How to write and publish a scientific paper - Barbara Gastel, Robert A. Day 2022

Strive for clarity
How to write the results
Preparing the text

The results should be short and sweet, without verbiage. Mitchell (1968) quoted Einstein as having said, “If you are out to describe the truth, leave elegance to the tailor.” Although the results section is the most important part of the paper, it is often the shortest, particularly if it is preceded by a well-written materials and methods section and followed by a well-written discussion.

The results need to be clearly and simply stated because it is the results that constitute the new knowledge that you are contributing to the world. The earlier parts of the paper (introduction and materials and methods) are designed to tell why and how you got the results; the later part of the paper (discussion) is designed to tell what they mean. Obviously, therefore, the whole paper must stand or fall on the basis of the results. Thus, the results must be presented with crystal clarity.