Technical English: Fewer is better!

1. Technical English:Fewer is better! John Morris Faculty of Engineering,Mahasarakham University Computer Science/Electrical and Computer Engineering, The University of Auckland Iolanthe II leaves the Hauraki Gulf under full sail – Auckland-Tauranga Race, 2007

2. Bad habits I - References • Referring to other’s work by numbers: In [1], it was shown that … • There are several reasons why this is bad! • The people who wrote paper [1] probably put a lot of work into it .. Acknowledge this by writing their names! Smith and Jones showed that …. [1]. • If you only write [1], then I’m forced to go to your reference list to find out what your source is! • However, if I know the field well, ‘Smith and Jones’ may well be enough to tell me which paper you used as a source

3. References • Where do the reference labels go? • Smith and Jones[1] showed that …. . • Smith and Jones showed that …. [1]. • The label [1] should go after the statement from the source. • This clearly separates information from your source from any comments that you might make! • Smith and Jones showed that …. [1] but they did not consider …..

4. References • Bad style, not concise In [1], it was shown that … • Better ..

5. References • Bad style, not concise In [1], it was shown that … • Better .. It has been shown that …[1] • Shorter • Has the label in the right place!! • Note perfect tense here – the work has been reported, so assumed complete! • or, even better .. • X et al showed that …[1] • Direct – active voice instead of passive always reads better!

6. References • Abstracts • Avoid references in abstracts wherever possible • Definitely do NOT use reference labels! • An abstract will often be read alone • Readers will not have access to the reference list, so the number is useless to them • If you really must .. This study improves A et al’sresult … • Use the name(s) of the authors • You do not need to give the full reference for A et al’s work. • Readers can get this from the full paper (or by Google )

7. References • Names • English convention • Refer to other authors by family name (surname) alone Smith measured …[32]. • Do not write B. Smith measured …[32]. David Smith measured …[32]. • Only use given names if there are two authors with the same family name B. Smith reported …[32] but J. Smith provided conflicting data[33].

8. References • Non-English names • Try to determine a family name and use it! • Be careful with Chinese • It’s not always clear which is the family name! • Chinese often reverse from their native order • Family name + two syllable given name, eg Xie Jingling • to an ‘English’ form Jingling Xie • Here family name is Xie, so write Xie reported …[32]. If in doubt, ask a Chinese colleague! • Other Asian languages, eg Japanese, Korean, .. , present similar problems .. Seek advice from a native speaker!

9. Words to avoid • Functionality • Much loved by computer scientists! • An appalling abuse of English!! • This word was formed in this way • Take a verb (or noun) ‘function’ • Turn it into an adjective ‘functional’ • Turn it back into a noun ‘functionality’ • And use it a synonym for a much simpler word that already existed ‘capability’!! • Worse - use it in place of ‘functions’ • Use ‘capability’ or ‘functions’ instead!!

10. Words to avoid • Utilize • Use ‘use’ instead!

11. Words to avoid • Proved • Formal scientific theory …. • Use ‘use’ instead!