Chapter XXI: Part II (2)

When two sentences coupled by a conjunction (whether coordinating or subordinating) have one or more parts in common, there are two ways of avoiding the full repetition of the common parts. (_a_) ‘I see through your villany and I detest your villany’ can become ‘I see through and detest your villany’; ‘I have at least tried to bring about a reconciliation, though I may have failed to bring about a reconciliation’ can become ‘I have at least tried, though I may have failed, to bring about, &c.’ (_b_) By substitution or ellipse, the sentences become ‘I see through your villany, and detest it’ and ‘I have at least tried to bring about a reconciliation, though I may have failed (to do so)’. Of these, the (_a_) form requires careful handling: a word that is not common to both sentences must not be treated as common; and one that is common, and whose position declares that it is meant to do double duty, must not be repeated. Violations of these rules are always more or less unsightly, and are excusable only when the precise (_a_) form is intolerably stiff and the (_b_) form not available. In our examples below, the words placed in brackets are the two variants, each of which, when the other is omitted, should, with the common or unbracketed parts, form a complete sentence; the conjunctions being of course ignored for this purpose.

What other power (could) or (ever has) produced such changes?--_Daily Telegraph._

Things temporal (had) and (would) alter.--_Daily Telegraph._

(It had), as (all houses should), been in tune with the pleasant, mediocre charm of the island.--E. F. BENSON.

This type will almost always admit of the emphatic repetition of the verb: ‘could produce or ever has produced’.

Those of us who still believe in Greek as (one of the finest), if not (the finest) instruments....--_Times._

(One of the noblest), if not (the noblest), feelings an Englishman could possess.--_Daily Telegraph._

Use (_b_): ‘One of the finest instruments, if not the finest’.

The games were looked upon as being (quite as important) or (perhaps more important) than drill.--_Times._

The railway has done (all) and (more) than was expected of it.--_Spectator._

Use (_b_): ‘as important as drill, if not more so’; ‘all that was expected of it, and more’.

All words that precede the first of two correlatives, such as ‘not ... but’, ‘both ... and’, ‘neither ... nor’, are declared by their position to be common; we bracket accordingly in the next examples:

The pamphlet forms (not only a valuable addition to our works on scientific subjects), but (is also of deep interest to German readers).--_Times._ (not only forms ..., but is ...)

Forty-five per cent of the old Rossallians ... received (either decorations) (or were mentioned in despatches).--_Daily Telegraph._ (Either received ... or were)

The Senate, however, has (either passed) (or will pass) amendments to every clause.--_Spectator._ (either has passed or will pass)

Cloth of gold (neither seems to elate) (nor cloth of frieze to depress) him.--LAMB.

A curious extension, not to be mended in the active; for _neither_ cannot well precede the first of two subjects when they have different verbs.

On the other hand, words placed between the two correlatives are declared by their position not to be common:

Which neither (suits one purpose) (nor the other).--_Times._ (suits neither ... nor)

Not only (against my judgment), (but my inclination).--RICHARDSON.

Not only (in the matter of malaria), (but also beriberi).--_Times._ (In the matter not of malaria only, but of ...)

22. THE WRONG TURNING

It is not very uncommon, on regaining the high road after a divergent clause or phrase, to get confused between the two, and continue quite wrongly the subordinate construction instead of that actually required.

I feel, however, that there never was a time when the people of this country were more ready to believe than they are today, and would openly believe if Christianity, with ‘doctrine’ subordinated, were presented to them in the most convincing of all forms, viz....--_Daily Telegraph._ (_Would believe_ is made parallel to _they are today_; it is really parallel to _there never was a time_; and we should read _and that they would openly believe_)

In the face of this statement either proofs should be adduced to show that Coroner Troutbeck has stated facts ‘soberly judged’, and that they contain ‘warrant for the accusation of wholesale’ ignorance on the part of a trusted and eminently useful class of the community, or failing this, that the offensive and unjust charge should be withdrawn.--_Times._ (_The charge should be withdrawn_ is made parallel to _Coroner Troutbeck has stated_ and _they contain_; it is really parallel to _proofs should be adduced_; and we should omit _that_, and read _or failing this, the offensive_....)

We cannot part from Prof. Bury’s work without expressing our unfeigned admiration for his complete control of the original authorities on which his narrative is based, and of the sound critical judgment he exhibits....--_Spectator._ (The judgment is admired, not controlled)

Sometimes the confusion is not merely of the pen, but is in the writer’s thought; and it is then almost incurable.

... the privilege by which the mind, like the lamps of a mailcoach, moving rapidly through the midnight woods, illuminate, for one instant, the foliage or sleeping umbrage of the thickets, and, in the next instant, have quitted them, to carry their radiance forward upon endless successions of objects.--DE QUINCEY.

23. ELLIPSE IN SUBORDINATE CLAUSES

The missing subject and (with one exception) the missing verb of a subordinate clause can be supplied only from the sentence to which it is subordinate. The exception is the verb ‘to be’. We can say ‘The balls, when wet, do not bounce’, ‘When in doubt, play trumps’, because the verb to be supplied is _are_, and the subject is that of the principal sentence. Other violations of the rule occur, but are scarcely tolerable even in the spoken language. The following are undesirable instances:

For, though summer, I knew ... Mr. Rochester would like to see a cheerful hearth.--C. BRONTË.

We can supply _was_, but not _it_; the natural subject is _I_.

I have now seen him, and though not for long, he is a man who speaks with Bismarckian frankness.--_Times._

‘Though I did not see him for long’, we are meant to understand. But the _though_ clause is not subordinate to the sentence containing that subject and verb: _and_ always joins coordinates and announces the transition from one coordinate to another. Consequently, the _though_ clause must be a part (a subordinate part) of the second coordinate, and must draw from that its subject and verb: ‘though he is not a man of Bismarckian frankness for long, ...’. Even if we could supply _I saw_ with the clause in its present place, we should still have the absurd implication that the man’s habitual frankness (not the writer’s perception of it) depended on the duration of the interview. We offer three conjectural emendations: ‘I have now seen him, though not for long; and he is a man who ...’; ‘I have now seen him, and though I did not see him for long, I perceived that he was a man who ...’; ‘I have now seen him, and though I did not see him for long, I found out what he thought; for he is a man who...’.

24. SOME ILLEGITIMATE INFINITIVES

_Claim_ is not followed by an infinitive except when the subject of _claim_ is also that of the infinitive. Thus, _I claim to be honest_, but not _I claim this to be honest_. The _Oxford Dictionary_ (1893) does not mention the latter use even to condemn it, but it is now becoming very common, and calls for strong protest. The corresponding passive use is equally wrong. The same applies to _pretend_.

‘This entirely new experiment’ which you claim to have ‘solved the problem of combining....’--_Times._

Usage, therefore, is not, as it is often claimed to be, the absolute law of language.--R. G. WHITE.

The gun which made its first public appearance on Saturday is claimed to be the most serviceable weapon of its kind in use in any army.--_Times._

The constant failure to live up to what we claim to be our most serious convictions proves that we do not hold them at all.--_Daily Telegraph._

The anonymous and masked delators whose creation the Opposition pretends to be an abuse of power on the part of M. Combes.--_Times._

_Possible_ and _probable_ are not to be completed by an infinitive. For _are possible to_ read _can_; and for _probable_ read _likely_.

But no such questions are possible, as it seems to me, to arise between your nation and ours.--CHOATE.

Should Germany meditate anything of the kind it would look uncommonly like a deliberate provocation of France, and for that reason it seems scarcely probable to be borne out by events.--_Times._

_Prefer_ has two constructions: I prefer this (living) _to_ that (dying), and I prefer to do this _rather than_ that. The infinitive construction must not be used without _rather_ (unless, of course, the second alternative is suppressed altogether).

Other things being equal, I should prefer to marry a rich man than a poor one.--E. F. BENSON.

The following infinitives are perhaps by false analogy from those that might follow _forbade_, _seen_, _ask_. It may be noticed generally that slovenly and hurried writers find the infinitive a great resource.

Marshal Oyama strictly _prohibited_ his troops _to take_ quarter within the walls.--_Times._

The Chinese held a chou-chou, during which the devil was exorcised and duly _witnessed_ by several believers _to take_ his flight in divers guises.--_Times._

Third, they might _demand_ from Germany, all flushed as she was with military pride, _to tell_ us plainly whether....--MORLEY.

25. ‘SPLIT’ INFINITIVES

The ‘split’ infinitive has taken such hold upon the consciences of journalists that, instead of warning the novice against splitting his infinitives, we must warn him against the curious superstition that the splitting or not splitting makes the difference between a good and a bad writer. The split infinitive is an ugly thing, as will be seen from our examples below; but it is one among several hundred ugly things, and the novice should not allow it to occupy his mind exclusively. Even that mysterious quality, ‘distinction’ of style, may in modest measure be attained by a splitter of infinitives: ‘The book is written with a distinction (save in the matter of split infinitives) unusual in such works.’--_Times._

The time has come to once again voice the general discontent.--_Times._

It should be authorized to immediately put in hand such work.--_Times._

Important negotiations are even now proceeding to further cement trade relations.--_Times._

We were not as yet strong enough in numbers to seriously influence the poll.--_Times._

Keep competition with you unless you wish to once more see a similar state of things to those prevalent prior to the inauguration....--_Guernsey Evening Press._

And that she should force me, by the magic of her pen to mentally acknowledge, albeit with wrath and shame, my own inferiority.--CORELLI.

The oil lamp my landlady was good enough to still allow me the use of.--CORELLI.

The ‘persistent agitation’ ... is to so arouse public opinion on the subject as to....--_Times._

In order to slightly extend that duration in the case of a few.--_Times._

To thus prevent a constant accretion to the Jewish population of Russia from this country would be nobler work....--_Times._

26. COMPOUND PASSIVES

Corresponding to the active construction ‘... have attempted to justify this step’, we get two passive constructions: (1) ‘This step has been attempted to be justified’, (2) ‘It has been attempted to justify this step’. Of these (1), although licensed by usage, is an incorrect and slovenly makeshift: ‘this step’ is not the object of ‘have attempted’, and cannot be the subject of the corresponding passive. The true object of ‘have attempted’ is the whole phrase ‘to justify this step’, which in (2) rightly appears as the subject, in apposition to an introductory ‘it’.--In point of clumsiness, there is perhaps not much to choose between the two passive constructions, neither of which should be used when it can be avoided. When the subject of the active verb ‘have attempted’ is definite, and can conveniently be stated, the active form should always be retained; to write ‘it had been attempted by the founders of the study to supply’ instead of ‘the founders had attempted to supply’ is mere perversity. When, as in some of our examples below, the subject of the active verb ‘have attempted’ is indefinite, the passive turn is sometimes difficult to avoid; but unless the object of ‘justify’ is a relative, and therefore necessarily placed at the beginning, ‘an attempt has been made’ can often be substituted for ‘it has been attempted’, and is less stiff and ugly.

The cutting down of ‘saying lessons’, by which it had been attempted by the founders of the study to supply the place of speech in the learning of Greek.--_Times._

But when it was attempted to give practical effect to the popular exasperation, serious obstacles arose.--_Times._ (When an attempt was made to....)

He and his friends would make the government of Ireland a sheer impossibility, and it would be the duty of the Irish party to make it so if it was attempted to be run on the lines of....--_Times._ (if an attempt was made to run it on the....)

It is not however attempted to be denied.--HAZLITT. (No one attempts to deny)

As to the audience, we imagine that a large part of it, certainly all that part of it whose sympathies it was desired to enlist,...--_Times._ (whose sympathies were to be enlisted)

He will see the alterations that were proposed to be made, but rejected.--_Times._ (proposed, but rejected)

The argument by which this difficulty is sought to be evaded.--BALFOUR.

This and the following instances are not easily mended, unless we may supply the subject of ‘seek’, &c. (‘some writers’).

The arguments by which the abolition was attempted to be supported were founded on the rights of man.--_Times._

Some mystery in regard to her birth, which, she was well informed, was assiduously, though vainly, endeavoured to be discovered.--FANNY BURNEY.

The close darkness of the shut-up house (forgotten to be opened, though it was long since day) yielded to the unexpected glare.--DICKENS.

Those whose hours of employment are proposed to be limited.--_Times._

The insignificant duties proposed to be placed on food.--_Times._

The anti-liberal principles which it was long ago attempted to embody in the Holy Alliance.--_Times._

Considerable support was managed to be raised for Waldemar.--CARLYLE.

We may notice here a curious blunder that is sometimes made with the reflexive verb ‘I avail myself of’. The passive of this is never used, because there is no occasion for it: ‘I was availed of this by myself’ would mean exactly the same as the active, and would be intolerably clumsy. The impossible passives quoted below imply that _it_ and _staff_ would be the direct objects of the active verb.

Watt and Fulton bethought themselves that, where was power was not devil, but was God; that it must be availed of and not by any means let off and wasted.--EMERSON.

_Used_ or _employed_, and so in the next:

No salvage appliances or staff could have been availed of in time to save the lives of the men.--_Times._

27. CONFUSION WITH NEGATIVES

This is extraordinarily common. The instances are arranged in order of obviousness.

Yezd is not only the refuge of the most ancient of Persian religions, but it is one of the headquarters of the modern Babi propaganda, the far-reaching effects of which it is probably difficult to underestimate.--_Spectator._

Not a whit undeterred by the disaster which overtook them at Cavendish-square last week ... the suffragettes again made themselves prominent.--_Daily Mail._

So far as medicine is concerned, I am not sure that physiology, such as it was down to the time of Harvey, might as well not have existed.--HUXLEY.

The generality of his countrymen are far more careful not to transgress the customs of what they call gentility, than to violate the laws of honour or morality.--BORROW.

France and Russia are allies, as are England and Japan. Is it impossible to imagine that, in consequence of the growing friendship between the two great peoples on both sides of the Channel, an agreement might not one day be realized between the four Powers?--_Times._

I do not of course deny that in this, as in all moral principles, there may not be found, here and there, exceptional cases which may amuse a casuist.--L. STEPHEN.

In view of the doubts among professed theologians regarding the genuineness and authenticity of the Gospels in whole or in part, he is unable to say how much of the portraiture of Christ may not be due to the idealization of His life and character.--_Daily Telegraph._

Is it quite inconceivable that if the smitten had always turned the other cheek the smiters would not long since have become so ashamed that their practice would have ceased?--_Daily Telegraph._

I do not think it is possible that the traditions and doctrines of these two institutions should not fail to create rival, and perhaps warring, schools.--_Times._

Any man--runs this terrible statute--denying the doctrine of the Trinity or of the Divinity of Christ, or that the books of Scripture are not the ‘Word of God’, or ..., ‘shall suffer the pain of death’.--J. R. GREEN.

But it would not be at all surprising if, by attempting too much, and, it must be added, by indulging too much in a style the strained preciosity of which occasionally verges on rant and even hysteria, Mr. Sichel has not to some extent defeated his own object.--_Spectator._

No one scarcely really believes.--_Daily Telegraph._

Let them agree to differ; for who knows but what agreeing to differ may not be a form of agreement rather than a form of difference?--STEVENSON.

Lastly, how can Mr. Balfour tell but that two years hence he may not be too tired of official life to begin any new conflict?--F. GREENWOOD.

What sort of impression would it be likely to make upon the Boers? They could hardly fail to regard it as anything but an expression of want of confidence in our whole South-African policy.--_Times._

My friend Mr. Bounderby could never see any difference between leaving the Coketown ‘hands’ exactly as they were and requiring them to be fed with turtle soup and venison out of gold spoons.--DICKENS.

But it is one thing to establish these conditions [the Chinese Ordinance], and another to remove them suddenly.--_Westminster Gazette._

What economy of life and money would not have been spared the empire of the Tsars had it not rendered war certain.--_Times._ (_It_ is the empire. The instance is not quoted for _not_, though that too is wrong, but for the confusion between loss and economy)

The question of ‘raids’ is one which necessarily comes home to every human being living within at least thirty miles of our enormously long coast line.--LONSDALE HALE. (An odd puzzle. _Within thirty_ means less than thirty; _at least thirty_ means not less than thirty. The meaning is clear enough, however, and perhaps the expression is defensible; but it would have been better to say: within a strip at least thirty miles broad along our enormous coast line)

The fact that a negative idea can often be either included in a word or kept separate from it leads to a special form of confusion, the construction proper to the resolved form being used with the compound and _vice versa_.

My feelings, Sir, are moderately unspeakable, and that is a fact.--American. (not moderately speakable: _moderately_ belongs only to half of _unspeakable_)

... who did not aim, like the Presbyterians, at a change in Church government, but rejected the notion of a national Church at all.--J. R. GREEN. (_Reject_ is equivalent to _will not have_. I reject altogether: I will not have at all)

And your correspondent does not seem to know, or not to realize, the conditions of the problem.--_Times._ (_Seems_, not _does not seem_, has to be supplied in the second clause)

I confess myself altogether unable to formulate such a principle, much less to prove it.--_Balfour._ (_Less_ does not suit _unable_, but _able_; but the usage of _much less_ and _much more_ is hopelessly chaotic)

War between these two great nations would be an inexplicable impossibility.--CHOATE. (_Inexplicable_ does not qualify the whole of _impossibility_; to make sense we must divide _impossibility_ into _impossible event_, and take _inexplicable_ only with _event_)

And the cry has this justification,--that no age can see itself in a proper perspective, and is therefore incapable of giving its virtues and vices their relative places.--_Spectator._ (_No age_ is equivalent to _not any age_, and out of this we have to take _any age_ as subject to the last sentence; this is a common, but untidy and blameworthy device)

28. OMISSION OF ‘AS’

This is very common, but quite contrary to good modern usage, after the verb _regard_, and others like it. In the first three instances the motive of the omission is obvious, but does not justify it; all that was necessary was to choose another verb, as _consider_, that does not require _as_. In the later instances the omission is gratuitous.

I regard it as important as anything.

Lord Bombie had run away with Lady Bombie ‘in her sark’. This I could not help regarding both a most improper as well as a most uncomfortable proceeding.--CROCKETT.

So vital is this suggestion regarded.

Rare early editions of Shakespeare’s plays and poems--editions which had long been regarded among the national heirlooms.--S. LEE.

The latter may now be expected to regard himself absolved from such obligation as he previously felt.--_Times._

A memoir which was justly regarded of so much merit and importance that....--HUXLEY.

... what might be classed a ‘horizontal’ European triplice.--_Times._

You would look upon yourself amply revenged if you knew what they have cost me.--RICHARDSON.

He also alluded to the bayonet, and observed that its main use was no longer a defence against cavalry, but it was for the final charge.--_Times._

... I was rewarded with such a conception of the God-like majesty and infinite divinity which everywhere loomed up behind and shone through the humanity of the Son of Man that no false teaching or any power on earth or in hell itself will ever shake my firm faith in the combined divinity and humanity in the person of the Son of God, and _as sure am I_ that I eat and drink and live to-day, so certain am I that this mysterious Divine Redeemer is in living....--_Daily Telegraph._

The last example is of a different kind. Read _as sure as I am_ for _as sure am I_ as the least possible correction. Unpractised writers should beware of correlative clauses except in their very simplest forms.

29. OTHER LIBERTIES TAKEN WITH ‘AS’

_As_ must not be expected to do by itself the work of _such as_.

There were not two dragon sentries keeping ward before the gate of this abode, _as_ in magic legend are usually found on duty over the wronged innocence imprisoned.--DICKENS.

The specialist is naturally best for his particular job; but if the particular specialist required is not on the spot, as must often be the case, the best substitute for him is not another specialist but the man trained to act for himself in all circumstances, _as_ it has been the glory of our nation to produce both in the Army and elsewhere.--_Times._

We question if throughout the French Revolution there was a single case of six or seven thousand insurgents blasted away by cannon shot, _as_ is believed to have happened in Odessa.--_Spectator._ (This is much more defensible than the previous two; but when a definite noun--as here _case_--can be naturally supplied for the verb introduced by _as_, _such as_ is better).

The decision of the French Government to send a special mission to represent France at the marriage of the German Crown Prince is not intended as anything more than a mere act of international courtesy, _as_ is customary on such occasions.--_Times._

Neither _as_ nor _such as_ should be made to do the work of the relative pronoun where there would be no awkwardness in using the pronoun itself.

With a speed of eight knots, _as_ [which] has been found practicable in the case of the Suez Canal, the passage would occupy five days.--_Times._

The West Indian atmosphere is not of the limpid brightness and transparent purity _such as_ [that] are found in the sketch entitled ‘A Street in Kingston’.--_Times._

The ideal statues and groups in this room and the next are scarcely so interesting as we have sometimes seen.--_Times._ (_As_ is clearly here a relative adverb, answering to _so_; nevertheless the construction can be theoretically justified, the full form being _as we have sometimes seen groups interesting_. But it is very ugly; why not say instead _as some that we have seen_?)

The idiom _as who should say_ must not be used unless the sentence to which it is appended has for subject a person to whom the person implied in _who_ is compared. This seems reasonable, and is borne out, for instance, by all the Shakespeare passages--a dozen--that we have looked at. The type is: The cloudy messenger turns me his back, and hums, as who should say:--&c.

To think of the campaign without the scene is as who should read a play by candle-light among the ghosts of an empty theatre.--MORLEY.

30. BRACHYLOGY

1. Omission of a dependent noun in the second of two parallel series: ‘The brim of my hat is wider than yours’. For this there is some justification: an ugly string of words is avoided, and the missing word is easily supplied from the first series; it has usually the effect, however, of attaching a preposition to the wrong noun:

I should be proud to lay an obligation upon my charmer to the amount of half, nay, to the whole of my estate.--RICHARDSON.

There is as much of the pure gospel in their teachings as in any other community of Christians in our land.

There cannot be the same reason for a prohibition of correspondence with me, as there was of mine with Mr. Lovelace.--RICHARDSON.

Here the right preposition is retained.

A man holding such a responsible position as Minister of the United States.--D. SLADEN.

2. A preposition is sometimes left out, quite unwarrantably, from a mistaken idea of euphony:

Without troubling myself as to what such self-absorption might lead in the future.--CORELLI. (lead to)

He chose to fancy that she was not suspicious of what all his acquaintance were perfectly aware--namely, that....--THACKERAY. (aware of)

3. Impossible compromises between two possible alternatives.

To be a Christian means to us one who has been regenerated.--_Daily Telegraph._ (‘A Christian means one who has’: ‘to be a Christian means to have been’)

To do what as far as human possibility has proved out of his power.--_Daily Telegraph._ (‘As a matter of human possibility’: ‘as far as human possibility goes’)

One compromise of this kind has come to be generally recognized:

So far from being annoyed, he agreed at once. (‘So far was he from being annoyed that ...’: ‘far from being annoyed, he agreed’)

31. BETWEEN TWO STOOLS

The commonest form of indecision is that between statement and question. But the examples of this are followed by a few miscellaneous ones.

May I ask _that_ if care should be taken of remains of buildings a thousand years old, _ought not_ care to be taken of ancient British earth-works several thousand years old?--_Times._

Can I not make you understand that you are ruining yourself and me, and _that_ if you don’t get reconciled to your father _what is_ to become of you?--S. FERRIER.

We will only say _that_ if it was undesirable for a private member to induce the Commons to pass a vote against Colonial Preference, _why was it_ not undesirable for a private member....--_Spectator._

_Surely_, then, if I am not claiming too much for our efforts at that time to maintain the Union, _am I_ exaggerating our present ability to render him effectual aid in the contest that will be fought at the next election if I say that prudence alone should dictate to him the necessity for doing everything in his power to revive the spirit which the policy of Sir Antony MacDonnell, Lord Dudley, and Mr. Wyndham has done so much to weaken?--_Times._

I then further observed _that_ China having observed the laws of neutrality, _how could he_ believe in the possibility of an alliance with Russia?--_Times._

The next two use both the relative and the participle construction, instead of choosing between them.

Thus it befell that our high and low labour vote, _which_ (if one might say so in the hearing of M. Jaurès and Herr Bebel) _being_ vertical rather than horizontal, and quite unhindered in the United States, of course by an overwhelming majority elected President Roosevelt.--_Times._

He replied to Mr. Chamberlain’s Limehouse speech, the only part of _which_ that he could endorse _being_, he said, the suggestion that the electorate should go to the root of the question at the next general election.--_Times._

Who, in Europe, at least, would _forego_ the delights of kissing,--(which the Japanese by-the-by consider a disgusting habit),--_without_ embraces,--and all those other endearments which are supposed to dignify the progress of true love!--CORELLI.

Poor, bamboozled, patient public!--no wonder it is beginning to think _that_ a halfpenny spent on a newspaper which is purchased to be thrown away, _enough_ and more than enough.--CORELLI.

But hurriedly dismissing _whatever_ shadow of earnestness, or faint confession of a purpose, laudable or wicked, _that_ her face, or voice, or manner, had, for the moment betrayed, she lounged....--DICKENS.

_At_ the Épée Team Competition for Dr. Savage’s Challenge Cup, held on the 25th and 27th February last, _was won_ by the Inns of Court team, consisting of....--_14th Middlesex Battalion Orders._

32. THE IMPERSONAL ‘ONE’

This should never be mixed up with other pronouns. Its possessive is _one’s_, not _his_, and _one_ should be repeated, if necessary, not be replaced by _him_, &c. Those who doubt their ability to handle it skilfully under these restrictions should only use it where no repetition or substitute is needed. The older experimental usage, which has now been practically decided against, is shown in the Lowell examples.

That inequality and incongruousness in his writing which makes _one_ revise _his_ judgment at every tenth page.--LOWELL.

As one grows older, _one_ loses many idols, perhaps comes at last to have none at all, although _he_ may honestly enough uncover in deference to the worshippers at any shrine.--LOWELL.

There are many passages which _one_ is rather inclined to like than sure _he_ would be right in liking.--LOWELL.

He is a man who speaks with Bismarckian frankness, and who directly impresses _one_ with the impression that _you_ are speaking to a man and not to an incarnate bluebook.--_Times._

The merit of the book, and it is not a small one, is that it discusses every problem with fairness, with no perilous hankering after originality, and with a disposition to avail _oneself_ of what has been done by _his_ predecessors.--_Times._

If _one_ has an opinion on any subject, it is of little use to read books or papers which tell _you_ what you know already.--_Times._

... are all creations which make _one_ laugh inwardly as _we_ read.--HUTTON.

_One’s_, on the other hand, is not the right possessive for the generic _man_; _man’s_ or _his_ is required according to circumstances; _his_ in the following example:

There is a natural desire in the mind of _man_ to sit for _one’s_ picture.--HAZLITT.

33. BETWEEN ... OR

This is a confusion between two ways of giving alternatives--_between ... and_, and _either ... or_. It is always wrong.

The choice Russia has is between payment for damages in money _or_ in kind.--_Times._

Forced to choose between the sacrifice of important interests on the one hand _or_ the expansion of the Estimates on the other.--_Times._

We have in that substance the link between organic _or_ inorganic matter which abolishes the distinction between living _and_ dead matter.--_Westminster Gazette._ (Observe the ‘elegant variation’)

The question lies between a God and a creed, _or_ a God in such an abstract sense that does not signify.--_Daily Telegraph._

The author of the last has been perplexed by the _and_ in one of his alternatives. _He_ should have used _on the one hand_, &c.

34. ‘A’ PLACED BETWEEN THE ADJECTIVE AND ITS NOUN

This is ugly when not necessary. Types of phrase in which it is necessary are: Many a youth; What a lie! How dreadful _a_ fate! So lame an excuse. But there is no difficulty in placing a before ordinary qualifications of the adjective like _quite_, _more_, _much less_. In the following, read _quite a sufficient_, _a more valuable_, _a more glorious_, _a more serviceable_, _no different position_, _a_ greater _or less degree_.

... adding that there was no suggestion of another raid against the Japanese flank, which was _quite sufficient an indication_ of coming events for those capable of reading between the lines.--_Times._

Can any one choose _more glorious an exit_ than to die fighting for one’s own country?--_Times._

Of sympathy, of ... Mr. Baring has a full measure, which, in his case, is _more valuable an asset_ than familiarity with military textbooks.--_Times._

No great additional expenditure is required in order to make Oxford _more serviceable a part_ of our educational system.--_Westminster Gazette._

And young undergraduates are in this respect in no different a position from that of any other Civil Servant.--_Westminster Gazette._

The thousand and one adjuncts to devotion finding place _in more or less a degree_ in all churches, are all....--_Daily Telegraph._

The odd arrangement in the following will not do; we should have _a_ either before _so_ or before _degree_.

But what I do venture to protest against is the sacrificing of the interests of the country districts in _so ridiculously an unfair degree_ to those of a small borough.--_Times._

35. _DO_ AS SUBSTITUTE VERB

_Do_ cannot represent (1) _be_, (2) an active verb supplied from a passive, (3) an active verb in a compound tense, gerund, or infinitive; You made the very mistake that I _did_, but _have made_, _was afraid of making_, _expected to make_, _shall_ (_make_).

It ... ought to have been satisfying to the young man. And so, in a manner of speaking, it did.--CROCKETT.

It may justly be said, as Mr. Paul does, that....--_Westminster Gazette._

To inflict upon themselves a disability which one day they will find the mistake and folly of doing.--_Westminster Gazette._

We can of course say He lost his train, which I had warned him not to _do_; because _lose_ is then represented not by _do_, but by _which_ (thing).

36. FRESH STARTS

The trick of taking breath in the middle of a sentence by means of a resumptive _that_ or the like should be avoided; especially when it is a confession rather of the writer’s short-windedness than of the unwieldy length of his sentence.

It does not follow (as I pointed out by implication above) that if, according to the account of their origin given by the system, those fundamental beliefs are true, that therefore they are true.--BALFOUR.

Sir--Might I suggest that while this interesting question is being discussed that the hymn ‘Rock of Ages’ be sung in every church and chapel...?--_Daily Telegraph._

A very short-winded correspondent.

It seems to be a fair deduction that when the Japanese gained their flank position immediately West of Mukden, and when, further, they took no immediate advantage of the fact, but, on the contrary, began to hold the villages in the plain as defensive positions, that a much more ambitious plan was in operation.--_Times._

If the writer means what he says, and the grounds of the deduction are not included in the sentence, reconstruction is not obvious, and _that_ is perhaps wanted to pick up the thread; but if, as may be suspected, the _when_ clauses contain the grounds of the deduction, we may reconstruct as follows: ‘When the Japanese ..., and when ..., it was natural to infer that ...’.

37. VULGARISMS AND COLLOQUIALISMS

_Like_ for _as_:

Sins that were degrading me, like they have many others.--_Daily Telegraph._

They should not make a mad, reckless, frontal attack like General Buller made at the battle of Colenso.--_Daily Telegraph._

Coming to God the loving Father for pardon, like the poor prodigal did.--_Daily Telegraph._

There is no moral force in existence ... which enlarges our outlook like suffering does.--_Daily Telegraph._

_What ever ...?_ is a colloquialism; _whatever ...?_ a vulgarism:

Whatever reason have we to suppose, as the vast majority of professing Christians appear to do, that the public worship of Almighty God ...?--_Daily Telegraph._

Whatever is the good in wrangling about bones when one is hungry and has nutritious food at hand?--_Daily Telegraph._

‘Those sort’:

I know many of those sort of girls whom you call conjurors.--TROLLOPE.

Those sort of writers would merely take it as a first-class advertisement.--CORELLI.

38. TAUTOLOGY

Lord Rosebery has not budged from his position--splendid, no doubt--of (lonely) isolation.--_Times._

Counsel admitted that that was a grave suggestion to make, but he submitted that it was borne out by the (surrounding) circumstances.--_Times._

One can feel first the characteristics which men have in common and only afterward those which distinguish them (apart) from one another.--_Times._

A final friendly agreement with Japan, which would be very welcome to Russia, is only possible if Japan (again) regains her liberty of action.--_Times._

Miss Tox was (often) in the habit of assuring Mrs. Chick that ...--DICKENS.

He had come up one morning, as was now (frequently) his wont.--TROLLOPE.

The counsellors of the Sultan (continue to) remain sceptical.--_Times._

The Peresviet lost both her fighting-tops and (in appearance) looked the most damaged of all the ships.--_Times._

They would, however, strengthen their position if they returned the (temporary) loan of Sir A. MacDonnell to his owners with thanks.--_Times._

The score was taken to 136 when Mr. MacLaren, who had (evidently) seemed bent on hitting Mr. Armstrong off, was bowled.--_Times._

... cannot prevent the diplomacy of the two countries from lending each other (mutual) support.--_Times._

However, I judged that they would soon (mutually) find each other out.--CROCKETT.

Notwithstanding which, (however,) poor Polly embraced them all round.--DICKENS.

If any real remedy is to be found, we must first diagnose the true nature of the disease; (but) that, however, is not hard.--_Times._

M. Delcassé contemplated an identical answer for France, Great Britain, and Spain, refusing, of course, the proposed conference, but his colleagues of the Cabinet were (, however,) opposed to identical replies.--_Times._

The strong currents frequently shifted the mines, to the equal danger (both) of friend and foe.--_Times._

And persecution on the part of the Bishops and the Presbyterians, to (both of) whom their opinions were equally hateful, drove flocks of refugees over sea.--J. R. GREEN.

But to the ordinary English Protestant (both) Latitudinarian and High Churchmen were equally hateful.--J. R. GREEN.

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 done.--LORD HALSBURY.

No doubt my efforts were clumsy enough, but Togo had a capacity for taking pains, by which (said) quality genius is apt to triumph over early obstacles.--_Times._

... as having created a (joint) partnership between the two Powers in the Morocco question.--_Times._

Sir--As a working man it appears to me that to the question ‘Do we believe?’ the only sensible position (there seems to be) is to frankly acknowledge our ignorance of what lies beyond.--_Daily Telegraph._

39. REDUNDANCIES

Dr. Redmond told his constituents that _by_ reducing the National vote in the House of Commons they would not _thereby_ get rid of obstruction.--_Times._

It is not a thousand years _ago since_ municipalities in Scotland were by no means free from the suspicion of corruption.--LORD ROSEBERY.

Some substance equally _as_ yielding.--_Daily Mail._

Had another expedition reached the Solomon Islands, who knows _but_ that the Spaniards might _not_ have gone on to colonize Australia and so turned the current of history?--_Spectator._

As one _being_ able to give full consent ... I am yours faithfully....--_Daily Telegraph._

But _to_ where shall I look for some small ray of light that will illumine the darkness surrounding the mystery of my being?--_Daily Telegraph._

It is quite _possible_ that if they do that it _may_ be _possible_ to amend it in certain particulars.--_Westminster Gazette._

Men and women who _professed to call_ themselves Christians.--_Daily Telegraph._ (An echo, no doubt, of ‘profess and call themselves Christians’)

The correspondence that you have published _abundantly_ throws out into _bold_ relief the false position assumed....--_Daily Telegraph._

In the course of the _day_, _yesterday_, M. Rouvier was able to assure M. Delcassé....--_Times._

_Moreover_, _too_, do we not all feel...?--J. C. COLLINS.

The doing nothing for a length of days after the first shock he sustained was _the reason of how it came that_ Nesta knitted closer her acquaintance....--MEREDITH.

When the public adopt new inventions wholesale, ... _some obligation is due_ to lessen, so far as is possible, the hardships in which....--_Westminster Gazette._

40. ‘AS TO WHETHER’

This is a form that is seldom necessary, and should be reserved for sentences in which it is really difficult to find a substitute. Abstract nouns that cannot be followed immediately by _whether_ should if possible be replaced by the corresponding verbs. Many writers seem to delight in this hideous combination, and employ it not only with abstracts that can be followed by _whether_, but even with verbs.

The Court declined to express any opinion _as to_ whether the Russian Ambassador was justified in giving the assurances in question and _as to_ whether the offences with which the accused were charged were punishable by German law.--_Times._ (Perhaps ‘declined to say whether in their opinion’; but this is less easily mended than most)

The difficulties of this task were so great that I was in doubt _as to_ whether it was possible.--_Times._

His whole interest is concentrated on the question _as to_ how his mission will affect his own fortunes.--_Times._

A final decision has not yet been arrived at _as to_ whether or not the proceedings shall be public.--_Times._ (It has not yet been finally decided whether)

You raise the question _as to_ whether Admiral Rozhdestvensky will not return.--_Times._

I have much pleasure in informing Rear Admiral Mather Byles _as to_ where he could inspect a rifle of the type referred to.

The interesting question which such experiments tend to suggest is as to how far science may....--_Outlook._

When we come to consider the question _as to_ whether, upon the dissolution of the body, the spirit flies to some far-distant celestial realm....--_Daily Telegraph._

He never told us to judge by the lives of professing Christians _as to_ whether Christianity is true.--_Daily Telegraph._

M. Delcassé did not allude to the debated question _as to_ whether any official communication ... was made by the French Government to Germany. It is also pointed out that he did not let fall the slightest intimation _as to_ whether the French Government expected....--_Times._

41. SUPERFLUOUS ‘BUT’ AND ‘THOUGH’

Where there is a natural opposition between two sentences, adversative conjunctions may yet be made impossible by something in one of the sentences that does the work unaided. Thus if _in vain_, _only_, and _reserves_ and _sole_, had not been used in the following sentences, _but_ and _though_ would have been right; as it is, they are wrong.

(The author dreams that he is a horse being ridden) _In vain_ did I rear and kick, attempting to get rid of my foe; _but_ the surgeon remained as saddle-fast as ever.--BORROW.

But the substance of the story is probably true, _though_ Voltaire has _only_ made a slip in a name.--MORLEY.

Germany, it appears, _reserves_ for herself the _sole_ privilege of creating triple alliances and ‘purely defensive’ combinations of that character, _but_ when the interests of other Powers bring them together their action is reprobated as aggressive and menacing.--_Times._

Such mistakes probably result from altering the plan of a sentence in writing; and the cure is simply to read over every sentence after it is written.

42. ‘IF AND WHEN’

This formula has enjoyed more popularity than it deserves; either ‘when’ or ‘if’ by itself would almost always give the meaning. Even where ‘if’ seems required to qualify ‘when’ (which by itself might be taken to exclude the possibility of the event’s never happening at all), ‘if’ and ‘when’ are clearly not coordinate, though both are subordinate to the main sentence: ‘if and when he comes, I will write’ means ‘if he comes, I will write when he comes’, or ‘when he comes (if he comes at all), I will write’, and the ‘if’ clause, whether parenthetic or not, is subordinate to the whole sentence ‘I will write when he comes’. Our Gladstone instance below differs from the rest: ‘when’ with a past tense, unqualified by ‘if’, would make an admission that the writer does not choose to make; on the other hand, the time reference given by ‘when’ is essential; ‘on the occasion on which it was done (if it really was done) it was done judicially’. The faulty coordination may be overlooked where there is real occasion for its use; but many writers seem to have persuaded themselves that neither ‘if’ nor ‘when’ is any longer capable of facing its responsibilities without the other word to keep it in countenance.

No doubt it will accept the experimental proof here alleged, if and when it is repeated under conditions....--_Times._

The latter will include twelve army corps, six rifle brigades, and nine divisions or brigades of mounted troops, units which, if and when complete, will more than provide....--_Times._

Unless and until we pound hardest we shall never beat the Boers.--_Spectator._

It is only if, and when, our respective possessions become conterminous with those of great military states on land that we each....--_Times._

If and when it was done, it was done so to speak judicially.--GLADSTONE.

No prudent seaman would undertake an invasion unless or until he had first disposed of the force preparing ... to impeach him.--_Times._

Its leaders decline to take office unless and until the 90 or 100 German words of command used ... are replaced....--_Times._

If and when employment is abundant....--_Westminster Gazette._

It means nothing less, if Mr. Chamberlain has his way, than the final committal of one of the two great parties to a return to Protection, if and when it has the opportunity.--_Westminster Gazette._

It is clear, however, that the work will gain much if and when she plays faster.--_Westminster Gazette._

43. MALTREATED IDIOMS

1. Two existing idioms are fused into a non-existent one.

It did not take him much trouble.--SLADEN. (I take: it costs me)

An opportunity should be afforded the enemy of retiring northwards, more or less _of_ their own _account_.--_Times._ (of my own accord: on my own account)

Dr. Kuyper admitted that his opinion had been consulted.--_Times._ (I consult you: take your opinion)

But it was in vain with the majority to attempt it.--BAGEHOT. (I attempt in vain: it is vain to attempt)

The captain got out the shutter of the door, shut it up, made it all fast, and locked the door itself.--DICKENS. (make it fast: make all fast)

The provisioning of the Russian Army would practically have to be drawn exclusively from the mother country.--_Times._ (draw provisions: do provisioning)

It gives me the greatest pleasure in adding my testimony.--_Daily Telegraph._ (I have pleasure in adding: it gives me pleasure to add)

And if we rejected a similar proposition made to us, was it not too much to expect that Canada might not turn in another direction?--CHAMBERLAIN (reported). (Might not Canada turn?... to expect that Canada would not turn)

I can speak from experience that ... ‘conversion’ ... was a very real and powerful thing.--_Daily Telegraph._ (speak to conversion’s being: say that conversion was)

He certainly possessed, though in no great degree, the means of affording them more relief than he practised.--SCOTT. (preached more than he practised: had means of affording more than he did afford)

My position is one of a clerk, thirty-eight years of age, and married.--_Daily Telegraph._ (one that no one would envy: that of a clerk)

Abbot, indeed, had put the finishing stroke on all attempts at a higher ceremonial. Neither he nor his household would bow at the name of Christ.--J. R. GREEN. (put the finishing touches on: given the finishing stroke to)

In this chapter some of these words will be considered, and also some others against which purism has raised objections which do not seem to be well taken.--R. G. WHITE. (exceptions well taken: objections rightly made. _To take an objection well_ can only mean to keep your temper when it is raised)

A woman would instinctively draw her cloak or dress closer to her, and a man leave by far an unnecessary amount of room for fear of coming into contact with those to whom....--_Daily Telegraph._ (by far too great: quite an unnecessary)

The fines inflicted for excess of the legal speed.--_Times._ (excess of speed: exceeding the legal speed)

Notwithstanding the no inconsiderable distance by sea.--_Guernsey Advertiser._ (it is no inconsiderable distance: the--or a--not inconsiderable distance)

His whim had been gratified at a trifling cost of ten thousand pounds.--CRAWFORD. (a trifling cost--unspecified: a trifle of ten thousand _or so_: the trifling cost of ten thousand. So in the next)

Dying at a ripe old age of eighty-three.--_Westminster Gazette._

That question is the present solvency or insolvency of the Russian State. The answer to it depends not upon the fact whether Russia has or has not....--_Times._ (the fact that: the question whether. But _depends not upon whether_ would be best here)

To all those who had thus so self-sacrificingly and energetically promoted the organization of this fund he desired to accord in the name of the diocese their deep obligation.--_Guernsey Advertiser._ (accord thanks: acknowledge obligation)

The allies frittered away in sieges the force which was ready for an advance into the heart of France until the revolt of the West and South was alike drowned in blood.--_Times._ (the revolts were alike drowned: the revolt was drowned)

2. Of two distinct idioms the wrong is chosen.

When, too, it was my pleasure to address a public meeting of more than 2,000 at the Royal Theatre the organized opposition numbered less than seven score.--_Times._

It is our pleasure to present to you the enclosed notification of the proportion of profits which has been placed to the credit of your account.--Company circular. (I had, we have, the pleasure of--. The form chosen is proper to royal personages expressing their gracious will)

In the face of it the rule appears a most advisable one.--_Guernsey Advertiser._ (_On the face of it_ means prima facie: the other means in spite of)

3. The form of an idiom is distorted, without confusion with another.

However, towards evening the wind and the waves subsided and the night became quiet and starlight.--_Times._ (_Starlight_ is a noun, which can be used as an adjective immediately before another noun only; a starlight night)

Russia is now bitterly expiating her share in the infamy then visited upon Japan.--_Times._ (We visit upon a person his sins, or something for which he is responsible, and not we; or again, we may visit our indignation upon him)

He anticipated much towards Mary’s recovery in her return to Japan.--SLADEN. (anticipate ... from)

But both Governments have now requested Washington to be chosen as the place of meeting.--_Times._ (requested that Washington should)

For as its author in later years told the writer of this article, he had studied war for nine years before he put the pen to the paper.--_Times._ (Put pen to paper. This looks like imitation French; it is certainly not English)

4. The meaning of an idiom is mistaken without confusion with another.

For days and days, in such moods, he would stay within his cottage, never darkening the door or seeing other face than his own inmates.--TROLLOPE. (To darken the door is always to enter as a visitor, never to go out)

5. Some miscellaneous and unclassified violations are added, mostly without further comment than italics, to remind sanguine learners that there are small pitfalls in every direction.

If I _did not have_ the most thorough dependence on your good sense and high principles, I should not speak to you in this way.--TROLLOPE.

Japan, while desiring the massacre of her own and Russia’s subjects to be brought to an end, _has_ nevertheless _every interest that_ the war should go on.--_Times._

The unpublished state, of which only _an extremely few_ examples are in existence.--_Times._

Once I _jested her_ about it.--CROCKETT.

It is _significant to add_ that when Mrs. Chesnut died in 1886 her servants were with her.--_Times._

Herring boats, the drapery of whose black suspended nets _contrasted_ with picturesque effect _the white sails_ of the larger vessels.--S. FERRIER.

It is at least incumbent to be scrupulously accurate.--_Times._ (The metaphor in _incumbent_ is so much alive that _upon_--is never dispensed with)

A measure _according Roman Catholic clergymen_ who have passed through the local seminaries but have not yet passed the prescribed Russian language test _to hold_ clerical appointments.--_Times._

There will be established in this free England a commercial tyranny _the like of which_ will not be inferior to the tyrannical Inquisition of the Dark Ages.--_Spectator._

44. TRUISMS AND CONTRADICTIONS IN TERMS

A contradiction in terms is often little more than a truism turned inside out; we shall therefore group the two together, and with them certain other illogical expressions, due to a similar confusion of thought.

Praise which perhaps was scarcely meant to be taken _too_ literally.--BAGEHOT.