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(IAAC) Scientific Terminology for the Amateur...
[May this help us all understand the literature better... -Lew ;>]
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"Scientific Jargon" by Dyrk Schingman, Oregon State University
After several years of studying and hard work, I have finally learned
scientific jargon. The following list of phrases and their definitions
will help you to understand that mysterious language of science and
medicine.
"IT HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN"... I didn't look up the original reference.
"A DEFINITE TREND IS EVIDENT"...These data are practically
meaningless.
"WHILE IT HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE DEFINITE ANSWERS TO THE
QUESTIONS"... An unsuccessful experiment, but I still hope to get it
published
"THREE OF THE SAMPLES WERE CHOOSEN FOR DETAILED STUDY"... The other
results didn't make any sense.
"TYPICAL RESULTS ARE SHOWN"... This is the prettiest graph.
"THESE RESULTS WILL BE IN A SUBSEQUENT REPORT"... I might get around
to this sometime, if pushed/funded.
"THE MOST RELIABLE RESULTS ARE OBTAINED BY JONES"... He was my
graduate student; his grade depended on this.
"IN MY EXPERINCE"... once
"IN CASE AFTER CASE"... Twice
"IN A SERIES OF CASES"... Thrice
"IT IS BELIEVED THAT"... I think.
"IT IS GENERALLY BELIEVED THAT"... A couple of other guys think
so too.
"CORRECT WITHIN AN ORDER OF MAGNITUDE"... Wrong.
"ACCORDING TO STATISTICAL ANALYSIS"... Rumor has it.
"A STATISTICALLY ORIENTED PROJECTION OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE
FINDINGS"... A wild guess.
"A CAREFUL ANALYSIS OF OBTAINABLE DATA"... Three pages of notes were
obilterated when I knocked over a glass of beer.
"IT IS CLEAR THAT MUCH ADDITIONAL WORK WILL BE REQUIRED BEFORE A
COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF THIS PHENOMENA OCCURS"... I don't understand
it.
"AFTER ADDITIONAL STUDY BY MY COLLEAGUES"... They don't understand it
either.
"THANKS ARE DUE TO JOE BLOTZ FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THE EXPERIMENT AND TO
ANDREA SCHAEFFER FOR VALUABLE DISCUSSIONS"... Mr. Boltz did the work
and Ms. Shaeffer explained to me what it meant.
"A HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT AREA FOR EXPLORATORY STUDY"... A totally useless
topic selected by my committee.
"IT IS HOPED THAT THIS STUDY WILL STIMULATE FURTHER INVESTIGATION IN
THIS FIELD"... I quit.
This may be used or broadcast in any form as long as I receive credit.
Dyrk Schingman
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