Your text may pass through many 'filters' before it is in final form for the end-user(s) - Int'l students and staff Finn students and staff ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
- Int’l students and
staff
- Finn students
Writer Reader(s) and staff
- Peers/colleagues
beyond Aalto
- World at large
Your text may pass through many ‘filters’
before it is in final form for the end-user(s).
Writing activity (Send to bill.hellberg@aalto.fi or submit via the MyCourses page)
Describe your work (administrative work, research (theses, experiments, etc.))
1) To a general audience
This version explains to a layperson what of work you do.
2) To a specialist
This version describes your line of work or field of study in more technical
detail. What specific questions or tasks have occupied you recently?
15.3.2021 2Review: The comma and (non)restrictive clauses
1) The timeline for the actions is based on the curriculum cycle, which is two years.
(There is only one curriculum cycle, and it is two years long.)
2) The timeline for the actions is based on the curriculum cycle that is two years.
(This implies there is more than one curriculum cycle and that the one being
referred to now is the two-year curriculum.)Review: The comma and (non)restrictive clauses
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_relative_clauses
15.3.2021 4Prepositions (cont.)
A) I found my way in the dark _____ a torch (US: a flashlight).
B) I put batteries _____ the torch.
C) The batteries fell _____ the torch.
D) The handle fell _____ the torch
E) I looked _____ the torch.
F) I was blinded _____ the torchlight.
G) _____ a torch, I fumbled around _____ my keys.
15.3.2021 5Prepositions
be on time The train arrived on time.
be in time We arrived in time to see the first crocuses bloom.
15.3.2021 6Prepositions
Verb+preposition or verb+particle (phrasal verb)
the most common verbs the most common prepositions
be to
have of
do in
say for
get on
make with
[…] […]
15.3.2021 7Prepositions
look for ………………. search
look into …………….. investigate, research
look after ……………. take care of
look up to …………… admire
look out for ………… mind, be cautious
look to ……………….. seek inspiration, advice
15.3.2021 8Prepositions
Let’s go to Presemo for an exercise on prepositions.
https://presemo.aalto.fi/writingen3
15.3.2021 9Prepositions
Using search engines for help
"enrolled in a class" "university" site:.uk (60 000 hits)
"enrolled for a class" "university" site:.uk (5 hits)
"enrolled to a class" "university" site:.uk (2 hits)
"enrolled into a class" "university" site:.uk (6 hits)
"enrolled on a class" "university" site:.uk (8 hits)
15.3.2021 10Prepositions en.wiktionary.org 15.3.2021 11
Prepositions and ambiguity
Does ‘by Monday’ mean by the end of Monday, by a
certain time on Monday, or by the start of Monday?
To avoid confusion, say ‘no later than Monday’,
‘by 14.00 on Monday’ or ‘before Monday’.Prepositions and ambiguity
Of or -’s (apostrophe S)
the control of the robot the robot’s control
memories of my dog my dog’s memories
the murder of Gonzalo Gonzalo’s murder
hatred of cats cats’ hatredPrepositions – regional differences
UK form / US form
Fill in a form / fill out a form (’complete a form’ can be either)
At the weekend / on the weekend
Different to / different than (or different from)
I’ll write to him / I’ll write him
She begins on Tuesday / She begins Tuesday
The want to meet you / The want to meet with you
15.3.2021 14Prepositions – Silly rules?
Dangling prepositions, or putting a preposition
at the end of a sentence
Here’s the report I wrote to you about.
Here’s the report about which I wrote to you.
Churchill saw little point to this rule and reportedly said:
‘This is the sort of tedious nonsense up with which I will not put.’
15.3.2021 15Prepositions – multiple prepositions?
He leaned out of the window.
It’s up to you.
What’s up with that?
They planned to sell it by putting a pop up on the avenue.
She soon caught on to what they were up to.
We came in to buy some tea. / We came into the shop to buy tea.
15.3.2021 16Prepositions – multiple prepositions?
World record for longest string of prepositions?
A child complains about mother’s choice of bedtime stories:
‘Mother, what on earth did you bring a book to read
out of about Down Under up for?’
Stephen Fry (expanding on E.B. White)
15.3.2021 17Shortening news headlines
- Leave out ‘is’, ‘was’, etc.
Opening ceremony was a success
- Verbs in present tense …
Aalto joins joined think tank
- … or future tense
Aalto to join think tank
- Use short verbs
Colleges vie compete for rankings
Board mulls contemplates proposal
15.3.2021 18Shortening news headlines (cont.)
- Omit articles
College encourages a lively exchange of ideas
- Commas, not and’s
Students, and faculty invited to conference
- Individuals by name, no titles
Prof. Saarinen lecture series next year
- Use abbreviations (HOPS, AAC, HR …)
15.3.2021 19Shorten these headings
Follow this link to Teams and begin the activity.
https://teams.microsoft.com/l/file/7D639216-787F-4511-8BE8-
11BC03DA839D?tenantId=ae1a7724-4041-4462-a6dc-
538cb199707e&fileType=docx&objectUrl=https%3A%2F%2Faaltofi.sharepoint.com%2Fsite
s%2FWritingEnglish%2FShared%20Documents%2FGeneral%2F2021%2Fshortening_text.do
cx&baseUrl=https%3A%2F%2Faaltofi.sharepoint.com%2Fsites%2FWritingEnglish&serviceN
ame=teams&threadId=19:0cae14fae5bf45c59fb532656dde374d@thread.skype&groupId=
d412e062-6d41-45b2-965f-026d8306bccd
15.3.2021 20You can also read
