Elsevier Author Services – Articles
  • Language Editing Services
  • Translation Services
  • Illustration Services
  • Author’s Webshop
Facebook
Pinterest
LinkedIn
YouTube
WeChat
x
Elsevier Author Services – Articles
Language Editing Services by Elsevier Author Services
Elsevier Author Services – Articles
  • Research Process
  • Manuscript Preparation
  • Manuscript Review
  • Publication Process
  • Publication Recognition
  • English
  • Manuscript Preparation

Grammar Rules

  • 3 minute read
  • 9.6K views
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0
0
0

Table of Contents

  • Tenses
  • Punctuation
  • Word types

If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?

Have you noticed that “overlook” and “oversee” have opposite meanings, but “look” and “see” mean the same thing?

English is often considered one of the most difficult languages to learn. One reason for this could be some of the tricky grammar rules (or, rather, exceptions to the rules).

When you’re writing an academic paper, it’s worth bearing some of these in mind so the first draft of your manuscript is clear and ready for editing or proofreading. Here we take a look at three aspects of English grammar you’ll need to tackle in your writing.

Tenses

In a research paper, it’s important to get your tenses right, to be clear about when things happened – or are going to happen. Making sure you use the same tense throughout your article is one way to ensure clarity – if you talk through your research in the past tense, make sure you stick to that.

There are four types of past tense in English; switching between these in your writing can make it tricky for the reader to follow.

  • Past simple: we incubated the culture
  • Past continuous: we were incubating the culture
  • Past perfect: we had incubated the culture
  • Past perfect continuous: we had been incubating the culture

Past tense spelling can also be tricky; if “fought” is the past tense of “fight” why is “lit” the past tense of “light”? Be sure to use spell check!

Punctuation

Punctuation can be deadly: it makes the difference between “Let’s eat, Granny!” and “Let’s eat Granny!”

That’s a lighthearted example, but it shows how a simple comma can change the meaning of a sentence. Keeping your sentences short and simple is one way to make sure readers understand your meaning.

Apostrophes are particularly tricky for native and non-native speakers alike. The general rule is they are used for two purposes:

  • To show possession – the plant’s leaf
  • In abbreviations – that’s instead of that is; the ’ replaces the missing letter

For plurals – including numbers – you never use an apostrophe. Think apples, not apple’s and 1980s, not 1980’s.

Word types

An estimated 50% of the English language is made up of nouns – names for things, people and places. These words tend to be the simplest to get right, it’s the other words in the sentence that can be challenging. Here are some examples.

  • Articles: “the” is for referring to something specific (“we ran the experiment”) and “a” or “an” are for general things (“aluminum is a metal”). “An” is used in front of a word that starts with a vowel sound (“an electric charge” or “an FWCI”) and “a” is used for words that start with a consonant sound (“a light pulse”).
  • Verbs: make sure you’re using the right tense (see tenses above) and use spellcheck!
  • Prepositions: is the beaker on the bench or at the bench? Is the ladder against the wall or beside it? Prepositions tell you where something is, and using the right one is vital for guiding the reader through your research. If you’re not sure, check it with your editor.

English might be challenging, but it’s not impossible. The important thing is to make sure your meaning is clear – that makes the research you present in your paper understandable and reproducible.

Total
0
Shares
Post 0
Tweet 0
Share 0
Send 0
Message 0
Previous Article
  • Manuscript Preparation

Gained in translation – launching your international career

View Post
Next Article
How to switch between active and passive writing
  • Manuscript Preparation

How to switch between active and passive writing

View Post
You May Also Like
Converting your PhD Thesis into a Book in Five Steps
View Post
  • Manuscript Preparation

Converting your PhD Thesis into a Book in Five Steps

What is and How to Write a Good Hypothesis in Research?
View Post
  • Manuscript Preparation

What is and How to Write a Good Hypothesis in Research?

Research Paper Conclusion
View Post
  • Manuscript Preparation

Research Paper Conclusion: Know How To Write It

Know How to Structure Your PhD Thesis
View Post
  • Manuscript Preparation

Know How to Structure Your PhD Thesis

How to Write a Research Paper Outline
View Post
  • Manuscript Preparation

How to Write a Research Paper Outline

Medical Research Abstract
View Post
  • Manuscript Preparation

Medical Research Abstract: How to Write

How to Write a Scientific Article for Publication
View Post
  • Manuscript Preparation

How to Write a Scientific Article for Publication

Tips for a Manuscript in Preparation
View Post
  • Manuscript Preparation

Tips for a Manuscript in Preparation

  • How to Get an Article Published: Checklist

    How to Get an Article Published: Checklist

    • 4 minute read
    View Post
  • Medical Translation Services

    Medical Translation Services: Engage with researchers in their own language

    • 4 minute read
    View Post
  • How to Write a Research Question

    How to Write a Research Question

    • 5 minute read
    View Post
  • National trends in word use

    • 2 minute read
    View Post
  • Systematic Literature Review or Literature Review

    Systematic Literature Review or Literature Review?

    • 3 minute read
    View Post
More Posts
  • Converting your PhD Thesis into a Book in Five Steps
    Converting your PhD Thesis into a Book in Five Steps
    • 5 minute read
  • What is a Problem Statement
    What is a Problem Statement? [with examples]
    • 4 minute read
  • Write and Improve your Researcher Profile
    How to Write and Improve your Researcher Profile
    • 4 minute read
  • What is and How to Write a Good Hypothesis in Research?
    What is and How to Write a Good Hypothesis in Research?
    • 4 minute read
  • Research Paper Conclusion
    Research Paper Conclusion: Know How To Write It
    • 4 minute read
  • PowerPoint Presentation of Your Research Paper
    How to Make a PowerPoint Presentation of Your Research Paper
    • 4 minute read
Price Calculator
Type in wordcount for Standard
Total:
Follow this link if your manuscript is longer than 12,000 words.
Upload
Learn more about
  • Research Process
  • Manuscript Preparation
  • Manuscript Review
  • Publication Process
  • Publication Recognition
  • News
Elsevier Author Services – Articles
  • Language Editing Services
  • Translation Services
  • Illustration Services
  • Author’s Webshop
Elsevier wordmark
Terms & Conditions

Cookies are used by this site. To decline or learn more, visit our Cookies page.

RELX Wordmark

Input your search keywords and press Enter.