有不少國外學者和國內外文系教授在教授學術寫作時，告訴學生"能用一個字表達的意思，就用一個字，不要用兩個甚至三個字". 全然採信如此說法的學生，想必無法全然在期刊論文或是報章雜誌時得到驗證。原因在於學術寫作中還是會使用一些片語。不過怎樣的片語可用，怎樣的片語不可用，則似乎必須藉由大量閱讀來培養感覺了。
學術寫作 & 新聞寫作經典片語 (1)
1. (to be) in line with 和～一致
例) The stock's performance was in line with expectations.
2. tamper with 干涉、擾亂、篡改
3. wind up with 到頭來...(以～做結)
4. at some point 在某個時間點
(有寫學者會寫 at some point in time...後面的 in time可說是 redundant)
5. call into question 對～表示懷疑
例) The report's findings call into question the safety and efficacy of all such drugs.
6. pose a threat to 對～構成威脅 (注意介系詞非 on)
7. in hindsight 回頭來看 (似 in retrospect)
8. home in on/ zero in on 鎖定目標
例) The report homed in on the faulty wiring that might have caused the fire.
9. come about 發生; 出現 (似 transpire)
10. factor...in / factor in 把～納入考量
例) We factored in sick days and vacations when we prepared the work schedule.
