{"id":2360,"date":"2019-04-01T17:24:26","date_gmt":"2019-04-01T17:24:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/6-types-of-word-choice-errors-in-scientific-writing\/"},"modified":"2025-01-15T06:37:05","modified_gmt":"2025-01-15T06:37:05","slug":"6-types-of-word-choice-errors-in-scientific-writing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/6-types-of-word-choice-errors-in-scientific-writing","title":{"rendered":"6 Types of word choice errors in scientific writing"},"content":{"rendered":"

Should I use this word or that one? Does this sentence mean what I think it means? If you have had such a thought, you are not the only one. Errors in word usage account for a significant proportion of language problems in research papers written by non-native English speakers. Just as e<\/span>very discipline has its own set of conventions, there are certain errors that researchers in every discipline are prone to. Our editors have identified some recurrent errors that are more commonly found in the physical sciences research papers than in other fields. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In a research paper, language is the medium to disseminate your findings, so using words effectively is crucial importance. Therefore, it is best to be aware of and avoid the errors in word usage that could have an impact on the clarity of your manuscript. <\/span>This article lists some examples of commonly observed errors in word usage and provides tips on how you can avoid them.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1. Words with similar sounds or meanings<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>
Using a word that sounds similar to the intended word but has a different meaning is one of the most common errors in word choice. Among native speakers, such an error is often just a slip of the tongue. Among non-native speakers, however, it could be the result of genuine confusion.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In many cases, similar-sounding words may have similar (but not the same) meaning, which adds to the confusion. Let\u2019s see how.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Example 1: <\/span><\/span><\/b>Attained and obtained<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Incorrect:<\/span><\/span><\/b> The sensors attained<\/u> steady state readings at high temperatures.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Correct:<\/span><\/span><\/b> The sensors obtained<\/u> <\/span><\/span>steady state readings at high temperatures.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Attain<\/span><\/span><\/i> means reach<\/i> and is mostly used when talking about a condition or stage (e.g., \u201cthe larva attains maturity\u201d), while Obtain<\/i> simply means get<\/i> (e.g., \u201che obtained data from hospital records\u201d).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Example 2: <\/span><\/span><\/b>Principal and principle<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Incorrect:<\/span><\/span><\/b> The principle<\/u> components of the thermochemical state were used to derive the transport equations.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Correct:<\/span><\/span><\/b> The principal<\/u> components of the thermochemical state were used to derive the transport equations.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The word principle<\/i> is a noun meaning a rule or law (e.g., \u201cprinciple of conservation of mass\u201d), whereas principal<\/i> is an adjective meaning main or important or primary (e.g., \u201cprincipal findings of the study\u201d). These two are often mistakenly interchanged because of their similar sounds.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

2. Spelling errors due to differences in pronunciation<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes, the cultural aspects play a role in spelling errors. For instance, our editors have noticed a common case of confusion among Japanese authors, which most of you must already be aware of. It is the classic confusion between the letters \u201cl\u201d and \u201cr.\u201d This, as you know, is because of the phonemic differences between English and Japanese.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In most cases, a spellcheck program will catch such errors. But sometimes, the incorrect version may be a valid spelling too. For instance, spell check won\u2019t recognize the problem when an author says \u201ccorrect\u201d instead of \u201ccollect,\u201d \u201carrow\u201d instead of \u201callow,\u201d or \u201crock\u201d instead of \u201clock.\u201d The only way to avoid these errors is to be extra careful when writing them, looking up spellings of at least the \u201cr\/l\u201d words you use most frequently in a paper, and doing a thorough proofread at the end, once you have completed writing the entire manuscript.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Example <\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Incorrect:<\/span><\/span><\/b> The poles<\/u> were displaced in the direction of the applied pressure.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Correct:<\/span><\/span><\/b> The pores<\/u> were displaced in the direction of the applied pressure.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

3. Words with similar meanings but different connotations<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>
Now let\u2019s see how words that don\u2019t sound similar but have similar or overlapping meanings can be misused.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Example 1: Devised and developed<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Incorrect:<\/span><\/span><\/b> We have devised<\/u> <\/span><\/span>a method to calculate the exergy efficiency<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Correct:<\/span><\/span><\/b> We have developed<\/u> <\/span><\/span>a new method to calculate the exergy efficiency.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Both devise<\/i> and develop<\/i> mean coming up with something new, but the meaning of devise<\/i> is restricted to an idea or a plan, whereas develop<\/i> is generally used for a product or system invented.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Example 2: Alternate and alternative<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Incorrect: <\/span><\/span><\/b>Alternate<\/span><\/span><\/u> measures were developed to reliably calculate the losses.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Correct: <\/span><\/span><\/b>Alternative<\/span><\/span><\/u> measures were developed to reliably calculate the losses.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

While both alternate<\/i> and alternative<\/i> mean a substitute or a different choice of something, the word alternate could also be used to indicate something that is in a constant state of change (e.g., \u201calternating current\u201d). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/h4>\n

4. Using non-standard or non-existent forms of words<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes, authors may add a prefix or suffix to a root word to form verbs, nouns, or adjectives that are either non-standard or non-existent.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Example 1<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Incorrect:<\/span><\/span><\/b> The structural changes were determinated<\/u> through microscopy studies.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Correct:<\/span><\/span><\/b> The structural changes were determined<\/u> through microscopy studies.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Verbs, nouns, and adjectives can be formed from other words (called root words) by adding appropriate suffixes (e.g., \u2013ify, \u00ad\u00ad\u2013er, \u2013al, \u2013ate, -ly, \u2013able, \u2013ish, \u2013ion). But these have to be standard, accepted spellings and cannot be arbitrarily created. In the example above, the author has erroneously added the suffix \u2013ated\u00a0to the root word determine<\/i>, whereas the correct term is determined<\/i>. (Note that the tense and plural forms of words are also achieved by appending suffixes.)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Example 2<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Incorrect:<\/span><\/span><\/b> The unbalance<\/u> between the compositions of the combustion residues can cause changes in accuracy and efficiency.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Correct:<\/span><\/span><\/b> The imbalance<\/u> between the compositions of the combustion residues can cause changes in accuracy and efficiency.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Antonyms of English words can be formed by adding several prefixes: in\u2013, im\u2013, un\u2013, a\u2013, an\u2013, il\u2013, ir\u2013, non\u2013, and so on. There is generally a linguistic\/etymological rationale for which prefixes are used with which words. But the rules are highly variable and seem arbitrary. A dictionary or a thesaurus is the best guide for choosing the right form.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In the example above, the author has used unbalance<\/i>, which is in fact more commonly used as a verb<\/i> (e.g., \u201cto unbalance someone\u201d). The standard noun<\/i> form is imbalance<\/i>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Example 3<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Incorrect:<\/span><\/span><\/b> Because of the unstableness<\/u> of this process, the steady-state condition may vary.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Correct:<\/span><\/span><\/b> Because of the instability<\/u> in this process, the steady-state condition may vary.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Since the root word here is unstable<\/i>, the author has assumed that the noun form will have the suffix \u2013ness. However, instability<\/i> is the right noun form. Some other examples of words that are used in non-standard forms are clean (incorrect: cleanness, correct: cleanliness), inaccurate (incorrect: inaccurateness, correct: inaccuracy), and intelligent (incorrect: intelligentness, correct: intelligence). This is a non-exhaustive list, so please be sure to always check the appropriate form of usage.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

5. Use of plurals (countable or uncountable)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>
One of the most common hurdles encountered by authors who are unfamiliar with the finer nuances of the English language is the differentiation between countable and uncountable nouns. Countable nouns are those that refer to something that can be counted and then expressed in a unique singular\/plural form, e.g., sample\/samples, temperature\/temperatures, and atom\/atoms. <\/span>Uncountable nouns are often used to represent collective forms using either the singular or plural reference, but never both.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Examples of words used exclusively in uncountable form: <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Information<\/span><\/span><\/i> (e.g., \u201cthis information is<\/u> crucial to the subsequent modeling process,\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Performance<\/span><\/span><\/i> (e.g., \u201cthe performance<\/u> of the samples was<\/u> evaluated\u201d, \u201ca series of tests were conducted\u201d)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Examples of words that have countable forms but are preferably used in uncountable form: Data (plural of \u201cdatum\u201d; this word is recommended to be used in singular form in the APA and Chicago styles but always in the plural form in the IEEE style), research (the plural form of this word \u201cresearches\u201d can often be mistaken as a verb, so the singular form is always recommended) <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes, authors get confused when using words that indicate quantity. Words that clearly indicate discrete values should be used with countable nouns.<\/span><\/span><\/span> The only exclusion to this rule would be units of measurement, which are always written in singular form when accompanied by numbers (e.g., 3 second, 4.2 meter, 6 ampere, 285 kelvin, 685 joule). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Words such as number <\/i>or series<\/i> are by themselves singular, but may take on plural forms depending on context. \u201cA number\u201d can be singular or plural depending on the parameter it modifies (e.g., \u201cA number of samples were<\/u> examined\u201d is plural because the term \u201csamples\u201d is plural, \u201cA number X<\/u><\/i> is<\/u> chosen to represent the length of the vector\u201d is singular because the variable \u201cX\u201d is a singular parameter). Similarly, the word \u201cseries\u201d is always considered singular when accompanied by the article \u201ca\u201d (e.g., \u201ca series<\/u> of measurements is<\/u> obtained\u201d, \u201cthese series<\/u> of values were<\/u> analyzed to obtain the means and distribution characteristics\u201d).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

6. Incorrect collocations<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Collocations are combinations of words that appear together very frequently and have evolved as natural phrasing in English. For example, \u201cheavy rain\u201d and \u201cstrong wind\u201d are collocations. The words rain<\/i> and wind<\/i> can be described by many adjectives, but heavy<\/i> and strong<\/i>, respectively, are among the more common ones. You would not say \u201cstrong rain\u201d or \u201cheavy wind;\u201d that does not sound natural.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

To native speakers, these collocations come naturally, but non-native speakers often struggle to get them right. Please go through the following sentences carefully, focusing on the words in blue<\/span>. The corrections (in red<\/span>) show which words go better with those in blue<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Examples:<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Researchers should maintain <\/s>exercise <\/span>extreme caution <\/span>when performing this procedure.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  2. The device was constructed <\/s>designed<\/span> to withstand <\/span>extreme variations in temperature.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Only 40% of the samples showed entire <\/s>full <\/span>compliance <\/span>for the required characteristics.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The original word choices (strikethrough text) may have seemed grammatically and logically correct to the author when used with the words in blue<\/span>, but these combinations sound odd because they go against the natural instinct of a native-speaking reader.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/p>\n

    Related reading:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n