Prof Rickus’ Rules of Writing

1. Prof Rickus’ Rules of Writing An Excellent Writing Reference: “The Elements of Style” 4th Edition Strunk and White Also Check out … “The Grammar Trap” http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/agcomm/ontarget/grammartrap/

2. The Key: Knowing and Capturing your Audience!! • Consider your reader with every word • You must keep their attention • This means clear language and clear organization! • You must walk them through your thought process with logical steps • You must not talk down to them • You must not talk over them. This will impress no one!

3. 1. Simple Sentences • NO Run-on Sentences • One Subject Noun – One Verb • Avoid unusual words. • You will not impress anyone by forcing them to use a dictionary to understand your paper.

4. 2. Paragraphs • ONE main point per paragraph!! • Write a topic sentence for each paragraph • helps to provide a clear organization • Avoids reader confusion • If your reader is confused he/she will stop reading!

5. 3. Document Organization • Have a logical organization and flow • Use Headers (for longer papers) • this is an easy way to direct your reader • in technical papers the reader is more likely to jump around • you will also have a high percentage of “skimmers”

6. 4. Use Active Voice!! • Passive voice • “A new method is being developed …” • vague. who is developing it? • The noun that is doing the action is missing • Active Voice • “A research team at Purdue University is developing a new method …” • The reader doesn’t have to guess

7. 5. Ambiguous use of “This” • Avoid • “This detected the antigen.” • This what? This refers back to the proceeding sentence, but often it is ambiguous what you intend to refer to. • Too vague! Does not clearly communicate what you want to say • Keeps the reader guessing • If the reader has to guess, he/she slows down • If the reader slow down, the reader looses interest • Instead try • “This antibody detected the antigen.”

8. 6. Avoid Extraneous Words • Avoid • “The fact that” • “It is believed that” • “We feel that” • “It is clear that” • Reasoning • These phrases do not add content or value. • More words for you reader to read without value. • Again slows down the reader

9. 7. Abbreviations • Always spell out abbreviations and acronyms the first time you use them • “Biological engineering (BE) is a growing discipline at Purdue. BE is fun. BE is cool” • Do not overuse • Exceptions. Don’t have to spell out a few where the acronym or abbreviation is ubiquitous • e.g. DNA • Another example: IBM vs. International Business Machines Corp. Just use IBM. More people know the acronym compared to the full name.

10. 8. Citations & References • Use citation software such as endnote if you are writing a longer paper with numerous citations • Better to use Author Date i.e. (Rickus et al 2005) citation unless the publisher or instructor specifically asks for number citations • Easier for reader • For multiple citations in one place, order them in chronological order with oldest first. • Try to use original references (if you can get or understand them) rather than only review articles

11. 9. Avoid switching tense • try to stick with one tense (present, past etc). • don’t switch around especially in one sentence or paragraph. • it is very distracting and slows down the reader.

12. 10. However • However is a “conjunctive adverb” meaning it joins words together • If you are using “however” in this way, it means “nevertheless”. For this use, avoid placing it at the beginning of the sentence. • Avoid. I am disappointed. However, I will not deduct points. • Try: I am disappointed; however, I will not deduct points. • Note here it requires a semicolon because it is joining two complete phrases (each have a noun and a verb) • Don’t think of “however” as a replacement for “but” Correct: I like chocolate, but it has too many calories. Incorrect: I like chocolate, however, it has too many calories. • When however is used at the beginning of a sentence it really means “in which ever way”. • “However I choose to play the game, I will not win.” • So avoid using “however” at the beginning of a sentence if you really mean “nevertheless”.

13. 11. Few Other Common Mistakes • It versus It’s • It’s is a contraction of It is • Its is possessive

14. 12. Which versus that • “That” is defining • The amino acid in the sequence that is hydrophobic. • Tells you the specific amino acid that you are pointing out • No comma with “that” • “Which” adds information • Isoleucine, which is hydrophobic, is in position 29. • Which requires a comma before it!

15. 13. genes versus protein • genes: lower case italicized • period or per • proteins: capitalized and no italics • Period or Per or PER • The per gene codes for the Period protein.