Mastering Scientific and Medical Writing

Book excerpt: “If any man wish to write in a clear style, let him frst be clear in his thoughts. ” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe You may ask why anyone would want to write yet another book about scientifc writing. Tere are many books on the subject, some more useful than others, and the abundance of literature on this topic may confuse rather than guide. I felt that this book was necessary for several reasons. During the past years, I have learnt much about the needs of scientifc communicators, both through my personal experience as a pharmacologist and, later, through teaching scientifc writing at universities, pharmaceutical companies, and other institutions. In today’s busy world, guidance on scientifc writing must be focused and to the point. Our constraints no longer permit the ti- consuming search for the “correct” word or formulation. Moreover, the speed by which we produce a manuscript has become increasingly important, be it in academia or the pharmaceutical industry. Scientists ofen fnd it difcult to accept that their professional success essentially depends on their skill and efciency to communicate their research results. Without any doubt, the rapid exchange of pertinent information is critical to scientifc advancement and should therefore be regarded with due respect. A second, perhaps even more important reason for writing this book is my personal concern for everyone challenged to write high-quality texts in a language that is not his or her native tongue.