Common English errors in

mathematical papers

Jerzy Trzeciak
Publications Department of IMPAN
[email protected]

Articles

Wrong: The function −e−x (

is ( (((( of e−x . The function −e−x is a derivative of e−x .
derivative

Right: The function −e−x is the derivative of e−x .
Comments: The noun derivative is “countable”—it cannot occur without an article. The sentence
with the indefinite article means that −e−x is SOME derivative of the function e−x , which does
not make sense, because the derivative is uniquely determined.

Wrong: Let U 0 be  linear complement of the subspace U in V .

the
Right: Let U 0 be a linear complement of the subspace U in V .
Comments: There are many complements of U ; if you have in mind any of them, you have to
use the indefinite article. On the other hand, you can say: Let U 0 be the linear complement of the
subspace U in V , described in Remark 2 —here you are specifying WHICH complement you have
in mind.

((( (
Such
Wrong: ( ((operator is defined by...
Right: Such an operator is defined by...
Comments: The word such, when appearing before a singular countable noun, is followed by
a/an.
Exceptions: This rule does not obey if such is preceded by a quantifier: one such map; for every
such map; some such difficulty.

Wrong: In ( ((((
the(Section 2
Right: In Section 2
Comments: If a series of objects are numbered by positive integers, corresponding to ordinal
numbers, no article is used: in Section 2; on page 4; in row n.
However, often the numbering/labelling is not as direct and then the may apear; e.g. usually we
write Definition 2.1, but you can say both inequality (2.1) and the inequality (2.1).

The
Wrong:  closed sets are Borel sets.

Right: Closed sets are Borel sets.

1
2 Common English errors

Comments: The does not mean “all”. If you talk about things in general, use no article.
Exceptions: This rule does not obey in some constructions with of —it is understood that the
generality is somehow limited here:
• The members of the collection U are called the open sets of X.
Also, use the when you are talking about a set as a whole:
• The linear operators on V can be identified with the matrix space M .

((( ( (
Wrong: The number of(the
((solutions of (1); the (
set(of(the
(( (((
solutions of (1)
( ( ( (
Right: The number of solutions of (1); the set of solutions of (1)
Comments: On the other hand, you say e.g. the union of the sets Ui .

Singular or plural?
(
Wrong: There is (a(finite
( ((((
(number of elements such that...
(
Right: There are a finite number of elements such that...
Comments: Here the quantifying expression a finite number of has the same meaning as finitely
many, and it has the same syntax, i.e. it requires a plural verb.

Which tense to use?

has
Wrong: In 2008 Fox ( ((( that...
(shown
Right: In 2008 Fox showed that...
Comments: If you are giving a date, it is understood that you are thinking about a definite
moment in the past; you then have to use the Simple Past tense.
However, you can well say, without specifying the time: Fox has shown that...—Fox proved some-
thing in the past, but when talking about it, you are also thinking about the present: IT IS
PROVED NOW, because he proved it (no matter when). In such circumstances, use the Present
Perfect tense.

Syntax of verbs
((( (
Let(F(denotes
Wrong: ( a function such that...
Right: Let F denote a function such that...
Comments: Let is the imperative of the verb to let and has to be followed by an infinitive
(without to). You can also say: We let F denote a function... or Let us denote by F a function...

((
Wrong: This lemma (
allows
((( prove the theorem without using (2).
to (
Right: This lemma allows us to prove the theorem without using (2).
Comments: The verb allow requires an indirect object: you have to say WHOM the lemma
allows to prove the theorem. If you do not want to say that it allows you (“us”), you can say: This
lemma allows one to prove the theorem, that is, it allows you and the reader.
Common English errors 3

You can avoid adding us/one by using a noun or an ing-form:

• This lemma allows proving the theorem without the use of (2),
or the passive voice:
• This lemma allows the theorem to be proved without using (2).
The same problem concerns the verbs enable and permit. Here are examples of their correct use:
• Repeated application of Lemma 2 enables us to write...
• Theorem 3 enables discontinuous derivations to be built.
• This will permit us to demonstrate that...
• Formula (6) permits transfer of the results in Section 2 to sums of i.i.d. variables.
Another verb requiring an indirect object is remind :
((( ((
Wrong: The purpose of this section is to ( remind
((( some results on...
Right: The purpose of this section is to remind the reader of some results on...
If you do not want to involve the reader, you can use recall :
• The purpose of this section is to recall some results on...

((
avoid
Wrong: We should ( ((to(use (2) here, because...
Right: We should avoid using (2) here, because...
Comments: After some verbs you cannot use an infinitive; they have to be followed by an ing-
form. These include avoid, but also finish and suggest:
• After having finished proving (2), we shall return to...
• This suggests investigating the solutions of...
Here are other similar examples:
((( (
Wrong: Section 3 is ( devoted
(((to prove this theorem.
Right: Section 3 is devoted to proving this theorem.
Wrong: The ( possibility ((((
((((to obtain a better bound
Right: The possibility of obtaining a better bound

All that glitters is not gold

(( (((
Wrong: Every subspace
( ( ( (of V is not of the form (3).
(((
Right: No subspace of V is of the form (3).
Comments: Using all or every with a negative statement is risky, as shown by the above proverb,
which says of course that NOT ALL that glitters is gold, although at first sight it may seem (to a
non-native speaker of English) that something is being stated about “all that glitters”. Therefore,
constructions with no, none, never etc. are preferable.

Every or any ?
(( f and g; for every positive (((
Wrong: For (every
((two
((maps
( ( ( ((( integers m and n
(
Right: For any two maps f and g; for all positive integers m and n
4 Common English errors

Comments: Every has to be followed by a singular noun: for every map.

Exceptions: The combination every two can appear when talking about frequency, e.g. The
government changes every two months.

Not or non-?
(
(
Wrong: A (
not
(empty
(((set
Right: A nonempty set
Comments: If you want to negate an adjective that appears before a noun (attributive position),
you have to use non-: a nonempty set; a non-locally convex space; a non-Euclidean domain. Using
not is only possible when the adjective follows the verb be (predicative position): This space is not
Euclidean.

First or at first?
((
Wrong: (At(first,
((we (( prove (2).
Right: First, we prove (2).
Comments: At first is used when you are talking about what happens in the early stages of an
event, in contrast to what happens later: It might seem at first that the noncompactness is not an
obstacle.

Use of prepositions

join
Wrong: We can ( (( a( ( b by a path π.
with
Right: We can join a to b by a path π.

(
(
contradicts
Wrong: ..., which ( (((( to Theorem 2.
Right: ..., which contradicts Theorem 2.
Comments: The verb contradict is transitive: to contradict something, and not “to contradict to
something” or “with something”. If you want to use to at the end of an indirect proof, you can
write: ..., contrary to Theorem 2.

((((
Wrong: Continuous
( ( ( (( in(the point x
(
Right: Continuous at the point x
Comments: But of course a function can be continuous in the set A (or on the set A).

((
(((( on x
Independent
Wrong: (
Right: Independent of x
Comments: On the other hand, we have: depending on x; independence of F (U, V ) from V .
Common English errors 5

((
(((with X
Disjoint
Wrong: (
Right: Disjoint from X

Wrong: Then F  is  

equal B.
Right: Then F is equal to B.
Then F equals B.

((( (
Wrong: We shall prove this in ( the end
(of
((Section 3.
( ((
Right: We shall prove this at the end of Section 3.
Comments: In the end means finally, as a result of the previous situation, e.g. Thus in the end,
after all these transformations, F will be homogeneous.

(
((
Wrong: The ( ((((by x3 in the expansion
coefficient
Right: The coefficient of x3 in the expansion

Wrong: Then F is (greater (( to 3.

or(equal
(((
Right: Then F is greater than or equal to 3.
Comments: The adjectives greater and equal require different prepositions: “greater to 3” does
not make sense. There are many ways of avoiding this clumsy construction: F is at least/most 3;
F does not exceed 3; F has no more/fewer than 3 elements; F is of degree 3 or less/more.

Walking in the street, the sun was shining

Wrong: Setting x = 0, the assertion follows.

Right: Setting x = 0 yields the assertion.
Setting x = 0, we obtain the assertion.
If we set x = 0, the assertion follows.
Comments: The subject of a clause containing a participle (here, Setting) should be the same
as the subject of the main clause (the assertion does not set anything; we do). This error is called
an unattached participle or dangling participle.
Exceptions: “Unattached participles” are normal in some expressions referring to the speaker’s
attitude, e.g.
• Roughly speaking,... Considering the proof,... Assuming F is continuous,...

Word order
(( (
Wrong: Theorem (3( ((prove
we(shall in Section 4.
( ( ( (
Right: We shall prove Theorem 3 in Section 4.
Theorem 3 will be proved in Section 4.
Comments: The subject normally precedes the direct object.
6 Common English errors

(
Wrong: We can prove easily ((((3 by applying (2).
(((Theorem
( ( ( (
((((
We will prove in Section
( ( ( (4(Theorem 3.
((((
Right: We can easily prove Theorem 3 by applying (2).
We shall prove Theorem 3 in Section 4.
Comments: In general, it is best not to put anything between the verb and the direct object.

(((
Wrong: A bounded
(by
((1(
function
(((
Right: A function bounded by 1
Comments: If an expression qualifying a noun contains a preposition (here by), it has to follow
the noun.
Exceptions: This rule is violated by certain expressions which are felt as one word, e.g. a global
in time solution, previously written with hyphens: a global-in-time solution. Generally, any sequence
of words joined with hyphens can play the role of an adjective, e.g. the you-know-which map; but
you can hardly use this stylistic device systematically in a mathematical paper.

two
Wrong: The ( (((( sets
(following
Right: The following two sets

(
Wrong: Let f be (such
((a( ((((
function that...
Right: Let f be a function such that...

Wrong: We now list all the ( involved ((((

(((functions.
Right: We now list all the functions involved.
Comments: Past participles often appear after a noun, especially if they replace an identifying
relative clause: We now list all the functions that will be involved in our study.
Other examples where the past participle must appear AFTER the noun: the process described;
the problem discussed/mentioned; the solution obtained/adopted.
Exceptions: However, there are many past participles that can appear before nouns, e.g. an
involved explanation = a complicated explanation (so the word involved changes its meaning ac-
cording to its position); the stated properties; the above-mentioned problem.

Wrong word used

((( (
Wrong: This proves the thesis of
(( our
(theorem.
(((
Right: This proves the assertion/conclusion of our theorem.
Comments: A thesis is either a dissertation, or an argument, theory etc. that can be accepted
or rejected.

(
(
To(this
Wrong: ( ((aim, we first consider...
Right: To this end, we first consider...
Common English errors 7

Wrong: We denote it   by A .
shortly
 f

Right: We denote it briefly by Af .

Comments: Shortly = soon. For example: A precise definition will be given shortly.

((( (
Wrong: We (expose
((( examples of maps such that...
Right: We present/give examples of maps such that...
Comments: Expose = uncover, reveal; this word seldom appears in mathematical texts, as op-
posed to exposition = a comprehensive explanation (of a problem): A detailed exposition is given
in [5].

((( (
Wrong: The ( function
(((( f verifies equation (1).
Right: The function f satisfies equation (1).
Comments: In English, a function cannot verify anything; only a person can. Note that this
construction is normal in French: la fonction f vérifie l’équation (1).

((
Wrong: (Contrary
(((( to [7], we do not assume the compactness of X.
Right: In contrast to [7], we do not assume the compactness of X.
Comments: The phrase contrary to is correctly used e.g. in indirect proofs: Then f = 1, contrary
to assumption.

(( (
Wrong: Then f = 1, what( completes
(((the ((proof.
(( (
Right: Then f = 1, which completes the proof.
Comments: On the other hand, you can say: The function f is continuous; what is more, it is
differentiable. Where lies the difference between these two examples? Which refers to what precedes
it in the sentence, while what refers to what follows it.

Wrong: The function F ( will ((( in Section 2.

(be
(( precised
Right: The function F will be made precise in Section 2.
The function F will be specified in Section 2.
Comments: It is tempting to translate the French préciser or Polish sprecyzować as “to precise”;
unfortunately, there is no such word: precise is only an adjective.

Miscellanea
(((
Wrong: In this paper we(prove
( ( ((((
among others that...
(
Right: In this paper we prove among other things that...
Comments: Among others can only be used when it is clear what “others” you have in mind,
e.g. Our result generalizes Brown’s theorem, among others.
8 Common English errors

Wrong: There exists a limit limx→0 F (x).

Right: The limit limx→0 F (x) exists.

((( (
Wrong: (On(the
(( other side, F fails to have property P.
Right: On the other hand, F fails to have property P.

As(usually,
Wrong: ( ((( we can rephrase this as a uniqueness theorem.
Right: As usual, we can rephrase this as a uniqueness theorem.

Punctuation

Wrong: We (
prove,
((( that...
(

Right: We prove that...

(((
Wrong: Let f be any function,
( ( ( (((
which satisfies condition (1).
((
Right: Let f be any function which satisfies condition (1).
Comments: Do not put a comma before a “defining which”. On the other hand, put a comma
before which if it starts a non-identifying clause; a typical example appears at the end of a proof:
Then f = 1, which completes the proof.

(
(
Let(n(∈(N(, (
Wrong: ( then...
Right: Let n ∈ N . Then...

studied,
Wrong: This case has been thoroughly ( (((see [2, 3, 8].
(
(

Right: This case has been thoroughly studied (see [2, 3, 8]).
This case has been thoroughly studied; see [2, 3, 8] for more details and examples.