Towards clearer writing

Abstract

Can the quality of writing in journal articles be improved? The editors of The European Respiratory Journal believe the answer is "yes", so they have included some suggestions on writing in their revised Instructions to Authors (January 1993). These suggestions are based on the notion that a scientific paper should tell a clear story from beginning to end. This editorial explains these suggestions, which are quoted below, and presents brief examples, adapted from papers published in the Journal, to illustrate them.