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學術寫作四大要訣之三：精確
【學術專欄】
撰寫學術論文必須遵守某些特定風格和技巧的規範，雖然這些規範不至於讓創作學者寫得縛手縛腳，但某些經濟的寫作方式和表達法的限制向來被視為奉行不悖的圭臬。本專欄為撰寫學術論文的四大要訣，每項要訣都會刊登在TPS 粉絲頁，最後集結於 TPS 學術電子報。
Academic writers must conform to certain expectations about writing style and techniques. The rules are not so tight as to place a creative scholar in a straitjacket. However, certain economies of writing and constraints on expression are generally considered de rigueur. Following are four of the principal guidelines for writers of academic papers. Each part in the series will be presented on the TPS Fan page before being compiled.
3rd Writing Guideline – Use Precise Language
寫作要訣第三條：精確
Precision in academic writing can take several forms, but each formulation contains this characteristic: exactness. For instance, an academic writer should be precise in describing research materials and methods. Doing so accomplishes more than one task. Here is an example: Saying that a chemist identified 14 compounds gives concrete evidence of his laboratory skills, whereas saying that a chemist’s work resulted in more than a dozen compounds leaves a reader guessing. Furthermore, “14” is shorter than “more than a dozen” and wordiness is not a virtue.
精確的學術寫作可以有好幾種形式，但每一種形式的共通點就是「是什麼就說什麼」。例如寫學術論文時，一定要精確描述研究材料和方法，這麼做的好處不只一個。舉個例子：一位化學家辨別出14種化合物，無疑證明了他高超的實驗技巧。但若寫成一位化學家的研究成果是找出了一打以上的化合物，讀者就得自己猜。況且「14」寫起來又比「一打以上」精簡，囉嗦在學術寫作裡絕不是美德。
Precision also refers to accuracy, which is a fundamental requisite of any celebrated academic paper. Inaccuracy leads to fallacy, misinformation, error and falsity. Can anything be more damaging to a paper and its author than to be described as wrong in its facts? In terms of language, inaccuracy misleads and confuses. For example, if a gathering of poets is called an “assembly,” one connotation is that formal rulemaking will occur. Calling it a “conference” suggests discussion. The words are not exactly interchangeable, and exactness matters.
精確也表示準確，這是任何好論文的基本要件。不準確就導致謬論、資訊不實、誤差、謊言，還有哪件事比起被指出事實有誤，更有損論文和作者的聲譽呢？而且不準確的用字還會誤導讀者、讓人困惑。舉個例子：如果一群詩人聚集的場合被稱為「集會(assembly)」，隱含的意思就是會有正式的決策，若稱為「會議(conference)」則表示歡迎大家討論。這兩個詞不見得可以互相替換，是什麼就說什麼相當重要。
Precision also is a virtue in terms of keeping a reader on track. When a reader experiences some confusion about a sequence of events or the thread of thought, a writer has failed to lead by not being explicit in his language. Such transition words and phrases as “consequently” and “in this way” help a reader stay on course. Similarly, clearly identifying a source rather than attributing it vaguely helps a reader weigh and sort complex information. Readers need help and precise verbal guideposts are helpful. A writer cannot be successful in an academic paper when readers get lost.
精確還有一個好處，就是引導讀者的思緒。當讀者對於一系列事件或思緒感到混亂時，表示作者使用的語言不夠明確，沒起到引導讀者的作用。「結果」、「如此一來」這些連接詞能幫助讀者順利地往下讀，同樣地，清楚指出出處而非模糊地指稱資料來源，也能幫助讀者判斷輕重，整理複雜的資訊。讀者需要幫助，精確的文字就像指路牌，非常有用。如果讀者在閱讀時迷失了，表示作者沒有寫出一篇成功的學術論文。
Academic writers must conform to certain expectations about writing style and techniques. The rules are not so tight as to place a creative scholar in a straitjacket. However, certain economies of writing and constraints on expression are generally considered de rigueur. Following are four of the principal guidelines for writers of academic papers. Each part in the series will be presented on the TPS Fan page before being compiled.
3rd Writing Guideline – Use Precise Language
寫作要訣第三條：精確
Precision in academic writing can take several forms, but each formulation contains this characteristic: exactness. For instance, an academic writer should be precise in describing research materials and methods. Doing so accomplishes more than one task. Here is an example: Saying that a chemist identified 14 compounds gives concrete evidence of his laboratory skills, whereas saying that a chemist’s work resulted in more than a dozen compounds leaves a reader guessing. Furthermore, “14” is shorter than “more than a dozen” and wordiness is not a virtue.
精確的學術寫作可以有好幾種形式，但每一種形式的共通點就是「是什麼就說什麼」。例如寫學術論文時，一定要精確描述研究材料和方法，這麼做的好處不只一個。舉個例子：一位化學家辨別出14種化合物，無疑證明了他高超的實驗技巧。但若寫成一位化學家的研究成果是找出了一打以上的化合物，讀者就得自己猜。況且「14」寫起來又比「一打以上」精簡，囉嗦在學術寫作裡絕不是美德。
Precision also refers to accuracy, which is a fundamental requisite of any celebrated academic paper. Inaccuracy leads to fallacy, misinformation, error and falsity. Can anything be more damaging to a paper and its author than to be described as wrong in its facts? In terms of language, inaccuracy misleads and confuses. For example, if a gathering of poets is called an “assembly,” one connotation is that formal rulemaking will occur. Calling it a “conference” suggests discussion. The words are not exactly interchangeable, and exactness matters.
精確也表示準確，這是任何好論文的基本要件。不準確就導致謬論、資訊不實、誤差、謊言，還有哪件事比起被指出事實有誤，更有損論文和作者的聲譽呢？而且不準確的用字還會誤導讀者、讓人困惑。舉個例子：如果一群詩人聚集的場合被稱為「集會(assembly)」，隱含的意思就是會有正式的決策，若稱為「會議(conference)」則表示歡迎大家討論。這兩個詞不見得可以互相替換，是什麼就說什麼相當重要。
Precision also is a virtue in terms of keeping a reader on track. When a reader experiences some confusion about a sequence of events or the thread of thought, a writer has failed to lead by not being explicit in his language. Such transition words and phrases as “consequently” and “in this way” help a reader stay on course. Similarly, clearly identifying a source rather than attributing it vaguely helps a reader weigh and sort complex information. Readers need help and precise verbal guideposts are helpful. A writer cannot be successful in an academic paper when readers get lost.
精確還有一個好處，就是引導讀者的思緒。當讀者對於一系列事件或思緒感到混亂時，表示作者使用的語言不夠明確，沒起到引導讀者的作用。「結果」、「如此一來」這些連接詞能幫助讀者順利地往下讀，同樣地，清楚指出出處而非模糊地指稱資料來源，也能幫助讀者判斷輕重，整理複雜的資訊。讀者需要幫助，精確的文字就像指路牌，非常有用。如果讀者在閱讀時迷失了，表示作者沒有寫出一篇成功的學術論文。
