At the beginning of each scholarly article, beneath the title, is a list of the authors.
We get so used to writing our name, together with the names of our co-authors that we
seldom give it much thought. In this piece, I want to explain why it is very important to
get it right.
Being listed as the author – or one of the authors – of a published paper is important
for your credibility as a researcher; you are judged by the number and quality of your
publications. They help you to advance in your profession, to secure research funding,
and with invitations to contribute to conferences. But what does being listed as an author
mean?