Common Mistake ⑤ in IT and FA Translation - Avoid the Use of Inappropriate Prepositional Phrases

1. Example of using an inappropriate prepositional phrase ①

In the text (before correction), the phrase "When you enable this setting" is represented by a prepositional phrase using the structure "with + O + C" to indicate a circumstantial condition. While there are no grammatical or structural errors, in technical writing, it is often preferable to use clearer (i.e., more readable) subordinate clauses, which is why it has been revised as shown in (after correction).

* The structure "with + O + C" that indicates accompanying circumstances: This usage of "with" is used to attach circumstances to the main clause, meaning "while..., remaining..."

2. Example of an inappropriate prepositional phrase②

This example also uses the structure "with + O + C" to express accompanying circumstances, similar to example ①, so it has been modified into a subordinate clause for better readability.

3. Example of an inappropriate prepositional phrase③

(Before the revision), 'resolve... before clicking...' means 'resolve... before clicking...' which matches the original text 'resolve... and click...'. However, there is no need to use this expression here. It is more readable and appropriate for the manual to say 'Perform action 1 ⇒ Perform action 2' ('resolve... and click...').

4. Example of an inappropriate prepositional phrase④

(Before revision), the phrase "with the power of the amplifier turned off" exists as a prepositional phrase, resulting in a redundant and difficult-to-read structure. Expressions like "in a state of ~" are more naturally and clearly expressed as "While S+V+O."

5. Example of an inappropriate prepositional phrase ➄

"upon + clicking" means "as soon as you click" or "once you click," so the meaning is consistent with the original text. However, "upon" is a less frequently used preposition, and "upon + ~ing" can be a difficult expression for non-native English speakers to understand, so it is better to avoid it.

In general writing, when both clauses and phrases can be used, phrases are often preferred over clauses to avoid inappropriate pronouns and auxiliary verbs. For example, expressions like "There are two key metrics with which to judge success." are used more frequently than "There are two key metrics that you can use to judge success.".

However, this trend does not necessarily apply to technical writing. It is especially important to recognize the fundamental differences between general writing and technical writing when performing technical translation.