The Art of Scientific Writing From Student Reports to Professional Publications in Chemistry and Related Fields

by Ebel, Hans F.; Bliefert, Claus; Russey, William E.

• ISBN13: 9783527298297
• ISBN10: 3527298290
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-03-12
• Publisher: Wiley-VCH

Summary

Most scientists live in a "publish or perish" environment, but few would describe themselves as brilliant (or enthusiastic) writers. Coming to the aid of all those wishing to improve the quality of their scientific writing -- established researchers and aspiring students alike -- three experienced authors/scientists from differing backgrounds and cultures have compiled this classic guide. This new edition has been completely revised to reflect dramatic changes in communication over the past 15 years. The primary emphasis is on writing techniques, accurate expression, adherence to accepted standards, and above all clarity, but the authors also venture into communication technology and organizational as well as ethical aspects of science. Numerous appendices and a particularly comprehensive index complete this highly useful book. "The authors have a passion, not only for clarity and economy of style, but also for precision and consistency." (Nature) "A wealth of information contained in a single book of manageable proportions. Students reporting on a simple laboratory experiment and their teachers preparing a paper or lecture will both find this book a constant companion." (European Science Editing) "The book under review claims, \'we know of no book as broad in its coverage, as critical in its analysis of existing trends, and as international in its scope\'. This claim is immodest but accurate." (Trends in Pharmacological Sciences)

Author Biography

<b>Hans F. Ebel</b> received his Ph.D. in chemistry in 1960 with Georg Wittig at the University of Heidelberg (Germany). He was for many years Senior Editor and later a member of the board of directors of the publishing house Verlag Chemie/VCH (now Wiley-VCH). Author and co-author of numerous original publications including books, he has been active since 1982 in the field of scientific and technical communication in general and scientific publication in particular. He has also contributed to the terminological activities of DIN (Deutsches Institut f&#56458;&#56334;ormung) and is a board member of the European Association of Science Editors<br> <br> <b>Claus Bliefert</b> has since 1973 been a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Applied Sciences M&#56443;&#56564;er (Germany). Responsible for numerous research contributions in the fields of hydroxylamines and fluorine chemistry, he was in 1994 named director of the school's Laboratory for Environmental Chemistry, and this subject has become his principal interest in both teaching and applied research. Author and co-author of numerous books, including several in the field of scientific communication, he regularly presents lectures and seminars on topics like "Scientific Writing" and "Technical Presentation".<br> <br> <b>William E. Russey</b> earned his Ph.D. in chemistry at Harvard in 1967, where he was in the research group of E. J. Corey. His professional life was spent on the faculty of Juniata College, Huntingdon (Pennsylvania), from which he retired as Dana-Supported Professor of Chemistry in 2002. Translator of several books, primarily for VCH, and numerous articles for Angewandte Chemie, and an editor and translator with the Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, he has also co-authored the book Text and Graphics in the Electronic Age.

Table of Contents

I Goals and Forms in Scientific Writing
1 Reports	3	(54)
1.1 The Scientist as Writer	3	(9)
1.1.1 Communication in the Natural Sciences	3	(5)
1.1.2 The Maintenance of Quality in Science	8	(4)
1.2 The Purpose and Significance of a Scientific "Report"	12	(3)
1.3 The Laboratory Notebook	15	(16)
1.3.1 The Role and Form of a Scientist's Notebook	15	(6)
1.3.2 Content	21	(6)
Heading and Introduction
The Experimental Section
A Scientist's Ethical Responsibilities
1.3.3 Organizational Matters	27	(4)
What is an Experiment?
Experiment Numbers
1.4 From Laboratory Notebook Entries to a Formal Report	31	(16)
1.4.1 Describing an Experiment	31	(3)
1.4.2 The Preparation of a Formal Report	34	(13)
Proposed Subdivisions. An Outline
Drafting the Text
First Refinements: Perfecting the Language
Suggestions Related to Writing Style
Subsequent Drafts
Finished Copy
1.5 Various Types of Reports	47	(10)
1.5.1 The Academic Environment: Laboratory Reports, Grant Proposals, and the Like	47	(5)
1.5.2 The Corporate Environment: Technical Documentation	52	(2)
1.5.3 Commissioned Reports	54	(3)
2 Dissertations	57	(40)
2.1 Nature and Purpose	57	(3)
2.2 The Components of a Dissertation	60	(26)
2.2.1 Overview	60	(3)
2.2.2 Title and Title Page	63	(2)
2.2.3 Abstract	65	(1)
2.2.4 Preface	66	(1)
2.2.5 Table of Contents; Section Headings	67	(7)
Basic Considerations
Headings and Hierarchical Structure
Structure and Form; Decimal Classification
2.2.6 Introduction	74	(3)
2.2.7 Results	77	(3)
2.2.8 Discussion	80	(1)
2.2.9 Conclusions	81	(1)
2.2.10 Experimental Section	82	(1)
2.2.11 References Section and Miscellaneous Component	83	(3)
2.3 Preparing the Dissertation	86	(1)
2.3.1 From Outline to Final Draft	86	(7)
Developing a Concept
Writing Techniques
2.3.2 The Final Product: A First-Rate Doctoral Dissertation	93	(1)
2.3.3 The "Electronic Dissertation"	94	(1)
2.3.4 Last Steps on the Road Toward Acquiring Your Degree	95	(2)
3 Journal Articles	97	(92)
3.1 The Scholarly Journal as a Medium of Communication	97	(35)
3.1.1 "Publication" as a Concept	97	(4)
3.1.2 "Electronic Publication": Its Nature as Defined by Early Manifestations	101	(11)
The Beginnings
The Prototype E-Journal: Current Clinical Trials
Further Ramifications of the Digital Revolution
Questions of "Permanence"
The Road Ahead
Effective and Efficient Acquisition of Information
The Quest for Knowledge
3.1.3 More from the World of Tomorrow (or Today!)	112	(17)
Professional vs. Private Publication
The Scene Today
The Current State of the Electronic "Environment"
Information Acquisition Today: Search Capabilities
"Markup" of an Electronic Document
Authors and Authorship in the Twenty-First Century
3.1.4 The Various Types of Journals	129	(3)
3.2 Decisions Prior to Publication	132	(12)
3.2.1 Publish When?	132	(2)
3.2.2 Publish What, and With Whom?	134	(5)
3.2.3 Publish In What Form?	139	(2)
3.2.4 Publish Where?	141	(3)
3.3 The Components of a Journal Article	144	(6)
3.3.1 General Observations; Title and Authorship	144	(2)
3.3.2 Abstract	146	(2)
3.3.3 The Actual Article	148	(2)
3.4 Preparing the Manuscript	150	(19)
3.4.1 Text	150	(4)
Introduction
Matters of Form
3.4.2 Formulas and Equations	154	(3)
3.4.3 Figures	157	(7)
A Figure or a Table?
The Processing of Figures
Relating Figures to the Accompanying Text
Miscellaneous Matters
3.4.4 Tables	164	(1)
3.4.5 Footnotes and Other "Interjections"	165	(3)
3.4.6 Special Considerations Applicable to Direct Reproduction	168	(1)
3.5 From Manuscript to Publication	169	(20)
3.5.1 Publishers and Editors	169	(5)
Publishing Houses
Editors and Editing
3.5.2 Submitting the Manuscript	174	(3)
3.5.3 Manuscript Review	177	(3)
3.5.4 Editing, Typesetting, and Page Proofs	180	(4)
3.5.5 Proofreading	184	(5)
The Art of Proofreading
Marking the Mistakes
4 Books	189	(66)
4.1 Preliminary Thoughts	189	(19)
4.1.1 What Is a Book?	189	(4)
4.1.2 Where Do Books Come From?	193	(4)
4.1.3 What Are Books For?	197	(7)
4.1.4 Collaborating With a Publishing House	204	(4)
4.2 Planning and Preparation	208	(5)
4.2.1 First Drafts of the Title, Outline, and Preface	208	(2)
4.2.2 Sample Chapter	210	(3)
4.3 Developing the Manuscript	213	(17)
4.3.1 Organizational Considerations	213	(6)
4.3.2 Assembling the Background Literature	219	(2)
4.3.3 The Structure of the Book	221	(1)
4.3.4 Developing the Content	222	(3)
First Draft
The "Special Features"
Revision
4.3.5 Final Copy	225	(5)
Text
Other Elements
4.4 Typesetting and Printing	230	(8)
4.4.1 Processing the Manuscript	230	(2)
4.4.2 Page-Proof and Galley-Proof Correction	232	(6)
4.5 Final Steps	238	(17)
4.5.1 Index Preparation	238	(10)
4.5.2 Title Pages	248	(3)
4.5.3 Binding	251	(4)
II Materials, Tools, and Methods in Scientific Writing
5 Writing Techniques	255	(96)
5.1 Introduction	255	(3)
5.2 Word Processing and Page Layout	258	(23)
5.2.1 Hardware and Operating Systems	258	(19)
The Personal Computer
Keyboards
Miscellaneous Peripheral Components
Printers
5.2.2 Word-Processing and Page-Layout Software	277	(4)
5.3 Writing and Formatting with a Computer	281	(30)
5.3.1 Becoming Accustomed to Your System	281	(13)
The Basics
Mouse Techniques
Windows and Toolbars
Text-Window Properties
Marking (Highlighting)
Formatting
Customization
5.3.2 The Utilization of Word-Processing Software	294	(5)
A Writer's Dream Come True
The Benefits Conferred by Word Processing
5.3.3 Advanced Aspects of Text Editing	299	(12)
Formats, Patterns, Styles, and Templates
Character Sets
"Styles"
AutoText Entries
Subdivisions
Anticipating the Need for an Index
Spell Checking
Search Operations
Editing Functions
5.4 Digital Data and Electronic Publishing	311	(20)
5.4.1 The Digital or Electronic Manuscript	311	(13)
Basic Considerations
File Formats
Structured Markup Systems
Special Considerations Applicable to Electronic Manuscripts that Require Typesetting
5.4.2 Electronic Editing	324	(7)
Desktop Publishing
Strategic Considerations
5.5 General Formatting Guidelines	331	(20)
5.5.1 Text	331	(17)
Fonts and Units of Measure in Typography
Specific Type Fonts and Document Formats
Manuscript Style and Markup
Headings, Paragraphs, Equations, and Lists
Footnotes
5.5.2 Preparation of Final Copy	348	(3)
6 Formulas	351	(62)
6.1 Quantities	351	(17)
6.1.1 Quantities and Dimensions	351	(7)
6.1.2 Derived Quantities and Functions	358	(4)
6.1.3 More Regarding Symbols and Their Representation	362	(4)
6.1.4 Quantitative Expressions	366	(2)
6.2 SI Units	368	(9)
6.2.1 Base Units and Derived Units	368	(2)
6.2.2 Derived Units and "Supplementary" Units	370	(5)
6.2.3 Prefixes, Decimal Points, and Other Stylistic Matters	375	(2)
6.3 Special Units in Chemistry	377	(4)
6.3.1 "Amount of Substance" and the Mole	377	(1)
6.3.2 Molar Quantities and Mixtures of Substances	378	(3)
6.4 Numbers and Numerical Data	381	(5)
6.5 Working with Formulas and Equations	386	(14)
6.5.1 Combining Text with Equations	386	(2)
6.5.2 "Stacked" Expressions and "Fragmented" Formulas	388	(2)
6.5.3 Indices	390	(1)
6.5.4 Frequently Encountered Special Symbols	391	(4)
6.5.5 Additional Rules for Writing Formulas	395	(3)
6.5.6 Spacing	398	(2)
6.6 Programmed Typesetting of Formulas	400	(10)
6.6.1 LATEX as a Formula Generator	400	(8)
6.6.2 LATEX and Text	408	(2)
6.7 MATHTYPE and MATHML	410	(3)
7 Figures	413	(48)
7.1 General Considerations	413	(9)
7.1.1 Figures and Figure Numbers	413	(102)
7.1.2 Figure Captions	515
Figure Identifiers and Titles
Legends
Miscellaneous Technical Observations
Legal Matters: The Citation of Figures
7.2 Line Art	422	(27)
7.2.1 What Is Line Art?	422	(4)
7.2.2 The Preparation of Line Drawings	426	(4)
Useful Equipment
The Fundamentals
7.2.3 Coordinate Diagrams	430	(12)
Graphic Presentations Based on a Set of Coordinate Axes
Technical Considerations
Scaling
Axis Labels
7.2.4 Schematic Drawings and Graphs of Miscellaneous Types	442	(4)
7.2.5 Structural Formulas in Chemistry	446	(3)
7.3 Drawing With a Computer	449	(5)
7.3.1 Overview, and an Introduction to Vector Graphics	449	(3)
7.3.2 Miscellaneous Observations	452	(2)
7.4 Halftones	454	(4)
7.5 Overview of Software Useful in Editing Figures, both Line Drawings and Vector Graphics	458	(3)
8 Tables	461	(28)
8.1 The Logic Behind a Table	461	(4)
8.2 The Significance of a Table	465	(3)
8.3 The Form of a Table	468	(3)
8.4 The Components of a Table	471	(10)
8.4.1 Table Title	471	(1)
8.4.2 Table Heading	472	(4)
Simple Table Heads
Working with Units
Structured Table Headings
8.4.3 Table Content	476	(5)
8.4.4 Table Footnotes	481	(1)
8.5 Worksheets, Lists, and Databases	481	(8)
8.5.1 Spreadsheets and Worksheets	481	(2)
8.5.2 Databases	483	(6)
9 Collecting and Citing the Literature	489	(48)
9.1 The Acquisition of Information	489	(10)
9.1.1 Reading and Evaluating the Professional Literature	489	(3)
9.1.2 Effective Use of a Specialized Library	492	(7)
"Classical" Resources
The Organization of a Library
The Library of the Twenty-First Century
9.2 Building One's Own Literature Collection	499	(12)
9.2.1 An Author Catalogue	499	(8)
9.2.2 The Computer-Supported Literature Collection	507	(4)
9.3 Citation Techniques	511	(9)
9.3.1 Citing and Citations	511	(3)
9.3.2 The Numerical System	514	(2)
9.3.3 The Name-Date System	516	(3)
9.3.4 A Comparison of the Two Systems	519	(1)
9.4 The Form of a Citation	520	(7)
9.4.1 Standards of Quality	520	(3)
9.4.2 Standardization in Citation Practice	523	(4)
Background
The Vancouver Convention
The Current Outlook
9.5 Anatomy of a Source Description	527	(22)
9.5.1 General Characteristics	527	(2)
9.5.2 Sources of Various Types	529
Books and Journals
Miscellaneous Documents and Sources
Appendices
A Reference Formats	537	(7)
B Selected Quantities, Units, and Constants	544	(3)
C The 20 Commandments of Electronic Manuscripts	547	(2)
D Conversion Tips	549	(5)
D.1 Conversions Between the MACINTOSH and WINDOWS Worlds	549	(1)
D.2 File Conversions Involving Two Different Layout Programs	550	(4)
Literature	554	(6)
Index	560