Professional ESL/ELL Editing Service for Scientific Work

Clear English for scientific work

The English language is riddled with incomprehensible nuances. Take the words “though,” “thought,” and “through.” Their pronunciations are undeniably different, and unless one were to grow up in an English-speaking country, these terms would be very difficult to differentiate. Upon taking one glance through any social media platform whether it be Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, most English speakers would be able to identify many errors in the language found in social media posts. Even the current president of the United States can’t seem to make sense of the English language.

Therefore, it is rather unfair of the English-speaking academia to expect non-native English speakers to write in perfect English. However, with the state in which the world is advancing and in which research publication has rapidly progressed, it is now essential for non-native speakers to demonstrate near-perfect English to have their work accredited and recognized by the world’s leading journals. Because English is undoubtedly the lingua franca, most of the research in the world is conducted and published in English.

Therefore, to avoid confusion, improve legitimacy, and readability of your work, non-native speakers are highly encouraged (and sometimes even expected) to seek the assistance of a professional editing service. Below are reasons why academics specializing in any of the sciences should seek an editor to assist them with their writing.

Communicating specialist research

Whether it be biochemistry, astrophysics, cancer research, or widespread research on the COVID-19 vaccinations and drugs, there are appropriate editors who can assist scientists with their publications. In an era where information that is presented as “facts” is becoming increasingly questionable, it is important not to accidentally mislead or confuse readers with poor language that can misconstrue an intended meaning. For example, take the sentences “The mice were injected with a salinized solution” versus “the mice were injected in a salinized solution.” The difference between these sentences exists only with the small prepositional words “with” and “in.” However, these two subtle differences create a world of difference.

For starters, the former phrase causes readers to think the mice were filled with salt water, while the latter causes readers to believe that the mice were submerged in salt water before being injected with a different fluid. Therefore, it is important to have your editor look at your work from the perspective of a nonpartial third party who acts as a set of eyes representing the majority of readers who would be the intended target of your work.

This objectivity would help you immensely in identifying unnatural errors and unclear ideas.

Furthermore, apart form simply identifying seemingly unnatural and unclear ideas, editors can help writers greatly polish their writing. One of the most prevalent mistakes that ESL/ELL scientific writers can make is writing extremely long and convoluted sentences. When explaining the materials and methods, it is important for readers to be able to digest the steps and keep track of the procedure if they were to attempt to replicate the experiment. Especially when it comes to the materials and methods portions of papers, it is extremely important for writers to be extremely clear and concise.

A common misconception is that writing appears more professional and “intelligent” when writers incorporate a slew of adjectives and adverbs to describe an otherwise simple idea. When this occurs, this could actually greatly decrease the attractiveness and readability of the paper. Therefore, it is important for readers to have their work edited by a professional. With the help of an editor, manuscripts are polished and revised to ensure they are readable and concise, which is of extreme importance.

Journal requirements and presentation

Editors and editing services in general can also help with formatting your document under the appropriate journal guidelines. With the overabundance of journals in the world, there is also a great variety of journal guidelines and editorial styles. While one journal might prefer the American Psychological Association (APA)’s style guide, another might demand that you writer your journal in Vancouver Style. From the Chicago Manual of Style to Harvard style, editors have ample experience navigating the many requirements set forth by every style.

Not only is the style guide important, but journals also frequently expect manuscripts to adhere to either British or American English spelling and punctuation conventions. Do you know when to use the single quotation mark versus the double quotation mark? Do you know if the serial comma is acceptable with this manuscript? Is it “program” or ‘programme’? When manuscripts are submitted with the incorrect reference and citation styles, they are often rejected. When this occurs, this can greatly delay the publication of your important and urgent research.

To avoid delays in publication, it is highly advisable that you have your work formatted appropriately by an editor. Rather than spending time worrying that you have misinterpreted a portion of a style guide, you can have the structure and language of your work verified by a seasoned veteran of language: an editor.

I cannot stress enough the importance of getting your work edited. Not only does proper editing ensure that your manuscript is as polished and clear as possible, but this also increases the possibility of its publication. Furthermore, articles that employ good, clear language are more widely read, the writers themselves are also made to look more competent, and the research appear more legitimate. Rather than navigating the nuances of English without support, ELL and ESL non-native English speakers should definitely seek the expertise and advice of an editor.

Rather than taking time away from focusing on valuable research, scientists should enlist the help of language experts to help with the delivery of the final product.