English Grammar, Writing, and Research Publication Resources

Writing Tip: When to Use “That” vs. “Which”

Deciding on whether to use “which” or “that” is something many writers and researchers struggle with, and our customers often ask for writing tips on this topic. While there may not seem to be much difference between these two little words, they have different uses, and this is grammar topic that has specific rules that you should be aware of when proofreading your own scientific article. Grammatically, “that” is usually used with a restrictive clause, and “which” is usually ...

7 Dissertation Writing Tips for Effective Time Management

Your dissertation is an important a rite of passage in your career. The fact that you have successfully defended your Ph.D. thesis is a sign that you are no longer a student but an independent scientist with a Ph.D. degree, capable of conceiving and executing a research project. I’m sure you cannot wait to see that day, and I congratulate you in advance for it. But the road to this milestone can prove a bumpy one, fraught with hurdles, both anticipated and unexpected, or to borrow...

Top 9 Writing Mistakes That Can Raise a Red Flag With Peer Reviewers

Peer review is a daunting prospect. After all, you, or rather your ideas and words, are to be tried before a judge (usually the editor-in-chief) and an invisible jury—those anonymous peer reviewers—in what surely seems like a one-sided trial. None of the rights of representation or speaking up in court that are accorded to a defendant in a court of law are available during the peer review process of journals. In the courtroom of academic publishing, your written words are your on...

How to Promote Your Research Articles on Social Media

"If you want people to read your papers, make them open access, and let the community know (via blogs, Twitter, etc.) where to get them.” Melissa Terras, University College London Social media has remodeled the collective sharing of ideas via online communities, networks, and blogs. So, is it necessary for scientists to be an active part of the online world? Well, check out our previous article: 5 Reasons Why Researchers Must Pro...

Why Researchers Need an ORCID iD and How to Get One

Information is continuously being added to the current sea of scientific knowledge. In the biomedical field alone, more than 1 million papers have been added to the PubMed database every year, which is approximately two papers per minute, as reported by Esther Landhuis. [1] Thus, there is a need for a viable system for registering and updating data continuously so that it can be accessed by researchers at any time. Towards this goal, many organizations are exclusivel...