Published June 21, 2004
JCB
Feature
Me write pretty one day: how to write a good
scientific paper
The scientific literature is exploding
in quantity even as it stands still in
literary quality. In this brief guide,
I suggest a few small steps that the
individual can take to make his or her
writing clear, straightforward, and
digestible.
©2003 The New Yorker Collection from [Link]. All Rights Reserved.
So…what was your point?
The first step with any manuscript is
to define your bottom line. Be realistic
Downloaded from [Link] on April 13, 2010
about how much the average reader
will take away from an article. Non-
The Journal of Cell Biology
experts will retain at most a single
message. Make sure you have one,
and then repeat it over and over
again—at the end of the Abstract,
in the Introduction, in the Results,
and in the Discussion. In contrast,
everything but this single sentence
belongs in one section (Introduction,
Results, or Discussion) only.
To uncover your bottom line, ask
some questions: What was the mystery
that you wanted to answer at the start?
Have you answered it? What first got
you excited about this area of research?
With any luck, it was more than the
idea that proteins X and Y might bind
to each other—there was probably a
bigger idea that motivated and intrigued which your volunteer has no familiarity the number of known penguin
you. Make sure you convey that reason or interest. species…”. If your readers don’t
and that excitement. Does the reader need help under- think that is exciting, they won’t be
What is new? Break up the story into standing the significance? If you think convinced by you stating that it is.
“It was previously shown that…” and your discovery might (in the future) Finally, include different levels at
“Now it is shown that…”. Is there a prove to be the explanation for mystery which your results are significant: e.g.,
significant difference between the two X, don’t make the reader figure out the (a) we have found a stem cell repressor,
statements? Justify the interest of your identity of mystery X. State it explicitly, and (b) this may be one of many
work verbally to someone outside of make clear that the link is only specula- repressors for maintaining a generally
your field. Your explanation should be tion, and explain any basis for making dormant state in stem cells. This is
compelling on a general, conceptual the speculation. Remember that your particularly important for papers that you
level, not grounded in minutiae with readers are busy in their own field, and are trying to get into top-tier journals.
will not necessarily make the jumps in
Reprinted with permission by the American logic that are glaringly obvious to you. The anatomy of a paper
Society for Cell Biology from the ASCB Newsletter, Make the jumps for them. Now that you have your bottom line,
May 2004.
Some of the content of this article came from Show; don’t tell. Not “Our results you need a roadmap for writing the
an earlier guide by R. Ward and K. LaMarco. are exciting…” but “Our results double paper. Remember throughout that
The Journal of Cell Biology, Volume 165, Number 6, June 21, 2004 757–758
[Link]
757
Published June 21, 2004
758 The Journal of Cell Biology | Volume 165, Number 6, 2004
everyone, even a scientist, thinks in the writer is trying to put on the data have to build the entire case before tell-
narrative. Science is a story. Tell it. so that the reader can agree or disagree ing us the conclusion. They list all their
To draft a paper, simply work out with this spin. evidence before stating: “Thus, X Y.”
what the figures and tables would look Start the Discussion with a very brief But this leaves the reader scratching
like. Give each figure a simple, declara- one-paragraph summary of the main their head for sentence upon sentence.
tive title in the form of a sentence. Most results: first state the answer to the Put a preview first.
of the content of the paper should question, and then concisely add a Flow comes about when the writer
be evident from reading these few broad-brush version of the supporting makes connections between the end
sentences alone. When the sentences evidence. Organize subsequent topics of each sentence, paragraph, or section
look as if they both tell a story and from most to least important, i.e., start and the next. Make all transitions so
have a bottom line, it’s time to start with topics most closely related to the there are no gaps in logic. Don’t pre-
writing. answer. The first sentence of each para- sume that the reader will do any work.
A good paper is not a random accu- graph should indicate the structure of Do the work for them.
mulation of facts. Give your paper a the Discussion. The main route to clarity is to cut,
narrative structure that links from one Do NOT just repeat the Results cut, cut. Chop out everything from
finding to another. This can be the (or Introduction) section, but discuss single words to entire thoughts. “In
logical order of why one experiment how the results affect the field. Reveal spite of the fact that…” becomes “Al-
was done in response to another, or any large areas that remain a complete though…”. Only after chopping out
you can describe from the beginning mystery. text will the average reader make it
Downloaded from [Link] on April 13, 2010
to the end of a pathway. Build up this The Introduction sets up the back- through your words without drowning.
structure by writing notes, in any ground for what we are about to Specificity means using only words
order, and then rearranging them so learn (the bottom line) and why it with precise meanings. Replace lazy
that there are logical links. matters. Funnel from known (the big phrases such as “gives important insight
Start by drafting a title that is strong, picture significance of the field) to into…” with words that actually mean
direct, and as “big picture” as the data unknown (the specific gaps in know- something. Use the specific (“dog” not
can justify. But don’t claim more than ledge) to the specific question being “animal”) but simple (“girl” not “female
you have shown. asked by you. The Introduction is child;” “used” not “utilized”) and neces-
An Abstract can and must pack in not a literature review but a means to sary (“X was examined and found to
many elements: background, a ques- set up the question. vary” becomes “X varied”).
tion, what was done, what was found, Stuffy writing is frequently used to
the conclusion/answer, and implica- How to write clearly disguise intellectual fuzziness. Think
tions. Make it clear where the back- Now that the text is down in rough about what you really want to say. Be
ground ends and the new work begins. form, we can tackle style issues. Think exact.
Arrange Results either chronologically about each element used to construct Space precludes a full discussion of
(as they unfolded in lab), or put the the paper. Sentences should have an how to deal with journals, but there is
most important result first and second- active construction, address one thought one Golden Rule: be polite to editors,
ary results later. The latter organization at a time, and generally be kept short no matter how you are provoked.
works best when organizing each and to the point. Treat each paragraph Editors are trying to do a good job,
paragraph. as a thought, with a single, clear message. and screaming at them will not advance
Describe the data with only enough More general style issues include your cause, and could well damage it.
interpretation so that the reader can signposts, flow, editing, and specificity. Be forceful, but civil. And good luck!
both see what logical path the writer is Signposts tell the reader where you’re
taking—how one experiment prompts going with the argument that follows. William A. Wells
the next—and understand what spin Many authors mistakenly feel that they wellsw@[Link]