bq. A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. — Margaret Mead<\/p>\n
\nHaving, in the last three days, edited<\/em> a manuscript when I should have only been checking for tyops sic, Henry, sic<\/em>, and similarly for an interminable chapter 4 of a PhD thesis, I have come to the following conclusion:<\/p>\n \nThere is something rotten in the state of Denmark.<\/p>\n \nWhat? <\/p>\n \nSorry, wrong parallel universe. Let’s try that one again:<\/p>\n \n‘Scientific’ writing is doomed unless we start with the students.<\/p>\n \nMaxine Clarke recently pointed out<\/a> that Nature<\/em> journal editors encourage authors to use ‘direct, plain prose’. Linda Cooper has written<\/a> some very good articles, sadly not updated since the middle of last year. There are guidelines<\/a> in the Author Services section of NPG<\/em> and an excellent editorial<\/a> in Nature Physics<\/em>.<\/p>\n \nBut still, on Monday, I banged my head against the desk in an exquisite m\u00e9lange of grief and hilarity, at the following:<\/p>\n \nTriple resonance experiments give rise to three-dimensional datasets that contain three frequency dimensions;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \nThe problem is not with teaching post-docs and PIs how to write. The problem is that students are never taught how to write directly and clearly. Indeed, we encourage<\/em> them to write stilted, impenetrable prose in the third person and passive voice, because that is considered scientific<\/em>.<\/p>\n \nAnd it’s pants.<\/p>\n \nA friend pointed out to me yesterday, after I had raved somewhat immoderately about this, that I was in a privileged position. As (through hard graft and a little bit of natural talent) I am able to write, it is my duty and responsibility to assist those who have difficulty. She’s right, of course; but it is a huge task. <\/p>\n \nBy the time you get to reading editorials in learned journals, it’s far too late. One post-doc can do a little bit in his own lab, under the authority of a sympathetic PI of course, but really, this needs to start at undergraduate level, and continue throughout a scientist’s training. Ultimately, we are in the business of communication<\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" bq. A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. — Margaret Mead Having, in the last three days, edited a manuscript when I should have only been checking for tyops … Continue reading