冠词“a, an, the”
每当使用一个单数可数名词（即指一个可以计数的普通名词）时，都需要某种限定词。a 和 an 是不定冠词，the 是定冠词。
中国学生最常见的习惯性错误：
Omission of a, an, or the where they are required.
Unnecessary usage of articles where not needed (wordiness).
Using the wrong article (e.g., a instead of the).
例：
Incorrect:
Figure 2 shows the distribution of relative velocity on surface of main and splitter blades.
Correct:
Figure 2 shows the distribution of relative velocity on the surface of the main and splitter blades.
Incorrect:
The software PowerSHAPE is chosen to be a 3D modeling tool; it is good at dealing with free surfaces and curves.
Correct:
The software PowerSHAPE is chosen to be the 3D modeling tool; it is good at dealing with free surfaces and curves.
注：本研究中只使用了一个三维建模工具。因此，“3D modeling tool” 是特指，应使用定冠词 the。
Incorrect:
A theoretical method for calculating the inner flow-field in centrifugal impeller with splitter blades and investigation of the interactions between main and splitter blades is presented…
Correct:
A theoretical method for calculating the inner flow-field in a centrifugal impeller with splitter blades and an investigation of the interactions… A systematical study of the number and distribution of vortices is conducted.
Incorrect:
Theoretically, remanufacturing could fully take advantage of resources contained in EOF product thereby minimizing impact on environment…¹⁶
Correct:
Theoretically, remanufacturing could fully take advantage of resources contained in an EOF product, thereby minimizing the impact on the environment…¹⁶
Definitions
Articles: Also called determiners or noun markers, these are a, an, and the. They signal a noun will follow and help clarify specificity (e.g., a cold, metal chair / the lightning-fast computer).
Determiners: Words that limit a noun by indicating quantity or specificity (e.g., a tree vs the tree).
Common Nouns: Name general things or categories (e.g., dog, house).
Count Nouns: Name items that can be counted (e.g., radio, idea).
Noncount Nouns: Refer to uncountable things (e.g., water, time).
Specific Nouns: Refer to a known or identified item, require the.
Nonspecific Nouns: Refer to any item among many, take a or an.
Very Long Sentences
超过 60 个词的句子通常就太长了，即使较短的句子，如果包含过多信息，也会令人困惑。
英语中，为了表达清晰，主旨与支持性内容应尽量分句表达。仅在确实必要时，才使用分号连接关系密切的子句。
例：
Too Long:
According to the characteristic of fan-coil air-conditioning systems, this paper derives the cooling formula of fan-coil units based on the heat transfer theories and puts forward a new method to gauge cooling named Cooling Metering on the Air-side, which can monitor the individual air-conditioning cooling consumption during a period of time by detecting the parameters of inlet air condition – temperature and humidity – of the fan-coil air-conditioning system as well as the parameters of inlet cooling water provided by the chiller.
Better:
This paper derives the cooling formula of fan-coil units based on the characteristics of fan-coil air-conditioning systems and heat transfer theories, and puts forward a new method to gauge cooling called Cooling Metering on the Air-side. The new method can monitor individual air-conditioning cooling consumption during a period of time by detecting the condition of inlet air –temperature and humidity – of the fan-coil air-conditioning system as well as the parameters of the inlet cooling water provided by the chiller.
例：
Too Long:
The gear transmission is grade seven, the gear gap is 0.00012 radians, the gear gap has different output values corresponding to any given input value, non-linearity of the gear gap model can be described by using the phase function method, the existing backlash block in the non-linear library of the Matlab/zdimulink toolbox can be used, the initial value of gear gap in the backlash block is set to zero.9
Better:
The gear transmission is grade seven. The gear gap, which is 0.00012 radians, has different output values corresponding to any given input value. The non-linearity of the gear gap model can be described by using the phase function method. The existing backlash block in the non-linear library of the Matlab/zdimulink toolbox can be used; the initial value of gear gap in the backlash block is set to zero.
另一类在技术论文中常见的超长句是列表句。写作者往往希望提供大量数据，通常是参数值，并将这些信息塞进一个段落长度的长句中。然而，表达这类信息最好的方式是将其列表化（以项目符号列出）。
先后
Prefacing the Main Idea with Purpose, Location, or Reason
中文作者倾向于在句首引入目的、位置或原因作为引导成分，这样会削弱主语或主旨的重要性，导致读者觉得表达间接或绕弯。
建议：应将主旨置于句首，将目的、位置、时间等次要成分置于后部。
例：
Incorrect: For the application in automobile interiors, this paper studies the nesting optimization problem in leather manufacturing.
Correct: This paper studies the nesting optimization problem in leather manufacturing for application in automobile interiors.
Incorrect: Especially when numerical control (NC) techniques are widely used in industry and rapid prototype methods bring huge economical benefits, the advantage of constructing a 3D model becomes extremely obvious.
Correct: The advantage of constructing a 3D model becomes extremely obvious especially when numerical control (NC) techniques are widely used in industry and rapid prototype methods bring huge economical benefits.
Incorrect: Inside the test box, the space was filled with asbestos.
Correct: The space inside the test box was filled with asbestos.
Incorrect: In practice, we employed this approach to dispose of a wheelhouse subassembly of one kind of auto-body, and the results show that this method is feasible.
Correct: We employed this approach to dispose of a wheelhouse subassembly of one kind of auto-body, and the results show that this method is feasible.
Incorrect: To ensure sheet metal quality as well as assembly quality, CMMs are widely used in automotive industry production.
Correct: CMMs are widely used in automotive industry production to ensure sheet metal quality as well as assembly quality.
Tendency to Place Time Phrases at the Beginning
建议：将表示时间的短语置于句中或句末，避免抢占句首主旨。
例
Incorrect: When U is taken as the control parameter, the BDs for ∆=0.0, 0.001, 0.005 are shown in Fig. 8.
Correct: Figure 8 shows the BDs for ∆=0.0, 0.001, and 0.005 when U is taken as the control parameter.
Emphasizing the Main Subject
建议：将最重要的主语放在句首，避免用次要或引导成分开头。
例
Incorrect: Based on the triangulation structure built from unorganized points or a CAD model, the extended STL format is described in this section.
Correct: The extended STL format is described in this section based on the triangulation structure built from unorganized points or a CAD model.
Incorrect: The 3D dentition defect and restoration element models are designed precisely with complicated surfaces.
Correct: The 3D dentition defect and restoration element models with complicated surfaces are designed precisely.
“which” vs “that”
所指代的先行词（名词或代词）并不明确，导致理解上的混淆。
例
- Incorrect: Absolute truths in paleontology are often elusive, and even the filmmakers were surprised at the fierce arguments that split the scientists when an initial brainstorming session was else.
用词
“respectively”
Respectively 只能用于表达前后顺序一一对应，且应位于句尾；
例：
Incorrect: The weights of the two experts are respectively 0.600 and 0.400.
Correct: The weights of the two experts are 0.600 and 0.400, respectively.
避免多余、误用或顺序已明确时的重复使用；不应放置于“before noun”或“句首”。
Incorrect: The inlet and outlet temperature of the air cooler were measured using two thermocouples respectively.
Correct: The inlet and outlet temperature of the air cooler were measured using two thermocouples.
“In this paper” vs. “In this study”
“In this study” 用于描述作者的研究工作；“In this paper” 用于介绍文稿结构、章节内容；
避免频繁使用（建议全文不超过三次）。
例
Incorrect: In this paper, IDEAS was used to...
Correct: In this study, IDEAS was used to...
Numbers and Equations
句首不得使用数字，应将阿拉伯数字拼写为英文。例：
技术论文中应使用阿拉伯数字来表示数据，但在表达一般性信息时则不应使用阿拉伯数字。
避免将公式当作文字使用。
Incorrect: If the power battery SOC > SOClo and the driving torque belongs to the middle load,...
Correct: If the power battery SOC is greater than SOClo and the driving torque belongs to the middle load,...
格式Format
每段开头应缩进或行间距隔开。
避免将单行句子置于段前作为“标题”样式使用。
“Figure” and “Table”
可缩写，但保持风格统一 ：Figure → Fig.，Table → Tbl（不建议缩写）。
注意与数字之间要加空格：
Incorrect: Figure.6, Figure6, Fig.6, Tbl10
Correct: Figure 6, Fig. 6, Table 10
变量 Variables
变量（尤其是拉丁字母）应使用斜体以区别英文单词（依赖期刊格式）。
Use of “such as” and “etc.”
“such as” 用于部分列举，“etc.” 用于非列举性的“等等”；
避免 “such as ... etc.” ，这是冗余。
Incorrect: Studies of methodology and process of implementing remanufacturing mainly focus on durable products such as automobile motors, printers, and etc.
Correct: Studies of methodology and process of implementing remanufacturing mainly focus on durable products such as automobile motors, and printers.
完整列举应使用冒号，不使用“such as”。
Incorrect: Compared to traditional industry, Micro-electronic fabrication has three characteristics such as high complexity, high precision and high automation.
Correct: Compared to traditional industry, Micro-electronic fabrication has three characteristics: high complexity, high precision and high automation.
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【拓展】
- 科技论文写作风格 #118
- 科技论文写作用词 #119
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参考
- Felicia Brittman - The Most Common Habits from more than 200 English Papers written by Graduate Chinese Engineering Students
