Style and Arrangement in Scientific Prose: The Rules behind the Rules

Abstract

An examination of the files of a scientific journal demonstrates a deep editorial concern for style and arrangement. Stylistic changes are invariably made either for the sake of clarity, simplicity, concision, or specificity. Changes in arrangement are of two kinds, each with its own purpose: between paragraphs within sections, these changes are made in the interest of sequential clarity; on the other hand, redistributions from section to section are designed clearly to demarcate section content: e.g., results only in Results. Several conclusions are reached: 1) traditional advice, especially on style, does not always reflect best editorial practice; 2) problems of arrangement call for different kinds of solution from those of style: the former having a “best,” the latter only a “better” solution; 3) stylistic changes are tactical choices made within the context of strategic presuppositions about the impersonal and descriptive nature of scientific prose.