Hi Pineapple,

sorry to hear about the way you received your feedback, this must be demotivating, especially taking into account that you have worked so many hours (as per your previous posting).

On the other hand, perhaps, there is a link between the remarks that you have written too much, that the essentials are there, but hidden, and that you had 15 hours working days. The risk is indeed, that if you write so many hours that you get plenty of writing but possibly at the expense of quality and structure.

Maybe you should step out of what you have written and on a blank piece of paper write down that you really want to say: What has my research shown? Why is that important? What are the implications?

Based on that create the structure, using bullet points: What goes in the main text?, what is the conclusion?, what are the recommendations? Then think about the introduction.

This does not have to take long, perhaps a few hours, put it away, think again the next day etc. until you are fully happy with it.

Then, and only then, cut and paste relevant(only those!) areas from you old text into this new structure.



:-)

Hi JW297,

I just wanted to reiterate what Hazyjane mentioned. Being the first author is important and as such it doesn't matter that much whether there are other co-authors. In fact if some of the co-authors are established researchers from good institutions it could be an advantage, and may make that the paper is easier accepted.

However just adding authors, like Hazyjane indicated, is problematic. I think most journals now require a statement that all authors have been involved in the research, which will be difficult for your boyfriend to claim, as obviously the added ones were not involved at all.

I would also be sceptical about the reciprocal issue. It seems unethical for your boyfriend to accept becoming a co-author of a paper without his contribution. Also, even if he would be able to be involved in such a paper, it is not certain whether these promises are actually kept.

Hi jojo,

I think in general you could say something like:

The author / I / thank ..... for his support.
The author / I / thank ..... for his support of the research project around..... of which this paper is a part.

Most likely the supervisor will be happy that you acknowledge his help, on the other hand perhaps it would be wise to tell you supervisor, if you are going to mention his name in this paper.:-)

Hi Sneaks,

if you have examples of others using your proposed format, then why not use it.

Perhaps "The paper by Smith et al. (2001)" would be an alternative.

Good luck.

Just had another look at your question.

Could you not just say: Smith et al. (2001) show / indicate etc.

Hi sneaks,

et al. is, like misspacey already mentioned, plural, and as such there is no need to put an "s" at the end of it.

There are several referencing systems and as such also variations regarding how many people one should quote as authors before you use et al.. In some (mainly medical) journals it is 6, in others 3, and like you suggested ( I think more in business papers?) sometimes only one.

I think it is best to look at other theses that have been done at your university and compare. I think it would also be a very reasonable question to ask your supervisor.

:-)

Hi Pineapple,

is this not a matter of the grass being greener at the neighbours? I mean if one compares one gets unhappy. What does it matter that others have better grades / can run faster / jump higher etc. etc. Remember that "average" is relative: there will always be people who will be above and there will always be people below, independantly regarding what the standard is. Also with your PhD you are at the highest level of education, have achieved already a lot more than most of the "population"

I think it is best stick to the here and now. You are doing a PhD, you are making progress and if you persevere you will pass it. There will be others who will do better, there will be others who will do worse. Key issue is you. I think best to stick to that motto, use others for help but not to see them as your competitors.:-)

Hi Sue,

for me the key things are being creative and seeing things grow. It is great, like you are saying, to start from scratch, form, create and finally manage to publish an article!

Hi Sue2604,

can you not combine? I mean, would it be feasible to work in the public sector and aside that do some research? Perhaps it is possible to work part-time in your current job and to have a set number of days allocated for research? I recognise your point that you do not want a mediocre life but on the other hand you have doubts about searching for one contract after the other.

Personally I quite like the combination, I like my current job but also enjoy to do some more intellectual stuff, for example working on special projects, audits, teaching and also some research. I think you must be very brave not to opt for a regular income and to make the big jump.

Hi Missspacey,

I would think, like with a publication, that the abstract would not be part of it.

Not sure about the table of contents, however this probably would not include an enormous amount of words anyway, would it?

:-)

Thanks Missspacey,

am trying, quite hard though, to cut and throw away material what you have written, and at the same time to keep the content the same. :-)

Thanks Sue2604,

yes, perhaps it would be best to just send it, however my experience sofar is that it often takes several months before one gets feedback from a journal. I think it would be a pitty to send it and then to get a message back in 3 months time: Please reduce to 3000 words!

What was your experience regarding getting feedback?

Dear all,

I had sent an article for publication to a journal (which does not set a word limit) but it has been rejected (:-().
I am now trying to send it to another journal which sets a word count of 3000 words max. With a lot of effort I have managed to reduce the article from 4000 to 3150 words. I fear that if it is reduced more it would lose its coherence and meaning (qualitative research).
Does anyone know how strong these word limits are? Would it be OK to send it as a slightly longer manuscript, as long as I explain the reason in the letter to the editor? Or would they just reject as it is too long?
:-)

Hi Misspacey,

I think in all countries a high level is expected, yet there are cultural differences. For example in the Netherlands amosphere and working relations are perhaps less formal than in countries like Germany or Belgium. The dutch university system is very english minded and UK educated academics are well respected. For instance at the Maastricht University lectures are often in english as there are many international students.

However for all three countries I think it really helps if you speak the national language, does not have to be perfect, yet at least to have a basic level. Jobs are advertised in the newspapers and, in principle, are open for all with the right qualifications.

How about ringing "them"?
Could well be frustrating as well, yet may be more productive as repeating e-mails.

:-)