論文一不小心寫太長,就用這 10 個英語技巧
【意得輯論文寫作指導(dǎo)】
小e時常在后臺收到一些人的哭訴,努力寫好了論文,結(jié)果卻超出期刊的字?jǐn)?shù)限制,不論再怎么修改內(nèi)容都無法符合規(guī)定,甚至再改下去就會影響到要傳達(dá)的研究重點,這時候該怎么辦呢?

一般我會建議,如果內(nèi)容已經(jīng)無法再精簡,那就試試從語言方面下手。
許多母語非英文的作者都會覺得把文章寫的簡潔有力非常困難,因為他們找不到適合的詞來替代短句。
事實上,遵守字?jǐn)?shù)限制對以母語非英文的作者來說也極具挑戰(zhàn),因為他們總是有很多話想說,很難把握維持簡短的要求。
寫作時,要盡量保持內(nèi)文簡潔,在論文寫完后,可以再回頭看一遍,找出可以再精簡的內(nèi)容,這里有些小技巧可以幫助你。
簡化引用文獻敘述
以 there is a previous study on、it has been reported that 或其他類似的句型開頭的句子通常都會引用一些文獻,使得句子較累贅,可以將這些短語刪除,僅留下引用文獻。
示例
原文:It has been reported that the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease increases with age (Rogue et al., 2004). (17 字)
修改后:It has been reported that tThe incidence of Alzheimer’s disease increases with age (Rogue et al., 2004). (12 字)

將產(chǎn)品名稱放進括號里
含有產(chǎn)品名稱的句子,可以將產(chǎn)品名稱放進括號里
示例
原文:The samples were analyzed on the ABC spectrophotometer (Zhejiang Scientific, Zhejiang, China) to determine the xyz values. (17 字)
修改后:The samples were analyzed on the ABC spectrophotometer to determine the xyz values (ABC spectrometer; Zhejiang Scientific, Zhejiang, China). (15 字)
動詞名詞化
將動詞名詞化能有效使句子變?nèi)A麗,試著把這類的字找出來。以下例句借著把 diagnosis 替換成 diagnosed 將句子變短了。
示例
原文:A diagnosis of cancer was made on the basis of the findings. (12 字)
修改后:A diagnosis of cCancer was diagnosed made on the basis of the findings. (9 字)
避免直述統(tǒng)計相關(guān)性數(shù)據(jù)
在“結(jié)果”章節(jié),避免用群組數(shù)據(jù)加上統(tǒng)計相關(guān)性,可以直接把數(shù)據(jù)放進括號里。
示例
原文:The protein level was 5 mg in Group A, while it was 3 mg in Group B, the difference being statistically significant (p < 0.05). (25 字)
修改后:The difference in the protein level was 5 mg in betweenGgroups A and B, while it was 3 mg in Group b, the difference being statisticallywas significant (5 mg vs. 3 mg, p < 0.05). (21 字)

刪除多余的基本信息
檢查是否能刪除一些對讀者來說理所當(dāng)然的基本信息,作者通常在“介紹與討論”部分以敘述性內(nèi)容開頭,雖說建構(gòu)上下文很重要,但也許并不是很必要。
例如你在寫有關(guān) AIDS 的研究論文,不要用像 AIDS is a life-threatening disease.這樣的句子開頭。
贅 詞
檢查典型的贅詞,用簡潔的表述替代。以下提供一些范例:
示例
A number of - several
As a result - therefore
On the other hand - whereas
As a consequence of - owing to
善用英文語法中的“省略結(jié)構(gòu)”
在英文文法里,可以用“省略結(jié)構(gòu)”免去在一個句子里重復(fù)出現(xiàn)的動詞。
示例
原文:Group A was given cyclosporine, Group B was given FK506, and Group C was given chlorambucil. (16 字)
修改后:Group A was given cyclosporine; Group B,was given FK506; and Group C,was given chlorambucil. (12 字)

好用的“連字符”
大部分像 MS Office 這樣的軟件將連字符號串聯(lián)的字算成一個字,可以考慮多利用連字符。
示例
原文:After rehabilitation, the patients came to rely on themselves. (9 字)
修改后:After rehabilitation, the patients became self-reliantto rely on themselves (6 字)
適時使用主動語態(tài)
使用主動語態(tài)有時能減少字?jǐn)?shù)。
示例
原文:Written informed consent was given by all patients. (8 字)
修改后:All patients gave Wwritten informed consent was given by all patients. (6 字)
避免使用 of 來表示所有格
示例
原文:Patients of Group 1 were followed up for 6 months, and those of Group 2, for 12 months. (18 字)
修改后:Patients of Group 1 patients were followed up for 6 months, whileandthose of Group 2 patientswere followed up, for 12 months. (15 字)

總 結(jié)
以上幾個方法能在不改變內(nèi)文的情況下通過英文修改大幅減少文章長度,不過減少字?jǐn)?shù)總歸不是件簡單的事,需要來回讀過幾遍把能精簡的部分找出來。
如果以上方法都不管用,你就要多費心神把內(nèi)容整個看過,看看那個部分能刪掉了。