看笑話學英語之- 寫作須知（1）

Rules for Better Writing - 1

以下的這些英文寫作語法要點都是實實在在的。 不過作者用很幽默的手法 - 每一個要點的寫法都正好犯了要點所指的錯誤。 我喜歡這種辦法， 因為這要比幹巴巴的要點更容易讓人記住， 何況還兼帶著會心一笑。各位可以自己看看句中的錯誤。我給有些加了標誌

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 是聯結詞， 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 分開

5. Avoid cliches like the plague. (They're old hat)
cliche 指的是被濫用了的警句妙語常用詞之類，結果是流於濫俗。像是avoid .... like the plaque.

6. Also, always avoid annoying alliteration.
alliteration 指2個聲音很接近的詞連在一起，讀起來很不順。 繞口令是最典型的了
-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.
能不用括號插入語時就不用

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
當沒有動詞時， 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.
寫作中避免用縮寫

12. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
-Foreign words and phrase are not appropriate.
隻要英文有的常用詞， 就不該借用外來詞。 否則會顯得無知或賣弄

13. Do not be redundant; do not use more words than necessary; it's highly superfluous.
-Do not be redundant.
以上三句話是典型的含義重複。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，所以避免用絕對性（such as always) 的詞。

15. Comparisons are as bad as cliches.
-Use explanation, avoid comparasion.
英文寫作注重句子含義清晰。對比涉及到邏輯，也許有的讀者不同意你的對比，結果造成混亂。就象比喻， 你若做對比， 就要有解釋

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

17. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
-Eschew ampersands and abbreviations.
也即避免使用簡寫符號

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

這最後一個錯誤是在國人寫作中很常見的。 因為我們的寫作方式很注重比喻。而英文中非creative writing 一般是不待見比喻的。 除非是顯而易見人人皆知的，否著必要發揮，若要發揮必要有解釋

[renyaya]

the 2nd one should be:

prepositions are not words to be used to end sentences.

?