"Short declarative sentences are the easiest to write and the easiest
to read, and they are usually clear.....To add sentence variety, it is
better to start with declarative sentences and then combine some of them
than to strart with long rambling sentences and then try to shorten them."
p3
"Scientific writing serves a purpose completely different from that
of literary writing, and it must therefore be precise and unambiguous."
p3-4
- "Use appropriate verb tenses:
- Simple past tense is correct for stating what ws done, either
by others or by you: "The solutions were heated to boiling."
"The spectra were recorded." "Jones reviewd
the literature and gatherd much of this information." "We
recently found that relativistic effects ehance the bond strength."
"The structures were determined by neutron diffreaction
methods." (These are statements that would be included
in experimental and
introduction/background sections.)
- Present tense is correct for statement of fact: "Absolute
rate constants for a wide vareity of reactions are availble."
"Hyperbranched compounds are macromolecular compounds
that contain a braning point in each structural repeat unit."
(These are statements you would find in the introduction/background)
- Present tense and simple past tenses may both be correct for results,
dicussion, and conclusions:
"The characteristics of the voltammetric wave indicate
that electron transfer and breaking of the carbon-iodine bond are
concerted." "The absence of substitution was confirmed
by preparative-scale electrolysis at a potential located at the
foot of the volumetric wave." "IR spectroscopy shows
that nitrates are absorved and are not removed by washing with distilled
water."
- Use the active voice when it is less wordy and more direct than the
passive.
- Poor The fact that such processes are under strict
stereoelctronic control is demonstrated by our work in this area.
- Better Our work in this area demonstrated that such
processes are under strict stereoelectronic control.
- Use first person when it helps to heep your meaning clear and to express
a purpose or decision.
- Jones reported xyz, but I (or we) found...
- I (or we) present here a detailed study...
- My (or our) recent work demonstrated...
- To determine the effects of stucture on photophysics, I
(or we)...
However, avoid phrases such as "we belive", "we
feel", "we concluded", and "we can see",
as well as personal opininon." p
4-5
From The ACS Style Guide, A Manual for Authors and Editors, 2nd
ed. Dodd, J.S., Ed.; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC,
1997. |
