This book shows scientists and engineers how to bring their ideas across to the intended audience. The author, who is both a writer and an applied physicist, treats the subject in a fresh way and includes useful suggestions for approaching a wide variety of writing tasks-- from laboratory reports to grant proposals, from internal communications to press releases--as well as a concise guide to style and usage appropriate for scientific writing.

Designed to help both professional and student scientists and engineers write clearly and effectively, this text approaches the subject in a fresh way. Using scores of examples from a wide variety of authors and disciplines, the author - himself a writer and physicist -- demonstrates the difference between strong and weak scientific writing, and how to convey ideas to the intended audience. In addition, he gives advice on how to start writing, and how to revise drafts, including many suggestions about approaching a wide variety of tasks - from laboratory reports to grant proposals, from internal communications to press releases - as well as a concise guide to appropriate style and usage.

1. Introduction: Deciding Where to Begin. 2. Structure: Organizing your Documents. 3. Structure: Depth, Transition, and Emphasis. 4. Language: Being Precise. 5. Language: Being Clear. 6. Language: Being Forthright. 7. Language: Being Familiar. 8. Language: Being Concise 9. Language: Being Fluid. 10. Illustation: Making the Right Choices. 11. Illustration: Creating the Best Designs. 12. Handling Special Stituations. 13. Actually Sitting Down to Write.