General Writing Guidelines
Paying attention to these guidelines can save you time and frustration, especially if you are just beginning to draft your article for Inquiry. However, even if you are revising an already written paper, this advice will be helpful, along with the guidelines for revision WRITING FOR INQUIRY. Do remember, also, that Inquiry editors are there to help you write for a wider audience. The sooner you contact them, the better: Inquiry.Journal@unh.edu.
Structure | Grammar and Punctuation | Language | Style | Further Reading
Structure
Once you have gathered all of your information, decide exactly what to include in the essay. List section headings and subheadings in your outline, and arrange the material into a logical structure. Try to ensure that you include all of the important details, while achieving a depth appropriate for your audience. It is particularly important that you consider what background knowledge your readers can reasonably be expected to possess, and that you include whatever information is necessary for understanding the issues that you are presenting.
Grammar and Punctuation
If your grammar is not correct, your writing will not be clear. Grammatical errors can give rise to ambiguities and nonsense; even when your meaning is not distorted or lost, such errors can be very distracting for readers. Don’t spend time worrying about rules you don’t break, and don’t be intimidated by technical grammatical terms. If you find a rule that you do break, think about it carefully and try to correct your errors. Often problems arise through carelessness rather than ignorance; in these cases, you can edit out mistakes when revising your first and second drafts. Careful punctuation eliminates ambiguity from statements, whereas scant punctuation creates confusion. Top of page >>
Language
Defining technical terms and eliminating jargon — When you are writing about science, it is easy to slip into jargon, or to assume that your readers know the meanings of technical terms. Be considerate towards your readers; do not use jargon in this essay, and when you use technical terms, define them the first time they appear. If you use abbreviations, spell them out or define them the first time you use them unless they are so common that it is unnecessary to do so (e.g. DNA, AIDS, etc.). Be certain to use familiar words in your definitions, and be careful not to assume too much about your audience’s knowledge.
Avoiding weak writing — Besides preferring words that are familiar to your audience and defining those which are not, you should also avoid words and phrases that weaken your writing. These include clichés, unnecessarily complicated words, and phrases that might seem patronizing to your reader. Unnecessarily complicated words (e.g. utilize, familiarization, etc.) can often be replaced with simpler words (e.g. use, familiarity, etc.) without loss of meaning. Maximize and minimize are notable exceptions to this rule. Phrases that might sound arrogant or patronizing (e.g. “it is obvious that“, “it is well known that,“ etc.) can often be cut altogether, or replaced with more appropriate phrases (e.g. “this seems to suggest that“).
Avoiding common errors — Make sure that you use words correctly. This involves knowing the meaning of a word (its denotation). For a list of common mistakes in the usage of words, look at Alley, chapter 5, and Strunk and White (see below FURTHER READING.) As well as knowing a word’s denotation, pay attention to its connotation (the associations that come with it.) Top of page >>
Style
Analogies and examples — General statements can be more difficult to understand than specific statements. Any audience appreciates being given examples. Abstract ideas are difficult to grasp, so when you make a general statement, you should always try to include an illustrative example or an analogy that gives the reader a better chance of understanding the concept.
Voice — Scientists often write in the passive voice, but this can make reading dull and monotonous. The active voice, on the other hand, makes reading easier. Of course, there are times when the passive voice is more appropriate, particularly when you are trying to emphasize the object that has the action done to it, rather than the doer of the action.
Fluid Writing — Fluid writing is well-structured, with smooth, logical transitions between sections. By varying both the types of sentences you use and sentence and paragraph length, you will make your essay more readable. In scientific writing, sentences should typically be fairly short (an average of 20 words); but longer, more complex sentences can be used occasionally, so long as you ensure that they are unambiguous and precise. Very short sentences can be used for emphasis. Look at Alley, chapter 9, for more suggestions on how to make your writing fluid.
Further Reading
1. Strunk and White. The Elements of Style.
2. Michael Alley. The Craft of Science Writing.
3. Joseph M. Williams. Style: Toward Grace and
Clarity.
General Writing Guidelines adapted from Caltech
Undergraduate Research Journal with permission.
