Writing Modern Technical English

By James T. Keating

Purdue University

Published on

Abstract

Mr. Keating will discuss the correct approach and methods to use when writing technical papers in English. He will emphasize style and usage, covering several difficult issues that ESL (English as a Second Language) writers often encounter. Among them will be inconsistencies, simplicity, clarity, ambiguity, idioms, overstatement, and rhythm. Examples of weak English taken from actual proposals, books, journals, and presentations will be presented along with methods that will solve these weaknesses to polish and strengthen the writing.

Bio

James T. KeatingMr. James Keating, a world-renowned author and editor, will discuss writing English with style. His extensive experience in this area is the result of work as a university lecturer and as a rewriter of many books, manuals, journal articles, educational papers, and other presentations. Mr. Keating has been an editor with BusinessWeek in New York City, an editor in chief for Chevrolet Div. of General Motors in Detroit, and managing editor with Daiwa Securities in Tokyo. Much of his professional career has been in Japan where at Niigata University he became acquainted with the problems of ESL students writing formal English. This work continued not only with Japanese writers, but also with professionals in China, Taiwan, Korea, and other countries worldwide. He has rewritten many books and manuals, such as Rationale of Biological Response Modifiers in Cancer Treatment; The Evolution of the International Monetary System; Yugoslavia: The State that Withered Away; and for several years all English manuals as a consultant with Mazda Motors in Hiroshima.

While in Japan, he wrote and published Writing Modern English, a style-and-usage handbook for ESL writers. It quickly became the No. 1 best seller on Amazon-Japan (8 consecutive weeks) and was the No. 3 best seller for the year. The book has since been published also in Chinese and in Korean.

Sponsored by

Publications

Book Cover

Writing Modern English Japanese edition

by James T. Keating

Writing Modern English was prepared for writers of English as a second language. It is a how-to handbook with abundant English examples for persons wanting to write English with accuracy, brevity, and clarity.

Book Cover

Writing Modern English Chinese edition

by James T. Keating

First published in Japan, this book is now also available in Chinese and Korean editions.

Book Cover

Smart English Expression Korean edition

by James T. Keating

Cite this work

Researchers should cite this work as follows:

  • James T. Keating (2009), "Writing Modern Technical English," https://nanohub.org/resources/7878.

    BibTex | EndNote

Time

Location

FRNY G124, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

Tags