Academic Writing for International Students of Science - Jane Bottomley 2015

A3.2 Common grammar problems
3 Common areas of difficulty in grammar and punctuation

A3.2.1 fewer versus less

fewer is used with countable nouns:

✵ fewer people/studies/elements

less is used with uncountable nouns:

✵ less time/research/energy

A3.2.2 a number of

The word number is singular and should, strictly speaking, be followed by a singular verb, e.g.

✵ A number of filter samples was collected.

However, often, when the noun closest to the verb is plural, it can seem more natural to use a plural verb, e.g.

✵ A number of filter samples were collected.

This ’principle of proximity’ (Biber et al., 1999: 190) is seen by many as acceptable, but it is best to avoid it in formal writing.

Do not use amount with plural nouns:

✵ A large amount of people.

✵ A large number of people.

A3.2.3 data

The word data is technically plural (datum being the singular), but it is often used in an uncountable sense, e.g.

✵ The data shows that temperatures have increased over the last decade.

A3.2.4 Word classes

Be careful to distinguish between nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs, e.g.

✵ Sulphur dioxide is presense in the environment.

✵ Sulphur dioxide is present in the environment.

✵ Computer programs are used to analysis samples.

✵ Computer programs are used to analyse samples.

✵ The unique characteristics of this substance, such as chemical stable, make it suitable for this application.

✵ The unique characteristics of this substance, such as chemical stability, make it suitable for this application.

✵ Nations worldwide have realised the important of reducing CO₂.

✵ Nations worldwide have realised the importance of reducing CO₂.

Be particularly careful with these common words:

✵ emphasise/synthesise/analyse/hypothesise (verbs)

✵ emphasis/synthesis/analysis/hypothesis (nouns)

Also, do not confuse effect (noun) and affect (verb):

✵ Carbon emissions have had a profound effect on the environment.

✵ Carbon emissions have profoundly affected the environment.

There is a verb effect, but it has a different meaning (to make happen, bring about), and is usually restricted to particular nouns like change.

✵ The government plans to effect change in the plastics industry.

A3.2.5 Sentence patterns

Many verbs occur in fixed sentence patterns:

✵ They succeeded in extraction graphene from graphite.

✵ They succeeded in extracting graphene from graphite.

✵ They prevented the farmers plant crops in the area.

✵ They prevented the farmers from planting crops in the area.

Be careful to use the right sentence patterns with the following commonly used synonyms — note the use of prepositions and passive structures:

✵ Glass consists of sand plus a number of other substances.

✵ Glass comprises sand plus a number of other substances.

✵ Glass is composed of sand plus a number of other substances.

✵ Glass is made up of sand plus a number of other substances.

Note that different word classes may have different patterns:

✵ The study lacks rigour. (no preposition with verb)

✵ There is a lack of rigour in the study.

The phrase to be lacking in can also be used:

✵ The study is lacking in rigour.

A3.2.6 Prepositions

Mistakes commonly occur with the following prepositions:

✵ a change in temperature (a development)

✵ a change of government (a substitution)

✵ the demand for resources

✵ the reason for the change

✵ the need for change

✵ in need of reform

✵ the rationale behind the decision

✵ an increase/decrease/rise/fall (of 2%) in volume

A3.2.7 Irregular plurals

Make a note of irregular plurals common in scientific writing:

✵ analysis — analyses

✵ antenna — antennae

✵ criterion — criteria

✵ fungus — fungi

✵ phenomenon — phenomena

✵ stimulus — stimuli

✵ stratum — strata