这一节我们将学习如何借助字典来改正信件中的用词、语法错误。

 

Editing: Using A Dictionary 

 

When you edit what you write, you can get some help from two "friends". One of these "friends" is a colleague; the other is a book.

You'll find it very helpful to have a good English-English dictionary as you edit.

 

A bi-lingual dictionary can be useful for translations, but an English-English dictionary gives you more information on how to use a word or phrase.

 

One of the more user-friendly dictionaries is the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.

 

However, if you don't have a copy of this dictionary, don't worry! You'll still be able to do the exercises in this chapter.

 

EXERCISE: COMMON ERRORS 

 

To understand how a dictionary can help you edit, do the following exercise.

 

Albert Hui's letter (below) contains four main types of common errors. There are a total of 11 errors. Only one example of each type of error is highlighted. Can you identify what the four types of error are?

 

Dear Ms Brown   Thank you for your letter of 1 March 200X. I apologise the delay in responding.   I am please to provide you theinformationsabout our standing instructions.   I understand you have no experiences of this service before. However, I am sure you will find this service veryconvenience. When you use this service to settle your bill, we will debit the amount from your account automatically.   May Isuggest you to applyimmediately by filling out the enclose application form. We would be happy to arrange you to enjoy this free service. If you would like todiscuss aboutthis, please call to me or any of our staffs on 23446577.

 

Types of Error:

 

informations=countable / uncountable nouns

convenience=word class

suggest you to apply=verb+verb

discuss about=verb+preposition

 

Other examples of the errors:

 

Dear Ms Brown   Thank you for your letter of 1 March 200X. Iapologisethe delay in responding.   I ampleaseto provide you theinformationsabout our standing instructions.   I understand you have noexperiencesof this service before. However, I am sure you will find this service veryconvenience. When you use this service to settle your bill, we will debit the amount from your account automatically.   May Isuggest you to applyimmediately by filling out theencloseapplication form. We would be happy toarrangeyou to enjoy this free service. If you would like todiscuss aboutthis, pleasecall to meor any of ourstaffson 23446577.

 

COMMON ERRORS 

 

Albert Hui's letter contains four types of common errors. If you could not identify these types of errors, you probably need to improve in those areas. You can use a dictionary to help you to improve in each area.

 

Verb + verb (two verbs in a sentence)

 

In his letter, Albert wrote

 

"May I suggest you to apply…"

 

How many verbs are there in this phrase? (Two)

 

When a phrase or sentence contains two verbs, you should check the grammar in a dictionary.

 

suggest......(verb) 1 to tell someone your ideas about what they should do: Please suggest a convenient time for our meeting with Mr Brown.suggest doing sthShe suggested sending the books by airmail. suggest (that) Hesuggested thatI talk to his supervisor about my proposal......

 

Is Albert's phrase correct?

 

He wrote:

"May I suggest you to apply..."

 

Albert wants to tell Ms Brown his ideas about what she should do.

 

According to the dictionary, there are two ways to do this. The phrases highlighted in bold show you the grammatical structures that you can use with the verb "suggest".

 

You can write "suggest doing something"

 

You can also write "suggest (that)"

 

But you cannot write "suggest to do something"

 

So Albert's phrase is not correct.

 

From the dictionary you learn that

l        "suggest" can be followed by a 'doing' word (a verb)

l        the verb that follows "suggest" must take the ~ing form.

 

The dictionary also tells you that

you can say "suggest (that)".

 

If the dictionary puts "that" in brackets, it means you don't have to use it.

 

For example:

 

She suggested sending the books by airmail.

She suggested that I send the books by airmail.

She suggested I send the books by airmail.

 

Albert should have used one of the following three ways to write this phrase:

1. "May I suggest applying immediately..."

2. "May I suggest that you apply immediately..."

3. "May I suggest you apply immediately..."

 

下一节我们将来分析Verb + preposition的错误类型以及如何改正。

 

（来源：中国物流论坛实习生江巍英语点津Annabel编辑）

 

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