本帖最后由 jdlph 于 2009-11-28 21:50 编辑
Fundamental Course of Writting:Conciseness Eliminate unnecessary determiners and modifiers
1.The words or phrases,which donot actually add to the meaning of the sentence and are often used as "filler",should be eliminated. 2.Compare the two groups of sentences bellow: Group1 :Any particular type of dessert is fine with me. Balancing the budget by Friday is an impossibility without some kind of extra help. Group2:Any dessert is fine with me. Balancing the budget by Friday is impossible without extra help. 3.The words and phrases in the list can often be pruned away to make sentences clearer. kind of
sort of
type of
really
basically
for all intents and purposes | definitely
actually
generally
individual
specific
particular |
Example For all intents and purposes, American industrial productivity generally depends on certain factors that are really more psychological in kind than of any given technological aspect. American industrial productivity depends more on psychological than on technological factors. Change phrases into single words when possible
Examlpe: The employee with ambition... The department showing the best performance... Jeff Converse, our chief of consulting, suggested at our last board meeting the installation of microfilm equipment in the department of data processing. As you carefully read what you have written to improve your wording and catch small errors of spelling, punctuation, and so on, the thing to do before you do anything else is to try to see where a series of words expressing action could replace the ideas found in nouns rather than verbs. The ambitious employee... The best-performing department... At our last board meeting, Chief Consultant Jeff Converse suggested that we install microfilm equipment in the data processing department. As you edit, first find nominalizations that you can replace with verb phrases. Change unnecessary that,who, and which clauses int phrases Example: The report, which was released recently... All applicants who are interested in the job must... The system that is most efficient and accurate... The recently released report... All job applicants must... The most efficient and accurate system... Avoid overusing expletives at the beginning of sentences 1.Expletives are phrases of the form it + be-verb or there + be-verb. 2.Overuse or unnecessary use of expletive constructions creates wordy prose. 3.The most common kind of unnecessary expletive construction involves an expletive followed by a noun and a relative clause beginning with that, which, or who. 4.Comprare the two groups of sentences blow: It is the governor who signs or vetoes bills. There are four rules that should be observed: ... There was a big explosion, which shook the windows, and people ran into the street. The governor signs or vetoes bills. Four rules should be observed A big explosion shook the windows, and people ran into the street. Use active rather than passive verbs Example: An account was opened by Mrs. Simms. Your figures were checked by the research department. Mrs. Simms opened an account. The research department checked your figures. Avoid overusing noun forms of verbs Use verbs when possible rather than noun forms known as nominalizations. Example: The function of this department is the collection of accounts. The current focus of the medical profession is disease prevention. This department collects accounts. The medical profession currently focuses on disease prevention. Reword unnecessary infinitive phrases Some infinitive phrases can be converted into finite verbs or brief noun phrases. Example: The duty of a clerk is to check all incoming mail and to record it. A shortage of tellers at our branch office on Friday and Saturday during rush hours has caused customers to become dissatisfied with service. A clerk checks and records all incoming mail. A teller shortage at our branch office on Friday and Saturday during rush hours has caused customer dissatisfaction. Replace circumlocutions with direct expressions Example: At this/that point in time... In accordance with your request... Now/then... As you requested... Here is a list of common circumlocutions that can be compressed into just one word. the reason for
for the reason that
owing/due to the fact that
in light of the fact that
considering the fact that
on the grounds that
this is why | =because, since, why |
on the occasion of
in a situation in which
under circumstances in which
| =when |
as regards
in reference to
with regard to
concerning the matter of
where ________ is concerned
| =about |
it is crucial that
it is necessary that
there is a need/necessity for
it is important that
cannot be avoided
| =must, should | is able to
has the opportunity to
has the capacity for
has the ability to | =can | it is possible that
there is a chance that
it could happen that
the possibility exists for | =may, might, could |
Omit words that explain the obvious or provide excessive detail
I received your inquiry yesterday. Yes, we do have...
It goes without saying that we are acquainted with your policy on filing tax returns, and we have every intention of complying with the regulations that you have mentioned.
Imagine a mental picture of someone engaged in the intellectual activity of trying to learn what the rules are for how to play the game of chess.
Baseball, one of our oldest and most popular outdoor summer sports in terms of total attendance at ball parks and viewing on television, has the kind of rhythm of play on the field that alternates between times when players passively wait with no action taking place between the pitches to the batter and then times when they explode into action as the batter hits a pitched ball to one of the players and the player fields it.
Yes, we do have...
We intend to comply with the tax-return regulations that you have mentioned.
Imagine someone trying to learn the rules of chess.
Baseball has a rhythm that alternates between waiting and explosive action.
Omit repetitive wording
1. Redundant Pairs.Many pairs of words imply each other.Below is a list of that words.
past memories
various differences
each individual _______
basic fundamentals
true facts
important essentials
future plans
| terrible tragedy
end result
final outcome
free gift
past history
unexpected surprise
sudden crisis
|
Example:
Before the travel agent was completely able to finish explaining the various differences among all of the many very unique vacation packages his travel agency was offering, the customer changed her future plans.
Before the travel agent finished explaining the differences among the unique vacation packages his travel agency was offering, the customer changed her plans.
2.Redundant Categories
large in size
often times
of a bright color
heavy in weight
period in time
round in shape
at an early time
economics field
| of cheap quality
honest in character
of an uncertain condition
in a confused state
unusual in nature
extreme in degree
of a strange type
|
Example:
During that time period, many car buyers preferred cars that were pink in color and shiny in appearance.
The microscope revealed a group of organisms that were round in shape and peculiar in nature.
During that period, many car buyers preferred pink, shiny cars.
The microscope revealed a group of peculiar, round organisms.
| 
GO
发表于 2009-11-24 23:08:33
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1.自我介绍2.入学后的学习计划3.为什么选择汉阳大4.韩语是怎么学习的
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