Metadata, commonly defined as “data about data,” is becoming increasingly important in the academic publishing domain because it facilitates database management,1 interoperability,2 and secondary research.3 In the context of a research paper, metadata includes the following: author name(s), affiliation(s), keywords, correspondence details, word count, journal name, volume and issue numbers, …
Vocabulary and academia Academic vocabulary refers to the words and phrases used in academic contexts, such as scholarly articles, reports, and lectures/seminars.1 While general academic words are usually learnt through exposure to academic texts,2 navigating the world of global scholarly literature and academic discourse necessitates a certain level of proficiency …
As a researcher, what better way to share your work with the academic community than publishing it in a prestigious journal? However, this is easier said than done. Acceptance rates for leading journals are low, and researchers must work hard to get their work up to the stringent standards required …
You’ve spent months or perhaps years on your research, and it is now time to present your findings to the world. A critical aspect remains—writing your academic manuscript. Documenting research effectively and quickly is no easy task. Your research collaborators and you may have varying language competency levels and other …
I recently had the opportunity to talk to a prolific Japanese researcher—let’s call him Dr. K—about how he writes his research manuscripts in English. As Dr. K’s first language is not English, he relies on a professional proofreading service to polish his final draft. That said, he is proactive even …
Every research paper builds on prior research, and this process begins with a literature review—the crux of scholarly research. In academic publications, citations and references constitute the sources—published and unpublished—consulted when writing your paper.1 Proper referencing of published literature is non-negotiable; it enables others researchers to (a) know wherefrom you …
The process of getting a research paper published can be a difficult, long-drawn journey. Authors need to overcome several challenges and complete numerous checks to ensure they meet the journal’s submission guidelines or risk being desk rejected. When deciding to pass a manuscript to peer review or defer the process, …
As a researcher intending to publish your work in a peer-reviewed journal, you have a responsibility to ensure that any and all ethical guidelines have been met and the relevant ethical declaration is present in your paper. Ethical declarations are a critical part of the submission process and non-adherence could …
The language of your research papers plays a key role in academic publishing and can determine the visibility and reach of your scholarly publications. English has long monopolized scientific publications, comprising almost 95% of published academic text, and remains the lingua franca for research publications worldwide. This means that compared …
English has been widely considered the language of science, accounting for more than 90% of published research.1 This means that research by ESL (English-as-a-second-language) authors are only likely to gain widespread recognition if it is published in an international English journal. To add to this, poor language quality regularly features …
