• First, decide whether it is worth your time and effort to write the
manuscript
• Next, be sure to use word-processing software that is well
suited to medical writing. If you do not already have software
you are comfortable with, choose that is commonly used at
your institution.
• Make sure that you spell medical words correctly
• Use a bibliography that will automatically number and
format your references
• Learn how to download references electronically
• Finally, you cannot write well if you do not write at all.
• Do not fuss over the first draft of manuscript, just write
• Prepare a draft that includes a title page, each section of the
manuscript and mock tables and figures
• When you think you have a nearly complete draft containing all
of the scientific material, print a copy and sharpen a pencil.
• Cross out every paragraph that is not necessary
• Delete every extra sentence within the remaining paragraphs,
and finally, the extraneous words within the remaining sentence.
• Underline everything that is not crystal clear.
• Put an arrow before every paragraph that does not flow logically
fro its predecessor and write: “Segue”?
• Sharpen another pencil and begin clarifying the ambiguities,
replacing the awkward words an phrases, and filling in the
missing link
• When you think you are finished, punt another version, and
read it carefully for typographic and spelling error.
• How you check that the audience has understood from your talk
is clearly?