NO PRONOUNS! Better Science Writing in One Easy Step

The title here provides beginning science students with the best advice possible toward becoming a better (more precise) science writer. It’s easy, STOP using PRONOUNS! Here’s a list of pronouns that are commonly used by beginners when answering science questions, writing lab reports, and even when speaking in class:

it thing things thingy stuff them they there she he

So which words should you use instead of pronouns? Think about it; the goal in science when you write (or speak) is to be as clear and as exact as possible. The answer to the question is of course to use the *__ instead.

Here is a different group of technical pronouns (inexact words/phrases)

several many some a little more a few a lot big large

tiny small hot cold fast slow

These pronouns should be avoided if they can be replaced using *__ .

Here’s one more group of not-quite-pronouns that can be easily improved by

being more exact:

changed different bad good better worse color

Some example of much more exact writing/speaking:

increased decreased faster slower more fewer stronger weak stunted

dark grey, pale green,

Watch this typical example of bad (inexact, pronoun filled) science writing . . .

“It changed a lot.”

. . . become much better (more exact) science writing using the simple advise in this post

“The water temperature in the beaker increased from 20 °C to 100 °C.”

*Answers: "use the NOUNS instead" "if they can be replaced using NUMBERS w/units"