In recent weeks, Beall’s List of so-called predatory Open Access publishers has been taken down, leading to much discussion online as to why this has happened.

Perhaps you wish to submit a paper to an English-language journal, but your first language is not English? Should you write your paper in English, or write it in your first language?   We offer a range of services for first-time and experienced academic authors, but how do you know what is best for you?

When is the best time to send my paper for editing in the submission process?  Should I address the structural issues first and then send it to you for review, or send it as it is?

ResearchGate is an academic social networking site designed to facilitate access to academic research and collaboration between researchers. It was founded in 2008, and has quickly grown to become the biggest networking site of its kind, with over 11 million users worldwide.

What is the English language editing service? We edit your paper using native speakers of English to ensure that it is grammatically correct and reads well to native speakers of English. In addition to this, we make sure that your article adheres to the guidelines of your selected journal, or adheres to the standards required by leading international English-language journals.

The Science Citation Index (now the Science Citation Index Expanded, or SCIE) is one of the core databases included in the products Web of Knowledge and Web of Science, owned by Thomson Reuters.

Altmetrics can be defined either as alternative metrics or article metrics. Both are appropriate definitions: altmetrics offer an alternative, or non-traditional method of evaluating research, and can be based more specifically on the article and how it is received, rather than the reputation or impact factor of the journal it is published in.

Many authors and researchers worry that their writing is too repetitive, but repetition can be a useful tool when used correctly. It is important to developing academic manuscripts, benefits readers, and is encouraged (in appropriate contexts) by editors and publishers.

During the course of the twentieth century, the structure and layout of academic research papers has become more standardized. The format commonly referred to as IMRAD now predominates, particularly in biomedical disciplines. However, many scientific disciplines use the same structure.

Procedures for the submission and publication of supplementary data, or supplementary information (SI) may differ from publisher to publisher. 

Peer review acts as a quality check on academic literature, defined as ‘a formal system whereby a piece of academic work is scrutinised by people who were not involved in its creation but are considered knowledgeable about the subject’ 

Single-Blind and Double-Blind Peer Review, find out what are the main differences between the two. In single-blind peer review, only the reviewers are anonymous. Reviewers know the authors, but authors don’t know the reviewers.  In double-blind peer review, both the authors and reviewers keep their anonymity.

Self-plagiarism is a worry to many authors and researchers. Often, they are unsure what self-plagiarism is or how to avoid it.

The Charlesworth Group is delighted to announce its partnership with KingYee Technology based in Beijing, China. Under this arrangement, Charlesworth will provide scientific editing services and a full package of educational services and outreach.

With scientific research becoming increasingly specialized, it can be difficult for journals to find experts to carry out peer review. Asking authors to suggest their own reviewers can therefore be mutually beneficial: journals save time and resources searching for an appropriate reviewer, and the author can support this process by providing contacts from their network.

Duplicate submission of papers to academic journals is actively discouraged by journals and publishers. Many publishers have strict policies about duplicate submission, and the reuse of research data. 

Although plagiarism can refer to the intentional copying of others’ work, it is most often committed accidentally, as a result of incorrect referencing or citation.  Alternatively, a lack of awareness of previous studies can lead to plagiarism, and a failure even to reference one’s own work will cause problems of copyright.

Authorship involves not only credit for the work but also accountability. It is this idea of credit and accountability which determines the need for ethical considerations to be made in scholarly publishing and, more specifically, scientific publishing.

The title and abstract are critical elements to your paper. They will be used by readers to decide whether or not to read the rest of your paper; and, even before publication, they will be used by journal editors to decide whether or not your paper should be sent for peer review evaluation, and by peer reviewers to decide if they want to review your paper.

Submitting your article to a journal is only the first step in the process to getting published.  In the vast majority of cases, papers will require at the very least some further changes or review based on the feedback from the journal editor and reviewers.