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 introduce the fundamental postulate of statistical mechanics. | The fundamental postulate of statistical mechanics is introduced. |
| For this study we chose a J-integral-based method to estimate the stress intensity factor at the crack tip. | For this study, a J-integral-based method was chosen to estimate the stress intensity factor at the crack tip. |
| We have shown that intrinsically brittle materials, specifically soda-lime glass, porcelain and silicon nitride, are susceptible to fatigue in contact with spheres. | It has been shown that intrinsically brittle materials, specifically soda-lime glass, porcelain and silicon nitride, are susceptible to fatigue in contact with spheres. |
| We have found that the MSA models do not provide quantitative agreement with the moduli of the random microstructures studied. | It has been found that the MSA models do not provide quatitive agreement with the moduli of the random microstructures studied. |
| We also assume that the valleys that occur between grains provide sites of large stress concentrations... | It is also assumed that the valleys that occur between grains provide sites of large stress concentrations... |
| Here, we analyse the elastic moduli and initial yield strength of hollow sphere foams. | Here, the elastic moduli and initial yield strength of follow sphere foams are analysed. |
| We have derived empirical theories for the dependence of Young´s modulus on porosity for three distinct models of porous ceramics.... | Empirical theories have been derived for the dependence of Young´s modulus on porosity for three distinct models of porous ceramics... |
| In this paper I will describe the IBAD method. | In this paper, the IBAD method will be described. |
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