论文写超了怎么办？这里有减字数方法十则
许多非英文母语的作者会觉得要把文章写得简洁有力非常困难，一部分原因是受词汇量限制，找不到适合的词来替代短语。但其实字数限制对英语母语者也是挑战，不懂得少即是多的写作艺术，就会洋洋洒洒写了许多。
本文为你提供一些控制字数的基本技巧：
1. 做引用时，以“There is a previous study on…”、“It has been reported that…”句型开头会占用一定篇幅，也使得句子读来累赘。可以将这些短语删除，仅留下引用文献。
示例
原文：It has been reported that the incidence of Alzheimer's disease increases with age (Rogue et al., 2004).(17 字)。
修改后：It has been reported that tThe incidence of Alzheimer's disease increases with age (Rogue et al., 2004).(12 字)。
2. 在含产品名称的句子中，可将产品名放进括号里。
示例
原文：The samples were analyzed on the ABC spectrophotometer (Zhejiang Scientific, Zhejiang, China) to determine the xyz values.(17 字)。
修改后：The samples were analyzed on the ABC spectrophotometer to determine the xyz values (ABC spectrometer; Zhejiang Scientific, Zhejiang, China).(15 字)。
3. 巧妙地将动词名词化能有效减字，但也需注意分寸，一昧使用名词、术语也会令文章不自然。以下例句借着把 diagnosis 替换成 diagnosed 将句子变短了，即是一个正面改动。
示例
原文：A diagnosis of cancer was made on the basis of the findings.(12 字)。
修改后：A diagnosis of cCancer was diagnosedmade on the basis of the findings.(9 字)。
4. 在结果部分，避免边写边“叙述”数据，可直接把数据放进括号里。
示例
原文：The protein level was 5 mg in Group A, while it was 3 mg in Group B, the difference being statistically significant (p < 0.05).(25 字)。
修改后：The difference in the protein level was 5 mg in between Ggroups A and B, while it was 3 mg in Group b, the difference being statistically was significant (5 mg vs. 3 mg, p < 0.05).(21 字)。
5. 检查是否能删除一些对读者来说理所当然的信息，许多作者会在前言部分以叙述性内容开头，虽说建构上下文很重要，但请考虑其必要性。譬如一篇关于 AIDS 的研究论文，“AIDS is a life-threatening disease.”这样的开场就有些可有可无。
6. 有些典型的赘词能免则免，以下提供一些范例：
示例
a number of – several
as a result – therefore
on the other hand – whereas
as a consequence of – owing to
7. 英语中有种“省略结构”，可在长句中避免重复出现的动词。
示例
原文：Group A was given cyclosporine, Group B was given FK506, and Group C was given chlorambucil.(16 字)。
修改后：Group A was given cyclosporine; Group B, was given FK506; and Group C, was given chlorambucil.(12 字)。
8. 用连词符号串联的词在 Word 里算一个词，所以像以下例句中把 rely on themselve 写成 self-reliant 也是一种讨巧的办法。
示例
原文：After rehabilitation, the patients came to rely on themselves.(9 字)。
修改后：After rehabilitation, the patients became self-reliantto rely on themselves.(6 字)。
9.使用主动语态有时能减少字数。
示例
原文：Written informed consent was given by all patients.(8 字)。
修改后：All patients gave Wwritten informed consent was given by all patients.(6 字)。
10. 避免用 of 表示所有格。
示例
原文：Patients of Group 1 were followed up for 6 months, and those of Group 2, for 12 months.(18 字)。
修改后：Patients of Group 1 patients were followed up for 6 months, whileand those of Group 2 patientswere followed up, for 12 months.(15 字)。
以上几个方法能在不改变语义的前提下有效缩短文章篇幅，不过减少字数总归不是件简单的事，下笔前后都要多读几遍才行。这些方法仅适用于小幅减字，如你超过规定字数太多，只得作结构性删减了。
