Delete "redundant" information An important stylistic feature of academic and scientific writing is the lack of obvious repetition or "redundancy". Scientific texts aim to be concise and economical in the use of words. Typically, English will avoid repeating the exact same subjects, headwords, prepositions, articles, or auxiliary verbs when they occur within the same noun phrase. Notice how the elements capitalized in the examples below are not repeated:   Omit "redundant" sentence subjects When the same subject is repeated in a compound sentence, delete the second occurence if the sentence is not too complex or long. Although DIESEL CARS obtain 20 to 30 percent better mileage, and DIESEL CARS emit less carbon dioxide than similar gasoline cars, they can emit 25 to 400 times more black carbon and organic matter per kilometer. Although DIESEL CARS obtain 20 to 30 PERCENT better mileage and Ø emit less carbon dioxide than similar gasoline cars, they can emit 25 to 400 times more black carbon and organic matter per kilometer.   Omit "redundant" head nouns When the same head noun could be repeated in the same noun phrase, delete the first head noun if this the noun phrase is not too complex or long or its deletion will not affect understanding. Although diesel cars obtain 20 PERCENT to 30 PERCENT better mileage and emit less carbon dioxide than similar gasoline cars, they can emit 25 TIMES to 400 TIMES more black carbon MATTER and organic MATTER per kilometer. Although diesel cars obtain 20 Ø to 30 PERCENT better mileage and emit less carbon dioxide than similar gasoline cars, they can emit 25 Ø to 400 TIMES more black carbon Ø and organic MATTER per kilometer.   Omit "redundant" prepositions When the same preposition could be repeated in the same noun phrase, delete the second one. However, in complex or long phrases, such as a list of three or more prepositional phrases, you can consider keeping the last preposition as a reminder. Major technical developments IN engine design and IN engine management systems have vastly improved the overall performance of modern diesel engines. Major technical developments IN engine design and Ø engine management systems have vastly improved the overall performance of modern diesel engines.   Omit "redundant" definite and indefinite articles When the same articles (a[n]/the) could be repeated in the same noun phrase, delete all instances of this article except for the first one. However, note that in complex or long phrases, such as a list of three or more items in a list, you might consider keeping the last article as a reminder to the reader. In diesel engines, the carbon particle (soot) content varies from 60% to 80% depending on THE fuel composition, THE fuel pump setting, THE workload demand on the engine, THE engine temperature, and THE type of engine used. In diesel engines, the carbon particle (soot) content varies from 60% to 80% depending on THE fuel composition, Ø fuel pump setting, Ø workload demand on the engine, Ø engine temperature, and THE / Ø type of engine used.   Omit "redundant" auxiliary verbs In compound structures or lists of verbs, delete all auxiliary verbs (e.g., is, are, was, were, has, have, had, will, can, could, would)except for the first one. Note that omitting auxiliary verbs, is commonly used when describing processes or the methods used in experiments. After scrubbing, the water is filtered to remove particulates, which ARE trapped and ARE collected for disposal. After scrubbing, the water is filtered to remove particulates, which ARE trapped and Ø collected for disposal.

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