15 Errors in Scientific Writing & How to Fix Them

Hello! This course is 15 Errors in Scientific Writing and How to Fix Them. I’m Dr. Emma Nichols, a long-time medical writer. I’ve collaborated with medical writer Dr. Jessica Martin to bring you this course so you can eliminate some of the common errors in your scientific, academic, or medical writing and earn the trust of your readers, which is so important in this field.

If you are a researcher or clinician, you may think that the science is the most important part of what you do. But writing up your results and communicating them in an error-free way is just as important.  Alternatively, if you’re a copyeditor or copywriter, you may find writing about and editing science intimidating. However, editing and proofreading medical and scientific writing is a great way to boost your income in this growing and in-demand field. Don’t shy away from these opportunities! Instead, take this course so that you can begin to learn the conventions and common errors in medical and scientific writing, and find the high-paying clients that you have been looking for!

By eliminating these 15 errors in your scientific and medical writing, you will create a great first impression.

In this course, the 15 most common errors are broken up into three categories:

• Grammar. In this section, we will discuss verb tense. When should you write in the present tense? When should you write in the past tense? We will also discuss nouns that are always plural, such as data, and how to use verbs that agree in number. We will talk about proper hyphenation, which is frequently a struggle for writers who are not used to the many compound adjectives and phrases used in science writing.

• Style mistakes. Mistakes in style are things like inconsistent word or abbreviation usage, incorrect comparisons, and sentence set-up.

• Misused words. Some misused words that we discuss are applicable to all types of writing (such “that” versus “which” and “ie” versus “eg”) and some are specific to science writing, like the use of the word “significant.” And, importantly, this section includes a lesson on person-first language to ensure your scientific and medical writing is sensitive to all people.

Perhaps you are…

• a researcher, academic, scientist, professor, or doctor who struggles to write in an error-free manner, resulting in manuscript rejections or revisions that focus more on the writing style than the substance of your work.

• already a skilled writer, but not so familiar with the quirks that come along with science writing; this course will make your writing the best it can be.

• a freelance copyeditor or copywriter and want to expand your clientele to include more lucrative and profitable scientific and medical jobs

All you need is high school-level English and English language proficiency to get started and, of course, a need or desire to use that writing in a scientific or medical arena. Just click on the link to enroll! Thank you so much!

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have access to the course materials?

You can view and review the lecture materials indefinitely, like an on-demand channel.

Can I take my courses with me wherever I go?

Definitely! If you have an internet connection, courses on Udemy are available on any device at any time. If you don’t have an internet connection, some instructors also let their students download course lectures. That’s up to the instructor though, so make sure you get on their good side!