Sainani SciWrite 1.3

Summary

The video script discusses principles of effective scientific writing, using an example from a top biology journal. It critiques the use of nouns instead of verbs, vague language, unnecessary jargon, and acronyms that slow down the reader. The speaker emphasizes the importance of clarity, active voice, and strong verbs to improve readability. The script provides a rewritten version of a complex sentence for clarity and introduces upcoming topics like cutting clutter and using active voice.

Takeaways

• 📚 The script discusses principles of effective writing in scientific literature, specifically targeting issues found in a Cell journal article.
• 🏃 The use of nouns instead of verbs can slow down the reader's comprehension, as verbs make sentences more dynamic.
• 🌟 Vague words like 'physiologic' and 'molecular species' can hinder the reader's ability to form a clear mental image.
• 🚫 Unnecessary jargon and acronyms, such as 'gliomagenesis' and 'MIR' for micro RNA, can disrupt the reader's flow and understanding.
• 🔄 The author encourages avoiding acronyms except for the most standard ones to enhance readability.
• 🗣️ The passive voice can make sentences difficult to read, contrasting with the more natural active voice.
• ✏️ The distance between the subject and the main verb should be minimized to maintain the reader's focus.
• ✂️ The script emphasizes the importance of cutting unnecessary words and phrases to reduce clutter.
• 📈 The rewritten example provided in the script demonstrates how simplifying language can improve clarity.
• 📅 Upcoming discussions will focus on the active voice, using strong verbs, and keeping the subject and main verb close together.

Q & A

What is the main issue the speaker has with the example taken from the journal Cell?

The speaker struggles with the example because it is difficult to read and understand what the authors intended to say due to the use of nouns instead of verbs, vague words, unnecessary jargon, and acronyms.

Why does the speaker suggest using verbs instead of nouns in scientific writing?

Verbs move sentences along and make them more engaging, while nouns can slow the reader down. Using verbs like 'dis-regulate', 'initiate', 'progress', and 'express' instead of their noun forms makes the writing more dynamic and easier to follow.

What is the problem with using vague words in scientific writing according to the speaker?

Vague words do not provide a clear picture in the reader's mind, making it difficult for them to understand the author's point. Words like 'physiologic' and 'molecular species' are too broad and do not add much to the clarity of the writing.

Why does the speaker criticize the use of the acronym MIR for micro RNA?

The speaker criticizes the use of MIR as an acronym because it is an acronym of an acronym, which can be confusing. Additionally, acronyms can halt the reader's progress as they may need to look up what the acronym stands for, especially if it is not a standard one.

What is the impact of using passive voice in scientific writing as discussed in the script?

Using passive voice can make sentences difficult to read because it inverts the natural English sentence structure of subject-verb-object. The speaker mentions that the passive voice is awkward and will be discussed in more detail in the following week.

How does the speaker suggest rewriting the difficult sentence from the Cell journal?

The speaker suggests rewriting the sentence to be more straightforward and easier to understand by using active voice and clear language. The revised sentence is: 'Changes in micro RNA expression play a role in cancer including Glioma. Therefore, events that disrupt micro RNAs from binding to their target RNAs may also promote cancer.'

What is the first principle of effective writing that the speaker plans to discuss?

The first principle of effective writing the speaker plans to discuss is learning to cut unnecessary words and phrases to eliminate clutter.

What are the other principles of effective writing that will be covered in the following week?

The other principles of effective writing to be covered include using the active voice instead of the passive voice and writing with strong verbs, avoiding turning verbs into nouns, and not burying the main verb.

Why is the use of jargon and acronyms discouraged in the script?

The use of jargon and acronyms is discouraged because they can halt the reader's progress and comprehension. Unless the acronym is very standard and familiar to everyone, most readers will not know it and will have to stop to figure it out.

What is the impact factor of the journal Cell mentioned in the script?

The impact factor of the journal Cell mentioned in the script is approximately 32.

What does the speaker mean by 'burying the main verb' in a sentence?

The speaker refers to the issue where the main verb of a sentence is placed too far from the subject, causing the reader to wait for the verb and making the sentence difficult to follow.