- Elements of good writing include being clear, concise, using plain English and everyday words, and having good grammar. Effective communication requires these elements as well as short, concise sentences. - With increasing international collaboration, language in scientific writing is becoming more standardized to aid comprehension for diverse global audiences. Some ways to improve clarity include avoiding wordiness, redundancies, ambiguous phrasing, and properly formatting numbers, units, and references to figures/tables. Careful use of grammar like subject-verb agreement also aids readability.

55. Plain English
Elements of good writing: Know
what you want to say. Be clear. Be
concise. Use good grammar.
Effective communication requires
• Plain English
• Concise sentences
• Everyday words
With international collaborations
being increasingly common,
language is becoming more standard
55

56. determine
stop/pause
clotting/thickening
tiny
system of names
orient
end
shapeless
Big Words
56
amorphous
ascertain
cessation
coagulation
miniscule
nomenclature
orientate
terminate

57. Wordy Phrases
57
can
has proved, is
since
if
usually, generally
daily
until
duringduring the course of
exhibits the ability
has proved itself to be
inasmuch as
in the event that
in the majority of instances
on a daily basis
until such time as

58. Redundancies
58
essentialabsolutely essential
experienceactual experience
combinecombine into one
cubic meterscubic meters in volume
statuscurrent status
varietiesdifferent varieties
outcomefinal outcome
historypast history
triangulartriangular in shape

59. Example
59
• Studies of barriers to implementation of
preventive services have concluded that ….
• Barriers to the implementation of
preventive services have included ….
• The practical implementation of
preventive services has been blocked by ….

60. Include: have as a part, typically an incomplete listing
These items included information on the number of inpatient
hours provided by the physician.
Comprise: consist of, implies a complete listed (not passive)
One hundred Igh‐V genes comprise seven families of
homologous genes.
Compose: make up the parts of (can be passive)
Prohibitins, stomatins, and plant disease response genes
compose a protein superfamily that controls cell proliferation,
ion channel regulation, and death.
Common problems
60

61. Increase: become or make better in some aspect
Every 10‐point increase in the automation score was
associated with a usability score 3.8 points higher
Augment: increase by addition of something already good
The chimpanzees were able to augment their diets with the
use of basic tools for rudimentary processing of certain nuts.
Enhance: evaluative word for something already attractive
The development of agriculture enhanced humans’ quality of
life, but certain measurable consequences arose.
Improve: to make better, from any state
A permission attitude towards urban gardening can improve
the beauty, image, and crime rate of a neighborhood.
Common problems
61

62. Misused/Troublesome Words and Phrases
ability power to do something
capacity power of receiving or containing
accept receive willingly
except to exclude
advise offer counsel
inform communicate information
affect (v) to change or influence
effect (n) result or outcome
because of by reason of
due to attributable to
62

63. Misused/Troublesome Words and Phrases
data with facts (plural)
information (singular)
datum singular form (rarely seen)
e.g. for example
i.e. that is/in other words
equipment should never be plural
irregardless use ‘regardless’
that used with a restrictive clause (required
for sentence)
which used with non‐restrictive clause
(additional information)
63

64. Indicative vs. Informative verbs
Indicative: What the paper is going to be about
• Oort’s study examined the galaxies.
Note: “Examined” takes a direct object (the entity that is
acted upon by the subject)
Informative: Discussing claims
• Oort’s study showed that dark matter accounts for the “missing
mass” in galaxies.
Note: “showed” takes a “that” clause (not always true of
informative verbs)
Indicative and informative verbs are also important to understand
when writing about tables and charts

65. Indicative
• Figure 4 _______ the
survey results
• Feynman’s 1950 study
________ the problem.
Informative
• Figure 4 _________ the
decline in student
attendance through the
semester.
• Table 3 _________ that
the efficacy of the drug
decreased over time.
The Test

66. Indicative and Informative verbs
Indicative Informative
show
provide
give
present
summarize
illustrate
reveal
display
demonstrate
indicate
suggest
66

67. Indicative and Informative verbs
Indicative Informative
show Y
provide Y
give Y
present Y
summarize Y
illustrate Y
reveal Y
display Y
demonstrate Y
indicate Y
suggest N
67

68. Indicative and Informative verbs
Indicative Informative
show Y Y
provide Y N
give Y N
present Y N
summarize Y N
illustrate Y Y
reveal Y Y
display Y N
demonstrate Y Y
indicate Y Y
suggest N Y
68

69. Beginning a sentence with a numeral
150 survey respondents were randomly chosen for follow‐up
interviews.
1. Note that 150 survey respondents were randomly chosen for follow‐
up interviews.
60% of the enrolled subjects continued their participation until the
end of the study.
1. Sixty percent of the enrolled subjects continued their
participation until the end of the study.
2. In this study, 60% of the enrolled subjects continued their
participation until the end.
Example 1/9
69

70. The equation for estimating this value is A = 3.56 x 10‐2 γ [a + b].
The 100 ug mL‐1 extracts improved the antioxidant test for
cellular oxidative stress.
Example 2/9
70

71. Using the alphabet instead of the proper symbol (×, μ, etc.) and putting a
space before and after mathematical operators
The equation for estimating this value is A = 3.56 x 10‐2 γ [a + b].
The equation for estimating this value is A = 3.56 × 10‐2 γ
[a + b].
The 100 ug mL‐1 extracts improved the antioxidant test for
cellular oxidative stress.
The 100 μg mL‐1 extracts improved the antioxidant test for
cellular oxidative stress.
Example 2/9
71

72. Example 3/9
The body weight of the bonobos ranged between 45kg and 55kg; their
average body weight was 48.5kg.
Of the 91 participants (average age 60±5years), 51 and 40 were divided
into 2 groups based on their marital status.
72

73. Example 3/9
Not inserting a space between a numeral and its corresponding unit of
measurement
The body weight of the bonobos ranged between 45kg and 55kg; their
average body weight was 48.5kg.
The body weight of the bonobos ranged between 45 kg and 55 kg;
their average body weight was 48.5 kg.
Of the 91 participants (average age 60±5years), 51 and 40 were divided
into 2 groups based on their marital status.
Of the 91 participants (average age 60 ± 5 years), 51 and 40 were
divided into 2 groups based on their marital status.
73

74. An embedded operating system (OS) with a CPU clock of 600MHz and RAM size
of 111MB is used in these tests.
Sentencing for suspects found with as little as 5g of crack cocaine were found
disproportionate to the equivalent amount of the powdered form.
Example 4/9
74

75. Not inserting a space between a numeral and its corresponding unit of
measurement
An embedded operating system (OS) with a CPU clock of 600MHz and RAM size
of 111MB is used in these tests.
Sentencing for suspects found with as little as 5g of crack cocaine were found
disproportionate to the equivalent amount of the powdered form.
Example 4/9
75

76. Not inserting a space between a numeral and its corresponding unit of
measurement
An embedded operating system (OS) with a CPU clock of 600MHz and RAM size
of 111MB is used in these tests.
An embedded operating system (OS) with a CPU clock of 600 MHz and RAM
size of 111 MB is used in these tests.
Sentencing for suspects found with as little as 5g of crack cocaine were found
disproportionate to the equivalent amount of the powdered form.
Sentencing for suspects found with as little as 5 g of crack cocaine were
found disproportionate to the equivalent amount of the powdered form.
Example 4/9
76

77. The baseline characteristics of all subjects were summarized in
Table 1.
Figure 4 showed the results of the sentencing reform act in each
state.
Example 5/9
77

78. Using the past tense for in-text reference to figures and tables
The baseline characteristics of all subjects were summarized in
Table 1.
The baseline characteristics of all subjects are summarized in
Table 1.
Figure 4 showed the results of the sentencing reform act in each
state.
Figure 4 shows the results of the sentencing reform act in each
state.
Example 5/9
78

79. The recent innovations in mapping technologies, GPS in particular, has
revolutionized demographics.
The ratio of corporate coffee shops to independent coffee shops were
defined as the indie index.
Example 6/9
79

80. Using a singular verb with a plural subject and vice versa
The recent innovations in mapping technologies, GPS in particular, has
revolutionized demographics.
The recent innovations in mapping technologies, GPS in particular,
have revolutionized demographics.
The ratio of corporate coffee shops to independent coffee shops were
defined as the indie index.
The ratio of corporate coffee shops to independent coffee shops was
defined as the indie index.
Example 6/9
80

81. We developed a fully‐automated method that estimates high‐risk
crime areas in real time.
People with a surgically‐separated corpus callosum have recently come to the
attention of researchers in the field of evolutionary psychology.
Example 7/9
81

82. Inserting a hyphen in a compound adjective when the first word is an
adverb ending in ly
We developed a fully‐automated method that estimates high‐risk
crime areas in real time.
People with a surgically‐separated corpus callosum have recently come to the
attention of researchers in the field of evolutionary psychology.
Example 7/9
82

83. Inserting a hyphen in a compound adjective when the first word is an
adverb ending in ly
We developed a fully‐automated method that estimates high‐risk
crime areas in real time.
We developed a fully automated method that estimates
high‐risk crime areas in real time.
People with a surgically‐separated corpus callosum have recently come to the
attention of researchers in the field of evolutionary psychology.
People with a surgically separated corpus callosum have recently come
to the attention of researchers in the field of evolutionary psychology.
Example 7/9
83

84. We observed that poor test performance was due to not only lack of
parental engagement, but also poverty.
Pre‐marriage couples counseling is valuable not only in reducing the
chances of eventual divorce, but also in improving lifetime income levels
of the couples.
Example 8/9
84

85. Inserting a comma before but also in a sentence containing the correlative
conjunction ‘not only...but also’
We observed that poor test performance was due to not only lack of
parental engagement, but also poverty.
Pre‐marriage couples counseling is valuable not only in reducing the
chances of eventual divorce, but also in improving lifetime income levels
of the couples.
Example 8/9
85

86. Inserting a comma before but also in a sentence containing the correlative
conjunction ‘not only...but also’
We observed that poor test performance was due to not only lack of
parental engagement, but also poverty.
We observed that poor test performance was due to not only lack of
parental engagement but also poverty.
Pre‐marriage couples counseling is valuable not only in reducing the
chances of eventual divorce, but also in improving lifetime income levels
of the couples.
Pre‐marriage couples counseling is valuable not only in reducing the
chances of eventual divorce but also in improving lifetime income
levels of the couples.
Example 8/9
86

87. Parental earnings are shown in Table 1. Table 2 shows the earnings of all female
subjects.
Last year alone the number of health food stores have doubled, as shown in Fig.
5. In addition, fast food restaurants nationwide have begun closing stores, as
shown in the inset of Fig. 5.
Example 9/9
87

88. Using the same or similar word/phrase in quick succession in two consecutive
sentences
Parents’ income levels are shown in Table 1. Table 2 shows the income levels of
their female children.
Tables 1 and 2 show parental earnings and income levels of all female
subjects, respectively.
Last year alone the number of health food stores have doubled, as shown in Fig.
5. In addition, fast food restaurants nationwide have been closing stores at
double the rate from the previous year, as shown in the inset of Fig. 5.
Last year alone the number of health food stores have doubled (Fig. 5); in
the inset, the inverse trend in fast food restaurants is observed.
Example 9/9
88