Diagnosing and Treating Medicus Incomphensibilis is a book of case studies on revising medical writing into plain English. It is a companion to Plain English for Doctors and Other Medical Scientists (Oxford University Press, 2017). It gives more practice to help the reader master skills in plain English medical writing. The 12 case studies are based on excerpts from articles published in leading medical journals. The excerpts cover a wide range of medical topics. Each case study looks at one excerpt, between 56 and 308 words long, that shows many classic symptoms of medicus incomprehensibilis - those overused writing habits that make medical writing hard to read. The case study asks questions, and gives short exercises, to guide the reader through the process of diagnosing the symptoms of medicus incomprehensibilis. The reader writes their prescription and revises to treat the symptoms. After each case study, the authors give their answers, prescription and revision. This book is intended for doctors and other medical scientists who write for medical journals, and anyone who aspires to do so. It is intended for writers at all levels, from veteran authors to students. It includes writers in related fields such as public health, pharmacology, nursing and life sciences. It is designed for self-study, seminar or classroom use.

Plain English for Doctors shows how to write about medical science in a clear and vivid way. It can help a medical writer at any level, from beginner to veteran, since it gives specific, practical advice. Writing in plain English can help your writing reach a wider audience, including people in other specialties, levels of training, other fields, and other countries around the world. What makes medical writing hard to read? Is it complex science or complex grammar? This book shows how to keep good science but avoid complex grammar. It describes the symptoms of medicus incomprehensibilis, those over-used writing habits that tend to make medical writing hard to read. It shows how to treat each symptom using a proven plain English writing tip. Each tip is easy to apply and comes with exercises. The exercises are based on excerpts from articles published in leading medical journals. Model revisions vastly improve reading ease and grade level. The book looks at medical writing from three angles. Concept 1, Take charge of your reading ease score, shows how to manage reading ease. Concept 2, Write vividly, shows how to write more vividly by focusing on real world objects and actions. Concept 3, Present logical reasoning clearly, gives tips on how to choose a clear narrative pathway and forge a strong chain of logical reasoning. This book is a must for anyone who writes about medical science. The ability to express complex ideas in simple language is not a remedial skill. Rather, it can only be seen as a sign of mastery.