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Elementary principles of composition
1. Make the paragraph the unit of composition: one paragraph to each topic.
不同的段落构成文章,每个段落仅传递一个观点。
2. As a rule, begin each paragraph with a topic sentence; end it in conformity with the beginning.
规则:每个段落均以主题句开头,并且首尾呼应。
A. the topic sentence comes at or near the beginning;
主题句前置
B. the succeeding sentences explain or establish or develop the statement made in the topic sentence;
段落围绕主题句展开,后面的句子对主题句进行展开解释
C. the final sentence either emphasizes the thought of the topic sentence or states some important consequence.
末尾句或者对主题句进行强调,或者阐述主题句带来的结果。
3. Use the active voice.
主动句永远比被动句直接有力。
4. Put statements in positive form.
以肯定的形式表达否定的意思, 避免使用平淡、毫无色彩,犹豫不决和含糊其辞的语言。
5. Omit needless words.
删除冗词。
Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that every word tell.
有力的写作一定简洁。
Owing to the fact that
=Since (because)
In spite of the fact that
=Though (although)
Call your attention to the fact that
=Remind you (notify you)
The fact that he had not succeeded
=His failure
6. Avoid a succession of loose sentences.
别写流水账,找找语言的逻辑关系,通过who, which, when, where, and while 这些词把句子串起来。
7. Express co-ordinate ideas in similar form.
Parallel structure 平行结构讲究对称美:内容对等,结构一致。
8. Keep related words together.
词的位置决定词的关系,所以遵循‘物以类聚’,意思关联紧密的词放在一块。
A: 主谓之间不分割,补充信息需前置
B:关系代词紧随先行词出现
Eg: There was a look in his eye that boded mischief.
Eg: In his eye was a look that boded mischief. (名词look先行,关系词that紧随)
9. In summaries, keep to one tense.
总结通常使用现在时态,如果使用过去时,请保持时态一致。
10. Place the emphatic words of a sentence at the end.
欲擒故纵的圆周句(periodic sentence)中,强调信息后置。