In this infographic, we provide some useful tips to help you write better research papers. The infographic contains the following text: Title Keep the title as concise yet informative as possible (typically 10-20 words). Be specific rather than broad. pH regulation in coral ✘ Effects of light and darkness on pH regulation in three coral […]
How to prevent plagiarism
In this blog, our guest blogger, Professor Emeritus Dolores Takemoto from Kansas State University discusses plagiarism in scientific documents: what it is, what the penalties are (even if unintentional), and how to avoid it. Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary defines plagiarism as “to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own: use […]
How to write a figure caption
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Preprints are drafts of academic articles that have not been formally published, i.e., they have not been peer reviewed.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 […]