Language: Being Precise

Abstract

In scientific writing, precision is the most important goal of language. If your writing does not communicate exactly what you did, then you have changed the work. One important aspect of precision is choosing the right word. Another important aspect of being precise is choosing the appropriate level of accuracy. Just as you wouldn’t assign the wrong number of significant digits to a numeral in a calculation, so shouldn’t you assign an inappropriate level of accuracy to details in your writing. The appropriate level of detail depends upon your work and your audience.