This comprehensive and practical book covers the basics of grammar as well as the broad brush issues such as writing a grant application and selling to your potential audience. The clear explanations are expanded and lightened with helpful examples and telling quotes from the giants of good writing. These experienced writers and teachers make scientific writing enjoyable.
Description: This is a very well written book on scientific writing that is easy to read and follow. The format of boxed tables presents the information concisely.
Purpose: The purpose is to make scientists better writers. Writing well is a crucial component of scientific success, one that is often overlooked by formal scientific training. With scientific data generated worldwide, having a book that summarizes the standards of writing in English is very helpful. The authors have done an excellent job in meeting their objectives.
Audience: This book is written for the beginner or intermediate level writer. Students, residents, and doctoral candidates can all benefit from reading it, but even the advanced writer will learn something. The references also allow for retrieving specific guidelines.
Features: The book takes the reader step-by-step through the process of writing a paper. It addresses important aspects of the thinking process that should precede writing the paper, like deciding on a journal, deciding who the audience is, etc. In addition, the book highlights writing standards, grammatical rules, and correct vocabulary. The best features of the book are the examples cited in the text and the boxed tables, which illustrate the points well. Citing websites as references is also well explained and practiced in this book. The book may give the appearance of simplicity, especially for seasoned writers.
Assessment: This excellent book is essential. It can easily be introduced into a curriculum in a science school or graduate program and it is a helpful reference for ex
perienced writers.