The Elements of Style 《英文写作指南》

爱V高中英语 2023-09-17

收录于合集 #双语美文 55个

作为《纽约客》的主要撰稿人，怀特一手奠定了影响深远的《纽约客》文风，创造了一种文体——怀特体。他修订的《英文写作指南》（The Elements of Style）是英语学习者的红宝书，对翻译与写作尤为重要。

比如他认为：

Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all sentences short or avoid all detail and treat subjects only in outline, but that every word tell.

生动有力的文章要求简明扼要。一个句子不应有冗词, 一个段落不应有赘句, 犹如一幅画上不应有多余的线条, 一台机器不应有不必要的零件一样。要求写作的人做到的, 并非是写短句, 避免一切细节或只是提纲挈领地处理主题, 而是使每一个字起到必要的作用。

Write with nouns and verbs, not with adjectives and adverbs. The adjective hasn't been built that can pull a weak or inaccurate noun out of a tight place. This is not to disparage adjectives and adverbs; they are indispensable parts of speech. Occasionally they surprise us with their power.

（写文章要多用名词和动词，不要多用形容词和副词。名词再软弱无力或不甚精确，也不能凭借形容词的帮助而摆脱困境。这并不是贬低形容词和副词的作用；事实上，它们是两种必不可少的词类。偶尔形容词和副词也能显示其威力而使我们惊讶不已。）

他还总结了：

Elementary Rules of Usage
八个基本规则
1. From the possessive singular of nouns with's.
单数名词末尾加’s，构成名词所有格。
2. In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last.
叙述一系列超过三个以上的名词，在最后一个名词前使用连接词，其余的每个名词以逗号隔开。
3. Enclose parenthetic expressions between commas.
叙述一系列超过三个以上的名词，在最后一个名词前使用连接词，其余的每个名词以逗号隔开。
4. Place a comma before and or but introducing an independent clause.
以连接词and或but引导完整的句子，在连接词的前方用逗号标明。
5. Do not jion independent clauses by a comma.
不可用逗号直接连接两个完整的句子。
6. Do not break sentences in two.
不可将句子任意拆成两部分。
7. A participical phrase at the beginning of a sentence must refer to the grammatical subject.
句首的分词短语所指代的主语应与主句的主语保持一致。
8.Divide words at line-ends, in accordance with their formation and pronunciation.
在行末需要将单词拆分时，必须遵守构词和发音的规则。

Elementary Principles Of Composition
十个基本原理

1. Make the paragraph the unit of composition: one paragraph to each topic. 将每个段落视为一个单位，每个段落有其中心主旨。
2. As a rule, begin each paragraph with a topic sentence; end it in conformity with the beginning.
在段落的开始使用主题句点题，段落的结尾与主题句相呼应。
3. Use the active voice. 使用主动语态。
4. Put statements in positive form. 使用肯定句陈述。
5. Omit needless words. 省略赘词。
6. Avoid a succession of loose sentences.
避免连续使用结构松散的句子。
7. Express co-ordinate ideas in similar form.
以相似的句型结构叙述对等的概念。
8. Keep related words together.
将相关的词放在一起。
9. In summaries, keep to one tense.
总结叙述时，要使用同一时态。
10. Place the emphatic words of a sentence at the end.