Some Tips about Writing Technical Papers Michael R. Lyu September 9, 2003

General Writing in English is hard. The only way to master it is keep writing in it. Writing in English is hard. The only way to master it is keep writing in it. Read others’ papers and study their good writing skills. Read others’ papers and study their good writing skills. Read the book “The Element of Styles” Read the book “The Element of Styles”

When Writing a Paper.. Ask yourself "what is the main new idea in this paper?“ Ask yourself "what is the main new idea in this paper?“ Clearly specify your contributions Clearly specify your contributions Abstract gives an overall but concise statement about what the paper is doing. Abstract gives an overall but concise statement about what the paper is doing. Repeatedly emphasize key points: Repeatedly emphasize key points: –Tell them what you will do in the Introduction –Tell them what you are doing in the main body –Tell them what you have done in the Conclusion

Pay Attention to Every Detail Format. Format. Grammar. Grammar. Avoid klear errores; Avoid klear errores;

Format General You need a space after comma ",", a space before and after "=", and two spaces after period ".". General You need a space after comma ",", a space before and after "=", and two spaces after period ".". Avoid obvious grammatical mistakes. For example, “analyses” is noun, not verb. Its verb is “analyze.” Avoid obvious grammatical mistakes. For example, “analyses” is noun, not verb. Its verb is “analyze.”

Count Them Right! Some words are not countable Some words are not countable –research –Work “Future Researches” is not English “Future Researches” is not English Do not use the word "work" in plural, unless you mean "factory" "a piece of art". "Research works" is not a correct term. Do not use the word "work" in plural, unless you mean "factory" "a piece of art". "Research works" is not a correct term.

Careful Use of Words: “Have” Avoid using the word "have/has" unless it is used for a tense. Avoid using the word "have/has" unless it is used for a tense. –This book has three chapters -> this book contains three chapters –These models have the same property -> These models enjoy the same property.

Careful Use of Words: “To” Avoid using words "to" excessively. Opinion is originally a 3-dimentional metric to represent belief or trust and is extended to contain a 4th redundant parameter in order to use in combination with logical operators Opinion is originally a 3-dimentional metric to represent belief or trust and is extended to contain a 4th redundant parameter in order to use in combination with logical operators Opinion is originally a 3-dimentional metric in representing belief or trust and is extended to contain a 4th redundant parameter for simple usage in combination with logical operators Opinion is originally a 3-dimentional metric in representing belief or trust and is extended to contain a 4th redundant parameter for simple usage in combination with logical operators

The Word “Useful" Is Not Useful Choose word with concrete meaning for precise expression. Choose word with concrete meaning for precise expression. A word with too general meaning becomes meaningless. A word with too general meaning becomes meaningless. You should provide a concrete word to say how "useful" is it. You should provide a concrete word to say how "useful" is it. –“XML is useful in the Web.” →“XML is innovative in the Web.” →“XML is popular in the Web.” →“XML is powerful in the Web.”

Words and Sentences Don't repeat words. Change them to their synonyms. (MS Word gives you a good tool for that.) Don't repeat words. Change them to their synonyms. (MS Word gives you a good tool for that.) Make shorter sentences when possible. The longer sentences you make, the more ambiguous it may sound. Make shorter sentences when possible. The longer sentences you make, the more ambiguous it may sound. “And” should connect sentences of the same tense. “And” should connect sentences of the same tense. Wrong: “Our solution is based on network models in [1] and we proposed a new approach for authentication.” Right: “Our solution is based on network models in [1]. We proposed a new approach for authentication.” Better: “Based on network models in [1], our solution proposed a new approach for authentication.”

Should I Include “The”? All countable things need an article if they are not in plural. When you first mention a thing, use "a" as the article make that things plural. Since then, you use "the" as the article. All countable things need an article if they are not in plural. When you first mention a thing, use "a" as the article make that things plural. Since then, you use "the" as the article. When in doubt, always use "the" as the article. When in doubt, always use "the" as the article.

Acknowledgement Acknowledge grant in the final camera- ready paper. For example: Acknowledge grant in the final camera- ready paper. For example: –"The work described in this paper was fully/substantially/partially supported by a grant from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project No. CUHK4360/02E)." –"The work described in this paper was fully/substantially/partially supported by a grant from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project No. CUHK4360/02E)."

About Reference Put reference in either appearance order or alphabetical order (according to the first author's last name). Put reference in either appearance order or alphabetical order (according to the first author's last name). Include your own related papers in the reference list. Include your own related papers in the reference list. No reference citation in abstract and conclusion. No reference citation in abstract and conclusion. Consistent reference format, including authors, paper title, proceedings names, issue number, volume, places, dates, page numbers. They not only need to be in a consistent sequence, but also with right fonts and punctuations. Consistent reference format, including authors, paper title, proceedings names, issue number, volume, places, dates, page numbers. They not only need to be in a consistent sequence, but also with right fonts and punctuations.

How Do I Correct Your Manuscript? "underline" means "in italic face" "underline" means "in italic face" "double underline" means "in bold face" "double underline" means "in bold face" "triple underline" means "capitalize" "triple underline" means "capitalize" "/" means "in small case" "/" means "in small case" "ف " (a line or a circle with a curvy tail) means "delete" "ف " (a line or a circle with a curvy tail) means "delete" "  " means "undo" "  " means "undo" "\/" or "/\" means "insert" "\/" or "/\" means "insert" “ “ means "connect" “ “ means "connect" “small circle” (usually at the end of a word) means insert and connect “small circle” (usually at the end of a word) means insert and connect "P " means starting a new paragraph "P " means starting a new paragraph "clouded quote " means "my comments" "clouded quote " means "my comments" P