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Don’t Show Me All Your Research
What to do when research is part of your writing style
If you write research-based nonfiction, you have to figure out how to deal with supporting research.
How much should you include in the body of the text, and how much in end materials? There’s no single, right answer. Often it comes down to personal preference and voice. But it also affects your relationship with your reader.
Let’s look at the dangers of getting the balance wrong.
Too little research: A missed opportunity for trust
Citing external research establishes the reader’s trust.
Third-party authorities can back up your key points, for example, or help convince reticent readers.
Citing current research demonstrates that you’re up-to-date in your field-especially important in fast-changing, research-based fields like science and technology.
Context matters, too. In scholarly and academic writing, authors commonly shore up every point with multiple citations. But don’t bring that same approach to writing for a general audience. How many of us read academic journals for fun?
