Paragraphing (Part 1 of 2) - Volume 21, Issue

The purpose of paragraphing is to make text understandable and easy to read, and to help you tell your story effectively. Paragraphing is difficult because the purpose of the documents we produce and their readership are diverse. To make matters…

Structuring paragraphs - Volume 26, Issue

Paragraphs are meant to make a text understandable and readable, and to help tell the story. Key aspects of good paragraphs include using topic sentences and story structures. Starting with an outline or a planand using it to build to topic…

Good Writing Practice - Volume 27, Issue

Backtracking distracts paragraph order by inducing re-reading previous text. Such backtracking is a more serious distraction when it occurs between sentences than within sentences, because the distance between a referent (pronoun or synonym) and its…

AI-based plagiarism detectors: Plagiarism fighters or makers? - Volume 32, Issue

Plagiarism damages the biomedical academic publication domain. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rising hope in academic plagiarism hunting. However, new AI-based tools are available online to assist with plagiarising! This article presents…

Good Writing Practice - Volume 28, Issue

Paragraph lengthiness and complexity cause a continuity inexplicity (discontinuity), which can be lessened by using forecasting and backcasting markers of the information pattern. Thus, omission of such continuity markers (e.g., a subheading)…

Statistical analyses and methods in the published literature: The SAMPL guidelines - Volume 25, Issue

Despite calls for guidelines on reporting statistical aspects of studies, most journals have still not included in their instructions for authors more than a paragraph or two about reporting statistical methods and results. However, given that many…

An interview with Cathal Gallagher of EMA’s Technical Anonymisation Group - Volume 29, Issue

In our daily work in a company or freelance setting, we interact with other relevant functions, typically biostatistical, medical, programming, and data management colleagues, so that we can deliver wellrounded deliverables that take account of…

Medical Communication - Volume 22, Issue

Introducing the Medical Communication section: The wild side of medical writing! Hello and welcome to a brand spanking new section of Medical Writing. When the Editor of Medical Writing, Phil Leventhal, approached me to create a new section,…

Plain language and readability - Volume 24, Issue

Plain language is writing in clear, concise language that is easy to read and understand. Whenever I hear the term plain language I am reminded of a lay summary I was once asked to edit. The stream of technical language (‘self-source bias’, ‘effect m…

Out On Our Own - Volume 24, Issue

Editorial

All of us are aware by now that we can't live without technology and not only at work. With advice, aids, appliances and apps in abundance, we are at the point where we can't see the wood for the trees. Thank goodness we have advice from M…