本文所闡述的幾個原則是 SAT 寫作時應(yīng)當遵循的基本原則。但是同學們在練習或考試的時候，不要受此困擾，而要把它們當成提示要點，掌握這些要點，從而不斷地鞏固寫作技能。在此過程中，切忌急躁，注意吸收所述原則的內(nèi)容。其次要注意多做練習，把你的答案與正確表達進行對比，確保能理解每句話中的錯誤，這樣才能在實際考試的時候避免犯同樣的錯誤。
一、 避免使用俚語和口語
盡量避免在正式的寫作中使用俚語和口語，因為它們使用并不普遍，所以極易使讀者誤解作者要表達的意思。例如：
錯誤： She plays a wicked game of tennis.
正確： She excels in tennis.
錯誤： John has been doing a science for years.
正確： John has been a scientist for years.
錯誤： The blackened salmon’s been one of the restaurant’s most popular entrees.
正確： The blackened salmon has been one of the restaurant’s most popular entrees.
稍作思考，你就會選擇正確的用法。注意要堅持使用標準用法，拋棄非正式場合用語以及表述不清晰的縮寫等用法。
二、 避免使用不完整或冗長的句式
不完整的句式?jīng)]有獨立的從句；而冗長的句式則有兩個以上的從句，而這若干從句之間并沒有恰當?shù)劂暯?。這兩種錯誤都是我們應(yīng)該努力避免的，具體做法如下。
不完整的句式
正式寫作中的每句話都必須有獨立從句。所謂獨立從句，就是包含主語、謂語，并且不以下述連詞作為句子開頭：
After if than whenever although in order that though where as provided that unless whether because since until while before so that
錯誤： Global warming. This is what the scientists and journalists are worried about.
正確： Global warming is the cause of concern for scientists and journalists.
注意，以并列連詞 ——and 、 but 、 or 、 nor 和 for 作為單句的開頭，則是可以接受的。例如：
正確： Most people would agree that indigent patients should receive wonderful health care. But every treatment has its price.
冗長的句式
在時間緊張的情況下，不少學生寫出來的句子沒有標點連接，或者只有逗號。例如：
Current insurance practices are unfair they discriminate against the people who need insurance most.
我們有三種修改方法：
1） 標注句號： Current insurance practices are unfair. They discriminate against the people who need insurance most.
這樣，一個獨立的句子就變成幾個獨立的從句。
2） 標注分號： Current insurance practices are unfair; they discriminate against the people who need insurance most. 利用分號把具有獨立意義的句式分開，但同時向讀者表明句子表示的含義之間存在一定聯(lián)系。
3） 利用連詞： Current insurance practices are unfair in that they discriminate against the people who need insurance most. 這也是的修改方法，從句仍然是獨立的，同時也表明了從句之間的聯(lián)系。
出現(xiàn)冗長句式還有一個原因，就是誤用 however 、 nevertheless 、 furthermore 、 likewise 、 therefore 等副詞。例如：
錯誤： Current insurance practices are discriminatory, furthermore they make insurance too expensive for the poor.
正確： Current insurance practices are discriminatory. Furthermore, they make insurance too expensive for the poor.
三、 正確使用標點符號
1 ．逗號
請遵循以下 4 大規(guī)則：
1. 用逗號分開系列成分。如果有 2 個以上相同成分，則應(yīng)用逗號分開；例如：
My recipe for buttermilk biscuits contains flour, soda and buttermilk.
2. 使用逗號來分開插入從句和短語；例如：
Gordon, who is a writer by profession, bakes an excellent cheesecake.
3. 在引導性分詞或介詞短語后使用逗號；例如：
After the banquet, Harold and Martha went dancing.
4. 利用逗號來分開連詞連接的獨立從句。例如：
Susan’s old car has been belching blue smoke from the tailpipe for two weeks, but it has not broken down yet.
2 ．分號
請遵循以下 2 大規(guī)則：
1. 使用分號而不是并列連詞來連接兩個含義緊密的獨立從句；例如：
Whooping cranes are an endangered species; they are unlikely to survive if we continue to pollute.
2. therefore 、 nevertheless 和 moreover 等詞連接的獨立從句可用分號隔開。例如：
The staff meeting has been postponed until next Thursday; therefore, I will be unable to get approval for my project until then.
3 ．冒號
請遵循以下 3 大規(guī)則：
1. 在正式的寫作中，冒號的作用僅在于表明其后是對前面所述內(nèi)容的詳細說明、定義、解釋或過去發(fā)生事情的概述。冒號之前一般是獨立從句，并且通常情況下有 as follows 、 the following 、 namely 或 like 等提示短語。例如：
正確： Your instructions are as follows: read the passage carefully, answer the questions on the last page, and turn over your answer sheet.
2. 動詞和直接賓語間不要放冒號。例如：
錯誤： I want: a slice of pizza and a small green salad.
正確： This is what I want: A slice of pizza and a small green salad.
3. 如果前后兩句話有如上所述的緊密關(guān)系，即使沒有上述表示這層關(guān)系的短語，也可使用冒號，并且在這種情況下，句號也可用。例如：
正確： We were aghast: The “charming country inn” that had been advertised in such glowing terms proved to be a leaking cabin full of mosquitoes.
4 ．連字符號和破折號
請遵循以下 7 大規(guī)則：
1. 行末單詞分開時使用連字符號。例如：
正確： In this incredible canvas, the artist used only monochromatic ele-
ments.
2. 表示 21-99 這些數(shù)字和用作形容詞的分數(shù)時，使用連字符號。
錯誤： A two thirds vote was necessary to carry the measure.
正確： A two-thirds vote was necessary to carry the measure.
3. 由前綴 ex 、 all 、 self 、 semi 或后綴 elect 構(gòu)成的詞語，前綴或后綴和主體之間應(yīng)有連字符號。
錯誤： The president elect was invited to chair the meeting.
正確： The president-elect was invited to chair the meeting.
4. 如果把復合形容詞放在所修飾詞語的前面，則該形容詞各部分應(yīng)由連字符號分開。
正確： The no-holds-barred argument continued into the night.
5. 專有名詞或形容詞前添加前綴，兩部分應(yīng)由連字符號隔開。例如：
錯誤： His pro African sentiments were heartily applauded.
正確： His pro-African sentiments were heartily applauded.
6. 如果復合構(gòu)詞法構(gòu)成的詞語容易與其他詞語混淆，或者導致元音字母相鄰，則應(yīng)用連字符號隔開。例如：
錯誤： Most buildings in the ghost town are recreations of the original structures.
正確： Most buildings in the ghost town are re-creations of the original structures.
錯誤： She took an antiinflammatory drug for her sports injury.
正確： She took an anti-inflammatory drug for her sports injury.
7. 用破折號表明思路的突然變化。
正確： To get a high score—and who doesn’t want to get a high score—you need to devote yourself to prolonged and concentrated study.
5 ．撇號
請遵循以下 3 大規(guī)則：
1. 表明動詞縮寫，但是在作文開始中應(yīng)盡量避免縮寫。
2. 表明名詞所有格。
3. 代詞都另有單詞表示其所有格，比較特殊的是中性詞 one ，其所有格為 one 加上撇號和 s 。
四、 正確使用修飾語
單詞在句中的位置往往決定該單詞與句中其他單詞的關(guān)系，對修飾語而言尤其如此。修飾語和被修飾成分應(yīng)在所有格和數(shù)上保持一致。如果修飾語和被修飾成分隔開太遠，則容易導致語意模糊，所以應(yīng)盡量避免出現(xiàn)這種情況。例如：
錯誤： Cheung and Martha sat talking about the movie in the office.
正確： Cheung and Martha sat in the office talking about the movie.
五、 正確使用代詞
使用代詞的時候，應(yīng)明確其所指稱或代表的先行詞。如果容易引起歧義，應(yīng)明確寫明先行詞，不用擔心重復。例如：
錯誤： The teacher told the student he was lazy.
正確： The student was lazy, and the teacher told him so.
避免用 this 、 that 、 it 或 which 來指代整個短語或句子，即使這些代詞與其指代的先行詞很近，你可以用這些詞再加上一個名詞來指代。例如：
錯誤： The salesman spoke loudly, swayed back and forth, and tapped the table nervously, which made his customers extremely nervous.
正確： The salesman spoke loudly, swayed back and forth, and tapped the table nervously, mannerisms which made his customers extremely nervous.
除非指代天氣，否則句子開頭不要用 it 指代。
錯誤： It is difficult to distinguish between the scent of roses and that of tulips.
正確： T o distinguish between the scent of roses and that of tulips is difficult.
少數(shù)不定代詞（ some 、 all 、 most 、 any 、 none ）既可以指代單數(shù)名詞，也可以指代復數(shù)名詞。當這些代詞做主語時，必須明白其先行詞是單數(shù)還是復數(shù)。
錯誤： His superiors have been following his progress. Some are more impressed than others. None are overwhelmed.
記?。阂?-body 、 -one 、和 -thing 結(jié)尾的代詞在數(shù)上始終是單數(shù)含義； both 、 few 、 many 、 several 等代詞在數(shù)上始終是復數(shù)含義。
一、 避免使用俚語和口語
盡量避免在正式的寫作中使用俚語和口語，因為它們使用并不普遍，所以極易使讀者誤解作者要表達的意思。例如：
錯誤： She plays a wicked game of tennis.
正確： She excels in tennis.
錯誤： John has been doing a science for years.
正確： John has been a scientist for years.
錯誤： The blackened salmon’s been one of the restaurant’s most popular entrees.
正確： The blackened salmon has been one of the restaurant’s most popular entrees.
稍作思考，你就會選擇正確的用法。注意要堅持使用標準用法，拋棄非正式場合用語以及表述不清晰的縮寫等用法。
二、 避免使用不完整或冗長的句式
不完整的句式?jīng)]有獨立的從句；而冗長的句式則有兩個以上的從句，而這若干從句之間并沒有恰當?shù)劂暯?。這兩種錯誤都是我們應(yīng)該努力避免的，具體做法如下。
不完整的句式
正式寫作中的每句話都必須有獨立從句。所謂獨立從句，就是包含主語、謂語，并且不以下述連詞作為句子開頭：
After if than whenever although in order that though where as provided that unless whether because since until while before so that
錯誤： Global warming. This is what the scientists and journalists are worried about.
正確： Global warming is the cause of concern for scientists and journalists.
注意，以并列連詞 ——and 、 but 、 or 、 nor 和 for 作為單句的開頭，則是可以接受的。例如：
正確： Most people would agree that indigent patients should receive wonderful health care. But every treatment has its price.
冗長的句式
在時間緊張的情況下，不少學生寫出來的句子沒有標點連接，或者只有逗號。例如：
Current insurance practices are unfair they discriminate against the people who need insurance most.
我們有三種修改方法：
1） 標注句號： Current insurance practices are unfair. They discriminate against the people who need insurance most.
這樣，一個獨立的句子就變成幾個獨立的從句。
2） 標注分號： Current insurance practices are unfair; they discriminate against the people who need insurance most. 利用分號把具有獨立意義的句式分開，但同時向讀者表明句子表示的含義之間存在一定聯(lián)系。
3） 利用連詞： Current insurance practices are unfair in that they discriminate against the people who need insurance most. 這也是的修改方法，從句仍然是獨立的，同時也表明了從句之間的聯(lián)系。
出現(xiàn)冗長句式還有一個原因，就是誤用 however 、 nevertheless 、 furthermore 、 likewise 、 therefore 等副詞。例如：
錯誤： Current insurance practices are discriminatory, furthermore they make insurance too expensive for the poor.
正確： Current insurance practices are discriminatory. Furthermore, they make insurance too expensive for the poor.
三、 正確使用標點符號
1 ．逗號
請遵循以下 4 大規(guī)則：
1. 用逗號分開系列成分。如果有 2 個以上相同成分，則應(yīng)用逗號分開；例如：
My recipe for buttermilk biscuits contains flour, soda and buttermilk.
2. 使用逗號來分開插入從句和短語；例如：
Gordon, who is a writer by profession, bakes an excellent cheesecake.
3. 在引導性分詞或介詞短語后使用逗號；例如：
After the banquet, Harold and Martha went dancing.
4. 利用逗號來分開連詞連接的獨立從句。例如：
Susan’s old car has been belching blue smoke from the tailpipe for two weeks, but it has not broken down yet.
2 ．分號
請遵循以下 2 大規(guī)則：
1. 使用分號而不是并列連詞來連接兩個含義緊密的獨立從句；例如：
Whooping cranes are an endangered species; they are unlikely to survive if we continue to pollute.
2. therefore 、 nevertheless 和 moreover 等詞連接的獨立從句可用分號隔開。例如：
The staff meeting has been postponed until next Thursday; therefore, I will be unable to get approval for my project until then.
3 ．冒號
請遵循以下 3 大規(guī)則：
1. 在正式的寫作中，冒號的作用僅在于表明其后是對前面所述內(nèi)容的詳細說明、定義、解釋或過去發(fā)生事情的概述。冒號之前一般是獨立從句，并且通常情況下有 as follows 、 the following 、 namely 或 like 等提示短語。例如：
正確： Your instructions are as follows: read the passage carefully, answer the questions on the last page, and turn over your answer sheet.
2. 動詞和直接賓語間不要放冒號。例如：
錯誤： I want: a slice of pizza and a small green salad.
正確： This is what I want: A slice of pizza and a small green salad.
3. 如果前后兩句話有如上所述的緊密關(guān)系，即使沒有上述表示這層關(guān)系的短語，也可使用冒號，并且在這種情況下，句號也可用。例如：
正確： We were aghast: The “charming country inn” that had been advertised in such glowing terms proved to be a leaking cabin full of mosquitoes.
4 ．連字符號和破折號
請遵循以下 7 大規(guī)則：
1. 行末單詞分開時使用連字符號。例如：
正確： In this incredible canvas, the artist used only monochromatic ele-
ments.
2. 表示 21-99 這些數(shù)字和用作形容詞的分數(shù)時，使用連字符號。
錯誤： A two thirds vote was necessary to carry the measure.
正確： A two-thirds vote was necessary to carry the measure.
3. 由前綴 ex 、 all 、 self 、 semi 或后綴 elect 構(gòu)成的詞語，前綴或后綴和主體之間應(yīng)有連字符號。
錯誤： The president elect was invited to chair the meeting.
正確： The president-elect was invited to chair the meeting.
4. 如果把復合形容詞放在所修飾詞語的前面，則該形容詞各部分應(yīng)由連字符號分開。
正確： The no-holds-barred argument continued into the night.
5. 專有名詞或形容詞前添加前綴，兩部分應(yīng)由連字符號隔開。例如：
錯誤： His pro African sentiments were heartily applauded.
正確： His pro-African sentiments were heartily applauded.
6. 如果復合構(gòu)詞法構(gòu)成的詞語容易與其他詞語混淆，或者導致元音字母相鄰，則應(yīng)用連字符號隔開。例如：
錯誤： Most buildings in the ghost town are recreations of the original structures.
正確： Most buildings in the ghost town are re-creations of the original structures.
錯誤： She took an antiinflammatory drug for her sports injury.
正確： She took an anti-inflammatory drug for her sports injury.
7. 用破折號表明思路的突然變化。
正確： To get a high score—and who doesn’t want to get a high score—you need to devote yourself to prolonged and concentrated study.
5 ．撇號
請遵循以下 3 大規(guī)則：
1. 表明動詞縮寫，但是在作文開始中應(yīng)盡量避免縮寫。
2. 表明名詞所有格。
3. 代詞都另有單詞表示其所有格，比較特殊的是中性詞 one ，其所有格為 one 加上撇號和 s 。
四、 正確使用修飾語
單詞在句中的位置往往決定該單詞與句中其他單詞的關(guān)系，對修飾語而言尤其如此。修飾語和被修飾成分應(yīng)在所有格和數(shù)上保持一致。如果修飾語和被修飾成分隔開太遠，則容易導致語意模糊，所以應(yīng)盡量避免出現(xiàn)這種情況。例如：
錯誤： Cheung and Martha sat talking about the movie in the office.
正確： Cheung and Martha sat in the office talking about the movie.
五、 正確使用代詞
使用代詞的時候，應(yīng)明確其所指稱或代表的先行詞。如果容易引起歧義，應(yīng)明確寫明先行詞，不用擔心重復。例如：
錯誤： The teacher told the student he was lazy.
正確： The student was lazy, and the teacher told him so.
避免用 this 、 that 、 it 或 which 來指代整個短語或句子，即使這些代詞與其指代的先行詞很近，你可以用這些詞再加上一個名詞來指代。例如：
錯誤： The salesman spoke loudly, swayed back and forth, and tapped the table nervously, which made his customers extremely nervous.
正確： The salesman spoke loudly, swayed back and forth, and tapped the table nervously, mannerisms which made his customers extremely nervous.
除非指代天氣，否則句子開頭不要用 it 指代。
錯誤： It is difficult to distinguish between the scent of roses and that of tulips.
正確： T o distinguish between the scent of roses and that of tulips is difficult.
少數(shù)不定代詞（ some 、 all 、 most 、 any 、 none ）既可以指代單數(shù)名詞，也可以指代復數(shù)名詞。當這些代詞做主語時，必須明白其先行詞是單數(shù)還是復數(shù)。
錯誤： His superiors have been following his progress. Some are more impressed than others. None are overwhelmed.
記?。阂?-body 、 -one 、和 -thing 結(jié)尾的代詞在數(shù)上始終是單數(shù)含義； both 、 few 、 many 、 several 等代詞在數(shù)上始終是復數(shù)含義。