Medical writing : a prescription for clarity : a self-help guide to clearer medical English / Dr. Neville W. Goodman, Retired Consultant Anaestheist, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK and the late Dr. Martin B. Edwards, formerly Senior Research Fellow, Royal College of Surgeons of England, and Freelance Medical Editor ; with contributions from Elise Langdon-Neuner, Freelance Medical Editor and Editor Emeritus, Medical Writing ; and with cartoons by Dr. Andy Black, Retired Senior Lecturer in Anaesthesia, Bristol University, Bristol, UK.

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

The malaise of medical manuscripts -- The difficulties of English as an additional language (EAL) -- Technology, changing language, and authority -- Guidelines to clearer writing -- Spelling -- Is there a better word? -- Superfluous words -- Imprecise words -- Superfluous phrases -- Trouble with short words -- Use of the passive voice -- Consistency: number and tenses -- Word order -- Punctuation -- Circumlocution -- Words and parts of speech for EAL writers -- Cliches and article titles -- Constructing sentences -- Further help with sentences for EAL writers -- Drawing clear graphs -- It can be done -- Exercises.

Effective communication is the ultimate, but often daunting, purpose of any medical research or review. This book provides the practical information necessary to turn first drafts into concise, unambiguous text, without loss of individuality. Written by a consultant anaesthetist and an experienced medical editor, and also illustrated by an accomplished medical editor, all of whom are sympathetic to the problems and needs of medical writers, this book deals with the basic craft of writing, from choosing the best word or phrase to essential grammar. This expanded fourth edition includes many more words better replaced, and deals explicitly with the problems of writers whose first language is not English. Whether you are writing a simple clinical report or a thesis, supervising others, running a course on medical or scientific writing, or just want to develop your skills in written communication, this book is the ideal guide and reference. Clear, simple and precise, and illustrated with apt cartoons, this is an invaluable handbook.