Vital Grammar Checks Every Author Ought to Perform Before Completing a Research Paper
In the challenging world of academic publishing, researchers toil extensively to produce groundbreaking studies and publish them in prestigious journals. However, these publications face stiff competition, with rejection rates for top-tier journals ranging between 80-85%, and potentially soaring to 90-95% for high-impact ones. According to a report from the American Psychological Association, the overall research paper rejection rate in 2020 was approximately 75%. Even groundbreaking research can be dismissed if the language used is riddled with grammatical errors.
To increase the chances of publication, maintaining error-free grammar is crucial to the journey of a research paper, from conception to print. Well-structured language enhances the readability of research papers, effectively communicating with the intended audience. Thoroughly reviewing research paper grammar before submission is essential to avoiding common mistakes. Whilst minor errors may go unnoticed by editors, as they typically do not significantly impact readability, more critical errors that could potentially alter the intended meaning of a sentence should be addressed meticulously.
Here are some common grammar mistakes typically observed in research papers:
- Subject-Verb Disagreement: The subject and verb should always concur in number. Singular nouns should be paired with singular verbs, while plural nouns should be accompanied by plural verbs. To determine verb agreement effectively, disregard anything between the subject and verb or rephrase complex sentences for clarity and concision.
Incorrect: The patients who responded to the survey was mostly women.
Correct:The patients who responded to the survey were mostly women. (Subject: The patients; Verb: were, because it must agree with the plural subject)
Incorrect: One of the patients were diagnosed with diabetes.
Correct: One of the patients was diagnosed with diabetes.
- Incorrect Pronoun Placement: Pronouns replace nouns, so the antecedent must be clear. Rephrasing usually resolves this issue.
Incorrect: The researchers describe the process of gathering information about acetaminophen and discussing it**(Here, the pronoun "it" appears to refer to acetaminophen, which is incorrect and alters the intended meaning)
Better: The authors describe the process of gathering and discussing information about acetaminophen.
- Pronoun-Verb Disagreement: Certain indefinite pronouns always take singular verbs, while others take plural verbs, and some can take either. Stick to this rule to ensure the pronoun and verb agree in number.
Correct Usage:
- Some of the experiments are easy to conduct.At least some of their effort has paid off.
- Neither of them was consulted regarding the plagiarism issue.*
- Use of Contractions: Use of contractions should be avoided in academic writing to maintain a formal tone.
Avoid: The authors didn't conduct the experiment.
Correct: The authors did not conduct the experiment.
- Dangling Participles: Participles are verb forms that can act as adjectives; when they modify the wrong noun, they are dangling. In such cases, rephrase to place the correct or intended subject as close to the participle as possible.
Incorrect: Focusing on the deadline, the study was completed quickly by the researchers.
Better: Focusing on the deadline, the researchers completed the study quickly.
- Faulty Parallelism: Inconsistent grammatical forms in a list or sentence structure are known as faulty parallelism. To avoid this, ensure that each item in a series or comparison is presented in the same grammatical form.
Incorrect: Gerald likes to play chess, eating salads, and reading.
Correct: Gerald likes playing chess, eating salads, and reading.
Incorrect: The nurse examined the patient by checking the temperature and measured blood pressure.
Correct: The nurse examined the patient by checking the temperature and measuring blood pressure.
By adhering to these grammar rules and proofreading thoroughly, researchers can submit a well-written, error-free research paper that stands a better chance of being published. Proper grammar enhances clarity, professionalism, and credibility, ultimately contributing to the advancement of scientific knowledge.
- To ensure the success of academic translation projects, academic translators should be proficient in correcting language errors, particularly in subject-verb agreement and pronoun placement, to meet the standards of education-and-self-development materials.
- In addition to the language editing, it's advisable to seek writing support during the preparation of research papers, as proper structure can significantly improve learning outcomes by facilitating better understanding of complex concepts.
- Historically, researchers have relied on academic writing to share their findings, but as more priority is placed on submission readiness, academic institutions may consider offering courses on grammar fundamentals to remove barriers to publication.
- This focus on grammar in academic papers can also impact learning, as students may be encouraged to adopt proper writing practices to communicate their ideas more clearly, thereby accelerating their learning process.
