Scientists must write: An Einstein's approach
—Shanthi Sharma
In this article, the author presents her views on the book “Scientists Must Write” written by Robert Barrass.
“But in science the credit goes to the man who convinces the world, not to the man to whom the idea first occurs”–Sir Francis Darwin
Science is often hard to read due to complex scientific concepts, and scientists often tend to overlook the challenge of communicating scientific data. If the reader has to grasp what the writer conveys, the writer must understand what the reader needs.
“Scientists Must Write” is a student friendly book by Robert Barrass that captures the importance of scientific writing. His suggestions and methods are universally applicable to all writers, technical and nontechnical. He uses simple, lucid language and illustrative examples to convey his thoughts.
The book begins with the salient aspects of scientific writing and how scientists should cultivate the science of writing to aid their research. There is a section on how to present an accurate set of instructions. The book also describes how to improve your writing and excel in routine communications, such as e-mail. There is a unique section on the different characteristics of scientific writing and usage of scientific methods for writing where the author stresses on the importance of peer review and self-review.
The author moves on to some of the important dictums that a writer should follow: think, plan, write, and revise. These dictums are aimed at helping those who find it difficult to translate their thoughts into words. There are tips to improve your writing and choose the right words for the right scenario. The “Improve Your Writing” section offers valuable information on how to avoid the common pitfalls of technical writing: loose prose, circumlocution, and verbosity. The book also includes a small section on how to write a book review.
The author has highlighted the importance of numbers in precise data collection and using illustrations in scientific writing. There is a section on information retrieval that lists different sources of information, such as dictionaries, handbooks, and style guides.
Some chapters are devoted to writing research papers, student theses, investigative reports, and thesis reports, and to applying effective presentation techniques.
For those in a hurry, the appendixes offer a ready reckoner on punctuation and spelling. After describing writing techniques, the book moves on to information about optimal computer usage.
Each chapter of the book is interspersed with graphics, tables, exercises, and contextual examples. The exercises in each chapter help readers put to practice what they learn from the book.
The language is simple and each sentence uses a minimum set of words to convey the author’s thoughts. The downside is that tips to improve writing are scattered throughout the book rather than collectively presented in a single chapter. Overall, it’s a good read for a technical writer.
About the Author
Shanthi Sharma has a science and management background. She has been a technical writer for the past 8 years. Currently, she is working as Lead Information Product Developer with Alcatel-Lucent, Bangalore. You can write to Shanthi at ssharma@alcatel-lucent.com.
- Patenting: The Art of Parenting — Gururaj B. S.
- Should we stick to the shadows, or take on a little more heat? — Geoff Hart
- Sensitivity in Writing — Meghashri Dalvi
- Social or Philosophical Issues Related to the Design and Delivery of User Assistance — Pradipto Das
- Technical Writers Must Learn to be Technical — Samartha Vashishta
- Ten Tips to Grow Your Writing Career: A Manager's Perspective — Francisco Abedrabbo
STC India | Home | Contact Us
Copyright © 2007, India Chapter of STC. All rights reserved.