Sometimes I catch myself going over a paragraph in academic reviews and articles, struggling to make sense of the last few lines. I do wonder, maybe my understanding is still poor or the writers simply glory in grandeurs and flowery language...
Moses - it depends on the discipline to a certain extent. For instance, highly technical, philosophical or theoretical disciplines will often dictate the discipline language that is used. However, I do agree when this is not a topic requirement. I often say, particularly to my HDR students, 'keep the language understandable'. There is often a perception that reviewers/readers will be 'impressed' with over-technical, 'verbose' and 'pedantic' material - when that is actually rarely the case.
Most papers are not written simply or clearly and sentences don't connect and there is bad grammar. I'm a reviewer and see this most times, with only a few exceptions :)
Moses - it depends on the discipline to a certain extent. For instance, highly technical, philosophical or theoretical disciplines will often dictate the discipline language that is used. However, I do agree when this is not a topic requirement. I often say, particularly to my HDR students, 'keep the language understandable'. There is often a perception that reviewers/readers will be 'impressed' with over-technical, 'verbose' and 'pedantic' material - when that is actually rarely the case.
I am completely agree with Dr Dean. This is the real situation.
I am completely agree with Dr Dean. This is the real situation. Dean Whitehead , Rahmatullah Hashimi , Moses Njoku
Hi Rahmatullah, Neil and Mohammed. Many thanks for agreeing. It is much appreciated. Neil, like you, I strive for the same with my students. There is a saying that I adhere to 'the easier the better' - especially when it comes to students - and international ones at that.
I completely agree with Dr. Dean. A few researchers thinks that "Harder is the Better" . If it is difficult to get idea or understand research in first reading they feel it is a good research. I believe that we must use clear, simple and precise language in research without compromising technical issues.
I completely agree with Dr. Dean regarding the use of a highly sophisticated and mostly ununderstandble language on the seek of impressing the reviewers/readers, while other think that, this way of writing is a prerequisite for publishing in a high-impact journal
Thanks everyone for your candid observations. Especially Dean, for drawing the important line between theoretical, philosophical, specialized and technical areas and those that simply wish to show off! I guess one could choose to read their works as entertainment 😁
Sometimes complicated paragraphs are the result of people who have only a basic writing ability. they tend to just keep adding clause after clause, and do not know how to stop and start a new sentence.:-)
However I think that scholarly writing should NOT be the most basic writing. When I write journalistic content, I write for the high school comprehension level. In academic writing, I write at the college level.
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