Top 10 Words for 2019

Top 10 Words for 2019

To wrap up the year, I thought it might be fun to explore the Top 10 Words in 2019, with a focus on science and medicine. Top 10 Words in Science In a Google search of “Top 10 Science Words in 2019”, the top item was an article in The Guardian (International Edition)....
Is Passive Voice Passé?

Is Passive Voice Passé?

Historically, passive voice has been strongly recommended for scientific writing, particularly for manuscripts prepared for peer-reviewed journals. Many of us were taught that passive voice should be used almost exclusively to make the writing more objective, and that...
Asking for an Extension

Asking for an Extension

You’ve submitted your manuscript to a medical journal and you’re anxiously awaiting a decision. The editor emails you with a request to “Revise and Resubmit” (yaaay!), with what they consider “major” revisions (not so great, but still good!). And the journal’s...
When to Use Present or Past Tense

When to Use Present or Past Tense

One of the most common problems with the manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals that I receive for copy-editing is the improper use of verb tenses. It seems most researchers struggle with the correct tense to use to describe what was done in their study. They’ve been...