style basics professional technical and scientific style basics

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Style Basics PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC STYLE BASICS

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Page 1: Style Basics PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC STYLE BASICS

Style Basics

PROFESSIONALTECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFICSTYLE BASICS

Page 2: Style Basics PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC STYLE BASICS

Choose a Style Manual

Style Manuals are discipline specific!

APA American Psychological Association

SME Society of Mining Engineers

Chicago Manual of Style

ACS American Chemical Society

MLA Modern Languages Association

AAA American Anthropological Association

… and many more!

Page 3: Style Basics PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC STYLE BASICS

Style

It is not just about citation…

It is also a guide to style!

Page 4: Style Basics PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC STYLE BASICS

Style

Some are quirky!

Like:

APA style requires authors to use the past tense or present perfect tense when using signal phrases to describe earlier research. E.g., Jones (1998) found or Jones (1998) has found...”

Page 5: Style Basics PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC STYLE BASICS

Style

Since v. Because

Bad: Data was incomplete since he was distracted .

Good: Data was incomplete because he was distracted . (after that)

Good: Data has been incomplete since 2000. (time)

Page 6: Style Basics PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC STYLE BASICS

Style

But, many are more

general

and

are useful for

all

professional, technical

and scientific writers!

Page 7: Style Basics PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC STYLE BASICS

Style

Transitions

within and between sections

become critical

in showing not just

logical relationships between data

but also connections between sections of

the project as a whole.

Page 8: Style Basics PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC STYLE BASICS

Style

Good Transition:

While this study reveals much that earlier efforts did not, it is unique in that it raises a new issue in the debate engineers long though was settled.

This transition connects back to a previous Paragraph/Study and sets the stage for a new Paragraph/Study.

Page 9: Style Basics PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC STYLE BASICS

Style

Transitions indicate very specific relationships!

Time: then, next, after

Cause-Effect: as a result, consequently

Addition: moreover, similarly, also

Contrast: however, but, although

Page 10: Style Basics PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC STYLE BASICS

Style

Every section of a technical or scientific paper should be able to stand alone as a piece of writing:

INTROBODYCLOSE

Page 11: Style Basics PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC STYLE BASICS

Style

USE AN ACADEMIC TONE and LANGUAGE

Good: Conclusive studies remain elusive.

Bad: We just don’t know much.

Page 12: Style Basics PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC STYLE BASICS

Style

Avoid

Slang: bummed, hanging out

Contractions: Can’t, won’t, It’s

Colloquial Expressions: Write up v. Report

Page 13: Style Basics PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC STYLE BASICS

Style

Define Jargon

AMA (American Medical Association)

Remember your reader is a

general academic audience!

Page 14: Style Basics PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC STYLE BASICS

Style

Be concise!

Based on the fact that -> because

Monetary deprivation -> poverty

For the purpose of -> for

Summarize briefly -> summarize

Very few -> few

Page 15: Style Basics PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC STYLE BASICS

Style

Be precise!

The difference between the right word and the almost right word is like the difference between light and the lightening bug.

-Mark Twain

Page 16: Style Basics PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC STYLE BASICS

Style

Precision!

At risk?

Borderline?

Gender (culture) v. Sex (biology)

Single v. living alone

Males v. 30 year old white men with red hair

The demented v. dementia group

Page 17: Style Basics PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC STYLE BASICS

Style

Precision!

Manic cases v. patients or persons with mania

Orientals v. Korean and Vietnamese

Subjects v. participants

Homosexuals v. gay men and lesbian adolescents

Page 18: Style Basics PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC STYLE BASICS

Style

Use Gender Neutral Language

Mothering v. Parenting

Chairman v. Chair

Man the polls v. Staff the polls

Woman doctor v. Doctor

His/Her v. Their

Page 19: Style Basics PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC STYLE BASICS

Style

Don’t Anthropomorphize!

Tables and Figures can show or indicate, but not compare.

Experiments can not demonstrate, control, or interpret.

Page 20: Style Basics PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC STYLE BASICS

Visuals

Format Consistently!

Have titles and labels!

Use white space wisely!

Be clean and clear!

Don’t overcomplicate!

Page 21: Style Basics PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC STYLE BASICS

Visuals

Explain visuals in text

BUT

visuals should be

“readable”

alone.

Page 22: Style Basics PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC STYLE BASICS

Visuals

As the bar graph in Figure 1 shows, my writing is improving.

Figure 1. My Writing Improvement

Make sure texts and visuals are close to each other!

Page 23: Style Basics PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC STYLE BASICS

Extra Help?

The Writing Center

M-F 10-2

Sun-Wed 6-9