Edumecentro (Jan 2020)
The gerund questionable use in the scientific writing of health professionals
Abstract
Background: in the scientific writing there are numerous inaccuracies that cause errors and amphibologies in the messages, including the incorrect use of the gerund, a questioned sign and even rejected by some researchers. Objective: to characterize the use of the gerund in the scientific writing of some health professionals. Methods: a descriptive investigation was carried out in the Faculty of Technology - Nursing, in Villa Clara, from20 18 to the first quarter of 2019. Theoretical methods were used: analysis-synthesis and induction-deduction; Empirical ones: documentary review as a source of primary data, questionnaire survey applied to professionals and discourse analysis in the scientific articles analyzed; and mathematics for numerical data. Results: the correct use of simultaneous and peripheral gerund was found, essentially with being; also the explanatory and ilocutive; in other situations they use it incorrectly: repeated, with subsequent action and adjective function. Some rejection was perceived towards its use in scientific documents, due to certain entrenched dogmatic conceptions, which led to questioning among researchers. Conclusions: the need for language improvement is reaffirmed, in which the use of the gerund is encouraged as an element that brings diverse nuances to the scientific text.
