Download The Most Common Language Problems in Technical Papers

The Most Common Language Problems in Technical Papers
PROBLEM
1. Poor paragraph
organization
2. Awkward
sentences
3. Incomplete
sentences
4. Inflated
sentences
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CURE
Think of the paragraph as a mini-composition. The lead
sentence introduces the paragraph topic and the last
sentence presents the major point or conclusion. Each
intermediate sentence develops the topic and follows
logically from preceding sentences. No one sentence
paragraphs. As a guideline, 5-7 sentences usually
enable good paragraph development.
Use natural form of verb (not “measurements were made
of the voltage” – instead “the voltage was measured”).
Mostly use natural English word order: subject, verb,
object: not “When x>r, this relationship is valid.“ but
rather “This relationship is valid when x>r.”)
Focus on the main thought. Put secondary information in
dependent clauses and avoid long introductory clauses.
(Not “Using a CSEM model 3400 nano-indenter
equipped with a flashlight and a microcomputer, the
hardness of the coating was measured” but rather
“Coating hardness was measured using a CSEM model
3400 nano-indenter equipped with a flashlight and a
microcomputer.”
Don’t underestimate the value of editing your own
writing. Read and reread to consider if each sentence
clearly and logically contributes to the development of
the paper. Is the meaning clear? Is the sentence
grammatically correct? Is your writing sufficiently
concise? Could a word or phrase be simplified?
A sentence must express a complete thought and will
normally have a subject/verb pair. For example, instead
of “Which can reduce micro-grid’s dependence of RC
from external grid.” write The optimization power
distribution method can reduce the dependence of the
micro-grid on reserve capacity.”
Avoid wordy phrases that mean little [e.g. by means of,
despite the fact that, for the purpose of, in the final
analysis].
Be selective in using adjectives and adverbs. Let the
reader draw the conclusion that your results are very
important or remarkable.
Avoid saying the same thing twice. Process is a much
overused word and should not be combined with another
word that itself defines a process. For example,
deposition is a process, and thus deposition process is
redundant.
Look for phrases that can be shortened and simplified.
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5. Imprecision
6. Improper choice of
definite and
indefinite articles,
generic nouns
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For example, consider whether there are or it is are
needed.
Vary short and long sentences within the paragraph.
Shorter sentences often work well to introduce the main
topic and draw the reader into its development. Longer
sentences may be necessary to express complex ideas.
Following a complex sentence with one or more short
and simple ones is kind to the reader.
As you write and revise, consider what words you can
eliminate without changing the sense of the sentence. If
there are such words, hit the delete key
State exactly how many items rather than indicating
several and note exact time intervals rather than writing
frequently or often
Use the same terms consistently.
Use parallel grammatical forms for similar phrases within
a sentence or group of sentences. Use “Thin film
properties can be improved by incorporating alloying
elements, annealing, and accelerating incident ions.”
rather than “Thin film properties can be improved by
incorporation of alloying elements, annealing, and the
use of accelerated ions.”
If the noun is both singular and countable, the indefinite
article a or an is used. The indefinite article is only used
with singular nouns, never with plural nouns. For
example:
A particular shape may be desired for a given
application.
The output of the excited was connected to the input of a
linear power amplifier
The text electrodes were submerged in a Galvanic cell.
If the noun is plural and countable, the definite article the
is used. For example:
The popular and universally used coating systems.
The desired properties.
If the noun is uncountable or generic (does not refer to a
specific member of a class), no article is used. For
example, Physical vapor deposition is increasingly used
for hard film fabrication to improve wear behavior or
corrosion resistance.
The choice of a or an depends on the sound of the first
letter in the word following. If the sound is a vowel, an is
used, if a consonant a. Sound, not spelling, is the
determining factor, so we write an MRI scan because the
initial sound is em.
 The definite article may be used with singular or plural
nouns, whether countable or not, when referring to
assumed or old information or when the specific
meaning is clarified immediately thereafter in the
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sentence.
In scientific writing, the indefinite article, or no article
(with a generic term) is used the first time a new term is
introduced and then the definite article the is used in
every subsequent mention of the term. The definite
article the is used to point to old information, and tells
the reader that this term is old information.
Examples:
Ion bombardment usually requires the use of an ion
source. The source may be of several designs, including
the Kaufmann source, and the dualplasmatron.
An was used to introduce the ion source. The was
used to refer to the source in the second sentence
because the reader already knows about the ion source
from the previous sentence. Note that the noun ion was
used as part of the compound noun ion source in the
first sentence, and thus served to modify or describe the
word source. Ion was dropped in the repetition, since the
reader already knows what source is being described
from the previous sentence. If no other sources are used
in the paper, after the first description of the source, the
modifier ion should not be repeated. This makes the
writing terser, and less confusing. If an ion source was
again to appear later in the paper, the reader would be
wondering if there were some other source whose
mention he missed.
The definite article may also point forward to specific
information which follows immediately, e.g. The code
generated by Harrison’s algorithm has a lower bit error
rate than conventional encryption methods. Here the
specification of the code (generated by Harrison’s
algorithm) closely follows The code.
However, the definite article may be used on first
mention if the part is obviously known (i.e. it is part of the
knowledge that the reader may be assumed to share) –
e.g. The anode was water cooled, and constructed from
OFHC copper.
7. Using plural nouns
as adjectives
8. Overcomplicated
verb tenses
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Use only the singular form of a noun as an ‘adjective’ in
‘compound nouns’: velocity distribution, not velocities
distribution.
There are many verb tenses in English but most
scientific writers use few of them and they probably
should use even fewer. It is rarely preferable to use a
more complex construction when a simpler one would
do. Most sentences should be in the simple past or
present tense. Of the various tenses which make finer
gradations of when something happened, the present
perfect is most useful. It indicates that something
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9. Inappropriate
comparisons
happened and is or may be continuing to happen. Modal
auxiliary forms are suitable when there is some degree
of speculation involved
Adjectives and adverbs are used more sparsely in
scientific writing than in general literature and
quantitative measures are more common than qualitative
descriptions. However, qualitative comparisons are
common and may be coupled for emphasis with
quantitative comparisons. The comparative (inflected
suffixes –er, or –ier when a 2 or more syllable adjective
ends in y) is used for comparing two things and the
superlative (-est or iest or most) for comparing three or
more things. The word than frequently accompanies the
comparative and the word the precedes the superlative,
e.g. Aluminum is a strong material. However, titanium is
stronger than aluminum. Among the materials tested, the
titanium based super alloy was the strongest. When
using a comparative adjective, the basis of comparison
must be clear to the reader, either from context, or by
providing the comparison with a than statement. The
anodic reaction was fast. However, the cathodic reaction
was faster. [the basis of comparison for the comparative
faster is clear in the context of the first sentence] The
cathodic reaction was faster than the anodic reaction.
The Cu-Al alloy was stronger than the Cu-Sn alloy. [the
basis of comparison is specified by the than phrase]
Be careful not to use more along with a comparative
adjective formed with -er nor to use most along with a
superlative adjective formed with -est (e.g., do not write
that something is more heavier or most heaviest). And
avoid forming comparatives or superlatives of adjectives
which already express an extreme of comparison —for
instance- absolute, sufficient, unavoidable, unique,
universal.
When comparing between quantities, fewer is
generally used for things that are countable while less is
used for measurable, non-countable quantities. In the
second case there were fewer excited atoms [countable]
and their energy [measurable] was less. Less is also
used for mathematical expressions in the sense of
minus, e.g. The cooling system must remove all of the
combustion power, less the power delivered to the drive
train.
Adverbs modify a verb, an adjective or another
adverb. They often indicate when, where, why or under
what conditions something happens. Adverbs frequently
end in –ly (e.g. deliberately, dramatically, exactly, hourly,
occasionally, quickly, perfectly, powerfully, rapidly,
rarely, regularly, safely, sharply, slowly, technically);
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however, many words and phrases not ending in -ly are
adverbs (e.g. always, often, seldom, sometimes, very,
well) and an -ly ending is not a guarantee that a word is
an adverb (e.g. costly, early, only, orderly, smelly,
unlikely – all of which are adjectives). Like adjectives,
adverbs can have comparative and superlative forms to
show degree. More and most or less and least are used
to show degree with adverbs.
10. Misused
prepositions
11. Inconsistent use of
abbreviations and
acronyms
12. Incorrect
capitalization
Usually intuitive for the native English speaker, speakers
of English as a second language will find it helpful to
notice preposition use in similar papers in their field.
Even so, they typically require correction by a native
speaker. See attached table for examples of scientific
use.
Spell out the full phrase represented by abbreviations
and acronyms at first use and specify in parenthesis the
short form you will be using throughout the paper.
Thereafter use the abbreviation or acronym consistently.
Keep in mind that an international journal audience may
not be familiar with all abbreviated terms that are in
common use in your country
Words that are capitalized in English include;
 The first word of a sentence.
 Proper nouns - names of specific people, places, and
things.
 The main words in titles of books, articles, research
papers, chapters and sections but not articles,
prepositions and conjunctions unless they are the first
word of the title.
 The first word in bullet lists is capitalized unless each
item in the list is only a few words.
 The pronoun I is always capitalized.
 When an adjective owes its origins to a proper noun,
is normally capitalized. Thus we write about Cartesian
coordinates, Ohmic heating, Galilean relativity.
Common nouns are words for a general class of
people, places, things, and ideas (scientist, engineer,
laboratory, experiment). They are only capitalized if they
are the first word in the sentence or if they are part of a
title. They are never capitalized to emphasize their
importance within the sentence.
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