Medical Writing Writing Matters English Grammar and Style

Volume 21, Issue 3 - Writing Matters

English Grammar and Style

Authors: Wendy Kingdom, Susanne Goebel-Lauth, Stephen Gilliver, Elise Langdon-Neuner

Abstract

Good Writing Practice
As an editor, I have been battling against verbosity, redundant modifiers, and ‘buzz’ words for many years. New terms and turns of phrase or new meanings for words pop up all the time. Many of them have come with the information technology age and many of them stick, whether we like it or not. Some of them really do fill a gap, like ‘to enable’ meaning ‘switching something on’ or ‘make something functional’. Some are supposed to sound good because they are polysyllabic but don't, like ‘leveraging someone's help’; and some are evidence of sloppy and indiscriminate use of words. Others come into use because a term has been so devalued by overuse that it no longer sounds right unless used with a modifier (e.g. absolutely essential).

References

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Message from the President
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What's your problem? A practical approach to scientific document design
The joys of outlining in medical writing
Pleasing the reader by pleasing the eye—Part 1 The role of format and design in readability
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Pharmaceutical medical writing competencies: Comparing self-perception with employers' expectations
In the Bookstores
Journal Watch
The Webscout
Manuscript Writing
Regulatory writing
English Grammar and Style
Out On Our Own
Gained in Translation

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