Improving Readability of Academic Writing: A Case Study

Improving Readability of Academic Writing: A Case Study

This example demonstrates how to polish academic writing for improved clarity, conciseness, and readability. We'll analyze a paragraph from an academic paper, identifying areas for improvement in grammar, spelling, and overall style.

Original Paragraph:

'The apparent viscosity of the polymer was measured utilizing the TA ARES G2 rheometer, with a shear rate of 170s-1. An investigation was conducted to explore the correlation between the concentration of the polymer solution and its apparent viscosity.'

Improved Paragraph:

'The polymer's apparent viscosity was determined using the TA ARES G2 rheometer at a shear rate of 170s-1. A study was undertaken to examine the relationship between the concentration of the polymer solution and its corresponding apparent viscosity.'

Explanation of Modifications:

| Original | Improved | Reason ||--------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|| 'The apparent viscosity of the polymer was measured utilizing the TA ARES G2 rheometer, with a shear rate of 170s-1.' | 'The polymer's apparent viscosity was determined using the TA ARES G2 rheometer at a shear rate of 170s-1.' | Rephrased for conciseness and clarity. Replaced 'utilizing' with 'using' for a more direct tone. || 'An investigation was conducted to explore the correlation between the concentration of the polymer solution and its apparent viscosity.' | 'A study was undertaken to examine the relationship between the concentration of the polymer solution and its corresponding apparent viscosity.' | Replaced 'investigation' with 'study' for a more formal tone. Used 'examine' instead of 'explore' to emphasize a more systematic approach. Added 'corresponding' for clarity. |