应用语料库软件Wordsmith Tools， 检索自建EST ( English for Science and Technology） 论文语料库中的高频四词词簇， 从结构和功能的角度分析了高频词簇的特点。 词簇结构分类发现， 带有of-结构的名词短语、介词短语和被动态动词短语构成的词簇在语料库中应用最广。词簇功能分类发现，提供指示框架 的词 簇最多，40%  以上的词簇与自然科学的专业主题相关。了解英语国家作者所使用词簇的固定模式化特征，可以帮助中国科技人员完成英文论文， 利于国际技术交流 。

To retrieve high-frequency four-word clusters in a self-made EST ( English for Science and Technology ) Paper Corpus ，corpus software—Wordsmith Tools ，is used． Clusters searched out from the EST Paper Corpus are investigated from both structural and functional perspectives． Structural classification shows that ，clusters containing noun phrases with of in them ，clus- ters containing prepositional phrases ，and clusters including passive verbs are most widely used in the corpus． Functional classifi- cation of clusters reveals that ，referential clusters are most frequently used． In addition ，more than 40% of the clusters are relat- ed to professional topics in the field of natural sciences． In EST paper writing ，acquaintance with formulaic patterns of clusters in papers written by English native authors can help Chinese scientific and technical personnel develop an appropriate English writ- ing style ，thus to facilitate international communication of technologies．