SUMMARY
Develop one voice that readers will recognize when they hear it on the page, a voice that's enjoyable not only in its musical line but in its avoidanceof sounds that would cheapen its tone:breeziness and condescension and clichés.
the effortless style is achieved by strenuous effort and constant refining.举重若轻的风格是在不断地努力改进之后得到的，绝不是轻浮（breeziness）的风格。
readers will stop reading you if they think you are talking down to them. Nobody wants to be patronized.别把读者当傻子。作为一个读者，读到意味深长耐人寻味的句子是很欣喜的。
Write with respect for the English language at its best—and for readers at their best.尊重语言，也尊重读者。
Finding a voice that your readers will enjoy is largely a matter of taste.
writing is the expression of every person's individuality, and we know what we like when it comes along. Again, however, much can be gained by knowing what to omit.
Clichés are one of the things you should keep listening for when you rewrite and read your successive drafts aloud.Clichés are the enemy of taste. Extend the point beyond individual clichés to your larger use of language. Again, freshnessis crucial.
Taste chooses words that havesurprise, strength and precision.
But finally taste is a mixture of qualities that are beyond analyzing.
Does this mean that taste can be learned? Yes and no. Perfect taste, like perfect pitch, is a gift from God. But a certain amount can be acquired. The trick is to study writers who have it.
Never hesitate to imitate another writer. Imitation is part of the creative process for anyone learning an art or a craft.
作者提到perfect pitch，让我想到了之前共读的PEAK，perfect taste也是刻意练习可以达到的，PEAK里富兰克林（好像是这个人）练习写作就是通过模仿、用自己的语言写出缩略后的故事等方法，最后成为写作大师。
What is the line that separates eloquence from bombast?
Part of the answer takes us back to taste. Another part of the answer lies in simplicity.
Remember the uses of the past when you tell your story.
WORD
1. partial
I'm partial to it because it's a style I've always tried to write.
ADJ-GRADED 能被表示程度的副词或介词词组修饰的形容词喜欢的；偏爱的 If you are partial to something, you like it.
【搭配模式】：v-link ADJ to n/-ing
He's partial to sporty women with blue eyes...
他喜欢爱运动的蓝眼睛女子。
2. stretch
White begins: I spent several days and nights in mid-September with an ailing pig and I feel driven to account for this stretch of time....
N-COUNT 可数名词一段时间 Astretch oftime is a period of time.
【搭配模式】：oft N of n
...after an 18-monthstretchin the army...
在部队生活了 18 个月后
3.ingratiate
The writer sounds confident; he's not trying to ingratiate himself with the reader.
VERB 动词使得到…的欢心;讨好 If someone tries toingratiate themselves withyou, they do things to try and make you like them.
【语法信息】：V pron-refl with n
【语法信息】：Also V pron-refl
【语用信息】：disapproval
Many politicians are trying toingratiatethemselves with her.
许多政客都设法讨她的欢心。
4.pal
They want to be a pal to the reader.
N-COUNT 可数名词朋友 Yourpalsare your friends.
【搭配模式】：usu with poss
【语域标签】：INFORMAL 非正式
【STYLE标签】：OLD-FASHIONED 过时
5.verbose
ADJ-GRADED 能被表示程度的副词或介词词组修饰的形容词冗长的;啰唆的;唠叨的 If you describe a person or a piece of writing asverbose, you are critical of them because they use more words than are necessary, and so make you feel bored or annoyed.
【语用信息】：disapproval
【语域标签】：FORMAL 正式
...verbosepoliticians...
长篇大论的政治家们
6.contemptuous
It's contemptuous of the English language.
ADJ-GRADED 能被表示程度的副词或介词词组修饰的形容词蔑视的;藐视的;鄙视的 If you arecontemptuous ofsomeone or something, you do not like or respect them at all.
【搭配模式】：usu v-link ADJ
He wascontemptuousof private farmers...
他看不起私营农场主。
7.condescending
ADJ-GRADED 能被表示程度的副词或介词词组修饰的形容词盛气凌人的;居高临下的 If you say that someone iscondescending, you are showing your disapproval of the fact that they talk or behave in a way which shows that they think they are superior to other people.
【语用信息】：disapproval
I'm fed up with your money and your wholecondescendingattitude...
我讨厌你的钱，也受够了你居高临下的态度。
8.patronize
Nobody wants to be patronized.
in BRIT, also use 英国英语亦用 patronise
1.VERB 动词对…摆出屈尊俯就的样子 If someonepatronizesyou, they speak or behave towards you in a way which seems friendly, but which shows that they think they are superior to you in some way.
【语法信息】：V n
【语法信息】：V-ed
【语用信息】：disapproval
Don't youpatronizeme!...
别在我面前摆出一副屈尊俯就的样子！
talk down to = patronize
9. smitten
If you're smitten by the urge to try the breezy style, read what you've written aloud and see if you like the sound of your voice.
ADJ-GRADED 能被表示程度的副词或介词词组修饰的形容词(被…)打动的;醉心(于…)的 If you aresmitten bysomething, you are very impressed by it and enthusiastic about it.
【搭配模式】：usu v-link ADJ
Simon Fraser wassmittenby the landscapes he found in the wild southwest of the United States.
西蒙·弗雷泽深深地陶醉于自己在美国西南部所发现的这片原始美景中。
10.pin down
I realize I'm trying to pin down a matter that's subjective; one person's beautiful object is somebody else's kitsch.
PHRASAL VERB 短语动词确定；证实 If you try topinsomethingdown, you try to discover exactly what, where, or when it is.
【语法信息】：V P n (not pron)
【语法信息】：V n P to n
【语法信息】：V P wh
【语法信息】：Also V n P
It has taken until now topin downits exact location...
直到现在才确定了它的准确位置。
11.vogue
Taste can also change from one decade to another—yesterday’s charm is derided today as junk, but it will be back in vogue tomorrow, certified again as charming.
PHRASE 短语正在流行/变得流行 If something isin vogue, is very popular and fashionable. If it comesinto vogue, it becomes very popular and fashionable.
【搭配模式】：v-link PHR
Pale colours are much more invoguethan autumnal bronzes and coppers.
浅色比黄褐色和红棕色这些秋季色彩更流行。
12.stamp out
Not that clichés are easy to stamp out.
PHRASAL VERB 短语动词消灭;根除 If youstamp outsomething bad that is happening, you make it stop.
【语法信息】：V n P
【语法信息】：Also V P n (not pron)
13.facetious
From their comments I realized that several of them thought I was being facetious.
ADJ-GRADED 能被表示程度的副词或介词词组修饰的形容词(不分场合)乱开玩笑的，贫嘴的 If you say that someone is beingfacetious, you are criticizing them because they are making humorous remarks or saying things that they do not mean in a situation where they ought to be serious.
【语用信息】：disapproval
The woman eyed him coldly. 'Don't befacetious,' she said.
妇人冷冷地看着他，说道：“别没正经了。”
14.trite
A writer with an ear for language will reach for fresh imagery and avoid phrases that are trite.
ADJ-GRADED 能被表示程度的副词或介词词组修饰的形容词陈腐的;老一套的 If you say that something such as an idea, remark, or story istrite, you mean that it is dull and boring because it has been said or told too many times.
= stale, banal, fusty, hackneyed, mossy, mouldy
