把話說得更明確一些

本文首發於立文悉通微信公眾號（Transystom）

把話說得更明確一些，盡量用肯定句式

Put statements in positive form.

英文寫作要盡量避免平淡乏味、猶豫不決、態度不明朗的表達，要肯定、確定、堅定。。。看看下面這些詞吧，形成了鮮明的對比：

Make definite assertions. Avoid tame, colorless, hesitating, noncommittal language.

看看下面這些例子：

• He was not very often on time.

不如寫成

• He usually came late.

• She did not think that studying Latin was a sensible way to use ones time.

不如寫成

• She thought the study of Latin a waste of time.

英文中如果用了否定詞not，在一定程度上會削弱表達的力度，因為讀者一般喜歡直接獲取明確的信息。

Consciously or unconsciously, the reader is dissatisfied with being told only what is not; the reader wishes to be told what is.

所以盡量用肯定的形式表達否定的意思。

Hence, as a rule, it is better to express even a negative in positive form.

比如：

• not honest

不如寫成

• dishonest

• not important

不如寫成

• trifling

• did not remember

不如寫成

• forgot

• did not pay any attention to

不如寫成

• ignored

• did not have much confidence in

不如寫成

• distrusted

先否定，再肯定，效果更加不錯。

Placing negative and positive in opposition makes for a stronger structure

比如：

• Not charity, but simple justice.
• Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.
• Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.

如果要用否定句式的話，考慮一下除了not是否還有更好的詞

Negative words other than not are usually strong.

比如never:

• Her loveliness I never knew / Until she smiled on me.

would, should （可以表示可能的意思*）, could, may, might, and can這些助動詞會增加表達的不確定性，除非確實要表達不確定性，否則盡量少用。（* You use should when you are saying that something is probably the case or will probably happen in the way you are describing.（柯林斯英漢雙解大詞典））

比如：

• If you would let us know the time of your arrival, we would be happy to arrange your transportation from the airport.

不如寫成

• If you will let us know the time of your arrival, we shall be happy to arrange your transportation from the airport.

• Applicants can make a good impression by being neat and punctual.

不如寫成

• Applicants will make a good impression if they are neat and punctual.

• Plath may be ranked among those modem poets who died young.

不如寫成

• Plath was one of those modern poets who died young.

編譯自《The Elements of Style》