Writing guides

Skills and advice for researching, collaborating on and writing academic articles, papers reports and essays, from preprints to peer-reviewed journals

An illustration of a fedora-wearing robot working on a computer

We’re living in a world of artificial intelligence – it’s academic publishing that needs to change

Scholars are using generative AI to assist them with writing articles, but should they be punished for it? The academic publishing community may need to change its mindset, writes Benjamin Luke Moorhouse

Benjamin Luke Moorhouse

Hong Kong Baptist University

subconscious mind concept

‘What artists do is say the quiet bits out loud’

As teachers, we know our students will face the harsh demands of creativity and problem-solving in their daily professional lives – and we need to help them tap into deeper places that lead to novel solutions to intractable problems

Stephen Sewell

Australian National University

Hands of black woman typing on laptop

Time to write is a necessity, not a nice-to-have

How a project for academics to carve out writing time has grown from ‘power hours’ to writing retreats, community, increased well-being and higher-quality papers

Rosie Wadman, Jess Macpherson

University of Southampton

A mortarboard pencil topper

‘I’ve been a research supervisor for 35 years and I’m still learning’

How can we supervise our PhD students to give them the best chance of success? Here are seven tips to keep in mind when taking on the role

Kimberly Hutchings

Queen Mary University of London

Post-it notes showing smiling and frowning faces

Peer feedback: a burden for students or route to better academic writing?

Asking students to give anonymous feedback on each other’s work can not only result in better writing skills but also offer them opportunities to try new approaches and refine assessment tasks

Alison Daniell

University of Southampton

Illustration ban AI concept

Why I ban AI use for writing assignments

Students may see handwriting essays in class as a needlessly time-consuming approach to assignments, but I want them to learn how to engage with arguments, develop their own views and convey them effectively, writes James Stacey Taylor

James Stacey Taylor

The College of New Jersey

Young woman planning work schedule

Practical tips for graduate students undertaking a doctoral dissertation

Producing a doctoral dissertation can be an intimidating process, writes Bill Huckle. Here, he shares practical strategies for graduate students taking on the work to share their original contribution to knowledge with the wider community

William R. Huckle

Virginia Tech

podcast graphic

THE podcast: cross-cultural communication in the international classroom

Whether it’s teaching creative writing and media in a multilingual course or providing future doctors with clinical communication skills, two experts share tips for connecting with students and bridging language and culture divides

Lucy Palmer, Katalin Fogarasi

University of Central Asia, Semmelweis University

Female hands with a pen and a blank page

Strategies for writing a PhD dissertation: write before you’re ‘ready’

Reading isn’t writing, and knowing about your topic isn’t writing. So, what should graduate students do to get started and make steady progress? Monique Dufour suggests practising well before it’s time to write the thesis or dissertation

Monique Dufour

Virginia Tech

Male university student in library

Get a head start in the first year of your PhD

Even a marathon begins with first steps, and so it makes sense to master motivation, set healthy habits and get writing early to reap the reward of a polished dissertation at the end of the PhD journey, writes Andreï Kostryka

Andreï V. Kostyrka

University of Luxembourg

College students in the library

Buddy system: creating community through writing

Is a writing group or partner an effective antidote to post-pandemic isolation during doctoral education? Lena Steveker and Laura Spadon explain how to put a forum for belonging in place

Lena Steveker, Laura Spadon

University of Luxembourg

PhD student writing her dissertation

How to structure your PhD thesis

Organising your PhD thesis in a logical order is one of the crucial stages of your writing process. Here is a list of the individual components to include

Shama Prasada Kabekkodu

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Two sun loungers sit on white sand, shaded by a yellow beach umbrella

Get your PhD thesis beach ready

Prepping for the beach requires planning, effort and time management – and so does writing a PhD thesis. John Sinclair offers advice for summer days and doctoral nights

John Sinclair

Colorado State University Global

Young Asian woman greeting friend at cafe

Informal networking and how to meet people on campus

Belonging is not just a result of being in a place – nor it is the sole preserve of students. For university faculty, it comes from chance encounters, small gestures and stepping outside your comfort zone, writes Glenn Fosbraey

Glenn Fosbraey

University of Winchester

A woman takes notes from an open textbook

How to navigate the PhD thesis

The PhD thesis may be a mountain to climb, but you can take it one step at a time. Luis R Rojas-Solórzano offers his guidance

Luis R. Rojas-Solórzano

Nazarbayev University

A woman sits on a sofa with a laptop

Four ways to engage students in blogging

Enrich the conversational scholarship of blogging by including student voices. Anna D’Alton offers her tips

Anna D’Alton

The London School of Economics and Political Science

PhD student studying at his desk

How to write an abstract for a research paper

Read about three elements to include in your research paper abstract and some tips for making yours stand out

Ankitha Shetty

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

podcast graphic

THE podcast: bringing an outsider’s eye to primary sources

What happens when a literary scholar turns her attention to local archives such as inventories and court records? English professor Alexandra Harris talks about writing history, uncovering centuries of silent lives for her new book, and the interdisciplinary power of the humanities

Alexandra Harris

University of Birmingham

A research student undergoing her viva exam

‘Augmenting’ the doctoral thesis in preparation for a viva

The viva voce exam is the final hurdle for PhD students, but for most it is also a new and fear-inducing experience. Edward Mills offers one framework to help those preparing to discuss their completed thesis at length

Edward Mills

University of Exeter

rainbow pencils Pride concept writing

‘Creative writing can be as impactful as an academic paper’

Grassroots initiatives can promote visibility of marginalised groups, self-expression and community, writes Emily Downes. Here are her key tips from running a creative writing competition to mark LGBTQ+ History Month

Emily Downes

Teesside University

A pin stuck in a calendar on a date that reads: "Write your thesis!"

One thesis, two supports, three months

Completing a thesis within 12 weeks may seem impossible, but by combining AI and your supervisor’s expertise, it can be done. Mariam Shadan shows how

Mariam Shadan

Dubai Medical College for Girls

Man working on his PhD thesis

How to write a PhD thesis: a step-by-step guide

A draft isn’t a perfect, finished product; it is your opportunity to start getting words down on paper, writes Kelly Louise Preece

Kelly Louise Preece

University of Exeter

Hands type at a laptop keyboard

Want to foster community and give your students a voice? Start blogging

From educators to students, blogging is a vital social infrastructure for the higher education community. Michael Taster and Rosemary Deller offer their tips

Michael Taster, Rosemary Deller

The London School of Economics and Political Science

Advice on drafting effective proposals for interdisciplinary research projects

All together now: how to write an interdisciplinary research proposal

Advice on drafting successful research proposals to secure support and funding for interdisciplinary projects, from three academics with experience developing research partnerships and collaborations

Catherine Healy, Catherine Lyall, Isabel Fletcher

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Edinburgh

Woman writing in a notebook

How to tackle the PhD dissertation

Finding time to write can be a challenge for graduate students who often juggle multiple roles and responsibilities. Mabel Ho provides some tips to make the process less daunting

Mabel Ho

Dalhousie University

University maths teacher at white board

How mathematical practices can improve your writing

Writing is similar to three specific mathematical practices: modelling, problem-solving and proving, writes Caroline Yoon. Here, she gives some tips on how to use these to improve academic writing

Caroline Yoon

University of Auckland

A hand uses a laptop trackpad as candles burn in the background

Protect your emotional well-being for a happier writing experience

Writing academic papers can be a long and emotional journey. Burcu Totur Dikmen offers her tips for emotional well-being

Burcu Totur Dikmen

Near East University

A student practices their interviewing skills

Why your students need to learn the skills of a journalist

Interviewing real people to gain original stories and insights is a skill that will serve your students well in the age of AI. Julie Nightingale offers tips

Julie Nightingale

Nottingham Trent University

A woman interviews for a new job at a university

How to show you’re the best person for the job

Many applicants struggle to articulate their successes in their applications for a job, promotion or award. Harriet Dunbar-Morris is here to help you make your case

Harriet Dunbar-Morris

University of Buckingham

Man procrastinating at laptop

Five ways to beat the procrastination monster

Writing and procrastination often go together like pen and paper, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Here, Glenn Fosbraey offers strategies to stop putting off putting words on the page

Glenn Fosbraey

University of Winchester

Business students writing prompts for AI

Embrace AI tools to improve student writing

Rather than trying to keep it out of the classroom, here are ways faculty can facilitate more effective use of ChatGPT for writing assignments

Pamela Bourjaily

University of Iowa

Book with tree and compass green concept

How storytelling boosts environmental impact and engagement

Presenting sustainability research in a story – with a protagonist, goal and resolution – can bridge the gap between complex theory and real-world results for wider audiences and policymakers alike

Denise Baden

University of Southampton

Asian woman holding vintage video camera

Using primary sources to tell queer histories

Public records and private lives? In uncovering LGBTQ+ stories in personal archives and impersonal documents, historians should ask questions about how each source engages with gender and sexuality, writes Isabell Dahms

Isabell Dahms

Goldsmiths, University of London

Young man writing on a laptop

What is your academic writing temperament?

Many early career researchers struggle to write enough. The key is to move away from an abstract notion of productivity and towards a productive writing process, explains Rachael Cayley. Here, she offers questions to help ECRs find their writing rhythm

Rachael Cayley

University of Toronto

Cartoon of a detective with a magnifying glass analysing a piece of paper being held by a robot

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

Cesare Giulio Ardito

University of Manchester

Unhappy Asian man reading document

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 them

Cheong Fan

Macau University of Science and Technology

search engine concept

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. Here’s how the insights they offer could revolutionise academic search and discovery

Adrian Raudaschl

Elsevier

AI robot checking writing

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

Ikenna Uwanuakwa

Near East University

Asian man concentrating on writing at a computer

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 confidence and skills to tell their stories in an authentic way

Mike Brown

University of Southampton

illustration of ninja squirrel

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

Toby LItt

University of Southampton

Class engaged by story

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

Ng Lee Keng

Singapore Institute of Technology

THE podcast graphic

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 this episode to share what useful functions they’ve discovered for the technology

Jennifer Rose, David Nicol, Brooke Szücs

University of Manchester, University of Glasgow, The University of Queensland

“Feedback” appears in white text with a yellow background, with a contrast ratio of 1.7:1. The image has a reflection of an open window on it, making the text much harder to read. In some places the contrast of the text is as low as 1.0001:1

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 make that simpler

Matthew Deeprose

University of Southampton

woman gives press conference

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 Head explains

Michael Head

University of Southampton

Woman academic working at her laptop

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 is not your first language

Christopher Tancock

Elsevier

Illustration of robot framed by screen acting as editor to writer at laptop

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 process if it is applied in a constructive, positive manner

Brooke Szücs

The University of Queensland

car tyre in snow

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 Knosala

Bartłomiej Knosala

Silesian University of Technology

Young Indian student looking thoughtful at a laptop

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

Maithreyi Karnoor

Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology

Connected wooden markers on a blue background

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 research communication more transparent and engaging

Richard Holliman

The Open University

Books and papers piled around an empty notepad with a pencil poised to write

Making the abstract concrete

Strategies for writing effective abstracts for conference and research papers

Steven Bateman, Yingchun Li

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University