科技写作讲座.ppt

Agreement A writer is like a bean plant—he has his little day, and then gets stringy. --E. B. White The Future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is. --C. S. Lewis Subject/Verb disagreement Mechanical problems appears to be a major reason for the poor data. Mechanical problems with the inclinometer appears to be a major reason for the poor data. Subject/Verb disagreement The composition of each sample was examined carefully. The composition and texture of each sample was examined carefully. Verb/Predicate Noun disagreement The Wasatch Mountains are (form) a narrow, upfaulted range. Eolian strata of the Weber are (compose) the chief petroleum reservoir. Pronoun disagreement Large-scale volcanic eruptions in Iceland began in early April, 2010; this disrupted the air travels of many people in Europe for almost a week. Dangling modifiers So incredibly thin, you’ll never know it’s there! The best word play ever “Even in rainy weather, it flows freely.” It never rains, but it pours. When it Rains It Pours. Confusing references John told Larry that he would become a great scientist. John said to Larry, “You would become a great scientist.” John said to Larry, “I would become a great scientist.” The approach to style is by way of plainness, simplicity, orderliness, sincerity. The bible for writers 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. 刚健的文字都是简练的。应当句无冗词，段无赘句，一如画面应无多余线条，机器应无多余部件。亦非要求句句写短，或略去细节，只剩轮廓，但须字字言之有物。 （苗译） Simplicity is beauty Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm d