Abstract Purpose The publication of scientific results may be delayed or abandoned because the authors are unable to write English adequately. The aims of this presentation are to highlight some of the most common grammatical errors and how these might be avoided. Methods Scientific writing is widely regarded as an art, but can equally be considered as a skill, which can be gained by following some simple rules. Results By following simple protocols, it should be possible to write a scientific article in English more easily. Conclusion The aspiring scientific author should invest time learning basic rules so as to publish research results more efficiently.