Principles of Scientific Writing: Present and Organize Information in The Correct Format
Principles of Scientific Writing: Present and Organize Information in The Correct Format
Principles of Scientific Writing: Present and Organize Information in The Correct Format
Scientific writing follows certain conventions related to format, citation, design, voice,
tense, concision and organization that may differ from writing in other contexts. The best
way to learn these conventions is to read representative samples (published or
otherwise) within each discipline. Although every audience—be it a peer-reviewed
journal, professional organization, or academic search committee—has unique
expectations and demands, the following advice applies to most scientific writing.
In the following example, active voice is preferable because it may be important to know
who drew or what determined the conclusion:
In the next example, passive voice is preferred because the action is more important
than who performed the action.
Use present tense for statements of fact, general truths, and conditions that are
continuously true. When writing about others’ completed research or published findings,
generally use past tense; however, if the views of a current researcher are well known
and commonly accepted as fact, present tense may be preferred.
• Researchers recognize that folic acid supplements are a potent source of methyl
donors, which can induce epigenetic changes by altering…
Use present perfect tense to describe action or research that occurred in the past but
that is ongoing or connected to the present.
• No previous study has reported the simultaneous effect of…
Eliminating Redundancy:
Scientific writing requires a writer to convey complex information directly and concisely.
Add all the detail needed to convey the idea, but leave out extraneous information.
Write concisely and omit redundancy by:
• Using precise action verbs
• Avoiding hedging verbs such as appear and seem
• Limiting the use of prepositional phrases
• Avoiding useless qualifiers such as perhaps, very, quite, several, essentially,
basically, always and actually
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Example:
Concise: The first trial demonstrated the negative effects of combining the substances.
Note that the prepositional phrases “in the first trial” and “in this experiment” have been
eliminated, and “the first trial” becomes the subject of the sentence. The revised
sentence avoids the hedging verb “appear” in favor of the more active “demonstrated,”
and since “combined” implies that two things become one, the phrase “into one” is
omitted. “The negative effects” becomes the object of the sentence, leaving only one
prepositional phrase at the end: “of combining the substances.”
Revision with Active Verb: The researchers analyzed the patient’s prefrontal cortex and
found that he inadequately regulated his emotions and behavior.
In the first example, the subject is “analysis,” but this could easily function as a stronger
action verb: “analyze.” Changing “analysis” from a noun to a verb allows for a clearer
subject: “the researchers.” By changing “regulation” to a verb, it is easier to identify the
phenomenon the researchers observed in the patient: that he “inadequately regulated
his emotions and behavior.”
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pattern forges a clear connection between sentences and provides readers with a
logical progression of ideas.
• Clear: Some areas of the cranium are ossified from membranes transformed
from mesenchymal tissues and are called intramembranous bones. These
bones include the cranial vault, facial bones, the mandible, and the clavicle.
o These sentences are coherent because the old information is placed at the
beginning of the second sentence and the new information is placed at the
end (the stress position). The new information in the first sentence becomes
the old information in the second, which helps the reader follow the ideas
being presented.
In this example, the revision is much easier to follow because the reader is immediately
able to identify what the subject is (DNA) and what the author wants to say about it (that
it contains genetic code and where it is found in the body). Consequently, the reader is
not bogged down in an extensive list of examples before understanding what the author
aims to convey.
For further information on related concepts, please see the following handouts:
• Known-New Contract
• Sentence Combining
• CSE Citation Guide
• AMA Citation Guide
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