每位作家都有自己的个人风格，但所有优秀的写作通常都遵循一定的准则和惯例，以便向读者清晰、准确地传达意义。尤其是科学写作，必须精确且不含歧义，才能达到预期效果。
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正确的句子结构
良好的组织结构和句子结构是作者以逻辑、说服力的方式传达信息的主要工具。当句子中的词语排列得当，使读者能够顺畅地从一个事实或观点过渡到下一个时，读者最容易理解作者的意图。结构或顺序混乱的句子会让读者困惑，从而无法准确理解作者的意思。
短而简单的陈述句——即作出陈述的句子，而不是提出问题、发出命令或感叹——是最容易写也最容易读的句子。它们通常也最为清晰。然而，连续使用过多的短句可能会显得突兀或单调，同时也可能增加读者将各句意图联系起来的负担。为了增加句式多样性并改善思路的流畅性，最好先使用简单的陈述句，然后再将其中一些句子进行合并，而不是先写长而冗杂的句子再试图缩短。
两个或更多简单句（即只有一个独立分句且没有从属分句的句子）可以合并成一个并列句。通过向简单句中添加一个或多个从属分句，则可形成复合句。分句是具有主语和谓语的一组词。如果一个分句可以独立存在，它就是独立分句；如果不能独立存在，则为从属分句或依赖分句。
语态
➤ 当主动语态比被动语态更简洁、直接时，应使用主动语态。
不佳：
The fact that such processes are under strict stereoelectronic control is demonstrated by our work in this area.
更好：
Our work in this area demonstrates that such processes are under strict stereoelectronic control.
➤ 当动作的执行者未知、不重要，或者你不希望指明动作执行者时，可使用被动语态。
The solution is shaken until the precipitate forms.
Melting points and boiling points have been approximated.
Identity specifications and tests are not included in the monographs for reagent chemicals.
时态
➤ 陈述已完成的工作（无论是别人还是你自己完成的）应使用一般过去时。
The solutions were heated to boiling.
We found that relativistic effects enhance the bond strength.
The structures were determined by neutron diffraction methods.
➤ 陈述事实时应使用现在时。
Absolute rate constants for a wide variety of reactions are available.
Hyperbranched compounds are macromolecular compounds that contain a branching point in each structural repeat unit.
➤ 结果、讨论和结论可使用现在时或一般过去时，但全篇应保持一致。
The characteristics of the voltammetric wave indicate that electron transfer occurs spontaneously.
The absence of substitution was confirmed by preparative-scale electrolysis.
IR spectroscopy shows that nitrates are adsorbed and are not removed by washing with distilled water.
➤ 为避免尴尬或歧义，可使用分隔不定式。
Awkward：
The program is designed to assist financially the student who is considering a career in chemistry.
Better：
The program is designed to financially assist the student who is considering a career in chemistry.
Ambiguous：
The bonded phases allowed us to investigate fully permanent gases.
Better：
The bonded phases allowed us to fully investigate permanent gases.
主语与主谓一致（Subjects and Subject–Verb Agreement）
➤ 当使用第一人称可以清楚表达意义或表明目的时，应使用第一人称。
Jones reported xyz, but I (or we) found ….
I (or we) present here a detailed study ….
My (or our) recent work demonstrated ….
To determine the effects of structure on photophysics, I (or we) ….
⚠️ 避免使用“we believe”、“we feel”、“we can see”等表达个人意见的句子。
➤ 主语与谓语必须在人称和数上一致
句子修饰语 Sentence Modifiers
由短语或从属分句构成的修饰语可加入简单句中，用于表示因果、时间顺序或比较。
➤ 限制性短语或分句对句子意义至关重要，不用逗号隔开。
Only doctoral students who have completed their coursework may apply for this grant.
Several systems that take advantage of this catalysis can be used to create new palladium compounds.
➤ 非限制性短语或分句提供附加信息，但不是必需的，用逗号隔开。
Doctoral students, who often have completed their coursework, apply for this teaching fellowship.
Several systems, which will be discussed below, take advantage of this catalytic reaction.
➤ 错位修饰语放在错误位置，会误导读者。
错误：
We commenced a new round of experiments unable to point to meaningful conclusions.
正确：
Unable to point to meaningful conclusions, we commenced a new round of experiments.
➤ 悬挂修饰语缺乏可逻辑修饰的词。
错误：
Adding 2 mL of indicator solution, the end point for the titration was reached.
正确：
Adding 2 mL of indicator solution, we reached the end point for the titration.
When we added 2 mL of indicator solution, the end point for the titration was reached.
句子结构与词序
➤ 使用肯定句而非双重否定。
示例：
This reaction is not uncommon → This reaction is common
This transition was not unexpected → This transition was expected
➤ 注意“only”的位置，它在句中不同位置意义不同。
示例：
Only the largest group was injected with the test compound（仅该组被注射）
The largest group was only injected with the test compound（仅通过注射方式）
➤ 确保代词指代清晰，尤其是“this”和“that”。
歧义：
The photochemistry of transition-metal carbonyl complexes has been the focus of many investigations. This is due to the central role that metal carbonyl complexes play in various reactions.
明确：
The photochemistry of transition-metal carbonyl complexes has been the focus of many investigations. This interest is due to the central role that metal carbonyl complexes play in various reactions.
➤ 使用正确的从属连词subordinating conjunctions。 (Conjunctions join parts of a sentence; subordinating conjunctions join subordinate clauses to the main sentence.) “While” and “since” have strong connotations of time. Do not use them where you mean “although”, “because”, or “whereas”.
POOR
Since solvent reorganization is a potential contributor, the selection of data is very important.
BETTER
Because solvent reorganization is a potential contributor, the selection of data is very important.
POOR
While the reactions of the anion were solvent-dependent, the corresponding reactions of the substituted derivatives were not.
BETTER
Although the reactions of the anion were solvent-dependent, the corresponding reactions of the substituted derivatives were not.
The reactions of the anion were solvent-dependent, but (or whereas) the corresponding reactions of the substituted derivatives were not.
平行结构
平行结构要求语法等级相同的词、短语或分句保持一致。可通过并列连词、相关连词实现。
➤ A coordinating conjunction is a single word, such as “and”, “but”, “or”, “nor”, “yet”, “for”, and sometimes “so”.
错误：
Compound 12 was prepared analogously and by Lee’s method (5).
正确：
Compound 12 was prepared in an analogous manner and by Lee’s method (5).
➤ A correlative conjunction is a pairing of words, such as “either … or”; “neither … nor”; “both … and”; “not only … but also”; and “not … but”.
错误：
The product was washed either with alcohol or acetone.
正确：
The product was washed with either alcohol or acetone.
The product was washed either with alcohol or with acetone.
错误：
It is best to use alternative methods both because of the condensation reaction and because the amount of water in the solvent increases with time.
正确：
It is best to use alternative methods both because of the condensation reaction and because of the increase in the amount of water in the solvent with time.
错误：
Not only was the NiH functionality active toward the C-donor derivatives but also toward the N donors.
正确：
The NiH functionality was active not only toward the C-donor derivatives but also toward the N donors.
The NiH functionality was not only active toward the C-donor derivatives but also active toward the N donors.
Not only was the NiH functionality active toward the C-donor derivatives, but it was also active toward the N donors.
➤ A correlative construction is a sentence structure that uses “as … as” (for example, “as well as”).
He performed the experiment as well as I could have done it.
➤ Do not try to use parallel construction around the word “but” when it is not used as a coordinating conjunction.
Increasing the number of fluorine atoms on the adjacent boron atom decreases the chemical shift, but only by a small amount.
The reaction proceeded readily, but with some decomposition of the product.
➤ Use parallel constructions in series and lists, including section headings and subheadings in text and tables and listings in figure captions.
比较
➤ Introductory phrases that imply comparisons should refer to the subject of the sentence and be followed by a comma.
错误：
Unlike alkali-metal or alkaline-earth-metal cations, hydrolysis of trivalent lanthanides proceeds significantly at this pH.
正确：
Unlike that of alkali-metal or alkaline-earth-metal cations, hydrolysis of trivalent lanthanides proceeds significantly at this pH.
Unlike alkali-metal or alkaline-earth-metal cations, trivalent lanthanides hydrolyze significantly at this pH.
错误：
In contrast to the bromide anion, there is strong distortion of the free fluoride anion on the vibrational spectroscopy time scale.
正确：
In contrast to the bromide anion, the free fluoride anion is strongly distorted on the vibrational spectroscopy time scale.
➤ Use the verb “compare” followed by the preposition “to” when similarities are being noted. Use “compare” followed by the preposition “with” when differences are being noted. Only things of the same class should be compared.
Compared to compound 3, compound 4 shows an NMR spectrum with corresponding peaks.
Compared with compound 3, compound 4 shows a more complex NMR spectrum.
➤ Do not omit words needed to complete comparisons, and do not use confusing word order. The subordinating conjunction “than” is often used to introduce the second element in a comparison, following an adjective or adverb in the comparative degree.
错误：
The alkyne stretching bands for the complexes are all lower than the uncoordinated alkyne ligands.
正确：
The alkyne stretching bands for the complexes are all lower than those for the uncoordinated alkyne ligands.
The alkyne stretching bands are all lower for the complexes than for the uncoordinated alkyne ligands.
错误：
The decrease in isomer shift for compound 1 is greater in a given pressure increment than for compound 2.
正确：
The decrease in isomer shift for compound 1 is greater in a given pressure increment than that for compound 2.
The decrease in isomer shift in a given pressure increment is greater for compound 1 than for compound 2.
➤ Idioms often used in comparisons are “different from”, “similar to”, “identical to”, and “identical with”. Generally these idioms should not be split.
错误：
The complex shows a significantly different NMR resonance from that of compound 1.
正确：
The complex shows an NMR resonance significantly different from that of compound 1.
错误：
Compound 5 does not catalyze hydrogenation under similar conditions to compound 6.
正确：
Compound 5 does not catalyze hydrogenation under conditions similar to those for compound 6.
例外：如果在惯用表达的第一个词前插入了介词短语，可以将惯用表达拆开。
The single crystals are all similar in structure to the crystals of compound 7.
Solution A is identical in appearance with solution B.
诸如“relative to”、“as compared to”和“as compared with”以及“versus”等词语也可用于引出比较的第二元素。被比较的事物必须保持平行。
The greater acidity of nitric acid relative to nitrous acid is due to the initial-state charge distribution in the molecules.
The lowering of the vibronic coupling constants for Ni as compared with Cu is due to configuration interaction.
This behavior is analogous to the reduced Wittig-like reactivity in thiolate versus phenoxide complexes.
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【拓展】
- 科技论文写作用词 #119
