10个最地道英语写作表达

最近开始带写作课后被问到最多的问题是如何避免中式表达?为什么我写出来的文章有着浓浓的chinglish味道?归根结底还是要多阅读,在阅读中积累地道表达。今天呢我就来帮大家做点积累,这篇文章总结了10个超级无敌地道,超级无敌加分的表达,可以用在任何一类英语学术写作中。每个表达都有外刊中运用的好例子以及我自己范文中运用的实例。

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利弊分析(Advantages/Disadvantages Essay

首先我们见到最多的考题是利弊分析,比如globalization(全球化),旅游业(Tourism),都是有利有弊的。大家比较熟悉的表达可能有a double-edged sword(双刃剑),以及every coin has two sides(事物都有两面性),但是,不要用这两个表达。为什么呢?因为很老套,特别是中国学生用的太多了,没啥新意。我们可以用两个更高级更地道的表达,一个是a mixed blessing。另一个是cut both ways

  1. A mixed blessing: 喜忧参半 (Something has disadvantages as well as advantages)

A mixed blessing的意思就是有利有弊,blessing是恩惠,赐福的意思,前面加个mixed混合的,a mixed blessing就变成了福祸兼俱,有好处也有坏处的的事情。如今这个表达随处可见,比如:

“Covid-19 has been a mixed blessing for makers of medical equipment ” (The Economist, 2020)

新冠对医疗设备制造商来说是喜忧参半。

再比如我们经常碰到的全球化话题,也可以完美运用:

Globalization is also a mixed blessing

全球化也是有利有弊的。

2. Cut both ways: 利弊互见 (something has both a good and a bad side)

第二个同义表达是something cuts both ways,它的字面意思是砍成两条路,实际上也是指有利有弊,有好有坏的意思。比如我身边的老外总喜欢问我独生子女的感受,我很喜欢回答说:

Being a single child cuts both ways. Although I was feeling lonely while growing up without a brother or a sister, my parents lavished me with all of their attention and educational investment.

作为一个独生子女是有利有弊的。虽然我没有兄弟姐妹一起长大感觉很孤独,但我的父母给予了我他们所有的关注和教育投资。

再比如《经济学人》的一篇文章写到:

“American steel tariffs cut both ways for domestic producers” (The Economist, 2019)

美国钢铁关税对国内生产商来说是双向的。

再比如我的全球化范文结尾有这样写:

In summary, the impact of globalization cuts both ways.

总的来说,全球化的影响有利有弊。

3. On the bright side; On the flip side 好的一面,坏的一面

第三个表达是on the bright side和on the flip side,意思就是好的一面,坏的一面。这样对比来看on the one hand和on the other hand弱爆了。这里的bright 和flip对应,又高级又有文采。这是在写利弊分析时非常地道非常好用的首句表达。我们正文部分可以一段写好处或积极的影响,我们用on the bright side来开头。然后接下来一段写坏处或消极的影响,用on the flip side开头。

比如我在写我们应该租房还是买房的范文中是这样运用的,正文第一段说:

First, on the bright side, renting can be more compelling as it offers flexibility and predictably lower cost compared with buying a home.

这一段写的就是租房的利。正文第二段说:

However, on the flip side, renting isn’t all just sunshine and rainbows. Some cringe at the thought that renting would never give them tangible assets nor intangible benefits.

所以这里转折到租房的弊。可以用于所有利弊分析的文章。

解决问题( Problem Solution Essay

接下来第二类最常考的题目是problem solution essay,这类考题就是给你一个很经典的问题,然后问你有什么解决方案。面对这类考题我想与你们分享三个非常形象生动的满分表达:wrestle with, a stumbling block and a stepping stone

4. Wrestle with: 努力解决 (Try to understand or find a solution to a difficult problem)

首先wrestle with的表面意思就是摔跤、搏斗,它的引申义是努力解决一个难题。比如:

The government is wrestling with difficult economic problems.

政府在努力解决经济问题

这样描述比我们简单的写the government is trying to find a solution to economic problems要生动形象很多,是不是?再比如《纽约时报》不久前一篇文章写到:

“Corporations wrestle with the question of when to return to offices. ” (The New York Times, 2021)

公司正在努力解决何时返回办公室的问题。

再比如一个很经典的考题环保问题:个人行动到底能不能解决环境问题?我的文章结尾有这样用:

Therefore, even though individuals can’t make a difference in wrestling with global climate crisis, their actions can inspire and are influential.

因此,即使个人在与全球变暖的斗争中起不到作用,但他们的行动可以鼓励到他人并从而产生影响。

5. Stumbling block: 绊脚石 (something that prevents action or agreement)

第五和第六个表达大家应该不陌生,也是非常形象很出彩的名词。当我们想描述一个问题时,我们可以用a stumbling block 绊脚石;当我们想要描述一个解决方案时,可以用 a stepping stone 垫脚石。这样的文章看起来是不是更有趣呢?

比如《福布斯》上一篇文章写到:

“Recognition should be simple, yet it’s a common management stumbling block.” (Forbes, 2017)

肯定员工应该很简单,但它是一个常见的管理绊脚石。

再比如我在写犯罪原因的文章时有这样用:

Lack of education is a stumbling block to decent employment.

受教育程度低是找到好工作的绊脚石。

6. A stepping stone: 垫脚石 (one of a row of large, flat stones on which you can walk in order to cross a stream or river that is not deep)

另外a stepping stone也是异曲同工的精彩表达。当我们想要过小溪时,水里踮起来的一块块石头就是stepping stones,当我们想要描述任何好方法,关键策略等等时都可以用到它。比如《福布斯》上面的这篇文章:

How To Overcome Fear By Using It As A Stepping Stone (Forbes, 2018)

如何克服恐惧?我们可以把它当作垫脚石

最后比如我在写关于高薪重要还是工作满意度更重要的文章时写到:

The stepping stones to lifetime happiness are self-fulfilment and following our heart and passions.

终生幸福的垫脚石是自我实现和追随我们的内心和爱好。

我其实可以写the causes/ reasons/ origins of lifetime happiness,但我换成了stepping stones,让人联想到一排垫脚石,更加有文采。

赞同反对(Agree/ Disagree Essay)

接下来还有一类最常见的作文是agree or disagree,问你赞同还是反对一个观点。当我们想表达我反对一个观点时,不要简单的说I disagree with the statement,太平淡了!我们可以用一个很生动的习语,叫hold water。我们可以假想假象一个有洞的桶,你说它有没办法Hold water?肯定都漏了呀,所以我们可以说This argument doesn’t hold water,这个论证站不住脚。

7. Hold water: 站得住脚、属实 (to seem to be true or reasonable; If an argument or theory does not hold water, it does not seem to be reasonable or be in accordance with the facts.)

比如《时代》杂志这篇关于左右脑差异的文章写到:

“Scientists have long known that the popular left brain/right brain story doesn’t hold water.” (Time, 2013) 

科学家们早就知道流行的左脑/右脑理论站不住脚。

再比如我自己的文章有这样用到:

Simply attributing poverty as the root of most crimes does not hold water.

简单地将贫困归咎于大多数犯罪的根源是站不住脚的。

8. By and large: 大体上 (when everything about a situation is considered together)

当我们表示对某个观点大体赞同时可以用到一个地道表达:by and large(to indicate that a statement is mostly but not completely true. )比如:

This is a compelling agreement, by and large.

总的来说,这是一个令人信服的观点。

再比如《福布斯>的一篇文章讲dress code的有这么使用:

“This year’s war of words involves school dress codes, which by and large tend to be rules over what teenage girls can and cannot wear.” (Forbes, 2020)

今年的争论涉及学校着装规范,总的来说,这往往是关于青少女可以穿什么和不可以穿什么的规则。

最后比如我在写高薪还是工作满意度这篇作文时有这么表达:

Undeniably, there’s some truth in the classic saying that “money makes the world go round”, since a high wage by and large equates to social stability, economic flexibility, and greater happiness.

不可否认,“有钱能使鬼推磨”这句经典是有道理的,因为高薪大体上等同于社会地位稳定、财务周转灵活以及更多的幸福。

举例 (Give Examples)

最后两个精彩表达是bear out和shed light on。我们可以轻松用于举例。一篇好的议论文一定要举一两个例子,没有例子的文章就像很老的甘蔗,嚼着没有水,干巴巴的。

9. Bear out: 证明 (to support the truth of something)

当我们用一个例子去证明一个论点时可以完美用到bear out这个表达,意思就是to support。比如我们可以说:

Recent studies have borne out claims that formal education is irreplaceable.

最近的研究证实了正规教育不可替代的说法。

我们再来看看《经济学人》这里是怎么用的:

“Experience during the second half of the 20th century seemed to bear out the theory.” (The Economist, 2012)

20 世纪下半叶的经验似乎证实了这一理论。

因此我们可以学着这么用什么例子bear out an idea/an argument/or a belief. 再比如我自己在写成功企业的原因时,用亚马逊的例子来论证customer service的关键作用:

The example of Amazon bears out the claim that happy customers remain loyal advocates for the long haul.

亚马逊的例子证实了这样一种说法,即满意的客户会是长期的忠实拥护者。

10. Shed light on: 解释、说明 (to clarify or supply additional information)

最后一个精彩表达shed light on的意思是:解释,说明。比如我们可以说:Something has shed light on something(什么东西可以阐述什么东西)。比如:

This research on crimes has shed light on the causes.

这项关于犯罪的研究揭示了其诱因。

再比如《福布斯》一篇文章的标题这么写到:

“The Covid-19 Era Sheds Light On Transportation’s Climate Change Impact” (Forbes, 2020)

新冠时代揭示了交通对气候变化的影响。

最后比如我在写关于政府和个人力量对比的文章中有这么运用:

The most recent progress of the “Black Lives Matter” movement could shed light on the power of individuals.

“黑人的命也是命”运动的最新进展可以揭示个人的力量。

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最最后希望大家可以在自己的英语作文中用起来,写出精彩好文!感谢阅读!

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