Not sure about the plural thing? In my own field a paper using singular forms would really stand out. Why remind readers and reviewers that you are working alone in every single sentence? Genuinely interested to hear your reasons! This is an issue for the paper I am currently working on. Naturally I would prefer to use the singular where it is accurate, and if I were better established I would.
Short version: because it can be read as “we, the author and the reader”.
But the site above uses phrases like “we have been granted a patent”, which come across as somewhat dishonest, making it appear on first glance as though this is the work of a team, corporate body, or at least two collaborators (and two is a huge step up from one in terms of credibility of any idea).
I’m not saying there was any dishonest intention on the part of this author - I’m just suggesting that radical transparency is a good technique for introducing an idea to a skeptical audience, in a domain which is very noisy with bad actors.
I've had several mentors and advisors and am doing everything I can to be inclusive without giving away equity. There was a legal entity created, and I have applied for several grants. Each time, I have put together a team or had lined up collaborators who could help if the grant had been awarded.
I'm working with suppliers, and discussing the concept openly with everyone who is interested.
Most of the time however, I am working alone.
Should I pay someone to sit around and twiddle their thumbs for semantic reasons?
I believe a royal "WE" is appropriate, but I could be wrong.
Are you trying to start a business or do scientific research? I think you’ll struggle to get investors interested in an idea that hasn’t been validated, and you’ll struggle to get academics interested in helping a money-making venture.
You might need to make a tough call to do one or the other.
The research is obviously the most important thing at this point. Without validation it's all just conjecture.
I know I'll need solid evidence to back up the idea, but I've reached the end of my ability to evaluate the concept. I can't find a fatal flaw, and that's why I keep trying.
I'm really looking for an answer either way. I need help to prove it will work, or to show it's a dead end.
While it's in limbo I can't, in good conscience, drop it.
Do you really think having a patent and an LLC to organize under are fatal flaws?
