看笑话学英语之- 写作须知（1）

Rules for Better Writing - 1

以下的这些英文写作语法要点都是实实在在的。 不过作者用很幽默的手法 - 每一个要点的写法都正好犯了要点所指的错误。 我喜欢这种办法， 因为这要比干巴巴的要点更容易让人记住， 何况还兼带着会心一笑。各位可以自己看看句中的错误。我给有些加了标志

1. Verbs HAS to agree with their subjects.
-Verbs have to agree with their subjects.

2. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
-Prepositions are not words to use to end sentences.

3. And don't start a sentence with a conjunction.
-Don't start a sentence with a conjuction.
Conjunction 是联结词， 如and, but, thus.....

4. It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.
-It is wrong to split an infintive。
不要把to + verb 分开

5. Avoid cliches like the plague. (They're old hat)
cliche 指的是被滥用了的警句妙语常用词之类，结果是流于滥俗。像是avoid .... like the plaque.

6. Also, always avoid annoying alliteration.
alliteration 指2个声音很接近的词连在一起，读起来很不顺。 绕口令是最典型的了
-Avoid alliteration.

7. Be more or less specific.
-Be specific (more or less is not specific).

8. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually) unnecessary.
-Parenthetical remarks are usually unnecessary.
能不用括号插入语时就不用

9. Also too, never, ever use repetitive redundancies.
-Also, avoid redundancies.
such as "play soccer with their feet“

10. No sentence fragments.
-Avoid sentence fragments
当没有动词时， 句子便不完整了

11. Contractions aren't necessary and shouldn't be used.
-Contraction are not necessary and should not be used.
写作中避免用缩写

12. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
-Foreign words and phrase are not appropriate.
只要英文有的常用词， 就不该借用外来词。 否则会显得无知或卖弄

13. Do not be redundant; do not use more words than necessary; it's highly superfluous.
-Do not be redundant.
以上三句话是典型的含义重复。定要避免

14. One should NEVER generalize.
-One should avoid generalize.
Remember the saying " Never say never?" 凡事多有例外，所以避免用绝对性（such as always) 的词。

15. Comparisons are as bad as cliches.
-Use explanation, avoid comparasion.
英文写作注重句子含义清晰。对比涉及到逻辑，也许有的读者不同意你的对比，结果造成混乱。就象比喻， 你若做对比， 就要有解释

16. Don't use no double negatives.
-Avoid double negative.

17. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
-Eschew ampersands and abbreviations.
也即避免使用简写符号

18. One-word sentences? Eliminate.
-Eliminate one-word sentence.
 
19. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.
-Analogies in writing are useless.

这最后一个错误是在国人写作中很常见的。 因为我们的写作方式很注重比喻。而英文中非creative writing 一般是不待见比喻的。 除非是显而易见人人皆知的，否着必要发挥，若要发挥必要有解释

[renyaya]

the 2nd one should be:

prepositions are not words to be used to end sentences.

?