The illusion of certainty and the certainty of illusion - Volume 25, Issue

Critical thinking is necessary to edit a scientific article. However, in addition to questions about the language, we can also question the assumptions, documentation, and implications of the research, in a process I call “analytical editing.” A…

Regulatory Writing: New developments in public disclosure of clinical trials - Volume 24, Issue

In April this year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued a statement on the public disclosure of clinical trial results (the full statement is available from http://www.who.int/ictrp/results/reporting/en/). In essence, this statement…

Public perceptions of health information generated by AI: A research study - Volume 34, Issue

Artificial intelligence (AI) integration in clinical practice has intensified in the last few years, from systems analysing and interpreting existing data to generative AI systems capable of creating new information and offering new possibilities…

Plain language and readability - Volume 24, Issue

Plain language is writing in clear, concise language that is easy to read and understand. Whenever I hear the term plain language I am reminded of a lay summary I was once asked to edit. The stream of technical language (‘self-source bias’, ‘effect m…

In the Bookstores - Volume 22, Issue

The Spirit Level

Ever had a ‘ping’ moment? This book might have been mine. I'm not a natural pessimist, but Western society today seems less cohesive and people more materialistic, stressed, unhealthy, and unhappy than in times gone by. Wealth and s…