Bernard Dixon is merely copying the great essay by George Orwell 'politics and the english language'. Its well worth a read.
In it, Orwell lays out about six simple rules for writing good english prose. Three of them are: never use the passive voice. Always use the anglosaxon word instead of the Latin one: Break any of the rules above rather than say something outright barbarous. Ie. I froze the crystals. Not the crystals were vitrified. Other languages have different rules - habits - for what makes for clarity of thought in prose. I think anyone who uses vitrified should ask themselves 'why I trying to write a simple idea in a way that a layman can't understand'? Just thought some short chain liquid hydrocarbon should be ejected in a parabolic arc under the force of gravity (g=9.81 m/s/s, ie the current planet at h=0 above mean sea level) in the direction of an inflammatory ongoing situation. Adrian Sent from my iPhone On 16 Nov 2012, at 21:01, Ed Pozharski <epozh...@umaryland.edu> wrote: > On 11/16/2012 12:54 PM, Kendall Nettles wrote: > >> I wouldn't go into the lab and say "did you cryo-cool those crystals yet?" >> or "check out this nice crystal. Its ready for vitrification". > > If we speak the way scientific articles are written... > > By Bernard Dixon, published in New Scientist, 11 April 1968, p.73, an > imaginary conversation at breakfast: > > "Daddy, I want cornflakes this morning. Must I have porridge?" > > "Yes. It has been suggested by mummy that, in view of the external coldness, > the eating of porridge by you will cause an increase in bodily temperature. > Furthermore, in regard to the already-mentioned temperature considerations, > your grandma-knitted gloves and wool-lining-hooded coat will have to be worn." > > "May I have some sugar on my porridge?" > > "The absence of sugar in the relevant bowl has been noted by daddy at an > earlier moment. However, further supplies of this substance are now being > brought by mummy from the appropriate vessel that is present in the kitchen." > > > > -- > Oh, suddenly throwing a giraffe into a volcano to make water is crazy? > Julian, King of Lemurs
