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

It is a little casual, but I don't think there's any problem with it per se. Still, there are other words that might be better, for example "apparatus," as you said yourself. Some other synonyms to consider are "layout," "arrangement," and perhaps "design."