Scientific Writing

关于Scientific Writing 作者： 安楠 最近开始执笔写东西，由此导师推荐给我了一本Scientific Writing and Communication。看到第二章就开始颠覆了我对英文科技写作的认识。在此分享给大家本章我认为最精彩的第四节的一些内容——避免不必要的词语和短句。

1. 避免不必要的重复

很多时候，写英文喜欢把比较大的词语或者各种从句排列上去。这种方式在口语中其实有助于显得很专业，但是在科技论文中并非如此。

冗余句子举例：

a. The sample size was not quite sufficiently large enough.

b. High pH values have been observed to occur in areas that have been determined to have few pine trees.

c. Most galaxies with unusually luminous cores are highly asymmetric in shape.

修改：

a. The sample size was not large enough. 或者：The sample size was too small.

b. High pH values occur in areas with few pine trees.

c. Most galaxies with unusually luminous cores are highly asymmetric.

2. 不必要的词语

以下词语应该少出现或不要出现在你的文章中因为这些词语不会给文章增加任何内容。

actually, basically, essentially, fairly, much, really, practically, quite, rather, several, very, virtually

3. 其他冗余举例

以下用法中，括号里的词语应省去。

(already) existing at (the) present (time)

(basic) fundamentals blue (in color)

cold (temperature) (completely) eliminate

(currently) underway each (individual)

(end) result estimated (roughly) at

(final) outcome first (and foremost)

(future) plans (main) essentials

never (before) period (of time)

(still) persists (true) facts

4. ”危险信号“词

有些词语自身并没有问题，都是很漂亮的词语，但是他们的出现有可能意味着你的文章构思不够清晰，你的写作也需要更紧凑。多数时候，这些”危险信号“词可以在你的文章中去掉。

area, character, conditions, field, level, nature, problem, process, situation, structure, system.

5. 不必要的用法

有一些用法不只是我们用，很多以英语为母语的人也会用，但是这些用法其实很不必要，删去他们有助于文章变得更简洁。

很多时候，这些用法会被不必要的用在介绍先前的研究或结果中。

举例： a. It is well know that there are three subtypes of the KL-2 virus.

There are three subtypes of the KL-2 virus.

b. In a previous study, it was demonstrated that \"nanowire\" devices with excellent sensing characteristics can

be defined by TMAH etching.

\"Nanowire\" devices with excellent sensing characteristics can be defined by TMAH etching.

c. Eddies have been shown to vary depending on the time of year.

Eddies vary depending on the time of year.

其他常见不必要用法：

there are many papers stating... it is speculated that...

it was shown to... it has been found that...

it was observed that... it is reasonable to assume that...

it has been reported that... evidence has been presented that shows that...

6. 冗长词语替换——这个部分让我很惊讶，因为所有推荐词都是最简单的词语

避免用词 推荐用词

a considerable number of better

an adequate amount of enough

an example of this is the fact that as a consequence of at no time by means of considerable amount of despite the fact that due to the fact that during the time that first of all for the purpose of for example

because

never

by

much

although

due to

while, when

first

to

has the capability of can, is able

in light of the fact that because

in many cases often

in order to in some cases in the absence of in the event that in view of the fact that it is of interest to note that it is often the case that majority of no later than a number of to

sometimes

without

if

because, since

note that

often

most

by

many

on the basis of by

prior to before

referred to as called

regardless of the fact that even though

so as to to

utilization use

with reference/regard to about

with respect to about

（最后一部分对于我来说是颠覆，因为，我从来都在试着用前面的这些词去替换后面的这些词……）

以上所有内容参考或引自下面这本书。