Page 226 - How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper, 8th Edition 8th Edition

Page ix

Page xiv

students may wish to consult some of these references for additional or related information.

I do not have all the answers. I thought I did when I was a bit younger. Perhaps I can trace some of my character
development to the time when Dr. Smith submitted to one of my journals a surprisingly well-written, well-prepared
manuscript; his previous manuscripts had been poorly written, badly organized messes. After review of the new
manuscript, I wrote: "Dr. Smith, we are happy to accept your superbly written paper for publication in the Journal."
However, I just couldn't help adding: "Tell me, who wrote it for you?"

Dr. Smith answered: "I am so happy that you found my paper acceptable, but tell me, who read it to you?"
Thus, with appropriate humility, I will try to tell you a few things that may be of use in writing scientific papers.

In the Preface to the First Edition, I stated that I would "view the book as a success if it provides you with the
information needed to write effective scientific papers and if it makes me rich and famous." Having since achieved
neither fame nor fortune, I nonetheless continue to hope that this book is "a success" for you, the reader.

Finally, I hope that those of you who have used earlier editions of this book will notice improvements in this edition.
One thing I'm sure of: I'm not as big a fool as I used to be; I've been on a diet.

Page xv

Acknowledgments

In most of mankind gratitude is merely a secret hope for greater favours.
—Duc de la Rochefoucauld

Like a cookbook, a "how to" book presents many recipes that the author has collected over the years. A few of the
recipes may be original. Some may be variations of someone else's originals. Many of the recipes in such a collection,
however, are "borrowed" intact from other sources.

In this book, I have done a resonable job, I think, in citing the sources of material borrowed from the published
literature. But how about the many ideas and procedures that one has picked up from discussions with colleagues?
After the passage of time, one can no longer remember who originated what idea. After the passage of even more
time, it seems to me that all of the really good ideas originated with me, a proposition that I know is indefensible.

I am indebted to my friends and colleagues who served with me on the Publications Board of the American Society
for Microbiology during the 19 years I served that Society. I am also greateful to the Society for Scholarly Publishing
and the Council of Biology Editors, the two organizations from which I have learned the most about scientific writing
and publishing.

There is no question about it. I have been incredibly lucky with this book. As it now goes into its Fifth Edition, it is
still widely used in hundreds of colleges and universities. Oryx Press does a nice job of distributing the book in the
U.S. and Canada, and Cambridge University Press handles the publication in most of the rest of the world. In addition
to the English edition, the book is available in Spanish (published by the

file:///C|/...%20Books%20(part%201%20of%203)/How%20to%20write%20&%20publish%20scientific%20paper/preface.htm[4/27/2009 1:46:27 PM]