Writing papers for publication

Scientific publications is an essential part of the

research process and is just as important as the
research itself, yet few research workers receive
general training in the technique of scientific
writing.
 
The object of this article is to provide some
practical guidelines to assist authors in the writing
of scientific papers. Experienced authors will be
familiar with such guidelines, but the suggestions
may be of help to those who are comparatively new
to research and would like to publish their
research results.
 
The emphasis is on style of writing i.e.
how to present the material, and not on
content, which obviously will vary
widely depending on the nature of the
each project.
 WRITING THE MANUSCRIPT

Writing scientific papers involves more

than just assembling the results of
research in grammatically correct
sentences.
Although good writing does not lead to
the publication of bad research, but bad
writing can, and often does, prevent or
delay the publication of good research.
 
A research work is a form of written
communication and unless it is
presented in a clear, unambiguous, and
easy to understand style, good
communication will not be achieved,
how ever sounds the scientific content
of the paper.

Good presentation is therefore

necessary not only to make the paper
acceptable by the journal, but also for
keeping the interest of the reader alive.
Presentation covers everything from the
writing of good English in the style of
the journal chosen, leaving out
everything that is irrelevant or is likely
to weaken the paper. The paper must
be arranged in sections in a logical, well
thought out sequence.
 

 
A useful first step for a paper would be
author is to keep the publication of a
paper in mind while the work is being
done.
 
This will enable you to plan your work
more systematically from the beginning.
 
As you go along, make a habit of noting
down your observations and results
while they are fresh in your mind.
Notes can be modified or improved as
the work progress.
Thus, start writing without waiting for
inspiration it may never come and you
may find yourself over whelmed by your
writing once the project is finished.
Having all your material to hand will
also make you less traumatic and save
you the last minute Journey to the
library for literature search or to the
laboratory to check a result.
 

 
Most journals regularly publish
“instructions to authors” which gives
the scope of the Journal and contain
details of the preferred style of writing
(titles, subtitles, references etc) and lay
out (diagrams, tables etc). Journals
differ greatly in the amount of details
they provide in their instructions to
authors.
 
In the preparation of your manuscript
follow carefully the “instructions to
authors of your chosen journal. Doing
so will minimize editorial revision and
delay if the paper is accepted for
publication. In addition, consulting one
or two recent (preferably relevant)
papers in your selected journal will
further help you in preparing the
manuscript.
 HEADINGS AND SUBHEADINGS

Most scientific papers, particularly those

based on laboratory studies, cover the
following sections. Arranged in a logical
order, they are:
 
a) Title, authors and their
address,
b) Summary (or abstract)
c) Introduction,
d) Methods discussion
e) Experimental results
f) Conclusions
g) Acknowledgements
h) References
I) Captions for figures and
j) Captions for tables
 
Title:
The title should be specific,
informatics but brief. It should indicate
clearly the main subject matter so that
readers can decide at a first glance
whether it interests them without
having to read the summary of the
paper.

 
Authors:
The authors of a paper should be
all those who have made a significant
scientific. Contribution to the work.
Other contributions (such as financial
support, lending of equipment, spectral
analysis recording etc) should be
indicated in the acknowledgements.
For Example: 
SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERISATION OF
POLYAMIDES AND POLYIMIDES FROM AMINO /
METHYLENE bis (BENZENAMINE) STYRYL
PYRIDINES.
Venkateswarlu Peesapati,* U.Narasimaha Rao
Department of Chemistry, Osmania University,
Hyderabad, India
And
Richard A. Pethrick
Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Thomas
Graham Building, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow,
U.K.
 
Received 21 May 1996; revised 8 November 1996;
accepted November 1996.
(Polymer International)
Baylis- Hillman adducts between Pyridine
Carboxaldehyde derivatives and cyclic enones
P.Narender,a B Gangadasu, a M.Ravinder,a U.Srinivas,
a
G.Y.S.K.Swamy,b K.Ravi Kumar, b* and V.
Jayathirtha Rao, a*.
 
a
Organic Chemistry Division II, Indian Institute of
Chemical Technology, Uppal Road, Tarnaka,
Hyderabad-7, India.
 
b
Laboratory of crystallography, Indian Institute of
chemical Technology, Uppal Road, Tarnaka,
Hyderabad-7, India.
 
Received 26 July 2005; revised 28 September;
accepted 13 October 2005.
(Tetrahedron)
 
Abstract:
The summary (or abstract) of the
paper should be brief and should not
normally exceed 200 words. It must
convey the important information in the
paper. It should state the objectives of
the study and summarize the
procedure, results, and conclusions of
the investigation.

 
For Example:
Polyamides and polyimides
containing characteristics, were
prepared…… Characteristics using infra
red, nuclear magnetic resonance,
spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and
thermo gravimetric analysis are
reported.
Key words: Poly(amic acid)s,
polyamides, polyimides, styryl
pyridines, synthesis, characterization.
Introduction:
An introduction is more than just a
beginning. It places the problem in perspective
and provides the background to the problem,
including relevant earlier work (with key
references) and the reasons for the
investigation. The method of investigation and
the major findings of earlier studies should be
stated.
 

 
For Example1:
The various approaches which
may be adopted for the production of
materials with second order non-linear
optical properties have been recently
reviewed.
In our earlier communication, 4.5 we
reported the synthesis of…..
For Example2:
The neonicotinoids are new
insecticide class, which include the
commercial products Imidacloprid (IMD)
Its chemical analogs are also being used
as insecticides for many agricultural
and public health pests (Yamamoto and
casida 1999; Mason etal., 2000) which
directly act on the nicotinic
acetylcholine receptor (Tomizawa and
casida, 2001; suchail etal., 2003)
(Journal of Entomology, 2007)
Methods:
The description of the procedure used
must be sufficiently complete for others to
be able to repeat the work. Any
modification of a previously published
procedure should be described and the
reference of the original source given.
If a procedure is a commonly used one,
there is no need for its description and
only the original reference is given.
It is desirable to identify clearly any
potential hazards inherent in the
chemicals, equipment or procedure used
in an investigation.
Results:
Although new information is
provided in the results section, the
description of the results of the
investigation should be consisting and
need not be complex. Only
representative and relevant data should
be provided.
Numerical data are best presented in
the form of either tables or graphs.
However, any results based on these
should appear in the text. Figure
captions and table titles should be
complete enough to be understood
without having to refer to the main text.
Discussion:
The discussion is probably the
most difficult part of the paper. It
should consist of an objective
interpretation of the new results and
their significance and not simply a
recapitulation of results. If necessary
the results and interpretations can be
compared or contrasted with previously
published work. In some cases,
‘’results’’ and ‘’discussions’’ sections can
be combined.
For Example:
In the present work, two new
polyamides and two polyimides
containing styryl pyridine linkage were
prepared by the polycondensation of
diamines (2a) & (2b) with PMDA and
(5a) & (5b) with 3-methyl adipoyl
chloride. These materials were
characterized by IR, X-Ray diffraction,
Viscosity and TGA analysis.
Conclusions:
Conclusions should follow logically
from the data and discussion contained
in the paper. Briefly sum up the whole
work and state the implications and
recommendations clearly, rather than
hope that the readers will be able to
make up their own minds.
For Example:
Four new polyimides and
polyamides containing styryl pyridine
linkage were prepared first time by the
poly condensation of the requisite
diamines with PMDA and 3-methyl
adipoylchloride. Poly (amic acid)s were
soluble in DMAC and could be cast into
a tough film. The polyamides prepared
showed good thermal stability and
having good solubility in various solvent
systems.
Further work will be carried out to
investigate the way in which alignment
and orientation can be induced in the
polymers prior to the final stage, with
the anticipation that a non linear
material can be generated.
Acknowledgments:
Any financial assistance or
fellowships should be acknowledged.
Also any other help such as recording of
spectral analysis, library search,
lending of equipment etc should be
properly acknowledged.
 
For Example:
We are thankful to departmental
chairman for providing necessary
facilities and to RSIC, CDRI, Lucknow
for spectral analysis.
References:
It is important that the references
quoted are checked for accuracy against
the original papers(primary source) if
accessible otherwise, they should be
checked against the abstracts, in which
case the reference of the abstract
should be given.
 
References should be consulted and not
merely copied from secondary sources.
Full titles of pharmacopoeias and
related literature quoted should be
given. The authors should follow the
style of the selected journal for putting
the reference in to the body of the text
and writing them out at the end.
Once the manuscript is completed, it is
also necessary to check that there is full
agreement between the references sited
in the main text and the list given at the
end.
 
Papers submitted for publication but
not yet published can be referred to as
‘‘in press’’, preferably with the name of
the journal, provided they have been
finally accepted by the journal.
 
For Example1:
1. Peesapati, V & Narasimha Rao, U.
Ind.J.chem., 35B(1996)207.
2. Heck, R.F., Acc.chem.Res.,
12(1979)146.
(Polymer International)
For Example2:
Marson, C.M. Tetrahedron
1992,48,3659.
(a) China Raju, B., Jayathirtha Rao, V.,
U.S. Patent 6,565,528, 2003; (b)
Gangadasu, B., palaniappan, S.,
Jayathirtha Rao, V., synlett 2004, 1285.
(Tetrahedron)
For Example3:
C. Walsh, Nature 406(2000)775-781.
D.T.W. Chu, J.J. Platter, J. Med.chem.
39(1996)3853-3874.
J. Travis, Science 264(1994)360-362.
(European Journal of Medicinal
Chemistry)
Publication:
The publication times for papers
vary with journals but usually it takes
between six and twelve months from
submission to publication. Many
publishers used to offer the authors a
small number of reprints free of charge
for distribution to colleagues but not
now. You have to pay on the basis of
number of pages.
 
Submission of Paper:
When write up is complete it is
often helpful to set it aside for a few
days and then read it again. It is also
beneficial to give the manuscript to a
colleague for a critical reading.
 

 
After the draft has been read thoroughly
for two or more revisions and you are
ready to prepare for the final
manuscript. During final preparation
remember that the use of material
(Figure, Tables etc) taken from other
publications will require the permission
of the copy right holders and should be
acknowledged in your paper.
A covering letter to the editor is very
important. It puts the editor in the
picture. Simply a request to consider
your paper for publication is not
enough. A short description of the
significance of your work and how the
readers of the journal will be benefited
by its publication should be included.
Finally if there is more than one author,
specify to whom the subsequent
correspondence should be addressed.
Editors Decision:
After an initial acknowledgement
of receipt of your paper, there will be a
silence of one or two months before you
here from the editor. Usually the
manuscript is sent to at least two
referees to assess its suitability for
publication and to make suggestions for
improvement.
 
Referees are asked to judge the paper
a) On the basis of originality
b) Technical content
c) Clarity of the preparation and
d) Importance of the work

A paper is more likely to be accepted,

1. If it describes the work that is
original, useful
2. Good scientific standard
3. Well written for the reader to be
able to understand it readily
  
Few papers are accepted for publication
out right.
 
The majority are returned to the
authors for revision, if it is minor
comments designed to improve
presentation.
 
If not they will not either recommend it
for publication or suggest major
changes in the manuscript with regard
to content, presentation or both.
 
If the paper is rejected, consider
whether or not the rejection was
justified and whether to revise the paper
for submission to another journal,
which is more in line with your work.
 
If the paper is to be sent to another
journal consider carefully the comments
from the referees of the first journal.
 
The revised manuscript should, of
course be prepared in the style of the
second journal.
Conclusion:
This article has discussed the
essentials of writing a scientific paper. I
am not claiming that it will give all the
answers about writing a paper, but if
followed carefully, it will help you to get
started and will improve your
understanding of writing and
publishing a paper.
 
It is better to aim at quality rather than
quantity in your publication. Scientific
writing is a skill which can and should
be learned. It is time consuming
operation but not difficult to learn and
it improves with practice.
References:
1. Huth E J (Philadelphia: ISI Press 1982.)
2. Farr A D (Oxford : Blackwell scientific
publications, 1985)
3. College of Pharmaceutical practice (Br J
Pharma Prac. 8, 222, 1986)
4. Day RA. How to write and publish a
scientific paper. (Cambridge Univ. press,
1989)
5. Brown RA The art of technical writing (Int.
Labmate, 13, 1984)
6. Eisenberg A. effective writing in science
(Trends Anal Chem. 3, 4-6(1984)
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