tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post5310568357074579768..comments2024-02-29T03:57:00.088-05:00Comments on The Mermaid's Tale: Who is this magical "third person" doing the science?Anne Buchananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212151396672651221noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-54802273082026284882011-11-17T07:35:13.674-05:002011-11-17T07:35:13.674-05:00It's great to know the passive voice is so act...It's great to know the passive voice is so actively avoided out there! <br /><br />(And it wouldn't be a Holly-post if someone didn't react to her hyperbolic, theatrical writing devices, would it?)Holly Dunsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05260104967932801186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-35030411105934708322011-11-16T19:36:33.836-05:002011-11-16T19:36:33.836-05:00I think it is odd that anyone still sees scientifi...I think it is odd that anyone still sees scientific writing in an active, first person voice as unusual. The practice must differ among fields, but I've been writing scientific papers (in biology) for over 35 years, and was taught early on that the first person, active voice is preferred for describing what I (or we, in the case of multiple authors) did (e.g., the materials and methods). This has long been the advice in the Council of Biology/Science Editors Style Guide, and I can't ever recall any journal objecting.Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-62756663708641980482011-11-16T14:34:21.345-05:002011-11-16T14:34:21.345-05:00To be perfectly narcissistic, "I" would ...To be perfectly narcissistic, "I" would much rather take credit for examining over 9,000 tiny bits of jade, than saying that "9,758 were examined".<br /><br />For me the tricky part is always discussion of the fieldwork that involved multiple people - colleagues, field workers, etc. In those instances, I have stuck with the passive voice - i.e. "twelve test pits were excavated" - because the audience is not going to know to whom I am referring if I were to write "we excavated twelve test pits". And I ain't strong enough to have done it all by my lonesome.Ericknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-58797264275558137222011-11-16T12:35:01.665-05:002011-11-16T12:35:01.665-05:00Yes, Anne, "one" has often wondered! :) ...Yes, Anne, "one" has often wondered! :) <br /><br />In all seriousness, this entry makes a lot of sense to me. We can't stop being human, and bearing all of the messiness that that entails. What we can do is be upfront about our perspectives and privileges. Acting like we have none is silly and harmful. <br /><br />And yet, I play right into it! If it's between reasonably using my voice in a vacuum or using language that adheres to an editorial style that will get me grants and publishing and put food on my table, well...Nate Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05315106412649710877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-41799400516965525402011-11-16T08:36:26.249-05:002011-11-16T08:36:26.249-05:00I totally agree! and yet I'm always tempted to...I totally agree! and yet I'm always tempted to chicken out and stick with the safe third person approach ... thanks for the moral support on this issue.Hollishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10788942181934895493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-48961980919520548342011-11-16T08:27:32.924-05:002011-11-16T08:27:32.924-05:00One has often wondered how this tradition got star...One has often wondered how this tradition got started. Thanks for the enlightenment, Holly!Anne Buchananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09212151396672651221noreply@blogger.com