What scientists really mean

         When scientists write                      They really mean             

It has long been known that...          I haven't bothered to look up the        
                                        original reference but...                

While it has not been possible to       The experiments did not work out, but I  
provide definite answers to these       figured I could at least get a           
questions...                            publication out of it                    

High purity...                          Composition unknown except for the       
                                        exaggerated claims of the supplier.      

Very high purity...                                                              

Extremely high purity...                                                         

Three of the samples were chosen for    The results on the others didn't make    
detailed study...                       sense and were ignored.                  

... accidentally strained during        ... dropped on the floor                 
mounting                                                                         

... handled with extreme care           ... not dropped on the floor             
throughout the                                                                   

Typical results are shown ...           The best results are shown.              

Although some detail has been lost in   It is impossible to tell from the        
reproduction, it is clear form the      micrograph.                              
original micrograph that...                                                      

Presumably at longer times...           I didn't take time to find out.          

It is suggested that...                 I think.                                 

It is believed that...                                                           

It may be that...                                                                

It is generally believed that...        A couple of other guys think so, too.    

It might be argued that...              I have such a good answer to this        
                                        objection that I shall now raise it.     

It is clear that much additional work   I don't understand it.                   
will be required before a complete                                               
understanding...                                                                 

Unfortunately, a quantitative. theory   Neither does anybody else.               
to account for these effects has not                                             
been formulated...                                                               

It is hoped that this work will         This paper isn't very good, but neither  
stimulate further work in the field...  are any of the others in this miserable  
                                        subject.                                 

(gelesen im »Mittelbauer«)