Medical writing: inadvertent humor and other anomalies.

Although most readers consider medical publications to be somber and somnifacient, a critical eye will discover a remarkable array of absurdities and assorted other oddities, totally unintended by the authors. These eccentricities can be attributed to failure of the author to engage the mind before activating the pen, a lapse of attention during preparation of the manuscript, or an effort to convey profundity and conceal vacuity by inflated and pompous language. The egregious examples from prestigious journals included here should alert medical authors that eternal vigilance to clear, orderly reasoning and lucid, orderly language is crucial during preparation of a manuscript. To acquire a pleasing and distinctive literary style, read extensively of the literary masters, approach writing with enthusiasm for its challenges and rewards, experiment with the choice and arrangement of words and phrases, and read critically every word, phrase, sentence, paragraph, and section of your manuscript as though you were your most critical adversary.