1. Writing for OCEAN 220 Goal: write a clean, concise manuscript that is: easy for your reader to understand introduces your topic explains thoroughly what you did (so someone can repeat it) presents results cleanly without interpretation, then… interprets the data and places it within the frame of other things that are known about your subject, both locally and globally. Don’t let writin misteaks lead you two a lo grade.

2. Scientific Papers are… Of a unique genre –Convey new, original information –Unlike other writing, you can never have much experience with your topic because it is all new

3. Try to: Avoid cliches like the plague – they’re old hat. Be more or less specific about it. Never ever use repetitive redundancies, ever. Remember that exaggeration is a million-trillion times worse than understatement. Remember you are writing for non-native readers (kiss)

4. Remember: Verbs has to agree with subjects. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually) unnecessary. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos. One word sentences? Eliminate. Use words correctly irregardless of how others use them. Puns are for kids, not groan readers. Even if a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed. Proofread carefully to see if you any words out. And don’t start a sentence with a conjunctive.

5. Limnology and Oceanography One of the premiere journals in our field Has a fairly normal style with a few little quirks

6. Paper organization Title page Acknowledgements Abstract Introduction Materials and methods Results Discussion References Tables Figure legends Figures

7. Title page Choose a short, informative title Name and scientific address of author Mark J. Warner University of Washington School of Oceanography, Box 355351 Seattle WA 98195-5351 warner@u.washington.edu Running header Page numbers start here

8. Acknowledgements This is your chance to say thanks to those who helped you. Many funding agencies mandate that you acknowledge their financial support here. Separate page from other sections

9. Abstract Summarizes the major aspects of the paper in one paragraph –The question you investigated –Brief description of methods –Major findings including key quantitative results or trends –Brief summary of interpretations and conclusions Describes the results rather than announcing them. “ Growth rates ranged between 3.4 and 6.2 mg C L -1 d -1 ” -vs- “Growth rates were measured”. Separate page from other sections

10. Introduction L&O quirk: this journal does not write out ‘Introduction’ Identify and limit the problem. Motivate the reader and review the pertinent literature. State the principle result and interpretation at the end of this section (optional). Briefly explain your rationale and approach. Materials and methods can start on the same page as this section – no need for a page break.

11. Materials and methods Describe your methods for reproducibility. Be precise and accurate. If using a standard method, reference it. If not, spell it out in paragraph form. Lists of instructions are not acceptable.

12. Results What are your principle findings? Hint: if this section isn’t relatively short, you might be mixing results and discussion together. This section should be organized around a series of Tables and Figures sequenced to present your key findings. The text follows this sequence and highlights answers to your questions Use the number of significant figures that matches the precision of your findings. No: Table 1 shows… No: 1-sentence paragraphs

13. Discussion Describe what your findings mean. How do your findings relate to what is known about the region or the topic? Do your findings imply anything for other studies? Perhaps for future studies? Reference to the appropriate literature. Compare your data to what others have seen before. Extrapolate to other seasons or places.

14. References On a separate page from discussion Listed alphabetically Comply with L&O format: (Baker et al. 1983; Brandes and Devol 1997) Baker E.T., G.A. Cannon and H.C.J. Curl. 1983. Particle transport processes in a small marine bay. J. Geophy. Res. 88: 9661-9669. Brandes J.A. and A.H. Devol. 1997. Isotopic fractionation of oxygen and nitrogen in coastal marine sediments. Geochim. Cosmochimm. Acta 61: 1793-1801. (NOTE: the reference is formatted as a hanging indent, all authors other than the first one are listed initials first (this is an L&O quirk, most journals are not like this), the use of capitol letters in the title is limited to the first letter of the title and proper nouns only, the journal title is abbreviated but not italicized, and the issue is in bold).

15. Tables The legend is with the table. Tables have only three lines: Table 1. Some results based on the stuff I did on the boat. stationdepthsalinity 14328.5436733 25229.4599832 312631.9541645 420330.1741478 51426.3428540 No. StationDepth (m)Salinity 14328.53 25229.45 312631.95 420330.17 51426.34 Yes

16. Figure legends Complete sentences or at least clear clauses. Go on a separate piece of paper from the actual figure. All the Fig. legends can be on the same page. Symbols used in the figure (e.g., circles, squares,...) are explained in a key on the figure itself rather than in the legend.

17. Figures A common cause of trouble…

18. Figures

19. Black & white vs. color 1 figure per page, 1 page per figure. –Note: a figure can have more than 1 panel in it. Limit of 7 figures (or less) per manuscript Author's name and figure number written on the FRONT of each figure, in pencil Figures are submitted at ~twice the size that they will appear when printed and lines are of proper thickness to be successfully reduced.

20. Things to ponder Avoid making yourself plural:‘we’ or ‘our’ Resist the temptation to string boxcars Try to write in the Hemingway style Get informal review before submission –We are here for you When in doubt, leave it in Avoid pronouns ‘this, that’ If there are weak points, don’t try to hide them

21. Good Luck!