Is "setup" an acceptable noun in formal writing?

Question

I'm editing a draft of a scientific paper which repeatedly uses the word "setup" to refer to the, well, experimental setup. Example: > The dimensions of the setup are 250 mm × 250 mm × 50 mm. Every time I see the word "setup" appear by itself, I cringe a little, thinking of, say, Microsoft Windows' `SETUP.EXE`. However, the phrase "experimental setup" sounds OK. Is "*setup*" accepted as a valid word to use for an experimental apparatus, in formal scientific writing in American English?

Answer 1

You have good instincts about this word! "Setup" can be generic and non-descriptive, which you want to avoid. Using a more specific word or phrase such as "experimental apparatus", which you used above (or shortening to just "the apparatus") would be better. If you can be even more specific about the apparatus--for example, if it's a "lever" or a "trebuchet" or a "robotic arm"--then use the specific words available. For scientific writing, try to avoid non-specific words.