Righting Scientific Writing: Focus on your main message!

Abstract

This paper is about how to prepare research papers that are easier to write and easier to read. It draws on what we have learnt from running workshops for scientists about how to publish more readable papers. The key thing is to distil the most important point that needs to be made in a paper and then Structure the paper around that point so that readers cannot miss it. Mind-mapping and a clear understanding of what individual readers need to know are important tools to help distil a main message. Conversely, the traditional structure in which a paper builds to a knockout punch at the end and the traditional impersonal styles of written expression are he two most serious obstacles to the effective use of the main message strategy. Mastering the main message strategy is the key to writing papers that are easier to understand, and also easier to write.