Page 117 - English for Writing Research Papers

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In S3 does they refer to all three locations, to Canada and the Netherlands, or just to
the Netherlands?

S3. *We could go to Australia, Canada or the Netherlands, but they are a long way from here.

To avoid misunderstandings, be more specifi c:

S4. … Australia, Canada or the Netherlands, all of which are a long way from here.
S5. … Australia, Canada or the Netherlands. But Canada and the Netherlands are a long way
from here.
S6. … Australia, Canada or the Netherlands. But the Netherlands are a long way from here.

In S7 what do one / this / these refer to? (a) user names (b) passwords?

S7. * No user names or passwords are required, unless the system administrator decides that
one is necessary. … decides that this is necessary. … decides that these are necessary.

Interpretations (a) and (b) are much clearer rewritten as in S8 and S9, respectively.

S8. … unless the system administrator decides that a user name is necessary.
S9. … unless the system administrator decides that a password is necessary.

In S10 and S11 what do this and them refer to?
S10. *There are two ways to learn a language: take private lessons or learn it in the country
where the language is spoken but this entails spending a lot of money.
S11. *We cut the trees into sectors, then separated the logs from the branches, and then burnt them.

Does this in S10 refer to the cost of private lessons, the cost of living in the country
where the language is spoken, or both? Does them in S11 refer to just the branches
or the logs as well? To clarify, you just need to repeat the key concept.

S12. There are two ways to learn a language: take private lessons or learn it in the country
where the language is spoken. However living in a foreign country entails spending a lot
of money.
S13. There are two ways to learn a language: take private lessons or learn it in the country
where the language is spoken. However both these solutions entail spending a lot of
money.

In S12 it is now clear the cost only refers to living in a foreign country, and S13

clarifies that lessons plus living in a foreign country have a high cost. In S13, solu-

tions has been used to replace ways in the first part of the sentence – using syn-
onyms for non-key words is fi ne.