More strategies for english-language writing - How to write science in english as a foreign language - Scientific style

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

More strategies for english-language writing
How to write science in english as a foreign language
Scientific style

While teaching scientific writing overseas, an American instructor noticed that papers by one scientist in the class seemed almost as if they had been written by a native speaker of English. When the instructor commented on this fact, the scientist described his strategy: He carefully read several papers on his research topic in leading English-language journals and then, for each section (introduction, methods, etc.), listed words and phrases commonly used; when writing his papers, he consulted these lists. This strategy also can aid other nonnative speakers of English. Likewise, keeping and consulting a list of revisions that copy editors or others have made in one’s writing can help in polishing one’s English.

Write simply overall. Do not try to impress readers with vocabulary words you have learned for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Do not try to display your ability to write long, complex sentences in English. Do not try to exhibit your mastery of passive voice. Remember that the goal of a scientific paper is to communicate the science, not to impress readers with your English level. Many readers of your paper may be nonnative speakers who know much less English than you do. Also, relatively simple writing makes a paper easier to understand even for native speakers of English, including editors and peer reviewers.

Draft your paper in English, if possible, rather than writing it in your native language and then translating it. Doing so can help your paper to read well in English. When you are drafting your paper, do not try to make the English perfect, as doing so can disrupt your flow of ideas. Rather, just try to express what you want to say. Then, once you have a draft, go back and, where necessary, improve the English.

If feasible, have someone with an especially strong command of English (and, ideally, knowledge of scientific writing and editing) review your paper before you submit it to a journal. (Indeed, if a paper seems to contain good science but is written in poor English, a journal may return the manuscript and suggest that it be edited by someone expert in English and then resubmitted.) If possible, the person providing feedback on your writing should be familiar with your field of science. Otherwise, although they may correct grammar problems and other mechanical errors, the person might not detect errors in scientific expression—and might inadvertently introduce errors (such as when one editor repeatedly changed the technical term contracture to contraction). Possible reviewers include colleagues at your institution or elsewhere who write well in English, professional editors at your institution, and teachers of scientific writing. Some professional English-language scientific-editing services exist. You also may be able to identify suitable editors through organizations such as the Council of Science Editors (www.CouncilScienceEditors.org), the European Association of Science Editors (www.ease.org.uk), and the Board of Editors in the Life Sciences (www.bels.org).