The following list of phrases and their definitions might help you understand the mysterious language of science and medicine. And they are also applicable to anyone reading academic paper political speech, or a PhD dissertation.
IT HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN
I didn't look up the original reference.
A DEFINITE TREND IS EVIDENT
This 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.
THESE RESULTS WILL BE IN A SUBSEQUENT REPORT
I might get around to this sometime, if pushed or funded.
IN MY EXPERIENCE
Once.
IN CASE AFTER CASE
Twice.
IN A SERIES OF CASES
Thrice.
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.
ACCORD1NG TO STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
Rumor has it.
A STATISTICALLY-ORIENTED PROJECTION OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE FINDINGS
A wild guess.
A CAREFUL ANALYSIS OF OBTAINABLE DATA
Three pages of notes were obliterated when I knocked over a glass of beer.
IT IS OBVIOUS THAT MUCH ADDITIONAL WORK WILL BE REQUIRED BEFORE A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF THIS PHENOMENON
I don't understand it at all.
AFTER ADDITIONAL STUDY BY MY COLLEAGUES
They don't understand it either.
THANKS ARE DUE TO MORRISON BLOTZ FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THE EXPERIMENT AND TO CINDY ADAMS FOR VALUABLE DISCUSSIONS
Mr. Blotz did the work and Ms. Adams explained to me what it meant.
A HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT AREA FOR EXPLORATORY STUDY
A totally useless topic selected by my PhD committee.
from http://www.cs.ubc.ca/~szhao/report.htmlPhrases Used In Reports The following list of phrases and their definitions might help you understand the mysterious language of science and medi