Books Quote by Gilbert N. Lewis
“There is always the danger in scientific work that some word or phrase will be used by different authors to express so many ideas and surmises that, unless redefined, it loses all real significance.”
About This Quote
Scientific terminology can become diluted when multiple authors assign divergent meanings to the same words, eroding precise communication unless clarified.
In simple terms: Words lose meaning without clear definitions.
Key Takeaway
Define terms to preserve significance.
Themes
language precision
semantic drift
interdisciplinary communication
conceptual clarity
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
observation
advice
When to use this quote
- research papers
- conference presentations
- collaborative projects
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
terminology
definition
communication
Practical Applications
- authoring scholarly articles
- designing interdisciplinary workshops
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we ensure consistent terminology across fields?
- What processes help detect and correct semantic drift?
A Different Perspective
null
![“Science will...produce the data..., but never the full meaning. For perceiving real significance, we shall need...most of all the brains of poets, [and] also those of artists, musicians, philosophers, historians, writers in general.” quote by Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/80a/lewis-thomas-2299_artist_science-will-produce-the-data-but-never_2750782.jpg)
