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Cover Letter (if appropriate/applicable):

• Include a cover letter with your application.
• Include your application's title.
• State the different disciplines involved, if multidisciplinary.
• State if application is in response to a specific RFA or PA or RFP.
• State, if applicable, that you have enclosed the required institutional approval documentation.

Writing - Presentation of Information:

• Pleasing presentation, e.g., well-organized and sufficient white space to prevent crowding of information.
• Label all materials clearly so that reviewers can easily find information.
• Type clean and legible.
• Begin with basic ideas and move towards more complex ideas.
• Include bullets and lists to draw attention to key facts and create visual breaks.
• Include graphics that can help reviewers grasp information quickly and easily.
• Include information that will photocopy well.
• Put any colored or glossy materials in the appendix.
• Put all other graphs and charts (not on glossy paper) in the research plan and not the appendix.
• Include the necessary number of copies of the proposal and sets of all appendix material packaged as required by the sponsor.
• Does the application require a cover letter?
• Include a table of contents.

Writing - Mechanics:

• Paragraphs contain only one major point each.
• Use short, basic sentences that average 20 words or less.
• Include transitions to show the relationship between your ideas, using words such as: furthermore, additionally, in other words, in another area, in contrast, following the same path, and moving to the next stage (but not in excess.)
• Keep related ideas and information together, e.g., put clauses and phrases as close as possible to (preferably right after) the words they modify.
• Use strong, active verbs; avoid passive verbs (i.e. "We will develop a cell line," not "A cell line will be developed.")
• Use verbs instead of abstract nouns ending in "ion" and "ment" (i.e. say "creating the assay leads to..." rather than "the creation of the assay leads to...")

Writing - Editing & Proofreading:

• Edit and proofread the application thoroughly several times after giving yourself a few days away from it to gain perspective.
• Eliminate redundant words and phrases.
• Check all your information and data for consistency.
• Review conclusions to see if supporting facts might lead a reader to different conclusions.
• Have several colleagues critique the application on the writing and presentation.
• Get editorial help from a nonscientist with a strong writing background.
• Support all facts with citations.
• Avoid using URLs for source material in your application.
• Check your table of contents to make sure that all the items and page numbers correspond to those in the body of your application?
• Have a clear, concise, but interesting title that describes your project and will get the attention of the readers.

Writing - Revising & Resubmitting:

• Read the summary statement and identify the problems.
• Address reviewers' comments point by point, identifying changes clearly.
• Summarize substantial additions, deletions, and changes.
• Clearly distinguish sections that are the same in the previous application and those that are different, showing precisely where you added new information with a method that will show up on a photocopy (not changing the color of the text.)
• If you disagreed with the reviewers, explain why and provide additional information.
• Follow the sponsor’s instructions.
• Keep the title the same as it was the first time.
• If applicable, include an introduction to the research plan as part of the application.
• Does the introduction respond to the reviewers' comments by describing how you have substantially changed the application and addressed the criticisms outlined in the summary statement?
• Does it include any new findings since the initial application?