English

• When the dependent clause comes first, a comma should be used to separate the two clauses.

    eg.Because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon, I did not see them at the station.

• When the independent clause comes first, a comma should not be used to separate the two clauses.
  eg.I did not see them at the station because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon.
• Should you begin a sentence with "and" or "but"？

　　　No，You should avoid beginning a sentence with "and," "or," "but," or the other coordinating conjunctions.

• Should you begin a sentence with "because"?
  Yes
• Strolling along a beach at sunset is romantic.译文：日落时分漫步在海滩上是很浪漫的
• Singing for his supper was how he earned his keep.译文：他靠唱歌来养家糊口
• Sailing into the sunset was the end of the book.译文：航行到日落是这本书的结尾
• I tried to see the stage, but I was too short.译文：我试着去看舞台，但是我太矮了
• He really needs to get his priorities in order.译文：他真的需要分清轻重缓急
• The happy dog ran the entire length of the park,pausing only to sniff the dandelions.译文：这只快乐的狗跑遍了整个公园，只是停下来嗅了嗅蒲公英
• His tail between his legs, the dog walked out the door.译文：狗夹着尾巴走出了门
• Their heads hanging down, the whole group apologized.译文：他们低下头，整个团队都向他道歉
• The entire team,their uniforms muddy and stained, shouted for joy.译文：整个队伍，他们的制服又脏又脏，欢呼雀跃。
• 在三个或三个以上的连词中，除了最后一个连词外，每个连词后面都要用逗号
  eg.He opened the letter, read it, and made a note of its contents

  eg.red, white, and blue gold, silver, or copper
• 插入句放在逗号间，不改变原句子的意思
  eg.The police,hoping to save time,took the expressway
  eg.The best way to see a country, unless you are pressed for time, is to travel on foot

  error(miss a comma)：My brother you will be pleased to hear, is now in perfect health.
• 日期写法宜遵从下列规则：
  1)年份必须完全写明，不可用"04代替2004;
  2)月份必须用英文拼出或采用公认的简写，即 January (Jan.),February (Feb.),March(Mar.),April(Apr.),May,June,July,August (Aug.),September
  (Sept.),October(Oct.),November(Nov.),December(Dec.);
  3)日期可用序数词，如：1st,2nd,3rd,4th,...；也可用基数词，如：1，2，3，4，...。但美式大多采用后者；
  4)在年份和月日之间必须用逗号隔开；
  5)日期不可全部采用如7.12.2003或7/12/2003的阿拉伯数字书写，否则会引起误解。因为英美在这方面的习惯用法不同。按美国人习惯，上述日期为2003年7月12日，而按英国习惯则是2003年12月7日。

  英文日期分英式和美式,如下:

  1)8th March,2004 或 8 March,2004（英式）
  2)March 8th,2004 或 March 8,2004 （美式）
• Billy the Kid
  The novelist Jane Austen
  William the Conqueror
  The poet Sappho
• 当两个子句的主语都是一样的，并且只表达一次时，如果连接词是but，逗号就很有用。当连接词是and时，如果两个语句之间的关系是密切的或直接的，逗号应该省略
  eg.I have heard the arguments, but am still unconvinced.

  eg.He has had several years' experience and is thoroughly competent
• 如果两个或两个以上的子句在语法上完整且没有连词连接，构成一个复合句，那么正确的标点符号应该是分号

  eg.Mary Shelley's works are entertaining;they are full of engaging ideas.

  eg.It is nearly half past five;we cannot reach town before dark.

  当然，同样正确的做法是把它们写成两个句子，用句点代替分号

  eg.Mary Shelley's works are entertaining. They are full of engaging ideas.

  eg.It is nearly half past five. We cannot reach town before dark.

  如果是用连词连接的就要用逗号

  eg.Mary Shelley's works are entertaining, for they are full of engaging ideas.

  eg.It is nearly half past five, and we cannot reach town before dark.
• 不要把两句话分开
  eg.I met them on a Cunard liner many years ago. Coming home from Liverpool to New York. (X) 用逗号隔开
  eg.She was an interesting talker. A woman who had traveled all over the world and lived in half a dozen countries.(X) 用逗号隔开
• 在一个独立的子句后面用一个冒号来介绍一个细节列表，一个同位语，一个放大句，或者一个说明性的引语。eg.Your dedicated whittler requires three props: a knife, a piece of wood, and a back porch.
  eg.Understanding is that penetrating quality of knowledge that grows from theory, practice, conviction, assertion, error, and humiliation.
  Wrong sentences：
  1.Your dedicated whittler requires: a knife, a piece of wood, and a back porch.
  2.Understanding is that penetrating quality of knowledge that grows from:theory, practice, conviction, assertion, error, and humiliation.
• Make the paragraph the unit of composition.把每个段落当成文章的一个单位，它可以是任意长度，一个单独的简短的句子
• In some cases, the best design is no design, as with a love letter, which is simply an outpouring, or with a casual essay, which is a ramble. 译文：在某些情况下，最好的设计是不是设计，比如情书，它只是一种倾诉，或者随笔，它是一种漫谈。
• The object of treating each topic in a paragraph by itself is, of course, to aid the reader.单独处理段落中每个主题的目的是为了帮助读者。
• As a rule, single sentences should not be written or printed as paragraphs.一般来说，单句不应该写成段落或打印成段落。
• As a rule, begin each paragraph either with a sentence that suggests the topic or with a sentence that helps the transition.
•  The campaign opened with a series of reverses.译文：竞选活动以一系列的失败开始。
• He picked up the heavy lamp from the table and began to explore.译文：他从桌上拿起沉重的灯，开始探索。
• not honest 　　 dishonest
  not important trifling
  did not remember forgot
  did not pay any attention to ignored
  did not have much confidence in distrusted
  use is instead of not
• Placing negative and positive in opposition makes for a stronger
  structure.将消极与积极放在一起对比可以强化
  eg.Not charity, but simple justice.
  eg.Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.
  eg.Ask not what your country can do for you —ask what you can do for your country.
• 使用平行结构
  1.Formerly, science was taught by the textbook method, while now the laboratory method is employed.
  2.Formerly, science was taught by the textbook method; now it is taught by the laboratory method.

  显然第2句比第一句表达得更好
• 一个冠词或一个介词适用于一个系列的所有成员，要么只能在第一项之前使用，要么在每一项之前重复使用。
  the French, the Italians, Spanish, and Portuguese. 或者the French, the Italians, the Spanish, and the Portugues.　  
  in spring, summer, or in winter.或者 in spring, in summer, or in winte. 
• You must either grant his request or incur his ill will.译文：你要么答应他的要求，要么招致他的恶意。
• 一般来说，句子的主语和主动词之间不应该用短语或从句分隔，而这些短语或从句可以转移到句首。
  A dog, if you fail to discipline him, becomes a household pest.
  Unless disciplined, a dog becomes a household pest.
• 在大多数情况下，关系代词应紧接在先行词之后
  1.There was a stir in the audience that suggested disapproval.
  A stir that suggested disapproval swept the audience.

  2.This is a portrait of Benjamin Harrison, who became President in 1889. He was the

  grandson of William Henry Harrison

  This is a portrait of Benjamin Harrison, grandson of William Henry Harrison, who became President in 1889.