Back in May of 2013, when the United States was not only still a nation with a functional government but one that led the world in advancements across a range of scientific fields, the first edition of Anne E. Greene‘s Writing Science in Plain English was published by The University of Chicago Press. A short, concise, practical book, it offered writers from all scientific disciplines a guidebook in how to “learn to produce clear, concise prose by mastering just a few simple principles.”
Flash forward to April of 2025, when the United States government is in administrative – as well as ethical and moral – disarray, and the scientific agencies that were once the envy of the world in supporting and promoting research are being callously and carelessly dismantled by newly minted cabinet secretaries and other ersatz officials who more often than not lack even the shadow of a whisper of any experience that would make them even minimally qualified for the positions to which they have been inexplicably appointed, a new second edition of Prof. Greene’s Writing Science in Plain English was published.
“For this second edition,” explains the press release for this new edition, “Greene has incorporated the latest research on what makes writing effective and engaging and has revised or replaced exercises and exercise keys where needed.” A free online teaching guide has also been added for those using the book as a text in their respective courses.
As one who clings – increasingly desperately – to the idea that if we can succeed in communicating important, relevant to the average person’s daily life, information from the various scientific fields in a way that the previously mentioned average person can easily understand, perhaps we can stem the downward slide into anti-science wilful ignorance that is increasingly plaguing our time. To be sure, it won’t be an easy task, but if we truly believe that knowledge is the best antidote to ignorance we must make our best effort to do so. And in making such an effort, this new edition of Prof. Greene’s Writing Science in Plain English offers all those engaging in this struggle a method to acquire a particularly valuable set of time-tested skills that will be needed if success is to be achieved.
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