1) Language, tone, and scope discipline
Write like you expect to be challenged. Prefer plain English, short sentences, and explicit claims. If you use specialized terms-“civilian control”, “security sector reform”, “deterrence”, “hybrid threats”, “human security”-define them once and then stick to that definition. Don’t switch meanings mid-argument.
- Be specific: name institutions, laws, years, budgets, and actors where possible.
- Separate fact from interpretation: label what is documented vs what is inferred.
- Avoid rhetorical padding: words like “clearly”, “obviously”, “undeniably” usually hide weak evidence.
- No advocacy without evidence: policy recommendations must show trade-offs and constraints.
2) Required front matter: title, abstract, keywords
Titles should describe the research question and the case, not a mood. Avoid abbreviations in titles unless the acronym is globally standard (e.g., UN). Abstracts should be self-contained: question, approach, core finding, and significance. A common standard is to keep abstracts compact and avoid citations inside them.
- Title: specific + searchable (country/period/institution when relevant).
- Abstract: 150–250 words; no undefined acronyms; no footnotes.
- Keywords: 4–6 phrases people actually search (e.g., “civil–military relations”, “defence policy”, “Latin America”).
3) Structure and headings
Use a clean hierarchy of headings and keep them descriptive. Headings exist to let readers scan your logic. Do not use headings that are jokes, metaphors, or overly long sentences. If you use numbered lists, make them complete sentences and keep the logic consistent.
Recommended section flow for research papers (adapt as needed): Introduction → Background/Literature → Methods/Evidence → Analysis → Discussion → Conclusion. The “IMRAD” idea is a widely used baseline for research clarity even outside medicine.
4) Names, places, and Spanish/Portuguese conventions
Keep diacritics and compound surnames exactly (e.g., “García”, “Jaramillo Edwards”). For Spanish names, do not “simplify” double surnames into one unless the author self-uses a single surname in the publication. For institutions, use the official name first, then the abbreviation:
Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (MDN)
Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC)
After the first mention, use the abbreviation consistently. Don’t switch between translated and original names without a reason.
5) Acronyms and abbreviations
Define acronyms at first use and only abbreviate if you use the term repeatedly. If an acronym appears once or twice, keep the full term. This is standard academic practice and improves comprehension.
- First use: full name + acronym in parentheses.
- Later: acronym only.
- No “toggle”: don’t bounce between full term and acronym after defining it.
6) Numbers, dates, units
Use consistent number rules. A common baseline is: write out one through nine, use numerals for 10 and above-unless you’re reporting precise measurements, dates, percentages, or statistical values, where numerals improve clarity.
- Dates: use an unambiguous format (e.g., 12 March 2004) or ISO (2004-03-12) for datasets/timelines.
- Percentages: use numerals (e.g., 7%).
- Money: specify currency (USD, CLP) and year if comparing across time (inflation matters).
- Ranges: use en dashes where appropriate (1990–2005; 10–15%).
7) Citations and reference list
Use an author–date system consistently. In-text citations should map cleanly to a reference list entry. Chicago Author–Date is a widely used format in social sciences; follow one system and don’t mix styles.
In text examples:
(Jaramillo Edwards 2000, 45)
(Dammert and Bailey 2006)
In references (examples):
Jaramillo Edwards, Isabel. 2000. "Estados Unidos y el hemisferio occidental: Los temas de la Agenda de Seguridad."
Revista Fuerzas Armadas y Sociedad, Año 15, no. 3: 00–00.
Dammert, Lucía, and John Bailey. 2006. "Police force reform and military participation against delinquency."
Revista Fuerzas Armadas y Sociedad (English edition). PDF.
Add DOIs when available. For government or institutional documents, cite the issuing body, title, date, and a stable URL if you used an online version. If a PDF is a scan, still cite the original publication details printed in the issue.
8) Quotations, translations, and fairness
Quote sparingly and accurately. For non-English sources, you may provide an English translation in the text and include the original in a footnote or parentheses if meaning depends on wording. Never “translate” in a way that changes intent. If you shorten a quote, mark it with ellipses and do not remove words that reverse meaning.
9) Tables, figures, and maps
Visuals must be self-explanatory. Every table/figure needs a title and a source line. If you created it, say how (dataset name, time range, definitions). If you adapted it, cite the original. Avoid screenshots of tables when editable formats are possible.
- Title: what the reader is seeing.
- Notes: definitions, exclusions, coding rules.
- Source: dataset/report/document + version/date.
10) Corrections mindset
Your paper becomes part of the record. If a reference is wrong, your readers inherit your mistake. Build in a verification pass: check quotations against the source, confirm dates and names, and make sure every in-text citation exists in the references list. Serious journals treat corrections and retractions as part of record integrity, not as embarrassment management.