*NEW* PG's Tips blog: writing tips and advice

English is the language of science and, unfortunately, scientists must "publish or perish" in today's competitive environment. Let me help you to improve the chances of having your work published in quality journals.

The problem. Scientists who are not native English speakers are at a disadvantage when it comes to having their work accepted in the top scientific journals. This situation is a consequence of the scientific peer review system, where journal editors and reviewers may have difficulty understanding a poorly worded manuscript, irrespective of the quality of the science. The journals recognize the problem. Consider this line taken from the guidelines to authors of the Journal of Organic Chemistry: "Any author who is not fully fluent in idiomatic English is urged to obtain assistance with manuscript preparation from a fluent colleague, since manuscripts with nonidiomatic language use or extensive grammar deficiencies are handicapped during the peer review process."

The solution. A "fluent colleague" is needed to read your work. Sometimes, though, your colleagues may not be fluent enough, they may not be scientists, or they may not have the time. If this is the case, they might not be very helpful to you.

My service. I provide a fast, reliable, and affordable editing service for scientific manuscripts, proposals, and theses. I handle manuscripts sent to me by email or regular mail, correct their style and grammar, and return them to the authors. I deal with every aspect of the publishing process, from the manuscript to the proofing stage.

Who am I? I am an organic chemist with a PhD and many years as a postdoctoral researcher and teacher. I have hands-on experience in synthetic, physical-organic, supramolecular, analytical, and organometallic chemistry. I am a native English speaker who has lived and worked in Australia, the UK, and the USA. My resume/CV is posted here. I have been editing full-time since October 2002; I live in Los Angeles.

Why work with me? I probably understand your science and its jargon. I am very detail-oriented. I am very experienced as a writer as well as a chemist. I treat my clients with complete confidentiality. If your manuscript is rejected solely on the basis of the English or style then you need not pay me for my service.