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Stylistic Features of Scientific English: A Study of Scientific Research Articles
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English Language and Literature Studies · February 2012
DOI: 10.5539/ells.v2n1p47
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www.ccsenet.org/ells English Language and Literature Studies Vol. 2, No. 1; March 2012 
Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education 
47
Stylistic Features of Scientific English: A Study of Scientific Research 
Articles 
Jameel Ahmad 
Jeddah Community College, KAU, Saudi Arabia 
E-mail: [e-mail] 
Received: October 13, 2011 Accepted: November 7, 2011 Published: March 1, 2012 
doi:10.5539/ells.v2n1p47 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/ells.v2n1p47 
Abstract 
This study intends to explore what stylistic features characterize scientific English and make it different from any 
other language used in any other discipline. What are certain areas of language that are used more frequently in 
science than in non-science oriented language texts? This paper deals with the linguistic features concerning the 
application of vocabulary, grammar, discourse and style used in scientific English. A comparative analysis of literary 
and scientific language has been undertaken to make the nature and discourse of scientific English clearer. It was 
found that scientific use of English is marked with accuracy, precision and objective interpretation of facts and 
findings whereas literary language is subjective interpretation of life. Literary language contains literary impulse and 
represents the artist's inner self and his spontaneous overflow of feeling whereas scientific language represents 
universal truth and verifiable research findings. Scientific research papers drawn from Medical and Natural sciences 
were analyzed and it was found that frequent occurrence of Passive Voice in Method Section of scientific research 
articles makes scientific research findings impersonal and universal. Scientists use Passive Voice most often in order 
to get rid of personal whims and fancies. Many other features of scientific English such as nominalization and 
‘interrogative gambit’ which occur frequently as unique discourse features in scientific research journals have also 
been taken into account in this study.