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Bob2010 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
A question about sentence ordering
A question about sentence ordering
As a representative of some English native speakers, Felicia Brittman,an American professor,states in one of his papers that in writing, we should preface the main idea of a sentence by stating the purpose, location or reason first. And I've been told that English native speakers like to speak the main idea first.
However, many guidebooks for English writing seem to say that readers give most attention to a sentence’s beginning and end, especially end. So the main idea should be put in the end of a sentence. Jacques Barzun says “the emphatic places in a sentence are beginning and end, the end being the more so”. For this reason, the most important element in the writer’s thought, the one on which he or she wished to focus the reader’s attention, usually appears at the end of the sentence. The idea next in importance will probably come at the beginning.
In addition, there is a principle of end-weight , saying ‘to put long, complex constituents at the ends of sentences’
Example: 1 For the application in automobile interiors, this paper studies the nestingoptimization problem in leather manufacturing.
2 This paper studies the nesting optimization problem in leather manufacturing for application in automobile interiors.
As a non-English native speaker, I've been puzzled with it for more than six years. Could anyone tell me how I should do? Can you give me more examples? Thanks for your help.
As a representative of some English native speakers, Felicia Brittman,an American professor,states in one of his papers that in writing, we should preface the main idea of a sentence by stating the purpose, location or reason first. And I've been told that English native speakers like to speak the main idea first.
However, many guidebooks for English writing seem to say that readers give most attention to a sentence’s beginning and end, especially end. So the main idea should be put in the end of a sentence. Jacques Barzun says “the emphatic places in a sentence are beginning and end, the end being the more so”. For this reason, the most important element in the writer’s thought, the one on which he or she wished to focus the reader’s attention, usually appears at the end of the sentence. The idea next in importance will probably come at the beginning.
In addition, there is a principle of end-weight , saying ‘to put long, complex constituents at the ends of sentences’
Example: 1 For the application in automobile interiors, this paper studies the nestingoptimization problem in leather manufacturing.
2 This paper studies the nesting optimization problem in leather manufacturing for application in automobile interiors.
As a non-English native speaker, I've been puzzled with it for more than six years. Could anyone tell me how I should do? Can you give me more examples? Thanks for your help.
Top answer
Follow Jacques Barzun's advice. The first part of a sentence introduces the topic (and a new topic, it will carry more stress than a continuing topic), and the last part of the sentence carries the point to be made. This normal order is sometimes varied in extended writing to maintain impact.
- Follow Jacques Barzun's advice.
- The first part of a sentence introduces the topic (and a new topic, it will carry more stress than a continuing topic), and the last part of the sentence carries the point to be made.
- This normal order is sometimes varied in extended writing to maintain impact.
- But you need to get a feel for real significance, which seems to be your problem, judging from your examples.
- Your sentence #2 is the correct one (#1 is wrong and almost incomprehensible, as it obfuscates the reference of the fronted phrase).
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3 Answers
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Follow Jacques Barzun's advice. The first part of a sentence introduces the topic (and a new topic, it will carry more stress than a continuing topic), and the last part of the sentence carries the point to be made. This normal order is sometimes varied in extended writing to maintain impact.
But you need to g
But you need to g
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Bob2010Felicia Brittman,an American professor,states in one of his papersI just want to point out that Felicia Brittman is almost certainly a woman -- I don't think I've ever heard of a man named Felicia.
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