Word usage

Terminology Relating to current word usage of technical terms. 

Also databases of scientific literature (such as PUBMED, MEDLINE) provide additional functionality, e.g. they can search for similar articles based on word-usage analysis. Text recognition systems are being developed that automatically extract knowledge about protein function from the abstracts of scientific articles, notably on protein-protein interactions. 

Other Printed Reference Materials for Spelling and Word Usage... 

The term word usage refers to correct and incorrect uses of words and phrases. For example, there is a right way and a wrong way to use such words as affect and effect and spectra and spectrum. 

Examples of formatting, word choice, and word usage that are both appropriate and inappropriate in chemistry-specihc writing genres... 

Grammar and mechanics Check for typos and errors in spelling, subject-verb agreement, punctuation, and word usage (e.g., effect vs. affect, data). 

Rule 7 If the word which is used to introduce a nonrestrictive clause (i.e., extra information that does not limit the meaning of the sentence s main message), place a comma before the which and after the additional information. (See Which/That , under Word Usage below, for more information.)... 

This chapter presents guidelines for correct sentence structure and word usage. Other chapters of this book present topics also related to good writing style. Chapter 2 discusses the parts of a scientific paper Chapter 3 presents an overview of the editorial process. Chapters in Part 2 address more specialized rules for usage see, especially, Chapter 9 on grammar, punctuation, and spelling and Chapter 10 on editorial style. 

The words chosen by a writer are one of the defining characteristics of that author s style however, word choice is not governed by style alone. The audience for a paper (as discussed in Chapter 3) must influence a writer s choice of words so that the writer can select words that are likely to be known to the audience and define the words that are not. The type of document also may influence a writer s word choices because some documents, such as scientific papers, journal articles, and books, tend to more formal word usage, whereas other documents, such as e-mails, allow less formality. 

This chapter presents only a few words and phrases that are commonly misused in scientific writing consult a good reference on word usage for more comprehensive assistance. (Several such references are listed under the heading References on Scientific Communication in Chapter 18.)... 

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