GENERAL BACKGROUND | FORMAT FOR TEXT | REFERENCES | TABLES AND FIGURES | NOTES AND RECORDS
The Irish Naturalists' Journal publishes papers, notes, letters and items of news on all aspects of Irish natural history and on other topics of direct interest to Irish naturalists. It also publishes reviews of books that have a relevance to Irish natural history. Contributions to the Journal are subject to scrutiny by one or more referees who will advise the Editor on the suitability of the contribution for publication in the Journal.
These Instructions To Contributors are intended to supplement those that appear in each issue of the Journal. The Journal particularly welcomes contributions from beginners, and these notes are primarily intended to aid those writing papers or notes for the first time. It is hoped, however, that they may prove of use for more seasoned authors as well.
For both notes and papers the essential requirements are the same:
Papers may be either:
It would seem superfluous to state that original papers should be original! In other words, repetition of work already in print is seldom favourably considered by a referee, unless significant additional knowledge has resulted. Similarly, distribution records of species known to be ubiquitous rarely warrant separate publication. Authors sometimes read far more into their data than is justified, and this should always be kept in mind in writing up one's work. A few observations on a small sample of a species in one part of Ireland, for example, do not justify a major article on the species on the island as a whole. Notes are intended to be brief. For instance, a note reporting a single occurrence of a rare species does not necessarily need to be accompanied by a detailed list of all its other occurrences in Ireland and accompanying references.
A review paper should be both authoritative and a genuine compilation by the author. There is nothing to be gained by effectively re-casting another published review, no matter how ancient. Anyone considering a review article is reminded that the first requirement, before putting pen to paper or finger to keyboard, is a thorough and detailed knowledge of the relevant literature.
The Journal is intended for a wide readership, both amateur and professional. Contributors are therefore urged to present their subject matter in simple, lucid and concise terms. An author should also consider the convenience of his readers. Strive to inform and not to impress: in the last analysis, a simple style is the best evidence of an organised mind. It is a great error to copy the jargon that characterises far too much of 'scientific' literature. Avoid complicated constructions, excessively long sentences and verbal padding. Use the active voice in preference to the passive and remember that the occasional use of the first person is not prohibited. It is also worth noting that even some of the most experienced contributors to the Journal will revise their manuscripts several times before sending the copy to the Editor.
More specifically, titles must be brief and to the point. This often dictates the use of adjectives, with their descriptive power, but restricts the scope of verbs. The presentation of longer papers may be improved by the introduction of sub-headings. On the other hand, they are unnecessary in shorter articles, for they take up valuable space, and the Editor may therefore require their removal. The overall form of a paper will depend on its content, but the time-honoured and practical order of Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion has much to recommend it.
Notes are usually limited to less than 500 words; papers are from 500 words up to a maximum of about 5000. Tables, plates and figures are expensive to print and should be kept to a minimum. Photographs will be accepted only when they make a real contribution to the text or are of special, intrinsic interest. Finally, it must be emphasised that contributions should not have been published, or have been accepted for publication elsewhere, and that they should pertain to Ireland, or at least be of relevance to Irish natural history.
Manuscripts should be typed, in double-spacing, with wide margins and on one side of the paper only, and set out in accordance with the house style of the Journal.
AT LEAST TWO COPIES OF THE MANUSCRIPT should be submitted. At the time of submission it is adequate to supply photocopies of any illustrations - the original artwork will be requested on acceptance of the contribution. Since the Journal is produced from camera-ready copy generated in-house, wherever possible an electronic version of the text should also be submitted either on CD, floppy disc or by email (most word-processor formats are acceptable).
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