Language Policy Guidelines

 

1. Official Language of the Journal

Annals of Punjab Medical College (APMC) is an international peer-reviewed medical journal published by Faisalabad Medical University, Pakistan. The official language of the journal is English.

APMC publishes four issues annually on a quarterly basis. All submitted manuscripts, including original research articles, review articles, case reports, short communications, editorials, and other scholarly contributions, must be written in English.

The journal encourages clear, accurate, and scientifically appropriate communication to ensure that published research reaches the national and international medical community.

2. General English Language Requirements

Authors must ensure that manuscripts submitted to APMC meet acceptable standards of academic and scientific English. The language should be:

• Clear, precise, and understandable.
• Grammatically correct and professionally written.
• Appropriate for medical and scientific communication.
• Free from unnecessary complexity, ambiguity, and informal expressions.
• Consistent in terminology, spelling, and style throughout the manuscript.

Authors are encouraged to seek professional language editing assistance before submission if required.

3. Type of English

APMC follows international medical English standards. Authors may use either British English or American English, but the selected style must be used consistently throughout the manuscript.

Examples:

British English	American English
Organisation	Organization
Centre	Center
Paediatric	Pediatric
Behaviour	Behavior
Programme	Program

Authors should not mix British and American spelling within the same manuscript.

4. Writing Style Requirements

Authors should follow these principles:

4.1 Clarity and Precision

Scientific writing should communicate information directly and accurately.

Preferred:

The study evaluated the effectiveness of a new diagnostic method among diabetic patients.

Avoid:

The present research work was conducted with the aim and objective of evaluating the effectiveness of a new diagnostic methodology.

4.2 Use of Active Voice

APMC encourages the use of active voice where appropriate because it improves readability.

Preferred:

Researchers collected blood samples from participants.

Acceptable when necessary:

Blood samples were collected from participants.

4.3 Avoidance of Ambiguous Language

Authors should avoid vague statements without supporting evidence.

Avoid:

Many patients showed improvement.

Preferred:

Sixty-five percent of patients demonstrated clinical improvement after treatment.

5. Medical Terminology and Abbreviations

Authors should use internationally accepted medical terminology.

• Standard scientific terms should be used consistently.
• Uncommon abbreviations should be defined at first appearance.
• Abbreviations should not be used in the title or abstract unless widely recognised.

Example:

First use:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Later use:

COPD

6. Numbers, Units, and Measurements

APMC follows internationally accepted scientific conventions.

Authors should:

• Use International System of Units (SI units) wherever applicable.
• Express laboratory measurements using standard medical units.
• Maintain consistency in reporting numerical values.

Examples:

Correct:

Blood pressure was recorded as 120/80 mmHg.

Incorrect:

Blood pressure was 120 by 80.

7. Titles and Abstract Language

Manuscript titles should be:

• Concise and informative.
• Free from unnecessary abbreviations.
• Representative of the study content.

Abstracts should:

• Clearly describe the purpose, methods, results, and conclusions.
• Avoid citations unless absolutely necessary.
• Be understandable as a standalone summary.

8. Grammar and Sentence Structure

Authors should ensure:

• Correct use of tense.
• Proper punctuation.
• Logical paragraph structure.
• Appropriate scientific tone.

Recommended tense usage:

Manuscript Section	Preferred Tense
Introduction	Present tense
Methods	Past tense
Results	Past tense
Discussion	Present and past tense as appropriate
Conclusion	Present tense

 

9. Inclusive and Respectful Language

APMC promotes respectful scientific communication.

Authors should avoid:

• Discriminatory terminology.
• Stigmatising language related to diseases, disabilities, age, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.

Preferred:

Patients living with diabetes

Avoid:

Diabetic patients (when referring to individuals rather than a clinical condition)

10. Language Editing and Author Responsibility

Authors are responsible for ensuring the linguistic quality of submitted manuscripts.

APMC editorial staff and reviewers may recommend language improvements; however:

• Language correction does not replace scientific review.
• Authors remain responsible for accuracy, interpretation, and final approval of manuscript content.
• Manuscripts with major language deficiencies may be returned to authors before peer review.

11. Artificial Intelligence and Language Assistance

Authors may use language improvement tools, including artificial intelligence-based writing assistants, only for purposes such as:

• Grammar correction.
• Improving readability.
• Language polishing.

Authors remain fully responsible for:

• Scientific accuracy.
• Originality of content.
• Appropriate citation of sources.
• Ethical compliance.

Use of AI tools should not replace authors' intellectual contribution or scientific judgment.

12. Ethical Scientific Communication

APMC requires authors to maintain integrity in scientific writing.

Manuscripts must:

• Present accurate information.
• Avoid plagiarism and inappropriate text reuse.
• Report findings honestly.
• Clearly distinguish facts, interpretations, and opinions.

13. Editorial Language Standards

The editorial team of APMC follows internationally recognised standards for medical publishing and aims to maintain:

• Consistency in language and terminology.
• High readability standards.
• Accurate scientific communication.
• Professional presentation of published research.