thuytien_hoavang
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các bạn tải miễn phí ebook: Write better essays in just 20 minutes a day part 14
– EDITING–
Avoid Ambiguity
Ambiguous means having two or more possible meanings. Ambiguous language can either be words and phrases
that have more than one meaning, or word order that conveys a meaning different from the one intended by the
writer:
The quarterback liked to tackle his problems.
This sentence can be read two ways: The quarterback likes to deal with his problems, or his problems are his oppo-
nents on the field whom he grabs and knocks down. This kind of confusion can happen whenever a word has more
than one possible meaning. The quarterback liked to address his problems is a better sentence, and is unlikely to be
misunderstood.
My advisor proofread my essay with the red sports car.
Here, the word order of the sentence, not an individual word, causes the confusion. Did the advisor proofread the
essay with his car? Because the phrase with the red sports car is in the wrong place, the meaning of the sentence is
unclear. Try instead: My advisor with the red sports car proofread my essay.
Clear Up Confusing Pronoun References
Pronouns (words such as I, we, them, and her) take the place of nouns. They should only be used when the noun
to which they refer (known as the antecedent) is obvious and meaningful. Check the pronouns in your writing
to be certain they are not one of the following:
■ unclear
■ too far from the antecedent
■ useless
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– EDITING–
Avoid Ambiguity
Ambiguous means having two or more possible meanings. Ambiguous language can either be words and phrases
that have more than one meaning, or word order that conveys a meaning different from the one intended by the
writer:
The quarterback liked to tackle his problems.
This sentence can be read two ways: The quarterback likes to deal with his problems, or his problems are his oppo-
nents on the field whom he grabs and knocks down. This kind of confusion can happen whenever a word has more
than one possible meaning. The quarterback liked to address his problems is a better sentence, and is unlikely to be
misunderstood.
My advisor proofread my essay with the red sports car.
Here, the word order of the sentence, not an individual word, causes the confusion. Did the advisor proofread the
essay with his car? Because the phrase with the red sports car is in the wrong place, the meaning of the sentence is
unclear. Try instead: My advisor with the red sports car proofread my essay.
Clear Up Confusing Pronoun References
Pronouns (words such as I, we, them, and her) take the place of nouns. They should only be used when the noun
to which they refer (known as the antecedent) is obvious and meaningful. Check the pronouns in your writing
to be certain they are not one of the following:
■ unclear
■ too far from the antecedent
■ useless
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(Sống tốt mỗi ngày) °