Writing Scientific English

Success in science depends nowadays on effective communication in English. This workbook is specifically designed to give under- and post-graduates confidence in writing scientific English. Examples and exercises show how to avoid common errors and how to rephrase and improve scientific texts. The generation of a model manuscript enables the reader to recognise how scientific English is constructed and how to follow the conventions of scientific writing. Guidelines for structuring written work and vocabulary lists will encourage young scientists to develop a concise and mature style.
The workbook is accessible to students of many fields, including those of the natural and technical sciences, medicine, psychology and economics.

Tim Skern, native English speaker, studied biochemistry in Liverpool and London. Now working at the Max F. Perutz Laboratories, he has been teaching scientific English at the University of Vienna and the Medical University of Vienna since 1992.

Chapter 1 An introduction to scientific English 151.1 Advantages and disadvantages of English 151.2 Formal English, the language of science 211.3 Words for writing scientific English 311.4 Take-home messages from Chapter 1 341.5 References 341.6 Improvements to exercises 34Chapter 2 Writing clear scientific English 372.1 Eight guidelines for improving your writing technique 372.2 Just to make you feel better 452.3 Take-home messages from Chapter 2 482.4 References 492.5 Improvements to exercises 49Chapter 3 Applying the fundamentals 513.1 Summarising the text "Fighting for Breath" 513.2 Improving four summaries of "Fighting for Breath" 543.3 Writing abstracts for scientific presentations 633.4 Improving four abstracts 643.5 What is science? 743.6 Improving four texts on "What is science?" 783.7 The five most common commands and comments from improved texts in Chapter 3 863.8 Take-home messages from Chapter 3 873.9 References 87Chapter 4 Constructing a scientific manuscript 894.1 The process of publishing original data in a scientific manuscript 894.2 Planning a scientific manuscript 954.3 Writing a scientific manuscript 994.4 Assembling and improving the model manuscript 1224.5 Editing and refining a scientific manuscript 1294.6 Take-home messages from Chapter 4 1344.7 References 135Chapter 5 Practising writing and improving scientific manuscripts 1375.1 Improving the quality of bread 1375.2 Your views on human activity and global warming 1475.3 Measuring biodiversity 1515.4 Stereotypic Man 1575.5 Searching for the best firewood to reduce global warming 1635.6 Is there a connection between eating organic food and cigarette smoking? 1685.7 The six most common commands and comments from improved texts in Chapter 5 1755.7 Take-home messages from Chapter 5 1755.8 References 176Chapter 6 Easing the pain: writing whilst researching 177Chapter 7 On your own 1817.1 Resources 1847.2 The comments that I use to correct texts in my course 1877.3 A reading list to improve your vocabulary and your scientific writing 1887.4 Some tips for oral presentations 1997.5 References 199Chapter 8 The scientific vocabulary of this book 2018.1 Linking words 2018.2 Words from the basic scientific lexicon 2028.3 Words that extend the basic scientific lexicon 2048.4 Exercises using texts from Nature and Science 2058.5 References 2098.6 Words that you wish to add 209