Like it or not, English has been adopted as the international language of science. While this is great for those of us who grew up speaking and writing English, it is a serious barrier for those for whom English is a second, third or even further-down-the-list language. This is, in part, why I started ProofreadCanada.com.
But there is a certain irony in having English, a very imprecise language, as the voice of science, a very precise field. When we write science, we need to very exactly convey a specific message. There should be no ambiguity, no alternatives and absolutely clarity in what was done. But, for better or for worse, English words often have many alternatives, more than one meaning and different use in different countries. Not exactly perfect for science.
One of the unintended consequences of the challenges with writing in English is plagiarism. Afterall, if English is not your native tongue, how could you possibly describe a research field better than has been already published? Obviously, copying without accreditation is wrong. As well, constant direct quotes can be tedious in a scientific paper and affect how it is perceived by the readers. But if you want to be accurate and precise, paraphrasing seems wrong.
The solution? The best way to write your science in English is to just write. Paraphrase the work you want to cite and ask someone whom you trust to edit your work. Importantly, once you get it edited, have a look at the changes and try to pick up on patterns in your use and theirs. Eventually, you will be able to write in your field without the need for extensive edits. And, remember, even native English speakers have to have their work proofread and edited. English is hard, even for those who speak it as a first language. You are not alone.
John @ ProofreadCanada