Tim Skern, native English speaker, studied biochemistry in Liverpool and London. Now working at the Max F. Perutz Laboratories, he has been teaching scientific English at the University of Vienna and the Medical University of Vienna since 1992.

Chapter 1
An introduction to scientific English 15
1.1 Advantages and disadvantages of English 15
1.1.1 British or American? 19
1.2 Formal English, the language of science 21
1.2.1 Complete sentences 21
1.2.2 Punctuation marks 22
1.2.3 Write out all verb forms 25
1.2.4 Avoid starting sentences with "and", "but", "because" or "so" 25
1.2.5 Avoid ending sentences with "too", "also", "though" or "yet" 26
1.2.6 Avoid "get" 27
1.2.7 Avoid vagueness, sensationalism and exaggeration 27
1.2.8 Using "the" and "a" 28
1.3 Words for writing scientific English 31
1.4 Take-home messages from Chapter 1 34
1.5 References 34
1.6 Improvements to exercises 34
Chapter 2
Writing clear scientific English 37
2.1 Eight guidelines for improving your writing technique 37
2.1.1 Make a plan 37
2.1.2 Use a clean and legible layout 38
2.1.3 Use paragraphs 39
2.1.4 Write simple sentences 39
2.1.5 Write positive sentences 41
2.1.6 Write active sentences 43
2.1.7 Omit needless words 43
2.1.8 Read and think about your work 45
2.2 Just to make you feel better 45
2.3 Take-home messages from Chapter 2 48
2.4 References 49
2.5 Improvements to exercises 49
Chapter 3
Applying the fundamentals 51
3.1 Summarising the text "Fighting for Breath" 51
3.2 Improving four summaries of "Fighting for Breath" 54
3.3 Writing abstracts for scientific presentations 63
3.4 Improving four abstracts 64
3.5 What is science? 74
3.6 Improving four texts on "What is science?" 78
3.7 The five most common commands and comments
from improved texts in Chapter 3 86
3.8 Take-home messages from Chapter 3 87
3.9 References 87
Chapter 4
Constructing a scientific manuscript 89
4.1 The process of publishing original data
in a scientific manuscript 89
4.2 Planning a scientific manuscript 95
4.3 Writing a scientific manuscript 99
4.3.1 Prepare the figures and tables 100
4.3.2 Describe the figures and tables 104
4.3.3 Write a first draft of the "results" 105
4.3.4 Write a first draft of the "discussion" 108
4.3.5 What about writing a combined section entitled "results
and discussion"? 110
4.3.6 Write a first draft of the "introduction" 113
4.3.7 Write a first draft of the "title", the "abstract"
and the "keywords" 114
4.3.8 Write a first draft of "materials and methods" 117
4.3.9 List and sort the references 119
4.3.10 Write the "acknowledgements" 121
4.3.11 Write the "abbreviations" 121
4.4 Assembling and improving the model manuscript 122
4.4.1 First draft of the model manuscript 124
4.5 Editing and refining a scientific manuscript 129
4.5.1 Improved model manuscript 130
4.6 Take-home messages from Chapter 4 134
4.7 References 135
Chapter 5 Practising writing and improving scientific manuscripts 137
5.1 Improving the quality of bread 137
5.2 Your views on human activity and global warming 147
5.3 Measuring biodiversity 151
5.4 Stereotypic Man 157
5.5 Searching for the best firewood to reduce global warming 163
5.6 Is there a connection between eating organic food and
cigarette smoking? 168
5.7 The six most common commands and comments
from improved texts in Chapter 5 175
5.7 Take-home messages from Chapter 5 175
5.8 References 176
Chapter 6
Easing the pain: writing whilst researching 177
Chapter 7
On your own 181
7.1 Resources 184
7.2 The comments that I use to correct texts in my course 187
7.3 A reading list to improve your vocabulary and your
scientific writing 188
7.4 Some tips for oral presentations 199
7.5 References 199
Chapter 8
The scientific vocabulary of this book 201
8.1 Linking words 201
8.2 Words from the basic scientific lexicon 202
8.3 Words that extend the basic scientific lexicon 204
8.4 Exercises using texts from Nature and Science 205
8.5 References 209
8.6 Further words to extend the scientific lexicon 209
8.7 Texts illustrating the use of selected words listed in this book 210
8.8 Words that you wish to add 212