Includes index.

Why write science in plain English? -- Before you write -- Audience -- Register -- Tone -- Tell a story -- Make characters subjects and their actions verbs -- Use strong verbs -- Place subjects and verbs close together -- Favor the active voice -- Benefits of active voice -- Proper uses of passive voice -- Choose your words with care -- Use short words instead of long ones -- Keep terms the same -- Break up noun strings -- Rethink technical terms -- Omit needless words -- Redundancy -- Metadiscourse and transition words -- Affirmatives and negatives -- Old information and new information -- Put old information at beginnings of sentences -- Put new information at ends of sentences -- Make lists parallel -- Vary the length of your sentences -- Design your paragraphs -- Issue -- Development -- Conclusion -- Point -- Arrange your paragraphs -- Chronological order -- General to specific -- Least important to most important -- Problem to solution -- Compare and contrast -- Transition words revisited -- Appendix 1: basic writing concepts -- Appendix 2: exercise key.