How to write a letter
Use of rough, vulgar, pedantic, and pejorative expressions should be avoided. While criticizing articles, a professional, and an elegant approach should be followed.
It is apparent that general comments not reinforced by logical determinations will be rejected (ie “I think that this is a very important article” or “I think that this article should go to waste”). All suggestions should be made based on scientific data. While writing a letter one should avoid assuming a personal and biased attitude. As a very important approach, the letter should point out to new, not previously considered issues, and present additional information which refute or support the assertions of other authors. A contrary approach will diminish the quality of the letter. Still, comprehensively handled issues in the criticized article should not be reviewed again. If the purpose is to criticize, then conspicuous, and evidence-based criticisms should be made ( Table 1). The purpose of a letter written in response to a previously published study is to support or mostly criticize the justification, analysis or outcome of the study. In this case, editor assumes an objective role of a mediator between the authors with potential conflicting attitudes towards each other. Letters are always written to the editor, they are never addressed to the first authors. Sometimes the letter may be related to an article published in a different journal. Letter is an acceptable format for making comments on an article published in previously published issues of the same journal. Even though alpha blockers have been used in the pediatric patient groups with persistent voiding dysfunction, neuropathic bladder, and idiopathic urethritis, guidelines of American Urological Association, and European Association of Urology do not contain recommendations about use of medical expulsive treatment for ureteral stones in pediatric patients.įormat of the Letters to the Editor and Related Rules Therefore expulsive treatment in pregnants does not seem to be a suitable alternative. In pregnants, efficacy, and safety of expulsive treatment with alpha blockers, and calcium channel blockers have noıt been established yet. I think that pregnants, and pediatric patients should be included in these patient groups. In the review article, ıt has been indicated that medical expulsive therapy is not indicated in patients with solitary kidney, renal dysfunction, hydronephrosis due to prolonged obstruction, persistent pain, and those with a risk of active urinary system infection, and urosepsis, and in some jobs (pilots, and mariners). I want to congratulate the authors for this successful review article, and make some contributions. I have read the review article entitled “Medical Expulsive Treatment for Ureteral Stones” by Atan A, and Tuncel A published in The Turkish Journal of Urology (2010 36 (3): 302–8). This issue has been demonstrated by two following exemplary letters.
It is a known fact that if the message to be delivered is brief and concise, it will be understood more easily by the readers. They prefer to publish ten short letters rather than two long letters. Indeed editors are fond of concise, and clear-cut letters. One of the important points involving the writing phase involves preparation of a brief, and concise letter. Before forwarding the letter it will be reasonable to inquire the contents of the manuscript In fact, comments, and observations without any significance will not be published. Since information delivered in a letter will be naturally restricted, a long list of authors should not be given. What is the purpose of your letter? Is the format of your letter suitable to the format of the journal? Is your subject matter really worth mentioning?Īnalyzing format, and contents of the letters published in the journal, and examining recently published examples in the target journal are two important steps to be achieved before writing a letter. While sending a letter to a journal, priorly the following questions should be answered.