Blacklist
This is a column of words or phrases commonly misused by Chinese speakers. If you’re planning to be an English teacher, reporter or employee of a multinational company, then watch out for this page each week
1. The store is packed 1980s-style furniture.
Professor Zhu Shida (ZSD): Here the writer fails to use the key preposition to make it perfect. As we know, there is the English phrase “to be packed with.” In this sense, the verb to pack is a transitive verb. For instance, The small theater is packed with a large audience. The garden beer party is packed with celebrities. So, the sample sentence should be: The store is packed with 1980s-style furniture. There is an English verb “to overflow” that means more or less the same in this sense. However, the usage is different. For example, the small theater is overflowing with audience. The store is over-packed with 1980s-style furniture.
Terry Boyd-Zhang (TBZ): We can use “to be packed with” in a more abstract sense, too, such as: An iPad is packed with new features, a baseball team is packed with prospects, and the winter season is packed with holidays. Also, drinks can be packed with punch and food packed with staying power.
2. She finds a job as cleaner and babysitter.
ZSD: As we know, the usage of the definite and indefinite article is one of the most difficult parts in English. Here, should we have an indefinite article before “cleaner and babysitter”? Should it be, “She finds a job as a cleaner and babysitter” or “She finds a job as a cleaner and a babysitter” or simply, “She finds a job as cleaner and babysitter”? There are three choices the way the articles are used. I think the first is the best choice: She finds a job as a cleaner and babysitter.
TBZ: I think that the sentence would be OK if it was longer. Like: She finds a job as a cleaner and babysitter for an American family and takes English classes on the weekend. But I don’t disagree with Professor Zhu’s changes, either. What I do want to say is that we should all appreciate ayi (housekeepers) more, and I think “ayi” should be adopted into the English language.
3. An historical lesson
ZSD: I recently found a student writing this way. I presume he must know French. Many French words that begin with “h” use a mute “h.” However, it is different in English. Except for “honor,” English words that begin with “h” have the “h” sound. So, it is wrong to use “an” before “historical lesson.” It should be: a historical lesson; on the other hand, it is “an honor.”
TBZ: It seems that a/an is an easy rule: a word that starts with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) takes “an,” while a word that starts with a consonant (all the rest, with y able to be a vowel if a-e-i-o-u are all missing) takes “a.” Then you get into all the letters that sound like a vowel but aren’t yet also take “an.” An honor is one — an hour, an LSAT exam, an MA, an MC, an NBC reporter. Remember, in an abbreviation, it’s not the actual letter that counts, but how that letter is spelled: “m” is actually “em,” so that’s why it would be “an MA” instead of “a MA.”
4. In the late 2000s.
ZSD: When I came across this expression, I hesitated a great deal. Is it right? Will it be misleading to mean the entire 21st century? It could be changed to ’00s. We can write “the generation of the ’00s” or “China’s economic success in the ‘00s.” This clearly indicates the years from 2000 to 2009 without any misleading effect. Of course, you may also say: China’s economic success in the first decade of the 21st century.
TBZ: It seems to me that the time period of 2000-2009 isn’t long enough to have a “late” part. You could also specify – since 2008, after 2007 or even, “In the latter half of the decade.”
This is a column of words or phrases commonly misused by Chinese speakers. If you’re planning to be an English teacher, reporter or employee of a multinational company, then watch out for this page each week
1. The store is packed 1980s-style furniture.
Professor Zhu Shida (ZSD): Here the writer fails to use the key preposition to make it perfect. As we know, there is the English phrase “to be packed with.” In this sense, the verb to pack is a transitive verb. For instance, The small theater is packed with a large audience. The garden beer party is packed with celebrities. So, the sample sentence should be: The store is packed with 1980s-style furniture. There is an English verb “to overflow” that means more or less the same in this sense. However, the usage is different. For example, the small theater is overflowing with audience. The store is over-packed with 1980s-style furniture.
Terry Boyd-Zhang (TBZ): We can use “to be packed with” in a more abstract sense, too, such as: An iPad is packed with new features, a baseball team is packed with prospects, and the winter season is packed with holidays. Also, drinks can be packed with punch and food packed with staying power.
2. She finds a job as cleaner and babysitter.
ZSD: As we know, the usage of the definite and indefinite article is one of the most difficult parts in English. Here, should we have an indefinite article before “cleaner and babysitter”? Should it be, “She finds a job as a cleaner and babysitter” or “She finds a job as a cleaner and a babysitter” or simply, “She finds a job as cleaner and babysitter”? There are three choices the way the articles are used. I think the first is the best choice: She finds a job as a cleaner and babysitter.
TBZ: I think that the sentence would be OK if it was longer. Like: She finds a job as a cleaner and babysitter for an American family and takes English classes on the weekend. But I don’t disagree with Professor Zhu’s changes, either. What I do want to say is that we should all appreciate ayi (housekeepers) more, and I think “ayi” should be adopted into the English language.
Blacklist
This is a column of words or phrases commonly misused by Chinese speakers. If you’re planning to be an English teacher, reporter or employee of a multinational company, then watch out for this page each week
1. What prints are made tend to end up in the hands of careless collectors.
Professor Zhu Shida (ZSD): We have a noun clause here “What prints are made.” I recently had a heated discussion with one of my friends about the nature of such noun clauses. I argued that the noun clause with “what” invariably assumes a singular form. It cannot and should not be regarded as a plural. My friend disagrees. After a further study of the question, I was convinced that he was right. Such noun clauses may be regarded as a singular or plural. Both are right. For example, Who will be chosen to go remains (or remain) unknown yet. So, the sample is right in its own way: What prints are made tend (or tends) to end up in the hands of careless collectors.
Terry-Boyd Zhang (TBZ): However, I agree with Professor Zhu’s original idea. For example: Who will be chosen – as Miss World International – remains singular because there can only be one lovely lady crowned. Whereas if you want to put it in the plural, you need to make the agreement: Those who will be chosen as the 10 finalists of China’s Got Talent remain a mystery. (Those … remain a mystery – is the basic sentence.) It seems a bit awkward to me, so I would use the singular form in most cases.
2. They chose to tighten their belts and stay thrift.
ZSD: There is something wrong with the phrase “stay thrift.” We used to have the combination of “stay + adjective,” for instance, The defendants stayed silent when they were being accused of the crimes they had committed. The shipwreck stayed broken on the rock in the sea for months. Now, let us check the function of the word “thrift.” It is a noun. It is never an adjective. It should be “stay thrifty.” So, the combination of “stay + thrift” does not stand. It should be: They chose to tighten their belts and stay thrifty.
TBZ: In this case, in fact, there is a better word altogether. How about: They chose to tighten their belts and live frugally? In my mind, “thrift” has the idea of being “clever and resourceful in tough times” but “frugal” has more of a feeling of becoming a lifestyle (“staying”). However, “thrifty,” used as an adjective, is fine too.
3. Iaido has gained known in Beijing.
ZSD: This example has a similar grammatical nature with the previous one. We talked about the combination of “verb + adjective.” Such verbs are limited. They may include stay, remain, become, return, etc. It is not that all verbs can assume an adjective in a combination. Unfortunately, the verb “to gain” is one of these. I never see such a combination. I don’t think it is right to say so. We used to say: Streaking right behind the pacesetter’s neck, he was gradually gaining ground in the home stretch of the race. The car gained speed while it raced down the hill. So, we may say, Iaido has gained popularity in Beijing. But it is never “gained known.”
TBZ: We could also say: Beijingers gained knowledge about Iaido at the seminar given at the SportAccord Combat Games. We can say this a bit differently too: Iaido gained an international following.
This is a column of words or phrases commonly misused by Chinese speakers. If you’re planning to be an English teacher, reporter or employee of a multinational company, then watch out for this page each week
1. What prints are made tend to end up in the hands of careless collectors.
Professor Zhu Shida (ZSD): We have a noun clause here “What prints are made.” I recently had a heated discussion with one of my friends about the nature of such noun clauses. I argued that the noun clause with “what” invariably assumes a singular form. It cannot and should not be regarded as a plural. My friend disagrees. After a further study of the question, I was convinced that he was right. Such noun clauses may be regarded as a singular or plural. Both are right. For example, Who will be chosen to go remains (or remain) unknown yet. So, the sample is right in its own way: What prints are made tend (or tends) to end up in the hands of careless collectors.
Terry-Boyd Zhang (TBZ): However, I agree with Professor Zhu’s original idea. For example: Who will be chosen – as Miss World International – remains singular because there can only be one lovely lady crowned. Whereas if you want to put it in the plural, you need to make the agreement: Those who will be chosen as the 10 finalists of China’s Got Talent remain a mystery. (Those … remain a mystery – is the basic sentence.) It seems a bit awkward to me, so I would use the singular form in most cases.
2. They chose to tighten their belts and stay thrift.
ZSD: There is something wrong with the phrase “stay thrift.” We used to have the combination of “stay + adjective,” for instance, The defendants stayed silent when they were being accused of the crimes they had committed. The shipwreck stayed broken on the rock in the sea for months. Now, let us check the function of the word “thrift.” It is a noun. It is never an adjective. It should be “stay thrifty.” So, the combination of “stay + thrift” does not stand. It should be: They chose to tighten their belts and stay thrifty.
TBZ: In this case, in fact, there is a better word altogether. How about: They chose to tighten their belts and live frugally? In my mind, “thrift” has the idea of being “clever and resourceful in tough times” but “frugal” has more of a feeling of becoming a lifestyle (“staying”). However, “thrifty,” used as an adjective, is fine too.
3. Iaido has gained known in Beijing.
ZSD: This example has a similar grammatical nature with the previous one. We talked about the combination of “verb + adjective.” Such verbs are limited. They may include stay, remain, become, return, etc. It is not that all verbs can assume an adjective in a combination. Unfortunately, the verb “to gain” is one of these. I never see such a combination. I don’t think it is right to say so. We used to say: Streaking right behind the pacesetter’s neck, he was gradually gaining ground in the home stretch of the race. The car gained speed while it raced down the hill. So, we may say, Iaido has gained popularity in Beijing. But it is never “gained known.”
TBZ: We could also say: Beijingers gained knowledge about Iaido at the seminar given at the SportAccord Combat Games. We can say this a bit differently too: Iaido gained an international following.
Blacklist
This is a column of words or phrases commonly misused by Chinese speakers. If you’re planning to be an English teacher, reporter or employee of a multinational company, then watch out for this page each week
1. Get closer a hutong dream house.
Professor Zhu Shida (ZSD): When “to get” means to arrive at a place, it is an intransitive verb. You cannot say: He got Beijing yesterday. You have to say: He got to Beijing yesterday. In the case of “being close,” you cannot say: It is close a hutong dream house. You have to say: It is close to a hutong dream house. So, in both cases, you need to have the “to” to make it a perfect sentence. That is: Get closer to a hutong dream house.
Terry-Boyd Zhang (TBZ): In English, these little words, such as at, to, in, can only be learned through hours and hours of memorization. At least for most people, you need to put some effort into this. However, if you are reading, listening and speaking English, you will find that you will start to “feel” these words automatically, and it will take the pressure off strict memorization. Try watching movies and reading the subtitles. English doesn’t have to be all hard work!
2. A recent study finds that China ranked last with fewest paid vacation days.
ZSD: There is a problem with the consistency of tense. Since you say “a recent study” and you use the present tense for the main verb, why should you use the past tense in the clause? No reason. What’s more, China’s ranking is necessarily something studied recently. So, there is every reason to use the present tense too in the subordinate clause and it is wrong to use the past tense. So, the right way to say it is: A recent study finds that China ranks last with fewest paid vacation days.
TBZ: I agree, and I think that the Professor has explained it quite well. Because it is a recent study, probably the conditions studied (number of vacation days) is still continuing, so you should use the present. This is true in other cases, such as discussing a person’s philosophy (though the philosopher may or may not already be dead).
3. That’s why when 1.3 billion people go on holiday at the same time, most chose to stay with the family.
ZSD: This is another example of tense consistency: The verb “go on” is not consistent with the verb “chose.” As you are talking about a general rule, you use the present tense. So, the right way to say it should be: That’s why when 1.3 billion people go on holiday at the same time, most choose to stay with the family. When we are writing, we have to be very clear-headed about the matter of time and its sequence. So small a matter may spoil your essay.
TBZ: Definitely! You need to proofread carefully and make sure your verb tenses are in agreement. Note, though, that “in agreement” does not necessarily mean “the same.” Do some review on verbs and clauses to ensure accuracy!
4. The mud football world championship
ZSD: The other day I had an interesting discussion with one of my friends. I think it is wrong to say “world championship.” It should be “world championships.” He argued that both are right. As we know, “championship” means the position of the champion, first place. Championships is the games of a sport, for instance, the World Tennis Championships; you would never say, the World Tennis Championship. We say, He won the championship at the World Tennis Championships. Don’t get confused.
TBZ: Sorry! On this one I agree with the Professor’s friend. Perhaps it depends on the official name on the game (or games)? But I’m not sports-minded either – for instance, the winner of figure skating is often prearranged in advanced. (Just kidding.)
This is a column of words or phrases commonly misused by Chinese speakers. If you’re planning to be an English teacher, reporter or employee of a multinational company, then watch out for this page each week
1. Get closer a hutong dream house.
Professor Zhu Shida (ZSD): When “to get” means to arrive at a place, it is an intransitive verb. You cannot say: He got Beijing yesterday. You have to say: He got to Beijing yesterday. In the case of “being close,” you cannot say: It is close a hutong dream house. You have to say: It is close to a hutong dream house. So, in both cases, you need to have the “to” to make it a perfect sentence. That is: Get closer to a hutong dream house.
Terry-Boyd Zhang (TBZ): In English, these little words, such as at, to, in, can only be learned through hours and hours of memorization. At least for most people, you need to put some effort into this. However, if you are reading, listening and speaking English, you will find that you will start to “feel” these words automatically, and it will take the pressure off strict memorization. Try watching movies and reading the subtitles. English doesn’t have to be all hard work!
2. A recent study finds that China ranked last with fewest paid vacation days.
ZSD: There is a problem with the consistency of tense. Since you say “a recent study” and you use the present tense for the main verb, why should you use the past tense in the clause? No reason. What’s more, China’s ranking is necessarily something studied recently. So, there is every reason to use the present tense too in the subordinate clause and it is wrong to use the past tense. So, the right way to say it is: A recent study finds that China ranks last with fewest paid vacation days.
TBZ: I agree, and I think that the Professor has explained it quite well. Because it is a recent study, probably the conditions studied (number of vacation days) is still continuing, so you should use the present. This is true in other cases, such as discussing a person’s philosophy (though the philosopher may or may not already be dead).
3. That’s why when 1.3 billion people go on holiday at the same time, most chose to stay with the family.
ZSD: This is another example of tense consistency: The verb “go on” is not consistent with the verb “chose.” As you are talking about a general rule, you use the present tense. So, the right way to say it should be: That’s why when 1.3 billion people go on holiday at the same time, most choose to stay with the family. When we are writing, we have to be very clear-headed about the matter of time and its sequence. So small a matter may spoil your essay.
TBZ: Definitely! You need to proofread carefully and make sure your verb tenses are in agreement. Note, though, that “in agreement” does not necessarily mean “the same.” Do some review on verbs and clauses to ensure accuracy!
4. The mud football world championship
ZSD: The other day I had an interesting discussion with one of my friends. I think it is wrong to say “world championship.” It should be “world championships.” He argued that both are right. As we know, “championship” means the position of the champion, first place. Championships is the games of a sport, for instance, the World Tennis Championships; you would never say, the World Tennis Championship. We say, He won the championship at the World Tennis Championships. Don’t get confused.
TBZ: Sorry! On this one I agree with the Professor’s friend. Perhaps it depends on the official name on the game (or games)? But I’m not sports-minded either – for instance, the winner of figure skating is often prearranged in advanced. (Just kidding.)
Blacklist
This is a column of words or phrases commonly misused by Chinese speakers. If you’re planning to be an English teacher, reporter or employee of a multinational company, then watch out for this page each week
1. More than 200 German girls flew for the Beijing beer festival.
Professor Zhu Shida (ZSD): It does not sound quite right. The verb usage of “to fly” matters because it is an intransitive verb. For instance, The birds are flying. She came flying into the office. We are flying to Madrid. Here, it does not mean the act of flying, but rather the act of arrival by plane. So, we have to say: More than 200 German girls flew in for the Beijing beer festival. Another example is: The Prime Minister has flown in to tackle the earthquake relief situation. It means the Prime Minister has come by plane, rather than flown there by himself! He has come to tackle earthquake relief work. When we combine the two into one laconic sentence, the form needs to be correct. Terry-Boyd Zhang (TBZ): Yes, the meaning of what is written now is that during the beer festival, there were 200 German girls literally flying around the beer tent, sort of like the owls delivering mail in the Harry Potter movies!
2. Ceramics serve a practical purpose.
ZSD: Is the word “ceramics” a singular or plural noun? The answer is that it is singular, even though it looks like a plural. So, the sample sentence should be: Ceramics serves a practical purpose. In English, we have a lot of nouns that look like plurals that are then used as a singular noun. For instance, physics, mechanics, mathematics, electronics, pneumatics, etc. Please remember they are all singular nouns.
TBZ: Yikes! That’s a difficult one. I think I would have qualified the word ceramics, such as ceramic bowls, ceramic spoons, or ceramic decorations, and then the use of the plural would be fine. This can work both ways, depending on if “ceramics” refers to a collection of singular objects or the collective noun for ceramic items.
3. Deputy professor
ZSD: This term is confusing and is not universally recognized, so it may pose some kind of misunderstanding. Is he a professor at the same time that he is a parliamentary deputy? Is he a deputy or assistant to a professor? Obviously this is not what the original writer means. They are thinking of “fu jiao shou,” but this is wrong Although we have deputy mayor, deputy editor, and deputy lieutenant, we don’t have “deputy professor” when it comes to the description of a professor’s status. It should be “associate professor.”
TBZ: In the case of the example, “deputy professor,” a native speaker would probably be able to guess what the intended meaning is. The professor’s point, though, is that some job titles translate differently into English and, in fact, it is possible that some just don’t translate at all. “Master” is one that always trips me up. I find that it is used often in Chinese but may or may not always have an equivalent in English. Remember, this cultural difference can apply to the meanings of words too, not just job titles. For example, what might be “part-time” or “good pay” to you may be “full-time” and “poverty wages” to someone else.
4. The Norwegian Embassy and the Consulate generals
ZSD: The consulate general is the official residence or office of a consul general. We have consuls general when it is plural. Similarly, we have consulates general when it is plural. So, it is wrong to say consulate generals when it is plural. Please remember “consulates general,” not consulate generals when it is plural. So, it should be: The Norwegian Embassy and the Consulates general. It is the same rule with “passerby.” When it is plural, it is “passersby.”
TBZ: All I can say is that English is a difficult language but, with effort, you will be able to overcome all these rules and exceptions! Making mistakes is just part of learning, especially with a difficult and politically technical example like this. Keep going!
This is a column of words or phrases commonly misused by Chinese speakers. If you’re planning to be an English teacher, reporter or employee of a multinational company, then watch out for this page each week
1. More than 200 German girls flew for the Beijing beer festival.
Professor Zhu Shida (ZSD): It does not sound quite right. The verb usage of “to fly” matters because it is an intransitive verb. For instance, The birds are flying. She came flying into the office. We are flying to Madrid. Here, it does not mean the act of flying, but rather the act of arrival by plane. So, we have to say: More than 200 German girls flew in for the Beijing beer festival. Another example is: The Prime Minister has flown in to tackle the earthquake relief situation. It means the Prime Minister has come by plane, rather than flown there by himself! He has come to tackle earthquake relief work. When we combine the two into one laconic sentence, the form needs to be correct. Terry-Boyd Zhang (TBZ): Yes, the meaning of what is written now is that during the beer festival, there were 200 German girls literally flying around the beer tent, sort of like the owls delivering mail in the Harry Potter movies!
2. Ceramics serve a practical purpose.
ZSD: Is the word “ceramics” a singular or plural noun? The answer is that it is singular, even though it looks like a plural. So, the sample sentence should be: Ceramics serves a practical purpose. In English, we have a lot of nouns that look like plurals that are then used as a singular noun. For instance, physics, mechanics, mathematics, electronics, pneumatics, etc. Please remember they are all singular nouns.
TBZ: Yikes! That’s a difficult one. I think I would have qualified the word ceramics, such as ceramic bowls, ceramic spoons, or ceramic decorations, and then the use of the plural would be fine. This can work both ways, depending on if “ceramics” refers to a collection of singular objects or the collective noun for ceramic items.
Blacklist
This is a column of words or phrases commonly misused by Chinese speakers. If you’re planning to be an English teacher, reporter or employee of a multinational company, then watch out for this page each week
1. Summer colds have different symptoms than winter colds.
Professor Zhu Shida (ZSD): It is academically not proper to use “than” here when it is in combination with “different.” We first of all have to be clear about the usage of “to differ” and “be different.” They used to be followed by the preposition “from” “in” or “with,” but never “than.” For instance, liners differ from other big ships in having a large superstructure. I differed from him about the severity of the crisis. I never differ from your plans. Similarly, when “to differ” becomes “to be different,” the basic rule remains. For instance, American cars are different from ours. So, the sample sentence should be: Summer colds have different symptoms from winter colds.
Terry-Boyd Zhang (TBZ): I think this again shows the difference between the academic use of the language and the common, colloquial use of the language. If you use “than” in this case, either in your speaking and in your writing, everyone will be able to understand you, but some native speakers will think that the sentence “feels” uncomfortable (though they probably won’t be able to tell you why!).
2. All paper umbrellas are made by hands.
ZSD: It is wrong to say “by hands” as an adverbial of manner or means. The idiom is by hand. For instance, the signature must be written by hand. The squirrel was brought up by hand. The letter was delivered by hand. As in the adverbial of means, it is usually the singular form of the word that is used. For instance, they went to Shanghai by airplane, by car, by train, or by boat. In many expressions, “hand” is used singularly. For instance, an old China hand, a good hand at silverware making, He asks for her hand in marriage, He sets his hand to the document. So, the sample sentence should be: All paper umbrellas are made by hand.
TBZ: True, the umbrellas are made by “hands” but the Professor is right! To be grammatically correct, you have to say ‘hand.’
3. The explosion of dubious information on the Internet has made every day a possible April Fools.
ZSD: It is a matter of consistency here. When you say “every day,” you have a corresponding term to match with it, such as day to day, or man to man. The sentence can be expressed in either way: The explosion of dubious information on the Internet has made every day a possible April Fools’ Day, or the explosion of dubious information on the Internet has made every one a possible April fool. This example shows that logical consistency in writing is also very important.
TBZ: This example is an advanced level of mistake which is quite common. Two simple examples are: two cat (and the plural “cats” is forgotten) and the men shouts (the man shouts, the men shout). It is the logic that is important – sometimes you think something, but you do not write it out clearly enough for someone else to follow your thought process — so get someone to edit your work for you.
4. Some residents asked their children to not play in the nearby hills.
ZSD: This involves a question of word order. I think the sentence sounds a little bit awkward to me. It would be better to say: Some residents asked their children not to play in the nearby hills. In a negative infinitive, should it be “not to” or “to not”? Probably both are right. I read such a sentence a few days ago in the International Tribune: “To ask the question is to not understand her.”
TBZ: Hmm. This is a tough one. It is a matter of emphasis — but why? And what is the grammatical logic behind it? I think, in the sample sentence, the verb is the infinitive “to play,” so the “not” should go in front. It is ok but does sound awkward; a reader might easily miss the negation of “play.” However the second sentence has the verb “is” (to be) in front of the infinitive, so the “not” goes in between “to” and “understand.” The first sentence needs to emphasize “not,” while the second sentence emphasizes “understand.”
This is a column of words or phrases commonly misused by Chinese speakers. If you’re planning to be an English teacher, reporter or employee of a multinational company, then watch out for this page each week
1. Summer colds have different symptoms than winter colds.
Professor Zhu Shida (ZSD): It is academically not proper to use “than” here when it is in combination with “different.” We first of all have to be clear about the usage of “to differ” and “be different.” They used to be followed by the preposition “from” “in” or “with,” but never “than.” For instance, liners differ from other big ships in having a large superstructure. I differed from him about the severity of the crisis. I never differ from your plans. Similarly, when “to differ” becomes “to be different,” the basic rule remains. For instance, American cars are different from ours. So, the sample sentence should be: Summer colds have different symptoms from winter colds.
Terry-Boyd Zhang (TBZ): I think this again shows the difference between the academic use of the language and the common, colloquial use of the language. If you use “than” in this case, either in your speaking and in your writing, everyone will be able to understand you, but some native speakers will think that the sentence “feels” uncomfortable (though they probably won’t be able to tell you why!).
2. All paper umbrellas are made by hands.
ZSD: It is wrong to say “by hands” as an adverbial of manner or means. The idiom is by hand. For instance, the signature must be written by hand. The squirrel was brought up by hand. The letter was delivered by hand. As in the adverbial of means, it is usually the singular form of the word that is used. For instance, they went to Shanghai by airplane, by car, by train, or by boat. In many expressions, “hand” is used singularly. For instance, an old China hand, a good hand at silverware making, He asks for her hand in marriage, He sets his hand to the document. So, the sample sentence should be: All paper umbrellas are made by hand.
TBZ: True, the umbrellas are made by “hands” but the Professor is right! To be grammatically correct, you have to say ‘hand.’
Blacklist
This is a column of words or phrases commonly misused by Chinese speakers. If you’re planning to be an English teacher, reporter or employee of a multinational company, then watch out for this page each week
1. The studio has 10 members, each of which is both a dancer and choreographer.
Professor Zhu Shida (ZSD): The problem in this sentence is the usage of the pronoun. It is incorrect to use “which” to denote “members,” because the “members” here indicate living persons. Therefore, we should use “who,” but because it is the object, “whom” is the proper choice. So, the right way to say it is: The studio has 10 members, each of whom is both a dancer and choreographer. We have a modern English tendency to use “who” instead of “whom” when it is in an objective status. For instance, the studio has 10 members, who many respect and admire. However, in the sample sentence, it is a must to use “whom.”
Terry-Boyd Zhang (TBZ): The use of “whom” is a slowly dying art. The Professor is correct, and even native speakers should pay attention to this advice!
2. The first “immortal” human cells grown in culture, they have been alive for more than 60 years.
ZSD: As “they” here indicate “the human cells” there are two subjects, which is repetitive, redundant and grammatically incorrect. We may simply say: The first “immortal” human cells grown in culture have been alive for more than 60 years. However, sometimes repetition is used for emphasis: The first “immortal” human cells grown in culture, a rare and interesting scientific achievement, have been alive for more than 60 years.
TBZ: To me, the sample sentence is an example of translating a sentence from Chinese, rather than writing directly into English. As a beginner learning English, the only recourse you have is to translate what you want to say, word by word, into the second language. It is only later that sentence construction will begin to come more naturally, and you get a ‘feel’ for what sounds right. There will still be some translation involved, especially in complex sentences such as the one above. However, the goal is to eventually become fluent, so that you can think and write in English.
3. A 38-minutes film
ZSD: This could be: This film lasts 38 minutes. If you want to use it as an attributive, you would say “38-minute” in its singular form, which would be: a 38-minute film (“-long” or “-old” are being omitted more often from this structure). However, for academic and formal English, it should be: a 38-minute-long film. Currently, people often say: 30-year career, 10-mile distance, instead of 30-year-old career, the 10-mile-long distance. At any rate, you cannot say: 30-years career or 10-miles distance.
TBZ: Ugh. This was one of my last grammar lessons this term. It is a relatively easy rule to remember — you just have to remember it! If there is a hyphen, it must be singular — do not add ‘s’!
4. The geopark museum
ZSD: This is repetitive. I don’t think it’s necessary to use “geopark” and “museum” together, because a geopark is an open space set aside for tours of geological interest or study, making it a kind of museum. Similarly, when we say the “volcanic park,” would we ever say the volcanic park museum? Probably not.
TBZ: For me, Geopark Museum and even Volcanic Park Museum are OK. Sometimes the names of historical monuments, parks and such are difficult to express from one language to another. The same goes for the meaning (or the importance) of some words or concepts. Geopark Museum isn’t the worst I’ve heard, so this one I would just let go. To be honest, ‘geopark’ is a new word and concept for me. I look forward to visiting one of China’s eight such museums soon!
This is a column of words or phrases commonly misused by Chinese speakers. If you’re planning to be an English teacher, reporter or employee of a multinational company, then watch out for this page each week
1. The studio has 10 members, each of which is both a dancer and choreographer.
Professor Zhu Shida (ZSD): The problem in this sentence is the usage of the pronoun. It is incorrect to use “which” to denote “members,” because the “members” here indicate living persons. Therefore, we should use “who,” but because it is the object, “whom” is the proper choice. So, the right way to say it is: The studio has 10 members, each of whom is both a dancer and choreographer. We have a modern English tendency to use “who” instead of “whom” when it is in an objective status. For instance, the studio has 10 members, who many respect and admire. However, in the sample sentence, it is a must to use “whom.”
Terry-Boyd Zhang (TBZ): The use of “whom” is a slowly dying art. The Professor is correct, and even native speakers should pay attention to this advice!
2. The first “immortal” human cells grown in culture, they have been alive for more than 60 years.
ZSD: As “they” here indicate “the human cells” there are two subjects, which is repetitive, redundant and grammatically incorrect. We may simply say: The first “immortal” human cells grown in culture have been alive for more than 60 years. However, sometimes repetition is used for emphasis: The first “immortal” human cells grown in culture, a rare and interesting scientific achievement, have been alive for more than 60 years.
TBZ: To me, the sample sentence is an example of translating a sentence from Chinese, rather than writing directly into English. As a beginner learning English, the only recourse you have is to translate what you want to say, word by word, into the second language. It is only later that sentence construction will begin to come more naturally, and you get a ‘feel’ for what sounds right. There will still be some translation involved, especially in complex sentences such as the one above. However, the goal is to eventually become fluent, so that you can think and write in English.
3. A 38-minutes film
ZSD: This could be: This film lasts 38 minutes. If you want to use it as an attributive, you would say “38-minute” in its singular form, which would be: a 38-minute film (“-long” or “-old” are being omitted more often from this structure). However, for academic and formal English, it should be: a 38-minute-long film. Currently, people often say: 30-year career, 10-mile distance, instead of 30-year-old career, the 10-mile-long distance. At any rate, you cannot say: 30-years career or 10-miles distance.
TBZ: Ugh. This was one of my last grammar lessons this term. It is a relatively easy rule to remember — you just have to remember it! If there is a hyphen, it must be singular — do not add ‘s’!
4. The geopark museum
ZSD: This is repetitive. I don’t think it’s necessary to use “geopark” and “museum” together, because a geopark is an open space set aside for tours of geological interest or study, making it a kind of museum. Similarly, when we say the “volcanic park,” would we ever say the volcanic park museum? Probably not.
TBZ: For me, Geopark Museum and even Volcanic Park Museum are OK. Sometimes the names of historical monuments, parks and such are difficult to express from one language to another. The same goes for the meaning (or the importance) of some words or concepts. Geopark Museum isn’t the worst I’ve heard, so this one I would just let go. To be honest, ‘geopark’ is a new word and concept for me. I look forward to visiting one of China’s eight such museums soon!
Blacklist
This is a column of words or phrases commonly misused by Chinese speakers. If you’re planning to be an English teacher, reporter or employee of a multinational company, then watch out for this page each week
1. It seemed like the battle was over.
Professor Zhu Shida (ZSD): I don’t think “like” is necessary in this sentence. To seem itself means to look like, appear to be. So, if you add “like,” it may be redundant. We have some examples here: He seemed strong for his age. It is totally unnecessary to say, He seemed like strong for his age. If you say, It seemed that the battle was over, it is neat and perfect. In some cases, we have the structure of “seem + like,” for instance, After what seemed like hours he came out with a wry smile. And we also do have the structure of “seem + as if,” for instance, He behaved in a funny way and seemed as if a little boy at the dancing party.
Terry-Boyd Zhang (TBZ): To me, I think the sample sentence is OK, though I also don’t disagree with the Professor. The problem I often see when students use “seem” is one of logic. In the sample sentence, the meaning is that the battle will still continue for a short while longer, the battle wasn’t really over, though it “seemed” to be. So, logically, if you write: He seemed to love her — the meaning is that he really didn’t deep down.
2. In the late of the 19th century
ZSD: This is wrong. The correct way to say it should be: In the late 19th century. We have similar expressions here: late last year, not “in the late last year”; in the late 1950s, not “in the late of 1950s.” If you refer to the second half of the 19th century, then you have such an expression as: in the latter half of the 19th century. Please pay attention to the word “latter”; beginners are liable to use “later,” and that’s incorrect.
TBZ: Also, for both of the Professor’s corrected examples, remember that they are not complete sentences in themselves. They are clauses and need to be followed with a comma. If you put in a period, your teacher — or your computer spell-checker — will tell you that it is a fragment and ask you to fix it.
3. He quit his job despite it having paid well.
ZSD: The sentence structure is totally wrong. The writer seems not to know the usage of “despite” as a preposition. To express the idea, I think it would be prefect to say: He quit his job though it paid him well. If you wish to stick to the usage of “despite,” we may say in a stylish way: He quit his job despite the fact that it paid him well. Let us have another example with “despite” as a preposition: Despite a shortage of steel, industrial output has increased by five percent.
TBZ: A good construction to use in an essay is: “despite” (whatever was said previously), there is “also” (something else that I would like to add). Despite the fact that she liked cats best, she also had a dog and kept several turtles.
4. These figures paint too rose of a picture for Prada.
ZSD: The writer has twisted the usage of a proper phrase here. The pattern of this structure should be: too + adjective + noun, namely, too rosy a picture. So, the sample sentence should be: These figures paint too rosy a picture for Prada. First, “rose” is a noun, it is not an adjective, and its adjective form should be “rosy.” Here are some other examples: He is too energetic a boy for the job. It is too difficult a problem for a pupil.
TBZ: The Professor is correct. I believe that this error was simply a slip of the writer’s editor — easy to do and difficult to find because rose is spelled correctly, so the spell-checker on the computer doesn’t pick it up. Although computerized grammar checkers are really helpful, they aren’t perfect. Let me end with two philosophical points: Would a Prada bag by any other name smell as stylish? (Shakespeare.) Would a Prada bag be a Prada bag be a Prada bag? Or is Prada a thing in our memory that has lost its identity and we need to recover it? (Gertrude Stein.)
This is a column of words or phrases commonly misused by Chinese speakers. If you’re planning to be an English teacher, reporter or employee of a multinational company, then watch out for this page each week
1. It seemed like the battle was over.
Professor Zhu Shida (ZSD): I don’t think “like” is necessary in this sentence. To seem itself means to look like, appear to be. So, if you add “like,” it may be redundant. We have some examples here: He seemed strong for his age. It is totally unnecessary to say, He seemed like strong for his age. If you say, It seemed that the battle was over, it is neat and perfect. In some cases, we have the structure of “seem + like,” for instance, After what seemed like hours he came out with a wry smile. And we also do have the structure of “seem + as if,” for instance, He behaved in a funny way and seemed as if a little boy at the dancing party.
Terry-Boyd Zhang (TBZ): To me, I think the sample sentence is OK, though I also don’t disagree with the Professor. The problem I often see when students use “seem” is one of logic. In the sample sentence, the meaning is that the battle will still continue for a short while longer, the battle wasn’t really over, though it “seemed” to be. So, logically, if you write: He seemed to love her — the meaning is that he really didn’t deep down.
2. In the late of the 19th century
ZSD: This is wrong. The correct way to say it should be: In the late 19th century. We have similar expressions here: late last year, not “in the late last year”; in the late 1950s, not “in the late of 1950s.” If you refer to the second half of the 19th century, then you have such an expression as: in the latter half of the 19th century. Please pay attention to the word “latter”; beginners are liable to use “later,” and that’s incorrect.
TBZ: Also, for both of the Professor’s corrected examples, remember that they are not complete sentences in themselves. They are clauses and need to be followed with a comma. If you put in a period, your teacher — or your computer spell-checker — will tell you that it is a fragment and ask you to fix it.
3. He quit his job despite it having paid well.
ZSD: The sentence structure is totally wrong. The writer seems not to know the usage of “despite” as a preposition. To express the idea, I think it would be prefect to say: He quit his job though it paid him well. If you wish to stick to the usage of “despite,” we may say in a stylish way: He quit his job despite the fact that it paid him well. Let us have another example with “despite” as a preposition: Despite a shortage of steel, industrial output has increased by five percent.
TBZ: A good construction to use in an essay is: “despite” (whatever was said previously), there is “also” (something else that I would like to add). Despite the fact that she liked cats best, she also had a dog and kept several turtles.
4. These figures paint too rose of a picture for Prada.
ZSD: The writer has twisted the usage of a proper phrase here. The pattern of this structure should be: too + adjective + noun, namely, too rosy a picture. So, the sample sentence should be: These figures paint too rosy a picture for Prada. First, “rose” is a noun, it is not an adjective, and its adjective form should be “rosy.” Here are some other examples: He is too energetic a boy for the job. It is too difficult a problem for a pupil.
TBZ: The Professor is correct. I believe that this error was simply a slip of the writer’s editor — easy to do and difficult to find because rose is spelled correctly, so the spell-checker on the computer doesn’t pick it up. Although computerized grammar checkers are really helpful, they aren’t perfect. Let me end with two philosophical points: Would a Prada bag by any other name smell as stylish? (Shakespeare.) Would a Prada bag be a Prada bag be a Prada bag? Or is Prada a thing in our memory that has lost its identity and we need to recover it? (Gertrude Stein.)
Blacklist
This is a column of words or phrases commonly misused by Chinese speakers. If you’re planning to be an English teacher, reporter or employee of a multinational company, then watch out for this page each week
1. He described the theme of the dance thusly …
Professor Zhu Shida (ZSD): “Thus” and “thusly” are both adverbs and assume the same meaning. So it is not wrong for the writer to say it in this way. However, we have to distinguish between expressions for written language and that for conversations. In this case, if this is a piece of academic writing, it is not proper to use “thusly” because it is conversational. We should use “thus” for a more serious writing style. This example tells us that though we may be not wrong grammatically, we may be wrong rhetorically.
Terry-Boyd Zhang (TBZ): I agree. I often find that adding the -ly when writing a composition, the result seems a bit awkward. Not only for “thusly,” which is not commonly used, but also firstly, secondly and thirdly. In my opinion, first, second, third is enough. In the sample sentence, I would use something simpler, such as: He described the theme like this. Or, He described the theme in this way.
2. The benefits of drink tea
ZSD: The word “drink” may be a verb as well as a noun. We say, we drink Coca Cola, or we drink tea. When it is a noun, we say, we take a drink or she had a drink in her hand. However, in this sample, the word “drink” is wrongly used. It should be “drinking” instead of drink, creating a participle to modify “tea.” This is a trick of the language. There are no definite rules for it. Practice more, write more. For instance, we say, tea-drinking party, we should not say tea-drink party. The sample should be: the benefits of drinking tea.
TBZ: English is a tricky language! Now, I’m not a linguist but it seems to me that English is something of a hybrid language which developed from Latin and Greek. It was, and is, a mongrel of dialects, including German, Scandinavian and French. I often tease my English students: How is your French? How is your Greek? Don’t be discouraged. I am doing my best to have Chinese words enter the English language. I hope that words such as dim sum, hutong, and even Beijing (formerly Peking) will soon have widespread use among native speakers!
3. They hope to one day see their children assimilate into the city.
ZSD: There is nothing wrong with this sentence grammatically. However, the adverbial of time “one day” is not properly placed, making it sound very awkward. Which word does the adverbial phrase modify? It is “to assimilate” that “one day” modifies. So, the sample sentence should be: They hope to see their children assimilate one day into the city. Or: They hope to see their children assimilate into the city one day. The placing of the adverbial phrase in a sentence is very important to make your writing read smooth. So small a matter as it is, it has to require your great attention.
TBZ: I personally like the second way better, placing “one day” at the end. There is a sense of continuousness in it. The first way is correct but the sense I get is that the children will assimilate for one day, and only one day, and then be misfits again. I think we would all like our children to, if not “assimilate” (a big idea with a loss of identity, in my opinion), then perhaps simply “find acceptance” in the city, or anywhere they are for that matter.
This is a column of words or phrases commonly misused by Chinese speakers. If you’re planning to be an English teacher, reporter or employee of a multinational company, then watch out for this page each week
1. He described the theme of the dance thusly …
Professor Zhu Shida (ZSD): “Thus” and “thusly” are both adverbs and assume the same meaning. So it is not wrong for the writer to say it in this way. However, we have to distinguish between expressions for written language and that for conversations. In this case, if this is a piece of academic writing, it is not proper to use “thusly” because it is conversational. We should use “thus” for a more serious writing style. This example tells us that though we may be not wrong grammatically, we may be wrong rhetorically.
Terry-Boyd Zhang (TBZ): I agree. I often find that adding the -ly when writing a composition, the result seems a bit awkward. Not only for “thusly,” which is not commonly used, but also firstly, secondly and thirdly. In my opinion, first, second, third is enough. In the sample sentence, I would use something simpler, such as: He described the theme like this. Or, He described the theme in this way.
Blacklist
This is a column of words or phrases commonly misused by Chinese speakers. If you’re planning to be an English teacher, reporter or employee of a multinational company, then watch out for this page each week
1. The church was collapsed during the earthquake.
Professor Zhu Shida (ZSD): Though the verb to collapse is both a transitive and intransitive verb, it is mainly an intransitive verb. The church fell or caved in on its own. For instance, Sticking a pin into a balloon causes it to collapse. The roof collapsed as a result of the fire. Or figuratively, His business collapsed when his health gave out. The labor and management negotiations collapsed after several meetings. In all these cases, you would never say “to be collapsed.” So, the sample sentence should be: The church collapsed during the earthquake.
Terry Boyd-Zhang (TBZ): Start by reviewing past tenses and pay attention when you read. This is a very common mistake and, with a bit of concentration, is easily remedied.
2. China is lagged behind in the talent war.
ZSD: Here is the same error as in the previous case. To lag may intransitively mean to move too slowly, to fall behind. For instance, Some of the runners began to lag at the bell lap. Interest in the project began to lag. The president is making certain that the peace momentum does not lag. Conversation lagged and the silences got longer. So, it is not that China is lagged behind in the talent war, but that China lags behind.
TBZ: In my opinion, the problem here is not grammatical but conceptual. China lags behind in nothing, it’s just that talented people need more opportunities to demonstrate their abilities – just like everywhere else in the world.
3. The church was a destination of wedding photographers.
ZSD: This is a very interesting linguistic case for discussion. The problem with it is that it is ambiguous; it is not clear in meaning and this it may lead to misinterpretation or misunderstanding. What does the phrase “wedding photographers” mean? Does it mean those photographers who are going to get married? Or does it mean the photographers who take wedding photos as a profession? The phrase may be understood both ways. We’d better avoid using those ambiguous phrases, as it may cause misunderstanding. So, we should make a little change to make this clearer in meaning: The church was a destination of wedding photographs. It is a destination for photos, not for marrying photographers.
TBZ: In the professor’s sentence, I would change the “of” to “for”: a place for taking wedding photos.
4. At finally
ZSD: We have the phrase “at last” or “finally,” we don’t have the phrase “at finally.” This is obviously an invention by the writer and it is an incorrect invention. We have “ultimately,” “on the last occasion” and “at long last” to express the idea of coming after all others. For instance, At last, the baby fell asleep. At long last, sometime this month the Los Angeles Public Library is expected to start circulations of discs. We must not be whimsical in English writing.
TBZ: Good advice! I think when a person is first learning something, such as a new language, there is just some hard work that must be put in. This hard work – some memorization, some learning of words, phrases and grammar rules – acts as a foundation for further intermediate and advanced study. Remembering relatively simple expressions, such as “finally” and “at last” isn’t too much to ask for.
Persevere and be patient with yourself. Look at small children – they listen and absorb language for about three years before they start trying to speak, then write, then really learn about their native language. If English is your second (or third or fourth …) language, be kind to yourself and proud of your successes. At the same time, be strict with yourself to learn it correctly. “At finally” is wrong – no other way to say it.
This is a column of words or phrases commonly misused by Chinese speakers. If you’re planning to be an English teacher, reporter or employee of a multinational company, then watch out for this page each week
1. The church was collapsed during the earthquake.
Professor Zhu Shida (ZSD): Though the verb to collapse is both a transitive and intransitive verb, it is mainly an intransitive verb. The church fell or caved in on its own. For instance, Sticking a pin into a balloon causes it to collapse. The roof collapsed as a result of the fire. Or figuratively, His business collapsed when his health gave out. The labor and management negotiations collapsed after several meetings. In all these cases, you would never say “to be collapsed.” So, the sample sentence should be: The church collapsed during the earthquake.
Terry Boyd-Zhang (TBZ): Start by reviewing past tenses and pay attention when you read. This is a very common mistake and, with a bit of concentration, is easily remedied.
2. China is lagged behind in the talent war.
ZSD: Here is the same error as in the previous case. To lag may intransitively mean to move too slowly, to fall behind. For instance, Some of the runners began to lag at the bell lap. Interest in the project began to lag. The president is making certain that the peace momentum does not lag. Conversation lagged and the silences got longer. So, it is not that China is lagged behind in the talent war, but that China lags behind.
TBZ: In my opinion, the problem here is not grammatical but conceptual. China lags behind in nothing, it’s just that talented people need more opportunities to demonstrate their abilities – just like everywhere else in the world.
Blacklist
This is a column of words or phrases commonly misused by Chinese speakers. If you’re planning to be an English teacher, reporter or employee of a multinational company, then watch out for this page each week
1. In this May
Professor Zhu Shida (ZSD): In this adverbial phrase, the preposition “in” is unnecessary. It will be perfectly right to say “this May.” It is just like adding non-existent feet to a snake in a drawing. I remember I talked about this question in some of the previous columns such as “during last year.” We say, this May, last May, this October, last October, this year, last year, all without prepositions. They independently serve as adverbials of time. So small a matter as it is, it counts.
Terry Boyd-Zhang (TBZ): Oh, the prepositions! The most common ones for time are: at, on, by, before, from, since, for, during, to, until and after. Note that “in” is not included. It is true, though, that “(with)in” can denote extended time, including months. As the professor has said, the problem is the “this,” and the student should pick one or the other.
2. There are two designs on display. One is Chinese, one is Japanese.
ZSD: Grammatically, it is perfectly right. There is nothing wrong with the sentence. However, rhetorically, it is not perfect, there is something to be desired. We should adopt the pattern of “one is … and the other is” when we are enumerating two things in succession. This looks more perfect rhetorically and more refined in style. So, with the sample sentence, we should say: There are two designs on display. One is Chinese, the other is Japanese. Similarly, we have the pattern of “some … some … and others” when we enumerate more than two groups of people in action. For instance, Some of the students are playing basketball, some are running on the track and others are chasing the ball on the soccer field.
TBZ: To link two ideas together, you should at least use “and.” Perhaps you could use “but.” Another way for the skilled writer to link two independent but related clauses is to use a semicolon. The semicolon must not be used with another conjunction and can sometimes be used in a list — see theoatmeal.com for a great visual presentation of how to use the semicolon.
3. PBOC exposes officials’ money laundering tricks
ZSD: I suggest that, except for internationally accepted ones such as UN, US, etc., we should use initials less in news headlines. Acronyms tend to pose an obstacle for readers, leaving them at a loss as to what is being talked about. This is an example. What is PBOC? An average reader will not know, me for one. “The central bank exposes officials’ money laundering tricks” will be easier to understand and simpler for the reader to digest. This is in line with the spirit of journalism, I think.
TBZ: I have a friend who speaks in the lingo of whatever job she is currently working at. Think about it — she uses internal acronyms and internal verbal short-hands which I have no idea about because I work in a different industry. This is the same idea. News headlines should grab the reader’s attention by very briefly capturing the main theme of the entire article. If the headline is long, uninteresting or cannot immediately be understood by the reader, they will move on.
4. His new bought iPad
ZSD: There is something wrong with the attributive. The combination of the attributive is adverb-plus-past participle with the adverb modifying the past participle. So it should be: his newly bought iPad. Similarly we have: beautifully dressed, well written, the well designed talk show, the beautifully shot film, the masterfully arranged exhibition, the freshly procured land.
TBZ: Here, the native speaker almost fell into error! My tendency — because I love hyphens – would be to throw one in here. Glad I did some research first, because a hyphen can never be used with an “-ly adverb-adjective-noun” construction. However, in many cases, you can use a hyphen to connect two or more words that are all acting as an adjective before a noun. For example: blue-eyed girl or two-year-old child.
This is a column of words or phrases commonly misused by Chinese speakers. If you’re planning to be an English teacher, reporter or employee of a multinational company, then watch out for this page each week
1. In this May
Professor Zhu Shida (ZSD): In this adverbial phrase, the preposition “in” is unnecessary. It will be perfectly right to say “this May.” It is just like adding non-existent feet to a snake in a drawing. I remember I talked about this question in some of the previous columns such as “during last year.” We say, this May, last May, this October, last October, this year, last year, all without prepositions. They independently serve as adverbials of time. So small a matter as it is, it counts.
Terry Boyd-Zhang (TBZ): Oh, the prepositions! The most common ones for time are: at, on, by, before, from, since, for, during, to, until and after. Note that “in” is not included. It is true, though, that “(with)in” can denote extended time, including months. As the professor has said, the problem is the “this,” and the student should pick one or the other.
2. There are two designs on display. One is Chinese, one is Japanese.
ZSD: Grammatically, it is perfectly right. There is nothing wrong with the sentence. However, rhetorically, it is not perfect, there is something to be desired. We should adopt the pattern of “one is … and the other is” when we are enumerating two things in succession. This looks more perfect rhetorically and more refined in style. So, with the sample sentence, we should say: There are two designs on display. One is Chinese, the other is Japanese. Similarly, we have the pattern of “some … some … and others” when we enumerate more than two groups of people in action. For instance, Some of the students are playing basketball, some are running on the track and others are chasing the ball on the soccer field.
TBZ: To link two ideas together, you should at least use “and.” Perhaps you could use “but.” Another way for the skilled writer to link two independent but related clauses is to use a semicolon. The semicolon must not be used with another conjunction and can sometimes be used in a list — see theoatmeal.com for a great visual presentation of how to use the semicolon.
