Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Jul 1984

Style and Arrangement in Scientific Prose: The Rules behind the Rules

Alan G. Gross

Abstract

An examination of the files of a scientific journal demonstrates a deep editorial concern for style and arrangement. Stylistic changes are invariably made either for the sake of clarity, simplicity, concision, or specificity. Changes in arrangement are of two kinds, each with its own purpose: between paragraphs within sections, these changes are made in the interest of sequential clarity; on the other hand, redistributions from section to section are designed clearly to demarcate section content: e.g., results only in Results. Several conclusions are reached: 1) traditional advice, especially on style, does not always reflect best editorial practice; 2) problems of arrangement call for different kinds of solution from those of style: the former having a “best,” the latter only a “better” solution; 3) stylistic changes are tactical choices made within the context of strategic presuppositions about the impersonal and descriptive nature of scientific prose.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
1984-07-01
DOI
10.2190/wlj2-c3lv-pvth-dye2
Topics
multimodality multilingual writers voice and style

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (2)

  1. Todd (1998)
    A Longinian concept and methodology for technical communication
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Bostian et al. (1990)
    Technical Journal Editors and Writing Style
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

Cites in this index (3)

  1. Gross (1984)
    A Comment on the Uses of Toulmin
    College English
  2. Gross (1983)
    A Primer on Tables and Figures
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  3. Selzer (1982)
    Certain Cohesion Elements and the Readability of Technical Paragraphs
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Also cites 7 works outside this index ↓
  1. 10.1109/TPC.1972.6591273
     ↗
  2. 10.1001/jama.1978.03280350076025
     ↗
  3. 10.1001/jama.1976.03260370017014
     ↗
  4. 10.1109/TPC.1978.6594221
     ↗
  5. 10.1007/BF00121082
     ↗
  6. 10.1038/296495a0
     ↗
  7. 10.1080/00335638309383633
     ↗
CrossRef global citation count: 4 View in citation network →

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