For Style’s Sake: Balancing Author Voice and Publisher Style in Scientific Manuscripts

MODERATOR: Tricia Kershaw Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences SPEAKERS: Peter J Olson JAMA Network Jessica LaPointe American Meteorological Society, Ketson dos Santos University of Minnesota REPORTER: Kevin Gladish Journal of Graduate Medical Education What is the purpose of a style guide, and why do publishers invest so heavily in creating and enforcing them? This session at the 2025 CSE Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, examined this question as well as how to strike the right balance between uniformity of style and the individuality of an author’s voice. The three speakers’ perspectives—one as a publisher, another as a manuscript editor, and a third as an author—each offered unique experiences and expertise around what to do when a publisher’s expectations meet an author’s expression. The Publisher’s Perspective The first speaker was Peter J Olson, whose experience as Freelance Manuscript Editing Coordinator at the JAMA Network offered unique insights into the intent behind style guides as well as how they can be used to best serve all parties involved. The session began by asking why style guides exist and how they can serve a greater purpose than simply “having rules to follow.” First, style guides create order, which helps to improve consistency, clarity, and accuracy, all of which ultimately helps with reader comprehension. Style guides also help to enhance a journal’s reputation over time, aligning with publishing and industry standards while helping to establish a unique brand. They can also tailor a journal’s content. One example is the AMA Manual […]