Redefining Manuscript Preparation—knowledge@editage

A unique e-commerce website, knowledge@editage, for researchers has been launched. It aims to improve the visibility of researchers across the globe by helping them write and publish better manuscripts in English.

Mumbai, India (PRWEB) September 14, 2006 -- In keeping with its philosophy to enable Growth through effective communication, Cactus Communications Pvt. Ltd. is announcing the launch of its new service for the researcher community, knowledge@editage.

knowledge@editage is a first of its kind initiative—customized for nonnative researchers. Frontier research can gain visibility only if it is communicated effectively, and nonnative authors face a stunting language barrier when preparing their manuscripts in English. Starting with Japan, knowledge@editage aims to improve the visibility of researchers across the globe by helping them write and publish better manuscripts in English.

Chandni Kapur, Head—knowledge@editage, says “Nonnative authors sometimes struggle with the English language but make tremendous efforts to learn from their mistakes. Although the learning gap is too large to be filled overnight, it remains one that needs to be filled urgently because it has a direct impact on science communication worldwide. Researchers typically tend to focus more on the logic and facts and less on the language and format of their papers. We’re here to change that and bridge the language divide between native and nonnative authors. In short, we’re here to help nonnative authors write to be published and published to be read.”

In the first phase of its launch, the website offers a knowledge shop, a knowledge library, surveys, free downloads, and membership. Students, researchers, and journal editors can purchase products from the knowledge shop. Each product is developed by experienced editors and knowledge analysts, who synthesize their learning on a given topic and focus on the most essential things that researchers need to know. Some fully customized products include a tutorial on concise writing and macros (in Japanese) that fix errors like incorrect spaces within seconds. knowledge@editage's aim is to enable researchers to be more independent by applying this learning when preparing a manuscript while simultaneously retaining their focus on research.

The knowledge library consists of articles classified into three sections: Insights, Our Views, and Write Right. The insights serve to keep researchers abreast of trends in research writing and publishing. As the first step toward creating a platform for researchers and journal editors to learn about each others’ expectations and encourage thought sharing, knowledge@editage conducts interviews with authors and editors. These interviews are aimed at addressing key concerns by nonnative researchers and sharing lessons in excellence. Write Right is a section devoted to common writing-related errors made by nonnative authors. The articles here are mini lessons in word choice or punctuation that researchers can learn in 5-10 minutes everyday. Lastly, Our Views includes articles written by Cactus Communications Pvt. Ltd. on topics such as the process of editing.

The survey section will help the academic community gain a better understanding of the publishing trends in their country and around the globe. The free downloads section offers a host of free resources. Researchers and research students can sign up as members and get 35% discount on all products and access to premium articles.

Currently, most of the products and articles extend to individuals; in its second phase, knowledge@editage hopes to create specialized products for laboratories and universities. They also aim to add resources on other communication media such as poster writing, presentation skills, and other areas of formal written communication such as grant and proposal writing.

This initiative is another step taken by the parent company Cactus Communications Pvt. Ltd. toward offering English language solutions to nonnative authors. With the experience of having edited over 7000 manuscripts behind them, editors at Cactus are able to identify the problems faced by Japanese authors while preparing manuscripts in English; and it is through knowledge@editage that they will provide authors with solutions to these problems.

About Cactus Communications Pvt. Ltd.
Since its inception in 2002, Cactus Communications Pvt. Ltd. has innovated around several English language services including academic editing, offered through its flagship division Editage. Editage has provided professional editing services to around 4,000 clients, including researchers and reviews, in Japan and is known in select circles of Japanese researchers and students for their high-quality services. Editage editors have mastered the art of communicating research and sharpening the nonnative expression.

Cactus also provides English education and training through its division i-osmosis and English tape transcription through its division Cripton.

The unique feature of knowledge@editage, Cactus’s latest offering, is that this shopping website will also serve as an online community for nonnative researchers, academicians, research students, and all those associated with academic publishing.

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