There are several important rules to follow when submitting an article to a journal. Generally, journal articles should follow a specific style guide or author instructions. They should avoid the use of regionally specific nomenclature or conjunctions. The article should also be free from obfuscation or turgid statements. Listed below are some examples of good practices when preparing journal articles. Hopefully, this will help you write a great article!

Avoid turgid or obfuscatory statements

Many scientific authors fear making confident statements, so they resort to turgid or obfruscatory writing. Such writing has too many caveats and long lists, and sounds defensive. It sounds like the authors are writing to ward off criticism, resulting in muddy prose. If you want to stand out in a journal, be confident in your statements and avoid writing to impress the gatekeepers.

Apply journal’s specific instructions – or guide – for authors to your manuscript

If you are submitting a manuscript to a journal, be sure to follow the guidelines contained in its author’s instructions. Typically, manuscripts that don’t meet the standards set forth by the journal will be returned for revision. Journals develop these instructions to make the process easier for authors and to ensure that submitted manuscripts are free of mistakes. You should review them carefully, as they may provide helpful tips to make your manuscript look its best.

Ensure that you enter all affiliations on your title page, with the primary affiliation listed first, followed by all other affiliations. Your name will be listed in the order of your submission, as well. Be sure to follow the instructions for authors if you are submitting to multiple journals. If you submit to more than one journal, the corresponding author will be the primary contact for the journal’s office and is the only author who can review and make changes to the manuscript.

References should be cited properly. Cite any material that you use in your article, but avoid citing dissertations or other forthcoming publications. Citations can be added after the publication if necessary. When citing an article, you should use a consistent style throughout the text. Cite the author’s name, journal or book title, and the page number if necessary. It is not necessary to include a DOI number, but it is recommended. Whether or not to cite a source is up to you, but it’s worth the time.