My English skills are hurting my chances in academic publishing - how can I improve?

"This is a widespread problem. Although science is a global enterprise - and therefore requires diverse, worldwide participation - its use of English as a common language presents a challenge. More than 90% of people globally don't speak English as a first language, including many scientists."

"A 2023 study of 908 environmental scientists reported that, on average, journals are up to 2.6 times more likely to reject papers on the basis of language quality when they come from authors whose first languag"

"With the help of a professional editing service - which cost roughly €600 (US$700) - the paper was eventually accepted by an international journal. But in my current position in Germany, grants don't typically cover the cost of professional manuscript editing, so I would have to pay for such services out of my own pocket."

"I have great data, but I just don't have the confidence to write my own papers without outside support. I do use some artificial-intelligence tools - a writing assistant for spelling and grammar and a chatbot for polishing paragraphs - but I would like some guidance on best practices and what else I can do without having to pay for professional editing services."

English serves as a common language in science, yet most people worldwide do not speak it as a first language, including many scientists. Language quality can drive journal rejections, with evidence from environmental scientists showing higher rejection likelihood for authors whose first language is not English. A postdoc from a Hindi-speaking background describes rejection due to English quality, later accepted after paying for professional editing. In Germany, grant funding often does not cover manuscript editing, and asking busy colleagues for proofreading feels difficult. The postdoc uses AI tools for spelling, grammar, and paragraph polishing, but seeks best practices and additional low-cost ways to improve English writing confidence and manuscript quality.

Read at Nature