Author: Águeda Delgado-Ponce – Translation: Erika-Lucia Gonzalez-Carrion
Despite the fact that written communication is part of the academic life of every student, the writing of the scientific article involves a series of requirements that differentiate it from other types of texts and, therefore, make it difficult its elaboration. Among the main aspects that stand out in this type of writing (from which we spoke in another entry) we can highlight: clarity, brevity and precision. Hence, when you start writing scientific articles, the use of specific expressions, of phrases, provides a guide or help that facilitates this work.
The «ritual phrases», those phrases with a concrete or repeated form and of common use, can in certain cases favor the connection of ideas and avoid the blockages that arise when it comes to writing. And even, simplify or speed up the understanding of the text. However, the problem, as in everything, arises when these expressions are abused, something that uses to happen quite frequently in research articles, because of the intention of a writing closer to the scientific, as well as in writing in another language, given the specificity of this literature. On the contrary, what is achieved with this abuse is a lack of precision since we take «precooked» phrases, which are valid for any article and not for the expression of the specific and particular information that we want to communicate. Also, to subtract originality and seem repetitive.
Therefore, to the question of whether we should demonize and contribute to the eradication of these ritual phrases, the answer would be no, given that sometimes, when you are beginning to write these articles or in translations, they may result in help. But it is necessary to reduce its use to achieve the precision and clarity that this type of texts require.
