Mary Shibuya
Medical Editor(English), Japanese Society for Surgical Metabolism and Nutrition, Japan
Title: English for Journal Publication: How to Avoid First Draft Errors
Biography
Biography: Mary Shibuya
Abstract
In a world of changing linguistic forms and non-standardized scientific terminology, English manuscript preparation for submission to an international medical journal can be challenging for both native and non-native speakers. It is imperative to develop a composition style which is clear and concise, while including sufficient background for orientation and also research details to impress the reviewers. This seminar highlights the important specific aspects of writing a quality scientific manuscript for journal submission, from appearance and organization to rules on repetition. Revision, which follows the manuscript writing, is critical to distinguish the first draft errors which are obvious to a review board, but less well recognized by authors. These first draft errors can be categorized into the following: 1) Layout/style errors, such as, margins, spacing, font, headings, paragraphs, numbering, abstract structuring and incomplete title page, 2) Grammar errors including, proper nouns, verb tenses, topic sentences, transitioning, paragraph body, spelling and abbreviations, and 3) Numerical errors, such as, citations, totals, p values, references, symbols and mismatched data. Following revision, the all-important Cover Letter must be composed. The necessary points to include as a means to “sell” the manuscript to the journal editor-in-chief are discussed. This seminar is designed to not only inform, but also encourage first time and seasoned writers to achieve a submission-ready manuscript for journal publication.