The Art of Scientific Writing

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)

PART I: SCIENTIFIC WRITING: AIMS AND FORMS
Reports
Theses
Papers (Journal Articles)
Books
PART II: SCIENTIFIC WRITING: MATERIALS, TOOLS, AND METHODS
Word Processors and Electronic Manuscript
Formulas and Equations
Figures
Tables
Collecting and Citing the Literature
Appendixes
A Abbreviations
B Standard Reference Formats
C Selected Quantities, Units, and Constants
D 20 Rules for Preparing a Manuscript on Diskette
E Adresses of Companies and Institutes
Literature
Index

• By (author) Hans Friedrich Ebel
• By (author) Claus Bliefert
• By (author) William E. Russey

A brief selection out of over 70 reviews of the first edition:
"The authors have a passion, not only for clarity and economy of style, but also for precision and consistency." Nature
 
"You could not be in better hands. ... is a very substantial achievement, and I imagine the initials EBR of the authors will become a household word among a generation of chemists." Chemistry in Australia
 
"This outstanding volume is a definite "must" for every chemists' writing." Journal of Chromatography
 
"Although the scope is wide, the book is extremely detailed and full of practical advice." CBE Views
 
"... small-in-size but large-in-content volume ..."
JAOCS
 
"This is a very comprehensive and well written book. It is highly recommended." Polymers Paint Colour Journal
 
"... offers excellent advice on how to do it well, and its words of wisdom will be still be relevant many years from now. Every library, resource room and research group should own a copy." Chemistry and Industry
 
"...an invaluable handbook for the scientific seduction of the body English." Trends in Pharmalogical Sciences
 
"I can praise the authors for their clear, concise and systematic coverage of all forms of scientific communication including written, spoken and visual. ... I strongly recommend this book to scientific libraries as a reference." Polymer Division Newsletter
 
"Wonderful volume for a gift to a college student, associate, or for yourself. Highly recommended!"
Adhesives & Sealants Newsletters
 
"This book will be of service to chemistry and especially to chemistry editors and should also be in every technical library." Angewandte Chemie I.E.
 
"This book could be a useful reference for students and professionals alike." Industrial Chemist
 
"... this is a very useful book that should be available in every research and educational establishment that is devoted to natural science." Folia Parasitologica
 
"It contains much good sense, and a lot of helpful information, clearly presented." Journal of Organometallic Chemistry
 
"Laboratory researchers, university teachers, students and others from scientific disciplines will turn to this book again and again for the important and useful information it provides."
Acta Universitatis Palackianae Olomucenis
 
"... this text can be recommended as an adjunct to one of the simpler books available."
The Journal of Histotechnology
 
"... that there are three informed writers in the end adds a substantial richness to this practical and informative book." Chemical and Engineering News
 
"... this text would be quite useful and is highly to be recommended." Berichte der Bunsengesellschaft
 
"It should be of interest to lecturers of chemistry and other natural sciences as well as engineering sciences, B. Sc. and Ph. D. students in chemistry and related areas, editors at scientific and specialized publishing houses." Starch - Stärke
 
"The text is well written and the authors are clearly enthusiasts for their subject." FEBS Letters
 
"I can wholeheartedly recommend the book to all involved in the art of scientific writing ..."
Zeitschrift für Pflanzenernährung und Bodenkunde
 
"The book is well organized and ... well written." Medical Laboratory Sciences
 
"How convenient it is to have such a wealth of information contained in a single book of manageable proportions." European Science Editing
 
"This book provides an up-to-date, clearly written and presented compendium as a tool book. It is especially suitable for the students and scientists in chemistry and related fields who want to improve their scientific writing." Carbohydrate Polymers
 
"Novices and experienced writers alike will be certain to learn much from this book. I can recommend it without reservation." Clinical Chemistry
 
"... they offer sound and excellent advice on how best to communicate science... This book is easy to read and offers clear advice to anyone who needs to communicate scientific ideas, which is everyone involved in scientific endeavour." Journal of Biological Education
—

"...ein unverzichtbares Nachschlagewerk, das jeder Verfasser wissenschaftlicher Texte, egal ob angehender Student oder etablierter Wissenschaftler, immer zur Hand haben sollte."
Österreichische Chemie Zeitschrift
 
"Der Leitfaden richtet sich an Wissenschaftler, die nicht nur wissenschaftlich, sondern auch stilistisch korrekt schreiben möchten. Die überarbeitete Auflage berücksichtigt die Veränderungen in der wissenschaftlichen Kommunikation im vergangenen Jahrzehnt und eignet sich auch als Nachschlagewerk."
Nachrichten aus der Chemie
 
"Arbeitsergebnisse zu Papier bringen durchzieht Schule, Ausbildung und Studium und erst recht jede weitere wissenschaftliche Tätigkeit. Das Handwerkszeug dazu liefert das vorliegende Buch. Den Leitfaden über das Verfassen wissenschaftlicher Texte sollte jeder Autor, egal ob Student oder etablierter Wissenschaftler, immer zur Hand haben."
Die PTA in der Apotheke
 
"Wenn jeder Autor dieses Buch aufmerksam lesen und das Gelesene auch beherzigen würde, wäre das für unser ganzes Publikationssystem ein großer Fortschritt. ...
Ein so instruktives Buch wie dieses gehört in jede Institutionsbibliothek ..."
European Food Research and Technology
 
"Das Buch ist übersichtlich gegliedert, hochgradig lesbar und detailverliebt..."
Chemiereport.at
—

A brief selection out of over 70 reviews of the first edition:
'The authors have a passion, not only for clarity and economy of style, but also for precision and consistency.'
(Nature)
'You could not be in better hands. The Art of Scientific Writing is a very substantial achievement, and I imagine the initials EBR of the authors will become a household word among a generation of chemists.'
(Chemistry in Australia)
'This outstanding volume is a definite 'must' for every chemists' writing.'
(Journal of Chromatography)
'Although the scope is wide, the book is extremely detailed and full of practical advice.'
(CBE Views)
'... small-in-size but large-in-content volume ...'
(JAOCS)
'This is a very comprehensive and well written book. It is highly recommended.'
(Polymers Paint Colour Journal)
'This book is so full of information that a beginner in research could possibly be put off. He should persevere and read the whole book. There is so much here which is of help.'
(Chemistry and Industry)
'... a request to review this book in 300-500 words presents the reviewer with similar difficulty as would a review of the works of Shakespeare in the same space... I urge all fumbling amateurs to forget their shyness. They will find 'The Art of Scientific Writing' an invaluable handbook for the scientific seduction of the body English.'
(Trends in Pharmalogical Sciences)
'... I can praise the authors for their clear, concise and systematic coverage of all forms of scientific communication including written, spoken and visual. ... I strongly recommend this book to scientific libraries as a reference.'
(Polymer Division Newsletter)
'Wonderful volume for a gift to a college student, associate, or for yourself. Highly recommended!'
(Adhesives & Sealants Newsletters)
'This book will be of service to chemistry and especially to chemistry editors and should also be in every technical library.'
(Angewandte Chemie International Edition in English)
'This book could be a useful reference for students and professionals alike.'
(Industrial Chemist)
'... this is a very useful book that should be available in every research and educational establishment that is devoted to natural science.'
(Folia Parasitologica)
'It contains much good sense, and a lot of helpful information, clearly presented.'
(Journal of Organometallic Chemistry)
'After reading this book, I appreciate the excellent quality of this publicaton. ... Laboratory researchers, university teachers, students and others from scientific disciplines will turn to this book again and again for the important and useful information it provides.'
(Acta Universitatis Palackianae Olomucenis)
'... this text can be recommended as an adjunct to one of the simpler books available.'
(The Journal of Histotechnology)
'... that there are three informed writers in the end adds a substantial richness to this practical and informative book.'
(Chemical and Engineering News)
—

A brief selection out of over 70 reviews of the first edition:
'The authors have a passion, not only for clarity and economy of style, but also for precision and consistency.'
(Nature)
'You could not be in better hands. The Art of Scientific Writing is a very substantial achievement, and I imagine the initials EBR of the authors will become a household word among a generation of chemists.'
(Chemistry in Australia)
'This outstanding volume is a definite 'must' for every chemists' writing.'
(Journal of Chromatography)
'Although the scope is wide, the book is extremely detailed and full of practical advice.'
(CBE Views)
'... small-in-size but large-in-content volume ...'
(JAOCS)
'This is a very comprehensive and well written book. It is highly recommended.'
(Polymers Paint Colour Journal)
'This book is so full of information that a beginner in research could possibly be put off. He should persevere and read the whole book. There is so much here which is of help.'
(Chemistry and Industry)
'... a request to review this book in 300-500 words presents the reviewer with similar difficulty as would a review of the works of Shakespeare in the same space... I urge all fumbling amateurs to forget their shyness. They will find 'The Art of Scientific Writing' an invaluable handbook for the scientific seduction of the body English.'
(Trends in Pharmalogical Sciences)
'... I can praise the authors for their clear, concise and systematic coverage of all forms of scientific communication including written, spoken and visual. ... I strongly recommend this book to scientific libraries as a reference.'
(Polymer Division Newsletter)
'Wonderful volume for a gift to a college student, associate, or for yourself. Highly recommended!'
(Adhesives & Sealants Newsletters)
'This book will be of service to chemistry and especially to chemistry editors and should also be in every technical library.'
(Angewandte Chemie International Edition in English)
'This book could be a useful reference for students and professionals alike.'
(Industrial Chemist)
'... this is a very useful book that should be available in every research and educational establishment that is devoted to natural science.'
(Folia Parasitologica)
'It contains much good sense, and a lot of helpful information, clearly presented.'
(Journal of Organometallic Chemistry)
'After reading this book, I appreciate the excellent quality of this publicaton. ... Laboratory researchers, university teachers, students and others from scientific disciplines will turn to this book again and again for the important and useful information it provides.'
(Acta Universitatis Palackianae Olomucenis)
'... this text can be recommended as an adjunct to one of the simpler books available.'
(The Journal of Histotechnology)
'... that there are three informed writers in the end adds a substantial richness to this practical and informative book.'
(Chemical and Engineering News)
'... this text would be quite useful and is highly to be recommended.'
(Berichte der Bunsengesellschaft)
'It should be of interest to lecturers of chemistry and other natural sciences as well as engineering sciences, B. Sc. and Ph. D. students in chemistry and related areas, editors at scientific and specialized publishing houses.'
(Starch-Stärke)
'The text is well written and the authors are clearly enthusiasts for their subject.'
(FEBS Letters)
'... I can wholeheartedly recommend the book to all involved in the art of scientific writing ...'
(Zeitschrift für Pflanzenernährung und Bodenkunde)
'The book is well organized and (as would be expected) well written.'
(Medical Laboratory Sciences)
'How convenient it is to have such 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)
'It is a book of great interest for researchers and a very agreeable lecture.'
(Revista Medico-Chirurgicala)
—