Scientific Writing for Undergraduate Researchers: RECAP OF BASIC SCIENTIFIC WRITING RULES

REMEMBER . . .

• Your writing should be clear and precise. While your sentences may be longer, they should still be coherent and have a point. Your audience is well educated and can conquer paragraph sentences, but no one can deal with text that goes on and on and never reaches its destination.

• There should be a clear organizational structure. This includes the introduction, main part, conclusion, and relevant sub-chapters. The structure should follow a logical progression of studies, experiments, arguments, and discussion of results.

• The implicit should be explicit. Remember, just because something is obvious to you doesn’t mean it is as clear to someone else. Don’t leave people guessing; make your thoughts explicit. This sometimes also includes explaining in a few brief sentences certain key theories you’re dealing with. Your paper should not force your readers to google a million other names you’re alluding to – it should be clear why they’re important.

• The writing must be neutral. Avoid any slang or jargon. Write in neutral terms, and steer clear of colorful idiomatic expressions. 

• No plagiarism.  Any theft of intellectual property is illegal, and not only will it get you an instant fail on class assignments, but it could also potentially result in your being faced with criminal charges.

Scientific writing is a research-intensive process that requires care and precision. Here are some tips on scientific writing to improve the quality of your work:

• Understand your audience – this is an important factor to consider while writing scientific documents is the audience who reads them. Remember who your audience is while writing your documents to ensure readability.

• Increase the precision of your wording – using accurate words and phrases can help you avoid ambiguous and imprecise writing. Remember your audience when you write your documents and focus on how to provide the most accurate explanation.

• Simplify your word choice (whenever possible) – when given the choice between technical, complicated wording and a more common phrase, always simplify. As long as your language stays accurate, a short and direct phrase can increase the accessibility of your document. If more technical terminology is required, define it early in the document so readers can understand later uses with clarity.

• Clarify your objective – it's important for an audience to understand the objective of the document they're reading. A scientific writer typically dictates the purpose of the document within the first paragraph or in a preliminary summary, known as an abstract. 

• Provide logical conclusions – all research is subject to a limited data set, and no one expects or wants unsupported conclusions that rest on assumptions. Make sure that you directly support all conclusions you introduce with the data you present and discuss. As most documents are subject to peer review, make sure it’s clear how your data led to your conclusions.

• Review your work – a thorough review of your own work is a great way to find mistakes and strengths in your writing. You might be good at explaining the results of a complex experiment, but need practice in spelling and grammar. It's important to reflect on your own work to ensure the highest quality and a commitment to continued learning. Determine if your work is ready for submission to a professional, educated audience.