Grammar, Punctuation and Capitalization - Handbook for Technical ...
Grammar, Punctuation and Capitalization - Handbook for Technical ...
Grammar, Punctuation and Capitalization - Handbook for Technical ...
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Chapter 2. Sentence Structure Page 37TitleRevisionAn Instrumentation System <strong>for</strong> Helicopter Blade FlightResearch MeasurementsA Rotor-Mounted Digital Instrumentation System <strong>for</strong>Helicopter Blade Flight ResearchThe revision is two words longer, but it seems more concise because it says so much more with only two morewords.2.5. ComparisonsComparisons are of major importance in technical writing; experimental results are compared with predictions,results at st<strong>and</strong>ard or control conditions with results at test conditions, full-scale data with model-scale data,characteristics of one configuration with those of another. Such comparisons can be complicated <strong>and</strong> there<strong>for</strong>eshould be expressed as simple, straight-<strong>for</strong>ward constructions.The most frequent problem with comparison is ambiguity concerning the items being compared:PoorBetterPoorBetterComparison between pressures on the nozzle <strong>and</strong> boattail<strong>and</strong> the tail boom indicates...Comparison of pressures on the nozzle <strong>and</strong> boattail withthose on the tail boom indicates...The goal of the program was to obtain tougher martensiticsteel alloys.The goal of the program was to obtain tougher martensiticsteel alloys than are commercially available.2.5.1. Comparison of Adjectives <strong>and</strong> AdverbsAdjectives <strong>and</strong> adverbs change <strong>for</strong>m to indicate degree of comparison (IRS 1962):• Positive degree merely indicates existence of a quality.• Comparative degree indicates a quality existing to a greater or lesser degree in one thing than in another.• Superlative degree indicates a quality existing to the greatest or least degree in a group of things.Comparative degree is <strong>for</strong>med by adding the suffix er or adding more or less be<strong>for</strong>e the modifier. Superlativedegree is <strong>for</strong>med by adding the suffix est or adding most or least be<strong>for</strong>e the modifier.Most adjectives with three or more syllables <strong>and</strong> almost all adverbs are compared by adding more <strong>and</strong> most (orless <strong>and</strong> least). In addition, some modifiers, <strong>for</strong> example, good, have irregular comparisons; the wordsthemselves change:
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