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Writing guides for academics

Skills and advice for researching, collaborating on and writing academic books, articles, papers, reports and essays, from preprints to peer-reviewed journals.

‘Creative writing can be as impactful as an academic paper’

Grassroots initiatives can promote visibility of marginalised groups, self-expression and community, writes Emily Downes. Here are her key tips from running a creative writing competition to mark LGBTQ+ History Month

Emily Downes

Teesside University

A pin stuck in a calendar on a date that reads: "Write your thesis!"

One thesis, two supports, three months

Completing a thesis within 12 weeks may seem impossible, but by combining AI and your supervisor’s expertise, it can be done. Mariam Shadan shows how

Mariam Shadan

Dubai Medical University

How to write a PhD thesis: a step-by-step guide

A draft isn’t a perfect, finished product; it is your opportunity to start getting words down on paper, writes Kelly Louise Preece

Kelly Louise Preece

The University of Exeter

Want to foster community and give your students a voice? Start blogging

From educators to students, blogging is a vital social infrastructure for the higher education community. Michael Taster and Rosemary Deller offer their tips

Michael Taster, Rosemary Deller

The London School of Economics and Political Science

Advice on drafting effective proposals for interdisciplinary research projects

All together now: how to write an interdisciplinary research proposal

Advice on drafting successful research proposals to secure support and funding for interdisciplinary projects, from three academics with experience developing research partnerships and collaborations

Catherine Healy, Catherine Lyall, Isabel Fletcher

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Edinburgh

How to tackle the PhD dissertation

Finding time to write can be a challenge for graduate students who often juggle multiple roles and responsibilities. Mabel Ho provides some tips to make the process less daunting

Mabel Ho

Dalhousie University

How mathematical practices can improve your writing

Caroline Yoon

The University of Auckland

A hand uses a laptop trackpad as candles burn in the background

Protect your emotional well-being for a happier writing experience

Writing academic papers can be a long and emotional journey. Burcu Totur Dikmen offers her tips for emotional well-being

Burcu Totur Dikmen

Near East University

A student practices their interviewing skills

Why your students need to learn the skills of a journalist

Interviewing real people to gain original stories and insights is a skill that will serve your students well in the age of AI. Julie Nightingale offers tips

Julie Nightingale

Nottingham Trent University

A woman interviews for a new job at a university

How to show you’re the best person for the job

Many applicants struggle to articulate their successes in their applications for a job, promotion or award. Harriet Dunbar-Morris is here to help you make your case

Harriet Dunbar-Morris

University of Buckingham

Five ways to beat the procrastination monster

Writing and procrastination often go together like pen and paper, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Here, Glenn Fosbraey offers strategies to stop putting off putting words on the page

Glenn Fosbraey

University of Winchester

Business students writing prompts for AI

Embrace AI tools to improve student writing

Rather than trying to keep it out of the classroom, here are ways faculty can facilitate more effective use of ChatGPT for writing assignments

Pamela Bourjaily

University of Iowa

Book with tree and compass green concept

How storytelling boosts environmental impact and engagement

Presenting sustainability research in a story – with a protagonist, goal and resolution – can bridge the gap between complex theory and real-world results for wider audiences and policymakers alike

Denise Baden

University of Southampton

Asian woman holding vintage video camera

Using primary sources to tell queer histories

Public records and private lives? In uncovering LGBTQ+ stories in personal archives and impersonal documents, historians should ask questions about how each source engages with gender and sexuality, writes Isabell Dahms

Isabell Dahms

Goldsmiths, University of London

What is your academic writing temperament?

Many early career researchers struggle to write enough. The key is to move away from an abstract notion of productivity and towards a productive writing process, explains Rachael Cayley. Here, she offers questions to help ECRs find their writing rhythm

Rachael Cayley

University of Toronto

Cartoon of a detective with a magnifying glass analysing a piece of paper being held by a robot

Can we detect AI-written content?

A look at common features of large language model-created writing and its implications for how we might assess students’ knowledge and skills in the future

Cesare Giulio Ardito

The University of Manchester

Give your academic paper its best chance of being accepted

Peer review is a key step in the journey to publication in that prestigious journal, but not every paper gets to this stage. Here are key reasons for desk rejection and how to avoid them

Cheong Fan

Macau University of Science and Technology

Breaking academic barriers: large language models and the future of search

The true potential of generative AI and large language models remains underexplored in academia. These technologies may offer more than just answers. Here’s how the insights they offer could revolutionise academic search and discovery

Adrian Raudaschl

Elsevier

Enhancing manuscript clarity and ethical credibility with ChatGPT

Ikenna Uwanuakwa shares experience and tips for using ChatGPT to improve academic writing without falling foul of ethical considerations

Ikenna Uwanuakwa

Near East University

Asian man concentrating on writing at a computer

Authenticity sells because it matters

Written communication – whether that’s a press release or IT guidelines – should be clear, sincere and accessible. Here, Mike Brown offers ways to help colleagues build the confidence and skills to tell their stories in an authentic way

Mike Brown

University of Southampton

How to teach creative writing even if you’ve never done any yourself

A successful writing workshop depends on respect, which is a two-way street, observes Toby Litt. Refrain from sneering at bad writing and offer praise to offset the critiques

Toby LItt

University of Southampton

Seven questions about storytelling in the classroom

Ng Lee Keng explains why and how telling stories in class can transform student engagement and make your lessons more interesting

Ng Lee Keng

Singapore Institute of Technology

Sensitive marking and the end of the line for the academic essay

Rather than flagging essays by students with specific learning difficulties for “sensitive” marking, why are universities not rethinking the way they assess to make it more equitable for all students?

Andrew Read, Donna Hurford

University of Southern Denmark, Independent consultant

THE podcast: how to use generative AI in your teaching and research

Higher education is only beginning to understand the impact that generative AI tools such as ChatGPT will have on teaching and research. Three intrepid explorers join us in this episode to share what useful functions they’ve discovered for the technology

Jennifer Rose, David Nicol, Brooke Szücs

The University of Manchester, University of Glasgow, The University of Queensland

“Feedback” appears in white text with a yellow background, with a contrast ratio of 1.7:1. The image has a reflection of an open window on it, making the text much harder to read. In some places the contrast of the text is as low as 1.0001:1

A colour matrix to make visual content more accessible

Accessible content is better content. One way to boost accessibility in visual materials is paying attention to colour contrast during the design process. Here’s a tool to make that simpler

Matthew Deeprose

University of Southampton

A bridge between academics and communications staff

Science communication in a post-Covid world calls for a new way to span the gap between researchers and university comms teams – and a new skill set, as Michael Head explains

Michael Head

University of Southampton

Ten tips to succeed in publishing in English as a second language

English is now selected five times as often as the authors’ national language for journal article publication. Christopher Tancock explains how you can get published even if English is not your first language

Christopher Tancock

Elsevier

Illustration of robot framed by screen acting as editor to writer at laptop

Not replacing but enhancing: using ChatGPT for academic writing

Generative AI and how it can be used for plagiarism has provoked fear in higher education. However, the technology can also improve and accelerate your writing process if it is applied in a constructive, positive manner

Brooke Szücs

The University of Queensland

How universities can help rebuild trust in science

The crisis of confidence in science has deep origins. The answer to regaining traction is compelling stories and the skills to tell them beyond the academy, writes Bartłomiej Knosala

Bartłomiej Knosala

Silesian University of Technology

Young Indian student looking thoughtful at a laptop

A translation exercise to improve students’ creative writing

Literary translation and writing have a cyclical, reciprocal relationship, as novelist Maithreyi Karnoor explains with a task to tap into students’ feel for language

Maithreyi Karnoor

Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology

Connected wooden markers on a blue background

Questions to foster open and engaging research communication

Each stage of a research project comes with questions about what information to share and with whom. Richard Holliman offers practical advice on how to make your research communication more transparent and engaging

Richard Holliman

The Open University

Books and papers piled around an empty notepad with a pencil poised to write

Making the abstract concrete

Strategies for writing effective abstracts for conference and research papers

Steven Bateman, Yingchun Li

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

How to pitch a book to an academic publisher

Key considerations for researchers when choosing an academic publisher and preparing their pitch

Victoria Pittman

The University of Bristol

Image of someone typing into a laptop with multi-coloured streams firing out of it

Three ways to refresh your academic writing

To answer the common question posed by researchers, ‘how can I improve my academic writing?’, Anne Wilson outlines three simple steps that can help

Anne Wilson

Royal Literary Fund

Writing exam questions in a six-step process

Writing exam questions is a meticulous, complex and creative part of teaching. The habit of using a standardised process will make this frequent task more manageable, writes Fiona Lifen Liu

Fiona Lifen Liu

Macau University of Science and Technology

Individual writing in a notepad with phone and ipad set aside

Silence is golden when you ‘shut up and write’ together

How to build a supportive community of practice and peer learning through the simple practice of meeting online to ‘shut up and write’

Kelly Louise Preece, Jo Sutherst

The University of Exeter

How to write more compelling awards entries

How to write better awards entries

From conducting in-depth interviews to telling the whole story, Sam Russell provides top tips for crafting a compelling narrative that will appeal to awards panels

Sam Russell

Arden University

Film slate for a television documentary written by an academic

Don’t touch that dial: how to pitch and write for broadcast

Don’t be afraid to rework your scholarship for a mass audience. Find the narrative in your research and build relationships with commissioning editors, says Matthew Flinders

Matthew Flinders

University of Sheffield

Stretch your work further by ‘triple writing’

Rewriting your research to serve different purposes and to reach different audiences can lead to new opportunities. And it’s fun, says Matthew Flinders

Matthew Flinders

University of Sheffield

Group of women working together online via teleconferencing

Virtually writing together: creating community while supporting individual endeavour

Lessons in setting up and running a virtual writing group that facilitates individual and collaborative work through a supportive community of practice

Karen Kenny

The University of Exeter

Illustration of man at laptop surrounded by graphic elements

Creating an impactful visual abstract with no design experience

The basic principles of design offer guidelines for creating a scientific visual abstract. This guide will take you from blank space to eye-catching, easy-to-understand graphics

Lipsa Panda

Elsevier

How to raise the bar on the teaching section of your CV

From not burying the teaching section to developing a broad range of experiences, Emma Williams gives tips on making your CV shine when applying for a lectureship

Emma Williams

EJW Solutions

Writing an abstract concept illustration funnel and laptop

Read this before you write your abstract

The abstract is arguably the most important element of a scholarly article, so it should be informative, meaningful and impactful. Michael Willis gives two objectives, and practical tips, to keep in mind

Michael Willis

Wiley

detail of computer screen showing cut and copy commands

Cut the copying: tips to discourage plagiarism

Plagiarism is a growing problem for higher education institutions. Temesgen Kifle and Parvinder Kler share tips for instructors (and students) on how to reduce this form of student academic misconduct

Temesgen Kifle, Parvinder Kler

The University of Queensland , Griffith University

Don’t jettison traditional academic writing just yet

Academic writing is transforming – into comics, podcasts, installations – but that doesn’t mean bog-standard peer-reviewed papers are less key to institutional status or individual promotion, writes Pat Thomson

Patricia Thomson

University of Nottingham

Writing and presenting reports for government: five dos and five don’ts

A guide for academics on the dos and don’ts of writing and presenting research reports designed to inform policymakers

Naresh Pandit

The University of East Anglia, Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN)

The magic motivation fairy does not exist for academics

Bad news, kids (and academics): the magical motivation fairy doesn’t exist

Motivation for tricky tasks doesn’t just appear magically, but with these psychological tricks you can get yourself and your career moving, says Hugh Kearns

Hugh Kearns

Flinders University

Don’t be cruel: how to write a fair peer review report

Not every comment in a peer review report will be positive, but it is possible to highlight weaknesses and errors in a journal article while being constructive. After all, behind every manuscript are authors who have ploughed time and effort into the submission

Sin Wang Chong, Shannon Mason

The University of Edinburgh, Nagasaki University

Image depicting a story emerging from the pages of a book

The transformative potential of narrative writing explained

Narrative writing is one way academics can meaningfully communicate their work to the public but it can be hard to master. Steven Beschloss shares a guide to improve narrative writing skills

Steven Beschloss

Arizona State University

Image representing critical analysis of research

Great citations: how to avoid referencing questionable evidence

Researchers don’t always stick to careful citation practices and occasionally cite evidence that has been questioned or even retracted. Find practical tips on how to avoid citing faulty evidence and maintain good citation hygiene

Dmitry Malkov

Elsevier

1 2 3

Writing guides for academics

.css-1ndcrd1{overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;max-height:108px;text-indent:0px;}‘Creative writing can be as impactful as an academic paper’

One thesis, two supports, three months

How to write a PhD thesis: a step-by-step guide

Want to foster community and give your students a voice? Start blogging

All together now: how to write an interdisciplinary research proposal

How to tackle the PhD dissertation

How mathematical practices can improve your writing

Protect your emotional well-being for a happier writing experience

Why your students need to learn the skills of a journalist

How to show you’re the best person for the job

Five ways to beat the procrastination monster

Embrace AI tools to improve student writing

How storytelling boosts environmental impact and engagement

Using primary sources to tell queer histories

What is your academic writing temperament?

Can we detect AI-written content?

Give your academic paper its best chance of being accepted

Breaking academic barriers: large language models and the future of search

Enhancing manuscript clarity and ethical credibility with ChatGPT

Authenticity sells because it matters

How to teach creative writing even if you’ve never done any yourself

Seven questions about storytelling in the classroom

Sensitive marking and the end of the line for the academic essay

THE podcast: how to use generative AI in your teaching and research

A colour matrix to make visual content more accessible

A bridge between academics and communications staff

Ten tips to succeed in publishing in English as a second language

Not replacing but enhancing: using ChatGPT for academic writing

How universities can help rebuild trust in science

A translation exercise to improve students’ creative writing

Questions to foster open and engaging research communication

Making the abstract concrete

How to pitch a book to an academic publisher

Three ways to refresh your academic writing

Writing exam questions in a six-step process

Silence is golden when you ‘shut up and write’ together

How to write better awards entries

Don’t touch that dial: how to pitch and write for broadcast

Stretch your work further by ‘triple writing’

Virtually writing together: creating community while supporting individual endeavour

Creating an impactful visual abstract with no design experience

How to raise the bar on the teaching section of your CV

Read this before you write your abstract

Cut the copying: tips to discourage plagiarism

Don’t jettison traditional academic writing just yet

Writing and presenting reports for government: five dos and five don’ts

Bad news, kids (and academics): the magical motivation fairy doesn’t exist

Don’t be cruel: how to write a fair peer review report

The transformative potential of narrative writing explained

Great citations: how to avoid referencing questionable evidence

‘Creative writing can be as impactful as an academic paper’