理文編輯_英文寫作小貼士

1、-11-目錄一、英文寫作小貼士3§No. 1 句子結(jié)構(gòu)短句是準(zhǔn)則3§No. 2 可數(shù)名詞和不可數(shù)（物質(zhì)）名詞3§No. 3 逗號的正確使用方法3§No. 4 動詞時態(tài)4§No. 5 冠詞使用規(guī)則4§No. 6 詞首字母大小寫問題5§No. 7 常見易混單詞6§No. 8 Serial Comma and Serial Semi-Colon Usage (Within a Sentence)8§No. 9 Hyphen, En dash, Em dash9§No. 10 Verb Tense10二

2、、科學(xué)編輯培訓(xùn)材料11三、幫助您做好科技英語詞匯的拼寫檢查：專業(yè)詞匯導(dǎo)入11一、英文寫作小貼士§ No. 1句子結(jié)構(gòu)短句是準(zhǔn)則用清楚的英語書寫的文章更容易被發(fā)表，這一點需要牢記。據(jù)統(tǒng)計，1600年，平均每個英文句子有40到60個單詞；1900年，平均每個英文句子有21個單詞；1970年，平均每個句子有17個單詞；而現(xiàn)在，平均每個英語句子只有12到17個單詞。由此可見，現(xiàn)代英語的發(fā)展趨勢是由繁至簡的。中文寫作慣用長句，而英語，特別是科技英語，通常使用非常精煉的句子。短句是準(zhǔn)則，使用簡短而表意清楚的句子并不顯得幼稚。專業(yè)的英語作者使用短句。§ No. 2可數(shù)名詞和不可數(shù)（物質(zhì)）

3、名詞單數(shù)可數(shù)名詞（可以計數(shù)的事物）通常用冠詞修飾；復(fù)數(shù)可數(shù)名詞有時用冠詞修飾。不可數(shù)名詞（難以計數(shù)的事物；也稱物質(zhì)名詞）沒有復(fù)數(shù)形式；不可數(shù)名詞有時也用冠詞修飾。首先要確定該名詞是可數(shù)名詞還是不可數(shù)名詞，然后問自己如何對這個名詞計數(shù)：名詞：- sensorone sensor, two sensors, three sensors- miceone mouse, two mice, three mice- fishone fish, two fish, three fish- waterone drop of water, two liters of water, three flasks o

4、f water更多用法示例請參考詞典：§ No. 3逗號的正確使用方法逗號是最難掌握的標(biāo)點符號類型，逗號使用不當(dāng)會改變句子的意思。在表示重要的和非重要的信息時，請多留意逗號的用法。推薦用法：The equipment that we used was made by the XX Company.可行用法：The equipment which we used was made by the XX Company.錯誤用法：The equipment, which we used, was made by the XX Company.正確用法：The equipment, whic

5、h was made in Shanghai, was very expensive.當(dāng)你校對標(biāo)點符號的使用時，要特別注意以下單詞：that、which和who；此時應(yīng)再次確認(rèn)，此信息是重要信息還是是可以省略的多余信息。- 如果此信息是重要的，切勿使用逗號。- 如果此信息是附加的、不重要的，必須使用逗號。§ No. 4動詞時態(tài)一般過去時用于表示你所做過的事：In this study, a number of functional and structural properties of sodium were compared to determine the underlying

6、 reason for the observed functional changes.過去時通常用于描述研究的結(jié)果：Assessment of size using standard denaturing gel conditions showed multiple bands whose size was consistent with discrete oligomeric forms of A. 一般現(xiàn)在時用于陳述事實：Alzheimer's disease is a fatal progressive dementia.一般現(xiàn)在時用于指代圖表內(nèi)容：The amino acid

7、 sequence of the synthetic Vpu (1-40) peptides used in this study is shown in Figure 1A.現(xiàn)在完成時用于指代持續(xù)有效的已經(jīng)進(jìn)行過的研究或過去開始的現(xiàn)正正在進(jìn)行的動作：The current state of GPCR research has evolved in large measure from observations made in two parallel systems.Jones et al have shown that 檢查文章是否使用了正確的動詞時態(tài)：- 介紹性的語言的時態(tài)應(yīng)該主要使用現(xiàn)

8、在時和現(xiàn)在完成時。- 描述材料和方法的語言的時態(tài)應(yīng)該主要使用一般過去時。- 對于結(jié)果和討論的描述，結(jié)果應(yīng)該主要使用過去時；而對于其他研究的觀察一般使用現(xiàn)在時或現(xiàn)在完成時。§ No. 5冠詞使用規(guī)則定冠詞“the”指代當(dāng)前情況：We began the experiment；“the”指代常識：The situation in Iraq is deteriorating；“the”指代之前提到的名詞：We tested a new measuring device and a new mixer. The new mixer worked well.不定冠詞“A/an”指代在前面沒有提

9、到的名詞：We planned a new experiment.The fluid was separated with a centrifuge.冠詞的使用取決于冠詞出現(xiàn)的上下文以及冠詞之后名詞的類型。什么時候使用“a/an”或者“the”（所有例句選自最近的ACS Chemical Biology）：The emergence of antibiotic resistance poses a major threat to human health, prompting interest in the exploration of new antibiotic targets.Zinc

10、is the second most abundant “trace” element in the body. This metal ion is vital for normal cellular function as a cofactor in numerous enzymes, in transcription factors, in the immune system, and in the reproductive system.These data provided solid evidence that the observed IgG antibody response i

11、s T-cell dependent.§ No. 6詞首字母大小寫問題有客戶最近向理文編輯咨詢關(guān)于地名和地理學(xué)術(shù)語如何正確大寫的問題。因為中文不牽涉大寫問題，所以中文母語的作者可能會有點迷惑。其實大寫問題對于英語母語的作者而言也不太容易理順。大寫問題雖然棘手，但是下面的小貼士會對您有所幫助。一般而言定義明確的地區(qū)的首寫字母要大寫，以下是The Economist Style Guide的建議：“Use upper case for definite geographical places, regions, areas and countries, and for vague but

12、 recognised political or geographical areaslower case for east, west, north, south except when part of a name.”（大寫用于明確的地理學(xué)位置、地區(qū)、區(qū)域、國家以及模糊但是被認(rèn)可的行政或地理區(qū)域east, west, north, south等用小寫，但當(dāng)他們是名稱一部分的時候除外。）這條通用法則也適用于地球表面的地帶，如North Temperate Zone, the Equator等。以下是更多法則：- 通常而言，指南針上的方位（如north, southeast等）和形容詞（如we

13、stern, central, upper, lower等）不需要大寫- 專有名詞中的一般地理學(xué)名詞需要首字母大寫，如Atlantic Ocean, Mt. Muztagata等- 首字母大寫的地理學(xué)名詞之后的一般術(shù)語不需要大寫，如Yangtze River valley- 名詞復(fù)數(shù)要小寫，如Gobi and Taklamakan deserts- “the”只有在其為正式地名一部分的時候才大寫，如The Bahamas, the Netherlands關(guān)于某個地名如果你不清楚正確的大寫方法，你可以在Google Scholar上搜索一下。多數(shù)人的意見不見得正確，但是可以給你一些關(guān)于正確大寫的

14、線索。請記住，你寫作的目的是要清楚地表述你的科研成果。注意正確的大寫不僅僅是為了遵守某些專斷的規(guī)則，你的論文需要正確運(yùn)用大寫的原因是，給讀者一個關(guān)于你的采集地的更精確的概念，特別是當(dāng)他們還不熟悉你的研究領(lǐng)域的時候。以下是一些地理學(xué)術(shù)語例子，告訴你哪些需要大寫而哪些不需要：Upper case （大寫）- East Asia - South-East Asia- Central Asia - Central America - North Korea- South Africa- the North Atlantic- the Middle East- The Arctic- The Hague

15、- The GambiaLower case （小寫）- central Europe- western China- southern Beijing- western Mongolia- eastern Africa- northern North Korea- the central Gobi- the lower Yangtze River- the Philippines購買The Columbia Gazetteer of the World（點擊此鏈接可免費(fèi)試用）或者M(jìn)erriam-Websters Geographical Dictionary可能會對你有所幫助。參考書目：Th

16、e Economist Style Guide, Capitalization - PlacesCouncil of Science Editors, Style Manual Committee. Scientific Style and format: the CSE manual for authors, editors, and publishers, 7th ed. Reston (VA): The Council; 2006. Section 9.7.3, Pg. 120§ No. 7常見易混單詞英語中有許多對單詞很容易混淆。此貼士主要討論拼寫相近而意義不同單詞，或者充當(dāng)

17、不同詞性的單詞。 在看常用易混單詞的釋義之前，請先做以下小測試檢驗一下自己的知識。答案解答在頁末。 affect = A, effect = B, capability = C, capacity = D, continually = E, continuous = F, adverse = G, aversion = H 1. The _ conditions caused by the hurricane prevented the plane from taking off. 2. Despite the skill of its employees, the small factory

18、 did not have the _ to produce large amounts of goods. 3. The _ noise of the waves crashing on the beach was very relaxing. 4. Luckily, the medicine did not adversely _ the patient. 5. Because he had not received any training, John did not have the _ to repair the complicated machinery. 6. Many scie

19、ntists believe that global warming is the _ of greenhouse-gas emissions. 7. Because of she is a vegetarian, Susan had an _ to the idea of going to the Korean Barbeque restaurant. 8. The website is _ updated. 常見易混單詞列表 1. capability/capacity capability: a certain ability, the quality of being capable,

20、 a potential aptitude. capacity: the ability to contain; the volume or amount that fits in a certain container. 2. compliment/complement complement: a worthy addition (n.) (e.g., The girls pink cheeks were the perfect complement to her dark eyes.) compliment: to praise (v.); a piece of praise (n.) (

21、e.g., The girl accepted the compliment with a shy blush.) 3. trial/trail This is often the result of a simple typing error. trial: a tryout or experiment to test quality, value, or usefulness of something (e.g., clinical trial). It also refers to the number of repetitions of an experiment. trail: a

22、marked or established path or route, or a course followed or to be followed (e.g., mountain trail). 4. intercellular/intracellular intercellular: located between cells intracellular: occurring or situated within a cell or cells (e.g., intracellular fluid). 5. principal/principle principal (adjective

23、): chief, main, leading, most important. principal (noun): the most important person or group of people ("After much debate, the two principals reached an agreement"); the head of a school (the principal person in the administration); borrowed money (as distinct from interest). principle (

24、always a noun): a rule, standard, law, guideline, or doctrine. 6. adverse/averse adverse: bad, opposed (e.g., Benjamin ate zongzi every day for lunch and suffered no adverse effects.) averse: feeling unwilling; experiencing distaste (e.g., Benjamins mother was averse to the idea of an all-zongzi lun

25、ch.) 7. affect/effect affect (verb): “to influence” (e.g., Xiao Wangs wild partying on Thursday night affected his performance on the history test.) effect (noun): “result” (e.g., Xiao Wangs wild partying on Thursday night had a terrible effect on his performance on the history test.) 8. continually

26、/continuously continual: repeatedly (e.g., For two weeks, the travelers continually went on trips to the Great Wall.) continuous: without interruption (e.g., The flow of water is continuous.) 9. criterion/criteria criterion: singular form (e.g., one criterion) criteria: plural form (e.g., some crite

27、ria) 10. ensure/insure ensure: “to make sure or certain” insure: “to guarantee with insurance against risk or loss of life” *However, in American English, “insure” can be used for both of these meanings. References: http:/www.m- 參考答案: 1) G 2) D 3)F 4) A 5) C 6) B 7) H 8) E§ No. 8 Serial Comma a

28、nd Serial Semi-Colon Usage (Within a Sentence)a. Serial Comma: Used to separate the elements (words, phrases, clauses) of a simple series of more than 2 elements, including a comma before the closing "and" or "or." Routine use of the serial comma helps to prevent ambiguity.exampl

29、es:1. The patient can be given penicillin, ampicillin, or erythromycin.2. The tumor was bloody, necrotic, and malodorous.3. The mice ate the food, drank the water, and then slept for an average of three hours.*Note: Some style guides recommend NOT using the 2nd comma (before the "and" or &

30、quot;or"), but the sentence will be clearer if it is used.b. Serial Colon (complex): Used to separate larger, more complex elements (phrases, clauses) of a series of more than 2 elements, including a semi-colon before the closing "and" or "or." Routine use of the serial colo

31、n helps to prevent ambiguity.examples:1. In the morning, the animals should be given water, feed, and medication; in the afternoon, only water and feed; and in the evening, water, feed, and medication.2. The rates of specimens with no change in size were 30-35% for Groups 1, 2, and 3; 40-45% for Gro

32、ups 4, 5, and 6; and 50-55% for Groups 7, 8, and 9.3. The findings were:1) Some patients (42%) had normal sleep patterns;2) Some patients (23%) had erratic sleep patterns, but with normal total amounts of sleep; and3) Some patients (35%) suffered from sleep apnea.§ No. 9 Hyphen, En dash, Em das

33、ha. Hyphen: Used as a "connector"examples:1. to connect prefixes and suffixes to stem words: ex-husband, self-inflicted, meta-analysis, etc.2. to connect compound words: light-year, cure-all3. to connect compound modifiers in which the 2nd element is a past or present participle: seizure-i

34、nducing drugs, well-known physicist, well-established rules4. to connect compound modifiers when the nonhyphenated form could be ambiguous: low-frequency amplitudes, a large-bowel obstruction5. to connect modifiers with numeric values and units. Age terms take a double hyphen: a 5-g dose, 50-km radi

35、us, a 3-year-old child6. to connect spelled-out fractions: one-third of the population, thirty-two hundredths7. to connect compound cardinal and ordinal numbers from 21 through 99 when spelled out: Eighty-five samples were collected.He pointed to the Sixty-Sixth Congress.8. to connect verbs needing

36、hyphen for correct meaning:a) He re-covered the explored well. .BUT He recovered quickly from the operation.b) Such patients are usually re-treated. .BUT The water retreated from the structures.9. to connect page ranges in references: 454-455, 35-37.10. to connect so called "e-terms," wher

37、e "e" stands for "electronic": e-mail, e-commerce, e-businessb. En dash: Length of a capital letter "N." Mainly serves linking functions, and means "through" in most cases.examples:1. link 2 words representing items of equal rank, including compound modifiers.

38、 In this case, the en dash means "and" or "to":north-south avenues, cost-benefit analysis, hexane-benzene solvent, author-editor relationship2. to connect names in eponymous terms attributed to 2 people: Mann-Whitney U test, Michaelis-Menten kinetics3. as a coordinate connector w

39、ithin a term that includes hyphenated elements: sugar-maple-dominated forestc. Em dash: Length of capital letter "M." Used as a separator, for a strong break within a sentence.examples:1. used like a comma or parentheses: Cancer-the major cause of death in this population-is often difficul

40、t to detect in the early stages.§ No. 10 Verb Tensea. Use the following general* guidelines for verb tense when writing an article:1. Introduction - Present tense and past tense (e.g. when discussing previous literature)2. Methods - Past tense3. Results - Past tense4. Discussion - Present tense

41、 (except when referring back to the results of the present study)*I use general here because there are always exceptions to these conventions. Please consult the specific journal's style guidelines when writing any paper.b. As editors, sometimes we find text in which the tense is used incorrectl

42、y, or that goes contrary to what we are "generally" see.In such cases, if the English sounds ok as it is, and if changing the tense would require too many changes in the paper, then sometimes it is ok to just leave it as it is. Remember that rather than simply having correct verb tense, clarity in scientific writing is most important.* No. 8 No. 10: Reference: