Using adverbs such as “additionally” and “however” as the building blocks of good scientific writing

Most students and researchers find it easy to collect information from the literature for the introduction or discussion section of their manuscript.

However, linking different facts together to produce logical, clear text is often difficult, especially if you do not have English as first language.

In this post, we’ll show you how it’s easy to use adverbs as “building blocks” in your writing to link or move between different ideas.

Examples of adverbs include additionally, however, therefore and moreover. There are many other adverbs that are not suitable for scientific editing and writing, such as anyway, anyhow and after all.

In this post, we’ll focus on the most common adverbs used in formal scientific writing, and provide examples of how each group of adverbs can be used.

Using adverbs such as “additionally” and “however” as the building blocks of good scientific writing

Link similar facts or related ideas

Similarly
Additionally
Moreover
Furthermore
In addition
In agreement

Here are some examples of these words in use. Read these sentences with and without the bold text, and see which option you prefer:

In this study, GRT gene expression was upregulated in the leaves of Arabidopsis plants after exposure to salinity. In agreement with this finding, GRT protein expression is upregulated in the leaves of wheat plants exposed to salinity.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death in smokers. Additionally, smokers have a 10-fold increased risk of developing cancer.

Move between two different ideas or results that don’t agree

However
In contrast
Conversely

Here are some examples of how to use these words:

Rats administered 5 mg/kg DBMA orally developed liver tumours within six weeks. However, rats subcutaneously injected with 5 mg/kg DMBA did not develop any tumours.

Rice is the major food crop in Asia. Conversely, rice comprises only 5% of total crop production in Europe.

Indicate the order or timing of events and discoveries

Initially
Recently
Subsequently
Finally

Here's an example:

The structure of DNA was initially solved in 1953 by Watson and Crick. Subsequently, Meselson and Stahl and confirmed the semi-conservative mechanism of replication in 1958.

Indicate the order of your experimental methods and results

Initially
Firstly
Secondly
Subsequently
Next
Finally
Lastly

This is how you can use these words to indicate the order of events:

Firstly, we sequenced the YRX gene from each mutant. Next, we measured the expression levels of YRX expression in each mutant using qRT-PCR. Lastly, we used Western blotting to measure YRX protein expression.

Link two sentences or sections of text

Hence
Consequently
Accordingly
Therefore
Since
As

The examples below show how these words can use used to link text.

As the factors which regulate the development of astrocytoma are poorly characterised, we performed an immunohistochemical study of ten antigens in human astrocytoma and normal brain tissues.

The factors that regulate the development of astrocytoma are poorly characterised; therefore, we performed an immunohistochemical study of ten antigens in human astrocytoma and normal brain tissues.

Sequencing indicated the presence of a YUH mutation in patient 1; hence, we sequenced the YUH gene in the siblings of patient 1.

We hope this list helps you to feel more confident when using adverbs in your scientific writing.

Welcome!

At Science Editing Experts, we help scientists like you to submit well-written journal papers with confidence and complete your thesis without headaches, so you can focus on your research and career.

Andrea Devlin PhD

Chief editor and owner of Science Editing Experts

The essential list of "Red Flags" in scientific writing:

348 words and phrases that scream "Written by ChatGPT or AI!"