In this blog, we’ll show you how to incorporate specialized terminology into your research papers using practical examples. Employing scientific jargon and technical vocabulary has two main benefits: it aligns your writing with the language of professionals in your field and makes your text more concise.

1. Using Scientific Jargon

Incorporate scientific jargon relevant to your field to ensure clarity and precision in your writing. Scientific jargon refers to terms and phrases commonly used within a specific discipline. Below is an example illustrating the difference between everyday language and technical terminology.

? Everyday Language Example
An X-ray of the breast is used to find cancers. Then, a needle is inserted to extract breast tissue to determine if it is a dangerous cancer.

? Technical Terminology Example
Mammography is used to detect cancers. Then, a biopsy is performed to confirm if it is a malignant tumor.

Notice how the use of terms like “mammography,” “biopsy,” and “malignant tumor” not only shortens the text but also enhances its professional tone.

2. Abbreviations and Acronyms

Leverage abbreviations and acronyms to simplify lengthy method names and save space in your writing. Introduce the full term followed by its abbreviation in parentheses when it first appears. After that, you can use the abbreviated form throughout the rest of the text.

For example, “Digital Breast Tomosynthesis” is defined as DBT on its first mention, and the acronym is used in subsequent references.

Example:
Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) was developed to address certain limitations of traditional mammography. Today, DBT is widely used in routine breast cancer screenings in several countries.

3. Notations and Technical Definitions

The best time to introduce notations and technical definitions is in the opening paragraph of your paper. These definitions can include symbols, terms, and other specific vocabulary that help simplify complex ideas. By using notations, you can express lengthy names or numbers in a more manageable way for your readers. Here are some examples.

? Examples of introducing notations in the introduction

[1] We will introduce several notations that will be used throughout the paper. Let ‘X’ represent a set of points, and ‘Y’ represent …

[2] In this paper, we will use upper-case letters to represent variable names.

[3] To begin, we introduce the following notation. Let ‘i’ stand for …

Conclusion

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment, and we’ll respond promptly. You might also find our other blog posts helpful, covering topics like academic writing tools, writing resources, useful academic phrases, and examples of research papers that are closely related to what we’ve discussed here.