Here are ten ways to produce more vivid (生動的), direct, concise (簡潔的) composition by choosing fewer words and well organized sentences. But conciseness doesnt mean that you write short, choppy (支離破碎的) sentences, or that you cut out (裁剪) details. It means that you simply take out (取出) empty words and phrases.
以下有十個方法用盡量少的詞語和組織好的句子來寫出更加生動、直接、簡潔的文章。但簡煉并不意味著你寫短的,不連貫的句子,或者把細節(jié)裁掉,而是指取出無意義的單詞和短語。
1. Use active voice使用主動的語態(tài)
Active verbs put the actor first and sound livelier than passive (被動的) verbs, which can sound static (靜止的) or abstract (抽象的). Active verbs are much easier to understand and much more powerful. Try to use the active voice whenever possible.
主動動詞把動作實行者放在首位,這樣的句子聽起來更加生動,而被動語態(tài)顯得靜止和抽象。主動句更容易讓人理解,更富有威力。請盡可能使用主動語態(tài)。
原句:The meeting was seen by us as a ploy (策略) to delay the project. (這個會議被我們當做拖延該項目的一種策略。)
修改后:We saw the meeting as a ploy to delay the project. (我們把這個會議當成拖延該項目的一種策略。)
2. Avoid vague nouns避免使用含糊不清的名詞
Phrases formed around general nouns (一般名詞) such as aspect, degree, and situation clutter (使……凌亂) sentences easily. Avoid those nouns which express a vague (含糊的) concept or an abstract idea and cannot picture a specific action.
由諸如方面、程度、狀態(tài)等一般名詞組成的短語容易使句子變得雜亂。請避免使用這些描述模糊或抽象的概念,不能夠明確說明行動的名詞。
原句:She is an expert in the area of international relations. (在國際關系的領域中她是個專家。)
修改后:She is an expert in international relations. (她是國際關系方面的專家。)
3. Use words, not their definitions使用單詞,而不是他們的定義
Replace explanatory (解釋的) phrases with a single word that encapsulates (概括) that explanation.
用可以概括整個解釋的一個詞來代替解釋性的短語。
原句: The crops also needed to be marketable so that families would be able to sell any yields that
exceeded (超出) what they personally required. (通過市場買賣,那些家庭才能賣掉超過個人需求的收成。)
修改后:The crops also needed to be marketable so that families would be able to sell any surplus (過剩產(chǎn)品). (通過市場買賣,那些家庭才能賣掉過剩產(chǎn)品。)
4. Avoid long noun strings避免過長的名詞語串
When nouns are used to modify other nouns, readers have difficulty determining the logical relationships among the words in the string. The longer the noun string (名詞語串) is, the longer it takes a reader unfamiliar with the term to figure it out (解決;弄明白). So rewrite sentences to eliminate (消除) nouns that are not needed in the noun string.
當用名詞來修飾其他名詞時,讀者難以確定語串中詞語之間的邏輯關系。名詞語串越長,不熟悉這個術語的讀者弄明白它所花的時間就越長。因此應改寫句子,消除名詞語串中不需要的名詞。
原句:The lack of a secure transfer may hamper (妨礙;限制) computer security incident response efforts. (安全傳輸?shù)娜笔Э赡軙恋K計算機安全事件響應的措施。)
修改后:The lack of a secure transfer may hamper responses to computer-security incidents. (安全傳輸?shù)娜笔Э赡軙恋K計算機對安全事件的響應。)
5. Convert nouns to verbs名詞轉換為動詞
When a sentence includes a noun ending in“-tion”, change the noun to a verb to simplify the sentence.
當句子中包含“-tion”結尾的名詞時,可以將名詞變?yōu)閯釉~以簡化句子。
原句: They will collaborate (合作;協(xié)作) in the creation of new guidelines. (他們將在制定新的指導方針方面進行合作。)
修改后: They will collaborate to create new guidelines. (他們將協(xié)作制定新的指導方針。)
6. Reduce verb phrases to simple verbs把動詞詞組簡化為簡單動詞
Avoid verb phrases. Identify the verb buried in a verb phrase and substitute (用……代替) the phrase with a succinct (簡明的) single verb. Use action verbs instead of verbs of being (is, are, was, were, be, being, been).
避免使用動詞詞組。分辨隱藏在動詞詞組中的動詞并用簡明的一個動詞代替整個詞組。用行為動詞代替be動詞 (is, are, was, were, be, being, been)。
原句: The results are suggestive of (暗示;使聯(lián)想) the fact that they are right. (結果表明他們是對的。)
修改后: The results suggest that tampering has occurred. (結果表明他們是對的。)
7. Replace complex words with simple ones用簡單的單詞取代復雜詞
Choose simpler synonyms (同義詞) for complex words.
選擇更簡單的同義詞替代復雜詞。
原句: The department will disseminate (散布;傳播) the forms soon. (該部門會馬上把表格發(fā)下去。)
修改后: The department will pass out the forms soon. (該部門會馬上把表格發(fā)下去。)
8. Avoid excessive “there be ...” sentences避免過多的“there be”句
Dont always start sentences with “There is”, “There are”...
不要總是以“There is”,“There are”等為句子的開頭。
原句: There are many factors in the products failure. (產(chǎn)品的失敗有很多因素。)
修改后: Many factors contributed to the products failure. (很多因素造成了產(chǎn)品的失敗。)
9. Eliminate prepositional phrases消除前置定語
Replace “(noun1) of the (noun2)” phrasing with “(noun2)s (noun1)” phrasing.
用“(noun2)s (noun1)”短語替換“(noun1) of the (noun2)”短語。
原句: The decision of the committee is final. (委員會的決定為最終決定。)
修改后: The committees decision is final. (委員會的決定為最終決定。)
10. Reduce wordy phrases to single words把冗長的短語簡化成簡單的詞
Replace phrases that signal a transition with simple conjunctions, verbs, or other linking words.
使用簡單的連詞、動詞或者其他連接詞,代替有連接標志的短語。
原句: Due to the fact that the project is behind schedule, todays meeting has been postponed (延期;推遲). (由于該項目落后于原計劃這一事實,今天的會議已經(jīng)被推遲了。)
修改后: Because the project is behind schedule, todays meeting has been postponed. (由于該項目落后于原計劃,今天的會議已經(jīng)被推遲了。)