Guides

ORCID, DOIs and Crossref: a researcher’s guide to persistent identifiers

What ORCID iDs, DOIs and Crossref are, how they work together, how to set them up properly, and how to spot fake or broken DOIs.

Writing a literature review that does more than summarise

A literature review should build an argument, not list who said what. Here is how to search, organise and write a review that shows where the field stands and where your work…

How to respond to a call for papers

A practical guide to reading a call for papers, judging whether it suits your work, and preparing an abstract or full submission that editors will want to accept.

How to write a research abstract that gets read

Your abstract is the part of your paper most people will ever see. Here is a practical, step-by-step way to write one that is clear, complete and worth clicking on.

How to write a cover letter to a journal editor

A practical guide to writing a short, clear cover letter that helps a journal editor see why your manuscript fits, with a structure, a checklist and common mistakes to avoid.

How to respond to peer reviewer comments

A step-by-step method for reading reviewer reports, planning revisions and writing a clear, courteous response letter, including how to disagree with a reviewer.