How to write and publish a scientific paper - Barbara Gastel, Robert A. Day 2022

Serving international readers
Writing clearly across cultures and media
Scientific style

Consistent wording can especially help make your reading clear to readers whose native language is not English. Here are some other things you can do to help serve this readership: Use words that have one meaning or a few meanings, not many, and largely avoid idioms. (For example, in revising material for this book, “a good deal easier” was changed to “much easier”; “watch your similes and metaphors” was changed to “largely avoid similes and metaphors”; “do not bear repeated use” was changed to “should not be used repeatedly”; and “there is no bar” was changed to “there is no barrier.”) Use mainly simple verb forms, and write sentences that are simply structured and not extremely long. Retain optional words that can clarify the structure of a sentence. For instance, write, “I believe that Professor Day knows much about grammar,” not “I believe Professor Day knows much about grammar,” the first part of which might be misread as meaning that you believe Professor Day. Avoid literary and cultural allusions, including sports references, that might be unfamiliar to people in other cultures.

Additional guidance appears in The Elements of International English Style (Weiss 2005). Although geared more to the business and technology communities than to scientists, this book can aid in doing scientific writing that is clear to readers regardless of native language. It also can aid in communicating through letters and email to international colleagues.