Jacqueline Owens, PhD, RN, CNEEditor-in-Chief, OJIN: The Online Journal of

Issues in NursingAssistant Professor of Nursing, Ashland

University

Writing For Publication

ObjectivesDescribe 4 features of a publishable

manuscriptStructureSynthesisClarityReferences

Describe the steps and outcomes in the publication process

Help for Style, Grammar, & Punctuation

Style manualsAPA, AMA

Other resources Purdue Online Writing Lab

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/Elements of Style (Strunk & White)Nurse Author & Editor

www.NurseAuthorEditor.com.Free quarterly publicationAccess to Writing for Publication by Christine Webb

Translators for ESLEnglish skills + subject knowledge

Structuring Your Paper

Getting Started, Logical Progression of Content, and Wrapping it Up

How to Get Started

Choose a topic Start smallQuestions to ask (Webb,

2008):In what are you

interested and have expertise?

Why should you write an article for publication?

Who do you want to read your article?

How will you put your message across?

NewslettersLetters to the

EditorPresentations

How to Get Started

Narrow your focus Other tipsStart with a broad topicWrite any words about

topicNarrow it by

considering your topic in the context of a specific population, procedure, case study, comparison, etc.

Aim for one major focus per article

Find a mentorConsider a co-

author

Steps to Get Started (OWL, 1995-2008)

BrainstormList all ideas that you want to include in your

paper. Organize

Group related ideas together. Order

Arrange material in subsections from general to specific or from abstract to concrete.

LabelCreate main and sub headings using an

outline form.

Why Outlines and Headings?Benefits (Dexter, 2000; OWL, 1995-2008)

Aids writing process Helps organize ideas Presents material with logicShows relationships among ideas Constructs ordered overview of manuscript Defines boundaries and groupsSaves time because it forces you to decide

how material is best conceptualized, organized, and presented

Use Accepted Headings & Progression

Example: Research articleIntroduction (no heading, just begin) – state problem

and support need for researchReview of Literature – may be subsumed in intro.

KEEP IT BRIEF!Methods (sample, design, data collection tools &

process, R & V)Results (what you found) Tables & Figures a plus, but

don’t repeat!Discussion Your findings + previous lit? Limitations?

Research & practice implications?

Four Main Components for Effective Outlines (OWL, 1995-2008)

CoordinationAll headings should have the same significance

SubordinationHeadings should be generalSubheadings should be specific

DivisionEach heading should have 2 or more

subheadingsParallelism

If you start one heading with a verb, all headings should start with a verb

Parallel ConstructionWhat is parallelism? (Dexter, 2000)

Presenting several ideas of equal importance using the same or similar ordering or phrasing

Why is it important?Repeated grammatical structures require less mental

processing than a series of new structures >>>improved readability

Make it easier for reader to hold each of your previous ideas in mind while reading your subsequent ideas

What are some common examples?Headings should mirror abstractCompare and contrast 2 studies, procedures, etc. -

order them consistentlyConsistency of content, ideas, & terminology

TransitionsTransitions

Clear signal of direction change in subject or emphasis Helps reader know how that change connects to

previous discussionExamples:

Brief statement of what has been said and what will followSummary transition phrases

The discussion above has focused on…Now that we have examined…

New content transition phrases It is also necessary to discuss…We will now look at…

Questions as transition (use sparingly)A question that arises here is…

Finishing TouchesTitle (Webb, 2009)

Include essential words to grab readers’ attention

Avoid jokes, puns, catchphrasesNO abbreviations

Abstract (Fisher, 2005; Webb, 2008)Check journal guidelinesSummarize article content in order of

appearance Pay special attention to first 40-50 words

(computer database)Write abstract in one tense

Finishing TouchesKeywords (Webb, 2008)

Important for computerized searchesPossible keyword areas and examples:

Population (children, elders)Setting (acute care, long term care)Type of article (literature review, concept

analysis)Research design or methodology (RCT,

survey, grounded theory)Professional group (nurses, nursing,

midwives, advanced practice nurses)

Synthesizing Sources

What will YOUR article contribute to the literature?

Your ChallengeNot enough to just summarize what is published

Draw critical information from more than one source and make sense of it for readers

Develop an original take on your topic area (Dexter, 2000)Examples:

Background section: synthesize theory and empirical evidence; critique past work; assess what is known or not known; AND note how your work fits into this context

Research findingso In what ways were your findings expected?o In what ways were they different from what was

expected?o What might account for the differences?

Not good form to string quotes togetherYou must paraphrase -doing so will help you

synthesize

Ideas to Figure Out “your take” on the TopicReview pertinent literature

Note what literature supports parts of your outlineNote similarities and differences Create tables

Explain content for one heading to someone else – this helps you to put what you have found, and what you want to say, into your words

Take a rest and think about it Seek analogies to summarize your point(s)Think about your topic from several perspectives

(e.g., patient, provider, family) to determine what you think is important to include

Writing with Clarity

All you have to do is cross out all the wrong words. ~ Mark Twain

Reader Friendly Writing Focus on reader

“Will my reader understand what I am saying?” versus “Am I saying what I want?” versus

Avoid trying to impress readersNo long words unless it increases precision; use

everyday words Use first person Avoid jargon & technical terms (or explain) Avoid statements that require the reader to look back

to earlier sections Place most important information at beginning of

paragraph or sentence Ask someone inside and outside of your specialty to

read your work for understanding

(Dexter, 2000; Webb 2008)

Writing a Reader Friendly Clinical Article (Webb, 2008)

Make it easy to followHeadings, subheadingsBullet points, boxes, and questions to stimulate

reader interestUse simple, direct language

Address readers directly (In your clinical area…)Provide explanations for technical terms

Be clear how your points can improve nursing practiceClinical examples / clinical relevanceSuggest how/where to find out more

Avoiding BiasAvoid Hyperbole & Opinion Expletives

Eliminate needless qualifiers & expletives (Winslow, 2008)RatherQuiteVery

Unsupported assertions or generalizations are not acceptable (Dexter, 2000)

Be aware of personal & professional biases

AssuredlyAt leastCertainlyClearlyDecidedlyDefinitelyI thinkImportantlyIn factIndeedNaturallyRemarkably

Singulars, Plurals, & Gender IssuesWriting in plural

avoids several problems (Webb, 2003)GENDER: Frequent

use of his/hers and she/heUSE they

Overuse of “the”Instead of “the patient

with heart disease…” USE “patients with heart disease…”

JargonAvoid whenever possible:

Big wordsLong sentencesToo many short, choppy sentencesTechnical terms Complex statementsUseless adverbs & adjectives (e.g., exact

same, new innovation)Empty phrases (e.g., “with the exception of”

versus “except”)

(Dexter, 2000; Winslow, 2008)

Verbs & Nouns

Verbs NounsActive versus passive

voiceActive voice >>>

power & precisionMeaning clear for

readersSentences more

concise, less wordyPassive voice of limited

useControl shifts in verb

tenseResearch typically

reported in past tense

Nounification (Jacobson, n.d.)Nouns constructed

from verb rootsDilutes impact of

action verbsExample:

Becoming a registered nurse has a requirement of passage of the NCLEX exam

Becoming a registered nurse requires that you pass the NCLEX exam

Abbr.Avoid – not always obvious to readers,

especially ESLExplain with first use

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)Be very clear when writing about different

types of healthcare providers – generic term “nurse” can refer to many different types of providers and abbreviations can be confusing. Provide an explanation.

Tips for Tables & FiguresUse commonly accepted ways to describe

statistical methods and analyses – don’t reinvent the wheel

Avoid redundancy – text should highlight or interpret table content, not repeat it

Keep it simpleCheck journal guidelines for limitsRefer to all tables and figures in textIf including a previously published table or

figure, seek permission to reprint(Dexter, 2000; Webb, 2008)

Preparing for RevisionAwkward phrases, faulty logic, incomplete

sentences, lack of agreement between subject and verb, typos, repetitiveness? Read your manuscript aloud (Dexter, 2000).Read slow enough to focus on detailsCritique every word, sentence, and

paragraph with an eagle eye!Proof: spellchecker AND proofread

Using References

How to avoid plagiarism

When to ReferenceAnother person’s idea or workAnother person’s thoughtsQuoteFact not commonly knownOpposite of common beliefSpecific fact, percent, or number from another

sourceReport of findings from someone else’s

researchSomeone’s theory, model, or instrument

(Brooks-Brunn, 1998)

How to ReferenceJournal guidelinesAccurate paraphrasing Page/paragraph number with

quotationsMatch body of text and reference listRecord exact details of reference

(Dexter, 2000; Webb, 2008)

What Happens Next?

Article Accepted for Publication!

References Brooks-Brunn, J. (1998). How and when to reference. Nurse

Author & Editor, 8(2), 1-4. Dexter, P. (2000). Tips for scholarly writing in nursing.

Journal of Professional Nursing, 16(1), 6-12. Fisher, W.E. (2005). Abstract writing. Journal of Surgical

Research 128, 162–164. Oermann, M., & Hays, J. (2010). Writing for publication in

nursing (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.

Purdue online writing lab. Available: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/544/02/

Webb, C. (2008). Writing for publication. Wiley-Blackwell. Available: http://www.nurseauthoreditor.com/forauthors.asp

Winslow, E.H. (2008). Writing for publication: You can do it! Journal for Healthcare Quality, 30(4), 12-16.