Words and expressions
1. Information can be imparted clearly and without.
pomposity: lack of elegance as a consequence of being pompous and puffed up with vanity
仿写: He has a deep voice and a thick accent, which people sometimes confuse with pomposity.
2. We don’twant to go anywhere with a mind that expresses itself in such suffocating language.
suffocating: causing difficulty in breathing especially through lack of fresh air and presence of heat
仿写: The room was suffocating--hot and airless.
3. Many of you would be totally dismayed if you could observe the manners of your children while they are eating.
dismayed: worried, disappointed, and upset when something unpleasant happens
仿写: Ruth was dismayed to see how thin he had grown.
4. I found almost all of it lacking in human juices and much of it impenetrable.
impenetrable: impossible to get through, see through, or get into
仿写: The trees formed a dark and impenetrable barrier.
5. If they and their institutions seem cold, it’s because they acquiesce in the process of beingpumped up and dried out.
acquiesce: to do what someone else wants, or allow something to happen, even though you do not really agree with it
仿写: When her mother suggested that she stay, Alice willingly acquiesced.
Reflection
今天读的这一章是关于商务写作。作者在这篇里强调了clarity, simplicity, brevity and humanity，并且用许多例子来证明humanity的重要性。第一次听见商务写作是在大学时，严谨沉重，总感觉那是商业精英们的专利。大量的专业名词也让我对这类写作比较惧怕。卯足了劲耐着性子读完其实发现这些都是可以被克服的。对作者提到的一句话很是深刻If you work for an institution, whatever your job, whatever your level, be yourself when you write.
