Chapter 13 : Good Writing Beats Bad Writing, Most Any Day

Abstract:

Just when some people believe that the world is going to hell in a handbasket, here I am, ready to make a cheerful personal statement: “Scientific writing is improving!” Of course I base this on reading the microbiological literature, but assume that it’s generally true. What makes me say so? Well, more often than not, current research papers and reviews contain a fair share of simple declarative sentences. In my earlier days, typical statements were often in the passive form: “The effect of X on Y has been studied.” The first person form is now accepted, much to everyone’s relief. And titles of articles tend to be informative. Gone is Studies on the Metabolism of Escherichia coli: Part XIV. And, although I couldn’t swear to it, I believe that the language in graduate student papers has also improved. Nowadays, even humor is permissible. It has even permeated this blog, as exemplified by the wicked sense of humor of my co-blogger, Merry Youle, who has come up with titles such as The Bacterium That Doesn’t Know How to Tie Its Own Shoelaces, Coxiella Escapes from Cell, and A Holin One.

There isn’t any thought or idea that can’t be expressed in a fairly simple declarative sentence...

– E.B. White, Fro-Joy