I'm going to start a thread of common writing tricks that you can (generally) use to help to reduce your word count in scientific writing. I'll add to the thread whenever I remember an example.
#wordcountchop
1. "On the other hand" (4) ➡️ "Conversely" (1)
#wordcountchop
1. "On the other hand" (4) ➡️ "Conversely" (1)
2. "It has been shown that X regulates" Y (8) ➡️ "X regulates Y" (3)
I recommend only using the former option where there is a need to critical assess or compare the evidence, e.g. While it has been shown that ..., Y suggests that...
#wordcountchop
I recommend only using the former option where there is a need to critical assess or compare the evidence, e.g. While it has been shown that ..., Y suggests that...
#wordcountchop
4. "Because", "as" or "since" (1 each) ➡️ ""; (-1)
E.g. "X activates Y because loss of X reduces Y".
"X activates Y; loss of X reduces Y".
#wordcountchop
E.g. "X activates Y because loss of X reduces Y".
"X activates Y; loss of X reduces Y".
#wordcountchop
5. Hyphenate
E.g. "The domain of X that binds DNA" (7).
"X's DNA-binding domain" (3).
E.g. "...allows Y to be expressed specifically in Z cells" (9).
"...allows Z cell-specific expression of Y" (6).
#wordcountchop
E.g. "The domain of X that binds DNA" (7).
"X's DNA-binding domain" (3).
E.g. "...allows Y to be expressed specifically in Z cells" (9).
"...allows Z cell-specific expression of Y" (6).
#wordcountchop
6. US English is shorter both in terms of character counts (e.g. tumour ➡️ tumor etc.) but also when using en/em dashes.
E.g. "X induces Y – but not Z – in cells" (10).
"X induces Y—but not Z—in cells" (6).
#wordcountchop
E.g. "X induces Y – but not Z – in cells" (10).
"X induces Y—but not Z—in cells" (6).
#wordcountchop
7. Cut "A and colleagues show", "A study by A et al" etc.
Name studies only if you are directly comparing them, e.g. when discussing conflicting results. If you do prefer to mention studies by name, do it for all of them consistently. Otherwise, it feels biased.
#wordcountchop
Name studies only if you are directly comparing them, e.g. when discussing conflicting results. If you do prefer to mention studies by name, do it for all of them consistently. Otherwise, it feels biased.
#wordcountchop
8. ". This" ➡️ ","
E.g. "[...]. This observation indicates that..." (4).
"[...], indicating that..." (2).
#wordcountchop
E.g. "[...]. This observation indicates that..." (4).
"[...], indicating that..." (2).
#wordcountchop
9. "such as", "for example", "for instance" (2 each) ➡️"(e.g. ...) (1)
E.g. "... binds to cofactors, such as X, Y and Z" (9)
"...binds to cofactors (e.g. X, Y and Z) (8)."
I'd avoid starting a sentence with 'E.g' though - keep it for parentheses!
#wordcountchop
E.g. "... binds to cofactors, such as X, Y and Z" (9)
"...binds to cofactors (e.g. X, Y and Z) (8)."
I'd avoid starting a sentence with 'E.g' though - keep it for parentheses!
#wordcountchop
10. "has the capacity to" (4)➡️ "can" (1)
E.g. "X has the capacity to activate Y" (7)
"X can activate Y" (4).
#wordcountchop
E.g. "X has the capacity to activate Y" (7)
"X can activate Y" (4).
#wordcountchop
13. "Due to the fact that" (4) ➡️ "As", "Because", "Since" (1 each)
E.g. "Due to the fact that X cannot be manipulated" (9).
"As X cannot be manipulated" (5).
E.g. "possibly due to the fact that X cannot bind" (11)
"possibly because X cannot bind" (7)
#wordcountchop
E.g. "Due to the fact that X cannot be manipulated" (9).
"As X cannot be manipulated" (5).
E.g. "possibly due to the fact that X cannot bind" (11)
"possibly because X cannot bind" (7)
#wordcountchop
14. "X of Y" (3) ➡️ "Y X" (2)
E.g. "overexpression of Y" (3).
"Y overexpression" (2).
#wordcountchop
E.g. "overexpression of Y" (3).
"Y overexpression" (2).
#wordcountchop
16. Abbreviate but don't use >1/2 unfamiliar abbreviations & define on first use. Generally, don't abbreviate single words or words that you use only once; this helps readability.
Familiar in #devbio: ChIP, ECM, EMT, ESC, NCC, PSC, HSC, SVZ, RA, PBS, TF etc
#wordcountchop
Familiar in #devbio: ChIP, ECM, EMT, ESC, NCC, PSC, HSC, SVZ, RA, PBS, TF etc
#wordcountchop
17. "In this article" (3) ➡️ "here" (1) or nothing (0).
E.g. "In this article, we discuss..." (5).
"Here, we discuss..." (3).
"We discuss..." (2)
#wordcountchop
E.g. "In this article, we discuss..." (5).
"Here, we discuss..." (3).
"We discuss..." (2)
#wordcountchop
18. "At the same time" (4) ➡️ "concurrently" (1), "simultaneously" (1). "In parallel" (2) might sometimes apply.
19. "As well as" (3) ➡️ "and" (1).
20. "Is able to" (3) ➡️ "can" (1).
21. "Which is a..." (3) ➡️ "a" (1).
E.g. "Y, which is a transcription factor, ..." (6).
"Y, a transcription factor, ..." (4).
#wordcountchop
E.g. "Y, which is a transcription factor, ..." (6).
"Y, a transcription factor, ..." (4).
#wordcountchop
23. Phylogeny is your friend. Use w/ caution; specific is best. All (3) ➡️ (1).
"mice & rats" ➡️ "rodents".
"rodents & humans" ➡️ "mammals".
"mammals & chick/reptiles" ➡️ "amniotes".
"fish & amphibians" ➡️ "anamniotes".
"amniotes & anamniotes" ➡️ "vertebrates".
#wordcountchop
"mice & rats" ➡️ "rodents".
"rodents & humans" ➡️ "mammals".
"mammals & chick/reptiles" ➡️ "amniotes".
"fish & amphibians" ➡️ "anamniotes".
"amniotes & anamniotes" ➡️ "vertebrates".
#wordcountchop
26. "First of all" (3), "to start off with" (4) ➡️ "first" (1).
I was taught that "firstly" is not a word but I'm not sure this is true anymore? 🤷🏻♂️
#wordcountchop
I was taught that "firstly" is not a word but I'm not sure this is true anymore? 🤷🏻♂️
#wordcountchop
28. "Will then" (2) ➡️ "then" (1).
E.g. "X will then translocate" (4).
"X then translocates" (3).
#wordcountchop
E.g. "X will then translocate" (4).
"X then translocates" (3).
#wordcountchop
29. #wordcountchop
https://twitter.com/PassarelliKatie/status/1504793008851537924?s=20&t=iRw1oCdbrVigEr88NDwAOw
30. END OF THREAD
I didn't expect quite the reception this has had but I'm glad so many are finding this list useful! I've summarised the tricks on @the_Node. The post is better organised, which will hopefully provide a more user-friendly resource.
thenode.biologists.com/tricks-for-con…
I didn't expect quite the reception this has had but I'm glad so many are finding this list useful! I've summarised the tricks on @the_Node. The post is better organised, which will hopefully provide a more user-friendly resource.
thenode.biologists.com/tricks-for-con…
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