最近断断续续在读些英文写作的书，以下摘录自Writing the Research paper一书。在写作中，遣词造句单调是个常见问题。此摘录给出几点变换风格的方法：短短长，并列结构，分主次。
Variety is easy to recognize and define. It means a mixture that is not monotonous. Style, on the other hand, is not easy to pinpoint. A passage that monotonously uses the same kind of sentence over and over again is not only boring, it is also without style.
What readers don't like
Monotonous: Poetry is regarded by many as the highest literary art form. Poetry is seen nowadays as an unpopular form. Poetry used to be read very widely by the middle classes. Poetry no longer enjoys that distinction and today is hardly ready by anyone.
Varied: Poetry is regarded by many as the highest literary art form. Nowadays, however, it has become unpopular. Whereas poetry used to be read very widely by the middle classes, today it hardly is ever read by anyone
We don't like to begin more than two sentences in a row with the same word; and we do not like to end more than two sentences in a row with the same word, either.
If we find ourselves using many short sentences in a row, we deliberately interrupt the monotony by making the next sentence longer.
our aim is to write a succession of sentences that do not appear cut from a cookie-cutter. If you find yourself using several sentences of the same kind in a row, go back over the material and change them for the sake of variety.
Ways to vary your sentences
- Learn to juxtapose short and long sentences. Follow several short sentences with a long one.
- Learn to subordinate. Most of us write compound sentences almost without thinking. But subordinating one clause to another requires thoughtful effort. It means that you must place lesser thoughts "sub," or below, the main idea. (Main clause + Subordinate clause)
Coordinate I arrived at Yankee Stadium, and the first inning was already underway.
Subordinate The first inning was already under way when I arrived at Yankee Stadium.
Coordinate The car still runs well, but it is not worth selling
Subordinate The car, which still runs well, is not worth selling.
- Learn to use parallel constructions. A parallel construction is one that uses grammatically similar elements to express ideas.
He traveled by bus, by ship, and he took a plane
He traveled by bus, by ship, and by plane.
The king stood on the balcony. Then he decided to wave at the crowd. later he also shook hands with the foreign minister.
The king stood on the balcony, waved at the crowd, and shook hands with the foreign minister.