Dr Margaret Cargill is an applied linguist specialising in the development of research writing skills for scientists who use English either as a first or an additional language. She has 25 years' experience working intensively with early career researchers and their supervisors. She holds an Adjunct Senior Lectureship in the School of Agriculture, Food & Wine at the University of Adelaide, Australia, and heads the consultancy business SciWriting: Communicating science effectively in English. She is co-author, with Dr Patrick O'Connor, of Writing scientific research articles: Strategy and steps (Wiley-Blackwell 2009, 2013,www.writeresearch.com.au).