How to write and publish a scientific paper - Barbara Gastel, Robert A. Day 2022
Cultural differences to consider
How to write science in english as a foreign language
Scientific style
Cultures differ in a variety of norms relating to communication. Awareness of such differences can aid in writing and publishing your paper.
When manuscripts arrive from nonnative speakers of English, issues sometimes arise about the level of detail included. For example, in manuscripts by authors from some countries, the materials and methods section tends not to be as informative as the journal requires. Cultures differ in how much information people supply, both in everyday conversation and in professional communications. Notice the level of detail, as well as the types of details, in papers published in the journal to which you will submit your paper. Then write your paper accordingly.
Directness of expression also differs among cultures. In some cultures, expression tends to be indirect; the speaker or writer circles around the main point before eventually stating it—or maybe just implies the main point. In many Western cultures, however, and in leading international journals, expression tends to be direct, with the writer stating the main point and then providing details. In a typical paragraph in such a journal, a sentence at the beginning, known as the topic sentence, states the main point, and the other sentences in the paragraph then support that point or present related information. Before writing a paper for an English-language international journal, see how paragraphs in the journal tend to be structured. Then try to use that structure.
Cultures also differ in their attitudes toward time. Some cultures greatly value speed and promptness, whereas others favor an unhurried pace. Prominent international journals typically embody the former attitude. Therefore, reply quickly to inquiries from the journal, and take care to meet the deadlines that the journal sets—for example, for revising a manuscript. If you cannot meet a deadline, inform the editor as soon as possible, so the journal can plan accordingly.
Of concern to many editors is the fact that cultures also differ in their attitudes toward using material taken word-for-word from other people’s writing. In English-language scientific papers for international journals, authors are required to use their own wording for the vast majority of what they say and to clearly designate any wording taken from elsewhere. Thus, although authors may look at published papers to find words or phrases to use, they are not allowed to include entire passages from published work unless the passages are put in quotation marks (or, if long, indented) and the sources cited. Otherwise, the author is considered guilty of plagiarism. A tutorial helpful in learning to recognize and avoid plagiarism appears at plagiarism.iu.edu.
As noted in Chapter 5, steps for avoiding inadvertent plagiarism include clearly indicating in your notes the source of any material from others’ work that you copy or download. If you inadvertently include in your paper a sentence or paragraph from elsewhere, a reviewer or copy editor might notice the difference in style and, to your embarrassment, ask whether the wording is your own. Woe to you if the passage happens to be by one of the peer reviewers!