Avoid Reserved Words

Significant is a reserved word in scientific communications — use it cautiously and correctly! Use it only for quantitative statements of statistical significance.

Do not state our results are highly significant unless you can quote the statistical test and a p-value. Use words like markedly, substantially, considerably, or greatly to highlight dramatic effects.

Use Significance only with statistics

Of note, in the same 4-hour time-frame, significant changes were also observed in acetyl coenzyme A (fig. 2a).

Of note, in the same 4-hour time-frame substantial changes were also observed in acetyl coenzyme A (fig. 2a).

Better still, specify what substantial means:

Notably, in the same 4-hour time-frame acetyl coenzyme A also increased 4-fold (fig. 2a).

Prove has evolved to mean demonstrating something with certainty. Therefore it is inappropriate to write we proved/disproved the hypothesis.

Scientists test falsifiable hypotheses by looking for supporting and contradictory evidence. Scientists do not set out to prove or disprove a hypothesis, but rather to reject a null hypothesis. It is correct to say We failed to reject the null hypothesis.

If a hypothesis is upheld by multiple observations it may develop into a theory. If the theory is shown to always be true then it may become a law (e.g. Mendel’s laws of heredity, the laws of thermodynamics). Therefore, We proved/disproved the theory/law is appropriate usage of prove.