The document discusses word location within sentences in scientific writing. It recommends placing old, familiar, and short information at the beginning of sentences, and new, complex, or long information at the end of sentences. It also suggests getting to the main subject of a sentence quickly using a short, specific subject. Interruptions between the subject and verb or verb and object of a sentence should be avoided.

1. Scientific Writing and Communication, 2e Angelika H. Hofmann Copyright © 2014 by Oxford University Press
Chapter 3
Word Location

2. Scientific Writing and Communication, 2e Angelika H. Hofmann Copyright © 2014 by Oxford University Press
Word Location Within Sentences
Establish importance
Place old, familiar, and short information at the
beginning of a sentence
Place new, complex, or long information at the end
of a sentence
Example
a Although vitamin B6 reduces the risk of macular
degeneration, taking it has some side effects.
b Although taking vitamin B6 has some side effects, it
reduces macular degeneration.
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3. Scientific Writing and Communication, 2e Angelika H. Hofmann Copyright © 2014 by Oxford University Press
Example of Jumping Word Location
Macular degeneration is affected by diet. One of the diet
components that influences the progression of macular
degeneration is vitamin B6. Although vitamin B6 seems to
reduce the risk of macular degeneration, it may have some
side effects.
Word Location and Composition
…side effects …

4. Scientific Writing and Communication, 2e Angelika H. Hofmann Copyright © 2014 by Oxford University Press
Get to the subject of the main sentence quickly; make it
short and specific.
If possible, use central characters and topics as subjects.
Example
The reason for rejection on the part of the biochemists was that the
focus of the paper was too broad.
Revision
The biochemists rejected the paper because it was too broad.
Word Location

5. Scientific Writing and Communication, 2e Angelika H. Hofmann Copyright © 2014 by Oxford University Press
Avoid interruptions between subject and verb
and between verb and object.
Example
Dengue virus, a Flavivirus belonging to the family Flaviviridae,
which includes over 60 known human pathogens such as those
causing yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, tick-borne encephalitis,
Saint Louis encephalitis, and West Nile encephalitis, is classified
into four different serotypes, types 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Word Location

6. Scientific Writing and Communication, 2e Angelika H. Hofmann Copyright © 2014 by Oxford University Press
Avoid interruptions between subject and verb
and between verb and object.
Example
Dengue virus, a Flavivirus belonging to the family Flaviviridae,
which includes over 60 known human pathogens such as those
causing yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, tick-borne encephalitis,
Saint Louis encephalitis, and West Nile encephalitis, is classified
into four different serotypes, types 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Word Location