English Editing and Proofreading for Life Science and Medical Papers
There have been a few new faces around Bioedit of late, as we continue to search for more experienced editors specialised in a wider range of fields to help authors in all areas get their work published.
This month, we welcome aboard Dr. Jennifer Stephenson and Dr. Laura Wicks to our science editing team. Combined, their research and editing acumen adds to our current experience in the fields of ecology, neurosciences, medical research, cell biology, marine biology and psychology.
Dr. Jennifer Stephenson received her Masters degree in Rehabilitation Science from McGill University in Montreal, before completing her PhD work at the University of Colorado, USA. She then undertook postdoctoral training at the world-renowned Institute of Neurology at University College London, England. She has extensive experience working with healthy and clinical populations, including stroke, spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease and chronic pain. Throughout her career, Dr. Stephenson has focused on translational research, collaborating with basic scientists and clinicians to produce high-quality scientific work that is pertinent to real-life clinical problems.
Dr. Laura Wicks graduated with a first class B.Sc. Honours in Oceanography and Marine Biology from the University of Southampton, UK, where her research project focused on marine ecology. During her M.Sc in Marine Environmental Protection at the University of Wales, Bangor, she conducted research on animal behaviour and marine ecology, specifically addressing learning behaviour of octopuses. Her B.Sc. and M.Sc studies gave her a broad background in cellular, organismal, ecological and evolutionary biology. She then earned her Ph.D. in Marine Biology at Victoria University of Wellington, where she specialised in molecular biology, marine ecology and physiology.
This month, Bioedit moved into its new Manchester offices...
Avoid beginning a sentence with an antecedent (e.g., “Its”) or a demonstrative pronoun (e.g., “this”).
When a number is used to describe a single measurement, a singular verb is used (10 ml was added). However, if the subject is considered in separate parts, a plural verb is required (10 ml drops were added one by one).
The definite and indefinite articles should be used in formal writing; however, they may be partially excluded in headings, titles, figures, and lists.
Avoid pleonasms: for example, are found to be in agreement-agree, give consideration to-consider, in order to-to.
When a sentence begins with a number, the number must be written in full.
Avoid using a split infinitive unless the sentence requires it to avoid awkwardness or confusion.
Do not use the possessive apostrophe in acronyms (Incorrect: DNA’s).
Do not begin sentences with “and”.
"Hopefully, I could send you as many manuscripts as I can this year. Please continue to help the publication of our research reports. Thank you."
Tokyo University of Pharmacy & Life Sciences, Japan. May 2009.
"I am very much satisfied with your editing service. The manuscript has been beautifully overhauled and transformed in to a better communicable form. I wish I can write such good English. Your editors have done an excellent job. I owe a lot to all of you. If I can publish this paper in JAMA I will share my happiness with you all by informing you. Thank you. "
Immunobiology Div, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow 226001, UP, Indi
"It has been long since I asked you to edit our manuscripts. I appreciate for a series of your wonderful works and also, your help for my collaborators at Kyoto University. I am now a professor at Fukushima Medical University and a dean of graduate school. Your help was quite important for my career. Thank you. "
Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan. November 2010
"With your editing service, I made my papers accepted in several journals: Appl. Environ. Microbiol., ISME J., Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol., and etc. I appreciate your editing service and will continue to send you more of my work in the future. "
Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Kyonggi-do, South Korea. May 2010.
"Thank you for quick and beautiful editing of our paper.Yesterday, I have re-submitted our paper. And several hours ago, the paper was accepted in Nucleic Acids Research. I appreciate you and other editors in BioEdit. Someday, I will request you to edit our next paper. "
Yokohama City University, Kanagawa, Japan. December 2010
"I'd love to inform you that our manuscript was finally accepted to Nature. I appreciate you very much that your edition of our previous version of manuscript was so helpful to be accepted. "
Osaka University, Osaka, Japan. December 2010
"I just want to thank you for your editing.The manuscript entitled “The carboxy-terminal region ....” was accepted within one day. Thank you for your good editing. "
Nara Women's University, Nara, Japan. December 2010
"I really appreciate your immediate, meticulous editing of my revised manuscript free of charge. I hope this re-edited manuscript will be accepted for publication. Thanks again. "
National Institute of Infectious Disease, Tokyo, Japan. November 2010