【Announcement for English Writing Seminar PSJ-2010】

Beth E. Hazen, PhD, of Willows End scientific editing and writing (http://willowsend.net/), will present a three-part, 3-h seminar on common problems that she has routinely encountered over the last 15 years as manuscript editor for the Phytopathological Society of Japan. Dr. Hazen received her PhD in plant pathology from Cornell University, is also manuscript editor and former production editor for American Journal of Botany, and edits for scientists submitting manuscripts to international journals.

The seminar is suitable for new authors starting to write research articles and for published scientists and manuscript reviewers. Seminar participants receive her 50-page booklet, Scientific Writing and Editing, a more extensive review of pertinent grammar, terminology, punctuation, and style for plant scientists.

You may send Dr. Hazen questions, problem sentences, paragraphs, or topics to include in the seminar at behazen@gmail.com.

1. Manuscript review

Overview for reviewers and authors highlighting appropriate content and major problems in each section of the manuscript, including tables and figures. Examples from actual manuscripts illustrate points.

2. Articles and prepositions

Review of indefinite (a, an) and definite (the) articles and prepositions and choosing the appropriate word.

3. Problems with word usage and punctuation

Examples from manuscripts illustrate common misuse of terminology, English grammar, and phrasing.

Manuscript review and articles (c. 1.5 h)

Prepositions, word usage, punctuation (c. 1.5 h)