Even though explanation plays a central role in science, it is not enough to simply come up with explanations. Scientists (and everyone else) must also evaluate explanations. After all, it’s clear that not every explanation is a good one, as well as that some explanations are better than others. For example, evolutionary theory provides a much better explanation of the diversity of life than, say, the hypothesis that all organisms appeared at the same time in their present form. But what makes one explanation better than another? Relatedly, how can we tell which of a set of competing hypotheses provides the best explanation?

The final stages of getting a paper into shape for submission relies on checking its English presentation (or getting help in doing this). The main author revises the paper to reach a final draft. The role of the co-authors is discussed, including the sequence of their names. Conflicts of interest must be considered here. Setting out the paper in clear sections and subsections is stressed as it makes the paper easier for editor and reviewers to follow. The need for a letter of submission is considered.

The chapter indicates our reasons for publishing, the framework of a communication, how to introduce the topic and put forward a hypotheses before considering each of the conventional sections of a paper. It also emphasizes that the sequence in how a paper is compiled section by section will not be the order given here.

This chapter emphasizes the fact that an author starts drafting a paper by compiling the results, the experimental findings (data) that have the evidence to support (or refute) the hypothesis under test. It emphasizes the need for selection to be fair considering positive, negative and neutral data, the order and logic in dealing with the sequence of presentation of the data, and how every experiment needs tight controls. Statistical issues are discussed.

The authors will consider the reasons for writing papers, their mindset, and then are given an outline of the whole process involved from setting out to the final publishing of an article. This is an overview given a simply as possible to the whole task ahead of them.

Journals all have different ways of presenting papers. Authors are made aware of the main issues in ensuring that the MS to be submitted complies with the journal publisher's requirements. There are many items to check before a paper is submitted, such that a checklist ought to be drawn up. The different ways of approaching submission, nowadays mainly on 'electronic gateways', are discussed. The types of files that are acceptable and how to upload them is covered.

Authors are made aware in this chapter of the nature of peer reviewing, its very positive and its often negative side. The relationship between the author,editor and peer reviewers can be stressful and instruction is given in how to deal with them. Reporting methods can differ, and the level of detailed comment differs widely.The author is given advice on how to handle the problems this three-way exchange.The nature of rebuttal is considered. Abuse of the peer-reviewing system and its anonimity are discussed.

The cardinal points – 12 in all – focus the authors on what primarily must be kept in mind when going through the whole business of preparing and publishing a paper. The last words deal with the need for the paper to be presented in the best idiomatic English. This leads on to giving references that cover different aspects of writing and publishing a paper, including that of the best use of language.

Authors have to be made aware of copyright which protects publications from misuse by other interested parties. It deals with national and international aspects of copyright, how personal identities must be carefully protected, how to seek permission to copy other works, how long copyright remains in place, and where to seek help when issues arise.

A published paper is presented so that the author can see how it will finally appear. Annotations are added to draw attention to many different items, particularly where the publisher will put in information pertaining to its place in the scientific literature. Fonts, sizes, columns and other layout features as well as the sequence of presentation are highlighted.

The one feature of a paper that needs to draw attention of potential readers is its Title. The importance of this being very carefully worded is stressed. The chapter also covers the small sections of a paper that give information about the authors, their affiliations, which author is dealing with correspondence, the contributions of co-authors, any conflicts of interest, who to acknowledge and how to prepare reference lists. It mentions how in this electronic age papers can be tagged using a 'DOI'.

There are many difficulties in presenting data to the best advantage, using Figures, Tables, images, schemas, etc. Issues such as size, amount of data being included, optimal layout for ease of reading, and other problems are covered. Units, scale bars, statistical indicators, significance and a host of other matters are discussed. The place to present data is considered, i.e. whether some of the slightly less relevant findings or methods should go into 'Supplementary Information'.

The purpose of the Discussion is to tell the reader whether the data are likely to prove or disprove the hypothesis, presenting relevant arguments, consider in relation to previous publications. Indicating where caution in interpretation is needed, and qualifying conclusions as necessary.