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In general, the best writing is simple and direct. Writing that is

simple and direct is most easily understood. It also tends to be

the most forceful and memorable. There is certain rules for

scientific writing. Use no more words than necessary and never

use a complicated word if a simpler one will do just as well.

Many people seem to feel that writing in a complicated way

makes one sound serious, scholarly and authoritative. While this

type of writing may sound serious, it is no more authoritative

than writing that is simple and direct. Certainly, it is more

difficult to understand. Often, it sounds pompous and

overbearing. If your purpose is to be understood in a way that is

both forceful and memorable, adopt a style that is simple and

direct.

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1. Interest, inform, and persuade the reader

2. Write for your reader and write clearly

3. Eliminate unnecessary redundancy

4. Avoid digressions

5. Don’t over explain and avoid overstatement

6. Avoid unnecessary qualifiers

7. Use consistent tenses

8. Use the precise word

9. Simpler words are preferred over complex words and use

concrete words and examples

10. Simpler sentences are preferred over more complicated

sentences

11. Use the active voice (except generally in methods)

12. Make sure the subject and verb agree

13. Use affirmative rather than negative constructions

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14. Avoid use of the indefinite “this”

15. Use transitions

16. Cite sources as well as findings

17. Proofread your paper carefully; spell check does not catch

everything; “there” is spelled correctly but not if you

meant “their”

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