Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40424311›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Linguistic challenges of writing papers in English for scholarly publication: Perceptions of Chinese academics in science and engineering.

Yihua Zhang, Hiroyuki Eto, Jianlei Cui

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Yihua ZhangGraduate School of International Cultural Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9835-0328
Hiroyuki EtoGraduate School of International Cultural Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
Jianlei CuiState Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study investigates the linguistic challenges encountered by Chinese academics in science and engineering when writing for English-language scholarly publications. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research draws on survey responses from 732 participants and insights from semi-structured interviews with 13 interviewees. Sentence construction emerged as the most significant challenge, followed by issues with vocabulary selection, cohesive devices, coherence, and grammar, with notable variation across academic ranks. Common strategies to address these challenges include utilizing online tools, seeking peer support, and employing professional editing services. The findings offer actionable recommendations for tailored academic writing training, institutional support, and the integration of advanced technological tools, aiming to enhance publication success rates among non-native English-speaking scholars.

Indexed as

EngineeringLanguageLinguisticsPublicationsPublishingScienceWritingChinaEast Asian PeopleHumansSurveys and Questionnaires

Identifiers

PMID40424311
PMCPMC12111667

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.