Optimal Use of the English Language

Scientific English is highly codified. Certain words and phrases often return in many articles. This serves to provide optimal clarity. The best way to master this type of language is to read many articles in your own field. A text is clear when it states what the authors want to convey and cannot be interpreted in any other way. Scientific writing is very condensed and does not contain superfluous words, nor can any word needed to communicate the message be missing. The passive voice is used more often than in daily language to indicate objectivity. The correct use of pronouns can contribute to lucidity of the text as well. Short sentences, without dependent clauses, are helpful to readers who are less fluent in English. Non-English speakers can rarely transpose the usage of definite (the) and indefinite articles (a; an), from their own language to English. In addition, non-English native speakers better avoid the trap of overcompensating by using complex wording.