When publishing in English you need to take account of the general rules which have become accepted as the norm in academic communication. In writing technical and scientific papers in particular, you should aim to achieve objectivity, clarity and precision. In addition, there are conventions governing the use of formal patterns, though the need to establish rapport with your audience and to make your writing reader-friendly has an influence on determining your selection of formal or informal language phrases.
This implies that there still is a certain amount of creative use of language in the dissemination of research information and that scientific writing does not simply follow a set of mechanical writing procedures for reporting results. The written text also reflects, though to a very limited extent, cultural and rhetorical assumptions about what is presented and how the material is organized.
Objectivity is generally governed by the research topic although obviously it is individuals who actually have to select, arrange and present their findings. Thus it is your task, as the writer, to deal with your topic in a fair, objective and responsible manner, keeping your personal feelings out of your writing.
From a language point of view, objectivity and a neutral approach (impersonal style) may be achieved by using the passive voice and by avoiding ambiguous statements. Avoidance of confusing metaphoric elements, combined with the use of precise and well-established technical terms may add to effective writing and help to produce explicitness of standard academic description.
Scientific writing is usually done in an impersonal style. Information and facts are more important than personal opinions or attitudes. This style is also used to put a certain distance between the writer and the arguments proposed and thus makes them more objective. See also Section 5.5 Using the Passive.
| Personal / informal | Impersonal / formal |
| We all wished we could record what we see in the telescope | It was wished by everybody to record what was seen in the telescope |
| We chose four relatively new low-cost cameras ... | Four relatively new low-cost cameras were chosen... |
| When I first used the camera to look at the Moon, I did not see an image at all... | No image appeared, when the camera was used for the first time |
| I'll bet most readers already own several eyepieces | It is documented that several eyepieces are already owned by most readers |
| I found that... the AGC compensated for the dark sky and... | It was observed that the AGC... |
| The writer consider these results to be ... | These results are considered to be... |
| As we decided to test | In order to test... |
| I mounted StellaCam on an adjustable pinhead | StellaCam was mounted on an adjustable pan head |
Precise references to data in tables, graphs and diagrams also lead to greater objectivity in research findings.
© Vysoké učení technické v Brně, 2005
Last update: 19-Dec-2005, 16:04