Oh, hey! I was just emailing my boss. Have you ever noticed that it can take a long time to write something that's just supposed to be short and sweet? Good writing is knowing what to add and what to cut.
喔，嘿!我剛在寫電子郵件給老闆。你有沒有注意到那可能會花很多時間，只是寫個應該要簡短扼要的東西？好的寫作是知道什麼該加然後什麼該減。
How to Clean Up Your Wordy Writing
如何讓你囉嗦的文章變簡潔有力
Weasel words are qualifiers that might make you sound sort of like you're not so sure of yourself or like you're trying to create a little wiggle room.
模稜兩可的詞是可能讓你聽起來有點像你不是那麼有把握的修飾詞，或像是你在試著替自己留後路。
Might, sort of, like, maybe, and a little are weasel words. They can make you sound uncertain or even untrustworthy.
Might(可能)、sort of(有點)、like(像是)、maybe(或許)還有 a little(稍微)都是模稜兩可的詞。它們會讓你聽起來不確定或甚至不可靠。
Okay, that was weird. Let's try that sentence without weasel words.
嗯，那可真怪。我們來試試不用模稜兩可的詞說一遍那句話。
Weasels words are qualifiers that make you sound unsure of yourself, like you're trying to create wiggle room.
模稜兩可的詞是讓你聽起來沒有把握的修飾詞，像是你在試著替自己留後路。
Our sentence is shorter, it's easier to read, and it sounds more confident. Weasel words can also be parts of phrases. It can be used to create a claim without backing it up.
我們的句子變短、讀起來更容易，而且聽起來更有自信。模稜兩可的詞也可以成為詞組的一部份。它可以用來主張一件事，但卻不用證實那是真的。
We have a virtually foolproof plan to boost the local economy!
我們有個幾乎萬無一失的計劃可以振興當地經濟!
"Virtually" means "almost." Weasel words, like weasels, aren't necessarily all bad. It's all on how you use them. Pro tip: Read your writing out loud. If you sound like a politician or a used car salesman, you should probably hunt down some weasel words.
Virtually 代表「幾乎」。模稜兩可的詞，就和黃鼠狼一樣，不見得全是壞的。一切全看你如何使用它們。專家小建議：大聲讀出你寫的作品。如果你聽起來像個政客或二手車商，你或許就得找出一些模稜兩可的詞了。
Adverbs are like seasoning—a little can go a long way. Oh, sh**... If your writing is sprinkled with this many adverbs, it's not gonna be very palatable.
副詞就像調味一樣－－加一點效果就很夠。噢，真是... 如果你的作品灑滿這麼多副詞，那就不會多美味了。
Ugh! That looks really bad.
噁!那看起來實在很難吃。
"Really" is an adverb. In this case, it modifies the adjective "bad." Can you think of another word that can replace "really bad"?
Really(實在)是個副詞。在這裡，它修飾形容詞 bad(很難吃)。你能想出另一個可以替代 really bad(實在很難吃)的字嗎？
Uh...okay. That's nasty.
呃...好吧。那真讓人反胃。
Score! "Nasty" is a single adjective that replaces the two words "really bad." It's perfect.
得分!Nasty(讓人反胃)是能取代 really bad 這兩個字的一個形容詞。太棒了。
So, watch out for adverbs like actually, basically, certainly, really, suddenly, and very. Seriously, guys. If you struggle to streamline your writing, you're not alone, so it's okay to ask for help. Speaking of help, subscribe to Grammarly for more grammar tips to help you write like a boss.
那麼，密切注意像是 actually(其實)、basically(基本上)、certainly(肯定)、really(實在)、suddenly(突然)和 very(非常)這些副詞。沒在開玩笑，大家。如果你很難簡化自己寫的東西，你並不是一個人，所以尋求協助也沒關係。講到協助，訂閱 Grammarly 以觀看更多文法技巧來幫你寫得出色。
Boss...? I'd better get back to that email!
老闆...？我最好快回去寫那封信了!
- 「簡短扼要、簡單明瞭」- Short And Sweet
Have you ever noticed that it can take a long time to write something that's just supposed to be short and sweet?
你有沒有注意到那可能會花很多時間，只是寫個應該要簡短扼要的東西？ - 「證實」- Back Up
It can be used to create a claim without backing it up.
它可以用來主張一件事，但卻不用證實那是真的。 - 「追捕、尋找」- Hunt Down
If you sound like a politician or a used car salesman, you should probably hunt down some weasel words.
如果你聽起來像個政客或二手車商，你或許就得找出一些模稜兩可的詞了。 - 「密切注意、留意」- Watch Out For
So, watch out for adverbs like actually, basically, certainly, really, suddenly, and very.
那麼，密切注意像是 actually(其實)、basically(基本上)、certainly(肯定)、really(實在)、suddenly(突然)和 very(非常)這些副詞。 - 「要求」- Ask For
If you struggle to streamline your writing, you're not alone, so it's okay to ask for help.
如果你很難簡化自己寫的東西，你並不是一個人，所以尋求協助也沒關係。 - 「說到、提到」- Speaking Of
Speaking of help, subscribe to Grammarly for more grammar tips to help you write like a boss.
講到協助，訂閱 Grammarly 以觀看更多文法技巧來幫你寫得出色。 - 「表現出色」- Like A Boss
Speaking of help, subscribe to Grammarly for more grammar tips to help you write like a boss.
講到協助，訂閱 Grammarly 以觀看更多文法技巧來幫你寫得出色。
