How to Nature (Nature style Nature, 2011 editors guide) Most scientists use passive either out of habit or to make themselves seem scholarly, objective or sophisticated. Scientists have not always written in passive voice. First-person pronouns such as I and we began to disappear from scientific writing in the United States in the 1920s when active voice was replaced by today's inflexible, impersonal and often boring style of scientific writing. (Randy Moore, editor, The American biology teacher,). Articles defending or encouraging the passive Title Author Source Passive Voice R.V. Science, (Science Ormes 1957 editorial) Passive Voice and Personal Jane J. Science, Pronouns Robinson 1957 (Science letter) George The Science of Gopen American Scientific and Scientist, Writing Judith 1990 Swan The case for the passive Simon R. Nature, (Nature Leather 1996 correspondence) Clear as Mud Jonathan Nature, (Nature news) Knight 2003 Gallaudet the Charlene University Passive Voice Sorenson Web in Scientific and Page, Writing Johnson
How to (Nature style guide) Nature editors Nature, 2011 Most scientists use passive either out of habit or to make themselves seem scholarly, objective or sophisticated. Scientists have not always written in passive voice. First-person pronouns such as I and we began to disappear from scientific writing in the United States in the 1920s when active voice was replaced by today's inflexible, impersonal and often boring style of scientific writing. (Randy Moore, editor, The American biology teacher,). Articles defending or encouraging the passive Title Author Source Passive Voice (Science editorial) R.V. Ormes Science, 1957 Passive Voice and Personal Pronouns (Science letter) Jane J. Robinson Science, 1957 The Science of Scientific Writing George Gopen and Judith Swan American Scientist, 1990 The case for the passive (Nature correspondence) Simon R. Leather Nature, 1996 Clear as Mud (Nature news) Jonathan Knight Nature, 2003 the Passive Voice in Scientific Writing Charlene Sorenson and Johnson Gallaudet University Web Page,
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