To verify that the topic of your article will fit The Synergist's editorial needs, please email the editorial staff before you begin to write.
Authors' Guidelines
Synergist articles should be short, punchy, and to the point. Less is more. All submissions will be edited for space, style, and clarity. Heavy editing is not uncommon, nor does it mean you're not a good writer—everyone gets edited, even the editors. We're all trying to make your article the best it can be. You will have the opportunity to review and approve the edited version before publication.
The vast majority of the articles that appear in The Synergist are solicited. We do accept unsolicited submissions, but we can't stress enough the importance of contacting the editors before you begin writing to ensure that your topic meets our needs.
The Synergist rarely publishes conference summaries. Don't submit a summary of a conference you've attended unless you've made arrangements with us long before the conference begins.
The information in your article must be vendor-neutral. For a specific word count, consult with editorial staff. Articles should be submitted via email.
The Synergist has its own style guide (a modified version of Associated Press style). The editors don't make this style guide available to authors for the simple reason that we don't want you worrying about these matters. Applying the style guide is the editors' job. We will not reject your article because (for example) you didn't use the serial comma. If you absolutely must have a style guide to follow when writing, use AP.
We ask that authors think about the following:
Clarity: Think of the basics of news writing, the five Ws―who, what, when, where, why. When writing, think of how your work will affect other industrial hygienists. Why should they care? What impact will it have on them? What’s new or different? Updates on current or continuing projects also are good. Focusing on practical applications and relevance to daily jobs is a key component for all materials.
Simplicity: The Synergist is designed to be a quick read. Keep prose simple and readable. Pretend you're explaining what you do to someone outside the profession. Avoid jargon. Offer suggestions on steps to implement ideas discussed in articles. Synergist readers particularly appreciate practical articles that they can use in their daily work. If you will be developing your article from a presentation you gave at a conference, do not provide narration about the conference. Focus instead on the practical information, and write the article as if the conference never happened.
Graphics: To be usable for print, photos and other graphics must be submitted as high-resolution files (at least 300 dpi) and in JPG, EPS, or TIF format. If you would like to reprint a previously published table, chart, or similar graphic, you will need to work with Synergist editorial staff to secure permission from the copyright holder. Assume that any graphic you've found online is under copyright and that permission must be secured to use it. The process of obtaining this permission can be lengthy, so prepare yourself for the likelihood that permission will not be granted in time for the figure to appear in your article.
Sources: The Synergist is a news magazine and follows a modified version of Associated Press style, which calls for any sources used to be defined in the text of the article. Authors should avoid providing long, bibliography-style lists of sources. We sometimes list important sources in a "Resources" sidebar. We use our own minimalist style for these listings. Applying this style is not something you need to worry about.
Quotations: Be sure to properly quote your sources. Choose quoted material judiciously. Don't overdo it--excessively long quotes may not be considered "fair use" under copyright law, even when the source is properly acknowledged. For articles on regulatory matters, resist the temptation to insert lengthy quotes from OSHA standards. Synergist articles should provide the author's perspective and experiences, not simply repeat what OSHA has said.
Trademarks: Like most news publications, The Synergist does not include trademark symbols in editorial copy. As stipulated in Associated Press style, we capitalize trademarked terms.
Footnotes: Do not use footnotes, either to indicate sources or to refer readers to tangential information. Sources should be specified in the text as explained above. If you can't incorporate tangential information into the body of the article, discard it.
Lists: Use bulleted and numbered lists sparingly. Never place a bulleted or numbered list inside another list.
Titles and headings: The Synergist welcomes suggestions for article titles from authors, but titles will ultimately be chosen by the editors to fit the content as well as the images and graphics planned for the article. The Synergist's layout allows limited space for article titles. The editors will add subheadings to break up the copy.
Contact information: Please include names and email addresses with all articles so that readers who want more information can contact the source directly.
Copyright: The Synergist requires authors to transfer copyright to AIHA. In return, AIHA grants to authors a nonexclusive and royalty-free license to reproduce, display, and otherwise use all or part of the article in the authors’ own lectures, training, papers, articles, and/or books. Authors may not sublicense the article, in whole or in part, to any third party without the express written consent of AIHA.
Generative AI: The Synergist does not accept submissions of articles or images generated by AI.
For more information on contributing to The Synergist, contact the editors.