<p>It is an introduction of an novelist, listed her major works, plus some brief comments on her style and achievements. </p>

<p>了 is mostly a <strong>final particle</strong> that finishes <strong>sentences</strong>, Since the text in question is basically a bulletin style list of items, it is possible to not use 了 even once.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-04T21:28:38.720Z
2016-09-04T21:28:38.720Z
Tang Ho
<p>in modern written vernacular chinese (白話文), several characters are used abusively. </p>

<h2>"的", "麼", "了", "嗎", "性", "地", "們"</h2>

<p><strong>the more these characters are used, the worst the article are.</strong></p>

<p>therefore the implications of pointedly avoiding 了, or any above mentioned characters is: </p>

<p>authors tried to write "elegantly, more beautiful" article, using less, or without these characters.</p>

<p>reading some good articles, you would feel the differences. the first recommendation is 董橋, learn from him, you won't be regret.</p>

<p><a href="http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/supplement/columnist/%E8%91%A3%E6%A9%8B" rel="nofollow">http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/supplement/columnist/董橋</a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.hornbill.cdc.net.my/hornbill2/collection01/dongqiao/dqsw.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.hornbill.cdc.net.my/hornbill2/collection01/dongqiao/dqsw.html</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-05T08:05:29.890Z
*in modern written vernacular Chinese (白話文), several characters are used abusively.  "的", "麼", "了", "嗎", "性", "地", "們"* ---- Agree, in  first person narrative, using less unnecessary characters is considered elegant writing. However, many people actually fill their speeches with empty words and phrases, writers cannot avoid them when writing dialogues of characters.
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-26T14:19:33.493Z
Thank you again for this recommendation. As my vocabulary slowly grows, I begin to see how well written his works are.
Ludi
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-27T07:07:48.020Z
@ludi, one more recommendation: 古德明, "spicy", anti-communist, current affairs. http://hktext.blogspot.hk/search/label/古德明 . have fun :)
水巷孑蠻
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-05T02:12:51.820Z
2016-09-05T02:12:51.820Z
水巷孑蠻
<p>I have very limited access to Chinese books, but I have noticed some texts that seem to make a point of avoiding 了。Is there a discernible reason? Does it sound more educated?</p>

<p>This one is from the cover of a book the author doesn't seem to be trying to write short keywords.
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/PJaVM.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/PJaVM.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-05T05:22:34.543Z
news headlines well known for abbreviation do not have 了 (see e。g。cntv, rfa, rci, bbc, pars, rfi，dw, TRT中文, 俄罗斯卫星网，人民日报，FT中文网，纽约时报中文网 etc.)，accordingly cv＇s（英），résumés（美） 简历 （see Q）are unlikely to have 了
user6065
<grammar>
Implications of pointedly avoiding 了
# Implications of pointedly avoiding 了

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-09-04)

I have very limited access to Chinese books, but I have noticed some texts that seem to make a point of avoiding 了。Is there a discernible reason? Does it sound more educated?

This one is from the cover of a book the author doesn't seem to be trying to write short keywords.
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/PJaVM.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/PJaVM.jpg)

**Tags:** grammar

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: news headlines well known for abbreviation do not have 了 (see e。g。cntv, rfa, rci, bbc, pars, rfi，dw, TRT中文, 俄罗斯卫星网，人民日报，FT中文网，纽约时报中文网 etc.)，accordingly cv＇s（英），résumés（美） 简历 （see Q）are unlikely to have 了  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-09-04. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

It is an introduction of an novelist, listed her major works, plus some brief comments on her style and achievements.

了 is mostly a **final particle** that finishes **sentences**, Since the text in question is basically a bulletin style list of items, it is possible to not use 了 even once.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2016-09-05. Score: 2

in modern written vernacular chinese (白話文), several characters are used abusively.

## "的", "麼", "了", "嗎", "性", "地", "們"

**the more these characters are used, the worst the article are.**

therefore the implications of pointedly avoiding 了, or any above mentioned characters is:

authors tried to write "elegantly, more beautiful" article, using less, or without these characters.

reading some good articles, you would feel the differences. the first recommendation is 董橋, learn from him, you won't be regret.

[http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/supplement/columnist/董橋](http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/supplement/columnist/%E8%91%A3%E6%A9%8B)

<http://www.hornbill.cdc.net.my/hornbill2/collection01/dongqiao/dqsw.html>

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: *in modern written vernacular Chinese (白話文), several characters are used abusively.  "的", "麼", "了", "嗎", "性", "地", "們"* ---- Agree, in  first person narrative, using less unnecessary characters is considered elegant writing. However, many people actually fill their speeches with empty words and phrases, writers cannot avoid them when writing dialogues of characters.  
> **username_0**: Thank you again for this recommendation. As my vocabulary slowly grows, I begin to see how well written his works are.  
> **username_3**: @ludi, one more recommendation: 古德明, "spicy", anti-communist, current affairs. http://hktext.blogspot.hk/search/label/古德明 . have fun :)  

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