Instead of using the word thing, try to use more precise and interesting words, especially in formal written English. 尽量使用更贴切和有意思的词代替 thing，尤其在正式的书面语中。

• aspect 方面：◆That was the most puzzling aspect of the situation. 那是整个局势中最令人费解的一面。◆(…the most puzzling thing about…)
• attribute 属性；特性；特质：◆Curiosity is an essential attribute for a journalist. 好奇心是新闻记者的基本素质。◆(…an essential thing for a journalist to have.)
• characteristic 特性；特征；特点：◆This bird has several interesting characteristics. 这种鸟有几个有趣的特征。◆(There are several interesting things about this bird.)
• detail 细节；详情：◆I want to know every detail of what happened. 我想了解所发生事情的全部详情。◆(…everything about…)
• feature 特征；特点；特色：◆Noise is a familiar feature of city life. 噪音是城市生活的常见特征。◆(…a familiar thing in city life.)
• issue 议题；课题：◆She has campaigned on many controversial issues. 她就许多具争议性的问题发起过运动。◆(…many controversial things.)
• matter 事情；情况；问题：◆We have several important matters to deal with at this meeting. 我们有几个重要问题要在这次会议上处理。◆(…several important things…)
• point 观点；论点；见解：◆That's a very interesting point you made. 你提出的这个观点很有意思。◆(…a very interesting thing you said.)
• subject 主题；题目；学科：◆The book covers a number of subjects. 本书涉及几个课题。◆(…a number of things.)
• topic 议题；话题；题目：◆We discussed a wide range of topics. 我们就广泛的话题进行了讨论。◆(…a wide range of things.)
• trait 个性；特征；特点：◆Her generosity is one of her most attractive traits. 慷慨大方是她最具魅力的个性之一。◆(…one of the most attractive things about her.)
• Don't use thing after an adjective when the adjective can be used on its own. 形容词可单独使用时，切勿在后面加 thing：◆Having your own computer is very useful. 自己有一台计算机用处很大。◆Having your own computer is a very useful thing.
• It is often more natural to use words like something, anything, etc. instead of thing. 以 something、anything 等词代替 thing 使用常常更自然：◆I have something important to tell you. 我有重要的事情要告诉你。◆I have an important thing to tell you.◆Do you want anything else? 你还想要点儿别的什么吗？◆Do you want any other thing?
• It is more natural to say a lot, a great deal, much, etc. rather than many things. * a lot、a great deal、much 等词比 many things 说起来更自然：◆I have so much to tell you. 我要对你讲的事情太多了。◆I have so many things to tell you.◆She knows a lot about basketball. 她对篮球很有研究。◆She knows many things about basketball.

These are all words for the conditions and facts that are connected with and affect the way things are. 以上各词均指情况、状况。

• situation all the things that are happening at a particular time and in a particular place 指情况、状况、形势、局面：◆the present economic situation 目前的经济形势
• circumstances the facts that are connected with and affect a situation, an event or an action; the conditions of a person's life, especially the money they have 指条件、环境、状况、境况，（尤指）经济状况：◆The ship sank in mysterious circumstances. 那艘船神秘地沉没了。
• position the situation that sb is in, especially when it affects what they can and cannot do 指处境、地位、状况：◆She felt she was in a position of power. 她觉得她自己有权力。
• conditions the circumstances in which people live, work or do things; the physical situation that affects how sth happens 指居住、工作或做事情的环境、境况、条件，影响某事发生的物质环境、状态、条件：◆We were forced to work outside in freezing conditions. 我们被迫在户外天寒地冻的环境下工作。

circumstances or conditions? 用 circumstances 还是 conditions？

Circumstances refers to sb's financial situation; conditions are things such as the quality and amount of food or shelter they have. The circumstances that affect an event are the facts surrounding it; the conditions that affect it are usually physical ones, such as the weather. * circumstances 指人的经济状况；conditions 指人的食宿等状况。circumstances 指影响某事的周边环境；conditions 通常指影响某事的物质环境，如天气。

• things (rather informal) the general situation, as it affects sb 指形势、局面、情况、事态：◆Hi, Jane! How are things? 喂，简，近来怎么样？◆Think things over before you decide. 先把情况考虑周全再作决定。
• the case the true situation 指实情、事实：◆If that is the case(= if the situation described is true), we need more staff. 如果真是那样，我们就需要更多的员工了。
• state of affairs a situation 指事态、情况、形势：◆How did this unhappy state of affairs come about? 这种不幸的情况是怎么发生的呢？

situation or state of affairs? 用 situation 还是 state of affairs？

• State of affairs is mostly used with this. It is also used with adjectives describing how good or bad a situation is, such as happy, sorry, shocking, sad and unhappy, as well as those relating to time, such as present and current. Situation is much more frequent and is used in a wider variety of contexts. * state of affairs 多与 this 连用，亦与表示形势好坏的形容词（如 happy、sorry、shocking、sad 和 unhappy）以及与时间有关的形容词（如 present 和 current）连用。situation 常用得多，且用于更广泛的语境中。

Patterns

• in (a) particular situation/circumstances/position/state of affairs
• the/sb's economic/financial/social situation/circumstances/position/conditions
• (a/an) happy/unhappy situation/circumstances/position/state of affairs
• to look at/review the situation/circumstances/conditions/things