Since we on this list often find that we need to assure a common
definition of terms before we can learn together, I thought I would send
along to you this helpful information that my friend Swenny sent to me:
Useful Research Phrases and what they Really Mean
"It has long been known" . . .
[I didn't look up the original reference.]
"A definite trend is evident" . . .
[These data are practically meaningless.]
"Of great theoretical and practical importance" . . .
[Interesting to me.]
"While it has not been possible to provide definite answers to these
questions" . . .
[An unsuccessful experiment but I still have to get it published.]
"Three of the samples were chosen for detailed study" . . .
[The results of the others didn't make any sense.]
"Typical results are shown" . . .
[The best results are shown.]
"The most reliable results are those obtained by Jones" . . .
[He was my graduate assistant.]
"It is believed that" . . .
[I think]
"It is generally believed that" . . .
[A couple of other guys think so, too.]
"It is clear that much additional work will be required before a complete
understanding occurs" . . .
[I don't understand it.]
"Correct within an order of magnitude" . . .
[Wrong]
"It is hoped that this study will stimulate further investigations in this
field" . . .
[This is a lousy paper, but so are all the others on this miserable topic.]
"Thanks are due to Joe Blotz for assistance with the experiment and to
George Frink for valuable assistance" . . .
[Blotz did the work and Frink explained to me what it meant.]
"A careful analysis of obtainable data" . . .
[Three pages of notes were obliterated when I knocked over a glass of beer.]
Happy New Year!
Roxanne
--Roxanne Abbas rabbas@comp-web.com http://www.comp-web.com
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