Transcript Slide 1

Scientific Writing
Aaron Wendelboe
David M. Thompson
Faculty Seminar
Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology
March 29, 2012
Writing well
• Consider sentence logic
• Prefer the active voice
• Use verbs
moon.ouhsc.edu/dthompso/writing/write.htm
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Even professional writers trip over
syntax, and make outrageous, if
humorous, statements.
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The Wall Street Journal printed some
bad news for aging athletes, who may
misunderstand the negative social
impact of their aquatic workouts:
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“According to a Johns Hopkins study,
older men produce more deformed
sperm, but they swim faster, passing
on certain genetic abnormalities."
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Writing shouldn't be subjective,
but that doesn’t excuse concealing the
subject.
"Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area
have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and
the troops have been withdrawn."
the first draft of a statement,
prepared for release by the Allied commander,
in case amphibious operations failed in
Normandy (June 6, 1944)
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"Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area
have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and
I have withdrawn the troops."
the second draft of
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower's statement.
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Eisenhower never released either draft.
Will, G. (1998). Bunts. New York: Scribner,
p.127.
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"Prefer the active voice."
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Use verbs instead of nouns
Writers are more direct and concise when
they use verbs instead of nouns or strings of
nouns.
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Examples
One of the most significant toxicity reductions
achieved in head and neck radiotherapy by
the use of IMRT has been in the functional
preservation of uninvolved salivary glands.
The use of IMRT significantly reduced toxicity
and preserved function in the uninvolved
salivary glands [of patients undergoing
radiotherapy of the head and neck].
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In the UK-vaccinated group, LF titer is, for the
first time in a human population, significantly
and independently predictive of in vitro
neutralization.
The UK-vaccinated group is the first human
population in whom both LF and PA titers
independently predict in vitro LT
neutralization.
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The results obtained using the conservative
alpha investing were different from both
forward selection and aggressive alpha
investing at each initial alpha wealth value.
Conservative alpha investing obtained, at each
value for initial alpha wealth, results that
differed from both forward selection and
aggressive alpha investing.
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All participants completed an initial screening
following a 10-hour overnight fast that began
with attainment of informed written consent.
Following a 10 hour overnight fast,
participants completed an initial screening
that began with attainment of written
consent.
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According to a Johns Hopkins study, older men
produce more deformed sperm, but they
swim faster, passing on certain genetic
abnormalities.
According to a Johns Hopkins study, older men
produce more deformed sperm which,
because they swim faster, pass on certain
genetic abnormalities.
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• Consider sentence logic
• Prefer the active voice
• Use verbs
moon.ouhsc.edu/dthompso/writing/write.htm
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• No prior studies have examined the impact of the FDA boxed
warning on the patient behavior of adhering with antidepressant
medications. It is possible that patients remain off antidepressant
due to the fear of increased suicidality, without informing their
health care providers. In that case, patients’ behavior would be
another independent contributing factor to unintended
consequences that have been observed after the FDA boxed
warning.
• No studies have examined FDA boxed warning’s impact on the
patient adherence to antidepressant medications they have been
prescribed. Some patients may stop taking prescribed
antidepressant ,due to the fear of suicidal thoughts and behavior ,
without informing their health care providers. Such behavior would
contribute to the unanticipated increase in suicide that has been
observed after the FDA boxed warning.
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