A GLOSSARY OF RESEARCH TERMS
CD GRAHAM, JR
Report that: it has long been known that...
Actually mean: I haven't bothered to look up the original reference
Reports:...of theoretical and practical importance
Means: ...interesting to me
R: While it has not been possible to provide definite answers to these
questions..
M: the experiments didn't work out but I figured I could at least get
a publication out of it
R: The w-Pb system was chosen as especially suitable to show ...
M: The guy next door had already made up those solutions needed
R: High purity
Ultra-pure
Spectroscopically pure
M: composition unknown except for exaggerated claims of manufacturer
R: A fiducial reference line
M: a scratch
R: three samples were chosen for detailed study
M: the results of the others didn't work and were ignored
R: handled with extreme care
M: not dropped on the floor (as usual)
R: typical results are shown
M: the best results are shown
R: detail is lost in reproduction, but from the originals micrographs
it is clear that
M: the micrographs were not clear
R: as good as could be expected
M: non-existent
R: it is generally believed that
M: some other guys think so too
R: it might be argued that
M: I have such a good answer to this objection that I shall now raise it
R: it is clear that additional work will be required
for a complete understanding
M: I don't understand it
R: it is hoped that this will stimulate further work in this field
M: this paper isn't very good but neither are any of the others
in this miserable subject
R: thanks are due to Joe Bloggs for assistance with the experiments
and to Helen Smith for valuable discussions
M: Bloggs did the work and Smith explained what it meant
(
geocities.com/hanson_c)