Common Writing Problems

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Common Writing Problems

• APS Professional Skills Course
• Writing and Reviewing for Scientific Journals

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Six Rules for Writing

• Or
• How to Make Friends of
• Editors,
• Reviewers,
• Copy Editors

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Rule 1 Know Your Grammar

• Avoid dangling modifiers or participles
• Watch for subject-verb agreement
• Use complete sentences
• Watch for commonly misused words

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Dangling Modifiers or Participles

• One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How
  he got into my pajamas I don't know (Groucho
  Marx)
• Place modifiers (e.g., adjectives, adverbs) near
  the words they describe
• Rewrite sentences to avoid dangling participles
• After adding the drug, the heart showed an
  increased response. Or
• The heart showed an increased response after the
  drug was added.

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Subject-Verb Agreement and Conjugations

• Subject-Verb Agreement
• The word, data, is plural
• Data show NOT Data shows (Hint Substitute
  results for data)
• Media (plural) vs. medium (singular)
• Conjugations
• When terms are joined by and the subject of the
  sentence is usually plural
• Blood pressure and heart rate were increased.
  NOT Blood pressure and heart rate was
  increased.
• When terms are joined by or or nor, the
  subject of the sentence is usually singular
• Neither blood pressure nor heart rate was
  increased. NOT Neither blood pressure nor heart
  rate were increased.
• If you are not sure, check a grammar book or
  website

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Use Complete Sentences

• Can happen in cut and paste editing
• May be missed by spell-checker functions
• Make sure each sentence has a noun (subject) and
  verb (predicate)
• Example 1 We saved the supernatant.
• Example 2 The central nucleus of the amygdala
  is known.
• Example 3 Although the central nucleus of the
  amygdala is known.
• Example 4 And so a significant difference was
  seen.

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Homonyms

• Words that sound alike (or nearly alike) but have
  different meanings
• Affect, effect
• Discrete, discreet
• Principle, principal
• Molarity, molality
• Two, to, too
• Ensure, insure
• Through, thorough, though

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Rule 2 Follow Good Writing Principles

• Avoid wordiness and unfamiliar words
• Be precise in wording
• Use active voice whenever possible

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Avoid Wordiness and Unfamiliar Words

• Focus on writing short sentences when possible
• Example 1 It is, therefore, apparent from the
  data that we have shown in this study that there
  is a considerable change in the response we see
  in the animals that were treated with the much
  higher dose.
• Example 2 We saw a 40 rise in response in the
  animals treated with 5 mg/ml than in those
  treated with 1 mg/ml.
• Use words that you and everyone else will know
  without having to find a dictionary
• Eschew sesquipedalianism!

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Be Precise

• Use terms that have meaning in the scientific
  world
• Example 1 Production of Antibody A went up a
  little.
• Example 2 Production of Antibody A increased by
  5.
• Dont use scientific terms in a non-scientific
  context
• Significant means statistically significant
• Avoid using significant in other contexts (e.g.
  large or important)
• Sex
• Studies applicable to humans vs. men or
  women
• Studies applicable to animals vs. males or
  females
• Check the specific journal for instructions

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Use Active Voice

• Sentences can be written in active or passive
  voice.
• In active voice, the subject of the sentence
  carries out an action
• Example 1 Sarah threw the ball.
• In passive voice, the subject of the sentence is
  acted UPON
• Example 2 The ball was thrown by Sarah.
• Benefits of using active voice
• Greater clarity
• Less likely to misplace modifiers
• Shorter sentences
• More interesting reading
• Example 3 Vasoconstriction and increased VSM
  cell Ca2 were elicited by the addition of KCl
  in both groups.
• Example 4 The addition of KCl elicited
  vasoconstriction and increased VSM cell Ca2 in
  both groups.

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Rule 3 Use Appropriate Punctuation

• Semi-colons
• Colons
• Commas
• Example 1 Karen, my sister will attend the
  wedding.
• Example 2 Karen, my sister, will attend the
  wedding.

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Rule 4 Check the Spelling

• Spelling errors distract your reviewers
• Dont rely solely on your own proofreading
• Use your word processors tools
• Add scientific words to your computers
  dictionary
• Be sure to spell them correctly when you add them
• Spell checkers do NOT catch incorrect usage
• A direct assessment of alterations in calcium
  sensitivity has not been preformed.
• Spell check one final time before submission

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Rule 5 Use Multiple Proofreaders

• You reach a point where you can no longer
  proofread a manuscript.
• Especially important if
• English is not your first language
• English grammar is not your strength
• Attention to details is not your strength

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Rule 6 Dont Forget the Details

• Dont forget to define abbreviations the first
  time they are mentioned
• Common terms may be the exception
• Check journal guidelines for a list of exceptions
• If in doubt, define
• All figures and tables should be mentioned in
  text
• All references cited in text should be in the
  reference list
• All references in the reference list should be
  cited in the text

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Six Rules for Writing

• Rule 1 Know your grammar
• Rule 2 Follow good writing principles
• Rule 3 Use appropriate punctuation
• Rule 4 Check the spelling
• Rule 5 Use multiple proofreaders
• Rule 6 Dont forget the details

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Make the Journal Staff Your Friends

• Do your best when writing the manuscript
• The journal staff will do their best for you
• Editor
• Easily determine the best reviewers
• Reviewers
• Give real feedback to enhance the story
• Not just grammar corrections
• Copy Editor
• Copyedit without changing the meaning
• Focus on important features

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Whats the Result?

• A better article
• A better reputation
• A better professional experience