这一节我们将学习如何借助字典来改正信件中的用词、语法错误。

Editing: Using A Dictionary

When you edit what you write, you can get some help from two "friends". One of these "friends" is a colleague; the other is a book.

You'll find it very helpful to have a good English-English dictionary as you edit.

A bi-lingual dictionary can be useful for translations, but an English-English dictionary gives you more information on how to use a word or phrase.

One of the more user-friendly dictionaries is the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.

However, if you don't have a copy of this dictionary, don't worry! You'll still be able to do the exercises in this chapter.

EXERCISE: COMMON ERRORS

To understand how a dictionary can help you edit, do the following exercise.

Albert Hui's letter (below) contains four main types of common errors. There are a total of 11 errors. Only one example of each type of error is highlighted. Can you identify what the four types of error are?

Types of Error:

informations=countable / uncountable nouns

convenience=word class

suggest you to apply=verb+verb

discuss about=verb+preposition

Other examples of the errors:

COMMON ERRORS

Albert Hui's letter contains four types of common errors. If you could not identify these types of errors, you probably need to improve in those areas. You can use a dictionary to help you to improve in each area.

Verb + verb (two verbs in a sentence)

In his letter, Albert wrote 

"May I suggest you to apply…"

How many verbs are there in this phrase? (Two)

When a phrase or sentence contains two verbs, you should check the grammar in a dictionary.

Is Albert's phrase correct?

He wrote:

"May I suggest you to apply..."

Albert wants to tell Ms Brown his ideas about what she should do.

According to the dictionary, there are two ways to do this. The phrases highlighted in bold show you the grammatical structures that you can use with the verb "suggest".

You can write "suggest doing something"

You can also write "suggest (that)

But you cannot write "suggest to do something"

So Albert's phrase is not correct 

From the dictionary you learn that

l        "suggest" can be followed by a 'doing' word (a verb)

l        the verb that follows "suggest" must take the ~ing form.

The dictionary also tells you that

you can say "suggest (that)".

If the dictionary puts "that" in brackets, it means you don't have to use it.

For example:

She suggested sending the books by airmail.

She suggested that I send the books by airmail.

She suggested I send the books by airmail.

Albert should have used one of the following three ways to write this phrase:

1. "May I suggest applying immediately..."

2. "May I suggest that you apply immediately..."

3. "May I suggest you apply immediately..."