2018-08-03
昨日阅读1小时,累计阅读354小时
1. 今天阅读到的有价值的全文内容链接:
Continue Reading “The Elements of Style” by William Strunk Jr.
2. 今天阅读到的有价值的内容段落摘录:
Compare.To comparetois to point out or imply resemblances between objects regarded asessentially of a different order; to comparewithis mainly to pint out differences between objects regarded asessentially of the same order. Thus, life has been comparedtoa pilgrimage, toa drama, toa battle; Congress may be comparedwiththe British Parliament. Paris has been comparedto ancientAthens; it may be comparedwith modernLondon.
Comprise.Literally, “embrace”: A zoo comprises mammals, reptiles, andbirds (because it “embraces”, or “includes” them). Butanimals do not comprise a zoo---they constitute a zoo.
Consider.Not followed by aswhen it means “believe to be”: I consider him competent. Whenconsidered means “examined” or “discussed”, it is followed byas:The lecturer considered Eisenhower first as soldier and second asadministrator.
Contact.As a transitive verb, the word is vague and self-important. Do notcontactpeople; get in touch with them, look them up, phone them, find them,or meet them.
Cope.An intransitive verb used with with.One doesn’t “cope”, one “copes with” something or somebody.
Currently.In the sense of “now” with a verb in the present tense, currentlyis usually redundant; emphasis is better achieved though a moreprecise reference to time, such as, “at this moment”.
Data.Like strata,phenomena,and media,datais a plural and is best used with a plural verb. The word, however,is slowly gaining acceptance as a singular.
Differentthan.Wrong word. Should be differsfrom,differentfrom,or otherthan,unlike.
Disinterested.Means “impartial”. Do not confuse it with uninterested,which means “not interested in”.
Dividedinto.Not to be misused for composedof.The line is sometimes difficult to draw; doubtless plays are dividedinto acts, but poems are composed of stanzas. An apple, halved, isdivided into sections, but an apple is composed of seeds, flesh andskin.
Dueto.Loosely used for through,becauseof,or owingto,in adverbial phrases. In correct use, synonymous with attributableto.
Eachand every one.Pitchman’s jargon. Avoid, except in dialogue. Use either “everyone” or “each”.
Effect.As a noun, means “result”; as a verb, means “to bring about”,“to accomplish” (not to be confused with affect,which means “to influence”). As a noun, often loosely used inperfunctory writing about fashions, music, painting, and other arts.The writer who has a definite meaning to express will not take refugein such vagueness.
Enormity.Use only in the sense of “monstrous wickedness”. Misleading, ifnot wrong, when used to express bigness.
Enthuse.An annoying verb growing out of the noun enthusiasm.Not recommended.
Etc.Literally, “and other things”; sometimes loosely used to mean“and other persons”. The phrase is equivalent to and therest,and soforth,and hence is not to be used if one of these would beinsufficient---that is, if the reader would be left in doubt as toany important particulars. Least open to objection when it representsthe last terms of a list already given almost in full, or immaterialwords at the end of a quotation. At the end of a list introduced bysuchas,forexample,or any similar expression, etc.is incorrect. In formal writing, etc.isa misfit. An item important enough to call for etc.is probably important enough to be named.
Fact.Use this word only of matters capable of direct verification, not ofmatters of judgment. That a particular event happened on a given dateand that lead melts at a certain temperature are facts. But suchconclusions as that Napoleon was the greatest of modern generals orthat the climate of California is delightful, however defensible theymay be, are not properly called facts.
3. 今天阅读的自我思考点评感想
It is one of the best book available on writing good English. Particularly the misused words summary is useful. But notice that the book's purism, atavism, and personal eccentricity is not completely underpinned by the modern English grammar. For young writers, I recommend to read the book with a critical thinking to match their personalized needs.