经过了这十几年的英语技术写作，回过头来再看The Elements of Style（特别是Elmentary Principles of Composition)，真真切切地感觉它是经典中的经典，值得每日诵读，反复翻阅，烂熟于心，以致，在你日常写作中，它们不自觉地涌入脑海，提点你优化的方向。
Rule 9: Make the paragraph the unit of composition: one paragraph to each topic.
Rule 10： As a rule, begin each paragraph with a topic sentence; end it in conformity with the beginning.
The topic sentence comes at or near the beginning.
The succeeding sentences explain or establish or develop the statement made in the topic sentences; and
The final sentence either emphasizes the thought of the topic sentence or states some important consequence.
If the paragraph forms part of a larger composition, its relation to what precedes, or its function as a part of the whole, may need to be expressed. This can sometimes be done by a mere word or phrase (again; therefore; for the same reason) in the topic sentence.
Rule 11: Use the active voice.
The active voice is usually more direct and vigorous than the passive. This rule does not, of course, mean that the writer should entirely discard the passive voice, which is frequently convenient and sometimes necessary. The habitual use of the active voice, however, makes for forcible writing.
Rule 12: Put statements in positive form
Use the word `not` as a means of denial or in antithesis, never as a means of evasion.
As a rule, it is better to express s negative in positive form. (not honest-->dishonest)
Negative words other than `not` are usually strong. (The sun never sets upon the British flag.)
Rule 13: Omit needless words
This requires that every word tell.
Rule 14: Avoid a succession of loose sentences.
A series of loose sentences becomes monotonous and tedious.
... replacing them by simple sentences, by sentences of two clauses joined by semicolons, by periodic sentences of two clauses, by sentences, loose or periodic, of three clauses--Whichever best represent the real relations of the thought.
Rule 15: Express co-ordniate ideas in similar form
This principle, that of parallel construction, requires that expressions of similar content and function should be outwardly similar. The likeness of form enables the reader to recognize more readily the likeness of content and function.
Rule 16: Keep related words together
The position of the words in a sentence is the principal means of showing their relationship. The writer must therefore, as far as possible, bring together the words and groups of words, that are related in thought, and keep apart those which are not so related.
The subject of a sentence and the principal verb should not, as a rule, be separated by a phrase or clause that can be transferred to the beginning.
The relative pronoun should come, as a rule, immediately after its antecedent. If the antecedent consists of a group of words, the relative comes at the the end of the group, unless this would cause ambiguity.
A noun in apposition may come between antecedent and relative, because in such a combination no real ambiguity can arise.
Rule 17: In summaries, keep to one tense.
In summarizing the action of a drama, the writer should always use th present tense. If the summary is in the present tense, antecedent action should be expressed by the perfect; if in the past, by the past perfect.
Rule 18: Place the emphatic words of a sentence at the end.
The proper place for the word, or group of words, which the writer desired to make most prominent is usually the end of the sentence.
The word or group of words entitled to the position of prominence is usually the logical predicate, that is, the new element in the sentence.
The effectiveness of the periodic sentence arises from the prominence which is given to the main statement.
The other prominent position in the sentence is the beginning. Any element in the sentence, other than the subject, becomes emphaic when placed first. (Example: Deceit or treachery he could never forgive.)
The principle that the proper place for what is to be made most prominent is the end applies equally to the words of a sentence, to the sentences of a paragraph, and to the paragraphs of a composition.
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