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Abstract
Biomed Imaging Interv J 2006; 2(1):e14-
67
doi: 10.2349/biij.2.1.e14-67
© 2005 Biomedical Imaging
and Intervention Journal
ABSTRACT
English: The Language of Shakespeare
Martin L Wastie
Department of Radiology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Style does matter
Style - The difficulty is not to write but to write what you mean to affect the reader
precisely as you wish. The primary consideration is clarity.
Medical writing is predominantly in English and style does matter and it can affect
the decision to publish.
The English language is capable of great expression. The Concise Oxford
Dictionary has 95,000 entries although common usage is 20,00 words.
There are a number of stylistic considerations:
Correct sentence length which should be about 15-20 words. Use conjunctions to
join short sentences.
Paragraphs are important. They are usually 5-15 lines but may be a single
sentence.
Cut out verbiage. Say what you mean. Make sure what you write makes sense.
Avoid over worked verbs: do, get, have.
Use the correct article: the, a.
Use the positive rather than the negative. Avoid double negatives.
Avoid the passive tense.
Cut out redundant words.
Use a short word instead of a long one.
Avoid jargon.
Punctuation is important and know how to use ; : and ‘
Use capital letters sparingly.
Have an arresting start and finish.
Ensure the reader knows what you are trying to say and enjoy reading what you
have written.
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Biomedical Imaging and Intervention Journal. ISSN 1823-5530
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