Scholarly Writing

Abstract

This chapter will introduce relevant topics about scholarly writing from the perspective of a published author and international editor. During years of editing for clients worldwide, one of the common issues noted is the incorrect presentation of references and the need for citations for thoughts not original to the author. It is imperative that what is written represents the writer by acknowledging their perspective and giving credit to authors whose published work helped to solidify the final literary work. Academic writing requires time to read through applicable literature to build and add depth to one's argument. Scholarly writing requires adherence to the formatting guidelines of the American Psychological Association (APA) in most instances. Many APA rules sometimes require a review of the manual or even the solicitation of a copy editor who is skilled in that area. Reviewing the literature, building an argument, and maintaining a flow of cohesive thoughts are essential to mastering the art of scholarly writing.