Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Jul 1992

Jargon and the Passive Voice: Prescriptions and Proscriptions for Scientific Writing

A.M. Wilkinson Cornell University

Abstract

Prescriptions for scientific writing about jargon and the passive voice are based on principles of writing presumed to be universal. They do not take into account that language varies with rhetorical setting, that scientists report their research to peer scientists, and that simplification of scientific language is more often translation than synonymy. Jargon, i.e., scientific terminology, is essential for designating new entities for which the language has no name. It makes for economy and for the accuracy and precision required in scientific research. The passive voice is unavoidable because scientists focus on the subject of their research as objects. The proscription of the passive voice and scientific jargon is rooted in the expectation that scientists write so as to be understood by the general reader.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
1992-07-01
DOI
10.2190/4hur-13kr-k1df-b52d
Open Access
Closed
Topics
multimodality scientific writing voice and style

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (5)

  1. Conrad (2018)
    The Use of Passives and Impersonal Style in Civil Engineering Writing
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  2. Smith et al. (2016)
    The Communicative Work of Biology-Journal Captions: Lessons for Technical and P…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Hirst (2003)
    Scientific Jargon, Good and Bad
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  4. Ding (2002)
    The Passive Voice and Social Values in Science
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  5. Cornelis (1995)
    The Passive Voice in Computer Manuals: A New Perspective
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

Cites in this index (0)

No references match articles in this index.

Also cites 4 works outside this index ↓
  1. 10.1126/science.7209527
     ↗
  2. 10.1126/science.6828878
     ↗
  3. Culliton B. J. (1989)
    10.1126/science.244.4905.643.b
    Science  ↗
  4. 10.1016/S0006-3495(87)83358-1
     ↗
CrossRef global citation count: 11 View in citation network →

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