Page 130 - English for Writing Research Papers

112

If we rephrase the sentence by putting the -ing form at the beginning, the true mean-
ing is a little clearer:

S6. By reading books alone, we cannot understand how psocoptera survive. Instead we need
to …

However the clearest way is to avoid the -ing form completely and replace it with a
subject + verb construction:

S7. If we only read books, we cannot understand how psocoptera survive. Instead we need to …

So, beginning a sentence with the -ing form can be dangerous, because the reader
doesn’t know who or what is carrying out the activity introduced by the -ing form.

S8. *By sitting and watching too much television, our muscles become weaker.

In S8, it initially seems that the muscles are watching television, though this is
clearly absurd. The solution is to put a subject ( we ) in front of the verb, as in S9.

S9. When we sit and watch too much television, our muscles become weaker.

6.14 Avoiding ambiguity with the – ing form : use by and thus
S1 is ambiguous – why?

S1. *This will improve performance keeping clients satisfi ed.

Does S1 mean: (a) the way to improve performance is if clients are kept satisfi ed?
or (b) as a consequence of improving performance clients will be satisfi ed?

We can show the true meaning if, before the –ing form, we insert thus or by :

S2. This will improve performance thus keeping clients satisfi ed.
S3. This will improve performance by keeping clients satisfi ed.

S2 means that if performance improves, clients will be satisfied – thus means
as a consequence . In S3 the way to improve performance is through client
satisfaction – by indicates how something is done.