How Short Words Add Clarity to Your Scientific and Medical Writing
Many research authors fill their writing with long words. But long words can violate the number one principle in scientific and medical writing: make the reader’s job easy.
According to research, long words are harder to read and understand, and they take more time to read. On the other hand, short words are clear and direct, and they are easier to understand. As a result (and according to readability formulas), word length is a top driver of readability, or how easy and enjoyable something is to read.
To make your writing clearer and more readable, you want to pay attention to the length of the words you use.
Use Shorter Words
Many long words can be replaced with shorter words that have the same meaning. To know when to replace a long word, you can follow a general guideline: aim for most words to have no more than two syllables. For example, instead of utilize, use the word use. Instead of demonstrate, use show. Or instead of investigate, use study.
Let’s look at an example.
Example 1.1
Subsequently, we investigated whether the compound would facilitate improvements in protein function.
In this example, subsequently, investigated, facilitate, and improvements are all longer than two syllables. All these words have shorter substitutes with the same meaning: next (for subsequently), studied (for investigated), help (for facilitate), and improve (for improvements).
Example 1.2
Next, we studied whether the compound would help improve protein function.
In this revised sentence, the word help can be deleted without losing meaning. This deletion will reduce the number of words in the sentence—an added bonus that also improves readability.
Example 1.3
Next, we studied whether the compound would improve protein function.
To help you find long words in your writing, you can download a free cheat sheet that lists common long words and shorter substitutes that you can use instead.
Accuracy Outweighs Brevity
In science, accuracy is an important part of credibility, which builds and maintains trust in science. To foster trust with your readers, you need to accurately describe your work. And this accuracy is more important than brevity.
To write accurately and maintain credibility, you need to ensure that any words you substitute have the same meaning.
Consider the following example.
Example 2.1
We utilized CRISPR to eliminate the gene mutation associated with hemophilia.
In this example, the long words with more than two syllables are utilized, eliminate, mutation, associated, and hemophilia. In this case, mutation and hemophilia are technical terms without one-word substitutes, so these words can remain. Two other words have shorter substitutes: use (for utilize) and correct (for eliminate).
But what about the word associated? You might be tempted to change associated with to causes. However, associated with and causes do not mean the same thing, so you will need to carefully choose the most accurate phrasing for the meaning you intend.
In this case, associated with is the more accurate phrasing.
Example 2.2
We used CRISPR to correct the gene mutation that associated with hemophilia.
This sentence uses shorter words where possible, which is clearer for readers. And it uses longer words only when needed to maintain the accuracy and credibility of the work.
Simple is Not Simplistic
You might think that you need to use long words to impress readers. And you might be concerned that short, simple words will seem simplistic and offend readers. But simple is not simplistic. Simple is clear, direct, and easy to read and understand.
Consider the following example.
Example 3.1
In this investigation, we demonstrated that reduced tau ameliorated neuroplasticity.
This example has four words with more than two syllables: investigation, demonstrated, ameliorated, and neuroplasticity. Three of these words have shorter substitutes with the same meaning: study (for investigation), showed (for demonstrated), and improved (for ameliorated). However, the fourth word, neuroplasticity, does not have a one-word substitute with the same meaning. In this case, neuroplasticity is a technical term, so this word can remain.
Example 3.3
In this study, we showed that reduced tau improved neuroplasticity.
This sentence has the same structure and the same meaning as the original sentence, but with shorter words that make the sentence clearer and more concise. This revision creates a simpler—not simplistic—version of the sentence that is clear and easy to read and understand. This clarity will not offend readers. Instead, they will be impressed by the clarity of your writing and grateful that you made their job easy.
Key Takeaways
In general, choose shorter words over longer words. Aim for most words to have no more than two syllables, unless they are helpful technical terms that your readers will understand. And remember that accuracy is more important than brevity. To make sure you use the most accurate words, keep a dictionary and thesaurus close by so that you can look up words as needed.
Want a cheat sheet to help you substitute shorter words in your writing? Get access to our free writing toolkit!
