Transcript 科技英语写作语法错误举例

科技英语写作语法错误举例
from: The ACS Style Guide, Chapter 2
1
Subject-Verb Agreements
例1 Application of this technique to
studies on phytoplankton biomass and
its environments are described.
[说明] The subject is “application”,
which is singular.
Application of this technique to …
is described.
Sometimes, two singular subjects joined by “and”
cause this error.
例2 Growth and isolation of M13 virus was
described
→Growth and isolation of M13 virus were
described.
Exception: A subject that is plural in form but
singular in effect takes a singular verb.
例3 The name and address of each contributor
is given on the title page.
例4 Research and development is attracting a
growing number of young scientists.
However, when two or more subjects are
joined by “or”, the verb takes the
number of the closest subject.
例5 Application or uses were noted.
Uses or application was noted.
Collective nouns take a singular verb when the
group as a whole is meant, they take a plural verb
when individuals of the group are meant.
例6 The series is arranged in order of
decreasing size.
[说明] Refers to the series as a unit.
例7 A series of compounds were tested.
[说明] Refers to each compound.
例 8 A series of low molecular weight
phenolphthalein epoxy resins ( Mn＝500～700)
has been prepared from phenolphthalein and
epichlorohydrin using K2CO3(Na2CO3)/H2O as
catalysts instead of NaOH/H2O.
→A series of low molecular weight
phenolphthalein epoxy resins ( Mn＝500～700)
heve been prepared from phenolphthalein and
epichlorohydrin using K2CO3(Na2CO3)/H2O as
catalysts instead of NaOH/H2O.
例9 Experimental data that we obtained are
compared with previously reported results.
[说明] Refers to the data as individual results.
例10 After the data are distributed, we can meet
to discuss them.
→After the data is distributed, we can meet
to discuss it.
[说明] Refers to the whole collection of data
as
one unit.
例11 None of the samples was soluble.
→None of the samples were soluble.
[说明] Refers to individuals.
例12 This group of workers are well aware
of their responsibilities.
→This group of workers is well aware
of its responsibilities.
[说明] Refers to the group as a unit.
Units of measurement are treated as collective
nouns and therefore take a singular subject.
例13 The mixture was stirred, and 5 mL of diluent were
added.
→The mixture was stirred, and 5 mL of diluent was
added.
例14 Five grams of NaCL were added to the solution.
→Five grams of NaCL was added to the solution.
例15 Three weeks are needed to complete the experiment.
→Three weeks is needed to complete the experiment.
Compound subjects containing the words “each”,
“every”, and “everybody” may take singular
verbs.
例16 Each flask and each holder was sterilized
before use.
Both components of the compound subject must
contain the words in question. Otherwise, the
verb must be plural.
例17 Each student and all of the professors were
invited.
2 Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clauses
When a clause in a compound sentence is restrictive, the
clause is necessary to the sense of the sentence, the
sentence would become pointless without the clause.
Restrictive clauses are best introduced by “that”, not
“which”.
例18 It was necessary to fined a blocking group which
would react with the amino group but not with the
hydroxyl.
→It was necessary to fined a blocking group that
would react with the amino group but not with the
hydroxyl.
When a clause is nonrestrictive, it adds
information, but the sentence does not lose
its meaning if the clause is deleted.
Nonrestrictive clause are introduced by
“which” are set off by commas.
例19 The current-voltage curves, which are
shown in Figure 6, clearly demonstrate the
reversibility of all four processes.
3 Dangling Modifiers （垂悬修饰语）
One form of a dangling modifier is a verbal
phrase that not refer clearly and logically to
another word or phrase in the sentence.
例20 Understanding the effect of substituents on
the parent molecules, the ortho hydrogens
could be assigned to the high-frequency peak.
→Understanding the effect of substituents on
the parent molecules, we could assign the
ortho hydrogens to the high-frequency peak.
例21 Using the procedure described previously, the
partition function can be evaluated.
→the partition function can be evaluated
by using the procedure described previously.
Or,
→Using the procedure described previously,
we can evaluate the partition function.
4 Awkward Omissions of Verbs and
Auxiliary Verbs
Be sure that each subject in a compound sentence
has the proper verbs and auxiliary verbs.
例22 The eluant was added to the column, and
the samples collected in 10-mL increments.
→The eluant was added to the column, and
the samples were collected in 10-mL
increments.
[补充]
科技英语写作表达的几个问题
平山健三 英语化学论文写作方法
市原
英语论文的写作方法
周春晖 科技英语写作
英文现刊
1 简明
2 富于变幻
3 辨析近义词
4 语法修辞及其他
（1） 由which, that, where
引出的从句
（2） 不要在一个名词前用一串词进行修饰
（3） 词序
（4） 利用时态表示事件发生的先后关系
（5） 介词
1)
与描写实验过程有关的介词
2)
由相同介词引起的相互平行的对等结构
1 简明
例 As can be seen from Fig.1, growth is
rapid.
→ Growth is rapid (Fig.1).
Fig.1 shows that growth is rapid.
As shown in Fig.1 …
→ Fig.1 shows …
The molar enthalpy of decomposition
was determined to be 62.38 kJ/mol
by means of thee third peak area in
DSC curve.
→
The
molar
enthalpy
of
decomposition was determined to be
62.38 kJ/mol from (or by)thee third
peak area in DSC curve.
下述句式可以更加简捷的形式表达
常以介词或副词代替
a number of
= several, some
at a temperature of
at
at some future time
later
at the present time (moment)
now
a very limited number of
few
by means of
by or with
due to the fact that
because or since
during the time that
while
for a period of
for
for the reason that
because or since
from the standpoint of
according to
greater (or higher) number of more
if conditions are such that
if
compared with A, B was bigger
B was bigger than A
considerable amount of
much
considerable number (or proportion) many or most
in a careless manner
carelessly
in a considerable number of cases often
in a similar manner
similarly
in all cases
always, all
in any case
anyhow
in consequence of this fact
therefore
in excess of
in few cases
more than
sometimes, rarely,
seldom
in many cases chemists are …
many chemists are …
in order to
to
in regard to
in relation to
in respect to
in the case of
in the context of
以上可使用适当的介词，例如in, for, about, with
in some cases
in terms of
in the case of sodium
in the event that
in the near future
in the temperature range of
in view of the fact that
sometimes
in
with sodium
if
soon
between … and … ℃
since or because
large number(s) of
large proportion of
of great importance
of such hardness that
on the basis of
on the order of
many
many
important
so hard that
from, by, because
about
over the past few years
owing to the fact that
a small number of
subsequent to
a sufficient number of
with reference to
prior to
recently, in recent years
since, because
a few
after
enough
about
before
It is apparent that …
Apparently …, hence,
thus
It appears that …
It is interesting to note that …
It was in 1977 that …
It is clear that …
It is our conclusion that …
that …
Apparently …
Interestingly …
In 1977 …
Clearly …
We conclude
It is possible that …
It may be said that …
Perhaps …,
Possibly, Probably
It is often the case that …
Often …
It is possible that the cause is …
The cause may be …
可去掉It,改用动词，而不用名词
It is the aim of the present investigation to
provide …
→ This investigation is aimed to
providing …
两种类型的复杂句及其简化
有被动式从句与主动式从句之分
[被动式从句]
He uses an instrument which is called
a spectroscope.
→ He uses an instrument called a spectroscope.
（简化为后置的过去分词）
带有 介词+which 句子的简化
• (1) at which → where
Airport is a place at which special attention is paid
to the weather.
→ Airport is a place where special attention is paid
to the weather.
• (2) by means of which → whereby
A fuse box is a device by means of which
excessive loads are avoided.
→ A fuse box is a device whereby excessive loads
are avoided.
Definition of thermal analysis
A general term covering a group of
related techniques whereby the
dependence of the parameters of any
physical property of a substance on
temperature is measured.
(3)
of which → whose
Venus is a planet of which the surface temperature
is thought to be at least 200 ℃.
→ Venus is a planet whose the surface temperature
is thought to be at least 200 ℃.
﹡有介词 from, in, for者不能简化
Laboratories are rooms in which experiments are
conducted.
﹡有助动词的句子，不能简化
Here is a list of experiments which will be/
should be/ have been done this year.（这里是今
年要做的/ 必须做的/ 已做过的实验明细表。)
[主动式从句]
例 The man who lectures on Thursday is an expert
in dynamics.
• → The man lecturing on Thursday is an expert
•
in dynamics.
• （简化为现在分词，作后置定语。）
再简化
被动式
Air which is compressed can be used for several
purposes.
→ Air compressed can be used for several purposes.
→ Compressed air compressed can be used for
several purposes.
主动式
Malaysia is a country which produces rubber.
Malaysia is a country producing rubber.
Malaysia is a rubber- producing country.
2 富于变幻
比如，“称作”一词
Such fractions are called as non-freezing water.
Such fractions are referred to as freezing bound
water.
This water is designated as freezing water.
再比如，报道、阐述、主张、确认
•
Conflicting data have been presented in literature
concerning the compatibility of poly(vinyl chloride)PVC- and poly(methyl methacrylate)-PMMA. Thus,
Schurer et al[1] reported PVC/ PMMA to be miscible
only in blends having a PVC content greater than 60 ℅
w/w, whereas Rozinska et al[2] claimed PVC/ PMMA
to be immiscible. On the other hand, Parmer et al[3]
asserted PVC/PMMA to be miscible over the whole
range of composition showing a single glass transition,
Tg, in the second DSC heating rate traces. Miscibility of
PVC/PMMA has also been confirmed by Albert et al[4]
by non-radiative energy transfer and NMR.
3 辨析近义词
例1 absorbed by, adsorbed on
adsorbed on（吸附于表面），
absorbed by（吸收其中）。
如：
…adsorbed on the surface of silver iodide.
（…吸附于碘化银的表面。）
water was absorbed by the sponge.
（水被泡沫材料吸收。）
例2 accuracy, precision
accuracy（准确定），示值（实验值）与被测
量真值（约定真值）的一致程度；
precision（精密度），某一物理量多次测量值
的一致性（或称数据的分散性）。
例如：
Although high precision was achieved, accuracy
was low. （ 虽 然达 到 高精 密 度 ， 但 准 确 度
低。）
• 例3 actually, in fact
在例句
“Actually, the reaction rates by employing some
other methods were considerably slower, …”
中，对于科学论文来讲，这里使用in fact更为
合适。与书面语言相比，actually更多用于口
语。
• 例4 adjust, calibrate
calibrate的名词形式是calibration（校准），在
规定条件下为确定测量仪器或测量系统的示
值与被测量相对应的已知值之间关系的一组
操作。可以用校准的结果评定测量仪器、测
量系统的示值误差，或给任意标尺上的标记
赋值；有时把校准的结果表示为校正因子或
取校正曲线形式的一系列校正因子。可按上
述的校正对测量结果做调整（adjust）。例如：
The results of the calibration permitted us to
adjust the final result.（校准的结果允许我们去
调整最终结果。）
• 例5 common, general, ordinary, usual, routine
common （ 普 通 的 ， 共 同 的 ） ,α-Alumina
monohydrate is a common component of many
bauxites, of which the French bauxites are
typical.（α-氧化铝单水合物是许多铝土矿的
共同成分，
general（一般的），One of the best and most
general methods for preparing ketones in the
aromatic series is the Friedel-Craft reaction.（制
备芳酮类化合物一般最好的方法之一是
Friedel-Craft反应。）
ordinary（普通的，通常的），如：
Heavy water differs somewhat from ordinary water
in certain physical properties.（重水在某些物
理性质方面与普通的水有所不同。）
ordinary pressure（常压），
ordinary temperature（常温）。
Usual （ 常 规 的 ） ， Under these condition the
end-point of titration could be found accurately
in the usual way.（在这种条件下，按常规的
办法可以精确发现滴定终点。）
茲以method为例：
a common method 普通的方法
a general method 一般的方法
a usual method
常规的方法
a conventional method 传统的方法
此外，routine（贯常的），如routine test（惯
常测试），是指按即定的程序开展的大量重
复测试。
• 例6 by means of, in terms of
by means of 与by, using, by using同义，表示利
用某种方法（手段，诸如IR, DSC, NMR, X射
线衍射等）开展研究、观测；
in terms of 通常用在采用某种理论（说法）、
参数来解释实验结果。
例如：
The thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of PES/PPS blends
have been investigated by means of DSC and DMA.
Sometimes, we have to study the miscibility of polymer blends by
means of a combination of two or more methods in order to
confirm the experimental results.
Fox equation interprets the relationship between glass temperature
( Tg ) and copolymer compositions.
→ The relationship between glass temperature ( Tg ) and copolymer
compositions was interpreted in terms of Fox equation.
修改后，使重点（Tg 与组成的关系）更加突出，此句的重点并
非是Fox方程。
We have prepared the complex of title compound and discussed its
thermal decomposition procedure by TG-DTG, DTA, SEM and IR
techniques and the corresponding non-isothermal kinetics
by means of the Malek method. → … in terms of the Malek
method.
• 例7 curve, thermogram
curve（曲线），thermogram（热谱）。
thermogram的一种解释是，住院病人，例行查
房，体温的逐日记录。因此，以英国学者为
主的热分析名词委员会主张称热分析的记录
为“曲线”，而不称“热谱”。如DTA curve
（DTA曲线），DSC curve（DSC曲线）。
例8 derivative, differential
derivative（微商），表示某物理量P对温度T
或 时 间 t 的 微 商 ， dP/dT ( 或 dP/dt ), 如
derivative thermogravimetry（微商热重法）
differential （ 差 ， 差 式 ） ， 如 differential
scanning calorimetry（差式扫描量热法）。
• 例9 different, various, varying
different （ 不 同 的 ） ， various （ 各 种 的 ） ，
varying（改变……的）。例如：
The results are clearly different.
（结果显然不同。）
We tried various（或several different）methods.
（我们试过各种方法。）
The effect of varying the condition was …
（改变条件的影响是……）
• 例10 mass, weight
mass（质量），weight（重量）。
如：mass of the sample（试样质量，或简称试
样量），而不称sample weight（试样重量）。
重量在本质上与力是相同的，即是质量与因
重力而产生的加速度的乘积。
• 例11 often, sometimes, usually
它们在表现时间的频次上是不同的，
usually, often, sometimes 依次为“通常”、
“常常”、“有时”，频次降低。
如：
It was usually observed that …
（通常观测……）
It was often observed that …
（常常观测……）
It was sometimes observed that …
（ 有时观测……）
• 例 12
standard material, certified
reference material
standard material 标准物质，
certified reference material有证参样（或称有证
标准物质）。
standard material用于检定仪器测量准确度的物
质；certified reference material用一种或多种
技术上正确的方法，鉴定了其特性值、具有
可溯源性并附有鉴定机构所发给的证书或其
他文件的标准物质。
4 语法修辞及其他
• （1）
由which, that, where引出的从句
which
•
1) 通过which进行双扩展
The change of heat of fusion of polyethylene as a
function of the specific volume which the
sample has at room temperature, and which is
related to the crystallinity through Eq.(5) in
Chapter IV is shown in Fig.IV 12.
2)
句
由于插入从句，which远离它所代替的主
中的词
In the case of cold crystallization it is suggested
that by reason of somewhat rigid backbone
chains in these polymers, there will be some
local order such as parallel chains or nematic
domains, originating during quenching the melt
and frozen in the glassy state, which favors
subsequent crystallization.
（2）不要在一个名词前用一串词进行修
饰
Thermal decomposition kinetics of the
complexes of light rare earth bromides with
alanine by DSC method
→ DSC study on kinetics of thermal
decomposition for the complexes of light rare
earth bromides with alanine
（3）
词序
In the form of extended helical chain, the
junction zones are linked.
→ The junction zones are linked in the form of
extended helical chain.
Fox equation interprets the relationship
between glass temperature (Tg) and copolymer
compositions.
→ The relationship between glass
temperature (Tg) and copolymer compositions
was interpreted in terms of Fox equation.
（4） 利用时态表示事件发生的先后关
系
Examine the contents of the tube in which the
liquid have collected.
[考察（事先已在）试管中收集的液体。]
(现在完成时在前，现在时在后。）
（5）
介词
1） 与描写实验过程有关的介词
• under condition
… under non-isothermal condition
• at heating/ cooling rate
under atmosphere
The exothermic crystallization peaks were
recorded at different cooling rates ranging from
2.5--40℃/min under a nitrogen atmosphere.
• 升、降温速率也可用with, 但如with已用于使
用某种仪器前，则扫描速率仍须用at。
•
The melting range of this polymer was 138～163℃,
and the heat of fusion was 24 cal/g, as determined by
differential scanning calorimetry with a scan speed of
8℃/min.
… subsequently the specimens were cooled down, and
crystallization thermograms were recorded at scan
speed of 0.5～32℃/min with a differential scanning
calorimeter manufactured by Perkin-Elmer (DSC
model 1 B).
by 使用方法
With 使用仪器
differential scanning calorimetry
differential scanning calorimetrer
• in 按（升、降温）模式
The following equation is valid for the heat flow rate
absorbed by the sample (without reference sample) in
(quasi-)steady heating mode.
Peak area calibration can be performed in two ways.
• 2） 由相同介词引起的相互平行的对等
结构
The amorphous subsystem is linked to the
equilibrium melt, followed by extrapolation into
the nonequilibrium, supercooled melt, and future,
under consideration of time scale of cooling,
to the glass, as described in Section V.A.1 and F2.
The following is valid for the (steady-state) heat
flow rates exchanged between furnace and
sample, φfs, between furnace and reference
sample, φfr, and for the measured heat(output)
flow rateφm and true heat flow rate φture in to
the sample.