20. Keep related words together
1. The position of the words in a sentence is the principal means of showing their relationship.Confusion and ambiguity result when words are badly placed. The writer must, therefore,bring together the words and groups of words that are related in thought and keep apart those that are not so related. （将意思前后相关的表达尽量放在一起）
1a. He noticed a large stain in the rug that was right in the center. （此句有歧义）
1b. He noticed a large stain right in the center of the rug.
2a. New York's first commercial human-sperm bank opened Friday with semen samples from eighteen men frozen in a stainless steel tank.
2b. New York's first commercial human- sperm bank opened Friday when semen samples were taken from eighteen men. The samples were then frozen and stored in a stainless steel tank. （第二句与第一句不是紧密相关，可以隔开。）
2. The subject of a sentence and the principal verb should not, as a rule, be separated by a phrase or clause that can be transferred to the beginning. （主语和动词之间不要用其它的短语或从句隔开）
1a. Toni Morrison, in Beloved, writes about characters who have escaped from slavery but are haunted by its heritage.
1b. In Beloved, Toni Morrison writes about characters who have escaped from slavery but are haunted by its heritag
3. Interposing a phrase or a clause, as in the lefthand examples above, interrupts the flow of the main clause. This interruption, however, is not usually bothersome when the flow is checked only by a relative clause or by an expression in apposition. Sometimes, in periodic sentences, the interruption is a deliberate device for creating suspense. （当短语或从句有助于整体意思的流畅性时，便可以放置于主语和动词之间）
Four centuries ago, Christopher Columbus, one of the Italian mariners whom the decline of their own republics had put at the service of the world and of...
4. The relative pronoun should come, in most instances, immediately after its antecedent. （关系代词应紧跟前述表达）
1a. He wrote three articles about his adventures in Spain, which were published in Harper's Magazine.
1b. He published three articles in Harper's Magazine about his adventures in Spain.
5. If the antecedent consists of a group of words, the relative comes at the end of the group, unless this would cause ambiguity. （只要不引发歧义，关系代词应当出现在一组表达的最后）
The Superintendent of the Chicago Division, who
如果引起歧义，则应当放在合适的中间位置：
1a. The grandson of William Henry Harrison, who
1b. William Henry Harrison's grandson, Benjamin Harrison, who
6. A noun in apposition may come between antecedent and relative, because in such a combination no real ambiguity can arise. （作为同位语的名词，可以放在前置语和关系从句之间）
The Duke of York, his brother, who was regarded with hostility by the Whigs
7. Modifiers should come, if possible, next to the words they modify. If several expressions modify the same word, they should be arranged so that no wrong relation is suggested. （限定语应当至于合适的位置，以避免引发歧义）
1a. All the members were not present.
1b. Not all the members were present. （这两句随着Not位置的变化意义完全不同）
2a. She only found two mistakes.
2b. She found only two mistakes. （only决定了两个句子强调的不同的重点）
3a. Major R. E. Joyce will give a lecture on Tuesday evening in Bailey Hall, to which the public is invited on "My Experiences in Mesopotamia" at 8:00 P.M. （此句组织很错乱）
3b. On Tuesday evening at eight, Major R. E. Joyce will give a lecture in Bailey Hall on "My Experiences in Mesopotamia." The public is invited.
