It is a common feeling to notice that a paper is more about showing off knowledge than it is about recording it in a practical form; this is always alienating and desperating to the reader.
How to avoid writing like that? Because I think this is not something that we choose to do as much as it is something that we do out of insecurity or lack of writing skills.
- Write directly. Cutting down details helps the reader, but it can also cut down pedantry. There is always space for details later or in the appendix.
- Separate maths and history. Say the theorem, not who told whom first. There can be a Related Work or Literature section for that.
- Do not write a novel. It is just tempting to do so — everybody likes writing. But this is a technical text.
Tags: writing.