Page 124 - English for Writing Research Papers

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6.8 Choose the least generic word

Another way to be more precise is to choose the least abstract / generic word. In S1

and S2 a generic word is followed by specifi c definition – this type of construction
is often an unnecessary repetition.

S1. *This kind of investigation, i.e. the analysis of the AS profiles , also aims to find sets of
nodes which behave similarly and …
S2. *Climatic conditions (i.e. temperature, rainfall) were also checked.
Decide whether you can delete the preceding phrase and just use the defi nition. S3
and S4 are more concise, more precise, and save the reader from reading redundant
abstractions.

S3. By analyzing AS profi les we can also fi nd sets of nodes that behave similarly and …
S4. Temperature and rainfall were also checked.

Obviously, there are occasions where you may want to be deliberately vague (see
Sect. 10.5 ). But if you can, use the most specifi c word possible so that readers will

be able to follow you much better.