Contemporary dermatologists often use sophisticated, striking forms of communication in the exposition of their ideas. Among their innovative techniques is the pseudodialogue, which permits them to summarize and attack the arguments of other researchers while at the same time asserting their own views. Earlier generations of dermatologists were well aware of the need for appropriate and even unconventional linguistic techniques. We contend that the current notion on the part of linguists that scientific language rigidly conforms to certain patterns-for example, the idea that scientific style is essentially impersonal-is much in need of revision. Indeed the conventions have been broken for centuries by leading dermatologists, often deliberately and consciously.