正式的英文写作.切忌不要使用“I”“You”“We”等等主观的称谓！
The most common mistakes:
1. Use of questions.
If you use a question it means you are questioning and not proving your point.
Questions are best to be left out of essays because they are very passive and sometimes make holes in your essay. When you confront a question, turn it into a statement:
Example:"What do you think that person should do?"
Change to:
"The person should do the following things to solve his/her problem."
2. Use of "and so on" &"etc."
You can't put these in a formal essay. You must either identify what the "so on" and "etc" are or else just name three examples. The reader knows that you cannot possibly list every example or situation, but if you use "so on" and "etc" you are using non-formal language.
Example: There are many types of religions in society: Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity and so on.
Change to:
There are many types of religions in society such as Judaism, buddhism, Christianity, Jehovah Witnesses and Hinduism.
3. Using "I"
When writing a formal essay, you cannot use "I think" "I feel"(and other "I" type statements. Instead, use words like "one" and phrases like "the reader" or "the audience." The reason we do this is, first, the reader knows you wrote it and also that it is your opinion; therefore, "I" is not needed. It is not formal language to say I think, plus it is not needed.
Examples:"I think t hat cats are better than dogs."
Change to:
Cats are better than dogs.
Take out all the I thinks, in my opinion, I will show, I will prove and any other personal phrases. Instead, make them into more general statements.
4. Use of "You" "Your" "We" "Us" "Our"
Please do not use these words in a formal essay. Not only are they not formal language, but readers may be insulted if the author of the paper insinuates that "You"/"We" do something. It brings too personal of an approach to the writing and can make the reader uncomfortable.
Examples:
I think/ In my opinion
Change to: more general statements
I think War is a pointless activity.
War is a pointless activity.
You/Your
Change to:A person/ people/ His/ Her/ One/ One's
You think that reading is boring.
One may think that reading is boring.
Our/ We/ Us
change to: His/ Her/ People
We all have to work together for a better society.
people need to work together in order to create a better society.作者: cloudwind 时间: 2007-9-16 11:11
