Writing Science in Plain English (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing) - Softcover

Greene, Anne E.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 022602637X ISBN 13: 9780226026374

Publisher: University of Chicago Press, 2013

Synopsis

Writing Science in Plain English Bad writing is bad for science. The problem is so significant that clear writing has become a legal requirement for federal agencies, thanks to the Plain Writing Act of 2010, which requires that writing be accessible, consistent, written in plain language, and easy to understand. This book shows how to produce such clear, concise scientific prose. Full description

About this title

Review

"This is the best book of this sort I have read. Anne E. Greene practices what she preaches, writing clearly for a general scientific audience. She comes across as both highly knowledgeable and accessible. Greene makes achieving clarity look simple, and I found myself marveling at her wizardry. Readers will find the text empowering."--Gina Maranto, University of Miami

"Writing Science in Plain English should be required reading for both established scientists and undergraduates who might become scientists. Anne Greene uses plain English and instructive examples from the scientific literature to show student writers how to say what they need to say more concisely, more accessibly, and more effectively. Would that all writers followed her advice."--John Alcock, Arizona State University

"Why must the scientific literature be as confusing and dull as an insurance contract or a manufacturer's warranty? It doesn't have to be like that! Writing Science in Plain English can teach any scientist how to write more compelling and lucid papers. Anne E. Greene deserves a round of applause from scientific editors, peer reviewers, and readers everywhere."--David S. Wilcove, Princeton University

"This guide echoes the advice I have given to students in scientific writing classes over my career. It rebuts the notion that science writing is different in kind and exempt from the rules that apply to other non-fiction writing: it requires strong narrative direction, active voice, strong verbs, short words where possible, and so on. This lucid, step-by-step book should be required reading for entering graduate students in the life sciences, and will be a welcome addition to the instructor's reference shelf."--Steven W. Buskirk, University of Wisconsin-Madison

"In these 124 brisk pages, Greene manages to deliver a series of practical, hands-on lessons to make scientific prose more lucid, more direct, more immediately comprehensible, and, yes, more concise."--Science Editor

"A great resource for anyone preparing to embark on scientific writing--whether a paper for class or a research article submitted for publication."--Choice

"Greene's feet are placed firmly on the ground. Her recommendations are widely applicable, and the solid ideas presented in this book should influence good use of English in any situation. Scientists should treat Writing Science as a user manual to keep their writing on track."--Journal of Scholarly Publishing

About the Author

Anne E. Greene is a biologist by training and teaches scientific writing in the Wildlife Biology Program at the University of Montana.

Edition details

• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 022602637X
• ISBN 13: 9780226026374
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 136