This article was automatically translated from the original Turkish version.
To make your writing more readable, pay attention to the following:
If an idea can be expressed with fewer words, remove the excess.
For example, prefer the following substitutions:
You can reduce word count by embedding the main idea of a sentence within its subject and verb.
For instance, instead of “The purpose of this approach is to ensure...”, write “This approach ensures...”. Here, the main idea is not “purpose” but “approach”.
Try to place the most important idea of a sentence early. Instead of beginning a sentence with a reference, start with the study’s key finding and place the citation at the end of the sentence.
You can vary sentence structure by rearranging elements within the sentence, but do not change the elements themselves.
For example, if you begin describing a situation using the word “experiment”, do not replace it later with “study” or “trial”; continue using “experiment”, otherwise you will confuse the reader.
Some journals advise avoiding the use of “and/or” when you are unsure which is appropriate.
Decide what the intended meaning is.
Parallel structure makes writing more fluid, more effective, and more comprehensible.
Parallel structure is especially helpful when writing the results and discussion sections.
“For Group 1, Variable X was lower in individuals in A than in B, whereas Variable Y was higher in individuals in A than in B.
For Group 2, Variable X was higher in individuals in A than in B, whereas Variable Y was lower in individuals in A than in B.”
When presenting results for one variable, establish a consistent format and apply the same format to other variables; simply copy, paste, and adjust as needed. Once the reader understands the pattern for one variable, they can easily interpret the results for others.
Transitions are essential elements that make text easy to read. Transition words show the reader whether the next sentence continues the previous idea or introduces a new one.
• Showing continuation of an idea
• Introducing a topic
• Providing an example
• Showing contrast
• Indicating that one idea is more important than another
• Establishing cause and effect
• Indicating time
• Summarizing or concluding
Consistency refers to the logical arrangement of sentences within a paragraph. Just as a sentence should begin with a subject, a paragraph should begin with a topic sentence. A strong topic sentence provides the reader with advance information about the paragraph’s content and ensures the paragraph progresses coherently.
• Focus on a single idea
• Use the old-to-new structure
• Use parallel structure
• Create expectations
Writing logically means expressing your ideas clearly, consistently, and in a scientific structure. If you struggle to begin writing—for example, if you experience writer’s block—start by asking yourself: “What am I really trying to say?”
Using transition words or phrases helps maintain logical flow in your writing and guides the reader toward the logical conclusion of your argument. Additionally, when writing a scientific article, it is essential to follow the journal’s standard format.
Finally, after completing your writing, review it carefully. This process ensures that your text has a logical structure and that all information is presented clearly and accurately.
Using “I” or “we” may be more appropriate and fluent than using “this writer” or “these authors.” However, some journals may reject this style, while others prefer it. For example, they may recommend writing “The objective was…” instead of “Our objective was…”.
Beginning a sentence with “and” or “also” may lead the reader to think the new idea is merely an addition. Instead, place “also” appropriately within the sentence. Similarly, beginning a sentence with “but” or “however” indicates contrast with the previous idea. These words are more powerful and clearer when placed in the middle of a sentence.
The end of a sentence is as important as its beginning and should be emphasized. Prepositions (e.g., “de”, “için”, “içinde”, “ile”) are rarely the words to be emphasized, so they should not appear at the end of a sentence.
The goal of writing a scientific article is not to impress the reader but to inform. Attempting to impress with large words can make you appear ridiculous if used incorrectly. However, when large words are used correctly, they enable effective communication. Therefore, if a large word accurately and clearly expresses your meaning, do not avoid it.
The best way to write effectively is to avoid errors. Common errors involve spelling, grammar, punctuation, and word choice. Spelling errors can be easily corrected using spell-check software, but such tools may introduce new errors while fixing others.
Grammar, punctuation, and word choice errors are harder to correct (grammar-checking software may offer good suggestions, but it often fails to handle scientific writing correctly).
Punctuation helps the reader know what to expect. Punctuation guides the reader through the sentence and from sentence to sentence.
Statistical writing is an essential form of expression used to present, analyze, and interpret data in scientific and academic writing. The most important sections for statistical writing in a scientific article are the Materials and Methods and Results sections.
When describing statistical methods, a phrase such as “Data were analyzed using…” provides no useful information to the reader. In the Results section, you must provide sufficient statistical information—such as p-values—to help readers interpret your findings and support your own interpretations. Therefore, statistical writing is a vital part of scientific article writing.
“A significant difference was found between the two groups in the experiment.” (Incorrect)
“Independent samples t-test results showed significant differences between Group A and Group B (t(38) = 2.67, p = 0.01). The mean score for Group A was 85, and for Group B it was 75. Since the p-value is 0.01, this difference is considered statistically significant.” (Correct)
This section provides the reader with a clear definition of the materials used, analytical procedures, and statistical methods, and explains why the chosen statistical methods were selected.
In this section, you must describe characteristics of the material used—for example, location and age. Environmental and experimental conditions (e.g., climate or nutritional composition) must also be precisely defined. The population or sample must be clearly defined; if there are inclusion or exclusion criteria, these must be stated.
State the type of study you conducted: Was it a simulation study, a survey, a field study, an observational (e.g., behavioral) study, or a designed experiment? If data were obtained from a designed experiment, the experimental design must be specified. The name and size of the experiment should be stated—for example: “The study was conducted as a randomized complete block design with six treatment combinations over five days.”
Non-standard statistical procedures or unusual statistical tests must be clearly and completely explained (perhaps in an appendix) or referenced with page numbers; any modifications to standard procedures must be fully described.
If you briefly explain the statistical model in words before presenting the expression, the reader’s understanding becomes easier. When writing statistical models, use letters that suggest the meaning of the variables if possible—for example, “W” for weight or “L” for location—or simply use words.
The Results section explains your findings, typically supported by tables and figures. Journals do not require you to repeat table values in the text.
Instead of writing: “The mean weight of individuals in Treatment A was 12 kg, and in Treatment B it was 15 kg (Table 1),” you should explain your findings by referencing the numbers from the table or figure: “Individuals in Treatment A weighed on average 3 kg less than those in Treatment B (P < 0.05) (Table 1).”
Follow the rules for rounding numbers and write only significant digits—those that reflect the accuracy of your measurements. For example, if you weighed individuals to the nearest kilogram, report the mean as 71.5 kg, not 71.472 kg (which implies gram-level precision).
Use mathematical expressions only as necessary; avoid unnecessary elaboration. What matters to the reader is how you developed your expression; if the expression has already been derived, provide a reference indicating where it can be found. Always assign it a number. Check the journal’s guidelines to learn which numbering style to use—for example, whether numbers should appear in parentheses, square brackets, or curly braces.
If a mathematical expression appears within the text (not on a separate line), separate the numerator and denominator with a forward slash (/), for example 1/2, or use the symbol ½, and avoid expressions that extend above or below the text line.
Remember that the “=” sign should be used only in mathematical expressions, not in mathematical sentences; in sentences, use the word “equals”.
If material such as a mathematical proof or technical detail disrupts the flow of the text, it is better to present it in an appendix rather than within the main text.
When a number is used with a unit of measurement (e.g., 5 kg, 20 days, 14 USD, 75%, or 30°C) or a name (e.g., Group 15 or Experiment 2), write the number as a numeral. However, when a number is not used with a unit or name, numbers less than 10 should be written out—for example, “seven treatments”—while numbers of 10 or greater should be written as numerals—e.g., “12 treatments”.
The same rule applies when describing a response using “-fold”: for example, write “five-fold” or “ten-fold”.
If you use an abbreviation or acronym, first write the full term followed by the abbreviated form in parentheses—for example, Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP).
Writing dates can easily cause confusion because practices vary between countries. For example, 02/10/01 could mean 10 February 2001, 2 October 2001, or 1 October 2002. To avoid confusion, write dates in the order of day, month, and year.
When referring to a group of years—for example, a decade—add “-s” to the end, for example 1990s. When referring to a range of years, write out both the start and end years fully—for example, 1998–2001.
Use the 24-hour clock to express time—for example, 0:00 (midnight), 08:30, 12:00 (noon).
Some journals prefer using commas in numbers with five or more digits but not in smaller numbers—for example, 10,000 kg instead of 10000 kg.
Do not begin a sentence with a numeral; instead, write the number out in words (even if it is 10 or greater) or restructure the sentence. When writing a number with many trailing zeros, express the magnitude in words—for example, write 16 million instead of 16,000,000.
Be aware of differences in writing conventions across countries and journals. Carefully read your journal’s author guidelines, as each journal may have its own specific writing rules.
Strengthening Your Writing
Eliminating Unnecessary Words
Removing Words That Do Not Contribute to Clarity
Embedding the Main Idea in the Subject and Verb
Short, Clear, and Simple Sentences
Parallel Structure
Using Transition Words to Connect Ideas
Consistent Writing
Logical Writing
Can first-person singular (I) or first-person plural (we) be used?
Can a sentence begin with “and” or “but”?
Can a sentence end with a preposition?
Should you try to impress readers with large words?
Correct Writing
Statistical Writing
Materials and Methods Section
Results Section
Mathematical Writing