Writing guides
Skills and advice for researching, collaborating on and writing academic articles, papers reports and essays, from preprints to peer-reviewed journals
Can we detect AI-written content?
A look at common features of large language model-created writing and its implications for how we might assess students’ knowledge and skills in the future
Give your academic paper its best chance of being accepted
Peer review is a key step in the journey to publication in that prestigious journal, but not every paper gets to this stage. Here are key reasons for desk rejection and how to avoid…
Breaking academic barriers: large language models and the future of search
The true potential of generative AI and large language models remains underexplored in academia. These technologies may offer more than just answers.…
Enhancing manuscript clarity and ethical credibility with ChatGPT
Ikenna Uwanuakwa shares experience and tips for using ChatGPT to improve academic writing without falling foul of ethical considerations
Authenticity sells because it matters
Written communication – whether that’s a press release or IT guidelines – should be clear, sincere and accessible. Here, Mike Brown offers ways to help colleagues build the…
How to teach creative writing even if you’ve never done any yourself
A successful writing workshop depends on respect, which is a two-way street, observes Toby Litt. Refrain from sneering at bad writing and offer praise to offset the critiques
Seven questions about storytelling in the classroom
Ng Lee Keng explains why and how telling stories in class can transform student engagement and make your lessons more interesting
THE podcast: how to use generative AI in your teaching and research
Higher education is only beginning to understand the impact that generative AI tools such as ChatGPT will have on teaching and research. Three intrepid explorers join us in…
A colour matrix to make visual content more accessible
Accessible content is better content. One way to boost accessibility in visual materials is paying attention to colour contrast during the design process. Here’s a tool to …
A bridge between academics and communications staff
Science communication in a post-Covid world calls for a new way to span the gap between researchers and university comms teams – and a new skill set, as Michael…
Ten tips to succeed in publishing in English as a second language
English is now selected five times as often as the authors’ national language for journal article publication. Christopher Tancock explains how you can get published even if English …
Not replacing but enhancing: using ChatGPT for academic writing
Generative AI and how it can be used for plagiarism has provoked fear in higher education. However, the technology can also improve and accelerate your writing…
How universities can help rebuild trust in science
The crisis of confidence in science has deep origins. The answer to regaining traction is compelling stories and the skills to tell them beyond the academy, writes Bartłomiej…
A translation exercise to improve students’ creative writing
Literary translation and writing have a cyclical, reciprocal relationship, as novelist Maithreyi Karnoor explains with a task to tap into students’ feel for language
Questions to foster open and engaging research communication
Each stage of a research project comes with questions about what information to share and with whom. Richard Holliman offers practical advice on how to make your…
Making the abstract concrete
Strategies for writing effective abstracts for conference and research papers
How to pitch a book to an academic publisher
Key considerations for researchers when choosing an academic publisher and preparing their pitch
Three ways to refresh your academic writing
To answer the common question posed by researchers, ‘how can I improve my academic writing?’, Anne Wilson outlines three simple steps that can…
Writing exam questions in a six-step process
Writing exam questions is a meticulous, complex and creative part of teaching. The habit of using a standardised process will make this frequent task more manageable, …
How to write better awards entries
From conducting in-depth interviews to telling the whole story, Sam Russell provides top tips for crafting a compelling narrative that will appeal to awards panels
Don’t touch that dial: how to pitch and write for broadcast
Don’t be afraid to rework your scholarship for a mass audience. Find the narrative in your research and build relationships with commissioning editors, says…
Stretch your work further by ‘triple writing’
Rewriting your research to serve different purposes and to reach different audiences can lead to new opportunities. And it’s fun, says Matthew Flinders
Virtually writing together: creating community while supporting individual endeavour
Lessons in setting up and running a virtual writing group that facilitates individual and collaborative work through a supportive community of practice
Creating an impactful visual abstract with no design experience
The basic principles of design offer guidelines for creating a scientific visual abstract. This guide will take you from blank space to eye-catching, easy-to-understand graphics
How to raise the bar on the teaching section of your CV
From not burying the teaching section to developing a broad range of experiences, Emma Williams gives tips on making your CV shine when applying for a lectureship
Read this before you write your abstract
The abstract is arguably the most important element of a scholarly article, so it should be informative, meaningful and impactful. Michael Willis gives two objectives, and…
Cut the copying: tips to discourage plagiarism
Plagiarism is a growing problem for higher education institutions. Temesgen Kifle and Parvinder Kler share tips for instructors (and students) on how to reduce this form …
Don’t jettison traditional academic writing just yet
Academic writing is transforming – into comics, podcasts, installations – but that doesn’t mean bog-standard peer-reviewed papers are less key to…
Writing and presenting reports for government: five dos and five don’ts
A guide for academics on the dos and don’ts of writing and presenting research reports designed to inform policymakers
Bad news, kids (and academics): the magical motivation fairy doesn’t exist
Motivation for tricky tasks doesn’t just appear magically, but with these psychological tricks you can get yourself and your career moving, says Hugh Kearns
Don’t be cruel: how to write a fair peer review report
Not every comment in a peer review report will be positive, but it is possible to highlight weaknesses and errors in a journal article while being constructive. After all, …
The transformative potential of narrative writing explained
Narrative writing is one way academics can meaningfully communicate their work to the public but it can be hard to master. Steven Beschloss shares a guide to improve…
Great citations: how to avoid referencing questionable evidence
Researchers don’t always stick to careful citation practices and occasionally cite evidence that has been questioned or even retracted. Find practical tips on how to avoid citing…
Are you ready to publish? Top tips on how to prepare your manuscript
From explaining the publishing cycle to outlining what makes a strong manuscript, Jing Tang walks ECRs through key steps when preparing to publish for the first time
A guide to writing grant proposals
To write a successful grant proposal, academics need to focus on the relevant details that will help sell their research idea to the reviewer and this requires a shift of…
THE podcast: pointers on writing and publishing for academics
Academics, authors, publishers and postdocs share their advice on how to improve your academic writing and chances of getting published
You’re a content producer now, part one: how to write articles for a mainstream audience
How does a scholar, trained thoroughly in academic style for academic journals, enter the wider world of general publishing?
You’re a content producer now, part two: how to craft an article for mainstream media outlets
After you’ve decided your topic and format, it’s time to consider the details of writing the story – from mastering tone, style and point of view to all-important SEO
The ‘25 method’ for forming a writing routine when you have limited time
Olivia Burgess shares her abbreviated form of the pomodoro method for being productive in only 25 minutes a day
Teaching your students proofreading skills brings them huge benefits
Being able to produce error-free written communication helps students project competence in class and beyond, says Stone Meredith
Coordinating co-authors
Co-authoring with other researchers can result in more ambitious and exciting papers than solo endeavours but is also fraught with potential hiccups. Steven Bateman …
Mind the gap: how to write career breaks into your CV
What counts as a career break, and how much information is too much information? Emma Williams provides strategies for filling in any spaces in your academic…
Tips for writing a PhD dissertation: FAQs answered
From how to choose a topic to writing the abstract and managing work-life balance through the years it takes to complete a doctorate, here we collect expert advice to get…
How to develop a graphical framework to chart your research
Graphic representations or frameworks can be powerful tools to explain research processes and outcomes. David Waller explains how researchers can develop…
Five tips for surviving your doctorate after moving over from industry
Moving into the academy after a professional career can be daunting and difficult – and never more so than when penning your thesis
Using literature reviews to strengthen research: tips for PhDs and supervisors
Anne Wilson explains how to develop a narrative and context for new research through your literature review, with tips for early career researchers and their…
Six tips for writing a successful book proposal
An interesting concept is not enough to guarantee your book will get published. In crafting a pitch, it helps to be succinct and targeted and to show an ability to deliver
Focused freewriting is the cure for students’ writer’s block
Freewriting for five minutes warms up the brain and begins to fill students’ blank screens with material that gets their writing going. Anne Carlisle talks through the process
If peer feedback was good enough for the Brontë sisters, it’s good enough for us
The shift online provides new ways to harness the power of peer feedback to improve writing skills, say Sherry Wynn Perdue, Pam Bromley, Mark Limbach and Jonathan Olshock
Students as educators: the value of assessed blogs to showcase learning
Assessed blogs can help translate the thrill of interactive learning into tangible outcomes that enrich and showcase students’ knowledge. Here’s how to do it
