"… writing is one of the most inadequately developed of all the skills that scientists use in their research activities. Let us look briefly at the statistics: • 99% of scientists agree that writing is an integral part of their job as scientists. • fewer than 5% have ever had any formal instruction in scientific writing as part of their scientific training. • for most, the only learning experience they have is the example they get from the scientific literature that they read. • About 10% enjoy writing; the other 90% consider it a necessary chore. These figures are, of course, approximate but they come from informal surveys conducted over many years in many countries and, I believe, are close to reality."