Medical Writing: A Prescription for Clarity

Abstract

Effective communication is the ultimate, but often daunting, aim of any piece of medical research or clinical study. Practical guidance for the medical author is not always easily available. This very helpful book provides the practical information necessary to turn a complex series of results and ideas into clear, simple, unambiguous text, without loss of style or individuality. Written by a consultant senior lecturer in anaesthesia and an experienced medical editor, it is sympathetic to the problems and needs of medical writers. Like its predecessor, this new edition deals with the basic craftsmanship of writing for publication, from spelling and grammar to choosing the best word or phrase. A new chapter has been included which focuses on clarity of data presentation in graph form. Each chapter has also been updated to include coverage of the latest writing trends and jargon. Many new examples of the good and the bad in medical writing, drawn from published work, are deftly used to illustrate the argument. For the trainee researcher, thesis writer and senior clinician supervising a study or wishing to develop greater skill in effective communication, this book is the ideal guide and reference source. Clear, simple and precise, and illustrated with apt cartoons, this is an invaluable handbook for successful medical writing.