The Craft of Scientific Writing PDF

We are all apprentices 01 a craft where no one ever becomes a master. -Emest Hemingway In October 1984, the weak writing in a scientific report made national news.

The report, which outlined safety procedures during a nuclear attack, advised industrial workers "to don heavy clothes and immerse themselves in a large body of water. " The logic behind this advice was sound: Water is a good absorber of heat, neutrons, and gamma rays.

Unfortunately, the way the advice was worded was unclear.

Was everyone supposed to be com- up for air? Be- pletely submerged? Was it safe to come sides being unclear, the writing conveyed the wrong im- pression to the public.

The report came across as saying "go jump in a lake"-not the impression you want to give someone spending thousands of dollars to fund your re- search.

Chances are that Dan Rather will not quote sentences from your documents on national television, no matter how weak the writing iso Still, your writing is important.

On a personal level, your writing is the principal way in which people learn about your work.

When you commu- nicate weIl, you receive credit for that work.

When you do not communicate weIl or are too slow to communi- cate, the credit often go es to someone else.

On a larger level, your writing and the writing of other scientists and vii viii Foreword engineers influenees publie poliey about scienee and en- gineering.