Academic Phrases

The following list of phrases and their definitions might help you understand the fuzzy language of science and

medicine. These special phrases are also applicable to anyone reading a PhD dissertation or academic paper.

"IT HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN"...

I didn't look up the original reference.

"A DEFINITE TREND IS EVIDENT"...

These data are practically meaningless.

"WHILE IT HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE DEFINITE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS"...

An unsuccessful experiment but I still hope to get it published.

"THREE OF THE SAMPLES WERE CHOSEN FOR DETAILED STUDY"...

The other results didn't make any sense.

"TYPICAL RESULTS ARE SHOWN"...

This is the prettiest graph.

"IN MY EXPERIENCE"...

Once.

"IN CASE AFTER CASE"...

Twice.

"IT IS BELIEVED THAT"...

I think.

"IT IS GENERALLY BELIEVED THAT"...

A couple of others think so, too.

"CORRECT WITHIN AN ORDER OF MAGNITUDE" ...

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

"ACCORDING TO STATISTICAL ANALYSIS"...

Rumor has it.

"A STATISTICALLY-ORIENTED PROJECTION OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE FINDINGS"...

A really wild guess.

"IT IS CLEAR THAT MUCH ADDITIONAL WORK WILL BE REQUIRED BEFORE A COMPLETE

UNDERSTANDING OF THIS PHENOMENON OCCURS"...

I don't understand it....and I never will.

"AFTER ADDITIONAL STUDY BY MY COLLEAGUES"...

They don't understand it either.

"A HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT AREA FOR EXPLORATORY STUDY"...

A totally useless topic selected by my committee.