How to write a book review
By David Woods So the editor has asked you to write a book review. You’re flattered. After all, the editor has presumably chosen you because you are knowledgeable about the…
Scientific conferences: time for rigorous appraisal
By Mary Gabb (mgabb@rxcomms.com) Attending national or international scientific conferences is a must for any researchers hoping to stay current in their research area and to network with colleagues. With…
Coping with information overload
A little more than a decade ago, if you’d used words like google, blog, spam, email, internet, iPod, PDA, instant messaging, Blackberry (unless referring to the fruit) and e-zines, people wouldn’t have had a clue what you were talking about. In fact, this e-zine would have been almost impossible to produce… with its “home” in the United Kingdom and its editor in the United States.
How to make the best use of graphics: Line graphs
Line graphs are an extremely useful way of showing changes and trends, especially over time. The following pointers are helpful when considering the use of line graphs
The essentials of foolproof proofreading
By Ruth B Murray Proofreading is the final stage of the editing process, focusing on surface errors such as misspellings and mistakes in grammar and punctuation, and should be done…
Overcoming writer’s block
by David Woods Asked if she liked writing, American author Dorothy Parker (1893–1967) replied that, no, she liked having written. Any writer who has sat facing a blank computer screen…
The Gunning Fog Index: a useful tool for targeting an article to an audience
By Ruth B Murray In the 1930s, psychologists began to research how our brains process written information. They found that the longer a sentence the more difficult it is for…
Watch your language
Singular mistakes A company is singular, not plural. Rx Communications is pleased to offer its services. The same for teams and groups: The team is working hard. But: Team members…
Macro- and micro-editing
by Ruth B Murray Editing a manuscript through the draft stages to produce a final product is time consuming, but the process ensures clarity, sense, accuracy and consistency. Macro-editing Macro-editing…
How to select a healthcare agency
By Clare Gurton There are hundreds of healthcare agencies and trying to find one that will suit your needs is difficult and potentially time-consuming. The key is to limit your…