Quotation marks and articles in scientific texts.

Question

Hello everyone!I have a piece of scientific text where it states the following: "Each tile has four "LEGO"-type locks, and in the Figure 5, there is a "LEGO" lock. I tried to google to find out whether I need to use quotation marks with LEGO or not. It seems to me that I don't need to. Can anyone explain to me why I need or don't need to use quotation marks?Also, do I need quotation marks for the paint brand?My second question is regarding the usage of preposition "of". There are a few sentences:"Each tile is read out by means of XXX bundles 0.9 mm in diameter"."The tile are shaped into a bundle 5 mm in diameter".It is clear that 0.9 mm and 5 mm are the sizes of the bundles, but is it ok to omit "of"?Is it ok to omit "of" in such phrases as "the tiles with dimensions 3*4", "spacing between the holes 5 mm", "density 5*4" instead of "the tiles with the dimenstions of 3*4", "a 5-mm spacing between the holes", "density of 5*4"?Will be glad to discuss! Thanks in advance!

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

snuppelinaI have a piece of scientific text where it states the following: "Each tile has four "LEGO"-type locks, and in the Figure 5, there is a "LEGO" lock. I tried to google to find out whether I need to use quotation marks with LEGO or not. It seems to me that I don't need to. Can anyone explain to me why I need or don't need to use quotation marks?

It depends on the style guide of the publisher.
Most style guides say to capitalize brand names, and include the proper registration symbol per the manufacturer.. (® or TM)
Here is an example:
http://edmedia.unl.edu/styleguide#trademark

snuppelina"Each tile is read out by means of *** bundles 0.9 mm in diameter".

"Each tile is read out by means of *** bundles 0.9 mm in diameter".

"By means of" is a three-word preposition. You can't omit one of the words.

snuppelinaIs it ok to omit "of" in such phrases as "the tiles with dimensions 3*4", "spacing between the holes 5 mm", "density 5*4" instead of "the tiles with the dimenstions of 3*4", "a 5-mm spacing between the holes", "density of 5*4"?Will be glad to discuss! Thanks in advance!

Again, check the style guide. Using "of" adds clarity, and, to me, it is best left in. It will depend on the particular sentence. This one, in particular, needs "of"

a spacing between the holes of 5 mm

Snuppelina · Answer

Thank you very much for your reply and the useful link!

The problem is that I did not find the answers to my questions in the Style Guide.

1) In the above-mentioned sentences, LEGO is not a brand. I think it is synonymic to "LEGO-like", i.g. something like LEGO (the construction toy for kids or something). Do you, native speakers, normally use quotation marks with such brand names?

2) Do you normally use quotation marks with the name of, let's say, a paint? (Extra Green paint, for instance, where Extra Green is the brand name).

3) Regarding the preposition "of" in the above-mentioned sentences and phrases, I did not find any information on that one either (that's why I am here

).
Could you please tell me whether the following senteces/phrases are correct for your native ears (do I need "OF", or can I merely omit it)?

1) Tiles are arranged in a matrix with a spacing between the holes OF (?) 0.6 mm (it is the size of the spacing, not the holes).
2) They are read out by means of bundles OF/, which are (?) 2 mm in diameter (it's the size of the bundles). Maybe "They are read out by means of 2-mm-diameter bundles"?
3) They are shaped into a tile OF (?) 1 mm in diameter.
4) It was bla-bla-bla by four tiles OF (?) 0.3 mm in diameter.
5)...with dimensions OF (?) 1mm and 2 mm.

4) Is it correct to write a "4-mm-thick tile"
"an 8-mm spacing"
(to hyphenate them?)

Snuppelina · Answer

Anyone, please?<img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/6.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/6.gif' alt='Emotion: sad'/>

AlpheccaStars · Answer

snuppelina1) In the above-mentioned sentences, LEGO is not a brand.

LEGO® is definitely a brand: http://aboutus.lego.com/en-us/legal-notice/fair-play/

We do not use normally use quote marks around brand names. http://styleguide.yahoo.com/editing/punctuate-proficiently/quotation-marks

The exception would be an indication of irony, scepticism, disbelief eg. He sold "Rolex" watches for $20.

snuppelina2) Do you normally use quotation marks with the name of, let's say, a paint? (Extra Green paint, for instance, where Extra Green is the brand name).

No. It would be Extra Green Paint. We used Extra Green Paint for our house. It was too bright.

These are fine:
1) Tiles are arranged in a matrix with a spacing between the holes of 0.6 mm (it is the size of the spacing, not the holes).
1) Tiles are arranged in a matrix with a 0.6 mm spacing between the holes (it is the size of the spacing, not the holes).

2) They are read out by means of bundles which are 2 mm in diameter.

3) They are shaped into a (round?) tile 1 mm in diameter.

4) It was bla-bla-bla by four tiles (which are) 0.3 mm in diameter each. If sentence is complicated, use "which are". If the sentence is very simple, you can omit "which are"

5)...with dimensions of 1mm and 2 mm.

4) Is it correct to write a "4-mm-thick tile" , "an 8-mm spacing" Use the hyphen when there is another adjective - tall, high, wide, long, etc. (A six foot fence; a six-foot-high fence)

Snuppelina · Answer

Thank you very much for your answer!<img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/63.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/63.gif' alt='Emotion: rose'/>

Snuppelina · Answer

Hi again!

I had a long discussion with one person, and I said that I'll ask native speakers. The questions is basically related to the previous ones.
Is it possible at all to say the following (to totally omit preposition "of" and articles) in this sentence:

The photodiodes with the gain 6*4, density 1.2*06 mm and area 5*1 mm manufacured by the *** company are used in the photodetector unit.

However, I think it would have been grammatically correct to say:
The photodiodes with the gain of 6*4, density of 1.2*06 mm and an area of 5*1 mm manufacured by the *** company are used in the photodetector unit.

That person says that in scientic texts it is ok to just say the following:

Tiles with dimensions 5*6 mm intead of Tiles with dimensions of 5*6 mm.
However, I do not think it is grammatically correct. Is it possible to omit "of" at all?

What do native speakers think? Thanks in advance!

Snuppelina · Answer

Anyone has any ideas?<img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/10.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/10.gif' alt='Emotion: embarrassed'/>

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Here's my suggestion:

Photodiodes with these specifications — gain: (colon) 6*4, (comma) density: (colon) 1.2*06 mm, (comma) area: (colon) 5*1 m — and which are manufactured by the *** company are used in the photo-detector unit.

Punctuation can be used to set off the elements of a list. I would use a long dash to begin the list. A colon might also be acceptable, but it is used between the specification and its value. the various list elements are set off by commas. The list terminates with another long dash.
The sentence needs to be grammatical if you remove all the text between the dashes.

Some of your numbers appear strange to me, though. Density units would be something like: kg/m3

I still like the sentence with "of" better.

Snuppelina · Answer

Thanks so much for your reply!
Unfortunately, I cannot entirely change the structure of this piece (the text isn't mine), but thanks for the idea. Will use it next time for sure!
I had to modify the sentences (and numbers) a bit to post in the open forum, that is why they look a bit strange.
I think I will write these sentences with "of".
"With a gain of" instead of "with the gain of" is also ok?

AlpheccaStars · Answer

snuppelina"With a gain of" instead of "with the gain of" is also ok?

Always use the indefinite article in these types of sentences.
Usually you will not have mentioned a specific gain in the context.

Quotation marks and articles in scientific texts.

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