Figure captions should be standalone, i.e., descriptive enough to be understood without having to refer to the main text. Effective captions typically include the following elements: a declarative title that summarises the result or major finding of the data you are presenting in the figure; a brief description of the methods necessary to understand the […]
Affect or effect?
The basics ‘Affect’ is a verb. It means to influence something, e.g. Diet affects a person’s risk of cancer. Diet actively influences a person’s risk of cancer. ‘Effect’ is a noun. It means an outcome, i.e., the result of an action: An effect of global warming is poorer air quality. We are describing the result […]
Can I cite a preprint?
Preprints are drafts of academic articles that have not been formally published, i.e., they have not been peer reviewed. Instead, they undergo a basic screening and are usually available on preprint servers within 48 hours of submission. Authors typically upload their papers as preprints to date-stamp any new discoveries and to receive feedback before formally […]
How to use ‘respectively’ correctly
The adverb ‘respectively’ is often used incorrectly by non-native English speakers. In this short post, we discuss the correct way to use ‘respectively’, focusing on its use in scientific manuscripts. ‘Respectively’ means ‘separately and in the order already mentioned‘. It is used when describing two or more items that refer back to a previous statement. […]
Declarative titles: Should you state a study’s main findings in the title?
There has been some controversy over the usage of declarative titles, i.e., titles that state the main findings of the study. e.g., Visible light reduces C. elegans longevity [1] Pros Defenders of such titles have argued that they are more informative than other title styles (for information on title styles, please refer to our blog […]
