學術干貨丨SCI論文寫作系列——寫作語言必須get的十點技能

【前言】

因為寫作語言是一個具有比較多注意事項的方面，因此，我從很多網站和書上引用了相關內容，這里作為一個總結，我會不斷更新這部分內容，給大家作為參考。內容來源：writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/ClearConciseSentences.html?

【正文】

一.如何寫出簡潔的語句

注意：這部分內容不是對全文都適用的，而是對那些需要簡潔語句的部分。在不需要簡潔的部分，下面的內容可能還是使文章不會用詞過于單調的辦法，注意區別使用

1.使用主動語態

在寫學術論文時，盡可能使用主動語態。被動語態通常需要更多的詞，而且可能導致邏輯混亂。

主動被動語態舉例：

主動:?The candidate?believes?that Congress?must place?a ceiling on the budget.

被動:?It is believed?by the candidate that a ceiling?must be placed?on the budget by Congress.

注意：如果句子的主語是匿名的，嘗試選一個一般的術語，比如“researchers,”“the study,”“experts in this field.”

什么時候使用被動語態：

（1）強調某一個行為而不是執行者

After long debate, the proposal?was endorsed?by the long-range planning committee.

（2）為了使文章的主語和焦點保持一致

The data processing department recently presented what proved to be a controversial proposal to expand its staff. After long debate, the proposal?was endorsed by. . . .

（3）不想指出作者姓名

The procedures?were?somehow?misinterpreted.

（4）描述一個場景，實施者未知或不重要

Every year, thousands of people?are diagnosed?as having cancer.

（5）建立權威的語氣

Visitors?are not allowed?after 9:00 p.m.

2.把行動放在動詞中

好的：The committee has to approach it differently.

壞的：The establishment of a different approach on the part of the committee has become a necessity.

謹慎名詞化：

名詞化：An?evaluation?of the procedures?needs to be done.

修改：We?need to evaluate?the procedures.

名詞化：The procedures?need to be evaluated.

修改：We?need to evaluate?the procedures.

名詞化：The stability and quality of our financial performance?will be developed?through the profitable execution?of our existing business, as well as the acquisition?or development?of new businesses.

修改：We?will improve?our financial performance not only by?executing?our existing business more profitably but by?acquiring?or?developing?new businesses.

3.減少冗余短語（在需要簡潔表達的地方使用）

冗余：In a situation in which?a class is overenrolled, you may request that the instructor force-add you.

簡潔：When?a class is overenrolled, you may ask the instructor to force-add you.

冗余：I will now make a few observations?concerning the matter of?contingency funds.

簡潔：I will now make a few observations?about?contingency funds.

冗余：There is a need for?more careful inspection of all welds.

簡潔：You?must inspect all welds more carefully. /?Inspect?all welds more carefully.

?可以使用下面的詞語來減少冗余

（1）because, since, why來替代?
?
<1>the reason for?

<2>for the reason that?

<3>due to the fact that?

<4>owing to the fact that

<5>in light of the fact that

<6>considering the fact that

<7>on the grounds that

<8>this is why

（2）although, even, though來替代

<1>despite the fact that

<2>regardless of the fact that?

<3>notwithstanding the fact that

（3）if來替代

<1>in the event that

<2>if it should transpire/happen that

<3>under circumstances in which

（4）when來替代

<1>on the occasion of

<2>in a situation in which

<3>under circumstances in which

（5）about來替代

<1>as regards

<2>in reference to

<3>with regard to

<4>concerning the matter of

<5>where . . . is concerned

（6）must, should來替代

<1>it is crucial that

<2>it is necessary that

<3>there is a need/necessity for

<4>it is important that

<5>it is incumbent upon

<6>cannot be avoided

（7）can來替代

<1>is able to

<2>has the opportunity to

<3>is in a position to

<4>has the capacity for

<5>has the ability to

（8）may, might, can, could來替代 ?

<1>it is possible that

<2>there is a chance that

<3>it could happen that

<4>the possibility exists for

（9）before, after, as來替代

<1>prior to

<2>In anticipation of

<3>subsequent to

<4>following on

<5>at the same time as

<6>simultaneously with

4.減少冗余的動詞

使用簡潔，直接的動詞

（1）knows來替代is aware, has knowledge of

（2）takes來替代is taking

（3）suggests來替代are suggestive

（4）indicate來替代are indications

5.減少不必要的介詞短語

有時候，介詞短語不是必要的。避免在一句話中使用過多的介詞短語

不必要的介詞短語：The opinion?of the manager

修改：The?manager's?opinion

不必要的介詞短語：The obvious effect?of?such a range?of?reference is to assure the audience?of?the author's range?of?learning and intellect.

修改：The wide-ranging references in this talk assure the audience that the author is intelligent and well-read.

不必要的介詞短語：It is a matter of the gravest possible importance to the health of anyone with?a history of a problem with disease of the heart that he or she should avoid the sort of foods with a high percentage of saturated fats.

修改：Anyone with a history of heart disease should avoid saturated fats.

6.減少虛字結構

常見的虛字結構比如it is，there is，there are

盡量少用這種結構，因為它會使句子的主語和行為模糊

虛字結構：It was?her last argument?that?finally persuaded me.

修改：Her last argument finally persuaded me.

虛字結構：There are?likely to be many researchers raising questions about?this?methodological approach.

修改：Many researchers are likely to raise questions about this methodological approach.

虛字結構：It is?inevitable?that?oil prices will rise.

修改：Oil prices will inevitably rise.

7.避免使用模糊的名詞

盡量避免使用下面的模糊的，所有都能表示的名詞

（1）Factor （2）aspect （3）area （4）situation （5）consideration （6）degree （7）case

模糊名詞：Consumer demand is rising?in the area of?services.

精確：Consumers are demanding more services.

模糊名詞：Strong reading skills are?an important factor?in students' success in college.

精確：Students' success in college depends on their reading skills.

模糊名詞：Photography took on new?aspects?during the Civil War.

精確：The Civil War saw the advent of graphic battlefield photography.

8.避免使用生僻的詞

如果一個簡單的短語可以和生僻的詞取得同樣的效果，要盡量避免使用生僻的詞

生僻：cognizant of ? ? ? ? ? ? ??簡單：aware of, knows

生僻：facilitate ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 簡單：help

生僻：impact on ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 簡單：affect

生僻：implement ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?簡單：start, create, carry out, begin

生僻：subsequent to ? ? ? ? ? ?簡單：after

生僻：utilize ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?簡單：use

7.避免使用名詞串

除非讀者對你的術語熟悉，否則避免使用連續的名詞

名詞串：MHS has a?hospital employee relations improvement program.

修改：MHS has a program to improve relations among employees.

名詞串：NASA continues to work on the?International Space Station astronaut living-quarters module development project.

修改：NASA is still developing the module that will provide living quarters for the astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

內容來源：《How to write and submit an academic paper in 18 weeks》 Steve Wallac

二、主動語態和被動語態

1.什么是主動語態？

主動語態強調行為的實施者，主動語態是清晰的，直接的，簡潔的，沒有歧義的

舉例：Smith et al. investigated the relationship

2.什么是被動語態？

被動語態強調行為的接收者，被動語態是不直接的，冗余的。通過使用一定的被動語態，可以改變句式

舉例：The relationship was investigated by Smith et al.

被動語態還經常容易犯錯誤，比如垂懸修飾語（修飾語在句中找不到邏輯上被修飾的對象）

垂懸修飾語：To investigate the source of nutrients, eggshell membranes were compared

修改：To investigate the source of nutrients, the study compared eggshell membranes

垂懸修飾語：After analyzing the samples, the plants were measured daily

修改：After analyzing the samples, the research measured the plants daily

3.主動和被動語態的比較

主動語態是大部分學術論文雜志中建議盡可能多使用的，因為它通常更簡短，易于理解。雖然雜志建議盡可能多的使用主動語態，但是，沒有建議所有語句都用主動語態，所以問題的關鍵是平衡這兩種語態

使用被動語態的理由：

1）行為的實施者未知，不相關或者顯而易見

舉例：

<1>Up to 90% of the energy in light bulbs is wasted in the form of heat

作者無法將實施者的名字表示出來

<2>The first edition of Tom's earliest writings on dreams was published in 1899

作者假設讀者對出版商不感興趣

<3>Drosophila melanogaster has been one of the most extensively studied species in genetics research

實施者顯而易見（研究者）

2）行為比實施者更重要

當在方法部分討論實驗步驟時，通常使用被動語態，因為讀者會假設作者就是該實驗的實施者，而這通常也是事實，用主動語態并不會使得句子更加明白，而且會轉移焦點，同時使用主動語態意味著要使用大量的“we”，會使得句子不連貫。

3）接收者是主要話題

接收者是主要話題時，有必要把重要的關鍵信息放在句子的開頭或者結尾進行強調。同時，在連接前面的句子時，用被動語態才能使得這個主題的敘述連貫

舉例：We wish to suggest a structure for the salt and deoxyribose nucleic acid. This structure has novel features which are of considerable biological interest.?A structure for nucleic acid has already been proposed by Paling and Corey.

三.下面兩個句子在中文中很常見，但是在英文中要避免使用

（1）因為... 所以 ...

（2）雖然... 但是 ...

下面兩個語句就是錯誤的：

（1）Because?I am curious about the Golden Age of Mexican cinema,?so?I listen to Pedro Infante's music.

（2）Although?I listen to Bollywood music,?but?I do not understand Hindi.

上面兩句話可以改為

（1.1）Because?I am curious about the Golden Age of Mexican cinema,?I listen to Pedro Infante's music.

（2.1）Although?I listen to Bollywood music, I do not understand Hindi.

或者

（1.2）I am curious about the Golden Age of Mexican cinema,?so?I listen to Pedro Infante's music.

（2.2）I listen to Bollywood music,?but?I do not understand Hindi.

四、要避免使用不完整的比較

作者經常會認為讀者知道被比較的東西是哪兩個因而沒有明確地指出。當比較兩個東西的時候，要在同一句話中提到它們。名詞和名詞比，動詞和動詞比，不要拿名詞和動詞比，否則可能帶來歧義。

所有完整的比較語句都包含主語，動詞，比較修飾語，連接詞“than”（或其他表明比較的短語）和從句（可選）

錯誤：The finance department?focuses on?profits?more than the X department.

修改：The finance department focuses on profits more than the X department?does.

錯誤：Country A funds high-tech innovation more than country B

修改：Country A funds high-tech innovation more than country B does

錯誤：The device formulated in this experiment exhibits higher?luminance.

修改：The device formulated in this experiment exhibits higher luminance?than conventional models do.

錯誤：Girls scores were higher than boys

修改：Girls scores were higher than those of boys

五、把動詞變為名詞

學術作者喜歡動詞，因為名詞笨重，并且不表達行為，而動詞可以展示發生了什么。當把動詞轉化為名詞的時候，必須加入一些無意義的動詞來使得句子完整，如undertaken, occurred, achieved, made, done等

原始：Enumeration?of?three reasons why?the English language has become so important?was made by Thompson.

修改：Thompson enumerated three reasons why the English language has become so important.

原始：Discussion?of the challenges and strategies for?facilitation?and?promotion?of ERP was performed?by?Smith.

修改：Smith?discussed?the challenges and strategies for?facilitating?and?promoting?ERP.

原始：Criticism?of the new policies has also been made by non-government agencies.

修改：Non-government agencies?have also been?critical of the new policies.

六.在學術寫作中使用“大詞”

許多作者使用“大詞”在他們的文章中，因為他們認為這可以使得他們的寫作看起來更學術化，然而，通常會發現這樣的句子冗長，紊亂，不易理解。因為這些“大詞”通常是對動詞和形容詞的名詞化

原始：Anobligation?is placed by the law on the citizens of the country for the correct performance of the?administration?of their income records.

修改：The law obliges the citizens of the country to administer their income records correctly.

原始：The?avoidance?of?the introduction?or the?removal?of?toxins from?rivers by?industry?leads to the?improvement?of the integrity?of?the environment and is?beneficial?to human health.

修改：Industries that avoid introducing or that?remove?toxins from rivers?improve?the integrity of the environment and?benefit?human health.

如果你的文章已經完成了，可以通過下面幾個步驟進行尋找并修改

（1）尋找名詞化前面的詞，比如“the”

（2）尋找弱的動詞，比如“to be”

原始：The participants who?are?giving assistance with the formulation of policy ideas?are?in agreement with the researcher to offer their view.

修改：Those who assist with formulation policy ideas agree with the researcher to offer their views.

（3）尋找以“-ization”或者“-tion”結尾的名詞

七、建立強的動詞

技術文章作者通常更喜歡強動詞，強動詞就是用一個單詞來表示行動，如compare, consider, indicate。弱動詞需要更多的詞來表示一個行動，如 make a comparison, give consideration to, give indication of
?
原始：Smith asks the questions as to whether conventional methods offer the best environment for execution.

修改：Smith questions whether conventional methods offer the best environment for execution.

原始：Smith makes use of examples of these various techniques to prove that innovation continues.

修改：Smith uses examples of these various techniques to prove that innovation continues.

八、“Argue”“Indicate”“Demonstrate”的區分

很多作者在寫論文的時候，把indicate和demonstrate作為argue的同義詞替換，這是有問題的，他們不是完全等價的。

當涉及到之前的研究中的觀點，使用argue

而indicate和demonstrate通常用來描述事實或者已經被證明無可爭議

argue還可以用來避免聽起來對結果猶豫不定。比如“may indicate”“may suggest”“may demonstrate”都可以被argue加強

原始：The results may indicate that climatic change caused the extinction of the dinosaurs.

修改：We argue that climatic change caused the extinction of the dinosaurs.

九、避免以“It”和“There”開始句子

不要在每句話開頭都用“It”和“There”。在科技論文的寫作中，最好是把主語放在開頭的位置，而不是放在“it”形成的從句中間，這樣能使得文章更易讀。避免使用這種以“It”和“There”開始的句子，比如

（1）It is known that ... （2）It is considered that ... （3）It demonstrates that ... （4）It could be said that ... （5）It follows that ...

原始：It is possible that participants between the ages of 18 and 19 responded differently than those between the ages of 20 and 21.

修改：Participants between the ages of 18 and 19 may have responded differently than participants between the ages of 20 and 21.

原始：There is a need for implementation of the policy on a large scale by the president of the association.

修改：The association president must implement the policy on a larger scale.

原始：It could happen that a decision to modify the model is made by the researcher.

修改：The research may decide to modify the model.

原始：There is a necessity for a semi-structured approach to be chosen.

修改：A semi-structured approach must be chosen.

原始：It was vital that quantitative measures would usefully supplement and extend the qualitative analysis.

修改：Quantitative measures must usefully supplement and extend the?qualitative analysis.

原始：It is necessary that the best method to adopt for this investigation is determined by the committee.

修改：The committee must decide the best method to adopt for this investigation.

十、主動動詞

在寫作的時候，我們經常用類似“show”“deal with”這種萬能詞，但是在一篇文章中，這樣的詞使用的越多，就越沒有意義。如果你能選擇一個意義更明確的詞表示，也就是主動動詞，就不要用這種萬能動詞。比如將“Chen dealt with”和“Figure 1 shows”表達成“Chen hypothesized”和“Figure 1 represents”意義變得更加明確

在下列情況中應該選擇主動動詞

1.當你準備文獻綜述的時候，需要用簡要，明確的術語來描述其他人的研究時

Phillip Chang proposes a mechanism explaining increased silica solubility in the presence of two small organic acids.

2.當你解釋你自己的實驗研究，需要解釋觀察到的趨勢時

The results of this study challenge findings from studies about analytic concentration varying with sample location.

3.當你進行客觀陳述，需要預測信息的時候

This study characterizes wetlands by their water chemistry and postulates that water chemistry varies with water source and wetland type.

4.當你涉及到某幅圖，表或公式，需要定義該圖，表或公式的目的

Figure 4 depicts grain growth that occurred after the ceramic was sintered for three hours.

下面的單詞列表在寫論文的時候，隨時查看

描述研究或者分析思維的主動動詞

yield ? ?illustrate ? ?illuminate ? ?reveal ? ?employ ? ?mean ? ? suggest ? ? clarity ? ?indicate ? represent ? ?prove? ? insist ? ?propose ? ? imply ? ? ?assert ? ?postulate ? ?consider ? infer ? state extrapolate ? ?estimate ? define ? classify ? invoke ? analyze ? ?compare ? ?hypothesize ? synthesize ? summarize ? disagree ? generalize ?narrate ? evaluate ? ?simplify ? measure ? note ? predict ? ?introduce ? ?report ? ?construe ? challenge ? delineate ?depict ? interpret ? ?provide ? acknowledge ? distinguish ? inform ? specify ? restrict ? determine ? detail ? sum up ? designate point out ? ?set forth ? ? deduce ? ?derive ? characterize ? ?guide ? ?maintain ? believe ? speculate ? present ? ?organize ? ?investigate ? assess ? ? determine ? ?calculate ? ?support ? ?devise ? ?construct ? ? ?evaluate ? ? attribute ? ?obtain ? ?assume ? ?argue ? ?reiterate ? ?discover ? decide

描述現象的主動動詞

discharge ? ?overlie ? ?emanate ? ?radiate ? ?scatter ? ?exchange ? ?separate ? ?surround ? ?combine ? ?eliminate ? ?emit ? ?transmit ? ?carry ? ?bombard ? ?exert ? ?exude ? ?interact ? ?behave ? ?exchange ? ?absorb ? ? converge ? ?extend ? ?constrain ? ?force ? ?elongate ? ?contract ? ?trend ? ?plunge ? ?occur ? ?fracture ? ?continue ? ?mix ? ?slow ? ?quicken ? ?produce ? ?bond ? ?interlock ? ?fuse ? ?deteriorate ? ?migrate ? ?encompass ? ?access ? ?traverse ? ?join ? ?dominate ? ?deposit ? ?underline? ? overlap ? ?originate ? ?isolate ? ?invade ? ?permeate ? ?evolve ? ?divide ? ?sinter ? ?reclaim ? ?restore ? ?abandon ? ?contain ? ?accrue ? ?precede ? ?influence ? ?saturate ? ?circulate ? ?forecast ? ?orient ? ?distribute ? ?allow ? ?lag ? ?terminate ? ?activate ? ?cease ? ?record ? ?form ? ?transect ? ?condense ? ?enrich ? ?invert ? ?convert ? ?alter ? ?link ? ?superimpose ? ?rotate ? ?rupture ? ?streamline ? ?appear ? ?require ? ?ascend ? ?descend ? ?collapse ? ?superpose ? ?crystallize ? ?bisect ? ?cede ? ?coalesce ? ?disperse ? ?disseminate ? ?disintegrate ? ?propel ? ?repel ? ?accelerate ? ?transfer ? ?penetrate ? ?halt ? ?curb

本文轉載自簡書作者情天寄傲，材料牛石小梅編輯整理。