Four grammar errors made in a Life Science manuscript

Category: Education

The English grammar errors made by authors from the Life Science background are varied. These authors tend to make such errors only because of limited exposure to the English language, which is not the first language for them. Writing is anyways a mammoth task and language issues act as hindrances while writing a research article. Writing a good research paper and getting it published are both vital for a researcher. The grammatical errors made by researchers in Life Science-related papers can be the reason for its rejection by scientific journals. It is advisable to take research paper editing service for checking your manuscript thoroughly for proper English language usage, grammar, spelling, and punctuation. However, on the basis our experience, we have categorized four of the common grammar errors made in Life Science-related papers. In the following text, we have elaborated on these errors providing examples. 1. Articles There are only three types of articles in English (a, an, and the).These articles are divided into two types: indefinite article (a,an), and definite article (the).Determining the right type of article to be used is usually complex and depends mainly on what sounds appropriate rather than the spelling of the terms. One common error made by authors is using the definite article (the) repetitivelybefore listing each term or noun phrase. In a list of terms or noun phrases that require the definite article, the article should be usedonly before the first term. The subsequent terms in the list need not take the article. Examples: Incorrect: We focus on the parameters of the representative frequency, the composition of sounds and the sequence complexity. Correct: We focus on the parameters of the representative frequency, sound composition, and sequence complexity. Incorrect: No effects were observed on the cell growth, the cell proliferation, the cell cycle distribution, and the gene expression. Correct: No effects were observed on the cell growth, cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution, and gene expression. 2. Negative transfer Negative transfer means using two negatives in the same sentence to indicate contrast. For example, when doing research paper editing editors would notice Authors tend to incorrectly use although…but in pairs. However, these terms have a similar meaning and should not be used together in the same sentence. This will introduce redundancy. Incorrect: Although VDAC1 is ubiquitinated following mitochondrial depolarization, but VDAC2 is not ubiquitinated. Correct: Although VDAC1 is ubiquitinated following mitochondrial depolarization, VDAC2 is not. Incorrect: Because human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 infection is efficiently transmitted by sexual intercourse, so the sexual behaviours of some individuals have placed them at high risk for infection. Correct: Because human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 infection is efficiently transmitted by sexual intercourse, the sexual behaviours of some individuals have placed them at high risk for infection. 3. Noun pluralization Pluralization of nouns is also a very common grammatical error. Adding “s” and “es” at the end of a noun pluralizes it. The first type of error is unnecessary pluralization of the noun used as an adjective, also known as an attributive noun. Example: Incorrect: Nine-weeks-old albino normal (non-cancerous)mice belong to the strain Mus musculus. Correct: Nine-week-old albino normal (non-cancerous)mice belong to the strain Mus musculus. Generally an attributive noun is not plural, even if the noun that is being modified is plural (with exceptions). The second type of error is pluralization of certain commonly used mass nouns or nouns that do not have a plural form because they are uncountable (such as research and evidence). Example: Incorrect: Examination of lacY and lacZ expressions in homozygotes to reveal their functions. Correct:Examination of lacY and lacZ expression in homozygotes to reveal their functions. In scientific writing, the term “expression” is considered as both singular and plural particularly when referring to a gene or protein expression. To emphasize its use as a plural term, “expression levels” or similar phrasing may be used instead. Note that expressions serve as a countable noun in other non-technical context writers and editors must be careful when writing / doing research paper editing. 4. Tense In grammar, tense is a category that expresses time reference. Tenses are usually manifested by the use of specific forms of verbs. The use of verb tense in the same sentence should be consistent. This is a commonly observed error. Examples: Incorrect: The burst pulses were separated when the density of peaks is higher than 0.4. Correct: The burst pulses were separated when the density of peaks was higher than 0.4. Incorrect: We mapped the 3-kb transcript of the locus and had determined that it contains four exons and two introns. Correct: We mapped the3-kb transcript of the locus and determined that it contains four exons and two introns.