The Elements of Style 4ed ---英文写作指南(四)

论文写作的基本技巧

全文颜色说明
18. 避免一连串结构松散的句子
19. 用相似的形式表达并列的意思
20.把相关的词放在一起,避免歧义
21. 概述时,自始至终始终用同一种时态.
22. 把一个句子中强调的词放在句尾

全文颜色说明

red代表与小标题相关的关键信息。
blue代表与小标题无关的重要信息。
green代表自己归纳出的对自己很关键的信息。

18. 避免一连串结构松散的句子

结构松散的句子:由两个分句组成,第二个分句又由连词和关系引导词连接的句子.我们可能会写一整段这类句子,使用的连词主要有and,but,其次是用非限制性意思的关键词who,which,when,where,which.例如:

The third concert of the subscription series was given last evening, and a large audience was in attendance. Mr. Edward Appleton was the soloist, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra furnished the instrumental music. The former showed himself to be an artist of the first rank, while the latter proved itself fully deserving of its high reputation. The interest aroused by the series has been very gratifying to the Committee, and it is planned to give a similar series annually hereafter. The fourth concert will be given on Tuesday, May 10, when an equally attractive program will be presented.

句子结构机械对称,且节奏单调.我们可以将其修改为简单句,由分号连接的简单句,两个分句连接的吊尾句,由三个分句连接的吊尾句.核心是改成最能代表思想的真实关系的句子.而不是为了复杂而复杂,为了长句而长句.

I believe in aristocracy, though — if that is the right word, and if a democrat may use it. Not an aristocracy of power, based upon rank and influence, but an aristocracy of the sensitive, the considerate and the plucky. Its members are to be found in all nations and classes, and all through the ages, and there is a secret understanding between them when they meet. They represent the true human tradition, the one permanent victory of our queer race over cruelty and chaos. Thousands of them perish in obscurity, a few are great names. They are sensitive for others as well as for themselves, they are considerate without being fussy, their pluck is not swankiness but the power to endure, and they can take a joke.*

19. 用相似的形式表达并列的意思

平行结构,要求在内容和功能上相似的表达形式外表相似.形式上的相似能够使读者比较容易的辨认出内容和功能的相似. 很多作者错误的认为他应该经常不断的变换表达形式,因此常常违背平行结构的规则.

Formerly, science was taught by the textbook method, while now the laboratory method is employed.
Formerly, science was taught by the textbook method; now it is taught by the laboratory method.

一组词语并列
一组词语中各个词的冠词或者介词,要么只在第一个词前使用,要么在每个词前面使用.

the French, the Italians, the Spanish, and the Portuguese
in spring, summer, or winter (in spring, in summer, or in winter)

介词并列
有些词在某些场景中需要特定的介词,当这些词在复合结构中连用时,除非介词相同,否则必须把所有恰当的介词都表达出来.

His speech was marked by disagreement and scorn for his opponent’s position. (错误,介词缺失)
His speech was marked by disagreement with and scorn for his opponent’s position.

关系连词并列
both,and; not,but; not only, but also; either, or; first, second, third等后面应该是相同的语法结构.

It was both a long ceremony and very tedious.(错误, 一个是名词,一个是形容词)
The ceremony was both long and tedious.

A time not for words but action.(错误, 一个是介词短语,一个是名词)
A time not for words but for action.(不是说而是干的时候)

Either you must grant his request or incur his ill will.(错误,一个是独立句子,一个缺主语)
You must either grant his request or incur his ill will.

My objections are, first, the injustice of the measure; second, that it is unconstitutional.(错误)
My objections are, first, that the measure is unjust; second, that it is unconstitutional.

20.把相关的词放在一起,避免歧义

句子中的各个词的位置表示相互关系的主要手段,位置不当就会导致混乱和产生歧义.其中最容易出错的是修饰语:修饰语的位置应该尽可能的靠近他们所修饰的词.

He noticed a large stain in the rug that was right in the center.(歧义,污点在地毯中间,还是地毯在房子中间)
He noticed a large stain right in the center of the rug.

You can call your mother in London and tell her all about George’s taking you out to dinner for just two dollars.(歧义:60美分花在什么地方)
For just two dollars you can call your mother in London and tell her all about George’s taking you out to dinner.(For短语是修饰call动词的,所以应该和直接动词位置更近)

New York’s first commercial human-sperm bank opened Friday with semen samples from eighteen men frozen in a stainless steel tank.(歧义)
New York’s first commercial human- sperm bank opened Friday when semen samples were taken from eighteen men. The samples were then frozen and stored in a stainless steel tank.

先行词是一个词组
先行词是一个词组,后面加一个关系词的从句,在很多时候很容易引起歧义.此时可以通过插入插入语或同位语的方式来将关系从句修饰的词进行明确.

A proposal to amend the Sherman Act, which has been variously judged
A proposal, which has been variously judged, to amend the Sherman Act…(插入语限定修饰物,降低歧义)
The grandson of William Henry Harrison, who
William Henry Harrison’s grandson, Benjamin Harrison, who(同位语限定修饰人,降低歧义)

多个修饰词修饰同一个词
多个修饰词修饰同一个词, 则应该将他们作恰当的排列,以免产生错误的修饰关系.

She only found two mistakes.
She found only two mistakes.

Major R. E. Joyce will give a lecture on Tuesday evening in Bailey Hall, to which the public is invited on “My Experiences in Mesopotamia” at 8:00 P.M.(3个修饰词都是修饰lecture的,所以位置应该离lecture近点)
On Tuesday evening at eight, Major R. E. Joyce will give a lecture in Bailey Hall on “My Experiences in Mesopotamia.” The public is invited.

21. 概述时,自始至终始终用同一种时态.

在概述一个剧本的情节,一首诗,一个故事，一个相关工作的时候,时态可以使用如下：
通常用一般现在时,则之前的情节使用现在完成时。
也可以用一般过去时，则之前的情节使用过去完成时。
其中，作者无论使用哪一种时态，都应该自始至终使用。

特例：
概述时无论用哪一种时态，间接引语和间接问句中的一般过去时保持不变。

直接引语”是指在文中直接引用自己或者别人的原话. 而“间接引语”是用自己的话转述别人的意思。
直接引语：小明说：“下雨了,我今天不到奶奶家去.”
间接引语：小明说下雨了,他今天不到奶奶家去.

相关工作写作
时态：一般现在时
写法：先用一两句话简要的说明我们所论作品的主题和背景，然后可以引用很多细节阐明作品的特征。不要按照年代先后顺序逐一讨论，而是要一开始就确立总的结论，然后再阐述细节。

22. 把一个句子中强调的词放在句尾

作者想要强调的词或词组，在句中最恰当的位置是句尾。

Humanity has hardly advanced in fortitude since that time, though it has advanced in many other ways.
Since that time, humanity has advanced in many ways, but it has hardly advanced in fortitude.

With these hopes and in this belief I would urge you, laying aside all hindrance, thrusting away all private aims, to devote yourself unswervingly and unflinchingly to the vigorous and successful prosecution of this war.

句子中另一个强调的位置位于句首。句中除主语外，任一成分位于句首时，都受到强调。

Deceit or treachery she could never forgive.

总之，需要强调的部分最恰当的方式时在句尾。这条原则不仅适用于句子内部的词语排序，也适用于段落中的句子排序，更适用于文章中的段落排序。

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