The epidemiology and prophylaxis of infectious verbal pomposity

ABSTRACT

There are two kinds of scientific writing: that which is intended to be read, and that which is intended merely to be cited. The latter tends to be infected with infectious verbal pomposity (IVP). The disease is ubiquitous, but often undiagnozed, with the result that infection spreads to writing of the first type. This paper summarizes our knowledge of the condition, presents a few clinical cases, and offers a new approach to its control.