Writing about Science in English
Even if you are the most technically competent researcher in the world, your findings are absolutely useless if they do not get published and nobody reads them. Thus, the first task I expect my students to master is of writing in decent English. I highly recommend taking Kristin Sainani's course on Writing in the Sciences to improve the form of your writing.
Below, I have accumulated a collection of links with tips on writing in English, both generally, and about science.
- A course highlighting Key Skills for Computer Science - Michael Wooldridge (see the tips from the slides on writing);
- Tips for science writing in English, for Portuguese Speakers - Mariel A. Marlow;
- Seis Dicas básicas antes de enviar material para mim (in Portuguese);
- Learn which words go with which words, using Oxford's Dictionary of Collocations;
- Unrelated to writing, but all important to a pleasing aesthetic end product is to use Vector Graphics, there's even a free editor in Draw.io;
- The Elements of Style - William Strunk Jr.;
- Common Errors in English Usage - Paul Brians;
- Guide to Grammar and Style - Jack Lynch;
- How to Write Clearly - EU Translation Service;
- Claire's clear writing tips - EU Translation Service (focused on foreign language);
- Some Hints on Mathematical Style - David Goss;
- Passive voice and the word "I" - H. J. Tichy;
- Many of these links I've found on Dana Nau's website
Writing Papers
A few tips on writing papers, slightly adapted from the much better presentation from Simon Peyton-Jones (Microsoft Research), which I have given recently at PUCRS: Slides on How to write a (good) research paper. Other guides:
- Guide to Writing Informatics Papers - Al Bundy
Creating Scientific Presentations
- How to give a good research talk - Simon Peyton Jones
- Seven steps to better presentations - Jeffrey Veen
- Edward R. Tufte's Presentation Tips - Phillip Kerman