Intensifiers are words like “very,” “extremely,” or “highly” that are used to amplify meaning. These should be avoided in scientific writing.
Intensifiers in Scientific Writing
In scientific writing, clarity, precision, and objectivity are paramount. Researchers aim to present facts, data, and analyses in a way that is straightforward and devoid of unnecessary embellishments. One common issue in writing that can detract from these goals is the use of intensifiers. Intensifiers are words or phrases that strengthen or emphasize the meaning of other words. Examples of common intensifiers include “very,” “extremely,” “highly,” “incredibly,” and “really.”
While intensifiers are often used in casual or persuasive writing to convey emotion or urgency, their use in scientific writing can lead to ambiguity, exaggeration, and a lack of precision. Scientific writing demands an objective and measured tone, free from unnecessary emotional appeal or subjective emphasis. Using intensifiers can inadvertently make the writing seem less credible, as it can give the impression that the author is overstating the importance or impact of their findings.
This entry explores why intensifiers should be avoided in scientific writing, their impact on clarity and precision, and how to write effectively without relying on these words.
What Are Intensifiers?
Intensifiers are words or phrases used to amplify or strengthen the meaning of an adjective or adverb. Common examples include:
- Very: “The results were very significant.”
- Extremely: “The process was extremely complex.”
- Really: “The findings are really important.”
- Highly: “The method is highly effective.”
- Incredibly: “The data is incredibly accurate.”
These words add emphasis to the statement, often without adding any substantial information or specificity. They are typically used to modify adjectives or adverbs, making something seem more intense than it might otherwise appear.
For example:
- “The results were significant” becomes “The results were very significant.”
- “The experiment was complex” becomes “The experiment was extremely complex.”
While intensifiers are commonly used in everyday speech and writing, they are generally discouraged in scientific writing for several reasons.
Why Avoid Intensifiers in Scientific Writing?
1. Lack of Precision
One of the primary reasons to avoid intensifiers in scientific writing is that they undermine precision. Scientific writing is all about conveying information accurately and without ambiguity. When intensifiers like “very” or “extremely” are used, they introduce subjectivity into the writing, as these words are often imprecise and open to interpretation.
For example, consider the phrase “The results were very significant.” What does “very significant” mean? How much more significant were the results compared to just “significant”? Without quantifiable data or explanation, the use of “very” adds little value and leaves room for interpretation.
Instead of using intensifiers, scientific writing should aim for clear, quantifiable language. Instead of “very significant,” a more precise statement would be “The results were statistically significant with a p-value of less than 0.01.” This provides the reader with a concrete understanding of the significance level rather than relying on subjective emphasis.
2. Redundancy and Wordiness
Intensifiers often introduce unnecessary redundancy and make writing more verbose without adding new information. Scientific writing values conciseness—every word should serve a clear purpose. Using intensifiers like “really,” “incredibly,” or “highly” can create wordiness, making the text harder to read without enhancing the content.
For example, “The method is really effective” can be simplified to “The method is effective.” The intensifier “really” adds no new information about the method’s effectiveness, and its removal makes the sentence clearer and more concise.
3. Emotional and Subjective Tone
Scientific writing strives to be objective and neutral. Intensifiers, however, often convey emotion or subjective judgment. When a writer uses words like “extremely” or “incredibly,” they are inserting a personal perspective into the analysis. This can make the writing appear biased or overly enthusiastic, which is contrary to the impartial tone required in scientific discourse.
For instance, “The solution was incredibly difficult to develop” introduces an emotional perspective on the difficulty level. A more objective way to convey the same idea would be to state, “The solution required several iterations and extensive testing to develop.” This version provides factual information without an emotional slant.
4. Exaggeration and Overstatement
Another issue with intensifiers is that they can lead to exaggeration, making claims sound more impressive or urgent than they are. Scientific writing should rely on evidence and measured conclusions, not on exaggerated language to convince the reader. When intensifiers are used, they can give the impression that the author is overstating the significance or difficulty of their findings, which may raise doubts about the credibility of the research.
For example, “The data is extremely accurate” could raise questions about what “extremely” means in a scientific context. Instead, stating “The data has a margin of error of less than 0.5%” is a more accurate and evidence-based way to describe the precision of the data.
Impact of Intensifiers on Scientific Writing
Clarity
The goal of scientific writing is to convey complex information clearly and effectively. Intensifiers can blur this clarity by introducing vagueness. By avoiding intensifiers, writers can focus on providing specific, evidence-backed information that helps readers understand the findings without ambiguity.
For example, “The results are highly promising” can be replaced with “The results suggest a 30% improvement in outcomes,” which provides a clearer and more informative statement.
Credibility
Scientific writing must establish credibility by relying on data, not on subjective descriptors. When researchers use intensifiers, it can make their work appear less professional and less rigorous, as it suggests they are relying on emotional appeals rather than hard evidence. Precision in language enhances credibility because it shows that the writer is confident in the data and does not need to exaggerate to make an impact.
Consider the statement, “The treatment was very effective.” This is much less convincing than “The treatment reduced symptoms by 40% over the course of four weeks.” The latter statement backs the effectiveness claim with quantifiable data, enhancing the credibility of the writing.
Objectivity
Objectivity is a cornerstone of scientific research, and the use of intensifiers can undermine this objectivity. By avoiding intensifiers, writers maintain a neutral tone and allow the data to speak for itself. Scientific writing should remain free from personal judgment, and the conclusions should be based solely on the evidence.
For example, instead of saying “The process was extremely difficult,” an objective statement might be, “The process required 12 hours of continuous monitoring and adjustments.” This offers a factual representation of the difficulty without subjective language.
How to Avoid Them in Scientific Writing
Use Precise Language
To avoid intensifiers, focus on using precise, quantifiable language. Instead of amplifying adjectives with vague words like “very” or “extremely,” provide the reader with exact details.
For example:
- Replace “The results were very promising” with “The results showed a 25% improvement in response rates.”
- Replace “The sample size is extremely small” with “The sample size is 25 participants.”
Providing specific data or percentages is far more informative than relying on intensifiers to make a point.
Stick to Facts and Evidence
Always ground your statements in evidence rather than subjective emphasis. Scientific writing should present facts that are supported by data. If a method is effective, explain how it is effective by describing the results rather than simply stating that it is “highly effective.”
For instance, instead of writing “The intervention was very successful,” you could write “The intervention reduced the dropout rate by 15% compared to the control group.” This provides concrete evidence of success, rather than relying on a vague descriptor like “very.”
Revise for Conciseness
When revising your writing, look for intensifiers and see if the sentence works without them. In most cases, the sentence will be clearer and more concise without the intensifier. This revision process helps eliminate unnecessary words and keeps your writing focused.
For example, change “The results were really important” to “The results were important.” The meaning remains the same, but the sentence becomes more concise.
Replace Intensifiers with Strong Verbs and Nouns
Instead of using intensifiers to strengthen your adjectives or adverbs, try using stronger, more precise verbs and nouns. This can make your writing more impactful without relying on vague or subjective modifiers.
For example:
- Replace “The solution was very difficult to implement” with “The solution was challenging to implement.”
- Replace “The treatment is highly effective” with “The treatment shows significant efficacy.”
Using stronger verbs and more specific nouns can make your writing more compelling without sacrificing clarity or objectivity.
Conclusion
Intensifiers such as “very,” “extremely,” and “highly” often weaken scientific writing by introducing vagueness, subjectivity, and redundancy. In scientific discourse, precision, clarity, and objectivity are essential for conveying complex information in a way that is credible and understandable. By avoiding intensifiers and relying on precise, evidence-based language, researchers can enhance the quality of their writing and ensure that their findings are communicated effectively.