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'Scientific' Writing Vol. 18, No. 2, 2009, ISSN 1854-8466. ‘Scientific’ writing Vol. 18, No. 2, 2009 TheWrite Stuff Journal insights EMWA Executive Committee TheWrite Stuff is the official publication of the European Medical President: Writers Association. It is issued 4 times a year and aims to provide EMWA members with relevant, informative and interesting articles and Helen Baldwin SciNopsis news addressing issues relating to the broad arena of medical writing. Fréjus, France We are open to contributions from anyone whose ideas can complement [email protected] these aims, but opinions expressed in individual articles are those of the authors and are not necessarily those held by EMWA as an association. Articles or ideas should be submitted to the Editor-in-Chief (see below) or another member of the Editorial Board. Vice President: Laurence Auffret CINETIQUE Translations Subscriptions Manchester, UK Subscriptions are included in EMWA membership fees. By writing to [email protected] [email protected] non-members can subscribe at an annual rate of: • €35 within Europe • €50 outside Europe Treasurer: Gillian Pritchard Instructions for contributors Sylexis Limited • TheWrite Stuff typically publishes articles of 800–2500 words Dundee, UK although longer pieces or those with tables or graphics will be considered. [email protected] • All articles are subject to editing and revision by the Editorial Board. Any changes will be discussed with the author before publication. • Submissions should include the full address of the author, including the Honorary Secretary: telephone and fax numbers and email address. Suitable quotes for side Laura Hollyhead boxes can be indicated or they can be selected by the Editorial Board. Laura Hollyhead • Material should be submitted by email as an MS Word file using Times PPD New Roman (or equivalent), 10 point size, and single spacing. Cambridge, UK • Published articles generally include a recent photograph of the author [email protected] (portrait picture, CV or passport style, min. 360 x 510 pixels). Timelines Month Deadline Deadline Public Relations Officer: distributed for receipt of articles for receipt of adverts Andrea Palluch March 1st January 15th February Eisai Limited June 1st April 15th May London, UK st th [email protected] September 1 July 15 August December 1st October 15th November Advertising rates (in euros, €) Website Manager: Corporate Private / Freelance members only Shanida Nataraja • Full page €1000 • Full page €200 Medicus International • Half page €500 • Half page €100 London, UK [email protected] Behind the press The Editorial Board Assistant Editor Barry Drees Education Officer: Copy editing Judi Proctor Stephen de Looze Chris Priestley Accovion GmbH Richard Clark Frankfurt, Germany Rosalie Rose [email protected] Ursula Schoenberg Margaret Gray Jai Tilak-Jain Andrea Molezanno Columnists Alistair Reeves Journal Editor Karen Shashok Alison McIntosh Elise Langdon-Neuner Diana Epstein Baxter BioScience Françoise Salager-Meyer Vienna, Austria Joeyn Flauaus [email protected] Dianthus team EMWA Head Office Durford Mill, Petersfield, GU31 5AZ, United Kingdom Cover picture Tel: +44 (0)173 071 5216, Fax: (+44) 870 442 9940 Cover photograph from Nadja Meister ([email protected]). Cover motif [email protected] inspired by Franz Meister. The front cover of Medical Essays and Observations, EMWA website: www.emwa.org revised and published by a Society in Edinburgh (1733) reprinted with the kind per- mission of the College Library at The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. 67 The Journal of the European Medical Writers Association TheWrite Stuff Vol. 18, No. 2, 2009 Announcing the 29th EMWA Conference 12-14 November 2009, Westin Grand Hotel, Frankfurt, Germany We are delighted to announce that the venue for EMWA’s 29th conference will be Frankfurt, Germany. This is a very convenient city to travel to from all corners of Europe, and is a perfect location for our 2-day autumn conference to be held from Thursday 12th to Saturday 14th November 2009. Many workshops will be on offer covering a wide range of medical writing topics for those wishing to obtain credits towards their foundation or advanced EMWA professional development programme certificates, or simply to update their knowledge and skills. In addition there will be a chance to meet old friends and make new ones at the welcome buffet on the Thursday evening and the conference dinner on the Friday evening. These social events are excellent opportunities for networking with other medical writers from Europe and beyond. Further details will be posted on the website at www.emwa.org. Are you looking for an exciting new challenge and the right opportunity? The UBC-Envision Group has clients across the world and offices in the UK and USA. With a range of unique scientific and cutting-edge technology solutions including Datavision™, we are market leaders in medical communications. Due to significant expansion we have opportunities for medical writers and scientific team leads which offer exciting challenges in a scientifically stimulating environment. Ideally, you will have worked in medical communications and have a relevant higher degree (or equivalent). A proven track record of medical writing and editing, plus an exceptional eye for detail are essential. As a medical writer/scientific team lead you will (depending on level of experience) demonstrate excellent writing and quality control, serve as key client/author liaison, champion key therapeutic areas, be responsible for managing your projects and successfully delivering outputs, instruct/mentor other medical writers, and have an appreciation of the nuances of publication planning, strategy and implementation. Yes, you will be conversant with the many and varied tasks of a scientific, medical communication professional. We are a dynamic and rewarding company to work for, with excellent benefits and an informal, friendly and vibrant work environment. Please email your CV to [email protected] or alternatively visit www.ubc-envisiongroup.com for the latest career opportunities. The Journal of the European Medical Writers Association 68 Vol. 18, No. 2, 2009 TheWrite Stuff From the editor’s desk: 'Scientific' writing by Elise Langdon-Neuner The theme of this issue of TWS is ‘scientific’ writing. The and instead of precision opinions are hedged with uncer- issue gathers together thought-provoking articles that dis- tainty. Articles in which contributions of medical writers cuss current writing practices and articles that offer valu- are acknowledged can also adhere to this style. Richard able guidance on improving writing style. In this editorial Smith, when he was still editor of the British Medical I take more space than usual to consider the background Journal, warned me at the beginning of my career that for the traditional ‘scientific style’ of writing, the warnings medical writing would surely kill any writing talents that I for those who support this tradition and how we as medical might have. writers can contribute to a future of readability and clari- What forces are operating to maintain the grip of the ‘sci- ty in medical reports. entific style’, and are they cutting off the scientific nose to Scientific writing, including medical writing, is a marvel. spite its face? Tim Albert describes in his article in this In a world of marketing slogans and sound-bites, archaic issue how he gave up on his mission to help scientists text flourishes in scientific journals and overflows into reg- mend their misguided writing ways. He blames the role of ulatory documents. This editorial concentrates on journal the publishing system. It is true that even the emerging articles but it is notable that Linda Tollefson, Director of open-access revolution in publishing is having no effect on the Food and Drug Agency writing style, as Neville Goodman points out in his com- Europe Regional Office, stat- mentary in this issue, while blaming the education system ed at the EMWA conference What forces are for the current state of medical writing. Not only the edu- that badly written documents operating to cation system itself but the authorities it relies on might be would be rejected by the maintain the grip of at fault. The 50th anniversary this year of another book clas- agencies (see page 77 of this ‘scientific style’? sic, Strunk and White’s Elements of Style, is not a cause for issue). There is little research celebration for the professor of linguistics Geoffrey Pullum on whether badly written or for Alistair Reeves, as you can read in this issue. papers are rejected by journals. Research on one journal I find it hard to avoid the conclusion that the central reason suggested a correlation between the number of papers with for scientists, who we assume are clever people, writing in shorter sentences and simpler grammatical structures and such an obscure style is to acceptance rates in that journal [1]. persuade the confused reader Remember while celebrating the 150th anniversary of the That is how we got that they are indeed clever publication of Darwin’s On the Origin of Species this year to where we are people. Linguists who study that the great man published all his books for general read- today but it doesn’t the genre of academic arti- erships. Stephen Jay Gould, an eminent modern Harvard explain why we stay cles have acclaimed then as a palaeontologist, acclaimed essayist of genius, and co- code of communication author of the revolutionary and now generally accepted there among experts.
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