Precision, clarity and a formal tone are what academic writing demands. Whether it be a journal article, thesis or conference paper, writing in perfect English can make a considerable difference in publication success and recognition. However, even for experienced researchers editing their own work can be a difficult thing. It is here that one the key-discipline specifically says a lot in editing.
If you are an Academic Writer trying to refine your manuscript, these 10 workable English editing tips will facilitate you in improving quality of writing that could improve your acceptance
1. Read Your Work Aloud
Reading the paper out loud forces your brain to slow down and you must process each word, resulting in awkward phrases, repeated words or grammatical errors on paper. It saves you from the mistakes that you might have missed when you were reading in silent mode in your first draft.
You’ll listen to the cadence your sentences take and spot more unnatural expressions or structures that are unnecessarily complex and therefore hard for readers to dig.
2. Use Active Voice Wherever Possible
The passivity of academic writing is very strong but overusing the passive voice can make your paper sound ambiguous or impersonal. You want to use the active voice where you can to make your writing clearer and interesting.
For instance, you should use “The researchers conducted the experiment” instead of “The experiment was conducted by the researchers”.
3. Consider a Professional Scientific Editing Service
Self-editing is not enough the professional help can make your work truly great, especially if you are a non-native English user. A scientific editing service will also improve your writing aesthetics, as well ensure the combination of academic tone, format and terminology.
There is especially service full for long and research papers with good accuracy of language, formatting, scientific terms etc. Selecting an excellent editor of your field as well preserves your research and also helps in reducing the perceived complexity of the reading.
4. Watch for Wordiness and Redundancy
Clarity and conciseness are the hallmarks of academic writing. Do not use unnecessary words or the same idea several ways out. Avoid redundant use of phrases. Instead you can use “because”,”” due to the fact that “or” in order to…the”
Use every word carefully. Clear writing communicates your grasp of the subject and keeps readers interested.
5. Be Consistent With Terminology
It is important that among academic papers, your language, terms and spellings are consistent. Pick one spell of a word or phrase in the whole manuscript and use it everywhere.
Consider the same with American English vs. British English use and stick with any one wherever it appears in a document.
For example, a reader will be able to be confused and lose trust in the professionalism of what you write when you switch between “analyze” and “analyse” due to inconsistent spelling.
6. Eliminate Grammar and Punctuation Errors
Even small grammatical mistakes can decrease the trustworthiness of your work. Trouble spots: incorrect verb tense, subject verb disagreement, misplaced commas and ambiguous pronouns.
Do grammar-checking, you should use tools like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor but not as definitive. Obviously, you need to proofread manually to find the fine details overlooked by grammar checkers.
7. Check for Logical Flow and Structure
Remember that all academic papers need to be organised in a coherent manner. Each section should flow well into the next. The aim of your introduction is to state as well the importance of the study. The body should provide a valid argument or results in a bulleted/manually formatted list and the conclusion will condense this back up in order for reflection on your results.
Headings and subheadings help organize content so the reader knows where you are taking them in your argument.
8. Cite Sources Properly and Accurately
Citations improperly taken may cause mistakes of plagiarism or getting recently sent by the journals. Make sure to use the same citation style throughout (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.). Take formatting considerations such as journal names italicized, correct capitalization and appropriate use of period or comma
Employ reference management tools (i.e. EndNote, Mendeley or Zotero) to manage your references/properly cite them
9. Trim and Refine Your Abstract
Abstract is often the first (and sometimes only) part that readers and reviewers come across. It should be able to provide the exact research question, methods, results and conclusions within the word count in a very well- organized manner. Leave filler words and abstract speech out in the cold.
Write multiple drafts of your abstract so that it accurately reflects what the study is about in the smallest way possible.
10. Take a Break Before Final Review
Your eyes may glaze over common mistakes after days (weeks) of working on a paper. When you go back to edit your final manuscript for a day or two, after taking some break away from your manuscript you will come with a fresh perspective.
They are less likely then to overlook mistakes in a well rested brain and can judge their own work with less bias.
Conclusion: Invest in Quality Editing for Academic Success
In this blog, Effective English editing can take your research paper from good, straight into outstanding. If you are a non-native speaker, then believe me, you should take some time in order to craft your academic writing and say something really well to journal editors or peer-reviewers (or readers for that matter).
Use the suggestions given to enhance the flow, readability and presentation of your work. When necessary, be sure to reach out to experts that have knowledge in academic and scientific editing. The best way to edit is to take a step beyond grammatical errors (see your research as the best possible flag).
