Reading Help How to speak and write correctly Ch.VII-XV
placing prepositions at the end of sentences. For instance Carlyle, in `
` referring to the Study of Burns, writes:--"Our own contributions to it, `
` we are aware, can be but scanty and feeble; but we offer them with good `
` will, and trust they may meet with acceptance from those they are `
` intended _for_." `
` `
` --"for whom they are intended," he should have written. `
` `
` "Most writers have some one vein which they peculiarly and obviously `
` excel _in_."--_William Minto_. `
` `
` This sentence should read,--Most writers have some one vein in which they `
` peculiarly and obviously excel. `
` `
` Many authors use redundant words which repeat the same thought and idea. `
` This is called tautology. `
` `
` "Notwithstanding which (however) poor Polly embraced them all around." `
` --_Dickens_. `
` `
` "I judged that they would (mutually) find each other."--_Crockett_. `
` `
` "....as having created a (joint) partnership between the two Powers in `
` the Morocco question."--_The Times_. `
` `
` "The only sensible position (there seems to be) is to frankly acknowledge `
` our ignorance of what lies beyond."--_Daily Telegraph_. `
` `
` Lord Rosebery has not budged from his position--splendid, no doubt,--of `
` (lonely) isolation."--_The Times_. `
` `
` "Miss Fox was (often) in the habit of assuring Mrs. Chick."--_Dickens_. `
` `
` "The deck (it) was their field of fame."--_Campbell_. `
` `
` "He had come up one morning, as was now (frequently) his wont," `
` --_Trollope_. `
` `
` The counsellors of the Sultan (continue to) remain sceptical `
` --_The Times_. `
` `
` Seriously, (and apart from jesting), this is no light matter.--_Bagehot_. `
` `
` To go back to your own country with (the consciousness that you go back `
` with) the sense of duty well done.--_Lord Halsbury_. `
` `
` The _Peresviet_ lost both her fighting-tops and (in appearance) `
` looked the most damaged of all the ships--_The Times_. `
` `
` Counsel admitted that, that was a fair suggestion to make, but he `
` submitted that it was borne out by the (surrounding) circumstances. `
` --_Ibid_. `
` `
` Another unnecessary use of words and phrases is that which is termed `
` circumlocution, a going around the bush when there is no occasion for `
` it,--save to fill space. `
` `
` It may be likened to a person walking the distance of two sides of a `
` triangle to reach the objective point. For instance in the quotation: `
` "Pope professed to have learned his poetry from Dryden, whom, whenever an `
` opportunity was presented, he praised through the whole period of his `
` existence with unvaried liberality; and perhaps his character may receive `
` some illustration, of a comparison he instituted between him and the man `
` whose pupil he was" much of the verbiage may be eliminated and the `
` sentence thus condensed: `
` `
` "Pope professed himself the pupil of Dryden, whom he lost no opportunity `
` of praising; and his character may be illustrated by a comparison with `
` his master." `
` `
` "His life was brought to a close in 1910 at an age not far from the one `
` fixed by the sacred writer as the term of human existence." `
` `
` This in brevity can be put, "His life was brought to a close at the age `
` of seventy;" or, better yet, "He died at the age of seventy." `
` `
` "The day was intensely cold, so cold in fact that the thermometer crept `
` down to the zero mark," can be expressed: "The day was so cold the `
` thermometer registered zero." `
` `
` Many authors resort to circumlocution for the purpose of "padding," that `
` is, filling space, or when they strike a snag in writing upon subjects of `
` which they know little or nothing. The young writer should steer clear of `
` it and learn to express his thoughts and ideas as briefly as possible `
` commensurate with lucidity of expression. `
` `
` Volumes of errors in fact, in grammar, diction and general style, could `
` be selected from the works of the great writers, a fact which eloquently `
` testifies that no one is infallible and that the very best is liable to `
` err at times. However, most of the erring in the case of these writers `
` arises from carelessness or hurry, not from a lack of knowledge. `
` `
` As a general rule it is in writing that the scholar is liable to slip; in `
` oral speech he seldom makes a blunder. In fact, there are many people who `
` are perfect masters of speech,--who never make a blunder in conversation, `
` yet who are ignorant of the very principles of grammar and would not know `
` how to write a sentence correctly on paper. Such persons have been `
` accustomed from infancy to hear the language spoken correctly and so the `
` use of the proper words and forms becomes a second nature to them. A `
` child can learn what is right as easy as what is wrong and whatever `
` impressions are made on the mind when it is plastic will remain there. `
` Even a parrot can be taught the proper use of language. Repeat to a `
` parrot.--"Two and two _make_ four" and it never will say "two and two `
` _makes_ four." `
` `
` In writing, however, it is different. Without a knowledge of the `
` fundamentals of grammar we may be able to speak correctly from `
` association with good speakers, but without such a knowledge we cannot `
` hope to write the language correctly. To write even a common letter we `
` must know the principles of construction, the relationship of one word to `
` another. Therefore, it is necessary for everybody to understand at least `
` the essentials of the grammar of his own language. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER VIII `
` `
` PITFALLS TO AVOID `
` `
` Common Stumbling Blocks--Peculiar Constructions--Misused Forms. `
` `
` `
` ATTRACTION `
` `
` Very often the verb is separated from its real nominative or subject by `
` several intervening words and in such cases one is liable to make the `
` verb agree with the subject nearest to it. Here are a few examples `
` showing that the leading writers now and then take a tumble into this `
` pitfall: `
` `
` (1) "The partition which the two ministers made of the powers of `
` government _were_ singularly happy."--_Macaulay_. `
` `
` (Should be _was_ to agree with its subject, _partition_.) `
` `
` (2) "One at least of the qualities which fit it for training ordinary men `
` _unfit_ it for _training_ an extraordinary man."--_Bagehot_. `
` `
` (Should be _unfits_ to agree with subject _one_.) `
` `
` (3) "The Tibetans have engaged to exclude from their country those `
` dangerous influences whose appearance _were_ the chief cause of our `
` action."--_The Times_. `
` `
` (Should be _was_ to agree with _appearance_.) `
` `
` (4) "An immense amount of confusion and indifference _prevail_ in these `
` days."--_Telegraph_. `
` `
` (Should be _prevails_ to agree with amount.) `
` `
` `
` ELLIPSIS `
` `
` Errors in ellipsis occur chiefly with prepositions. `
` `
` His objection and condoning of the boy's course, seemed to say the least, `
` paradoxical. `
` `
` (The preposition _to_ should come after objection.) `
` `
` Many men of brilliant parts are crushed by force of circumstances and `
` their genius forever lost to the world. `
` `
` (Some maintain that the missing verb after genius is _are_, but such `
` is ungrammatical. In such cases the right verb should be always `
` expressed: as--their genius _is_ forever lost to the world.) `
` `
` `
` THE SPLIT INFINITIVE `
` `
` Even the best speakers and writers are in the habit of placing a `
` modifying word or words between the _to_ and the remaining part of the `
` infinitive. It is possible that such will come to be looked upon in time `
` as the proper form but at present the splitting of the infinitive is `
` decidedly wrong. "He was scarcely able _to_ even _talk_" "She commenced `
` _to_ rapidly _walk_ around the room." "_To have_ really _loved_ is better `
` than not _to have_ at all _loved_." In these constructions it is much `
` better not to split the infinitive. In every-day speech the best speakers `
` sin against this observance. `
` `
` In New York City there is a certain magistrate, a member of "the 400," `
` who prides himself on his diction in language. He tells this story: A `
` prisoner, a faded, battered specimen of mankind, on whose haggard face, `
` deeply lined with the marks of dissipation, there still lingered faint `
` reminders of better days long past, stood dejected before the judge. `
` "Where are you from?" asked the magistrate. "From Boston," answered the `
` accused. "Indeed," said the judge, "indeed, yours is a sad case, and yet `
` you don't seem _to_ thoroughly _realise_ how low you have sunk." The man `
` stared as if struck. "Your honor does me an injustice," he said bitterly. `
` "The disgrace of arrest for drunkenness, the mortification of being `
` thrust into a noisome dungeon, the publicity and humiliation of trial in `
` a crowded and dingy courtroom I can bear, but to be sentenced by a Police `
` Magistrate who _splits his infinitives_--that is indeed the last blow." `
` `
` `
` ONE `
` `
` The indefinite adjective pronoun _one_ when put in place of a personal `
` substantive is liable to raise confusion. When a sentence or expression `
`
` referring to the Study of Burns, writes:--"Our own contributions to it, `
` we are aware, can be but scanty and feeble; but we offer them with good `
` will, and trust they may meet with acceptance from those they are `
` intended _for_." `
` `
` --"for whom they are intended," he should have written. `
` `
` "Most writers have some one vein which they peculiarly and obviously `
` excel _in_."--_William Minto_. `
` `
` This sentence should read,--Most writers have some one vein in which they `
` peculiarly and obviously excel. `
` `
` Many authors use redundant words which repeat the same thought and idea. `
` This is called tautology. `
` `
` "Notwithstanding which (however) poor Polly embraced them all around." `
` --_Dickens_. `
` `
` "I judged that they would (mutually) find each other."--_Crockett_. `
` `
` "....as having created a (joint) partnership between the two Powers in `
` the Morocco question."--_The Times_. `
` `
` "The only sensible position (there seems to be) is to frankly acknowledge `
` our ignorance of what lies beyond."--_Daily Telegraph_. `
` `
` Lord Rosebery has not budged from his position--splendid, no doubt,--of `
` (lonely) isolation."--_The Times_. `
` `
` "Miss Fox was (often) in the habit of assuring Mrs. Chick."--_Dickens_. `
` `
` "The deck (it) was their field of fame."--_Campbell_. `
` `
` "He had come up one morning, as was now (frequently) his wont," `
` --_Trollope_. `
` `
` The counsellors of the Sultan (continue to) remain sceptical `
` --_The Times_. `
` `
` Seriously, (and apart from jesting), this is no light matter.--_Bagehot_. `
` `
` To go back to your own country with (the consciousness that you go back `
` with) the sense of duty well done.--_Lord Halsbury_. `
` `
` The _Peresviet_ lost both her fighting-tops and (in appearance) `
` looked the most damaged of all the ships--_The Times_. `
` `
` Counsel admitted that, that was a fair suggestion to make, but he `
` submitted that it was borne out by the (surrounding) circumstances. `
` --_Ibid_. `
` `
` Another unnecessary use of words and phrases is that which is termed `
` circumlocution, a going around the bush when there is no occasion for `
` it,--save to fill space. `
` `
` It may be likened to a person walking the distance of two sides of a `
` triangle to reach the objective point. For instance in the quotation: `
` "Pope professed to have learned his poetry from Dryden, whom, whenever an `
` opportunity was presented, he praised through the whole period of his `
` existence with unvaried liberality; and perhaps his character may receive `
` some illustration, of a comparison he instituted between him and the man `
` whose pupil he was" much of the verbiage may be eliminated and the `
` sentence thus condensed: `
` `
` "Pope professed himself the pupil of Dryden, whom he lost no opportunity `
` of praising; and his character may be illustrated by a comparison with `
` his master." `
` `
` "His life was brought to a close in 1910 at an age not far from the one `
` fixed by the sacred writer as the term of human existence." `
` `
` This in brevity can be put, "His life was brought to a close at the age `
` of seventy;" or, better yet, "He died at the age of seventy." `
` `
` "The day was intensely cold, so cold in fact that the thermometer crept `
` down to the zero mark," can be expressed: "The day was so cold the `
` thermometer registered zero." `
` `
` Many authors resort to circumlocution for the purpose of "padding," that `
` is, filling space, or when they strike a snag in writing upon subjects of `
` which they know little or nothing. The young writer should steer clear of `
` it and learn to express his thoughts and ideas as briefly as possible `
` commensurate with lucidity of expression. `
` `
` Volumes of errors in fact, in grammar, diction and general style, could `
` be selected from the works of the great writers, a fact which eloquently `
` testifies that no one is infallible and that the very best is liable to `
` err at times. However, most of the erring in the case of these writers `
` arises from carelessness or hurry, not from a lack of knowledge. `
` `
` As a general rule it is in writing that the scholar is liable to slip; in `
` oral speech he seldom makes a blunder. In fact, there are many people who `
` are perfect masters of speech,--who never make a blunder in conversation, `
` yet who are ignorant of the very principles of grammar and would not know `
` how to write a sentence correctly on paper. Such persons have been `
` accustomed from infancy to hear the language spoken correctly and so the `
` use of the proper words and forms becomes a second nature to them. A `
` child can learn what is right as easy as what is wrong and whatever `
` impressions are made on the mind when it is plastic will remain there. `
` Even a parrot can be taught the proper use of language. Repeat to a `
` parrot.--"Two and two _make_ four" and it never will say "two and two `
` _makes_ four." `
` `
` In writing, however, it is different. Without a knowledge of the `
` fundamentals of grammar we may be able to speak correctly from `
` association with good speakers, but without such a knowledge we cannot `
` hope to write the language correctly. To write even a common letter we `
` must know the principles of construction, the relationship of one word to `
` another. Therefore, it is necessary for everybody to understand at least `
` the essentials of the grammar of his own language. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER VIII `
` `
` PITFALLS TO AVOID `
` `
` Common Stumbling Blocks--Peculiar Constructions--Misused Forms. `
` `
` `
` ATTRACTION `
` `
` Very often the verb is separated from its real nominative or subject by `
` several intervening words and in such cases one is liable to make the `
` verb agree with the subject nearest to it. Here are a few examples `
` showing that the leading writers now and then take a tumble into this `
` pitfall: `
` `
` (1) "The partition which the two ministers made of the powers of `
` government _were_ singularly happy."--_Macaulay_. `
` `
` (Should be _was_ to agree with its subject, _partition_.) `
` `
` (2) "One at least of the qualities which fit it for training ordinary men `
` _unfit_ it for _training_ an extraordinary man."--_Bagehot_. `
` `
` (Should be _unfits_ to agree with subject _one_.) `
` `
` (3) "The Tibetans have engaged to exclude from their country those `
` dangerous influences whose appearance _were_ the chief cause of our `
` action."--_The Times_. `
` `
` (Should be _was_ to agree with _appearance_.) `
` `
` (4) "An immense amount of confusion and indifference _prevail_ in these `
` days."--_Telegraph_. `
` `
` (Should be _prevails_ to agree with amount.) `
` `
` `
` ELLIPSIS `
` `
` Errors in ellipsis occur chiefly with prepositions. `
` `
` His objection and condoning of the boy's course, seemed to say the least, `
` paradoxical. `
` `
` (The preposition _to_ should come after objection.) `
` `
` Many men of brilliant parts are crushed by force of circumstances and `
` their genius forever lost to the world. `
` `
` (Some maintain that the missing verb after genius is _are_, but such `
` is ungrammatical. In such cases the right verb should be always `
` expressed: as--their genius _is_ forever lost to the world.) `
` `
` `
` THE SPLIT INFINITIVE `
` `
` Even the best speakers and writers are in the habit of placing a `
` modifying word or words between the _to_ and the remaining part of the `
` infinitive. It is possible that such will come to be looked upon in time `
` as the proper form but at present the splitting of the infinitive is `
` decidedly wrong. "He was scarcely able _to_ even _talk_" "She commenced `
` _to_ rapidly _walk_ around the room." "_To have_ really _loved_ is better `
` than not _to have_ at all _loved_." In these constructions it is much `
` better not to split the infinitive. In every-day speech the best speakers `
` sin against this observance. `
` `
` In New York City there is a certain magistrate, a member of "the 400," `
` who prides himself on his diction in language. He tells this story: A `
` prisoner, a faded, battered specimen of mankind, on whose haggard face, `
` deeply lined with the marks of dissipation, there still lingered faint `
` reminders of better days long past, stood dejected before the judge. `
` "Where are you from?" asked the magistrate. "From Boston," answered the `
` accused. "Indeed," said the judge, "indeed, yours is a sad case, and yet `
` you don't seem _to_ thoroughly _realise_ how low you have sunk." The man `
` stared as if struck. "Your honor does me an injustice," he said bitterly. `
` "The disgrace of arrest for drunkenness, the mortification of being `
` thrust into a noisome dungeon, the publicity and humiliation of trial in `
` a crowded and dingy courtroom I can bear, but to be sentenced by a Police `
` Magistrate who _splits his infinitives_--that is indeed the last blow." `
` `
` `
` ONE `
` `
` The indefinite adjective pronoun _one_ when put in place of a personal `
` substantive is liable to raise confusion. When a sentence or expression `
`