Communication is part of almost any professional activity. For researchers, writing scientific papers and giving scientific presentations is a daily ritual. Scientists that do not practice these communication activities will not make any contribution to science. Fortunately, communication skills can easily be learnt by any professional. Unfortunately, many scientists – due to a chronic lack of selfknowledge – do not feel any necessity for improving their own communication competences. As a result, scientists often (50% of the time) give bad talks and often (50% of the cases) write low-quality manuscripts. In addition, many courses are given by people whose profession it is to give those courses. Lessons given by non-active researchers are hardly ever useful, but invariably a waste of time.

In the present guide I give very practical how-to advice on essential topics such as the foundations for writing scientific texts (including dealing with referees and editors), presenting data and research information, and the writing of collegial, efficient emails. Each section is organized as a collection of short rules, outlined and numbered in a logical order as self-explanatory pieces of information – allowing the reader the freedom to study any number of them in any desired order.

A number of the hints are certainly politically incorrect, but they are all the more useful and can be found nowhere else.

Originally the guides were aimed primarily at undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students in the natural sciences. But I have discovered that also more senior scientists will profit from it.

But it doesn't stop there: many of my hints, in particular those referring to presentations, are of invaluable use for a much broader audience of professionals, up to consultants and (public) managers.

Studying the full text will cost less than one and a half hour. Implementing the hints will immediately result in far better presentations, far better scientific papers and far better emails. In the beginning, adoption of the guidelines might cost somewhat more time. But in the end it will be amply rewarding: Your manuscripts will be more easily accepted by editors and referees, they will be better read, and better cited. Your talks will stand out. And all of this achieved by – in the long run – spending altogether less time on these activities.