Resources

Writing Resources for Scientific Papers

CRITICAL READING FOR WRITING

Bjorn, G. and Burgasser, A.J. (2026, June). How to Critically Read the Scientific Research Literature: Introducing the CERIC Method. Cambridge University Press.

Academic Writing Centers

• Amherst College — Online Resources for Writing, supporting all aspects of the writing process
• Harvard Writing Center — Guides on discipline-specific topics
• Purdue OWL — Extensive information on grammar, mechanics, and citation styles
• University of Wisconsin Writer’s Handbook — Guides through most stages of the research process

Discipline-Specific Guides

• Engineering: Alley, The Craft of Scientific Writing
• Life/Medical Sciences: Hofmann (2020), Scientific Writing and Communication
• Mathematics: Higham (1998), Handbook of Writing for the Mathematical Sciences
• Physical Sciences: Lindsay, Scientific Writing = Thinking in Words

Scientific Writing Guides

• Alley, M. (2018). The Craft of Scientific Writing
• Day, R. A. & Gastel, B. (2018). How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper
• Glasman-Deal, H. (2016). Science Research Writing: For Non-Native Speakers of English
• Heard, S. (2016). The Scientist’s Guide to Writing
• Lindsay, D. (2013). Scientific Writing: Thinking in Words

Style Guides

• APA Concise Rules (7th ed.)
• CSE Scientific Style and Format (9th ed.)
• MLA Style Manual (3rd ed.)
• Chicago/Turabian Manual for Writers (9th ed.)

Editing Scientific Papers

Editing begins as soon as you get down the first draft. Four exercises to strengthen any manuscript:

1. Remove words ending in -ly — These typically signal weak verbs like “to be” or “to have.” Cutting them strengthens prose and reveals areas needing revision.
2. Identify and replace weak verbs — Mark all instances of “to be, to have, to use” and replace roughly half with stronger alternatives.
3. Convert passive to active voice — Leading journals including Nature and Science prefer third-person active voice.
4. Run a grammar checker — Use tools like Grammarly after every editing round, especially for polishing final drafts.

Recommended tools: Visual Thesaurus, Purdue OWL, Nature Scitable

In this interview with Genevive Bjorn on developing healthier writing habits, the main takeaway is that your relationship with writing can improve through simple changes.

Analysis & Synthesis in Research Writing

Analysis and synthesis are opposite processes that work together: analysis breaks arguments into components; synthesis connects ideas across sources.

Useful Verbs for Bridging Sources

• Making claims: argue, assert, claim, emphasize, insist, observe, suggest
• Expressing agreement: acknowledge, corroborate, endorse, support, verify
• Making recommendations: advocate, encourage, recommend, urge, warn
• Expressing disagreement: contend, contradict, refute, reject, repudiate

Organization & Productivity Tools

Citation Managers

• RefWorks — Best for fast article import; syncs across devices
• Mendeley — Best for PDF markup and collaborative tagging
• Zotero — Best for non-standard citations; supports web page snapshots and annotations
• EndNote — Best for multiple citation styles; supports sharing with up to 100 people

Focus & Productivity

• RescueTime — Tracks time allocation to identify habits
• Trello — Visual project management for tracking papers
• Freedom — Blocks distracting software and social media
• Google Scholar — Search and set alerts for new publications

Academic English for Scientific Papers

Academic writing in English poses a considerable challenge, particularly for non-native speakers. Mastery is achievable through understanding scientific writing conventions.

Recommended References

• Strunk, W. & White, E. B. (2009). The Elements of Style (4th ed.)
• Cochrane, J. (2003). Between You and I: A Little Book of Bad English
• O’Connor, P. (2009). Woe Is I (3rd ed.): A grammarphobe’s guide to better English
• Truss, L. (2004). Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The zero-tolerance approach to punctuation
• Grammar Girl (quickanddirtytips.com) — Online reference for grammar questions

Healthier Writing Habits

Your relationship with writing can improve with simple changes. These tools support sustainable, productive writing practices:

• 750 Words — A community of 450,000+ writers committed to daily writing practice
• EverNote — Keep track of links, photos, checklists, tables, and audio recordings in a virtual filing cabinet
• Momentum Dash — Browser add-on that keeps you focused on what matters most
• MyNoise — Soundscapes that reduce environmental distractions
• Pocket — Save interesting content for later so it doesn’t derail your current work