How to write it

These pages are about the writing itself, not about the buttons. They hold for any conference or journal. Where a call gives its own rules, such as a word limit or a reference style, the call’s rules come first.

Which kind are you writing?

Kind	What it is	Typical length
Abstract	A summary of the work, reviewed by itself.	150 to 300 words
Poster	A proposal in four sections, then a designed sheet shown at the event.	250 to 350 words, then one sheet
Full paper	The complete account: what you did, how, what you found, what it means.	3,000 to 8,000 words
Short communication	One finding, reported briefly.	1,000 to 2,500 words
Review	What is known on a topic, from the published work.	5,000 to 10,000 words
Explainer article	An idea made clear to readers outside the field.	800 to 2,000 words

Lengths differ between calls. The editor counts your words and shows the limit that applies.

Title and keywordsThe few words that decide whether your work is found and read.

An abstractFour moves, with a worked example and the common mistakes.

A full paperWhat each section is for, and the order to write them in.

A posterThe proposal, then the sheet: layout, type sizes and how to present it.

Figures and tablesChoose the right one, caption it, and make it readable.

Other kindsShort communications, reviews and explainer articles.

Reply to reviewersA reply that makes the next decision easy.

Before you submitA checklist for the last ten minutes.

Five habits that help every kind

1. Say the main point early. A reader should know what you found by the end of the first paragraph.
2. One idea to a sentence, one topic to a paragraph. Long sentences hide the point.
3. Use numbers. “Drying time fell from 23 hours to 11” is stronger than “drying time fell greatly”.
4. Use the same word for the same thing. If it is a “dryer” in the first paragraph, it is not a “dehydrator” in the third.
5. Write for a reader outside your own group. Explain an abbreviation the first time you use it.