Transcript Exercise 2
Exercise 2
No.1
(Worse) Either the supply or consumers
determines the market outcome.
(Better) Either the supply or consumers
determine the market outcome.
[Note 1.18]
Whenever or or nor connects two subjects, the
subject closest to verb should determine
whether the verb is singular or plural.
Since consumers is the closet to verb, the verb
should be plural.
No.2
(Worse) The department chairman and
professor are my current employer.
(Better 1) The department chairman and
professor is my current employer.
(Better 2) The professor who acts as the
chairman is my current employer.
[Note 1.19]
Although a plural verb is usually used when
two or more subjects are connected by and, a
singular verb should be used when the two or
more subjects refer to the same person or thing.
No.3
(Worse) Telecommunications have been widely
studied in recent years.
(Better) Telecommunications has been widely
studied in recent years.
[Note 1.20]
Because a noun is plural in form (ending in s or
es) does not mean that it is plural in meaning.
Like telecommunications, other examples such
as mathematics, physics and economics take
singular verbs because they refer to a singular
body of knowledge.
No.4
(Worse) The optimization phrase determines a feasible
factor level combination to optimize the process quality.
This may be difficult for users without previous
statistical training.
(Better) The optimization phrase determines a feasible
factor level combination to optimize the process quality.
This approach may be difficult for users without
previous statistical training.
[Note 1.21]
Beginning a sentence with This or That may confuse
the reader as to what the writer is referring to.
In this sentence, the reader could confuse This to refer
to only optimization phrase, feasible factor level
combination or process quality.
Instead, adding approach behind This lets the reader
know what the author is referring to in the previous
sentence.
No.5
(Worse) After the board meeting was finished,
they left the room.
(Better 1) After the board meeting was finished,
the participants left the room.
(Better 2) The participants left the room after
the board meeting was finished.
[Note 1.22]
A writer occasionally use a pronoun to imply what it
refers to, thereby assuming that the reader will know
what referent for pronoun is.
However, some readers do not understand what the
writer is implying when a pronoun is used.
Since the board meeting is made up of participant, the
writer used the pronoun they, assuming that the reader
would understand. However, this implied meaning
often creates confusion.
No.6
(Worse) It is preferred in standard methods to
select a tentative model based on censored data.
(Better) Standard methods prefer selecting a
tentative model based on censored data.
[Note 1.23]
Spoken English often uses they, it , and you
without a particular referent in mind.
For example “In Taiwan, they use chopsticks.”
However, in writing, they, it, and you should
not be used unless they have an antecedent.
No.7
(Worse) This study focuses on examination of
Taguchi’s two step procedure and
demonstrating how the wafer quality is
improved in the deposition process.
(Better) This study examines Taguchi’s two
step procedure and demonstrates how the
deposition process improves the wafer quality.
[Note 1.24]
A sentence is not parallel when a noun
(examination) and a gerund (demonstrating) are
used together.
No.8
(Worse) The two step procedure attempts to identify
those factors that signficantly affect the signal-to-noise
(SN) ratio and finding the adjustment factors that
markedly influence the mean.
(Better) The two step procedure attempts to identify
those factors that significantly affect the signal-to-noise
(SN) ratio and find the adjustment factors that
markedly influence the mean.
[Note 1.25]
A sentence is not parallel when using an
infinitive (to identify) and a gerund (finding) are
used together.
No.9
(Worse) The adjustment factors are found by
selection of the appropriate levels and to vary
the surrounding factors.
(Better) The adjustment factors are found by
selecting the appropriate levels and varying the
surrounding factors.
[Note 1.26]
A sentence is not parallel when a noun
(selection) and an infinitive (to vary) are used
together.
No.10
(Worse) Being a volatile compound, the
chemist handled the mixture with extreme
caution.
(Better) Because the mixture was a volatile
compound, the chemist handled it with extreme
caution.
[Note 1.27]
In this sentence, the mixture rather than the
chemist was a volatile compound.
The revised sentence eliminates the dangling
modifier.
No.11
(Worse) The new computer has many improved
functions that reached the market last week.
(Better) The new computer that reached the
market last week has many improved functions.
[Note 1.28]
A common mistake of technical writers is the
use of a misplaced modifier when the clause or
phrase does not clearly modify what it should.
In the revised sentence, the modifying clause
that reached the market last week is placed next
to what it should modify, The new computer,
this eliminating confusion.
No.12
(Worse) The model offered by the manufacturer
with the latest functions has many advantages
over older models.
(Better) The model with the latest functions
offered by the manufacturer has many
advantages over older models.
[Note 1.29]
Placing the modifying phrase with the latest
functions in the wrong place erroneously states
that the manufacturer not the modem has the
latest functions.
No.13
(Worse) The input’s power is greater than the
output.
(Better) The input’s power is greater than that
of the output.
[Note 1.30]
The comparison in this sentence is illogical.
Instead of comparing power to the input, either
power is compared to power or input is
compared to input.
The revised sentence makes the sentence
logical.
No.14
(Worse) The back propagation network can be
used estimate the mapping function between
the two variables.
(Better) The back propagation network can be
used to estimate the mapping function between
the two variables.
[Note 1.31]
Make sure that necessary words are not missing.
Otherwise, the meaning will be unclear.
No.15
(Worse) The novel algorithm is more efficient
in terms of computational cost.
(Better) The novel algorithm is more efficient
than conventional ones in terms of
computational cost.
No.16
(Worse) Turn on the machine and the valve
should be closed.
(Better) Turn on the machine and close the
valve.
[Note 1.32]
The writer should avoid shifting moods,
particularly from imperative (i.e. stating a
command) to indicative (i.e. stating a fact or
question).
No.17
(Worse) The academic advisor asked the
graduate student if the paper was completed
and is it ready to send to journal for review?
(Better) The academic advisor asked the
graduate student if the paper was completed
and ready to send to journal for review.
[Note 1.33]
The writer should avoid shifting from indirect
course (i.e. reporting what the speaker said) to
direct course (i.e. stating the actual words of the
speaker), or vice versa.
No.18
(Worse) The laboratory manager arranged the
meeting and the discussion was led by him.
(Better) The laboratory manager arranged the
meeting and led the discussion.
[Note 1.34]
Shifting the subject from laboratory manager to
discussion makes this sentence less emphatic
and confuses the reader from identifying the
important subject.