How to Get a Manuscript Published in English? From Study Design to Submission

1. How to Get a Manuscript Published in English? From Study Design to Submission Keming Gao, MD, PhD Associate Professor of Psychiatry Case Western Reserve University Clinical Director, Mood Disorders Program Medical Director, ECT Service Director, Mood and Anxiety Clinic Keming.gao@uhhospitals.org Case Medical Center Case School of Medicine Case Research Institute University Hospitals UH Medical Group University Hospitals at Case Medical Center is the primary affiliate of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

2. Objectives • Briefly review key elements and types of scientific manuscripts • Detailed discussion on how to write a strong manuscript • Discuss strategies to increase the odds for a manuscript of being accepted University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

3. In science, the credit goes to the man who convinces the world, not to the man to whom the idea first occurs. Sir Francis Darwin In writing, the burden of clarity is on the author. Joseph R. Calabrese, MD University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

4. The Key to Publish a Manuscript in English Journals • Topic • Journal • Matching Topic and Journal • Quality of Manuscript University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

5. Quality of Manuscript • Scientific Content • Originality (quality of data) • Applicability • Timeliness • Compliance • Language (writing skill) • Validity of Conclusions • Adherence to Instructions University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

6. How to Collect High Quality Data? • Know the standard of different study designs Retrospective vs. prospective Open-label vs. double-blind vs. single-blind Efficacy vs. effectiveness • Know the standard data analysis for different datasets Original data Review data binary analysis vs. meta-regression • Consulting expert earlier • Working with a statistician early and closely University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

7. “To call in the statistician after the experiment is done may be no more than asking him to perform a post mortem examination: he may be able to say what the experiment died of.” Sir R.A. Fisher Indian Statistical Congress, Sankhya, c. 1938 University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

8. The Art of Scientific Writing • Clarity, clarity, and clarity….. University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

9. Make them easy for indexing and searching! (informative, attractive, effective) Journal space is precious. Make your article as brief as possible. GeneralStructure of a Full Article Each section of a paper has a definite purpose • Title • Abstract • Keywords • Main text (IMRAD) • Introduction • Methods • Results • And • Discussions • Conclusion • Acknowledgement • References • Supporting Materials University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

10. The progression of the thematic scope of a paper general  particular  general However, we often write in the following order: • Figures and tables • Methods, Results and Discussion • Conclusions and Introduction • Abstract and title University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

11. Title Tell readers what your paper is all about • Attract the reader’s attention • Be specific • Keep it informative and concise • Avoid jargon and abbreviations University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

12. Abstract Tell readers what you did and the important findings • One paragraph (between 50-300 words) • Advertisement for your article • A clear abstract will strongly influence if your work is considered further University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

13. Introduction Provide context to convince readers that you clearly know why your work is useful, important, or innovative. • Be brief (no more than 2 pages of double-space) • Clearly address the following (like an expert) • What is the problem? • Are there any existing solutions? • Which solution is the best? • What is its main limitation? • What do you hope to achieve? • Try to be consistent with the nature of the journal University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

14. The Section of Study Design and Methods is the Heart of a study, grant, and manuscript !! University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

15. How to write Methods Section ? • Write clearly how your study is carried out; • If your methods have never been used before, you should write in a step-by-step fashion; inclusive is better; • If your methods are different from others, please state why; • If your methods have been used, you can discuss briefly. University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

16. How to write Methods Section? Statistics • Make sure to use statistics properly because your results depend on your analyses; • To consult a statistician before writing; • Hypothesis testing vs. hypothesis generating (fishing); • Adjust for multiple comparisons if necessary; • Be thoughtful. University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

17. How to Write Results Section? • Baseline Characteristics • Most important finding – primary outcome • Secondary outcomes • Other findings such as subgroup or subtypes may be better to publish separately • Use tables or figures properly • Provide information as much as possible and may use supplemental materials University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

18. How to Write Discussion Section? • First paragraph – summarize the main findings, but don’t repeat results section to refresh reviewers and readers’ memory • Be straightforward, clear, no room for guessing • Be modest, don’t over-interpret your results; • If your results are inconsistent with others, please give possible explanations with good evidence. • It is ok to speculate, but any assumption/speculation must be supported by evidence which may be indirectly related to your findings. University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

19. Complaint from an editor: “[This] paper fell well below my threshold. I refuse to spend time trying to understand what the author is trying to say. Besides, I really want to send a message that they can't submit garbage to us and expect us to fix it. My rule of thumb is that if there are more than 6 grammatical errors in the abstract, then I don't waste my time carefully reading the rest.” Why Is Language Important? Save your editor and reviewers the trouble of guessing what you mean University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

20. Write with clarity, objectivity, accuracy, and brevity. Scientific Language- Overview • Key to successful scientific writing is to be alert to common errors: • Sentence construction • Incorrect tenses; used passive as less as possible • Inaccurate grammar • Mixing languages Check the Guide for Authors of the target journal for any language specifications University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

21. Improve your Manuscript Quality with the Help of Others – a “Quick Fix” • Find a prototype of your research, but don’t copy others exactly; • Use your co-authors, but not abuse them; understand the difference between proof-read and revision; • Make a list of phrases typical used in English language journals. • Hire a good English-speaking editor; • Have a colleague with good English skills read your manuscript; University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

22. Improve Manuscript yourself–Essential(Don’t frustrate your co-authors) • Learn English grammar and style rules • Focus on the content • Stick to the topic; one thought per sentence • Use key term • Use headers • Revised, Revised, Revised --- before sending to your co-authors (10-20 times?) University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

23. What Journal to Send – Know the Journal • Appropriateness of your message – your audience • Type and length and Impact factor • Likelihood of publication – may ask the editor first • Journal circulation • Familiar with the review process, 2 reviewers vs. 4 reviewers • Know where to send, regional vs. main office University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

24. Cover Letter • Summarize your results – a few sentences. • Praise the journal • To make sure that the letter is addressed to the journal you submit • Follow the format of the journal • Name the reviewers • Name those people whom you don’t want to review your manuscript University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

25. The Role of Editor in the Peer Review Process • The editor is the intermediary, but also the ultimate judge; • Referees make recommendations, but the editor is under no obligation take their advice; • If the editor disagrees with referees’ recommendation, the editor can send the manuscript out for additional review or decide then and there; • The editor alone can decides the fate of a manuscript. J Young Investigator 2005 University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

26. How to Increase Your Odds for a Good Peer-Review? • A track record of good publications • Increase your reputation – peer reviewing other’s manuscript • Building your own network - Personal communication - Scientific meetings – poster presentation - Collaboration - Mentoring • Use your co-authors’ network University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

27. Conclusions In order to publish a manuscript in English • The manuscript has to be strong • The time of submission has to be right • The manuscript has to be match well with the journal • Always expect rejection • Perseverance can pay off University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

28. Final Advice • Scientific writing is an art. Like any art, practice makes perfect. After you reach or pass certain threshold (accepted by majority of people), everything will become easier; • Listen to other’s feedback and appreciate other’s help. You are the person responsible for the integrity of your manuscript and acceptance for publication; • This is no short-cut, practice, practice, practice, and practice with the right way. University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

29. Thank You!! 谢 谢 University Hospitals Case Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine