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Re: Anthropological humor - Help! IV
karl h schwerin (schwerin@UNM.EDU)
Mon, 9 Oct 1995 09:25:27 -0600
DICTIONARY OF USEFUL RESEARCH PHRASES:
"It has long been known..."
*Really means:* I didn't look up the original references
"A definite trend is evident..."
*Really means:* Interesting to me
"While it has not been possible to provide definite answers to these
questions..."
*Really means:* An unsuccesful experiment, but I still hope to
get it published
"Three of the samples were chosen for detailed study..."
*Really means:* The results of the others didn't make any sense
"Typical results are shown..."
*Really means:* The best results are shown
"These results will be shown in a subsequent report..."
*Really means:* I might get around to this if I'm pushed
"The most reliable results are those obtained by Jones..."
*Really means:* She was my graduate assistant
"It is believed that..."
*Really means:* I think
"It is generally believed that..."
*Really means:* A couple of other guys think so too
"It is clear that much additional work will be required before a complete
understanding of the phenomenon occurs..."
*Really means:* I don't understand it
"Correct within an order of magnitude..."
*Really means:* Wrong
"It is hoped lthat this study will stimulate further investigation in
this field..."
*Really means:* This is a lousy paper, but so are all the others
on this miserable topic
"A careful analysis of obtainable data..."
*Really means:* Three pages of notes were obliterated when I
knocked over a cup of coffee
Karl Schwerin SnailMail: Dept. of Anthropology
Univ. of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM 87131
e-mail: schwerin@unm.edu
Much charitable endeavor is motivated by an unconscious
desire to peer into lives that one is glad to be unable
to share. . . . . Edward Sapir
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