Guidelines for authors
Surgeons' News values its authors' contributions and encourages use of the following guidelines when writing an article for maximum impact on our readers.
General guidance for good writing:
- Ensure your meaning is clear throughout
- Short sentences are better than longer ones
- Never use a long word when a short one will do
- If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
Do:
- Ensure there is a clear and logical structure to the article
- Refer to countries by name rather than by 'here' – the reader may not know where 'here' is
- If writing on behalf of an organisation, always refer to the organisation by name rather with a pronoun
- Try to minimise use of references – Surgeons' News isn't an academic journal
- Include your full name, job title, and email address at the end of the article.
Avoid:
- Clichés and parochial jokes
- Use of 'etc.'
- Use of exclamation marks
- Each point on a bullet list should be no longer than two sentences
- Bullet lists longer than five points.
Style
Use an impersonal and objective writing style – minimise use of first person 'I' and use of second person 'you' when referring to the reader.
Avoid an overly formal style of writing, but don't be too chatty or informal, and certainly avoid slang or vulgar language.
Avoid words and phrases like: thus, nevertheless, thereby, hence, if at all possible, in the foreseeable future, in all likelihood, and whilst.
Surgeons' News image submission guidelines
Surgeons' News encourages high-quality image submissions from its authors to supplement their articles. (Please see below for how to submit for each section of Surgeons' News).
General Guidelines
All images should be:
- in focus
- well-lit
- well-composed
- and, if possible, in colour
The following formats are acceptable:
Glossy prints
Prints should be submitted on glossy photo paper, no larger than A4 size (210mm x 297mm). It is important that prints are undamaged. If submitting prints by post, please ensure they are sent in a reinforced envelope, marked: do not bend.
Digital image files
Digital image files should be submitted in TIFF or JPEG format at 300dpi resolution. Any alteration of images in Photoshop should be restricted to changing the image resolution to 300dpi. Any other alteration to colour, composition, etc. using Photoshop is not desirable. Please note image files should not be placed into Word documents for submission, but should be submitted as individual files.
Images taken on digital cameras
Minimum requirement is a 3 megapixel digital camera.
Surgeons' diary
Please email events to diary@surgeonsnews.info
Lifestyle articles
These should not exceed 900 words. Email to lifestyle@surgeonsnews.info.
Photographs or other illustrations are welcome. Please send these to the editorial office.
Surgeons' analysis
These articles are commissioned by Robyn Webber through the SABs. If you wish to contribute to this section please contact her at analysis@surgeonsnews.info.
Surgeons' views
Readers' contributions are welcomed for surgeons abroad, surgeons' square, surgeons in the making, apprentice surgeons and surgeons' lives. Articles should not exceed 1,300 words and will be subject to editorial review. Please email your copy to contributions@surgeonsnews.info.
All copy should be sent electronically, including photographs. Any hard copy material should be sent to Irene MacDonald, Royal College of Surgeons, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, UK EH8 9DW.