高效写作的基本准则
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删减不必要的单词和短语，摆脱杂乱
Cut unnecessary words and phrases; learn to part with your words！ -
使用主动语态（主语+动词+宾语）
Use the active voice（subject+verb+object） -
动词的使用：使用强动词，避免把动词变成名词，并且不把动词藏起来（比如说把动词放在很后面，在一句话中，如果一个动词不出现，很难去理解这句话想要表达什么意思）
Write with verbs: use strong verbs, avoid turning verbs into nouns, and don’t bury the main verb！
删除冗余
推荐书籍：William Zinsser in On writing Well, 1976
例子：This paper
provides a（将名词变为有意义的动词）reviewsof the basic tenets of（意义不大）cancer biology study design, using an examplesstudies that（study design已经表明了studies，重复） illustratethe methodologic（词太泛） challengesor that demonstrate successful（和前面的illustrate冗余） solutionsto the difficulites inherent in biological research.（前面已经提到biology study design 冗余）
This paper reviews cancer biology study design, using an examples that illustrate specific challenges and solutions.
“
As it is well know（如果想表明有什么东西是大家都知道的，可以直接在后面引用文献） , increase athletic activityhas been related tois associate with aprofile of（意义不大） lower cardivascular risk, lower bloodpressurelevels, and improvedmuscular and cardio-respiratory performancefitness（这一大串=fitness）.”
Increased athletic activity is associated with lower cardiovascular risk, lower blood pressure, and improved fitness.
Increased athletic activity lowers cardiovascular risk and blood pressure, and improves fitness.
1 删除不必要的单词和短语：
- As it is well known
- As it has been shown
- It can be regarded that
- It should be emphasized that
直接提供参考文献，证明它是众所周知的就可以了；
2 删除空洞的单词和短语
- basic tenets of
- methodologic
- important
有些单词和短语非常的模糊，他们起不了任何的作用
3 可以缩减一些长单词和短语
- muscular and cardio-respiratory performance 相当等于fitness
| Wordy version | Crisp version |
|---|---|
| Are of the same opinion | agree |
| Less frequently ocurring | rare |
| Due to the fact that | because |
| Give rise to | cause |
| Have an effect on | affect |
4 注意不必要的缩写和术语
- microRNA->miR
5 重复性的单词和短语
- studies/examples
- illustrate/demonstrate
- challenges/difficulites
6 副词
- very, really, quite bascially, generally…
一些其他的技巧
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消除句子中使用not的形式
She was not alway right.
She was usually wrong.
–
They did not believe the drug was harmful.
They believed the drug was safe. -
如何摆脱多余的there are/there is
There are many ways in which we can arrange the pulleys.
We can arrange the pulleys in many ways.
–
There was a long line of bacteria on the plate.
Bacteria linedthe plate.
–
The data confirm that there is an association between vegetables and cancer.
The data confirm an association between vegetables and cancer. -
去除不必要的介词
The meeting happened on Monday.
The meeting happened Monday.
–
They believed that it was wrong.
The believed it was wrong.
测试
1.改写句子，移除dead-weight phrase
It has been found that most people consider buying a house the largest purchase they can ever make.
Most people consider buying a house the largest purchase they can make.
2.词语替换
utilize = use
assuming that = if
in order to = to
until such time as = until
has no = lacks
3.去除There be
There are many studies that have shown that Lactobacillus species may have protective and antimicrobial properties.
Many studies have shown that Lactobacillus species have protective and antimicrobial properties.
4.取消否定
She was not a good student.
She was a poor student.
She did not remember where she put her keys.
She forgot where she put her keys.
5.删掉重复的词
The data seem to suggest an apparent problem with the tool.
The data suggest a problem with the tool.
Chemistry majors are generally a very creative and highly energetic group.
Chemistry majors are creative and energetic.
6.奔着clarity和brevity的目的，修改句子
Many women with BRCA mutations take prophylactic steps towards reducing their risk of ever getting the cancer because early detection is not perfect.
Many women with BRCA mutations opt for prophylaxis, because early detection is imperfect.
prophylaxis就已经表示减少癌症的风险
Finally, it may be argued that, with fuller charts than the Daily Weather Reports and better forecasting, much better results might be obtained, and while this is to a certain extent true, it is feared that the improvement would not be great.
More comprehensive charts and better forecasting might improve results by only a small amount.