How to improve your scientific writing skills?

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What do you do to write better proposal, grants, and papers?



Do you think reading books about how to write scientific content is a good way to improve it?










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    Read relevant, well-written material (and lots of it) to improve your vocabulary and the recognition of “good” structure.
    – Solar Mike
    14 hours ago






  • 1




    For a bit of help with common phrases have a look at phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk. It is not much, but sometimes it can help you to build a nicer sentence.
    – allo
    9 hours ago






  • 2




    "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better." — Samuel Beckett
    – JeffE
    10 mins ago














up vote
16
down vote

favorite
3












What do you do to write better proposal, grants, and papers?



Do you think reading books about how to write scientific content is a good way to improve it?










share|improve this question



















  • 4




    Read relevant, well-written material (and lots of it) to improve your vocabulary and the recognition of “good” structure.
    – Solar Mike
    14 hours ago






  • 1




    For a bit of help with common phrases have a look at phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk. It is not much, but sometimes it can help you to build a nicer sentence.
    – allo
    9 hours ago






  • 2




    "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better." — Samuel Beckett
    – JeffE
    10 mins ago












up vote
16
down vote

favorite
3









up vote
16
down vote

favorite
3






3





What do you do to write better proposal, grants, and papers?



Do you think reading books about how to write scientific content is a good way to improve it?










share|improve this question















What do you do to write better proposal, grants, and papers?



Do you think reading books about how to write scientific content is a good way to improve it?







publications writing writing-style science






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edited 2 mins ago

























asked 20 hours ago









0x90

6091515




6091515







  • 4




    Read relevant, well-written material (and lots of it) to improve your vocabulary and the recognition of “good” structure.
    – Solar Mike
    14 hours ago






  • 1




    For a bit of help with common phrases have a look at phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk. It is not much, but sometimes it can help you to build a nicer sentence.
    – allo
    9 hours ago






  • 2




    "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better." — Samuel Beckett
    – JeffE
    10 mins ago












  • 4




    Read relevant, well-written material (and lots of it) to improve your vocabulary and the recognition of “good” structure.
    – Solar Mike
    14 hours ago






  • 1




    For a bit of help with common phrases have a look at phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk. It is not much, but sometimes it can help you to build a nicer sentence.
    – allo
    9 hours ago






  • 2




    "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better." — Samuel Beckett
    – JeffE
    10 mins ago







4




4




Read relevant, well-written material (and lots of it) to improve your vocabulary and the recognition of “good” structure.
– Solar Mike
14 hours ago




Read relevant, well-written material (and lots of it) to improve your vocabulary and the recognition of “good” structure.
– Solar Mike
14 hours ago




1




1




For a bit of help with common phrases have a look at phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk. It is not much, but sometimes it can help you to build a nicer sentence.
– allo
9 hours ago




For a bit of help with common phrases have a look at phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk. It is not much, but sometimes it can help you to build a nicer sentence.
– allo
9 hours ago




2




2




"Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better." — Samuel Beckett
– JeffE
10 mins ago




"Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better." — Samuel Beckett
– JeffE
10 mins ago










4 Answers
4






active

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votes

















up vote
16
down vote













The way to learn to write is, simply, to write.



But then get feedback on your writing and re-write in light of the feedback.



The Software Patterns community has a process called Writer's Workshops that are quite detailed. When you submit a paper to a patterns conference you are assigned a Shepherd who is an experienced pattern writer, usually with knowledge of your field. The shepherd works with you (the "sheep") to improve the paper over three or four iterations of feedback-rewrite.



After shepherding your paper may be accepted to the conference, though not for presentation in the traditional sense. The conference consists of a set of writer's workshops in which a few (8-10) authors each have their papers discussed by the other participants while they listen and take notes. The author has a very small part in the workshop other than to think about what others suggest about how the paper can be improved.



After the workshop the author can ask questions, but never gets to "defend" the work. The idea is that if others misunderstand you then it is your job, not theirs, to fix it.



The paper is then revised one more time and it is this version that makes it in to the proceedings. The whole idea is to improve the print version, not present a version prepared without help.



The patterns community is pretty close knit because of this working together to improve one-another's work.



This process was brought to the software development community by Richard P Gabriel who is both a geek (Lisp et al.) and a poet. The same process is used by poets, in fact and is quite old. RPG has written a book on the process: Writers' Workshops & the Work of Making Things



If you don't have the patterns community behind you, or if you aren't writing patterns, it is relatively easy to set up a local writers workshop and follow the process. You can do this for any sort of writing as long as you have some people with domain knowledge and some writing experience.






share|improve this answer



























    up vote
    10
    down vote













    There are many ways that one can improve their scientific writing skills. Because humans learn in diverse ways, I do not know if there is one be-all-end-all solution for how to improve one's writing skills.



    Two main methods that I have used (and still use) are (1) attending grant writing workshops, and (2) reading other published papers in my field and emulating their overall style. I am someone who learns by seeing and copying.



    Some items to note:



    • Quality scientific writing is rarely achieved by complexity of word choice and sentence structure. In fact, sometimes the best scientific writing is achieved by relative simplicity and clarity. You are not trying to wow people with your prose and poetic presentation.

    • Quality scientific writing often has just as much to do with how you present something as it does with what you say. Observing required formats for the venue you are trying to publish in is rather critical. I once worked with a collaborator who routinely ignored our target journals' "Instructions for Authors." This made it very hard to produce quality writing with him because I was repeatedly having to parse down what he was saying into actual defined sections. Much of his writing was well done from a pure "English" standpoint; he just had no concept of venue specific format.

    • Quality scientific writing is an art that is never completely learned.





    share|improve this answer






















    • Regarding the "instruction to authors" of journals. Usually you write the paper without knowing which journal it's really going to. Isn't it right?
      – 0x90
      18 hours ago







    • 1




      I would add: apart from basics such as grammar and good writing practices, see Chicago Manual of Style, one needs clarity. The best writers in my opinion have the ability to simplify complex concept into something simple or at the very least, break it down into manageable chunks. They tend to distil tonnes of info into a few key ideas/concepts. So the problem is not really about writing, but how to think.
      – Prof. Santa Claus
      18 hours ago







    • 1




      @0x90 Yes and no. I usually had a specific journal in mind, then adapted as necessary. You don't write a 39 page paper when targeting a journal that usually publishes short papers. And most papers will have a general outline of Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusion.
      – Vladhagen
      18 hours ago











    • When emulating the style of published papers, you should take care only to emulate the good ones. There's a lot of bad writing in academic journals. One of my least favorite parts of my job is deprogramming postdocs who spent their graduate schooling soaking up bad habits from poorly written journal articles.
      – RPL
      6 hours ago

















    up vote
    5
    down vote













    Two ideas for you:



    A writing skills course



    Many, if not most, universities offer scientific writing courses for graduate students. If you're a graduate student - take such a course. If you're a post-doc or even a tenure-tracker - don't be ashamed; go attend one (not for credit).



    Language editing



    Ask your advisor, if you're a grad student, or a colleague you're close to and whose writing skills you appreciate, to help you by performing a language-editing pass on what you're writing. If it's too much to ask or if you haven't someone to ask - try finding someone to do this for pay; it is not uncommon.






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    • Aren't there courses like that online?
      – 0x90
      11 hours ago










    • @0x90: Perhaps, but most univesities do not have these online.
      – einpoklum
      10 hours ago










    • Providing writing feedback to others isn't just a quid pro quo -- in reading other people's work critically you improve your own writing. This is particularly helpful as a postdoc looking over PhD students' work
      – Chris H
      5 hours ago

















    up vote
    4
    down vote













    A very specific answer:
    There's an (originally) online course from Stanford called "Writing in the Sciences" that became very popular. While you might not agree with everything she teaches/suggests, I think it is a very good course.
    It's now all on YouTube.






    share|improve this answer




















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      4 Answers
      4






      active

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      4 Answers
      4






      active

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      active

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      up vote
      16
      down vote













      The way to learn to write is, simply, to write.



      But then get feedback on your writing and re-write in light of the feedback.



      The Software Patterns community has a process called Writer's Workshops that are quite detailed. When you submit a paper to a patterns conference you are assigned a Shepherd who is an experienced pattern writer, usually with knowledge of your field. The shepherd works with you (the "sheep") to improve the paper over three or four iterations of feedback-rewrite.



      After shepherding your paper may be accepted to the conference, though not for presentation in the traditional sense. The conference consists of a set of writer's workshops in which a few (8-10) authors each have their papers discussed by the other participants while they listen and take notes. The author has a very small part in the workshop other than to think about what others suggest about how the paper can be improved.



      After the workshop the author can ask questions, but never gets to "defend" the work. The idea is that if others misunderstand you then it is your job, not theirs, to fix it.



      The paper is then revised one more time and it is this version that makes it in to the proceedings. The whole idea is to improve the print version, not present a version prepared without help.



      The patterns community is pretty close knit because of this working together to improve one-another's work.



      This process was brought to the software development community by Richard P Gabriel who is both a geek (Lisp et al.) and a poet. The same process is used by poets, in fact and is quite old. RPG has written a book on the process: Writers' Workshops & the Work of Making Things



      If you don't have the patterns community behind you, or if you aren't writing patterns, it is relatively easy to set up a local writers workshop and follow the process. You can do this for any sort of writing as long as you have some people with domain knowledge and some writing experience.






      share|improve this answer
























        up vote
        16
        down vote













        The way to learn to write is, simply, to write.



        But then get feedback on your writing and re-write in light of the feedback.



        The Software Patterns community has a process called Writer's Workshops that are quite detailed. When you submit a paper to a patterns conference you are assigned a Shepherd who is an experienced pattern writer, usually with knowledge of your field. The shepherd works with you (the "sheep") to improve the paper over three or four iterations of feedback-rewrite.



        After shepherding your paper may be accepted to the conference, though not for presentation in the traditional sense. The conference consists of a set of writer's workshops in which a few (8-10) authors each have their papers discussed by the other participants while they listen and take notes. The author has a very small part in the workshop other than to think about what others suggest about how the paper can be improved.



        After the workshop the author can ask questions, but never gets to "defend" the work. The idea is that if others misunderstand you then it is your job, not theirs, to fix it.



        The paper is then revised one more time and it is this version that makes it in to the proceedings. The whole idea is to improve the print version, not present a version prepared without help.



        The patterns community is pretty close knit because of this working together to improve one-another's work.



        This process was brought to the software development community by Richard P Gabriel who is both a geek (Lisp et al.) and a poet. The same process is used by poets, in fact and is quite old. RPG has written a book on the process: Writers' Workshops & the Work of Making Things



        If you don't have the patterns community behind you, or if you aren't writing patterns, it is relatively easy to set up a local writers workshop and follow the process. You can do this for any sort of writing as long as you have some people with domain knowledge and some writing experience.






        share|improve this answer






















          up vote
          16
          down vote










          up vote
          16
          down vote









          The way to learn to write is, simply, to write.



          But then get feedback on your writing and re-write in light of the feedback.



          The Software Patterns community has a process called Writer's Workshops that are quite detailed. When you submit a paper to a patterns conference you are assigned a Shepherd who is an experienced pattern writer, usually with knowledge of your field. The shepherd works with you (the "sheep") to improve the paper over three or four iterations of feedback-rewrite.



          After shepherding your paper may be accepted to the conference, though not for presentation in the traditional sense. The conference consists of a set of writer's workshops in which a few (8-10) authors each have their papers discussed by the other participants while they listen and take notes. The author has a very small part in the workshop other than to think about what others suggest about how the paper can be improved.



          After the workshop the author can ask questions, but never gets to "defend" the work. The idea is that if others misunderstand you then it is your job, not theirs, to fix it.



          The paper is then revised one more time and it is this version that makes it in to the proceedings. The whole idea is to improve the print version, not present a version prepared without help.



          The patterns community is pretty close knit because of this working together to improve one-another's work.



          This process was brought to the software development community by Richard P Gabriel who is both a geek (Lisp et al.) and a poet. The same process is used by poets, in fact and is quite old. RPG has written a book on the process: Writers' Workshops & the Work of Making Things



          If you don't have the patterns community behind you, or if you aren't writing patterns, it is relatively easy to set up a local writers workshop and follow the process. You can do this for any sort of writing as long as you have some people with domain knowledge and some writing experience.






          share|improve this answer












          The way to learn to write is, simply, to write.



          But then get feedback on your writing and re-write in light of the feedback.



          The Software Patterns community has a process called Writer's Workshops that are quite detailed. When you submit a paper to a patterns conference you are assigned a Shepherd who is an experienced pattern writer, usually with knowledge of your field. The shepherd works with you (the "sheep") to improve the paper over three or four iterations of feedback-rewrite.



          After shepherding your paper may be accepted to the conference, though not for presentation in the traditional sense. The conference consists of a set of writer's workshops in which a few (8-10) authors each have their papers discussed by the other participants while they listen and take notes. The author has a very small part in the workshop other than to think about what others suggest about how the paper can be improved.



          After the workshop the author can ask questions, but never gets to "defend" the work. The idea is that if others misunderstand you then it is your job, not theirs, to fix it.



          The paper is then revised one more time and it is this version that makes it in to the proceedings. The whole idea is to improve the print version, not present a version prepared without help.



          The patterns community is pretty close knit because of this working together to improve one-another's work.



          This process was brought to the software development community by Richard P Gabriel who is both a geek (Lisp et al.) and a poet. The same process is used by poets, in fact and is quite old. RPG has written a book on the process: Writers' Workshops & the Work of Making Things



          If you don't have the patterns community behind you, or if you aren't writing patterns, it is relatively easy to set up a local writers workshop and follow the process. You can do this for any sort of writing as long as you have some people with domain knowledge and some writing experience.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 18 hours ago









          Buffy

          18.7k560103




          18.7k560103




















              up vote
              10
              down vote













              There are many ways that one can improve their scientific writing skills. Because humans learn in diverse ways, I do not know if there is one be-all-end-all solution for how to improve one's writing skills.



              Two main methods that I have used (and still use) are (1) attending grant writing workshops, and (2) reading other published papers in my field and emulating their overall style. I am someone who learns by seeing and copying.



              Some items to note:



              • Quality scientific writing is rarely achieved by complexity of word choice and sentence structure. In fact, sometimes the best scientific writing is achieved by relative simplicity and clarity. You are not trying to wow people with your prose and poetic presentation.

              • Quality scientific writing often has just as much to do with how you present something as it does with what you say. Observing required formats for the venue you are trying to publish in is rather critical. I once worked with a collaborator who routinely ignored our target journals' "Instructions for Authors." This made it very hard to produce quality writing with him because I was repeatedly having to parse down what he was saying into actual defined sections. Much of his writing was well done from a pure "English" standpoint; he just had no concept of venue specific format.

              • Quality scientific writing is an art that is never completely learned.





              share|improve this answer






















              • Regarding the "instruction to authors" of journals. Usually you write the paper without knowing which journal it's really going to. Isn't it right?
                – 0x90
                18 hours ago







              • 1




                I would add: apart from basics such as grammar and good writing practices, see Chicago Manual of Style, one needs clarity. The best writers in my opinion have the ability to simplify complex concept into something simple or at the very least, break it down into manageable chunks. They tend to distil tonnes of info into a few key ideas/concepts. So the problem is not really about writing, but how to think.
                – Prof. Santa Claus
                18 hours ago







              • 1




                @0x90 Yes and no. I usually had a specific journal in mind, then adapted as necessary. You don't write a 39 page paper when targeting a journal that usually publishes short papers. And most papers will have a general outline of Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusion.
                – Vladhagen
                18 hours ago











              • When emulating the style of published papers, you should take care only to emulate the good ones. There's a lot of bad writing in academic journals. One of my least favorite parts of my job is deprogramming postdocs who spent their graduate schooling soaking up bad habits from poorly written journal articles.
                – RPL
                6 hours ago














              up vote
              10
              down vote













              There are many ways that one can improve their scientific writing skills. Because humans learn in diverse ways, I do not know if there is one be-all-end-all solution for how to improve one's writing skills.



              Two main methods that I have used (and still use) are (1) attending grant writing workshops, and (2) reading other published papers in my field and emulating their overall style. I am someone who learns by seeing and copying.



              Some items to note:



              • Quality scientific writing is rarely achieved by complexity of word choice and sentence structure. In fact, sometimes the best scientific writing is achieved by relative simplicity and clarity. You are not trying to wow people with your prose and poetic presentation.

              • Quality scientific writing often has just as much to do with how you present something as it does with what you say. Observing required formats for the venue you are trying to publish in is rather critical. I once worked with a collaborator who routinely ignored our target journals' "Instructions for Authors." This made it very hard to produce quality writing with him because I was repeatedly having to parse down what he was saying into actual defined sections. Much of his writing was well done from a pure "English" standpoint; he just had no concept of venue specific format.

              • Quality scientific writing is an art that is never completely learned.





              share|improve this answer






















              • Regarding the "instruction to authors" of journals. Usually you write the paper without knowing which journal it's really going to. Isn't it right?
                – 0x90
                18 hours ago







              • 1




                I would add: apart from basics such as grammar and good writing practices, see Chicago Manual of Style, one needs clarity. The best writers in my opinion have the ability to simplify complex concept into something simple or at the very least, break it down into manageable chunks. They tend to distil tonnes of info into a few key ideas/concepts. So the problem is not really about writing, but how to think.
                – Prof. Santa Claus
                18 hours ago







              • 1




                @0x90 Yes and no. I usually had a specific journal in mind, then adapted as necessary. You don't write a 39 page paper when targeting a journal that usually publishes short papers. And most papers will have a general outline of Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusion.
                – Vladhagen
                18 hours ago











              • When emulating the style of published papers, you should take care only to emulate the good ones. There's a lot of bad writing in academic journals. One of my least favorite parts of my job is deprogramming postdocs who spent their graduate schooling soaking up bad habits from poorly written journal articles.
                – RPL
                6 hours ago












              up vote
              10
              down vote










              up vote
              10
              down vote









              There are many ways that one can improve their scientific writing skills. Because humans learn in diverse ways, I do not know if there is one be-all-end-all solution for how to improve one's writing skills.



              Two main methods that I have used (and still use) are (1) attending grant writing workshops, and (2) reading other published papers in my field and emulating their overall style. I am someone who learns by seeing and copying.



              Some items to note:



              • Quality scientific writing is rarely achieved by complexity of word choice and sentence structure. In fact, sometimes the best scientific writing is achieved by relative simplicity and clarity. You are not trying to wow people with your prose and poetic presentation.

              • Quality scientific writing often has just as much to do with how you present something as it does with what you say. Observing required formats for the venue you are trying to publish in is rather critical. I once worked with a collaborator who routinely ignored our target journals' "Instructions for Authors." This made it very hard to produce quality writing with him because I was repeatedly having to parse down what he was saying into actual defined sections. Much of his writing was well done from a pure "English" standpoint; he just had no concept of venue specific format.

              • Quality scientific writing is an art that is never completely learned.





              share|improve this answer














              There are many ways that one can improve their scientific writing skills. Because humans learn in diverse ways, I do not know if there is one be-all-end-all solution for how to improve one's writing skills.



              Two main methods that I have used (and still use) are (1) attending grant writing workshops, and (2) reading other published papers in my field and emulating their overall style. I am someone who learns by seeing and copying.



              Some items to note:



              • Quality scientific writing is rarely achieved by complexity of word choice and sentence structure. In fact, sometimes the best scientific writing is achieved by relative simplicity and clarity. You are not trying to wow people with your prose and poetic presentation.

              • Quality scientific writing often has just as much to do with how you present something as it does with what you say. Observing required formats for the venue you are trying to publish in is rather critical. I once worked with a collaborator who routinely ignored our target journals' "Instructions for Authors." This made it very hard to produce quality writing with him because I was repeatedly having to parse down what he was saying into actual defined sections. Much of his writing was well done from a pure "English" standpoint; he just had no concept of venue specific format.

              • Quality scientific writing is an art that is never completely learned.






              share|improve this answer














              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer








              edited 19 hours ago

























              answered 20 hours ago









              Vladhagen

              4,14211737




              4,14211737











              • Regarding the "instruction to authors" of journals. Usually you write the paper without knowing which journal it's really going to. Isn't it right?
                – 0x90
                18 hours ago







              • 1




                I would add: apart from basics such as grammar and good writing practices, see Chicago Manual of Style, one needs clarity. The best writers in my opinion have the ability to simplify complex concept into something simple or at the very least, break it down into manageable chunks. They tend to distil tonnes of info into a few key ideas/concepts. So the problem is not really about writing, but how to think.
                – Prof. Santa Claus
                18 hours ago







              • 1




                @0x90 Yes and no. I usually had a specific journal in mind, then adapted as necessary. You don't write a 39 page paper when targeting a journal that usually publishes short papers. And most papers will have a general outline of Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusion.
                – Vladhagen
                18 hours ago











              • When emulating the style of published papers, you should take care only to emulate the good ones. There's a lot of bad writing in academic journals. One of my least favorite parts of my job is deprogramming postdocs who spent their graduate schooling soaking up bad habits from poorly written journal articles.
                – RPL
                6 hours ago
















              • Regarding the "instruction to authors" of journals. Usually you write the paper without knowing which journal it's really going to. Isn't it right?
                – 0x90
                18 hours ago







              • 1




                I would add: apart from basics such as grammar and good writing practices, see Chicago Manual of Style, one needs clarity. The best writers in my opinion have the ability to simplify complex concept into something simple or at the very least, break it down into manageable chunks. They tend to distil tonnes of info into a few key ideas/concepts. So the problem is not really about writing, but how to think.
                – Prof. Santa Claus
                18 hours ago







              • 1




                @0x90 Yes and no. I usually had a specific journal in mind, then adapted as necessary. You don't write a 39 page paper when targeting a journal that usually publishes short papers. And most papers will have a general outline of Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusion.
                – Vladhagen
                18 hours ago











              • When emulating the style of published papers, you should take care only to emulate the good ones. There's a lot of bad writing in academic journals. One of my least favorite parts of my job is deprogramming postdocs who spent their graduate schooling soaking up bad habits from poorly written journal articles.
                – RPL
                6 hours ago















              Regarding the "instruction to authors" of journals. Usually you write the paper without knowing which journal it's really going to. Isn't it right?
              – 0x90
              18 hours ago





              Regarding the "instruction to authors" of journals. Usually you write the paper without knowing which journal it's really going to. Isn't it right?
              – 0x90
              18 hours ago





              1




              1




              I would add: apart from basics such as grammar and good writing practices, see Chicago Manual of Style, one needs clarity. The best writers in my opinion have the ability to simplify complex concept into something simple or at the very least, break it down into manageable chunks. They tend to distil tonnes of info into a few key ideas/concepts. So the problem is not really about writing, but how to think.
              – Prof. Santa Claus
              18 hours ago





              I would add: apart from basics such as grammar and good writing practices, see Chicago Manual of Style, one needs clarity. The best writers in my opinion have the ability to simplify complex concept into something simple or at the very least, break it down into manageable chunks. They tend to distil tonnes of info into a few key ideas/concepts. So the problem is not really about writing, but how to think.
              – Prof. Santa Claus
              18 hours ago





              1




              1




              @0x90 Yes and no. I usually had a specific journal in mind, then adapted as necessary. You don't write a 39 page paper when targeting a journal that usually publishes short papers. And most papers will have a general outline of Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusion.
              – Vladhagen
              18 hours ago





              @0x90 Yes and no. I usually had a specific journal in mind, then adapted as necessary. You don't write a 39 page paper when targeting a journal that usually publishes short papers. And most papers will have a general outline of Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusion.
              – Vladhagen
              18 hours ago













              When emulating the style of published papers, you should take care only to emulate the good ones. There's a lot of bad writing in academic journals. One of my least favorite parts of my job is deprogramming postdocs who spent their graduate schooling soaking up bad habits from poorly written journal articles.
              – RPL
              6 hours ago




              When emulating the style of published papers, you should take care only to emulate the good ones. There's a lot of bad writing in academic journals. One of my least favorite parts of my job is deprogramming postdocs who spent their graduate schooling soaking up bad habits from poorly written journal articles.
              – RPL
              6 hours ago










              up vote
              5
              down vote













              Two ideas for you:



              A writing skills course



              Many, if not most, universities offer scientific writing courses for graduate students. If you're a graduate student - take such a course. If you're a post-doc or even a tenure-tracker - don't be ashamed; go attend one (not for credit).



              Language editing



              Ask your advisor, if you're a grad student, or a colleague you're close to and whose writing skills you appreciate, to help you by performing a language-editing pass on what you're writing. If it's too much to ask or if you haven't someone to ask - try finding someone to do this for pay; it is not uncommon.






              share|improve this answer




















              • Aren't there courses like that online?
                – 0x90
                11 hours ago










              • @0x90: Perhaps, but most univesities do not have these online.
                – einpoklum
                10 hours ago










              • Providing writing feedback to others isn't just a quid pro quo -- in reading other people's work critically you improve your own writing. This is particularly helpful as a postdoc looking over PhD students' work
                – Chris H
                5 hours ago














              up vote
              5
              down vote













              Two ideas for you:



              A writing skills course



              Many, if not most, universities offer scientific writing courses for graduate students. If you're a graduate student - take such a course. If you're a post-doc or even a tenure-tracker - don't be ashamed; go attend one (not for credit).



              Language editing



              Ask your advisor, if you're a grad student, or a colleague you're close to and whose writing skills you appreciate, to help you by performing a language-editing pass on what you're writing. If it's too much to ask or if you haven't someone to ask - try finding someone to do this for pay; it is not uncommon.






              share|improve this answer




















              • Aren't there courses like that online?
                – 0x90
                11 hours ago










              • @0x90: Perhaps, but most univesities do not have these online.
                – einpoklum
                10 hours ago










              • Providing writing feedback to others isn't just a quid pro quo -- in reading other people's work critically you improve your own writing. This is particularly helpful as a postdoc looking over PhD students' work
                – Chris H
                5 hours ago












              up vote
              5
              down vote










              up vote
              5
              down vote









              Two ideas for you:



              A writing skills course



              Many, if not most, universities offer scientific writing courses for graduate students. If you're a graduate student - take such a course. If you're a post-doc or even a tenure-tracker - don't be ashamed; go attend one (not for credit).



              Language editing



              Ask your advisor, if you're a grad student, or a colleague you're close to and whose writing skills you appreciate, to help you by performing a language-editing pass on what you're writing. If it's too much to ask or if you haven't someone to ask - try finding someone to do this for pay; it is not uncommon.






              share|improve this answer












              Two ideas for you:



              A writing skills course



              Many, if not most, universities offer scientific writing courses for graduate students. If you're a graduate student - take such a course. If you're a post-doc or even a tenure-tracker - don't be ashamed; go attend one (not for credit).



              Language editing



              Ask your advisor, if you're a grad student, or a colleague you're close to and whose writing skills you appreciate, to help you by performing a language-editing pass on what you're writing. If it's too much to ask or if you haven't someone to ask - try finding someone to do this for pay; it is not uncommon.







              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered 11 hours ago









              einpoklum

              20.7k132118




              20.7k132118











              • Aren't there courses like that online?
                – 0x90
                11 hours ago










              • @0x90: Perhaps, but most univesities do not have these online.
                – einpoklum
                10 hours ago










              • Providing writing feedback to others isn't just a quid pro quo -- in reading other people's work critically you improve your own writing. This is particularly helpful as a postdoc looking over PhD students' work
                – Chris H
                5 hours ago
















              • Aren't there courses like that online?
                – 0x90
                11 hours ago










              • @0x90: Perhaps, but most univesities do not have these online.
                – einpoklum
                10 hours ago










              • Providing writing feedback to others isn't just a quid pro quo -- in reading other people's work critically you improve your own writing. This is particularly helpful as a postdoc looking over PhD students' work
                – Chris H
                5 hours ago















              Aren't there courses like that online?
              – 0x90
              11 hours ago




              Aren't there courses like that online?
              – 0x90
              11 hours ago












              @0x90: Perhaps, but most univesities do not have these online.
              – einpoklum
              10 hours ago




              @0x90: Perhaps, but most univesities do not have these online.
              – einpoklum
              10 hours ago












              Providing writing feedback to others isn't just a quid pro quo -- in reading other people's work critically you improve your own writing. This is particularly helpful as a postdoc looking over PhD students' work
              – Chris H
              5 hours ago




              Providing writing feedback to others isn't just a quid pro quo -- in reading other people's work critically you improve your own writing. This is particularly helpful as a postdoc looking over PhD students' work
              – Chris H
              5 hours ago










              up vote
              4
              down vote













              A very specific answer:
              There's an (originally) online course from Stanford called "Writing in the Sciences" that became very popular. While you might not agree with everything she teaches/suggests, I think it is a very good course.
              It's now all on YouTube.






              share|improve this answer
























                up vote
                4
                down vote













                A very specific answer:
                There's an (originally) online course from Stanford called "Writing in the Sciences" that became very popular. While you might not agree with everything she teaches/suggests, I think it is a very good course.
                It's now all on YouTube.






                share|improve this answer






















                  up vote
                  4
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  4
                  down vote









                  A very specific answer:
                  There's an (originally) online course from Stanford called "Writing in the Sciences" that became very popular. While you might not agree with everything she teaches/suggests, I think it is a very good course.
                  It's now all on YouTube.






                  share|improve this answer












                  A very specific answer:
                  There's an (originally) online course from Stanford called "Writing in the Sciences" that became very popular. While you might not agree with everything she teaches/suggests, I think it is a very good course.
                  It's now all on YouTube.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 9 hours ago









                  elisa

                  8001612




                  8001612



























                       

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