Rant ahead
I am currently trying to read a scientific paper which is written in what constitutes to the most atrocious use of english ever. Scanning every sentence for omitted prepositions, superfluous articles and general poor sentence structure before one is able to get a shot at understanding what the message is scientifically really gets my back up. I have actually taken to writing the corrections in the margins as I don't want to do this whole deciphering process again if I ever reread this paper.
I do not blame the authors too much for this, as they are not native speakers (or rather, writers) although getting someone who is to have a look at the manuscript before sending it off to the publishers would have been a clever idea.
No, my great and foaming rage is directed at the publishers who allow something like this to appear uncorrected in print. Subscription rates for scientific journals are not cheap, in fact more and more libraries have to cancel subscriptions because they can simply no longer afford them. And, adding insult to injury, you have to pay said journals quite substantial sums for the privilege of being published. And for all that money no editing is to be had? Not a single person can be employed by those journals whose sole purpose is to correct the faulty english? I am giving my blood pressure a very thorough workout right now...
I do not blame the authors too much for this, as they are not native speakers (or rather, writers) although getting someone who is to have a look at the manuscript before sending it off to the publishers would have been a clever idea.
No, my great and foaming rage is directed at the publishers who allow something like this to appear uncorrected in print. Subscription rates for scientific journals are not cheap, in fact more and more libraries have to cancel subscriptions because they can simply no longer afford them. And, adding insult to injury, you have to pay said journals quite substantial sums for the privilege of being published. And for all that money no editing is to be had? Not a single person can be employed by those journals whose sole purpose is to correct the faulty english? I am giving my blood pressure a very thorough workout right now...