writing in english typical problems for second-language writers sandra brunsberg language unit, kth...

Writing in English

Typical problems for second-language

writersSandra Brunsberg

Language Unit, KTH

[email protected]

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Why problems? Spoken vs. written English (channel)

Informal vs. “academic” (mode)

First language vs. English (code)

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Why problems? Spoken vs. written English:

Sp: If you look at Figure 1, you’ll see…

Wr: Figure 1 shows…

Informal vs. “academic”: Inf: This turned out to be a good method.

Ac: The method proved to be useful/robust/efficient.

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Typical problems with English Subject-verb agreement

Tense choice

Choice of modal verb

Word order

Sentence structure

Punctuation and Capitals

Spelling

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Tense choice


Word order

Sentence structure


Spelling

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Subject-verb agreement

Redundancy feature

Does not exist in Scandinavian languages

Requires knowledge of countability in nouns

Complex noun phrases compound the problem

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Common beginner’s error:

*Doubts has been raised about the feasibility of the solution.

(An asterisk * indicates an ungrammatical sentence)

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Should be:

Doubts have been raised about the feasibility of the solution.

But what about this?

Doubts about the feasibility of the solution has?have? been raised.

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Should be:

Doubts about the feasibility of the solution have been raised.

Avoid the problem by moving the verb: Doubts have been raised about the feasibility of the solution.

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Subject-verb agreementDetermining noun countability

Data is or data are?

Equipment or equipments?

Aircraft or aircrafts?

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Subject-verb agreementDetermining noun countability

Data is or data are? (Both possible, but be consistent)

Equipment or equipments?(equipment is correct; uncountable)

Aircraft or aircrafts?

(aircraft is correct,both singular and plural—aircraft is/aircraft are)

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Compound nouns: Separate, join or hyphenate?

Which is better?

1a.Three-dimensional images were used ?

1b.Three dimensional images were used?

2. DVD-player or DVD player?

3a. Signal-to-noise ratio?

3b. Signal to noise ratio?

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The better alternatives are:

Three-dimensional images

(3D images/ 3-D images)

DVD player

Signal-to-noise ratio

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Which is correct?

First- and second-degree equations

Engine- and component design

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The first is correct:

First- and second-degree equations

The second should be:

Engine and component design

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Definite and Indefinite Articles

Definitions often contain the indefinite article, to introduce the term and the class to which it belongs:

A web server is a computer that stores web pages.

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In some definitions, the term has no article:

Encryption is a method of encoding messages to provide privacy over a computer network.

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In some definitions, the term has no article:

Encryption is a method of encoding messages to provide privacy over a computer network.

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(web) server is countable (one server, more servers)

encryption is uncountable (used in singular only)

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Rule 1: Countable nouns must have an article (definite or indefinite) when used in singular form:

a method of encoding a computer a computer network

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Rule 2:The indefinite article (a/an) is used

the first time the noun is mentioned, hence in definitions.

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Definite and Indefinite ArticlesRule 3: The definite article will be used:

1) from the second mention onwards.

Compare these two sentences:On the Internet a protocol usually refers to a set of rules that define an exact format for communication between systems…

…For example, the HTTP protocol defines the format for communication between web browsers and web servers.

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2) with post-modifying phrases, especially with of:

Computer security is the protection of information assets through the use of technology, processes, and training.

3) with unique reference:

The Internet is a global network of computers that connects millions of users.

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4) with superlatives and the words first and last:

The greatest threat to Internet security is malicious software.

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Tense choice


Word order

Sentence structure


Spelling

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Tense choice:Past, present or future?

Past tense refers to a completed action:

*A research report has been published in 2001.

*Originally, the machine has been used in only a few cases.

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Past tense refers to a completed action:

Should be:

A research report was published in 2001.

Originally, the machine was used in only a few cases.

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Since and for require present perfect:

*Since the 1990s, many western companies are investing in the former Soviet Union.

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Should be:

Since the 1990s, many western companies have invested in the former Soviet Union.

For the last fifteen years, many western companies have been investing in the former Soviet Union

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More about present perfect:

During recent years, many companies have invested in...

Better than: In the last years

This is used as follows:

In the last years of his life, Darwin withdrew to the country.

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Present tense has two forms (aspects):

1) Simple form (Used for processes, established fact):

The valve opens, allowing the water to flow down the slope.

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2) Progressive form (used for ongoing, time-limited activity)

The valve is opening, and as you see the water is flowing down the slope.

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Tense choice:simple or progressive present?

Which is correct: 1, 2, both, or neither?

1.When the user calls from a moving car, the call is being handed over to a new base station.

2.New mobile systems are being developed to meet user requirements.

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Tense choice:simple or progressive present?

Sentence 2 is correct:

1.When the user calls from a moving car, the call is (being) handed over to a new base station.

2.New mobile systems are being developed to meet user requirements

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Tense choice


Word order

Sentence structure


Spelling

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Modal verbs:Shall or will?

Shall: (Usually restricted to legal documents)

*The experiment shall show how the logical functions can be realised.

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Modal verbs:Shall or will?

It is better to use:

Will:(Expresses certainty)

The experiment will show how the logical functions can be realised.

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Modal verbs:Should or would?

Should has two meanings:

(1) Expresses obligation:

The power should be switched off every night.

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Should has two meanings:

(2) Expresses a fair degree of probability:

The work should be finished by the end of the month.

(N.B. This is ambiguous, and could also mean 1)!)

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These could also be misunderstood:

According to our instructions, we should test the following properties:...

Further tests should have given a more accurate result.

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Modal verbs:Should have or would have?Counterfactuals

For self-critical commentary:

If we had used an alternative method, we might have been able to explain the perplexing results of the second test..

This would have allowed us to examine these parameters more closely.

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Tense choice


Word order

Sentence structure


Spelling

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Word order

Subject and verb not reversed when sentence starts with connectors, prepositional phrases or clauses:

*Thus have we determined the importance of this factor.

*Then must the problem of emissions be addressed.

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Word order

Subject and verb not reversed when sentence starts with connectors, prepositional phrases or clauses:

*In the first section is the theory given.

*If this proves to be economically viable, will many applications be possible.

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Word order

Should be:

Thus we have determined the importance of this factor.

Then the problem of emissions must be addressed.

In the first section the theory is given.

If this proves to be economically viable, many applications will be possible.

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Word order

*Jones has, in a joint project with three European universities, reported interesting results…

Should be:In a joint project with three European universities, Jones has reported interesting results…

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Tense choice


Word order

Sentence structure


Spelling

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Sentence structure

False parallelism:

*By changing the structure and let it be based on the XY model, we can investigate....

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Sentence structure

Should be:

By changing the structure and letting it be based on the XY model, we can investigate....

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Sentence structure

Wrong non-finite form:

*To lift the rig by the bridle will exert less force.

*To test applications is the only way to verify.....

Here we expect:

To test applications… we need special equipment.

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Sentence structure

Should be:

Lifting the rig by the bridle will exert less force.

Testing applications is the only way to verify.....

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Which or that?

ABC have developed a household robot, known as Nigel. The robot, which is designed to do simple fetching, carrying and cleaning, will enable many elderly people to remain in their own homes longer.

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Which or that?

ABC have developed a household robot, known as Nigel. The robot[, which is designed to do simple fetching, carrying and cleaning,] will enable many elderly people to remain in their own homes longer.

The commas indicate that this clause can be lifted out without making it hard to understand the sentence:.

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Which or that?

ABC have developed a household robot, known as Nigel. The robot [, which is designed to do simple fetching, carrying and cleaning,] will enable many elderly people to remain in their own homes longer.

ABC have developed a household robot, known as Nigel. The robot will enable many elderly people to remain in their own homes longer.

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Which or that?

Compare with:

Many teams entered robots for this year’s competition. However,the robot that was designed by the KTH team won the championship.

Removing the marked clause produces the following:

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Which or that?

Many teams entered robots for this year’s competition. However,the robot that was designed by the KTH team won the championship.

Many teams entered robots for this year’s competition. However, the robot won the championship. [Which robot?]

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Tense choice


Word order

Sentence structure


Spelling

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Punctuation

Comma splice:

*At equilibrium the neurons will change state, thus each update requires long simulation time to compute the averages.

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Punctuation

Should be:

At equilibrium the neurons will change state; thus, each update requires long simulation time to compute the averages.

OR

At equilibrium the neurons will change state. Thus, each update requires long simulation time to compute the averages.

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Punctuation

Inappropriate use of semicolon:

*One of its important characteristics is the temperature dependence; a dependence the annealing procedure uses to control the search...

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Punctuation

Should be:

One of its important characteristics is the temperature dependence, a dependence the annealing procedure uses to control the search...

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Punctuation

Comma instead of colon:

*The learning phase operates in two phases, a training phase to learn the external world, and a free running phase to adjust the weights.

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Punctuation

Should be:

The learning phase operates in two phases: a training phase to learn the external world, and a free running phase to adjust the weights.

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Punctuation

Inappropriate use of colon:

*IBM:s new solutions.

*In the 80:ies

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Punctuation

Should be:

IBM’s new solutions.

In the 1980s / nineteen-eighties

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Punctuation

More on commas:

When shooting the cameraman must hold the camera steady.(?)

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Punctuation

More on commas:

Clearer to write:

When shooting, the cameraman must hold the camera steady.

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Using Capitals

When introducing abbreviations:

This work focuses on methods for testing

Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE).

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Using Capitals

Capitalise ALL main words:

...in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in

Electrical Engineering

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Using Capitals

A further example:

Master’s Thesis in Computer Science

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Tense choice


Word order

Sentence structure


Spelling

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Spelling

From a chemistry report:

We pressure-tested the system for leeks+

+ leek= purjolök

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Spelling

*Their is know weigh wee can bee shore

hour spelling is write.

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Spelling

*Their is know weigh wee can bee shore

hour spelling is write.

There is no way we can be sure our spelling

is right.

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Spelling

Words that slip through the net:

its - it’s

It’s raining (informal but correct)

*The laser has found it’s way into many

applications.

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Spelling: The correct alternative?

1.These theories a.where b. were common 50 years ago.

2.The difference was much greater a.then b.than

expected.

3.Our robot, a. wich b. which c.witch was equipped

with extra circuits, won the contest.

4.It is not yet known a. whether b. wether

c.weather this model can be applied to complex

problems.

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Spelling: The correct alternative?

1.These theories b. were common 50 years ago.

2.The difference was much greater b.than

expected.

3.Our robot, b. which was equipped with extra

circuits, won the contest.

4.It is not yet known a. whether this model can be

applied to complex problems.

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And finally… *This project was initialized to

explore the future of electric vehicles.

Should be: *This project was initiated to

explore the future of electric vehicles.

writing in english typical problems for second-language writers sandra brunsberg language unit, kth...

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