Avoiding Informal Language in Scientific Manuscripts

When writing scientific manuscripts, it is important that the language used is both formal and professional. Not only will this make reviewers view your manuscript more favorably and reduce the risk of complaints about its language, but it will also make your manuscript clearer, more specific, and credible. To ensure that your manuscript meets the requirements of scientific language, keep the following tips in mind.

Avoid contractions

In academic writing, contractions should never be used unless you are directly quoting someone. Instead, the full phrase should be spelled out. For example, the following common contractions should instead be written as follows:

Minimize phrasal verb use

Phrasal verbs are verbs that consist of two or more words that go together as one unit; these usually consist of a verb and an adverb or preposition. While not all phrasal verbs are informal, many are, and it is best to use them as little as possible. Furthermore, using a single verb instead of a phrasal verb also reduces your manuscript’s word count. Some examples of common informal phrasal verbs, and alternative single verbs, are as follows:

Some phrasal verbs are perfectly fine to use, such as “carry out” and “engage in.” When using phrasal verbs, exercise caution, and check to see if there is a simpler one-word verb that can serve as an alternative.

Be neutral

In formal writing, it is best to avoid using over-the-top adjectives, value-laden words, and hyperbole. Sometimes over-the-top adjectives can be replaced with a more toned-down word, and sometimes it is best to simply omit an adjective altogether. Examples of this type of adjective include:

Value-laden words are typically nouns that different people have strong, often conflicting, opinions about and that can elicit strong reactions; this is also sometimes called loaded language. Below are some examples of value-laden words:

These words are best avoided and replaced with more neutral alternatives, for example, “hero” can be replaced with “leader,” and “fat” with “overweight.”

Lastly, avoid hyperbole by only making statements that you can back up with facts and argumentation. For example, writing “this is the best technique ever developed” is hyperbolic; instead, write something like “this is a novel technique that shows great potential.”

Avoid colloquialisms and idioms

Colloquialisms are words or phrases that speakers of the language have decided are informal. Some common colloquialisms that should be avoided in academic writing, and some suggested alternatives, can be found below:

It is also best to avoid idioms, which are expressions in a language that have a figurative and not a literal meaning, such as “a drop in the ocean,” “run out of steam,” and “the icing on the cake.” It is best to avoid using these entirely, as they can be vague and unclear.

Start sentences properly

In academic writing, not only should sentences never start with a numeral or abbreviation (in these cases, they should be written out in full or the sentence should be rearranged), but they should also not begin with words similar to the following:

Avoid vague lists

When writing lists in a scientific manuscript, avoid ending the list with “and so on” or “etc.” Both of these phrases are considered informal. Instead, either write out the entire list (this has the added bonus of making your writing more specific) or else preface the list with “including” or “such as,” which have the same function as “etc.” in that they let the reader know that the list is not exhaustive. For example:

Use either first or third person, but avoid using “you”

A common misconception in academic writing is that the first person is informal. While some journals and reviewers still believe this, in most cases it is perfectly acceptable, and even encouraged, to write in the first person. However, it is also perfectly fine to use the third person; both of these voices are formal and professional.

However, you should avoid directly addressing the reader in academic writing; the word “you” should rarely, if ever, be used. Instead, rewrite the sentence to make the word unnecessary or replace it with “one.” For example: