Editing Guide

Article Checklist

Is the author’s topic too narrow or too broad?
Does the intro make you want to keep reading?
Does the conclusion sum things up well and leave you satisfied? Does it logically follow from the introduction (e.g., make sure the author hasn’t accidentally changed focus by the time they get to the conclusion)?
If you read the article having zero knowledge base, would you feel like it was worth your time to read, you learned something interesting, and you could explain the main point to someone else?

Pronoun clarity
Sentence structure and flow
Comma splices/usage
Other punctuation usage
Spelling and word choice
Run-on sentences
Word choice
Jargon (not allowed!)
Are things defined in parentheses or dashes? (Avoid this because it makes the definition seem like an afterthought)

Are there any gross generalizations?
Does material from the papers correspond with the points the author is making? Is the author drawing conclusions correctly?
Does the author miss any important conclusions from the scientific literature?
Are the journals that sources are pulled from scientifically sound (impact factor > 2)?
Are authors doing justice to the content of the article? Are things explained without watering down the science, yet in a way lay people can understand?

After reading the intro, do you have a clear idea of what the paper is about? Is there a clear statement about why the main idea matters to us in a larger context?
Does the author explain things in a way that can be understood by any reader?
Does the author refrain from jargon and other unnecessary details?
Do paragraphs have a clear main idea? Are there good topic sentences, concluding sentences, and transitions?
Do the paragraphs flow well together—are they in a logical order? Does each paragraph contribute something meaningful to the article?
If the author uses analogies, are they understandable and relevant?

When writing about scientific research, spell out numbers less than ten—for example, use “five” instead of “5”—to maintain consistency and readability.
Avoid using “et al.” entirely; instead, refer to authors by their last name only after they’ve been properly introduced.
Use the word “significant” exclusively when referring to statistical significance, and include a brief explanation of what that means within the guide to help readers understand its importance.
When defining jargon that’s essential to the article, give it its own sentence or clause rather than embedding the definition mid-sentence.
Limit the use of abbreviations, and always spell them out the first time they appear.
Avoid using the word “causes” unless the study explicitly makes that claim.