Common Chinglish Errors in Academic Writing
Category 1: Sentence Structure
1.1 Topic-Prominent Structure
❌ "This method, its advantage is obvious." ✅ "The advantage of this method is obvious."
1.2 Run-on Sentences
❌ "We propose a method it can solve the problem." ✅ "We propose a method that can solve the problem."
1.3 Missing Articles
❌ "Deep learning is popular technology." ✅ "Deep learning is a popular technology."
Category 2: Word Choice
2.1 Weak Verbs
| Chinglish | Academic |
|---|---|
| make | construct, generate, produce, create |
| do | perform, conduct, execute, carry out |
| get | obtain, achieve, derive, acquire |
| use | employ, utilize, leverage, adopt |
| show | demonstrate, illustrate, reveal, indicate |
| find | discover, identify, observe, determine |
2.2 Informal Expressions
| Avoid | Use Instead |
|---|---|
| a lot of | numerous, substantial, considerable |
| big | significant, substantial, major |
| very | highly, considerably, substantially |
| things | factors, elements, aspects, components |
| good | effective, efficient, optimal, superior |
2.3 Redundant Expressions
| Redundant | Concise |
|---|---|
| completely eliminate | eliminate |
| future prospects | prospects |
| past history | history |
| basic fundamentals | fundamentals |
| advance planning | planning |
Category 3: Hedging (避免绝对化)
Forbidden Absolute Words
- ❌ "obviously", "clearly", "certainly", "undoubtedly"
- ❌ "always", "never", "all", "none"
- ❌ "prove", "prove that" (unless mathematical proof)
Academic Hedging
- ✅ "It appears that...", "It seems that..."
- ✅ "The results suggest...", "The data indicate..."
- ✅ "This may be attributed to..."
- ✅ "One possible explanation is..."
Category 4: Tense Usage
Abstract
- Present tense for general statements
- Past tense for specific findings
Introduction
- Present tense for established facts
- Present perfect for recent developments
Methods
- Past tense (what you did)
Results
- Past tense for your findings
- Present tense for tables/figures ("Table 1 shows...")
Discussion
- Present tense for interpretations
- Past tense for referencing results
Category 5: Common Phrase Errors
Preposition Errors
| Wrong | Correct |
|---|---|
| according with | according to |
| based in | based on |
| compare with (similar) | compare to (similar) |
| different with | different from |
| focus at | focus on |
Collocation Errors
| Wrong | Correct |
|---|---|
| do an experiment | conduct/perform an experiment |
| make a conclusion | draw/reach a conclusion |
| take efforts | make efforts |
| rise a question | raise a question |
| solve problems | address/tackle problems |