Quotes from Experts on Effective Scientific Writing

When I was writing Eloquent Science, I solicited my friends and colleagues for quotes to put in the book.  I wanted the readers to get more than just my opinion about how to communicate effectively.  So, I asked the community for other tips that I might have missed.  I received more quotes than I could include in the book.  Here is a sampling of the outtakes.

1.    Don’t write any words until you’ve selected your figures (very important).
2.    Once you’ve selected your figures, write notes as if you are giving  a lecture, not sentences and paragraphs. Say to yourself: “The next slide shows:  ….” Fill in the blank and go on to the next slide/figure. Write the notes colloquially, as if you are talking to somebody in your office who is interested in your work.
3.    Once you’ve done the above it is a simple matter to convert the notes to paragraphs of prose describing the figures.

– Prof. Robert Houze, University of Washington

Often people run out of gas before they write the Summary & Conclusions. This part of the paper, or talk, is what will remain uppermost in the reader’s/ listener’s mind. I want to know where this work leaves us (i.e. the summary) and where does it lead us (i.e. what are the questions raised by this work, i.e. the conclusions.)

– Prof. Emeritus Gil Leppelmeier, Finnish Meteorological Institute

As I get infinitely busy, I am infinitely interested in SKIMMABILITY. Topic words, leading topic sentences, leading topic paragraphs, of well labeled sections, down a predictable logical path that the title telegraphed. No suspense.

– Prof. Brian Mapes, University of Miami

Make sure the abstract, introduction, and conclusions touch all the same points. There should be a one-to-one correspondence between the points made in each. One useful idea is to use a highlighter to mark the points made in the abstract, intro, and conclusions to make sure there is closure.

– Prof. Robert Houze, University of Washington

Before writing a major paper, I make it a point to read papers or books by authors whose writing style I have a high regard for. This can be anything…classical fiction, scientific papers written during the Victorian period, etc. I find that this can favorably influence my own writing and erase the unfortunate memory of the numerous dry, badly written papers one inevitably has to read as background to the research one is presenting.

– Prof. Kerry Emanuel, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The essential key for writing is to write regularly — like it or not — great ideas come often by writing; releasing the subconscious — waiting for inspiration and ideas will not work, but it does help to have a notebook with you all the time for sudden brainstorms or inspiration.

– Prof. Robert Marc Friedman, University of Oslo

If I come to an impasse, it usually means that I don’t thoroughly understand what I’m writing about.

– Dr. Richard Rotunno, National Center for Atmospheric Research