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 should keep the output parameters strictly to the minimum consistent with good clinical performance. | The output parameters should be kept strictly to the minimum consistent with good clinical performance. |
| We can calculate all four Indices for any beam generated by a scanner. | All four Indices can be calculated for any beam generated by a scanner. |
| We have used the tissue models as the basis for the prediction of heating or cavitation. | The tissue models have been used as a basis for the prediction of heating or cavitation. |
| We have to emphasise, however, that the fetus when exposed to mutagenic activity is at risk. | It has, however, to be emphasised that the fetus when exposed to mutagenic activity is at risk. |
| The mechanism is unknown but we can speculate that it is the direct effect of the varying stress field across the neural structures. | The mechanism is unknown but it can be speculated that it is the direct effect of the varying stress field across the neural structures. |
| A number of papers have reported that the auditory nerve may be directly stimulated by ultrasound. | It has been reported in a number of papers that the auditory nerve nay be directly stimulated by ultrasound. |
| The authors discuss the contribution of cavitation as the most likely mechanism of PVC generation. | The contribution is discussed of cavitation as the most likely mechanism of PVC generation. |
| We will not reproduce the formulae here. | The formulae will not be reproduced here. |
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, 16:05