00:00: Hello, and welcome to the Postgraduate Writing Hub. And this session gives you an overview of the scientific publication cycle. We talk about how to choose your manuscript title, abstract writing, where to publish your manuscript when you are done writing it, and how to increase your research impact. We will start by first looking at how to write the title of your manuscript.
00:31: The title is the first part of your manuscript that is seen by any reader when your work is being presented. The title should predict the content, it should catch the attention of readers, and it should reflect the tone of the material that you are writing. The title must also have some keywords that would make it easy for people to search for it when they are searching for papers in that area online. A title of a research project should be concise and should summarise the project.
01:04: Your title has the power to captivate readers and to draw them into your abstract. From there, they may be compelled to delve into your introduction and ultimately engage with your full article and possibly even cite your work. Therefore, a well-crafted title holds the key to reaching and influencing a wide audience. Make sure your manuscript title captures key information, including your study design, your keywords, and your significant discoveries.
01:40: When crafting titles, aim for conciseness and focus. To write your title, you can start by describing your paper in three sentences. Remember to avoid repeating the results in these three sentences and then summarise these three sentences. You can do this by joining these sentences to form a single shortened sentence, by removing redundant words or adjectives or phrases.
02:09: Consider using between 12 and 20 words. For some journals, it is even preferred that you have 12 words in your title. I’m going to give two examples of some titles. Look at this title: The effect of flooding on migration in Africa. Number two: The prevalence of Mpox in rural areas in Nigeria.
02:32: The first title has eight words, yet it provides a practical summary of what is provided in the manuscript. Each of these titles is clear, independent, and self-explanatory. PLoS One, Sage, and Elsevier are just a few of the many reputable publishing houses that offer valuable guidelines for crafting effective titles. You can visit their websites to explore the recommended best practice for creating compelling and informative titles.
03:06: What not to do when you are writing your titles? Do not write your title as a question. This can put your readers off. Do not sensationalise your research. Be honest about your findings. Also, avoid using abbreviations such as WHO and the rest in your title. Don’t write your title in abstractions.
03:29: Titles that are general, for example, “Paper one,” or “Lab report,” are unhelpful. For example, “Society and its many problems.” In this title, the reader has no idea which society is under discussion and what the particular problem may be or why this is at all current and significant. So, in writing your titles, do not use such general terms in your title. And the last “don’t do” is to avoid using cliches.
04:01: Do not use cliches like “birds that flock with the same feathers” in your title. Be very specific when writing your titles.