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Scientific Writing
Writing High Impact Papers

Module 7
Prof. Dr. Valtencir Zucolotto
zuco@ifsc.usp.br
Prof. Dr. Valtencir Zucolotto
zuco@ifsc.usp.br

Nanomedicine and Nanotoxicology Book Series, Springer-Nature,

Series Editor
Nanomedicine and Nanotoxicology Group - Coordinator
Physics Institute of São Carlos, University of São Paulo
Outline

Module 1: Literary / Textual Genre / Structure 1: Title and Authorship

Module 2: Structure 1: Abstract

Module 3: Structure 2: Introduction

Module 4: Structure 3: Results and Discussion, Conclusion

Module 5: Style, Language 1: Complexity Problems 1

Module 6: Language 2: Complexity Problems 2, Rhythm

Module 7: Language 3: Plain English and Topic Sentences

Module 8: Manuscript Submission, The Editorial Process

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Module 7: Language 3: Plain

English and Topic Sentences

Prof. Dr. Valtencir Zucolotto

zuco@ifsc.usp.br
Language III
The concept of Plain English

Needlessly Complex words:

Avoid Use

Utilization Use

Facilitate Cause*

Finalize End

Utilize Use

Firstly, Secondly First, Second

Commencement Beginning
The concept of Plain English

Needlessly Complex words:

Avoid Use

Has the Operationability Operate

The majority of Most

In agreement Agree

Due to the fact that Because

Plays a key Role Essential

By means of By

? ?
Plain English

The word “Fact”

Replace “This fact” by:

This effect,
This hypothesis,
This observation,
This value,
This phenomenon,
This finding, etc.

The same applies to “Case”

Plain English

Preliminary
Careful
Obtained
Novel
Successfully

Are these words relevant in SW?

 The concept of Plain English

Writing Nothing

● It is significant to note the fact that

● It is important to mention here that the results

● The findings described here demonstrated that

Plain English

Thus
In this context
Think in English, Write in English

Example:
“The method of diagnosis employed for determination of
tumor of breast was the imunoassay ELISA”

?
Think in English, Write in English

Better:
“The diagnosis method used for breast cancer
detection was the ELISA imunoassay.”
Think in English, Write in English

Better:
“ELISA imunoassay was used to
diagnose breast cancer.”
Think in English, Write in English

In Scientific Writing:

“Breast cancer was diagnosed by ELISA”

Verbs + Prepositions

VERBS FOLLOWED BY PREPOSITIONS

account decide estimate

agree decrease exceed
allow determine fit
answer develop hinder
balance differ identify
change disagree originate
compare discern prepare
connect discriminate qualify
convert distinguish range
correlate divide
correspond elaborate
Words + Prepositions

WORDS FOLLOWED BY PREPOSITIONS

abundance control enthusiasm necessary

abundant convenient equality necessity
affinity correct equivalent need
akin decrease evidence opportunity
applicable deficient familiar parallel
appropriate demand focus proficiency
available dependent fundamental proficient
basis difference identical search
capability different improvement sufficient
capacity disagreement independent suitable
cause discussion influence suited
close disparity inherent superiority
common distinct intended test
concern distinction level valuable
consistent enhanced method variation
Language IV
Topic Sentences

A topic sentence is the most important in paragraph.

T. Sentences are strongly correlated with:

● Topic (keyword) and

● Message of the paragraph (verb/subject structure).

Source: Essentials of Writing Biomedical Research Papers by Mimi Zeiger, Mcgraw-Hill Professional, 2nd Ed, 2000.
Topic Sentences

“To assess the distribution, size, and shape of ganglion cell bodies in the tracheal neural
plexus, we examined individual cell bodies in their entirety at 100-400 x with a compound
microscope. For the assessment of distribution, first ganglion...”

“There are three different theories put forward for the very slow relaxation of catch muscles in
molluscs. One theory holds that...”

“Pulmonary nerve endings were relatively insensitive to diguanides, as seen in table 1). Of 25
pulmonary nerve ending tested, only 10 were
stimulated...”

Source: Essentials of Writing Biomedical Research Papers by Mimi Zeiger, Mcgraw-Hill Professional, 2nd Ed, 2000.
Topic Sentences

“Garlic (Allium sativum L.) has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes. Its use for
healing purposes can be traced back as far as 1550 BC when documentations of its therapeutic use
first appear in Egypt (Hassan, 2003; Rivlin, 2001). In modern times belief in the beneficial effects of
garlic on health has led to it being used for a number of conditions. Garlic has been shown to reduce
the risk of cardiovascular disease (Aboul-Enein and Aboul-Enein, 2005), and possess antimicrobial
(Sivam, 2001) and antioxidant properties (Imai et al., 1994). This essay will explore research into
garlic's potential roles in reducing cancer risk and in treating cancer.”

Source: http://www.monash.edu.au/lls/llonline/writing/science/paragraphs/1.2.xml
Topic Sentences

“When the materials from which the spheres were made charged at different rates,
structures of different morphologies could form during the course of charging. Figure 3
illustrates the assembly of 40 Teflon and 80 PP spheres agitate at w~9 HZ a ~10 mm. The
Teflon spheres charged more rapidly that the PP ones (Fig. 3a). When, after approximately 30
seconds from the start of agitation, the ratio of charges QTef/QPP was close to -2, the
spheres organized into a hexagonal structure (Fig. 3b, left). PTMC simulations predicted this
structure to be a global energy minimum of the system. As the agitation continued, the
magnitudes of charges on the Teflon and PP spheres ~15 minutes, approximately half of the
PP spheres were expelled towards the walls of the container, and morphology of the
aggregate changed to square (Fig. 3,right)...”

Source: Nature Materials 2, 241-245 (2003)

Topic Sentences

“The non-significant main effect of ITIP (information sharing), although unexpected, has precedence
in the literature. For example, in a study of divisions of manufacturing companies in the food and
packaged goods industry in 1998, Kulp et al. (2004) found no direct positive association between
information sharing and subjective performance measures, barring sharing of store inventory
information. Similarly, the non-significant main effect of ITT, though unsupportive of H1, is consistent
with a study of firms in the automotive, computers and electronics sector. In that study (Devaraj et al.,
2007, p. 1212), “...findings indicated that e-business capabilities, by themselves, do not directly
impact operational performance.”

Source: Journal of Operations Management 31 (2013) 313–329

Commonly Misused Words
Misused Words

Analysis or Analyses?

● Analysis = Singular
● Analyses = Plural

Thermal analyses were carried out using DSC

The infrared spectroscopic analysis was performed

Misused Words

Reproductive or reproducible?

● Reproductive: related to reproduction

● Reproducible: can be repeated, reproduced or
duplicated.

Results were reproducible or reproductive in all three

experiments.
Misused Words

Increase, Enhance and Improve

● Increase: To become greater or larger in size, number, degree…

● Enhance: To add value or worthy to something already attractive
● Improve: To raise to a better quality or condition.
Sources

● Essentials of Writing Biomedical Research Papers by Mimi Zeiger, Mcgraw-Hill

Professional, 2nd Ed, 2000.

● http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0200807.html
Prof. Zucolotto as a Scientific Editor
Thank You

Valtencir Zucolotto
zuco@ifsc.usp.br

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