英语写作Part Ⅲ The Sentence.ppt

Conciseness Introduction A sentence should contain no unnecessary words. If the idea is fully expressed, the fewer words are used, the better. But one often uses more words than necessary, so it is a good habit to reread what has been written to see if there are words that can be deleted without affecting the meaning expressed. Examples It was blue in color. It was blue. It was small in size. It was small. Mary is a quiet and careful woman. Mary is quiet and careful. He returned in the early part of the month of August. He returned in early August. He gave many reasons for the failure, but the reasons he gave were not convincing. He gave many reasons for the failure, but none of them was convincing. In my opinion, I think your plan is feasible. I think your plan is feasible. This machine was jointly designed by the old engineer in collaboration with some of his younger colleagues. This machine was jointly designed by the old engineer and some of his younger colleagues. Conciseness Conciseness can sometimes be achieved by changing the sentence structure. Examples There was a pine tree that stood like a giant on the top of the mountain. It towered over the trees around it. The pine tree on the top of the mountain stood like a giant and towered over the trees around it. The giant pine tree on the top of the mountain towered over the trees around it. On the top of the mountain was a giant pine tree which towered over the trees around it. Mr. Smith usually likes to drink all kinds of wines that are produced in France. Mr. Smith prefers wines produced in France. Mr. Smith prefers French wines. Li Qing, who was a first-year student of the college, would go to a park near her school every day in the morning. She would bring a small recorder with her. In the park she would find a quiet corner and listen to a tape of English stories. Every morning, Li Qing, a first-year student of the college, would go to a nearby park, bringing a small recorder with her. There she wo