美国人在自已平时的生活当中比较繁忙、做事讲求速度，时间对于他们来讲就是金钱。所以近几年很多美国大学也在推行日常生活用语的说和写，尽量不用难字，不写长语句，不含偏见的语句「三不」。所以，尽量使用简短易懂的白话英语 (Plain English)，写得愈白愈好，用字愈少愈妙，使别人可以一目了然，充分了解。

1、尤其在商业上，报章杂志或公文书信上，尽量不用难字 (big word) 或过时的字眼 (old-fashioned word);

? 例如：Many people feel that moral education is the infrastructure of higher learning. (许多人认为道德教育是高等知识的基础) (如果用 foundation 或 basis 代替 infrastructure 就更明白)

? Three hundred acres of land is the parameter of our university，s expansion (growth). (三百英亩的土地是本大学发展的限度) (如果用limit代替parameter，会更简单易懂。)

? This news has been disseminated all over the U.S. (这消息已散布到全美各地) (如果用spread取代disseminated，不更简单？) (动词时态是：spread, spread, spread)

? The president of this college is not diminutive in size. (这大学的校长个子不小) (假如用small代替diminutive，不更明白吗？)

? I have to elucidate this document to my staff. (我要向我的员工解释这份文件) (如用explain代替elucidate，也许更明白。)

? Mr. A will endeavor to be a physician. (A 先生想尝试当个医生) (如果用try代替endeavor，会更浅白。) (endeavor = try)

? We hope to visualize world peace in the future. (我们希望将来看到世界和平)（如果用see代替visualize，也许更简单！）

? The charitable organization solicits for our annual donation. (慈善机构要求我们一年一度乐捐)（假如用 ask 代替 solicit，更浅白易懂。）(solicitation是名词)

? We don't know what may transpire when we have a new boss. (当新老板来后，我们不知会有什么发生。) (如果用happen代替transpire，也许更明白。)

? Please act as soon as possible on the aforementioned matter. (前面提过的事，请尽速办理。）(如果用 previous 代替古字 aforementioned 不是更明白？）

? 这就像美国大文豪马克吐温 Mark Twain 也曾说过：「我不愿在字典里找长字或难字，我绝不用『metropolis』这个字，因为我同样可以用『city』这个字来代替」。罗斯福总统为了强调美国政府不会遗忘那些穷人，在一篇讲词里用了这么一句：「We are endeavoring to construct a more inclusive society.」后来被人批评咬文嚼字，卖弄文笔。如果用浅白易懂的字眼写成：「We are going to make this country in which no one is left out.」或「We are trying to make everyone equal.」也许更简单明白！

2、老外也主张不写噜苏或绚丽的字眼（flowery or wordy），句子应该越短越好，一句能用两个字，绝不多加一个。 例如：

? At this point in time, we should pull together for our goal. (现在我们应该为我们的目标团结一致）(如果说：Now, we should pull……更简单。因为 at this point in time = now)

? Despite the fact that my English is not very good, I am not discouraged. （虽然我的英语不好，但我不灰心。) (如果说：Although my English is not…… 就更简短。因为despite the fact that= although = Though）

? I am of the opinion that Mr. Lee should resign from this position. (我想李先生应该辞职) (假如说：I think Mr. Lee should……不是更简单吗？因为I am of the opinion = I think)

? He quitted the job due to the fact that he was sick. (他由于生病而辞职) (若说：He quitted the job because he was sick. 更简单。因为 due to the fact that = because）

? In the majority of cases, he likes to ride bike to the office.（他通常喜欢骑单车到办公室) (如果说：Usually, he likes to ride…… 更简单。因为 in the majority of cases = usually）

? She shows a preference for tea rather than coffee. (她喜欢茶而不是咖啡) (若说：She prefers tea rather……更简短清楚，因为 show a preference for = prefer)

? I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)

如果只说：I will tell Mr. Wang (about the matter). 不是更简单吗？因为 bring the matter to the attention of = tell = inform) (句子最后面：「about the matter」可以省去); 同理，也要避免意义的重复或用字的多余 (redundant); 例如：

? The consensus（of opinion）is that we have to act right away.（大家认为我们必须立即行动）(of opinion 可以省去，因为 consensus 的意思，就是大家的意见。）

? The letter shows that the problem（continues to）remain unsolved.（他的信显示问题尚未解决）(continue to 是多余的字，因为 remain 已经有 continue 的含意。所以句子就成为：The letter shows that the problem remains unsolved.）

? He has made his (final) conclusion in his speech.（他在演说里做出结论） (final 是多余的字，因为 conclusion 已经含有 final 的意思。）

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