Scientific writing is not fancy writing. It is writing that cannot be misunderstood.
Say what you measured, not what you felt
❌ The reaction went really fast and got super hot.
✅ The temperature rose from 21 °C to 47 °C in 30 seconds.
Distinguish observation from interpretation
An observation is what your senses or instruments recorded. An interpretation is what you think it means. Keep them in separate sentences.
Observation: Bubbles formed on the magnesium and the tube became warm.
Interpretation: A gas was produced and the reaction was exothermic, suggesting a chemical change.
Claim what your data supports, and no more
| Too strong | Honest |
|---|---|
| This proves that light intensity controls photosynthesis. | These results support the prediction that higher light intensity increases the rate. |
| The results were wrong. | The results did not match the prediction; the lamp also warmed the water, which was not controlled. |
"Prove" is not a science word
Evidence supports or fails to support. One lab period does not prove anything, and saying it does makes a reader trust the rest of your report less.
Units, always
A number without a unit is not an answer. what? Seconds, grams, ohms?
Passive voice is fine here
“The solution was heated to 40 °C” keeps the attention on the procedure rather than on who was holding the beaker. This is one of the few kinds of writing where that is the right choice.
More on structure: Writing a Lab Report.