如何縮短一篇已經很短的學術英文文章？

最近，有作者詢問我們該如何將論文的字數縮短10%，以達到目標期刊規定的字數要求。

身為作者，我們經常面對自己的論文已經很短了，幾乎沒有多餘的資訊，但為了符合期刊字數限制，該從何下手刪減內文字數呢？藉由下列所提供的技巧和範例，讓我們一起來看看如何在不消除任何重要內容的情況下精減字數。

精簡英文句子技巧及範例

Proteins have various functions that are precisely controlled.

首先，將句子修改以強調重點。

在本文中，重要的不是蛋白質功能的多樣性，而是這些功能的精確控制。其次，消除不必要的介係詞片語：使用「protein function」而非「functions of proteins」。修改後：

Protein function is precisely controlled.

The release and activation of the proteins were controlled by…

同樣的，這裡消除不必要的介係詞片語「of the proteins」。修改後：

Protein release and activation were controlled by…

The latest analysis methods make it possible to profile all the proteins produced during a given period.

在這裡，您可以將片語用一個字取代，以「permit」代替「make it possible」。修改後：

The latest analysis methods permit profiling of all the proteins produced during a given period.

There is no general method for controlling the timing and location of activity of proteins within cells.

在這句話中，您可以刪除一個片語（there is）並使用簡潔的術語，即「spatiotemporal control」（時空控制）來取代「controlling the timing and location」（控制時間與位置），採用術語還是有一定的用處。修改後：

A general method for spatiotemporal control of protein activity within cells is lacking.

Nanoparticles have been successfully used to carry probe molecules into cells.

這裡可以去除多餘的字詞（successfully），因為「Used」已經表示成功。不會有人說「nanoparticles have been unsuccessfully used」。修改後：

Nanoparticles have been used to carry probe molecules into cells.

The point of irradiation coincided with the point at which the change in morphology started, suggesting that the change in morphology was initiated by…

同樣的，去處不必要的介係詞片語，並且也讓change這個字第二次出現時不需要修飾語即可表示型態變化。修改後：

The irradiation point coincided with the point at which the morphological change started, suggesting that the change was initiated by…

Nanoparticles were prepared containing proteins, and the nanoparticles were used as carriers of the proteins into cells.

將連接詞and位置調整，可將重複的主詞改變為單一主語（nanoparticles），且依然可保留兩個動詞（were prepared and used）。修改後：

Nanoparticles containing proteins were prepared and used to carry the proteins into cells.

Enzyme activity was negligible before irradiation, whereas strong enzyme activity was observed after irradiation

同樣的，用一個簡單的句子來替換複合句子。刪除「was observed」並簡單說明觀察到的結果：「strong enzyme activity was observed」就變為「enzyme activity…was strong」。修改後：

Enzyme activity was negligible before irradiation but strong after irradiation.

Changing the reagent concentration resulted in a change in the size of the nanoparticles: a higher reagent concentration produced smaller nanoparticles.

在這裡，您可以用一個明確的語句來表達，只需簡單描述什麼原因造成什麼變化即可。修改後：

Increasing the reagent concentration decreased the nanoparticle size.

In the merged images obtained immediately after irradiation (Fig. 1, left panels) and 24 h later (Fig. 1, right panels), the fluorescence was visible.

避免重複使用一樣的圖片編號，但也需要交代清楚，因此修改如下。修改後：

In the merged images obtained immediately after irradiation (Fig. 1, left) and 24 h later (right), the fluorescence was visible.

When a small spot (indicated by the red circle in Fig. 1) was irradiated…

「Indicated by the」在這裡是不必要的，修改如下。修改後：

When a small spot (red circle, Fig. 1) was irradiated…

請注意，雖然原始句子中沒有任何文法錯誤，在一般情況下是不需要進行任何修訂。

然而，若優先考慮的是句子整體的簡潔性，避免文內過多累贅多餘的描述，則以上這些範例中列出的技巧可能會派上用場。

額外相關閱讀推薦：

1. 最佳的學術英文論文寫作風格：內容句子簡潔的寫法
2. 學術文章文字與內容精簡的重要性與方法
3. 如何在學術論文中正確的使用委婉的英文語句（Hedging）
4. 什麼是學術寫作中的生詞？過度使用會如何負面影響期刊論文的精簡、清晰度？
5. 如何避免學術英文寫作中常見的四種贅詞？

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