Background:

in the scientific writing there are numerous inaccuracies that cause errors and amphibologies in the messages, including the incorrect use of the gerund, a questioned sign and even rejected by some researchers.

Objective:

to characterize the use of the gerund in the scientific writing of some health professionals.

Methods:

a descriptive investigation was carried out in the Faculty of Technology - Nursing, in Villa Clara, from20 18 to the first quarter of 2019. Theoretical methods were used: analysis-synthesis and induction-deduction; Empirical ones: documentary review as a source of primary data, questionnaire survey applied to professionals and discourse analysis in the scientific articles analyzed; and mathematics for numerical data.

Results:

the correct use of simultaneous and peripheral gerund was found, essentially with being; also the explanatory and ilocutive; in other situations they use it incorrectly: repeated, with subsequent action and adjective function. Some rejection was perceived towards its use in scientific documents, due to certain entrenched dogmatic conceptions, which led to questioning among researchers.

Conclusions:

the need for language improvement is reaffirmed, in which the use of the gerund is encouraged as an element that brings diverse nuances to the scientific text.

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