博文
比较
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在一篇论文的“结果”部分常常需要进行“比较”，而“在同类事物中”(like with like)作比较尤为重要。对于母语为非英语的作者来说，最常见的一个错误是忽视了这一简单规则，导致读者往往很难搞清到底是什么跟什么在作比较。在最好的情况下，作者语言生硬，但至少能说明比较对象；而在最差的情况下，作者所阐述的内容根本风马牛不相及。举例来说，“Expression levels of p53 in smokers were compared with non-smokers”是不对的，应改成“Expression levels of p53 in smokers were compared with those in non-smokers”。在进行比较时，另一常见错误是在使用关系词语(如higher、greater、more)时未提及参照对象。如，“transgenic mice showed higher levels of cortisol”，在这个句子中，作者并未说明这些“levels”是高于何物；因此，我们必须加上“than从句”，如“than control mice”。读者有时当然会想当然地假定是与对照组在做比较，但在某些情况下读者有可能得出其他推论，因此，要做到准确地撰写科研论文，一定要消除所有“假定”。由于结果的比较对于结果的解读乃至其意义的判定来说至关重要，作者一定要准确地告知读者确切的比较对象。最后，“between”一词用于两个事物的比较，“among”则用于三个或三个以上事物的比较。
• “The levels of ubiquitinated proteins were higher in patients than in control subjects” (“than从句”提供了“higher”一词的参照组)
• “The levels of ubiquitinated proteins in patients were higher than those in control subjects” (在第一个例子中，患者组和对照组均位于比较词的同侧，即，它们均在“higher”之后被提及；而在这个例子中，患者组和对照组出现在比较词的异侧，因此，需要在对同类事物进行比较时加上“than those”)
• “There was no significant difference in the levels of ubiquitinated proteins between patients and controls” (这是两组之间的比较，故用“between”)
• “There were no significant differences in the levels of ubiquitinated proteins among AD patients, PD patients and controls” (这里比较的对象超过了3组患者，故用“among”；请注意这里“differences”采用了复数形式，因为当3组或3组以上进行比较时，差异的类型可能不只一种)
英文原文
Comparisons
Comparisons are frequently made in the results sections of papers, and it is especially important to compare “like with like”. One common error made by non-native authors is overlooking this simple rule and leaving the reader to make an assumption about what is being compared. At best, the language will appear unnatural but the meaning clear; at worst, the wrong meaning can be imparted. As an example, the sentence “Expression levels of p53 in smokers were compared with non-smokers” should actually be “Expression levels of p53 in smokers were compared with those in non-smokers”. Another frequent error with comparisons is the use of relative terms (for example, higher, greater, more) without a reference. In the sentence “transgenic mice showed higher levels of cortisol” it is unclear what these levels were higher than; thus, a “than clause”, such as “than control mice”, is required. The reader might make this assumption automatically, but in some cases alternative inferences will be possible; the goal of accurate scientific writing has to be the removal of all assumption. Because comparisons of results are critical to their interpretation and, ultimately, their significance, it is critical that you convey to the reader exactly what is being compared. Finally, the word “between” should be used for comparisons of two findings, but “among” should be used for comparisons of three or more.
• “The levels of ubiquitinated proteins were higher in patients than in control subjects” (the “than clause” provides a reference for the term “higher”).
• “The levels of ubiquitinated proteins in patients were higher than those in control subjects” (unlike the first example, where patients and controls are both on the same side of the comparing term, that is, they are both mentioned after “higher”, here, patients and controls appear either side of the comparing term; therefore, it is necessary to add “than those” to compare like with like).
• “There was no significant difference in the levels of ubiquitinated proteins between patients and controls” (“between is appropriate here for a comparison of two groups).
• “There were no significant differences in the levels of ubiquitinated proteins among AD patients, PD patients and controls” (among is appropriate for comparisons of more than two groups; note the change to the plural differences because more than one type of difference is possible with more than two groups).
Dr Daniel McGowan
分子神经学博士
理文编辑学术总监
https://blog.sciencenet.cn/blog-288924-479429.html
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