How to Write and Illustrate a Scientific Paper (review)

Any volume on how to write better fascinates me, whether it is written by an academic or by Stephen King.¹ How to Write and Illustrate a Scientific Paper, however, is out of the ordinary and unique in my experience, being concerned with writing for academic publication in English but not written by a native English speaker. The chance to get such a unique perspective was impossible to resist. Don’t worry that this book is apparently addressed only to scientists. The author is a medical scientist, and I am a geologist – not much similarity there – yet I found How to Write . . . interesting, because its lessons and recommendations are relevant to all academic writing. Perhaps only the chapters on illustrations (chapters 5 and 6) have particular value to scientists; otherwise, the comments are generally applicable throughout academia.

Gustavii writes with brevity and clarity. The strength of How to Write . . . is that the author introduces an idea and, knowing he is addressing an intelligent audience, doesn’t take five pages to explain a concept that can be covered in one paragraph. I found this refreshing, and it is a considerable compliment to Gustavii’s readership. Other authors, please take note. For example, who else would write an introductory chapter, ‘Basic Rules of Writing,’ full of direct instruction and applicable comments but only two pages in length? And the punch line comes near the bottom of the second (and last) page: ‘Editors know from experience that there is a close relationship between a poorly prepared manuscript and poor science.’ Amen, brother.

Chapter 2, ‘Comments on Scientific Language,’ contains good ideas for gaining proficiency in writing in English as a foreign language. On page 4 Gustavii discusses the ideal qualifications for that most valuable of individuals, the native English speaker whom many editors would have read your manuscript before submission. I’m pleased to say that I satisfy all Gustavii’s three criteria for this (admittedly onerous) task, and many Dutch colleagues do make good use of my abilities. Gustavii includes warnings to ‘beginners’ that focus is more important than completeness to the point of irrelevance and that needless words are needless – which sounds trite, but shouldn’t. He is rightly critical the use of he/she and and/or in academic literature, and has simple ideas for how to avoid them. When I use and/or, I know I am being lazy; Gustavii has forced me to renounce my sloppy ways.

The most difficult part of writing a paper is writing the paper, and Gustavii has some good ideas for reducing the pain. Just the other week, after I had dropped the children at school, I had an idea for a relevant point to make in a chapter that I was writing; but I had no notebook in my pocket, and I had forgotten whatever it was by the time I got home. The chapter is finished, but I still have no memory of my idea. So, keeping a notebook wherever it might be needed is a good resolution to make. Make time to write, and ensure that your environment is as free of distractions as possible. My study lacks television and Web access, and I can take the phone off the hook. I write early in the morning (when the children are still asleep) or once the rest of the house has gone to bed. Organize your writing time; know what your writing targets are, and meet them. Planning and self-motivation are essential. And write the different sections of each paper in the order that is easy for you. Write the simplest chapters first – easy to do, whether you’re word-processing or writing everything in longhand before typing it up.

It is not until chapter 4, ‘Choosing a Journal,’ that I disagree with Gustavii. He suggests that one way of deciding where to submit your latest paper...