Mathematical Writing book
Ken
Thanks for your email pointer from last Wednesday about the book,
_Mathematical Writing_. It turns out there is an online version which
lacks the diagrams. I just took a look through it and have a few
comments.
The first chapter contains 27 specific instructions on technical
writing that I found worth reading. For example, #2 states:
"
Don't start a sentence with a symbol.
Bad: "xn − a" has n distinct zeroes.
Good: The polynomial "xn − a" has n distinct zeroes.
"
And #13:
"
Many readers will skim over formulas on their first reading of your
exposition. Therefore,
your sentences should flow smoothly when all but the simplest formulas
are
replaced by 'blah' or some other grunting noise.
"
The rest of the book consists of notes from a series of lectures by
Don Knuth, with a few guest lecturers. Browsing the lectures I found
some helpful comments, but it took some digging. You might look up a
lecture that seems relevant.
Ken