Years ago now, I recall a senior scientist who'd read a piece of my work saying doubtfully, 'It's very well-written. Very literary.' The implication was clear: 'But is it good science?'

With hindsight, I can agree: that particular effort wasn't ace. I can't even remember its title, and the obscurity's well-deserved. What did stick was my surprise that my colleague (undoubtedly a good scientist) saw good science and good writing as not just independent, but even perhaps opposed, since science is all about precision and language is irretrievably vague.