写作基本原理
Highlights from Chapter 2 <<The Elements of Style>> by Strunk and White
1.
Choose a suitable design and hold to it.
Planning must be a deliberate prelude to writing. The first principle of composition, is to foresee or determine the shape of what is to come and pursue that shape.
The more clearly the writer perceives the shape, the better are the chances of success.
2.
Make the paragraph the unit of composition.
As a rule, single sentences should not be written or printed as paragraphs.
As a rule, begin each paragraph either with a sentence that suggests the topic or with a sentence that helps the transition. This can sometimes be done by a mere word or phrase (again, therefore, for the same reason) in the first sentence.
3.
Use the active voice.
The active voice is usually more direct and vigorous than the passive.
4.
Put statements in positive form.
The reader is dissatisfied with being told only what is not; the reader wishes to be told what is. Hence, as a rule, it is better to express even a negative in positive form.
not honest (dishonest)
not important (trifling)
did not remember (forgot)
did not pay any attention to (ignored)
did not have much confidence in (distrusted)
5.
Use definite, specific, concrete language.
Prefer the specific to the general, the definite to the vague, the concrete to the abstract.
In exposition and in argument, the writer must never lose hold of the concrete; and even when dealing with general principles, the writer must furnish particular instances of their application.
6.
Omit needless words.
Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.
the question as to whether (whether)
there is no doubt but that (no doubt)
this is a subject that (this subject)
Her story is a strange one. (Her story is strange.)
the reason why is that (because)
owing to the fact that (since)
in spite of the fact that (although)
call your attention to the fact that (remind you)
I was unaware of the fact that (I was unaware that)
the fact that he had not succeeded (his failure)
the fact that I had arrived (my arrival)
7.
Avoid a succession of loose sentences.
This rule refers especially to loose sentences of a particular type:
those consisting of two clauses, the second introduced by a conjunction or relative.
An unskilled writer will sometimes construct a whole paragraph of sentences of this kind, using as connectives “and”, “but”, and, less frequently, “who”, “which”, “when”, “where”, and “while”, these last in nonrestrictive senses.
8.
Express coordinate ideas in similar form.
No: Formerly, science was taught in the textbook method, while now the laboratory method is employed.
Yes: Formerly, science was taught by the textbook method; now it is taught by the laboratory method.
Correlative expressions (both, and; not, but; not only, but also; either, or; first, second, third; and the like) should be followed by the same grammatical construction.
No: It was both a long ceremony and very tedious.
Yes: The ceremony was both long and tedious.
No: My objections are, first, the injustice of the measure; second, that it is unconstitutional.
Yes: My objections are, first, that the measure is unjust; second, that it is unconstitutional.
9.
Keep related words together.
No: He noticed a large stain in the rug that was right in the center.
Yes: He noticed a large stain right in the center of the rug.
1) The subject of a sentence and the principal verb should not, as a rule, be separated by a phrase or clause that can be transferred to the beginning.
No: A dog, if you fail to discipline him, becomes a household pest.
Yes: Unless disciplined, a dog becomes a household pest.
2) The relative pronoun should come, in most instances, immediately after its antecedent.
No: He wrote three articles about his adventures in Spain, which were published in Harper’s Magazine.
Yes: He published three articles in Harper’s Magazine about his adventures in Spain.
3) If the antecedent consists of a group of words, the relative comes at the end of the group, unless this would cause ambiguity.
No: The grandson of James, who
Yes: James’s grandson, Ben, who
4) Modifiers should come, if possible, next to the words they modify. If several expressions modify the same word, they should be arranged so that no wrong relation is suggested.
No: All the members were not present.
Yes: Not all the members were present.
No: She only found two mistakes.
Yes: She found only two mistakes.
10.
In summaries; keep to one tense,
11.
Place the emphatic words of a sentence at the end.
No: This steel is principally used for making razors, because of its hardness.
Yes: Because of its hardness, this steel is used principally for making razors.
The principle that the proper place for what is to be made most prominent is the end applies equally to the words of a sentence, to the sentences of a paragraph, and to the paragraphs of a composition.