0705 TPS One Word Away From Confusion Contest－Answer and Explanation你能找出混淆字嗎? 正確解答!
2011-07-05
Correct best answer: Replace “habit” with “habitat.”
“Logging has reduced the Giant Panda’s bamboo-rich habitat, increasing chances that the fascinating black-and-white bear will become extinguished.”
The writer falls asleep mid-word, writing “habit” when the intended word was “habitat.” This might have been intentional, the expression of a thought about the “Giant Panda’s habit of eating bamboo.” However, the rest of the sentence doesn’t support that interpretation or that phrasing. Logging doesn’t “reduce” a habit, though it might “change” one by forcing a panda to eat something besides bamboo. The logical inference from the rest of the sentence is that logging reduces the acreage of bamboo in the high forests; thus, it reduces the size of a panda’s natural “habitat” and threatens the bear’s existence in the wild.
作者大概是寫到一半睡著了，本來要寫「棲地」(habitat)，結果寫成「習慣」(habit)。或許作者想表達「熊貓吃竹子的習慣」，不過從句子其他部分看來這個說法並不成立。伐木不會「減少」習慣，但可能「改變」習慣，使熊貓不得不吃竹子以外的食物。從句中其他部分推斷，伐木減少了成熟樹林中的竹林面積，連帶使熊貓的天然「棲地」(habitat)面積下降，讓熊貓難以在野外生存。
“Logging has reduced the Giant Panda’s bamboo-rich habitat, increasing chances that the fascinating black-and-white bear will become extinguished.”
The writer falls asleep mid-word, writing “habit” when the intended word was “habitat.” This might have been intentional, the expression of a thought about the “Giant Panda’s habit of eating bamboo.” However, the rest of the sentence doesn’t support that interpretation or that phrasing. Logging doesn’t “reduce” a habit, though it might “change” one by forcing a panda to eat something besides bamboo. The logical inference from the rest of the sentence is that logging reduces the acreage of bamboo in the high forests; thus, it reduces the size of a panda’s natural “habitat” and threatens the bear’s existence in the wild.
作者大概是寫到一半睡著了，本來要寫「棲地」(habitat)，結果寫成「習慣」(habit)。或許作者想表達「熊貓吃竹子的習慣」，不過從句子其他部分看來這個說法並不成立。伐木不會「減少」習慣，但可能「改變」習慣，使熊貓不得不吃竹子以外的食物。從句中其他部分推斷，伐木減少了成熟樹林中的竹林面積，連帶使熊貓的天然「棲地」(habitat)面積下降，讓熊貓難以在野外生存。
Last Update at 2011-07-05 PM 5:29 | 0 Comments
0704 TPS One Word Away From Confusion Contest－Win Your NTD200 7-11/Starbucks Prize! 你能找出混淆字嗎? 有機會獲得200元統一超商/星巴克咖啡禮券!
2011-07-04
撰寫學術文章時，每字每句都需要謹慎著墨。改變幾個字就會使完整的一句話變得令人摸不著頭緒。下列的句子中，為使這句話能完整且有意義的表達，請選出你認為會令人感到困惑的字，我們將提供統一超商/星巴克咖啡NTD200元禮券，給予挑出混淆字，並寫出最佳替代字的第1位粉絲，最適的解答與獲獎的粉絲姓名，將於明天公佈於本TPS的專頁。請將你的答案寫在下方，獲得免費購物禮券的幸運兒可能就是你哦!
Every word is important in a well-written academic paper. Changing just a word or two can turn a clear sentence into a confusing one. Tell us what word you would change in the following puzzling sentence to render it more meaningful. The first best answer will receive a NTD200 7-11/Starbucks Gift Certificate.
題目Contest Sentence:
“Logging has reduced the Giant Panda’s bamboo-rich habit, increasing chances that the fascinating black-and-white bear will become extinguished.”
Every word is important in a well-written academic paper. Changing just a word or two can turn a clear sentence into a confusing one. Tell us what word you would change in the following puzzling sentence to render it more meaningful. The first best answer will receive a NTD200 7-11/Starbucks Gift Certificate.
題目Contest Sentence:
“Logging has reduced the Giant Panda’s bamboo-rich habit, increasing chances that the fascinating black-and-white bear will become extinguished.”
Last Update at 2011-07-04 AM 11:28 | 0 Comments
What does that mean? 你真的瞭解這個慣用語嗎?
2011-06-30
很多字詞並非表面所見的意思，字詞的組合會產生不同的解釋。這樣的慣用法，我們稱之為「比喻」。一個成功的比喻，作者本身必須相當瞭解字詞的源起。以下的句子為讀者介紹一個比喻及其來源。
Imagery buries itself in language and takes on new meaning. The transplanted and transformed sets of words are called “figures of speech.” For a figure of speech to be effective, however, a writer must first understand the original meaning of the phrase. The following sentence contains a common figure of speech. Its original meaning is explained.
“When the butterfly landed on the petri dish, its wayward flight around the laboratory apparently at an end, it folded up its stained-glass wings—like sails poised for another liberating breeze.”
「就在蝴蝶降落在培養皿上，不再繞著實驗室隨意飛行，合攏彩色玻璃般的雙翅，就像靜止的船帆，等待另一股啟程的微風。」
“Like sails poised for another liberating breeze” alludes to the synthetic sailcloth on wind-driven boats. Like a butterfly wing, it usually is ribbed and sectioned by stitching rather than being of a single piece, with the different sections sometimes being of contrasting colors. It is raised up a mast so that wind can collide with the face of it. The result is that an unanchored boat is pressured to move in the direction of the wind, or in a glancing degree of it.
「就像靜止的船帆，等待另一股啟程的微風」，暗指仰賴風力以推進船隻所使用的合成帆布。帆布就像蝴蝶翅膀，通常有骨幹，藉由縫線將整面帆布區分為不同部分，每部分有時會呈現截然不同的顏色。風帆沿船桅升起，讓帆面迎風鼓起，未下錨的船隻受風推動，往風吹的方向或略偏的方向移動。
In employing the phrase as a simile to describe the actions of a butterfly at rest, the writer hopes to accomplish two things: (1) accurately portray the placement of the butterfly’s wings when not in flight; that is, erect and extended, rather than folded away like a bird’s; and (2) convey the exasperation of a researcher who evidently suffered a reversal when the subject of his experimentation unexpectedly took flight. The next sentence in the paper presumably explained that the butterfly was hastily netted, chloroformed and examined. Had the writer / experimenter related the incident less colorfully, the paper would have been rendered less readable / enjoyable.
作者用風帆比喻蝴蝶靜止時的動作，希望達成兩種效果：(1) 正確描繪蝴蝶靜止時翅膀是延展而豎起的，不像鳥類翅膀收折；(2) 傳達實驗對象突然飛起來，讓研究者大吃一驚、怒氣沖沖的模樣。文章接下來應該會描述到研究者匆忙網住蝴蝶、用氯仿將蝴蝶麻醉，並仔細實驗觀察。若非作者或實驗人員描述事件如此生動，文章就不會這麼有趣易懂了。
Imagery buries itself in language and takes on new meaning. The transplanted and transformed sets of words are called “figures of speech.” For a figure of speech to be effective, however, a writer must first understand the original meaning of the phrase. The following sentence contains a common figure of speech. Its original meaning is explained.
“When the butterfly landed on the petri dish, its wayward flight around the laboratory apparently at an end, it folded up its stained-glass wings—like sails poised for another liberating breeze.”
「就在蝴蝶降落在培養皿上，不再繞著實驗室隨意飛行，合攏彩色玻璃般的雙翅，就像靜止的船帆，等待另一股啟程的微風。」
“Like sails poised for another liberating breeze” alludes to the synthetic sailcloth on wind-driven boats. Like a butterfly wing, it usually is ribbed and sectioned by stitching rather than being of a single piece, with the different sections sometimes being of contrasting colors. It is raised up a mast so that wind can collide with the face of it. The result is that an unanchored boat is pressured to move in the direction of the wind, or in a glancing degree of it.
「就像靜止的船帆，等待另一股啟程的微風」，暗指仰賴風力以推進船隻所使用的合成帆布。帆布就像蝴蝶翅膀，通常有骨幹，藉由縫線將整面帆布區分為不同部分，每部分有時會呈現截然不同的顏色。風帆沿船桅升起，讓帆面迎風鼓起，未下錨的船隻受風推動，往風吹的方向或略偏的方向移動。
In employing the phrase as a simile to describe the actions of a butterfly at rest, the writer hopes to accomplish two things: (1) accurately portray the placement of the butterfly’s wings when not in flight; that is, erect and extended, rather than folded away like a bird’s; and (2) convey the exasperation of a researcher who evidently suffered a reversal when the subject of his experimentation unexpectedly took flight. The next sentence in the paper presumably explained that the butterfly was hastily netted, chloroformed and examined. Had the writer / experimenter related the incident less colorfully, the paper would have been rendered less readable / enjoyable.
作者用風帆比喻蝴蝶靜止時的動作，希望達成兩種效果：(1) 正確描繪蝴蝶靜止時翅膀是延展而豎起的，不像鳥類翅膀收折；(2) 傳達實驗對象突然飛起來，讓研究者大吃一驚、怒氣沖沖的模樣。文章接下來應該會描述到研究者匆忙網住蝴蝶、用氯仿將蝴蝶麻醉，並仔細實驗觀察。若非作者或實驗人員描述事件如此生動，文章就不會這麼有趣易懂了。
Last Update at 2011-06-30 AM 11:42 | 0 Comments
Professor Pedantic 教授的考究學問
2011-06-29
TPS的編輯教授在此歡迎關於學術文章的所有詢問，當然，其實他並沒有足夠的時間給你。他擁有終身教職的教授身份，也是著名的學術巨作作者。即便如此，他仍大方地接受你們的詢問。將關於學術方面的詢問寫在下方，你將獲得教授的親自指導，陶冶對學術的探索與啟發。
The professor awaits your query on academic writing, though in all honesty, he doesn’t have a lot of time for you. He is a tenured full professor and working on yet another magnificent academic tome. Even so, he has graciously consented to entertain your question. Submit it and prepare to be edified.
QUESTION: My professor faulted me for using rhetorical questions in my paper. I believe that the questions moved the paper along and served the reader well. What can I do to convince the professor of this?
我的教授認為不該在論文中使用反詰問句，但我認為反詰問句能推動文章發展，有助閱讀，我該怎麼說服教授？
I’m not sure you are in a position to convince professors of anything. Rather, they are in a position of authority precisely because they are more learned than you. For the most part, professors are the convincers and teachers and students are the learners. Yet a really good professor keeps an open mind on the off chance that he or she might yet have something to learn. So I don’t fault you for challenging an authorized view of academic writing. The tension thus created might shake out a new classroom paradigm.
你的學術資格可能不足以說服教授，因為教授學識比你淵博，所以擁有一定的學術威望。一般而言，教授負責說服與教導，學生負責學習。不過，如果真有需要學習之處，優秀的教授會虛心學習，所以我不會指責你挑戰學術寫作權威的想法，挑戰所帶來的張力或許有助創造新的課堂教學模式。
As for employing rhetorical questions, my first response is to ask, do you really mean questions— plural? That is, did you insert a question, or maybe two, in your paper, or was your paper rife with them? And were they truly rhetorical? A rhetorical question is intended to draw attention to a subsequent statement. Example: “Is the sky blue?” generally is not rhetorical; it actually is asked to elicit a response. Whereas, “So why is the sky blue?” is an introduction to, perhaps, a comment about a person’s state of mind.
至於反詰問句，我想先問清楚，你的文章中的反詰問句有正確使用嗎？你的文章是插入一兩個問句，或整篇文章都充斥著問句？重要的是，這些問句真的都是反詰問句嗎？反詰問句的用意在讓人注意後續的陳述。像是「天空是藍色的嗎？」並非反詰問句，而是用於引發回應。而「天空又為什麼是藍色的？」則是引介，其後或許接著介紹某人的心境。
While some professors frown on any use of rhetorical questions, others appreciate the power of such a question to introduce a point. It is a literary device that can effectively help bracket and, thus, organize and facilitate orderly expression of thoughts. Yet if the questions are overused—more than two of these questions probably are too many in a paper—they become patronizing and ineffective. My point? Don’t ask a question in a paper unless it really helps advance the narrative.
有些教授覺得文章不該出現任何反詰問句，有些則認為可以藉反詰問句引入重點。反詰問句是種文學技巧，能將想法有效地分類、組織，進而使表達更有條理。然而反詰問句若使用過量，在文章中出現兩次以上，就會顯得像在擺架子，效果也不佳。我的想法是，除非真的對敘事有幫助，否則不要在文章中使用問句。
The professor awaits your query on academic writing, though in all honesty, he doesn’t have a lot of time for you. He is a tenured full professor and working on yet another magnificent academic tome. Even so, he has graciously consented to entertain your question. Submit it and prepare to be edified.
QUESTION: My professor faulted me for using rhetorical questions in my paper. I believe that the questions moved the paper along and served the reader well. What can I do to convince the professor of this?
我的教授認為不該在論文中使用反詰問句，但我認為反詰問句能推動文章發展，有助閱讀，我該怎麼說服教授？
I’m not sure you are in a position to convince professors of anything. Rather, they are in a position of authority precisely because they are more learned than you. For the most part, professors are the convincers and teachers and students are the learners. Yet a really good professor keeps an open mind on the off chance that he or she might yet have something to learn. So I don’t fault you for challenging an authorized view of academic writing. The tension thus created might shake out a new classroom paradigm.
你的學術資格可能不足以說服教授，因為教授學識比你淵博，所以擁有一定的學術威望。一般而言，教授負責說服與教導，學生負責學習。不過，如果真有需要學習之處，優秀的教授會虛心學習，所以我不會指責你挑戰學術寫作權威的想法，挑戰所帶來的張力或許有助創造新的課堂教學模式。
As for employing rhetorical questions, my first response is to ask, do you really mean questions— plural? That is, did you insert a question, or maybe two, in your paper, or was your paper rife with them? And were they truly rhetorical? A rhetorical question is intended to draw attention to a subsequent statement. Example: “Is the sky blue?” generally is not rhetorical; it actually is asked to elicit a response. Whereas, “So why is the sky blue?” is an introduction to, perhaps, a comment about a person’s state of mind.
至於反詰問句，我想先問清楚，你的文章中的反詰問句有正確使用嗎？你的文章是插入一兩個問句，或整篇文章都充斥著問句？重要的是，這些問句真的都是反詰問句嗎？反詰問句的用意在讓人注意後續的陳述。像是「天空是藍色的嗎？」並非反詰問句，而是用於引發回應。而「天空又為什麼是藍色的？」則是引介，其後或許接著介紹某人的心境。
While some professors frown on any use of rhetorical questions, others appreciate the power of such a question to introduce a point. It is a literary device that can effectively help bracket and, thus, organize and facilitate orderly expression of thoughts. Yet if the questions are overused—more than two of these questions probably are too many in a paper—they become patronizing and ineffective. My point? Don’t ask a question in a paper unless it really helps advance the narrative.
有些教授覺得文章不該出現任何反詰問句，有些則認為可以藉反詰問句引入重點。反詰問句是種文學技巧，能將想法有效地分類、組織，進而使表達更有條理。然而反詰問句若使用過量，在文章中出現兩次以上，就會顯得像在擺架子，效果也不佳。我的想法是，除非真的對敘事有幫助，否則不要在文章中使用問句。
Last Update at 2011-06-29 PM 7:28 | 0 Comments
0627 Brevity: Valuing Each Word－Answer and Explanation 簡潔準則：惜字如金 正確解答
2011-06-28
Answer: We believe the best revision is… “Assembly line manufacturing, a la Henry Ford in Detroit in 1913, produced sociological change by creating merchandise cheaply enough to be afforded by the masses.”
我們相信最佳寫法應為 “Assembly line manufacturing, a la Henry Ford in Detroit in 1913, produced sociological change by creating merchandise cheaply enough to be afforded by the masses.”
This sentence reduces the word count to 23 from 30 just by specifically and succinctly referring to Henry Ford rather than generally describing the circumstances surrounding the auto mogul’s great innovation in manufacturing. To do this, a writer had to know of Ford’s contribution, or at least know enough about it to be able to search out necessary details. A smattering of knowledge can lead to greater knowledge—and to a more informed academic paper—only if it is acted upon.
與其籠統地描述汽車鉅子在製造上的偉大發明，只要具體而簡潔地寫出亨利福特的人名，就可以讓句子從 30 個字減少到 23 個字。為此，作者必須瞭解福特的貢獻，或至少稍有涉獵，才能觀察出必要的細節。具備最起碼的知識有助學習進一步的知識，以及更有見地的寫作學術論文，前提是必須善加利用已具備的知識。
The writer knew enough about Ford’s manufacturing breakthrough to give a reader some general information about the roots of the assembly line. However, rather than refine the information further, boiling it down from “an American automobile manufacturer” to “Henry Ford,” and reducing “in the early 20th century” to “in 1913,” the writer was satisfied with the wordier explanation. Such misjudgment misserves a reader and generally leads to a lower grade on a paper.
作者對福特在製造業突破性的成就略知一二，能大致說明生產線的起源。然而，作者卻安於冗贅的解釋，未進一步化繁為簡，能再精簡表述的包括「美國汽車製造商」可簡化為「亨利福特」、「20 世紀早期」(“in the early 20th century”) 可簡化為「1913 年」(“in 1913”)。作者判斷失據，有負讀者，通常也會讓論文評等大打折扣。
The cause of brevity also was helped in this instance by being able to use a shorthand phrase, “a la,” which means “in the manner of.” Such felicity with substitute expressions—sometimes pulled from another language—can help a writer communicate universally, yet succinctly. Other common expressions of this type include “i.e.,” which means “that is” and “ipso facto,” a Latin expression meaning “by that very fact.” Combined with specific references, such spare phrases can illuminate writing.
使用簡短詞組也能讓例句更為精簡。有時替換其他語言的慣用語詞，例如“a la”，意為「以…方式」，能讓措辭得體，有助溝通的簡明扼要，又無礙訊息傳達。此類表達方式常用的還有拉丁文 “i.e.”，表「意即」；“ipso facto”，表「據此」。善用此類的替換詞組，加上具體說明指涉對象，可讓文章更清晰。
我們相信最佳寫法應為 “Assembly line manufacturing, a la Henry Ford in Detroit in 1913, produced sociological change by creating merchandise cheaply enough to be afforded by the masses.”
This sentence reduces the word count to 23 from 30 just by specifically and succinctly referring to Henry Ford rather than generally describing the circumstances surrounding the auto mogul’s great innovation in manufacturing. To do this, a writer had to know of Ford’s contribution, or at least know enough about it to be able to search out necessary details. A smattering of knowledge can lead to greater knowledge—and to a more informed academic paper—only if it is acted upon.
與其籠統地描述汽車鉅子在製造上的偉大發明，只要具體而簡潔地寫出亨利福特的人名，就可以讓句子從 30 個字減少到 23 個字。為此，作者必須瞭解福特的貢獻，或至少稍有涉獵，才能觀察出必要的細節。具備最起碼的知識有助學習進一步的知識，以及更有見地的寫作學術論文，前提是必須善加利用已具備的知識。
The writer knew enough about Ford’s manufacturing breakthrough to give a reader some general information about the roots of the assembly line. However, rather than refine the information further, boiling it down from “an American automobile manufacturer” to “Henry Ford,” and reducing “in the early 20th century” to “in 1913,” the writer was satisfied with the wordier explanation. Such misjudgment misserves a reader and generally leads to a lower grade on a paper.
作者對福特在製造業突破性的成就略知一二，能大致說明生產線的起源。然而，作者卻安於冗贅的解釋，未進一步化繁為簡，能再精簡表述的包括「美國汽車製造商」可簡化為「亨利福特」、「20 世紀早期」(“in the early 20th century”) 可簡化為「1913 年」(“in 1913”)。作者判斷失據，有負讀者，通常也會讓論文評等大打折扣。
The cause of brevity also was helped in this instance by being able to use a shorthand phrase, “a la,” which means “in the manner of.” Such felicity with substitute expressions—sometimes pulled from another language—can help a writer communicate universally, yet succinctly. Other common expressions of this type include “i.e.,” which means “that is” and “ipso facto,” a Latin expression meaning “by that very fact.” Combined with specific references, such spare phrases can illuminate writing.
使用簡短詞組也能讓例句更為精簡。有時替換其他語言的慣用語詞，例如“a la”，意為「以…方式」，能讓措辭得體，有助溝通的簡明扼要，又無礙訊息傳達。此類表達方式常用的還有拉丁文 “i.e.”，表「意即」；“ipso facto”，表「據此」。善用此類的替換詞組，加上具體說明指涉對象，可讓文章更清晰。
Last Update at 2011-06-28 PM 3:35 | 0 Comments
0627 Brevity: Valuing Each Word－Win Your NTD200 7-11/Starbucks Prize! 簡潔準則：惜字如金 有機會獲得價值200元統一超商/星巴克咖啡禮券!
2011-06-27
The best writing doesn’t waste words. It employs words efficiently. The first TPS Fan to complete the sentence below as we believe it should be completed will win a NTD200 7-11 / Starbucks Gift Certificate. Another Starbucks certificate will be awarded to the first Fan to complete it in an alternate way that, in our estimation, also is effective. The explanation and the names of the winners will be published tomorrow on this TPS Fans page. Each brevity rule is contained in 10 Ways to Shorten & Strengthen Your Academic Paper and will be posted on the TPS Fan page as introduced.
最佳的寫作，必須有效選用字句、惜字如金。TPS推出新專欄，請你寫出簡潔、流暢的詞彙/句子。題目刊登於下方，經TPS編輯教授評選為第1位最適解答的粉絲，可獲得統一超商/星巴克咖啡NTD200元的購物禮券；增設特別獎1名，獎項給予提出符合句意又別具創意之解答的粉絲。解答與獲獎的粉絲姓名，將於明天公佈於本TPS專頁。每一項簡潔準則，皆收錄於TPS新推出之「十大簡潔英文準則」，將定期刊登本專欄，敬請密切鎖定、先睹為快。
Rule # 4: Use specific references… An academic writer can tighten his paper, lower word count, and speed along a reader by using specific terminology and references rather than general explanations. The latter approach suggests inadequate or lazy research. In the sentence below, the writer did not write with specificity. How can the sentence best be written shorter and stronger while retaining its meaning?
十大簡潔英文準則四：具體說明指涉對象
寫作學術文章若能避免空泛的解釋，使用專門用語並具體說明指涉對象，就能使文章更精煉、減少字數，使閱讀更流暢。籠統的解釋表示作者可能研究不當或過於馬虎。以下例句寫作有欠具體，要如何修改才能有效地縮短句子，加強語氣，並且維持原本句意呢？
題目Contest Sentence:
Assembly line manufacturing, a concept introduced by an American automobile manufacturer in the early 20th century, produced sociological change by creating merchandise cheaply enough to be afforded by the masses.”
最佳的寫作，必須有效選用字句、惜字如金。TPS推出新專欄，請你寫出簡潔、流暢的詞彙/句子。題目刊登於下方，經TPS編輯教授評選為第1位最適解答的粉絲，可獲得統一超商/星巴克咖啡NTD200元的購物禮券；增設特別獎1名，獎項給予提出符合句意又別具創意之解答的粉絲。解答與獲獎的粉絲姓名，將於明天公佈於本TPS專頁。每一項簡潔準則，皆收錄於TPS新推出之「十大簡潔英文準則」，將定期刊登本專欄，敬請密切鎖定、先睹為快。
Rule # 4: Use specific references… An academic writer can tighten his paper, lower word count, and speed along a reader by using specific terminology and references rather than general explanations. The latter approach suggests inadequate or lazy research. In the sentence below, the writer did not write with specificity. How can the sentence best be written shorter and stronger while retaining its meaning?
十大簡潔英文準則四：具體說明指涉對象
寫作學術文章若能避免空泛的解釋，使用專門用語並具體說明指涉對象，就能使文章更精煉、減少字數，使閱讀更流暢。籠統的解釋表示作者可能研究不當或過於馬虎。以下例句寫作有欠具體，要如何修改才能有效地縮短句子，加強語氣，並且維持原本句意呢？
題目Contest Sentence:
Assembly line manufacturing, a concept introduced by an American automobile manufacturer in the early 20th century, produced sociological change by creating merchandise cheaply enough to be afforded by the masses.”
Last Update at 2011-06-27 AM 11:01 | 0 Comments
This is not academic writing 學術文章不是這麼寫的
2011-06-23
並非所有與學術議題相關的文章，就能稱之為「學術文章」。本篇專欄將節錄不同學術議題的內容，分析常見的寫作錯誤，並分享潤修與寫作的技巧。
Not all articles written on academic topics are written in proper academic English. In this "This is not academic writing" column we examine short excerpts from academic texts to illustrate common writing errors and explain how to correct them.
Unacceptable 不被認可的文章
“The Korea temple is structured in perfect balance, a harmony of straight lines, curved surfaces, and squared spaces. The figures carved against the wall are all exquisitely carved. The idea for the grotto came from cave temples in China. However, those statues in China were cut into the surface of a rock cliff; the Korea figurines stand in a manmade enclosure, which consists of a round interior room with a domed ceiling and a rectangular entranceway chamber.”
This paragraph has much to recommend it, including directness, effective description and correct punctuation. However, it begins to fall apart with the second word—Korea. Because it is used to modify the next word, “temple,” the word should be “Korean.” To say the temple figures were carved “against” the wall is confusing. More accurately, they were carved on or in the wall, depending upon whether they were bas-relief or nearly fully formed. Calling the carvings both “figures” and, later, “figurines” is sloppy; they are not the same. Finally, the two ending words should have been one, because “entranceway” implies foyer, or hall, or “chamber.” Can you find other weaknesses in the writing?
本文有許多可取之處，例如行文直截了當、描述得當，標點符號正確。然而，文章從第二個字 “Korea” 就洩了氣；該字用來修飾下一個字 “temple”，所以應該用 “Korean” 才對。形容廟裡的雕像「對著牆雕」(carved “against” the wall) 令人難以理解，若雕像為浮雕，正確說法應為「雕在牆面」(carved “on” the wall)，若為立體雕塑，則應用「雕在牆上」(carved “in” the wall)。此外，“figures” 和 “figurines” 兩字意思不同，混用兩字稱呼雕像也不甚理想。最後，結尾的 “entranceway” 和 “chamber” 兩字擇一即可，因為 “entranceway” 本身就有「前廳」、「大廳」或「廳室」(chamber) 的意思。你還能看出這篇文章的其他缺點嗎？
Acceptable 認可的文章
“The Korean temple is structured in perfect balance, a harmony of straight lines, curved surfaces, and squared spaces. The figures carved on the wall are all exquisitely cut. The grotto was modeled on cave temples in China. However, the representational figures in China were cut into the surface of a rock cliff; the Korean figures stand in a fabricated enclosure, which consists of a round inner chamber with a domed ceiling and a rectangular entranceway.”
Not all articles written on academic topics are written in proper academic English. In this "This is not academic writing" column we examine short excerpts from academic texts to illustrate common writing errors and explain how to correct them.
Unacceptable 不被認可的文章
“The Korea temple is structured in perfect balance, a harmony of straight lines, curved surfaces, and squared spaces. The figures carved against the wall are all exquisitely carved. The idea for the grotto came from cave temples in China. However, those statues in China were cut into the surface of a rock cliff; the Korea figurines stand in a manmade enclosure, which consists of a round interior room with a domed ceiling and a rectangular entranceway chamber.”
This paragraph has much to recommend it, including directness, effective description and correct punctuation. However, it begins to fall apart with the second word—Korea. Because it is used to modify the next word, “temple,” the word should be “Korean.” To say the temple figures were carved “against” the wall is confusing. More accurately, they were carved on or in the wall, depending upon whether they were bas-relief or nearly fully formed. Calling the carvings both “figures” and, later, “figurines” is sloppy; they are not the same. Finally, the two ending words should have been one, because “entranceway” implies foyer, or hall, or “chamber.” Can you find other weaknesses in the writing?
本文有許多可取之處，例如行文直截了當、描述得當，標點符號正確。然而，文章從第二個字 “Korea” 就洩了氣；該字用來修飾下一個字 “temple”，所以應該用 “Korean” 才對。形容廟裡的雕像「對著牆雕」(carved “against” the wall) 令人難以理解，若雕像為浮雕，正確說法應為「雕在牆面」(carved “on” the wall)，若為立體雕塑，則應用「雕在牆上」(carved “in” the wall)。此外，“figures” 和 “figurines” 兩字意思不同，混用兩字稱呼雕像也不甚理想。最後，結尾的 “entranceway” 和 “chamber” 兩字擇一即可，因為 “entranceway” 本身就有「前廳」、「大廳」或「廳室」(chamber) 的意思。你還能看出這篇文章的其他缺點嗎？
Acceptable 認可的文章
“The Korean temple is structured in perfect balance, a harmony of straight lines, curved surfaces, and squared spaces. The figures carved on the wall are all exquisitely cut. The grotto was modeled on cave temples in China. However, the representational figures in China were cut into the surface of a rock cliff; the Korean figures stand in a fabricated enclosure, which consists of a round inner chamber with a domed ceiling and a rectangular entranceway.”
Last Update at 2011-06-23 AM 10:13 | 0 Comments
6 Tips in Preparing to Write Your Dissertation Tip 1: Commit to finishing what you start 論文撰寫六大準備技巧一：下定決心，有始有終
2011-06-22
取得碩博士學位的最終步驟是完成論文，然而，撰寫論文的過程通常是既漫長又嚴謹的長期抗戰。本次學術專欄特別推出「論文撰寫六大準備技巧」，幫助你做好準備工作，順利完成論文。每一項準備技巧，將定期刊登於本專欄。
The final step in earning many master and doctorate degrees is completion of a thesis or dissertation. The process involved typically is lengthy and exacting. Following is one of 6 recommendations to help you get started on your dissertation in such a way that you can successfully complete it. Each tip in the series will appear on the TPS Fans page.
Tip # 1 – Commit to finishing what you start
技巧一：下定決心，有始有終
Congratulations on pursuing an advanced degree. The question is, do you really intend to capture it? The pinnacle of the graduate degree process is completion of a dissertation or thesis. Every year, candidates for a degree stop their climb just short of the pinnacle. They become one of the many ABD (All But Dissertation) ex-students whose post-graduate education, while enhancing their lives, failed to produce a credential of value in the workplace. Employers generally are not impressed by applicants who almost earned a graduate degree.
能追求更高深的學位是件好事，問題是，你真的想獲得學位嗎？研讀碩博士學問的最高原則是完成碩博士論文。每年許多碩博士候選人只差一步就能抵達終點，卻無法堅持下去，成為「萬事俱備，只欠論文」 (ABD, All But Dissertation) 的肄業生。研究的所學所聞雖然提升了生活，卻因為沒有證書，無法為職場加分－雇主通常不會太看重「差一點」拿到學位的求職者。
If you have navigated the post-graduate process to this point, resolve to finish the course. A dissertation can take anywhere from a year to several years, depending upon how it fits in a program’s structure and the circumstances of a student’s life. A completed document can run anywhere from 15,000 to 150,000 words, a longer paper than most students have previously undertaken. It follows that completing a dissertation is a daunting prospect for almost any student, regardless of how much a degree is coveted.
如果你在研究所的求學階段一路走來，終於來到撰寫論文這一關，請下定決心完成挑戰。博士論文寫作可能耗費一至數年不等，端視論文是否結合課堂所學以及學生個人情況而定。論文完成後，篇幅可能短則一萬多字，多則近十五萬字都有，多數學生都未曾寫過如此長篇的文章。因此，不管學生多麼想得到學位，撰寫論文都令人望而生畏。
So it is important for any post-graduate degree candidate to understand the purpose and function of a dissertation: It is a tool to define you as a scholar. Because most research and writing for a dissertation occurs without close faculty scrutiny, a candidate must work alone. Must correctly evaluate and filter research material. Must plan and execute interim and final steps. Must recognize effective writing and rigorously self-edit. Must stay on schedule. As you begin your dissertation, now is the time to resolve to grow as a scholar and a person by finishing the task.
所以，碩博士研究生們必須瞭解，論文的目的與功能是用以判斷你是否稱得上學者。撰寫論文時，多數研究與寫作不會有老師從旁密切指導，必須獨立作業。研究生也必須評估與篩選研究資料、研究期間研擬計畫與步驟並逐步執行、找出有效的寫作方式以及謹慎編審文章，並且按照規畫確實進行。一旦開始撰寫論文，就必須下定決心，完成任務，以證明自己有獨立研究的能力。
The final step in earning many master and doctorate degrees is completion of a thesis or dissertation. The process involved typically is lengthy and exacting. Following is one of 6 recommendations to help you get started on your dissertation in such a way that you can successfully complete it. Each tip in the series will appear on the TPS Fans page.
Tip # 1 – Commit to finishing what you start
技巧一：下定決心，有始有終
Congratulations on pursuing an advanced degree. The question is, do you really intend to capture it? The pinnacle of the graduate degree process is completion of a dissertation or thesis. Every year, candidates for a degree stop their climb just short of the pinnacle. They become one of the many ABD (All But Dissertation) ex-students whose post-graduate education, while enhancing their lives, failed to produce a credential of value in the workplace. Employers generally are not impressed by applicants who almost earned a graduate degree.
能追求更高深的學位是件好事，問題是，你真的想獲得學位嗎？研讀碩博士學問的最高原則是完成碩博士論文。每年許多碩博士候選人只差一步就能抵達終點，卻無法堅持下去，成為「萬事俱備，只欠論文」 (ABD, All But Dissertation) 的肄業生。研究的所學所聞雖然提升了生活，卻因為沒有證書，無法為職場加分－雇主通常不會太看重「差一點」拿到學位的求職者。
If you have navigated the post-graduate process to this point, resolve to finish the course. A dissertation can take anywhere from a year to several years, depending upon how it fits in a program’s structure and the circumstances of a student’s life. A completed document can run anywhere from 15,000 to 150,000 words, a longer paper than most students have previously undertaken. It follows that completing a dissertation is a daunting prospect for almost any student, regardless of how much a degree is coveted.
如果你在研究所的求學階段一路走來，終於來到撰寫論文這一關，請下定決心完成挑戰。博士論文寫作可能耗費一至數年不等，端視論文是否結合課堂所學以及學生個人情況而定。論文完成後，篇幅可能短則一萬多字，多則近十五萬字都有，多數學生都未曾寫過如此長篇的文章。因此，不管學生多麼想得到學位，撰寫論文都令人望而生畏。
So it is important for any post-graduate degree candidate to understand the purpose and function of a dissertation: It is a tool to define you as a scholar. Because most research and writing for a dissertation occurs without close faculty scrutiny, a candidate must work alone. Must correctly evaluate and filter research material. Must plan and execute interim and final steps. Must recognize effective writing and rigorously self-edit. Must stay on schedule. As you begin your dissertation, now is the time to resolve to grow as a scholar and a person by finishing the task.
所以，碩博士研究生們必須瞭解，論文的目的與功能是用以判斷你是否稱得上學者。撰寫論文時，多數研究與寫作不會有老師從旁密切指導，必須獨立作業。研究生也必須評估與篩選研究資料、研究期間研擬計畫與步驟並逐步執行、找出有效的寫作方式以及謹慎編審文章，並且按照規畫確實進行。一旦開始撰寫論文，就必須下定決心，完成任務，以證明自己有獨立研究的能力。
Last Update at 2011-06-27 AM 11:52 | 0 Comments
0621 TPS Spot the Error Contest－Answer and Explanation 你是挑錯的高手嗎? 正確解答
2011-06-21
Answer: “admissions” should be “emissions.”
“While nuclear energy is free of harmful emissions, the energy-generation process also produces radioactive waste, which remains problematic.”
Error: The writer almost chooses a correct word in “admissions.” However, the needed word was “emissions.” The words are similar in that they describe movement from one place to another. They are different in that one (admission) generally describes inward movement and the other (emission) describes outward movement. Admission can be likened to “enter” and emission to “exit.” So the writer inadvertently used a word that meant the opposite of what was intended. The sentence specifically alludes to conventional power plant side-products that pollute when they are emitted, or thrown out, through the plant’s smokestacks.
作者的用字 “admissions” 其實很接近了，不過正確的字應該是 “emissions”。這兩個字很像，都描述物體從甲地移至乙地，但是 admission 一般指移向內部，emission 則指移向外部，admission 和進入 (enter) 有關，emission 和離開 (exit) 有關。作者不小心選錯字，表達的意思與原意的方向相反，本句特別指稱傳統發電廠經由煙囪排放出副產物，造成汙染。
“While nuclear energy is free of harmful emissions, the energy-generation process also produces radioactive waste, which remains problematic.”
Error: The writer almost chooses a correct word in “admissions.” However, the needed word was “emissions.” The words are similar in that they describe movement from one place to another. They are different in that one (admission) generally describes inward movement and the other (emission) describes outward movement. Admission can be likened to “enter” and emission to “exit.” So the writer inadvertently used a word that meant the opposite of what was intended. The sentence specifically alludes to conventional power plant side-products that pollute when they are emitted, or thrown out, through the plant’s smokestacks.
作者的用字 “admissions” 其實很接近了，不過正確的字應該是 “emissions”。這兩個字很像，都描述物體從甲地移至乙地，但是 admission 一般指移向內部，emission 則指移向外部，admission 和進入 (enter) 有關，emission 和離開 (exit) 有關。作者不小心選錯字，表達的意思與原意的方向相反，本句特別指稱傳統發電廠經由煙囪排放出副產物，造成汙染。
Last Update at 2011-06-21 PM 3:50 | 0 Comments
0620 TPS Spot the Error Contest－Win Your NTD200 7-11/Starbucks Prize! 你是挑錯的高手嗎? 有機會獲得200元統一超商/星巴克咖啡禮券!
2011-06-20
下列的句子中，包含了一個錯誤，可能是文法、拼法或是標點符號的錯誤。我們將提供統一超商/星巴克咖啡NTD200元的購物禮券，給予今天前三名挑出正確錯誤、寫出正確答案的粉絲。正確的解答與獲獎的粉絲姓名，將於明天公佈於本TPS的專頁。請將你的答案寫在下方，獲得免費購物禮券的幸運兒可能就是你哦!
The sentence below contains 1 grammatical, spelling and/or punctuation error. The first three (3) TPS Fans to respond with the corrected sentence will win a NTD200 7-11/Starbucks Gift Certificate. The corrected sentence and the names of the winners will be published tomorrow on this TPS Fans page. Please post your answers below. Good luck!
題目Contest Sentence:
“While nuclear energy is free of harmful admissions, the energy-generation process also produces radioactive waste, which remains problematic.”
The sentence below contains 1 grammatical, spelling and/or punctuation error. The first three (3) TPS Fans to respond with the corrected sentence will win a NTD200 7-11/Starbucks Gift Certificate. The corrected sentence and the names of the winners will be published tomorrow on this TPS Fans page. Please post your answers below. Good luck!
題目Contest Sentence:
“While nuclear energy is free of harmful admissions, the energy-generation process also produces radioactive waste, which remains problematic.”
Last Update at 2011-06-20 AM 10:33 | 0 Comments
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