Is data singular or plural?

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Is data singular or plural?
Technical English
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Is data singular or plural?
Technical English
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Is data singular or plural?
Technical English
The following table summarises the results of of
an investigation of 750 randomly-selected
citations for data from each of the following
publications
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Metaphors and clichés
Technical English
Metaphor A metaphor is a word used for effect in
a way in which its meaning cannot be taken
literally there are new projects in the
pipeline he is a giant in his field it was a
stormy meeting can result in quite laughable
statements new water supply projects are in the
pipeline hospitals warn that supplies of blood
are drying up this summer Clichés A cliché is
an expression which has become stale or
worn-out moving the goal posts ballpark
figure at the end of the day
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Definition of a sentence
Technical English
A sentence is a group of words which makes
sense in itself
A sentence contains at least one main item of
information to which various subsidiary ideas
may be attached
A sentence must contain at least one complete
verb
Incorrect
In reply to your enquiry about maintenance. With
reference to your telephone call.
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Sentence length
Technical English
When you have logged into the computer and typed
in your username, the computer will respond with
a dollar prompt, you can then set your password
by invoking the passwd command, this password
should be used whenever you log in in future.
When you first log into the computer, type your
user name and the computer will respond with a
dollar prompt.
1
2
You can set your password by invoking the
passwd command.
This password should be used whenever you log in.
3
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Proof reading a document
Technical English

• Dont do it yourself - Get someone else to do
  it. But who to choose?
• Cool off - Dont attempt to proof read a
  document as soon as you have written it.
• Use a style guide - English or US spelling, data
  is or data are etc.
• Useful aids - Read your text line by line. Read
  backwards word by word.
• Dont trust the spellchecker - Many mistakes are
  not detected.
• Check - consistency - e.g. hyphenation
  micro-computer
• - text vs. diagrams - same terms in
  both? Does Fig.2b still exist?
• - Acronyms - should always be
  spelled out first.
• - Numbers - the numbers 0 - 9
  should be spelled out.

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Proof reading a document
Technical English

• Dont do it yourself - Get someone else to do
  it. But who to choose?

A colleague working in the same field A native
speaker A native speaker with a technical
background
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Proof reading a document
Technical English
Dont trust the spellchecker - Many mistakes are
not detected.
bellow later then filed melt now
below latter (only for two) than field malt not
The power supply is not safe to operate The
power supply is now safe to operate
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Letters
Technical English
Your address Do not use punctuation. Do not
abbreviate Road to Rd etc.
Date Use the format 5 January 1999. No need to
write 5th. Never write 05. 01. 99
Their name and address Only necessary with a
formal letter. Position to the left. No
punctuation
Dear . . . Do your homework. Only write Dear
Sir/Madam as last resort. No . after Mr or Dr
Heading Clarifies the purpose. Always Bold or
underline
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Letters
Technical English
Headed paper Letters from companies, institutes
etc. always use headed paper.
Reference code Reference code must follow office
convention
Dear . . . Dear Janez is too familiar If in doubt
use full name rather than Mr, Mrs etc. If you
know title, use it. e.g. Dear Dr Jones
Yours . . . Dear Sir/Madam Yours
faithfully Dear Dr Jones Yours sincerely Dear
Paul ..Best wishes, regards, love etc.
Below the signature Type your name and specify
your position
Enclosed document(s) Encl. Indicates other
documents are included
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Letters
Technical English
Some general rules when writing letters

• If your letter refers to previous correspondence
  you should make it clear.
• e.g. I refer to your letter of 11 February. -
  (bit cold)
• Thank you for your letter. - (better)

• Come to the point quickly.

• There is no need to round off a letter with a
  special closing remark.
• e.g. I look forward very much to hearing from
  you.
• I would like to thank you in advance for
  your help with this matter.

• Never be over polite or obsequious.
• e.g. I would be very grateful if
• If you could possibly find the time.

• Dont summarise at the end, a a letter should
  not normally be longer than one page.

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An accurate memo
Technical English
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Difficult pairs
Technical English
stationery writing paper principal chief draft
rough version accede assent
to access entry affect to have influence on
stationary without movement principle underlyin
g rule draught current of air exceed surpass
assess weigh up effect to bring about / an
influence
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Difficult pairs
Technical English
affect and effect
affect is a verb
Studying engineering to an advanced level has
affected his job prospects.
effect is a verb and a noun
Study, hard work and experience combined to
effect an improvement in his career
prospects. His overseas experience has had an
effect on his career pattern.
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Difficult pairs
Technical English
advice and advise
device and devise
licence and license
I can advise you to study engineering, but will
you take my advice?
He perfected a device for sounding the alarm but
could not devise a way of ensuring that people
would respond. I will license you to issue
licences
Rule the noun has a c and the verb has an s
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Dont be vague or pompous
Technical English
Vague Our experiments were quite successful and
we are generally hopeful that we shall be able
to make the results public in due course. Exact
We were successful with 60 of our experiments,
and provided that there are no unforeseen
problems, we shall make the results public within
the next two months. Pompous Following our
recent meeting, we feel we must put in writing
which we believe to be the justifying factors
leading to our proposed modest increases in
costs. Straightforward In the light of our
meeting on 21 January, I confirm our need to
raise our prices.
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Sentence length
Technical English
I should like to arrange a further meeting. (the
main clause) 1. further to our recent
meeting 2. regarding electricity supply and
utilisation 3. to discuss the subject (three
subsiduary ideas) We could have a general
discussion (the next idea) 1. about electrical
applications and equipment (another subsiduary
idea) 2. capable of providing possible
reductions in unit production costs (more
details) 3. such as electricity/steam generators
and convection/radiant ovens coupled to
load control equipment (more examples)
Further to our recent meeting regarding
electricity supply and utilisation, I would like
very much to arrange a further meeting with you
to discuss the subject, coupled with a general
discussion on electrical applications and
equipment capable of providing possible
reductions in unit production costs, such as
electric/steam generators and convection/radiant
ovens coupled to load control equipment. This
sentence contains fifty-nine words
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Sentence length
Technical English
Further to our recent meeting regarding
electricity supply and utilisation, I would like
very much to arrange a further meeting with you
to discuss the subject, coupled with a general
discussion on electrical applications and
equipment capable of providing possible
reductions in unit production costs, such as
electric/steam generators and convection/radiant
ovens coupled to load control equipment.
The main ideas 1. I should like to arrange a
further meeting. 2. At the same time, we could
discuss equipment 3. I can give you examples of
the kind of equipment I have in mind.
I should like to arrange a further meeting with
you to continue our discussions of date on
electricity supply and use. At the same time,
we could have a general look at electrical
applications and equipment capable of providing
reductions in unit production costs. I have in
mind electric/steam generators and
convection/radiant ovens coupled to load control
equipment.
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Sentence length
Technical English
Summary
Sentences should contain one idea, or two or
three closely related ideas which must be
correctly joined together. Good style requires
variety of sentence length. Sentences must not
be too long, forty words is a sensible
maximum. Too many short sentences give a rather
childish effect.
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Sentence length
Technical English
Sentences cannot simply be put together, they
need a word or phrase which joins them, they
should otherwise be separate, the commas should
be changed to full stops.
Sentences cannot simply be put together. They
need a word or phrase which joins them. They
should otherwise be separate. The commas should
be changed to full stops.
Sentences cannot simply be put together. Either
they need a word or phrase which joins them or
they should be kept separate. The commas should
be changed to full stops.
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Redundant words
Technical English
Initially, we began by a new innovation future
consequences heated to a temperature of
1300C it was clearly obvious both of the two
rivets became.. fewer in number an approximate
estimate each and every person very expensive
quite small rather
large
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Sounding positive
Technical English
If the trend shown continues, then there should
be no reason why an improvement in productivity
of approaching 40 is not achievable. (too
negative) If we keep up the good work, well
just about make a 40 rise in production. (too
informal) If the present trend continues, we
should approach a 40 rise in production. (better)
A 40 rise in production is forecast if the
present trend continues. (positive)
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Tension is irrelevant
Technical English
As night fell, and with it the hard, driving
rain, his determination increased and,
breathless, exhausted, running onwards although
he no longer knew in what direction, stumbling
and nearly falling so that he grazed his hands
and twisted his ankle, he now knew more certainly
than ever that he would, if need be, die rather
than surrender.
Avoid back-to-front sentences To present
detailed waste water proposals in the absence
of community structure plans is not possible. It
is impossible to present detailed waste water
proposals in the absence of community structure
plans.
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Colons and semicolons
Technical English
Semicolon 1. Can be used to link two sentences
with closely related subject matter The design
of the bridge was superb at the time today it
has to carry too much traffic. The two parts
must be able to stand alone as individual
sentences. The link must be strong. Can produce
an elegant style if not overused.
2. Semicolons can also be used to separate
sections of information in a list The
following hazards must be considered (1)
insulation and protection from electric
shock (2) fire risks and the location of fire
extinguishers (3) testing of pressurised or
other highly stressed components. Not necessary
if items on the list are short.
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Colons and semicolons
Technical English
Colon 1. A colon is used to introduce a
list The equipment needed for this test is as
follows oscilloscope digital voltmeter signal
generator logic analyser power supplies or There
are three main types of stepping motor variable
reluctance motors, permanent magnet motors and
hybrid motors. Colons can be followed by a dash
( - ), but this is a little old fashioned.
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Hyphens
Technical English
Hyphens are used to join two words together to
give them a new meaning
Optional in most cases online or
on-line bandwidth or band-width wordprocessor or
word-processor
Change of meaning re-cover or
recover cross-section or cross section
Never omitted bio-degradeable three-dimensional
single-track
Easier to read re-emerge not reemerge real-life
not reallife
Word-breaks Try to avoid rear- range and leg-
end
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Singular and plural with verbs
Technical English
1.
In-process inspection and testing now involve
more attention to the documented quality
plan. The method of in-process inspection and
testing now involves more attention to the
documented quality plan. Professor Jones,
accompanied by his research group, is going to
visit the department next week. Professor Jones
and his students are going to visit the
department next week.
2.
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Try to use short words
Technical English
Fill in the blanks with short words that can
often take the place of longer ones.
anticipate ----------------
foresee cognizance ----------------
knowledge compensation ----------------
pay demonstrate ----------------
show endeavor ----------------
try initiate ----------------
begin locality
---------------- place modification
---------------- change objective
---------------- aim optimum
---------------- best subsequent
---------------- next voluminous
---------------- bulky
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Writing a report
Technical English
Title Abstract / Summary Introduction Procedure
/ Method / Experimental Results / Results
Discussion Discussion Conclusions Recommendati
ons
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Writing a report
Technical English
The title

• Try not to exceed one line of text.
• Think in terms of keywords
• Make sure the title reflects the contents
• Make it stand out

High temperature impact testing of 69-A19
molybdenum alloys
Investigation into the indentation behaviour of a
range of conventionally produced molybdenum
based 69-A19 alloys using a variety of high
impact tests at elevated temperatures
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Writing a report
Technical English
Abstract / Summary

• Must cover techniques, all main findings and
  conclusions
• Think in terms of keywords
• Understand that 90 of people will only read the
  abstract
• Half a page is enough

The level of traffic flow in Ljubljana has been
assessed using the fixed field method. Vehicles
were counted for one hour periods between 800 -
900 and 1600 - 1700. Results indicate a 15
overall increase in the volume of traffic,
compared with the figures for January 1997.
Individual vehicle .
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Writing a report
Technical English
Introduction

• State the reasons for carrying out the
  investigation
• Provide background information on previous
  studies
• Make it clear what you intended to do
• Use active and passive language

The last 10 years have seen a large increase in
traffic on the roads of Ljubljana. As result of
this, we have decided to look at ways in which
the problems associated with this traffic can be
reduced. We have decided to build on our earlier
study 1 which focused on the area around Kino
Vic.
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Writing a report
Technical English
Procedure / Method / Experimental

• Specify the equipment used in the investigation
• Be clear as to the conditions of the experiment
  / investigation
• Describe the techniques
• Use passive language

Twenty-four samples of the TiAl2 material were
produced using a Philips 1239 atomiser in a
nitrogen atmosphere of 1 bar. Each sample was
then crushed in a BZT mill for times between 15
and 120 minutes. The powders were then mounted
on aluminium sample holders and allowed to dry in
a 5 relative humidity atmosphere for 24 hours.
Sample morphologies were.
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Writing a report
Technical English
Results / Results Discussion

• Relate results obtained to the experiment /
  procedure
• Use tables and graphs to add clarity
• If one experiment follows on from a previous one
  tell the story
• Use active and passive language

The number of vehicles passing a particular point
on Slovenska Cesta between 800 am and 900 am,
recorded by the Sony X1 Digicounter, is shown in
Table 1. We have divided the vehicles into three
classes cars, light vans and trucks. The table
also records the average velocity for each class
of vehicle and the number of occupants, which we
considered important.
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Writing a report
Technical English
Conclusions

• Do NOT re-state the results or discussion
• Bring together the points discussed and draw
  conclusions
• List the conclusions
• Indicate future experiments / studies
• Use active and passive language

The absence of any significant deformation of the
material indicates that the 3 boron doped FeNd
alloy will be suitable for applications at 350C.
Additional boron substitutions did not lead to
any further strengthening and we propose that
further investigations should focus on the use of
other light elements.
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Technical English
Technical English

• Writing concisely
• Sentences
• Word choice
• Writing a formal letter
• Colons, semicolons and hyphens
• Writing a report
• Proof reading
• Summary

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Technical English
Technical English
Summary

• Avoid redundant words and long sentences
• Keep your texts short
• Be accurate not vague - be polite not pompous
• Avoid metaphors and clichés
• Use simple straightforward language