| Statement | Really means | |
| It has long been known... | I haven't bothered to look up the reference. | |
| It is thought that... | I think so. | |
| It is generally thought that... | A couple of other people think so, too. | |
| It is not unreasonable to assume... | If you believe this, you'll believe anything. | |
| Of great theoretical importance... | I find it interesting. | |
| Of great practical importance... | I can get some good mileage out of it. | |
| Typical results are shown. | The best results are shown. | |
| Three samples were chosen for further study. | The others didn't make sense, so we ignored them. | |
| The second sample was not used. | I dropped it on the floor. | |
| Results obtained with the second sample must be interpreted with caution. | I dropped it on the floor but managed to scoop most of it up. | |
| Correct within an order of magnitude. | Incorrect. | |
| Much additional work will be required. | This paper isn't very good, but neither is anyone else's. | |
| These investigations yielded highly rewarding results. | My grant will be renewed. | |
| This research was supported by a grant from... | I wonder if the taxpayers know they're paying for this? | |
| A line of best fit was drawn using least-squares regression. | I drew it by hand. | |
| A non-linear relationship was found. | I drew it by hand and I didn't use a ruler. | |
| Stringent controls were implemented. | My advisor was watching. | |
| I thank X for assistance with the experiments and Y for useful discussions on the interpretation of the data. | X did the experiment and Y explained it to me. |
Deep Sea News
All the news on the Earth's largest environment
Profile
Craig is temporarily a post-doctoral fellow at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute who is looking for a permanent position. He spends most of his time balancing his overwhelming geekdom with normalcy so he can function in the real world. Luckily his wife likes his geekiness.
Peter Etnoyer is a Graduate Research Associate at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. He studies deep corals and ocean fronts, and he loves to be on the water.
Kevin Zelnio is a Graduate Student Researcher at Penn State studying the ecology of hydrothermal vent and methane seep communities. He raises awareness of the plight of the spineless through folk music.
Google All DSN Posts
Awards & Affiliations
Search
Recent Posts
- Goodbye ScienceBlogs
- Farewell, Sciborg
- So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish . . .
- TGIF: Friday Deep-sea Picture (09/12/08)
- Linneaus Legacy #11 is up!
- Sailfish Appreciation Day
- Tricked out hurricane websites
- Yikes. I'm in the Cone again!
- The glacial pace of sea-level rise
- Mercury rising
Recent Comments
- dekor oyunları on Me On TV...Kind Of
- korkunç oyunlar on Me On TV...Kind Of
- check on Giant Squid, Live and In Technicolor!
- Ashley on Friday Deep Sea Picture: The Extensible Anglerfish
- Travis on Teach the Controversy About Atlantis
- reylvmey scale on Leatherback turtles: going where few air-breathers dare
- Virginia on Friday Deep-Sea Picture: Sting Ray Migration
- Olm Fan on New Deep-Sea Communities From Whale Poo
- Brandon on Pissing in the Ocean
- NICOLE on Leatherback turtles: going where few air-breathers dare
Archives
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
Blogroll
Other Information
My book is coming out. Include a link and thumbnail.
Other random info. A link.
Deep Sea News has moved! Make sure to update your bookmarks and feed readers.
« A Dichotomous Key to Circus of the Spineless #32 | Main | North Pacific Gyre "Garbage Island" Documentary Parts 10 & 11 »
A Primer To Understanding Scientific Papers
Category: Ramblings
Posted on: May 4, 2008 4:41 PM, by CR McClain
I would like to say I have never used any of these statements in my papers but...
TrackBacks
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://scienceblogs.com/mt/pings/71097
Comments
The original source is:
A glossary for research reports From Metal Progress 71, 75 (1957)
C D GRAHAM, JR. You can read it here.
It was reprinted in "A Random Walk in Science", a 1973 collection of humorous science writing by RL Weber and E. Mendoza, and from there has made its way around the world, changing a bit each time. I've used comparison of different versions as an example of the different kinds of mutations that can arise (insertions, deletions, substitutions...).
Posted by: Rosie Redfield | May 4, 2008 6:08 PM
This just floated through my lab last week! I use this as an interpretation guide when I am critiquing manuscripts! :)
Posted by: Eric | May 4, 2008 7:36 PM
My mother being a researcher, it sure reminds me a lot of the stories she told me! Like: "oh, why is there Magnesium in the analysis?" "... eeeer.... I think we've dropped chocolate on the sample..."
Posted by: Florence Liger | May 4, 2008 8:47 PM
My favorite is missing from this particular version.
"Samples were treated with extreme care" = NOT dropped on the floor.
Posted by: Rasmus | May 5, 2008 12:10 AM
I've always liked "Accidentally strained during mounting" as yet another euphemism for "Dropped on the floor".
Posted by: csrster | May 5, 2008 2:42 AM
STATEMENT: Equipment crucial to our experiments is not available,and important experiments must be delayed until the equipment can be obtained.
REALLY MEANS: We can't find the 50-ml beakers.
Posted by: Sydney Nix | May 5, 2008 6:51 PM