研究人員通常常不會把自己跟作家聯想在一起，所以覺得出版是一個恐怖的惡魔。不過，如果能在一開始就能把自己當成作家的話會比較安全。不是只覺得自己該寫些什麼，還覺得可以做些什麼。
通常，當開始一個全新的工作，我們都會想像成品的樣子：文章被刊登在你選擇的期刊上。這會是一段冗長、複雜又艱難的路程。因此，這個計畫就是要一步一步完成整個過程；而且總是只往前看一小步。在大部分的情況下，期刊已經提供了一些要點：標題、摘要、介紹、研究目的與方法、結論、討論及參考資料。身為一個研究員作家必須要延伸這些要點。假設現在的你正面臨這些要點，本篇文章要給你一點小小的建議：說到寫幾段文字，試想你有好長一段時間可以完成（至少一個小時，基本上來說有好幾個小時）。
這是因為剛開始寫作的時候文字出來的很慢，一旦你暖身完成之後，一切就會變得順利且快速許多。如果你中途被打斷，就會失去手感然後重新再來一遍。你可以準備一份綱要在手邊並隨時修改它，增加參考文獻遺漏部分或是在沒有靈感時修改圖表。不過這些動作最好在被打斷的中間空檔時間進行。
再補充幾個小技巧。首先，以字數而非時間作為底線；告訴自己＂在寫完五百字以前我絕對不起來＂。其次，在你覺得可以很容易重新開始的地方停下。換句話說，才在新段落中寫一兩句話的時候絕對不要停下來。這樣子的話，當你重新開始工作的時候就會容易的多。
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
教您撰寫科學論文的隨身手冊
如果您想要一本隨身手冊來隨時提醒您在發表科學資訊時易犯的錯誤，今天Editage要推薦您一本好用的書。
Reader-friendly Scientific Documents是一本大約92頁的小手冊（12.7*18.4公分）。該手冊提供科學研究人員各式撰寫溝通方式的實用指南與實例。Ann Bless和Ed Hull將他們過去四十五年來教導無數科學研究人員溝通技巧的經驗寫在書中。Ed Hull用他特有的幽默表示本書”也會對不希望別人讀他們文章的研究人員有幫助，因為他們會知道不可以怎麼寫。”
簡介強調這本書是給希望有效撰寫給那些不需要讀或是沒有足夠時間閱讀的＂真實世界＂的人們。接下來的兩個章節將會涵蓋句型與段落，而後面的五個章節將個別針對不同類型的檔案：複查文章、海報、信函、履歷表和摘要。四個實際演練（及其解答）各包含在其中，因此讀者可檢視他們對文章內容吸收多少。總的來說，這是讀這篇網誌的您一定會感到實用的工具書。
Reader-friendly Scientific Documents是一本大約92頁的小手冊（12.7*18.4公分）。該手冊提供科學研究人員各式撰寫溝通方式的實用指南與實例。Ann Bless和Ed Hull將他們過去四十五年來教導無數科學研究人員溝通技巧的經驗寫在書中。Ed Hull用他特有的幽默表示本書”也會對不希望別人讀他們文章的研究人員有幫助，因為他們會知道不可以怎麼寫。”
簡介強調這本書是給希望有效撰寫給那些不需要讀或是沒有足夠時間閱讀的＂真實世界＂的人們。接下來的兩個章節將會涵蓋句型與段落，而後面的五個章節將個別針對不同類型的檔案：複查文章、海報、信函、履歷表和摘要。四個實際演練（及其解答）各包含在其中，因此讀者可檢視他們對文章內容吸收多少。總的來說，這是讀這篇網誌的您一定會感到實用的工具書。
Friday, September 25, 2009
Three short lines: the hyphen, the en dash, and the em dash
As a researcher, you notice details relevant to your subject of interest that others never see. What to most people was simply a dish of glass was to Alexander Fleming an indication of the power of Penicillium to stop the growth of bacteria.
Similarly, what to most casual readers are simply dashes are to careful readers distinct punctuation marks, each with its separate function. The shortest dash is the hyphen, which is also the most common. It joins two or more words to represent them as a single unit, for example, a test-tube, 4-aminobenzensulphonic acid, fail-safe, or state-of-the-art facilities. Use a hyphen – but only with non-SI units – to combine a value (number) with a noun, as in a 15-inch rod or a 2-month vacation. Note that in most such cases with only one hyphen, the part before the hyphen modifies the part after the hyphen.
Intermediate in length is the en dash; use it to indicate a range, as in 6–10 kg or 6–10 mm. In references, separate the first and last page numbers with the en dash, as in Information Design Journal 17: 153–154. In such cases, the en dash simply replaces the preposition to. The second use of the en dash is to join two words that are equal in status as it were. In other words, the first part does not modify the second part, as in Michaelis–Menten equation, energy–environment interface, and nature–nurture debate.
The third, and the longest, is the em dash, which is rarely used in scientific texts. Think of it as a counterpart of the colon (:), which comes before a list or an explanation. The em dash follows such items and either sums up their contents or introduces a contradiction, as in "Solar water heaters, wind turbines, water mills, or even a simple fire made by burning a few dried branches, all share a common feature—they all use renewable sources of energy." or "The floor was washed with disinfectant; the air was filtered through a fine filter; the surgeon used a mask and sterilized gloves—it was the food that was contaminated."
Similarly, what to most casual readers are simply dashes are to careful readers distinct punctuation marks, each with its separate function. The shortest dash is the hyphen, which is also the most common. It joins two or more words to represent them as a single unit, for example, a test-tube, 4-aminobenzensulphonic acid, fail-safe, or state-of-the-art facilities. Use a hyphen – but only with non-SI units – to combine a value (number) with a noun, as in a 15-inch rod or a 2-month vacation. Note that in most such cases with only one hyphen, the part before the hyphen modifies the part after the hyphen.
Intermediate in length is the en dash; use it to indicate a range, as in 6–10 kg or 6–10 mm. In references, separate the first and last page numbers with the en dash, as in Information Design Journal 17: 153–154. In such cases, the en dash simply replaces the preposition to. The second use of the en dash is to join two words that are equal in status as it were. In other words, the first part does not modify the second part, as in Michaelis–Menten equation, energy–environment interface, and nature–nurture debate.
The third, and the longest, is the em dash, which is rarely used in scientific texts. Think of it as a counterpart of the colon (:), which comes before a list or an explanation. The em dash follows such items and either sums up their contents or introduces a contradiction, as in "Solar water heaters, wind turbines, water mills, or even a simple fire made by burning a few dried branches, all share a common feature—they all use renewable sources of energy." or "The floor was washed with disinfectant; the air was filtered through a fine filter; the surgeon used a mask and sterilized gloves—it was the food that was contaminated."
Thursday, September 3, 2009
在表格中撰寫"實驗句"
由於作者對研究數據已經非常熟悉，導致常常在表格中遺漏某些訊息，例如數據單位就是常常被遺忘的訊息。如果單位跟數據爲人所熟知，這樣的遺漏並不會造成太大的影響，比如身高體重或是空間的面積。不過，並不是所有人可以正確判斷單位。比如美國讀者可能對公斤、公分、公尺等單位不熟悉。所以他們有可能將這些沒有單位標示數據當作是磅而非公斤。
在一般的表格中，標題應該表示在最左邊的表格，如：東京月均溫表，月份是該表格資料的計量單位，而實驗句就可寫”東京的六月均溫為攝氏30度” 。根據這個例子，如果您忘記在表格中標示測量單位或是沒有提及這是來自東京的資料，那麼實驗句看起來就會不合邏輯。
因此，在投稿期刊前，養成在文章的每個表格中撰寫實驗句的習慣以檢查表格。
在一般的表格中，標題應該表示在最左邊的表格，如：東京月均溫表，月份是該表格資料的計量單位，而實驗句就可寫”東京的六月均溫為攝氏30度” 。根據這個例子，如果您忘記在表格中標示測量單位或是沒有提及這是來自東京的資料，那麼實驗句看起來就會不合邏輯。
因此，在投稿期刊前，養成在文章的每個表格中撰寫實驗句的習慣以檢查表格。
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Scientific names of organisms in italics? Not always
Scientific names of organisms in italics? Not always Written by Yateendra Joshi
It is standard to print the names of organisms in italics, as in Oryza sativa for rice and Escherichia coli for the most common species of bacteria in the human gut.
Italics are so used for differentiation: printed in italics, the names appear different from other text that surrounds them, enough to catch the reader’s attention but not to clamour for it.
However, there are other categories of text that have equal claim on italics: titles of books and journals, for example. And the typographer or the designer may well employ italics for setting figure captions, for headings, and for quotations, to name a few legitimate and common uses. And this is where you need to ignore the convention that scientific names are always in italics: if the text that surrounds such names is going to be in italics, print the names in normal (or upright or roman) font, not in italics; if you do, the names can no longer be differentiated—and the whole point of printing them in italics is lost.
["Publish and prosper" is a series of posts about tips for researchers whose first language is not English but who submit papers to journals published in English. The series touches upon not only writing (spelling, grammar, punctuation, usage, and style) but everything else relevant to publishing research papers that journal editors wish their authors knew.]
It is standard to print the names of organisms in italics, as in Oryza sativa for rice and Escherichia coli for the most common species of bacteria in the human gut.
Italics are so used for differentiation: printed in italics, the names appear different from other text that surrounds them, enough to catch the reader’s attention but not to clamour for it.
However, there are other categories of text that have equal claim on italics: titles of books and journals, for example. And the typographer or the designer may well employ italics for setting figure captions, for headings, and for quotations, to name a few legitimate and common uses. And this is where you need to ignore the convention that scientific names are always in italics: if the text that surrounds such names is going to be in italics, print the names in normal (or upright or roman) font, not in italics; if you do, the names can no longer be differentiated—and the whole point of printing them in italics is lost.
["Publish and prosper" is a series of posts about tips for researchers whose first language is not English but who submit papers to journals published in English. The series touches upon not only writing (spelling, grammar, punctuation, usage, and style) but everything else relevant to publishing research papers that journal editors wish their authors knew.]
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Q. 我翻譯後的文件已經過校稿，還需要編修服務嗎?
Q. 我翻譯後的文件已經過校稿，還需要編修服務嗎?
校稿和編修的定義總是很模糊，對很多人來說，他們是一樣的意思。但事實上，卻存在著很大的差異。當一份文件校稿時間為一小時，編修可能得花上三小時，甚至更久。究竟校稿和編修有什麼不同?
編修和校稿的差異
校稿基本上是找尋寫作上的錯誤，在您將文章提供給閱讀者前(如教授、出版社等)，修正文法及排字。文字上的意思及專業術語跟校稿是無關的，僅對文字正確性做修正。
英文編修是修改及重整的過程，讓文章通順而適於發表。編修包括了修改您文章的拼字錯誤、文法錯誤、不當用詞、連貫性、風格、一般排版、特殊排版( APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) 例如：圖表、引用、目錄、文獻、註釋等。
欲得知更多相關訊息 請點此查看
校稿和編修的定義總是很模糊，對很多人來說，他們是一樣的意思。但事實上，卻存在著很大的差異。當一份文件校稿時間為一小時，編修可能得花上三小時，甚至更久。究竟校稿和編修有什麼不同?
編修和校稿的差異
校稿基本上是找尋寫作上的錯誤，在您將文章提供給閱讀者前(如教授、出版社等)，修正文法及排字。文字上的意思及專業術語跟校稿是無關的，僅對文字正確性做修正。
英文編修是修改及重整的過程，讓文章通順而適於發表。編修包括了修改您文章的拼字錯誤、文法錯誤、不當用詞、連貫性、風格、一般排版、特殊排版( APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) 例如：圖表、引用、目錄、文獻、註釋等。
欲得知更多相關訊息 請點此查看
學術研究 實用連結
學術論文檢索
http://highwire.stanford.edu/lists/usage.dtl
Check out the most frequently read and/or cited articles for the listed journals.
http://www.periodicals.com/index.html
Order reprints of academic journals and antiquarian backsets, back volumes, and back issues of out-of-print journals and serials.
http://gort.ucsd.edu/newjour/
View the most exhaustive list of journals, magazines, and newsletters on the internet. Good resource to find specialized journals!
研究計畫及獎學金
International Funds in Health and Medicine
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
NIH, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, conducts and supports medical research.
http://www.nih.gov/
Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT)
Funds for cancer gene therapy research to combat all forms of cancer.
http://www.acgtfoundation.org/
Campbell Foundation
Funds for clinical research in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, and related conditions and illnesses.
http://www.members.aol.com/campfound
Cancer Research Institute (CRI)
Funds research aimed at furthering the development of immunological approaches to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer.
http://www.cancerresearch.org/
American Association for Cancer Research
AACR offers a number of research grants for cancer researchers at various stages in their careers.
http://www.aacr.org/
欲得知更多實用連結 請點此連結
http://highwire.stanford.edu/lists/usage.dtl
Check out the most frequently read and/or cited articles for the listed journals.
http://www.periodicals.com/index.html
Order reprints of academic journals and antiquarian backsets, back volumes, and back issues of out-of-print journals and serials.
http://gort.ucsd.edu/newjour/
View the most exhaustive list of journals, magazines, and newsletters on the internet. Good resource to find specialized journals!
研究計畫及獎學金
International Funds in Health and Medicine
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
NIH, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, conducts and supports medical research.
http://www.nih.gov/
Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT)
Funds for cancer gene therapy research to combat all forms of cancer.
http://www.acgtfoundation.org/
Campbell Foundation
Funds for clinical research in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, and related conditions and illnesses.
http://www.members.aol.com/campfound
Cancer Research Institute (CRI)
Funds research aimed at furthering the development of immunological approaches to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer.
http://www.cancerresearch.org/
American Association for Cancer Research
AACR offers a number of research grants for cancer researchers at various stages in their careers.
http://www.aacr.org/
欲得知更多實用連結 請點此連結
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