Writing for publication : the journal article

This chapter covers the essential features of writing an original article for a journal. Original articles are not the only items that journals publish, but they are the most common, alongside reviews, discursive articles and other shorter pieces such as editorials, commentaries and brief reports. However, being the most common, the original article is the item you are most likely to contribute to a journal and the features of it underpin most of the features of writing other types of contributions. These common features will be discussed in the context of writing an original article for publication and will follow a logical sequence (see Recommended reading list to supplement the guidance offered in this chapter). The chapter is conveniently considered in three sections: the first around publishing protocols and writing an article (things to consider before you start writing), the second around the protocols of writing the article itself and its organisation, and the third around the actual writing of the article itself.