Many students cringe when they hear the words “research paper” or “writing.” Since most of our time is dedicated to memorizing functional groups and side effects, we don’t always think about how important writing is to pharmacy. Though there are many opportunities and responsibilities that involve writing in practice, such as articles for publications, proposals for clinical services, and letters of recommendation, many students seem to have severe cases of graphophobia and avoid it at all costs. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be painful! Below are some helpful tips to help improve your writing.
- Write like you talk: As a student or pharmacist, your job isn’t to write the next Great American Novel. Choose your words carefully, but don’t try to impress your audience with big words. This can sound a bit pompous.
- Know your audience: Keeping the intended audience in mind is crucial! The reader should be able to understand and be inspired by your writing. For example, if you’re writing an article intended for health professionals, use appropriate medical terminology.
- Read more: Read a variety of works, not just novels! Newspapers, magazines, and scientific literature can help improve your vocabulary, give you inspiration, and improve your reading comprehension.
- Ask a friend: Have a friend or two read your writing before submitting it. A fresh set of eyes will catch many grammatical errors and can offer advice as to how to improve the organization and clarity of your writing.
- Be specific: Avoid using vague language and general statements. If a study found that the results were statistically significant, include the data!
- Be concise: Use as few words as possible to convey your meaning. Remove all “it is” or “there is” phrases and delete unnecessary words.
Remember, writing doesn’t have to be painful!
Tom Szymanski
Featured Student Blogger