Category Archives: Academic Writing

APA 7th Edition: Key Changes

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Whenever the American Psychological Association (APA) introduces a new edition of its publication manual, the new version usually includes several important changes to the style standards. This post covers some of the most significant updates introduced in the 7th edition of the APA style guide.

Referencing Standards

Changes to citation style in APA 7 mainly relate to simplifying citations and making online sources easier to cite. The main changes are as follows:

Publisher locations should no longer be included in the reference list for book entries.

Previously, references to books had to include both the publisher location and publisher name (e.g., “Washington, DC: American Psychological Association”). Now, only the publisher name should be included (e.g., “American Psychological Association”). For references where the publisher and author are the same, the publisher name is simply omitted from the citation.

DOIs and URLs are now presented differently.

Both are now included as hyperlinks in references and DOIs no longer need to be preceded by the label “DOI.” The label “Retrieved from” is now only used before URLs when a retrieval date is necessary—otherwise, the URL follows the period after the page title or page name (e.g., Howe, J. (2006, June 1). The rise of crowdsourcing. Wired. https://www.wired.com/2006/06/crowds).

Use of “et al.” has changed.

Previously, APA stipulated that in-text citations for up to five authors should include all author surnames, with “et al.” used in subsequent citations of the same work. In APA 7, “et al.” is used for all instances of citations with three or more authors, even at first mention.

In the reference list, if a source has 20 or fewer authors the surnames and initials of all of these authors should be included in the full reference. For sources with 21 or more authors, the first 19 authors should be listed, followed by an ellipsis, and then the final author’s surname and initial(s) (e.g. “Wiskunde, B., Arslan, M., Fischer, P., Nowak, L., Van den Berg, O., Coetzee, L., Juárez, U., Riyaziyyat, E., Wang, C., Zhang, I., Li, P., Yang, R., Kumar, B., Xu, A., Martinez, R., McIntosh, V., Ibáñez, L. M., Mäkinen, G., Virtanen, E., . . . Kovács, A. (2019). Indie pop rocks mathematics: Twenty One Pilots, Nicolas Bourbaki, and the empty set. Journal of Improbable Mathematics, 27(1), 1935–1968. https://doi.org/10.0000/3mp7y-537”).

Inclusive and Bias-Free Language

APA 7 provides new guidelines regarding writing in a way that is inclusive and respectful of all people, regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, and racial and ethnic identity. For example, the APA now endorses the singular “they,” which is a gender-neutral pronoun (e.g., “A writer’s career might be influenced by how much they read,” rather than “…how much he or she reads,” “how much he reads,” etc.).

APA 7 also recommends sensitivity when applying labels and using descriptive phrases or adjectival forms over adjectives as labels. For example, the 7th edition endorses using the phrase “people living in poverty” instead of “the poor” (American Psychological Association, 2020, p. 133). If you are interested in learning more, chapter 5 of the APA 7th edition provides extensive examples of and recommendations for using inclusive and bias-free language.

For more details on the above changes, or to read about all changes, you can check out this handy document published by the APA. And if you are feeling overwhelmed by trying to keep track of these new standards, our editors can help. We our experts in applying whichever version of APA (or other style) is required by your school or journal, so you can spend time writing and leave the style points to us.

 

Work Cited and Consulted:

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.).

Write Smarter: How to Set Effective Goals in Your Academic Writing

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How often do you walk away from your computer after a writing session feeling disappointed at having not written more? This will be familiar to any academic, but ask yourself: What did you set out to achieve in the first place? One mistake too many of us make is that we approach writing with ill-defined goals. However, the research is clear: Setting effective goals is the first step toward making tremendous accomplishments.1

Thankfully, there are plenty of methods to help you set practical goals, one of which is the SMART framework. Using this framework will help you not only keep on track but identify when a day’s work is complete. This means you can walk away from the computer feeling proud of what you have accomplished.

What does SMART stand for? The short answer is Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound. Each of these corresponds to a strategy you can use when setting your writing goals. Below, we explore each component in the context of academic writing.

Specific

Rather than being vague, a good writing goal will make crystal clear the particular task to be completed (and how), often using numbers.

Bad example of a specific goal: “I will write some of my introduction section today.”

Good example of a specific goal: “I will write five paragraphs of my introduction, focusing on the quantity of writing. I’ll go back and edit for quality tomorrow.”

Measurable

How will you know that you are making progress toward your writing goal, and how will you know when you have achieved it? Ensuring you have quantifiable metrics against which you can benchmark your progress is essential for holding yourself accountable and knowing when it’s time to close the laptop.

Bad example of a measurable goal: “I will write up some of my discussion section today, stopping when I get tired.”

Good example of a measurable goal: “I will write 500 words of my discussion, after which I will stop writing and review my work tomorrow.”

Achievable

It’s possible that being accepted by a top-tier publication on your first submission, or drafting an entire thesis in a day, is unrealistic. Take a moment to consider whether your goals are achievable. Seek support and keep your goals manageable.

Bad example of an achievable goal: “I will finish the last chapter of my thesis before editing and proofreading the entire manuscript in time for the submission deadline. I’ll squeeze it in around the other things I have to do. Everything will be fine!”

Good example of an achievable goal: “I will take the next day to finalize the last chapter of my thesis and then send it to a professional proofreading service to get the language polished.”

Relevant

It’s much easier to work on things that feel personally relevant to you. Ask yourself—ideally before you even commence writing—whether your current writing project feels meaningful and exciting. Goals that motivate us in and of themselves, irrespective of their material rewards, are much more motivating than goals we’re pursuing purely for a paycheck.2

Bad example of a relevant goal: You see a call for proposals for an upcoming special issue. The issue is not on a topic that you find particularly interesting, but you’ve got some results that you think will fit the bill. You decide to write up a proposal but it feels like a chore. When the proposal is accepted, you dread the time you must now dedicate to writing the full manuscript.

Good example of a relevant goal: You have been offered the chance to submit a chapter to an edited book. The offer comes from a prestigious and reputable publisher, but the topic you would be writing about isn’t as interesting to you as your focal research. You decide to decline the offer and focus on your core research. Consequently, you enjoy sitting down to write much more than if you had pursued the opportunity, and are highly productive.

Time-bound

Lastly, the best goals are time-bound. Create a timeline of tasks that lead up to a final deadline, ensuring they are bite-sized and allow buffer room for any unexpected hiccups.

Bad example of a time-bound goal: “I’m going to finish that chapter of my thesis… eventually.”

Good example of a time-bound goal: “I will complete the first draft of my 3,000-word discussion section within seven days. Therefore, I will write 500 words each day up to the deadline, allowing one day for any delays.”

Consider setting yourself some SMART goals and watch as your writing productivity soars!

Tracking Down Information: How and Where to Find Sources for an Academic Paper

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You have an idea about what you want to write about, but where do you go from there? Research is the key to good writing, but you might not know just where to start. Most people jump straight to Google, and while, of course, Google abounds with information, not all of it is useful or legitimate. Here are some ideas for other great places to start looking. And remember, we can help you ensure you have cited correctly and styled your references according to any applicable guidelines. This means you can focus on the research and writing side!

Head to the Library

This might seem obvious, but libraries are not only a great resource for the books themselves—they also have librarians who are trained to help you find the information you need. Each library also has its own online catalog you can use to search and access its holdings. If you don’t find what you need, you can check out WorldCat, which connects you to the materials of more than 10,000 libraries worldwide. Often, your library will be able to order the material in for you (sometimes this is free, sometimes it costs a small fee—just check with your library first).

Libraries also provide access to online databases. Libraries pay for access to these databases so that you can use the materials in them for free. You can find out what articles and e-books your library has available through its online catalog. You might need to log in to access these items. Library stacks can also be helpful: books are generally organized by subject, so if you find one really great book in the catalog, you can go find the book on the shelf. Chances are, if you look at the books around it you’ll find even more books to use in your research.

Check Reference Works

If you don’t know a lot about your topic, reference works might be a good place to start. It can be very helpful to read broadly on a topic before narrowing in on your specific research question. Textbooks, handbooks, and subject dictionaries are great places to start for understanding the basics, and these sources can point you to more specific scholarly sources. Encyclopedias are great too, but a word of caution: don’t rely on or cite Wikipedia unless absolutely necessary—it is not considered a sufficiently reliable source for use in scholarly work.

Follow Citation “Rabbit Holes”

Going down a citation rabbit hole can be one of the best ways to find good information. It just takes a little time and detective work. Once you have found a really good, recent academic source, look at the works that book or paper cites in its footnotes or reference list. You can then hunt down these sources, and later look at the publications they use—and so on. Another way to do this is to use Google Scholar to identify authors that have cited your primary article. These rabbit holes are essentially bottomless and can be incredibly useful in building the body of scholarship that will inform your paper.

Find an Expert

Never underestimate the power of human connection. If you know or can easily contact someone working in your field, reach out to them. Scholars love to discuss their work and see how your study fits in. Not only will this help to further your own research, but you might build a lasting connection for future work. Experts can also point you to good research that you might have overlooked.

If you want even more information on the research, writing, and citation process, check out citation handbooks such as Kate L. Turabian’s A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, the MLA Handbook, or the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.

We hope these tips will be helpful in your quest for information. One final piece of advice: make sure you keep track of the sources you find as you go along, and know how to access them again. This will make it much easier to build your reference list and avoid accidental plagiarism. And don’t worry if you’re not confident on citation and reference formatting—we can help you with this as part of our academic editing service.

Happy reading!

Take a Better Break: How to Boost Your Writing Productivity Using Breaks

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We talked about the Pomodoro Method of writing—which is a strategy combining 25-minute increments of focused writing with five-minute breaks—in another post. But what exactly should you do during writing or study breaks to maximize your productivity once you’re back behind the keyboard?

Take a moment to reflect on what a typical break from writing looks like for you. Do you chat with your colleagues or friends? Do you browse social media? Maybe you take a short walk. Ultimately, a productive break from writing is likely to look different for different people. However, new findings about the science of recovery suggest some rules of thumb to increase your chances of feeling replenished and ready to write after your breaks. Below, we explore three science-backed tips for taking a better break.

Spend a Moment in Nature

Studies show that taking some time outside may be more restorative than taking a break indoors. The reason for this is related to the effect of the natural environment on our attentional capacity. Findings indicate that when we spend time in nature, we tend to subconsciously focus on features of the environment, such as the calls of birds, the chill of the wind, or the sounds of rustling trees. This soft, nondeliberate focus allows your conscious attention to rest, meaning that once you return to the computer you’ll be better able to mobilize your attention and focus on your work.1 Additionally, getting some physical distance from your work will help you to psychologically detach and truly relax during your break.2

Even if you can’t physically get outside, studies show that just gazing upon natural scenery through a window is sufficient to rest your attentional capacity.3

Do Something Nonwordy

Be sure not to spend too much time during your break engaging in “wordy” activities, such as reading articles or responding to messages. These activities use the same language-processing parts of your brain that writing does, and may continue to draw on the same cognitive resources you need to get your work done.4

Instead, try something you enjoy that is “nonwordy,” such as light stretching or a short game on your smartphone.

Let Your Mind Wander

Stuck on your next paragraph? Take a few minutes to let your mind wander during your writing break. Findings from creativity research suggest that intentionally disengaging from problems and taking a moment to daydream can be an effective way to have those much-needed “a-hah!” moments. This is because our brains unconsciously work through problems when we’re not consciously thinking about them.5

To make this type of break work for you, physically distance yourself from your work for a few minutes and take that time to daydream about whatever comes to mind. The ideas will come flowing in no time.

Ready to be a more productive writer? Commit to testing out one of these tips today and see how your productivity improves!

Primary, Secondary, or Tertiary?: Identifying the Sources You Need to Get Writing

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Information is everywhere, but what kind of information do you need for a research paper? Sources come in many forms and sometimes it can be hard to figure out exactly what kind of source you need. Here are some definitions and tips to help you decide what kind of material you need for your academic papers.

Primary Sources

Primary sources are usually original material on which you base your research. What this material looks like varies by academic field. If you are writing a research paper in literature, a primary source might be a specific literary work you are analyzing. If you are working on a project in history, you might use letters, diaries, artifacts, reports, and other kinds of documents from the event or time you are writing about. These types of materials might be housed in an archive or reproduced in critical editions. Social media and news reports following an event might also be a primary source. A project in the social sciences might look at data someone else gathered or at data you collect in a study. This data can be quantitative or qualitative.

Secondary Sources

Secondary sources discuss, analyze, and interpret primary sources. These are usually academic books, peer-reviewed articles, scholarly papers or reports, theses and dissertations, and similar types of material. Secondary sources help you to understand the current state of research around the primary source material you are working with. You can use secondary sources to understand current research trends in your field, find other perspectives, and discover new ways to approach your topic. A good research paper engages with secondary sources in its field of study and then adds new information to the current body of research.

Tertiary Sources

Tertiary sources summarize secondary literature on particular topics. This type of source includes encyclopedias (such as Wikipedia), textbooks, and dictionaries. Tertiary sources are very helpful for understanding the basics of your topic, but you should avoid citing them. It is much better to use secondary sources to show that you have done your research. These sources should be used for the beginning stages of research and they might even point you to scholarly work relevant to your field. For example, a Wikipedia article on a well-known study might cite several articles published in relation to that research, perhaps as follow-ups or critiques. You can use those citations to find the original articles and then use those in your paper as well.

For more information on types of sources, check out Kate L. Turabian’s A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, the MLA Handbook, and the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. As you start to write your paper, keep these types of sources in mind. And remember, we can help you to organize your sources, ensure you have followed the correct referencing style as laid out by your school or journal, and verify that all citations are complete and correspond with entries in the reference list.

5 Quick Tips for Using Abbreviations and Acronyms in Academic Writing

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Whether you’re working on a thesis or a research paper, abbreviations and acronyms are difficult to avoid in academic writing, which is why it’s important that you know how to use them properly. Here’s a quick primer.

1. Spell the word or phrase in full at first mention

When you first use the term that you will be abbreviating, you should usually spell out the actual word or phrase in full and follow that with the abbreviation/acronym in brackets.

For example: “We then conducted an analysis of variance (ANOVA).”

This ensures that your reader understands what your abbreviation means. While some abbreviations may seem common or obvious, different disciplines may use the same shorthand for different phrases. For example, “CAD” could refer to computer-aided design, coronary artery disease, Canadian dollar, current account deficit… You get the point! Abbreviations or acronyms that are extremely common for your audience may not need to be defined, but it’s best to check your style guidelines on this—and if you’re unsure, err on the side of caution and provide the full version at first mention.

2. Make sure abbreviations appear more than once

If you find that you have only used a specific abbreviation once in the entire paper, you should use the full version of the word or phrase instead and delete the abbreviation. This is because the purpose of abbreviations and acronyms is to make the writing more concise and aid comprehension, so—bearing in mind that it’s good practice to spell the abbreviated word or phrase in full at first mention—if it is only used once the abbreviation is redundant.

3. Use abbreviations consistently

Once you have introduced an abbreviation, it should be used consistently throughout the rest of the piece—that is, every time the word or phrase appears following its introduction. This means that once you have defined the abbreviation, you should stick to the same format and not switch back to the full word or a different abbreviation elsewhere in the paper. There are some exceptions to this rule; for example, the original text should be retained in direct quotations and references, and you may wish to use the full version in tables, figures, and section headings, depending on whether your style guide permits or even prescribes this.

4. Don’t go overboard

Abbreviations are a great way to keep writing concise. They can help you meet a tight word count, and enable the reader to focus on important information without getting bogged down by cumbersome phrases (for example, it’s much easier to process “RMSEA” than “root mean square error of approximation”!). However, a good writer will be prudent in their use of abbreviations; if a paper contains too many, that can be distracting and confusing in itself. Bear in mind also that similar constructions should be avoided. For example, if both “CAD” and “CDA” appear in your paper, it may be better to modify one of the abbreviations, or use the full version for one of the terms and do away with that abbreviation altogether.

5. Let us help!

Practice common sense, stick to the rules above, and, as always, feel free to have us check your work prior to submission to make sure your abbreviations are working with your paper rather than against it. Among our usual checks, we’ll ensure abbreviations are appropriate and consistent, and in line with your style guidelines.

So Many Rules, So Little Time: An Introduction to Some of the Most Popular Academic Style Guides

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When you’re working on an assignment, a lot of questions come up that have nothing to do with grammar. Should you write numbers using the word or the actual digit? Do your abbreviations need periods in between the letters? How exactly do you punctuate the in-text citations and reference list?

You must turn to a designated style guide for help.

These guides don’t just govern spelling preferences; they set standards for formatting, documenting sources, and usage—issues that usually have more than one correct answer. The most common systems within academia include APA (American Psychological Association), Chicago, Harvard, MLA (Modern Language Association), Turabian, and Vancouver, but there are many others. Though there is some crossover, different systems are designed for different disciplines, so the one you use for your work is likely to be dictated by your school or by the journal you are submitting to (depending on your end goal). Each guide is also revised periodically, so adherents must be adaptable in their practices as well.

Below are the style guides that we are asked to apply most often in our work as academic editors. We’ve also included an example reference list entry for a book with one author, just so you can see how these style guides differ, but bear in mind that most of these systems outline rules related to punctuation, number usage, table layout, and so on as well.

APA: The American Psychological Association has its own style guide for those publishing in the fields of psychology, social sciences, and nursing.

Example: De Caro, J. (2016). The songs of Argentine tango (10th ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Bando Publishing.

Chicago: The Chicago Manual of Style dates back to the 1890s. Its reach is wide-ranging, and many other style guides use Chicago Style as a starting point, and even defer to it in some cases. While mainly researchers and scholars use this when they write for publication, many magazines, online journals, and business entities often instruct their writers to apply Chicago Style as well.

Example: De Caro, Julio. The Songs of Argentine Tango. 10th ed. Los Angeles: Bando Publishing, 2016.

Harvard: As you may have guessed, Harvard style originated from Harvard University. There is no go-to manual for Harvard style, so its exact application can vary quite a bit between institutions. It is very similar to APA in a lot of ways, though with some subtle differences.

Example: De Caro, J. (2016). The Songs of Argentine Tango. 10th ed. Los Angeles, CA: Bando Publishing.

MLA: MLA style is most frequently used by researchers in literature and language, and in the humanities in general. You’ll see two books connected with the MLA. Broadly speaking, The MLA Style Manual is meant for graduate studies and beyond, while The MLA Handbook is for college and university students in the humanities.

Example: De Caro, Julio. The Songs of Argentine Tango. Los Angeles: Bando Publishing, 2016. Print.

Turabian: Undergraduate students are often directed to use this style, which is heavily based on the Chicago style.

Vancouver: Vancouver is most often used in scientific disciplines. In-text citations are indicated using numbers, while full details are provided at the end of the paper as a corresponding, sequentially numbered list.

Example: [1] De Caro, J. The songs of Argentine tango. 10th ed. Los Angeles, CA: Bando Publishing; 2016.

Of course, there are many more style systems, depending on your field and subject matter. In addition, to make matters more confusing, many journals and schools use styles that are only loosely based on an existing system—for example, they might use APA but with commas instead of periods, or a different approach to capitalizing titles—so it’s vital that you scrutinize your school/journal’s style guide closely and note any deviations.

Sticking to the required style guide will increase your professionalism and increase your chances of getting your paper published, or receiving a higher grade. In addition, when it comes to in-text citations and bibliographies, correctly documenting your sources tells your readers where you’ve gotten your information, and this is your best defense against plagiarism.

As long as you understand why it’s so important to adhere to a style guide, you’re well on your way to reconciling yourself with all the rules. But applying every stipulation perfectly can be a big ask in the scope of writing a complex paper, thesis, or dissertation. We at Stickler are familiar with all major academic style guides, and make sure we keep on top of changes and updates. Whenever you submit work to us, just send us the relevant style link or document and we’ll make sure all the requirements are met.

How to Improve your Writing: Tips and Resolutions for the New Year

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The new year is almost here (!), and that means it’s time again to set resolutions and goals. With a clean slate, you can focus on revamping your writing routine for 2020. Below are a few ideas to help get the new year off to a flying start and realize your writing potential.

Set Realistic Goals for the Upcoming Year

Think about what you want to accomplish in terms of your writing in 2020. Is it to redraft a rejected paper that’s fallen to the wayside? To turn in your work well before the deadline? To finally start a project that you’ve been itching to get into? Whatever your goals, keep them focused and realistic so that they are easier to reach and feel less overwhelming. You might also find it useful to create a writing calendar to figure out what time of the day you work best, to get a writing accountability buddy to help you stay on track, or to use apps and online tools to stay organized and focused.

Incorporate Reading into Your Routine

While writing is an important part of any academic career, most people don’t realize how vital reading is if you want to write well. This new year, consider incorporating more reading into your daily routine. Reading is a great way to broaden your knowledge and skills and to hone your craft by absorbing others’ techniques. Whether it’s a journal a week or a few papers a month, setting quantifiable goals will make it easier to start reading in the new year.

Refill the Well

Another great resolution is to remember to take breaks and engage in self-care practices during your writing sessions. Taking breaks, especially when you’re working on longer projects, can help you refresh your mind and avoid writer’s block. Whether it’s a walk around the park, a yoga class, a long bath, or a cup of coffee, refilling the well is an important part of any routine.

Spend Time on Revision and Proofreading

Brainstorming and sitting down to write are both important parts of the writing process, but so is the often-forgotten job of revising and proofreading. Revision is typically a multi-step process that involves tightening your sentences, reworking ideas, and perhaps getting outside readers to critique your work. In addition, language errors and issues with clarity can severely hinder your chances of getting your paper published or receiving a good grade, and sometimes it’s hard for even the most accomplished writers to catch mistakes or unclear passages on their own. For this reason, utilizing a professional proofreading/editing service can be an extremely worthwhile investment. We’re always here to help, and we hope that our flexible, professional, and friendly approach will help you to meet your goals in 2020.

Happy new year from the Stickler team!

Writing by the fire

Don’t Let the Holidays Halt Your Momentum! Tips for Staying Productive Throughout the Festive Period

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The holidays can be both a wonderful and stressful time. Between preparing food, reconnecting with family, seeing friends, and buying gifts—not to mention the fact that everyone else is “out of the office”—it can be hard to find time to stick to your writing schedule and get work done. It’s important to be flexible with your writing schedule during the holidays, but that doesn’t mean that you have to set aside all of your work and wait for the new year to roll around. Below are some tips to keep you productive throughout the holiday period while still enjoying the festivities.

Protect Your Time

It’s important to remember that during the holidays you are likely to have less time to write. Things may get in the way, plans may change, and you might have to allocate some of your time to family and friends. Thus, it’s important to protect the free time that you do have. Think about points in your day during which you can carve out time—whether it’s a couple of hours or 30 minutes. It might be when you first wake up, after everyone else has gone to bed, or in between parties. Block that time out for yourself and protect it at all costs. Let people close to you know that this time is important, and make sure they understand why. That way, you won’t feel stressed about other things taking time away from your work.

Put in Place a Serious Schedule

If you struggle to use the free time you have for writing and find yourself waylaid by other tasks, it might help you to put a schedule in place ahead of time. Consider what time of the day you are usually the most productive (or what time of day you are claiming for your own—see the point above), how much time you have, and your ability to access a quiet and productive workspace. Then, sketch out a rough plan of what you will do during this time each day. Dedicating yourself to this schedule and putting your writing above other tasks will help you stay productive and on track, while still giving you time and space to do the million other things that need to be done during the holiday season.

Be Flexible and Forgiving

While the above points are important, it’s also vital to remember that life happens and sometimes other things may get in the way of writing, despite your best efforts. Being flexible and forgiving with yourself and your time is an important way to reduce stress and achieve a balance between work and fun. Maybe you’ve been invited to a family lunch during your scheduled writing hour, and have to choose between sticking to your writing plan or spending time with family you haven’t seen in a while. Sometimes it’s important to listen to yourself and follow your heart. Writing is important, but it might not be as important as family and friends. Plus, spending time with others can often give you a much-needed inspiration boost, or clear your head so that you’re more productive in the long run.

Engage in Writing in Other Ways

Even if you aren’t writing, there are other ways you can engage in your work or field. Whether it’s reading books or journals, revisiting an old draft, or catching up with what colleagues are working on, it’s possible to further your academic pursuits without actively writing. Sometimes it’s hard to sit down and find a quiet space to create new work during the holidays, so revision or editing are also great options to help move your work forward.

Balancing writing and the holidays can be tough if you don’t have the right mindset. By carving out time for yourself, sticking to a schedule, and also remembering to be flexible with yourself, you can achieve a balance of enjoying yourself while still getting work done.

To help you stay productive and meet your deadlines, we’re offering $20 off our Express Service (two-day turnaround rather than the standard four) throughout December. That means our two-day Express Service is $30 instead of $50! Just enter code “BlogExpress20” at checkout.

Happy holidays from the Stickler team!

Professional Translation Services vs. AI: Why Humans are Still the Better Choice

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Online Translators can Only do so Much

Online translation services abound. Copy and paste your text into Google Translate, for example, and you’ll get a result almost instantly. But unfortunately we are still a long way from perfect online translation. These programs rely on AI, so that the translations, more often than not, result in shallow and cumbersome language. Online programs simply aren’t equipped to fully understand all of the nuances of language, and will typically be unfamiliar with jargon or field-specific technical terms, so some things will always, as they say, get lost in translation. Conversely, when a human expert translates your paper they will deeply process your source text, and consult multiple translation sources and dictionaries—not to mention their own training and experience—to ensure they stay true to your intentions. Professional translators also have a better and more colloquial understanding of the language that can lead to a more concise, and therefore academically legitimate, translation.

Expert Translators for Your Area of Interest

As mentioned above, jargon and other technical or field-specific terms cause a real problem for AI translators. Professional academic (human) translators, however, understand how academic text should be constructed and are familiar with technical terms. This ensures that your arguments are clearly conveyed and are not buried under a subpar translation.

Translation Plus Proofreading Boosts Your Chances of Getting Published

In order to get your work published in a top English-language journal your writing must meet incredibly high standards, which, in basic terms, means it must read as though written by a native English speaker. Thus, when you send your work to us we match you with a translator who not only speaks your language, and English, fluently, but is also familiar with your subject area. They are also able to translate to British or American English, depending on your or your target publication’s preference. After translation, to make absolutely sure that your paper flows, that all syntax is correct, and that the paper meets any relevant style guidelines, your paper is subject to our usual proofreading/copy editing by our expert editors—who are also specialists in academic writing. AI has a long way to go to compete with all that!

For a no-obligation translation and proofreading quote, click here. And for some awkward, hilarious, and often not safe for work Google Translate fails, check out Babbel Magazine’s article on this very topic.