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Science writing

The communication of scientific and technical information is valued in our society. Scientific and technical information needs to be made readily available for market promotion.

Results of clinical studies have to be conveyed to doctors and health care workers so they, and through them, their patients, can benefit from another’s work.

Decision makers consider new findings in relevant fields. Government decisions are often based on reports of a finding or a recommendation. The examples go on.

Science writing and technical writing, by definition, can include all writing that deals effectively with subjects within science and technology.

Good science writing requires the choice of words that convey the exact meaning intended.

The first sentence should be of literary brilliance. It should grab the attention of readers so they want to read on. It is at this early stage that your readers have the opportunity to ask themselves: what's this all about? Is it interesting? Should I bother to read it? A bored reader would much rather do something else if your paper is dull and the style flat.

Clever writing is not text that confounds even the experts. Clever writing is text that is easily accessible to any intended reader. If your intended reader cannot understand your paper, there is nothing smart about what you have written.

A good (as in a well-written) article will appeal to a wide readership. Good writing is work that is accessible to all interested readers. Readers should be able to grasp its message the first time, without suffering laborious pains as they re-read many sentences to see what the message is about.

Graham can help you with your scientific and technical writing and editing needs. He can use your notes, or rough draft, and re-cast the information into a meaningful, easy-to-read document that will appeal to the widest possible readership.

Scientific editing

Graham’s editing experience ranges from coordinating editor of a science dictionary, to senior editor of one of the largest publishing organisations in the southern hemisphere, and scientific editor of journals.

Editing is the art of cutting out all unnecessary words so the result is the clearest, most concise writing possible.

In editing your work, Graham takes out all grammatical and spelling errors. He ensures that the style is consistent throughout, and he makes sure that no errors of fact remain. It is usually the standard of editing that determines the acceptance or rejection of written material by a magazine or journal.

Graham is alert for errors in grammar and usage, and in spelling. He makes sure the punctuation is adequate and conventional but no more frequent than clarity or emphasis requires.

In editing, Graham will get rid of what is redundant or irrelevant. All trivial and tedious details will be eliminated.

In editing your documents, Graham will:

• ensure a logical progression of ideas, rearrange the sequence of topic headings, paragraphs, sentences and illustrations where necessary;
• expand or reduce text to improve the quality of the paper;
• break up long sentences or paragraphs so the text is easier to follow;
• check that the headings and sub-headings are appropriate to what follows;
• check the publication's word limit against the length of your paper;
• use simple words rather than complex words - words of two syllables rather than five syllables;
• use familiar words rather than those for which readers will have to consult a dictionary;
• avoid unnecessary words;
• consider the reader’s background;
• remove vague, meaningless and wrong words, replacing these with concise words and phrases;
• replace jargon with simple, precise terms or clearly defined technical terms;
• remove tautologies and clichés;
• convert the passive voice to the active voice where possible.