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Perhaps I might suggest a less divisive way to finish the sentence  
(and one that is applicable to many situations other than that  
contested here):

[...] using confocal as well as light-sheet fluorescence microscopy.

This clarifies a couple of problems.  First, it becomes absolutely  
clear that two techniques are employed even though "microscopy" is  
singular.  In other words, the microscopy is not confocal AND light- 
sheet.  Second, it makes clear that the latter technique is based on  
sheets of light as opposed to light sheets (vs heavy sheets).

Scientific English, regardless of the side of the ocean on which one  
sits, has become a mangled and colloquial bastardization of its former  
self.  Other Indo-European languages generally do not face such  
difficulties because word order is much less important, although I  
must admit to not having read any German or French journals of late.


On Oct 12, 2012, at 10:56 AM, Engstrom, Lars wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> Turnout at the polls this year was low... but here are the results:
> How would you complete this sentence: [...] using confocal and light  
> sheet fluorescence...
> Microscopy 78%
> Microscopies 22%
> N=41 opinionated microscopists
>
> I had the idea that this may be a geographical preference but I  
> really don't have time to identify the location of each IP address.  
> Furthermore, one's current location is not necessarily reflective of  
> their exposure to the English language.
>
> The problem I see of looking at keywords (microscopy and  
> microscopies) in pubmed, filtered by title and or title/abstract, is  
> that microscopic techniques are usually used in a singular context.  
> As others have pointed out, microscopy is used 99% of the time.  
> However, you could also assume microscopy is used in a singular  
> context 99% of the time. Comparing these keywords without context  
> can be misleading.
>
> Having said that, I like microscopy primarily because microscopies  
> does not feel right. The English language has many exceptions and I  
> think this is one.
>
> I did look through a couple pages of titles containing "microscopy"  
> and here is the first title I found as a true plural microscopy:
>
> Light, polarizing, and transmission electron microscopy: Three  
> methods for the evaluation of sperm quality.
>
> If it is good enough for my 1N gametes, it is good enough for me.
>
> Good luck Raghu!
>
>
>

Robert J. Palmer Jr., Ph.D.
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