Writing a journal article

Writing a journal article is a traditional way to share academic research with an audience in your research field. Academic journal articles are formally written and can be peer-reviewed, with writing conventions and rules that differ across journals and disciplines. Although these rules are important to follow, don't lose sight of your main goal: to communicate your research effectively with your audience.

Types of journal article

Before thinking about structure, it helps to be clear about what kind of article you are writing, because writing conventions can differ. Journal articles are often grouped into three broad types (Jalongo, 2026):

• Research articles report original qualitative, quantitative or mixed-methods research, and present data, analysis and implications.
• Review or theoretical articles work with previously published theory and research to summarise, synthesise, critique and interpret, rather than presenting new data.
• Practical articles address issues relevant to practitioners in the field, recommend effective strategies, and support improvements in professional practice.

Some journals recognise further categories, including conceptual pieces, reflective essays, case studies and opinion pieces (Bloom & Thomas, 2020). Guidance on writing research articles is far more plentiful than guidance on the other types, so writers of review, conceptual or practical pieces are often left applying a research template that does not fit their purpose (Jalongo, 2026). Check what article types your target journal publishes, and read recent examples of the type you intend to write.

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