Science Writing Tips

Science Writing TipsScience Writing Tips

Don't write merely to be Don't write merely to be understood. Write so that you understood. Write so that you cannot possibly be misunderstood.cannot possibly be misunderstood.--Robert Louis Stevenson--Robert Louis Stevenson

True or false for science writing?True or false for science writing?

When writing, keep your readers in mind.When writing, keep your readers in mind.

Who are your readers?Who are your readers?

• Colleagues and coworkers.Colleagues and coworkers.• Editors and reviewers.Editors and reviewers.• Scientists in other fields.Scientists in other fields.• Students.Students.• People who are People who are busybusy..• People who speak English as a foreign People who speak English as a foreign

language.language.

Writing for busy readersWriting for busy readers

Typical order in which readers read an article:Typical order in which readers read an article:1. Title and author list1. Title and author list

2. Abstract2. Abstract

3. Figures, tables, and their legends3. Figures, tables, and their legends

4. Subheadings4. Subheadings

5. Conclusion and introduction (skimmed)5. Conclusion and introduction (skimmed)

6. Equations and methods6. Equations and methods

7. Main text in more detail7. Main text in more detail

Writing “Global English”Writing “Global English”

• Avoid uncommon non-technical terms.Avoid uncommon non-technical terms.

• Avoid using synonyms.Avoid using synonyms.

• Avoid idioms and metaphors.Avoid idioms and metaphors.

• Replace terms that have a wide variety of meanings with words Replace terms that have a wide variety of meanings with words that have a specific meaning.that have a specific meaning.

• Be concise.Be concise.

Example:Example: “An intermediate tolerance value, of say, 10% will delete “An intermediate tolerance value, of say, 10% will delete columns with >10% gap characters.”columns with >10% gap characters.”

Better:Better: “For example, an intermediate tolerance value of 10% will “For example, an intermediate tolerance value of 10% will delete columns with >10% gap characters.”delete columns with >10% gap characters.”


Spell out numbers you can write in one Spell out numbers you can write in one word. Use numerals for those requiring word. Use numerals for those requiring multiple words.multiple words.Example:Example: We have twenty tomatoes.We have twenty tomatoes.

Two accepted styles for numbers in Two accepted styles for numbers in scientific writing:scientific writing:

Style Option #1:Style Option #1:

Spell out whole numbers one to nine. Use numerals for numbers 10 Spell out whole numbers one to nine. Use numerals for numbers 10 and up.and up.

Examples:Examples: We used nine rotten tomatoes.We used nine rotten tomatoes.

We used 12 rotten tomatoes.We used 12 rotten tomatoes.

We used 1 kg of rotten tomatoes.We used 1 kg of rotten tomatoes.

Style Option #2:Style Option #2:

Use numerals for Use numerals for allall number words that express a quantity. number words that express a quantity.

Example:Example: We used 1 rotten tomato.We used 1 rotten tomato.

BUT:BUT: The The fourthfourth tomato was not the tomato was not the oneone causing the odor. causing the odor.

Never start a sentence with a numeralNever start a sentence with a numeral

No:No: 158 patients met all inclusion criteria. 158 patients met all inclusion criteria.

Yes:Yes: One hundred fifty-eight patients met all inclusion One hundred fifty-eight patients met all inclusion criteria.criteria.

Better: Better: Among 200 patients tested, 158 met all inclusion Among 200 patients tested, 158 met all inclusion criteria.criteria.

Better:Better: Patients who met all inclusion criteria (n=158)... Patients who met all inclusion criteria (n=158)...


Hyphenate compound adjectives Hyphenate compound adjectives appropriately.appropriately.

““T cell” (noun) T cell” (noun) “T-cell” (adjective)“T-cell” (adjective)

This follows a basic rule for forming This follows a basic rule for forming compound modifiers. It is agreed-upon by compound modifiers. It is agreed-upon by nearly all science style guides and nearly all science style guides and dictionaries.dictionaries.

Hyphenate measurements when Hyphenate measurements when used as adjectives.used as adjectives.

The plasmid contains The plasmid contains 5 kb5 kb of intervening... of intervening...

The plasmid contains a The plasmid contains a 5-kb5-kb fragment... fragment...

We added We added 3 ml3 ml of 5 M NaCl... of 5 M NaCl...

We added two We added two 3-ml3-ml samples of... samples of...


(X) (X) Partly falsePartly false

Use the possessive form for terms named after a person, Use the possessive form for terms named after a person, such as 'Newton's first law' and 'Down's syndrome.'such as 'Newton's first law' and 'Down's syndrome.'



Italicize words and phrases taken from other Italicize words and phrases taken from other languages, such as 'languages, such as 'in vitro'in vitro' and ' and 'et al.'et al.'

Do not italicize words and phrases that Do not italicize words and phrases that are part of the English languageare part of the English language

Examples:Examples: in vitro, in vivo, in situin vitro, in vivo, in situ a prioria priori i.e., e.g., et al.i.e., e.g., et al. post hocpost hoc



Do not write short, choppy sentences. Vary Do not write short, choppy sentences. Vary your sentence structures to make your your sentence structures to make your writing more interesting. writing more interesting.

Short sentences are clear and effectiveShort sentences are clear and effective

““Manuel drank his brandy. He felt sleepy himself. It was too hot to go out into Manuel drank his brandy. He felt sleepy himself. It was too hot to go out into the town. Besides there was nothing to do. He wanted to see Zurito. He would the town. Besides there was nothing to do. He wanted to see Zurito. He would go to sleep while he waited. He kicked his suitcase under the table to be sure go to sleep while he waited. He kicked his suitcase under the table to be sure it was there.” it was there.” (8 words/sent.)(8 words/sent.)

--Ernest Hemingway--Ernest Hemingway

““Genes encoding TE2, RY7, RY8, and Fc were inserted into pCMV-DHFR Genes encoding TE2, RY7, RY8, and Fc were inserted into pCMV-DHFR vectorvector21. 21. The recombinant proteins were produced in CHO cells by methods The recombinant proteins were produced in CHO cells by methods previously describedpreviously described2121. The proteins were purified by Protein-A agarose . The proteins were purified by Protein-A agarose affinity chromatography with acid elution. Binding of MD2 to TE2, RY7, or affinity chromatography with acid elution. Binding of MD2 to TE2, RY7, or RY8 was analyzed with the BIAcore 3000 (BIAcore AB). To measure RY8 was analyzed with the BIAcore 3000 (BIAcore AB). To measure isoelectric points, 20 isoelectric points, 20 g of each protein sample and standard marker proteins g of each protein sample and standard marker proteins were loaded on IsoGel Agarose IEF Gels pH 3-10 (Cambrex, New Jersey, were loaded on IsoGel Agarose IEF Gels pH 3-10 (Cambrex, New Jersey, USA). Gels were run at 50 mA constant current for 3 hr. Gels were stained USA). Gels were run at 50 mA constant current for 3 hr. Gels were stained with Coomassie blue.” with Coomassie blue.” (13 words/sent.)(13 words/sent.)

Varying sentences structures increases Varying sentences structures increases complexity. Instead, use parallel structure.complexity. Instead, use parallel structure.

Not parallel:Not parallel: It was the best of times, but this period was also the least It was the best of times, but this period was also the least favorable.favorable.

““It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...”It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...”

--Charles Dickens--Charles Dickens

Varying sentence structures increases Varying sentence structures increases complexity. Instead, use parallel structure.complexity. Instead, use parallel structure.

Varied:Varied: The mean decrease in length was 0.46±0.88 mm and the The mean decrease in length was 0.46±0.88 mm and the mean reduction in the pain rating scale was 0.44±0.53 in the mean reduction in the pain rating scale was 0.44±0.53 in the Tamoxifen-only group. The L-Carnitine plus Tamoxifen group exhibited Tamoxifen-only group. The L-Carnitine plus Tamoxifen group exhibited a mean reduction in pain of 1.27±0.96 and a length decrease of a mean reduction in pain of 1.27±0.96 and a length decrease of 1.57±0.92 mm.1.57±0.92 mm.

Parallel:Parallel: In the Tamoxifen-only group, the mean decrease in length In the Tamoxifen-only group, the mean decrease in length was 0.46±0.88 mm, and the mean reduction in the pain rating scale was 0.46±0.88 mm, and the mean reduction in the pain rating scale was 0.44±0.53. In the L-Carnitine plus Tamoxifen group, the mean was 0.44±0.53. In the L-Carnitine plus Tamoxifen group, the mean decrease in length was 1.57±0.92 mm, and the mean reduction in the decrease in length was 1.57±0.92 mm, and the mean reduction in the pain rating scale was 1.27±0.96.pain rating scale was 1.27±0.96.

Minimize unusual sentence structures. Minimize unusual sentence structures. Use 'subject – verb – object' order.Use 'subject – verb – object' order.

Example: Example: Only when stored as an integer is the Only when stored as an integer is the value truncated.value truncated.

Reworded: Reworded: The value is truncated only when The value is truncated only when stored as an integer.stored as an integer.


Avoid using the same word repeatedly. Use Avoid using the same word repeatedly. Use synonyms.synonyms.

Complex ideas are easier to follow when the Complex ideas are easier to follow when the same word is always used for the same same word is always used for the same conceptconcept

Example:Example:

To To performperform Bizip transfers, we used the Bizip-beta transfer Bizip transfers, we used the Bizip-beta transfer protocol, while Bizip-gamma was employed protocol, while Bizip-gamma was employed to enactto enact the the reverse transfers. Bozon transfers were not reverse transfers. Bozon transfers were not carried outcarried out under under any regime.any regime.

To perform Bizip transfers, we usedTo perform Bizip transfers, we used the Bizip-beta transfer the Bizip-beta transfer protocol. protocol. To perform the reverse transfers, we usedTo perform the reverse transfers, we used the Bizip- the Bizip-gamma protocol. gamma protocol. We did not performWe did not perform Bozon transfers under Bozon transfers under any regime.any regime.

HomeworkHomework

Read (or reread) “Elements of Style” by Read (or reread) “Elements of Style” by Strunk & White.Strunk & White.

Science Writing Tips

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