The craft of scientific writing
by Michael Alley · first published 1987
100% recommend
Why HN recommends it
A practical, tactical guide to structuring technical and scientific writing. Its structure applies beyond papers to design documents and runbooks, making it suited to anyone who writes technical material.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
The Craft of Scientific Writing is designed to help scientists and engineers - both professionals already active in the disciplines as well as students preparing to enter the professions - write about their work clearly and effectively. The author, who is both a writer and an applied physicist, approaches the subject in a fresh way. Using scores of examples from a wide variety of authors and disciplines (including such well-known figures as Einstein, Bohr, and Freud), the book demonstrates the difference between strong scientific writing and weak scientific writing. In essence, this book show
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2021–2024Docs for Developers
Jared Bhatti, Heidi Waterhouse
Recommended by 4 · mentioned by 74 recommend · 7 mention4 recommend · 74 recommend
2010–2026BUGS in writing
Lyn Dupré
Recommended by 9 · mentioned by 119 recommend · 11 mention9 recommend · 119 recommend
2010–2025Mathematical writing
Donald Knuth
Recommended by 11 · mentioned by 1611 recommend · 16 mention11 recommend · 1611 recommend
2007–2026On Writing Well
William Zinsser
Recommended by 137 · mentioned by 170137 recommend · 170 mention137 recommend · 170137 recommend
2008–2026Style
Joseph M. Williams, Joseph Bizup, Gregory G. Colomb
Recommended by 38 · mentioned by 4238 recommend · 42 mention38 recommend · 4238 recommend
2014–2026The Sense of Style
Steven Pinker, José C. Vales
Recommended by 45 · mentioned by 5645 recommend · 56 mention45 recommend · 5645 recommend
2007–2026The Elements of Style
William Strunk, Jr., E. B. White
Recommended by 131 · mentioned by 231131 recommend · 231 mention131 recommend · 231131 recommend
Not the parent poster but I can recommend some books - The Craft of Scientific Writing, Michael Alley - The Craft of Editing, Michael Alley - A Guide to Writing as an Engineer, David Beer and David McMurrey - On Writing Well, William Zinsser There's also a plethora of stuff on the web,…
on “The Elephant at WWDC” ↗David Beer & David McMurrey, A Guide to Writing as an Engineer http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1103219505 Philip Kiely, Writing for Software Developers https://philipkiely.com/wfsd/ Michael Alley The Craft of Scientific Writing http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1032304610 Also see Online Technical Writing https://mcmassociates.io/textbook/ David McMurrey
on “Ask HN: Any great books about technical writing?” ↗It's not strictly from the technical writing corner, but I've learned a lot from the book "The Craft of Scientific Writing" by Micheal Allay. It's more geared towards scientific papers, but I've found the style papers are structured to be a very useful starting point for design documents and runbooks. I tend to start with…
on “Ask HN: How to level up your technical writing?” ↗Two things: 1. Read about writing. The very tactical stuff like "On Writing Well" and "Writing Tools" and "The Craft of Scientific Writing" 2. Imitate writers you like. Try reading someone else's work, then reproducing it in their style.
on “Ask HN: How to Get Better at Writing?” ↗I second those recommendations and add one: The Craft of Scientific Writing by M. Alley.
on “My PhD advisor rewrote himself in bash (2010)” ↗"The craft of scientific writing" is a great book btw.
on “Unsolicited Advice for Technology Writers (2014)” ↗