LibGuides: Physics: Writing & Citing

Why cite?

The primary reasons for citing sources in a research paper are to give credit to the authors whose work you have drawn upon and to allow readers to track down your sources, should they wish to explore further. There are many style guides for formatting citations and creating bibliographies. The AIP (the American Institute of Physics) Style Guide is frequently used in physics, but your professor may specify another format.

AIP Style

References should be set as a double-spaced list at the end of the text. The names, including initials, of all authors in each reference should be given (in the text, the use of “et al.” is permissible).

All references to books and journal articles, listed at the end of the paper, are to appear in only one of these three formats:

By number, in order of first appearance, presenting the names of the authors, the journal name, volume, first page number only, and year. This paper will be listed as the 19th in the list of references and cited as 19 or Ref. 19:

19L. M. Pecora, T. L. Carroll, G. A. Johnson, D.J. Mar, and J. F. Heagy, Chaos 7, 520 (1997).
In alphabetical order according to the first author’s last name, including, in addition to the name, the title of the paper cited, journal name, volume, first and last page, and year. This paper will be cited as “Pecora et al. (1997).”

Pecora, L. M., Carroll, T. L., Johnson, G. A., Mar, D. J., and Heagy, J. F., “Fundamentals of synchronization in chaotic systems, concepts, and applications,” Chaos 7, 520–543 (1997).
Alphabetically listed references (with full titles and page ranges) may be numbered according to their alphabetical order and cited by their number.

In-text Citation - General Rules

Cite references in numerical order
Numerals are to be placed after punctuation
Refer to authors in text by Surname / Family only
Use all authors names for a maximum of three authors. Where there are four or more authors use the first authors name and the expression "et al." ('et al' is a Latin phrase meaning 'and others' ) eg. Smith et al.
Place citation numbers where they will not be confused for a different meaning:

A recent measurement² of rv

not

A recent measurement of rv ²

Reference List - General Rules

References in the Reference list are ordered as they appear in the paper
The Reference list should start on a new page and should be a double-spaced numerical list
All references in the list must appear in the paper
Authors names are notated as they appear in their work
The use of "et al" is not used in the Reference list, here all authors are to be listed.

More Information about Style Format

Author Resources at Scitation
You’ll find detailed author instructions under the “FOR AUTHORS” link on the journal homepages on Scitation.

Reference Management Tools

Mendeley
A free reference manager and academic social network that can help you organize your research, collaborate with others online, and discover the latest research. You can automatically generate bibliographies, collaborate with other researchers online, import papers from other research software, find relevant papers based on what you’re reading, and access your papers from anywhere online.
Zotero
Zotero is a free citation management software that allows you to collect & manage citation information for articles, books, PDFs, and more.
BibTex
Created for use with LaTeX software, but now compatible with other software. Widely used in math, science and engineering. More help can be found in the Getting to Grips with LaTex

Resources for Scientific Writing

Berry College Writing Center
Writing Consultants are available to assist students with all stages of the writing process, from interpreting assignment guidelines and generating ideas for a new writing project to the difficult art of revision and putting the final touches on a polished draft.
How to Write a Paper in Scientific Journal Style and Format
From Bates College, how to write a paper in scientific journal style & format.
Ten Simple Rules for Structuring Papers
Focusing on how readers consume information, we present a set of ten simple rules to help you communicate the main idea of your paper. These rules are designed to make your paper more influential and the process of writing more efficient and pleasurable.
more...less...
citation: Mensh B, Kording K (2017) Ten simple rules for structuring papers. PLOS Computational Biology 13(9).

Help with Scientific Writing & Presenting

The Craft of Scientific Presentations by Michael Alley
Publication Date: 2011
Aims to strengthen you as a presenter of science and engineering. The book does so by identifying what makes excellent presenters such as Brian Cox, Jane Goodall, Richard Feynman, and Jill Bolte Taylor so strong. In addition, the book explains what causes so many scientific presentations to flounder. One of the most valuable contributions of this text is that it teaches the assertion-evidence approach to scientific presentations. Instead of building presentations, as most engineers and scientists do, on the weak foundation of topic phrases and bulleted lists, this assertion-evidence approach calls for building presentations on succinct message assertions supported by visual evidence. Unlike the commonly followed topic-subtopic approach that PowerPoint leads presenters to use, the assertion-evidence approach is solidly grounded in research. By showing the differences between strong and weak presentations, by identifying the errors that scientific presenters typically make, and by teaching a much more powerful approach for scientific presentations than what is commonly practiced, this book places you in a position to elevate your presentations to a high level. In essence, this book aims to have you not just succeed in your scientific presentations, but excel.
The Craft of Scientific Writing by Michael Alley
Publication Date: 2018
Designed to help scientists and engineers write about their work clearly and effectively. Includes many useful suggestions about approaching a wide variety of writing tasks from journal papers to grant proposals, as well as a concise guide to style and usage appropriate for scientific writing.
Presentation Skills for Scientists and Engineers by Jean-Philippe Dionne
Publication Date: 2021
Concise and effective tips spanning all relevant areas to deliver engaging scientific presentations. Readers will strengthen their skills in preparing, practicing and delivering presentations at both physical and virtual conferences and seminars. Best practices for structuring presentations and elements to include and those to exclude such as detailed sections on the use of videos, animations and tables are included. Common errors often seen in scientific presentations are highlighted along with tips on how to interact with audiences and keep them engaged. This will be a valuable resource for scientists in all areas of chemistry and materials science as well as engineers who wish to elevate their scientific presentations.
Research Methodology and Scientific Writing by C. George Thomas
Publication Date: 2021
A guide for research methodology and scientific writing covering various elements such as finding research problems, writing research proposals, obtaining funds for research, selecting research designs, searching the literature and review, collection of data and analysis, preparation of thesis, writing research papers for journals, citation and listing of references, preparation of visual materials, oral and poster presentation in conferences, and ethical issues in research . Besides introducing library and its various features in a lucid style, the latest on the use of information technology in retrieving and managing information through various means are also discussed in this book. The book is useful for students, young researchers, and professionals.
Scientific Papers and Presentations by Martha Davis; Kaaron Joann Davis; Marion Dunagan
Publication Date: 2012
Topics include designing visual aids, writing first drafts, reviewing and revising, communicating clearly and concisely, adhering to stylistic principles, presenting data in tables and figures, dealing with ethical and legal issues, and relating science to the lay audience. Covers all aspects of communication for early scientists from research to thesis to presentations. Discusses how to use multi-media effectively in presentations and communication Includes an extensive appendices section with detailed examples for further guidance
Scientific Writing: A Reader and Writer's Guide by Jean-Luc Lebrun
Call Number: Ebook
Publication Date: 2007
Given that scientific material can be hard to comprehend, sustained attention and memory retention become major reader challenges. Scientific writers must not only present their science, but also work hard to generate and sustain the interest of readers. The writer needs to have a clear understanding of the role played by each part of a paper, from its eye-catching title to its eye-opening conclusion. This book walks through the main parts of a paper; that is, those parts which create the critical first impression. Young researchers can find solid guidelines that reduce the confusion all new writers face.
Scientific writing = thinking in words by D R Lindsay
Publication Date: 2020
Telling people about research is just as important as doing it. But many competent researchers are wary of scientific writing, despite its importance for sharpening scientific thinking, advancing their career, obtaining funding for their work and growing the prestige of their institution. This second edition of David Lindsay's popular book Scientific Writing = Thinking in Words presents a way of thinking about writing that builds on the way good scientists think about research. The simple principles in this book will help you to clarify the objectives of your work and present your results with impact. Fully updated throughout, with practical examples of good and bad writing, an expanded chapter on writing for non-scientists and a new chapter on writing grant applications, this book makes communicating research easier and encourages researchers to write confidently. It is an ideal reference for researchers preparing journal articles, posters, conference presentations, reviews and popular articles; for students preparing theses; and for researchers whose first language is not English.