Revision Guidelines for Authors
Manuscript Revision Guidelines for Authors
Revising your Abstract
This is the first point of interaction with a reader. It should be a clear indication of what the article contains. Ideally, the abstract should not duplicate the introduction of the manuscript. Consider writing it last or writing it as a series of synopsis statements as you revise each major section of your paper. Where possible, outline the content according to the implicit sections of your paper, for example:
Purpose, Introduction, Literature reviewed, Conceptual/Methodological/Analytical framework, Findings/Results/Implications.
If citations are absolutely necessary, keep them to one or two. Attend to tense consistency in the abstract: the project/study (past tense), the article (present). If the project is ongoing, be careful to write in a way which captures this status. When in doubt, access a sample abstract from a similar article format within your field and attend to the rhetorical moves therein, for your editing process. Recommended word count: 150-200
Revising Your Manuscript
Content and conceptual matters: Confirm that the content is relevant, theoretical frameworks are clear, and implications are evident in the manuscript.
Sections: Ensure that sections are labelled and located in the most strategic section of the manuscript, and transitions are evident.
Paragraphs: Observe traditional writing guidelines regarding topic sentences and supporting material. Reorder sentences if necessary.
Sentence structures: Where necessary, use grammar guides to support the editing process (consider Strunk and White, Elements of Style).
Mechanics: This is usually the least difficult to edit. The APA manual is helpful for the basics.
Revising Your Citations and References
Citations: Confirm that all your in-text citations are in the reference list.
The Reference List: Confirm the appropriate citation format for the source. When in doubt, triple-check. Consider:
- Citation machines
- A reputable article that has cited the same source
- The author’s CV where the source has been cited
These resources are prone to errors so the onus is on you to look at the formatting alongside APA guidelines to ensure that your reference is correct. If your source has never been cited before or not addressed in the APA manual, consider https://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/website/ for current insight on referencing formats for unconventional sources.
