Chapter XXII: Part II (3)

Where no standard of literalness is mentioned, _too literally_ is ‘more literally than was meant’. We may safely affirm, without the cautious reservations _perhaps_ and _scarcely_, that the praise was not meant to be taken more literally than it was meant to be taken. Omit _too_.

He found what was _almost quite_ as interesting.--_Times._

If it was almost as interesting, we do not want _quite_: if quite, we do not want _almost_.

Splendid and elegant, but _somewhat bordering on_ the antique fashion.--SCOTT.

_Bordering on_ means not ‘like’ but ‘very like’; ‘somewhat very like’.

A _very unique_ child, thought I.--C. BRONTË.

A _somewhat unique_ gathering of our great profession.--HALSBURY.

There are no degrees in uniqueness.

Steady, respectable labouring men--_one and all, with rare exceptions_, married.--_Times._ (all without exception, with rare exceptions)

To _name_ only a _few_, _take_ Lord Rosebery, Lord Rendel, Lord ..., ..., ..., and _many_ others.--_Times._

_Take_ in this context means ‘consider as instances’; we cannot consider them as instances unless we have their names; _take_ must therefore mean ‘let me name for your consideration’. Thus we get: ‘To _name_ only a _few_, let me _name_ ... and _many_ others (whom I do _not_ name)’.

More _led away_ by a jingling antithesis of words than _an accurate perception_ of ideas.--H. D. MACLEOD.

‘Guided by an accurate perception’ is what is meant. To be ‘led away by accurate perception’ is a misfortune that could happen only in a special sense, the sense in which it has happened, possibly, to the writer, whom sheer force of accurate perception may have hurried into inaccurate expression; but more probably he too is the victim of ‘jingling antithesis’.

_Long before_ the appointed hour for the commencement of the recital, standing room only fell to the lot of those who arrived _just previous_ to Mr. K.’s appearance on the platform.--_Guernsey Advertiser._

The necessary inference--that Mr. K., the reciter, appeared on the platform long before the appointed hour--is probably not in accordance with the facts.

The weather this week has for the most part been of that quality which the month of March so _strikingly_ characterizes in the _ordinary_ course of events.--_Guernsey Advertiser._

What happens in the ordinary course of events can scarcely continue to be striking. Whether the month characterizes the weather, or the weather the month, we need not consider here.

He _forgot_ that it was possible, that from a brief period of tumultuous disorder, there might issue a military despotism more compact, more disciplined, and more overpowering than any which had preceded it, or any which _has_ followed it.--BAGEHOT.

_He_ could not forget, because he could not know, anything about the despotisms which _have_ in fact followed. He might know and forget something about all the despotisms that had preceded or _should_ follow (in direct speech, ‘that have preceded or shall follow’): ‘this may result in the most compact despotism in all history, past and future’. But probably Bagehot does not even mean this: the last clause seems to contain a reflection of his own, falsely presented as a part of what _he_ ought to have reflected.

Some people would say that my present manner of travelling is much the _most preferable_, riding as I do now, instead of leading my horse.--BORROW.

Only two modes of travelling are compared: _the most preferable_ implies four, three of them preferable in different degrees to the fourth. A not uncommon vulgarism.

45. DOUBLE EMPHASIS

Attempts at packing double emphasis into a single sentence are apt to result in real weakening.

No government ever plunged _more_ rapidly into a _deeper_ quagmire.--_Outlook._ (From the writer’s evident wish to state the matter strongly, we infer that several Governments have plunged more rapidly into as deep quagmires, and as rapidly into deeper ones)

Mr. Justice Neville ... will now have the very rare experience of joining on the Bench a colleague whom he defeated on the polls _just fourteen years ago_.--_Westminster Gazette._ (The _experience_, with exact time-interval, is probably unique, like any individual thumb-print; that does not make the _coincidence_ more remarkable; and it is the coincidence that we are to admire)

Nothing has brought out more strongly than motor-driving the over-bearing, selfish nature of too many motor-drivers and their utter want of consideration for their fellow men.--LORD WEMYSS. (The attempt to kill drivers and driving with one stone leaves both very slightly wounded. For what should show up the drivers more than the driving? and whom should the driving show up more than the drivers?)

The commonest form of this is due to conscientious but mistaken zeal for correctness, which prefers, for instance, _without oppressing or without plundering_ to _without oppressing or plundering_. The first form excludes only one of the offences, and is therefore, though probably meant to be twice as emphatic, actually much weaker than the second, which excludes both. With _and_ instead of _or_, it is another matter.

Actual experience has shown that a gun constructed on the wire system can still be utilized effectively without the destruction of the weapon or without dangerous effects, even with its inner tube split.--_Times._

The Union must be maintained without pandering to such prejudices on the one hand, _or without_ giving way on the other to the ... schemes of the Nationalists.--_Spectator._

He inhibited him, on pain of excommunication, from seeking a divorce in his own English Courts, _or from_ contracting a new marriage.--J. R. GREEN. (Half excused by the negative sense of _inhibit_)

46. ‘SPLIT’ AUXILIARIES.

Some writers, holding that there is the same objection to split compound verbs as to split infinitives, prefer to place any adverb or qualifying phrase not between the auxiliary and the other component, but before both. Provided that the adverb is then separated from the auxiliary, no harm is done: ‘Evidently he was mistaken’ is often as good as ‘He was evidently mistaken’, and suits all requirements of accentuation. But the placing of the adverb immediately before or after the auxiliary depends, according to established usage, upon the relative importance of the two components. When the main accent is to fall upon the second component, the normal place of the adverb is between the two; it is only when the same verb is repeated with a change in the tense or mood of the auxiliary, that the adverb should come first. ‘He evidently was deceived’ implies, or should imply, that the verb _deceived_ has been used before, and that the point of the sentence depends upon the emphatic auxiliary; accordingly we should write ‘The possibility of his being deceived had never occurred to me; but he evidently was deceived’, but ‘I relied implicitly on his knowledge of the facts; but he was evidently deceived’. In our first two examples below the adverb is rightly placed first to secure the emphasis on the auxiliary: in all the others the above principle of accentuation is violated. The same order of words is required by the copula with whatever kind of complement.

I recognize this truth, and always have recognized it.

Refined policy ever has been the parent of confusion, and ever will be so, as long as the world endures.--BURKE.

They never are suffered to succeed in their opposition.--BURKE.

She had received the homage of ... and occasionally had deigned to breathe forth....--BEACONSFIELD.

He ordered breakfast as calmly as if he never had left his home.--BEACONSFIELD.

Miss Becky, whose sympathetic powers never had been called into action before.--FERRIER.

They now were bent on taking the work into their own hands.--MORLEY.

There may have been a time when a king was a god, but he now is pretty much on a level with his subjects.--JOWETT.

They both are contradicted by all positive evidence.--W. H. MALLOCK.

Religious art at once complete and sincere never yet has existed.--RUSKIN.

Not mere empty ideas, but what were once realities, and that I long have thought decayed.--C. BRONTË.

So that he might assist at a Bible class, from which he never had been absent.--BEACONSFIELD.

If we would write an essay, we necessarily must have something to say.--BYGOTT & JONES.

The protectionists lately have been affirming that the autumn session will be devoted to railway questions.--_Times._

Visitors no longer can drive in open carriages along the littoral.--_Times._

It still is the fact that his mind ... was essentially the mind of a poet.--_Times._

To whom in any case its style would have not appealed.--_Times._

To go wrong with _not_ is an achievement possible only with triple compounds, where the principal division is of course between the finite (_would_) and the infinitive with participle (_have appealed_). ‘Would not have appealed’ must be written, though at an enormous sacrifice of ‘distinction’.

This enhanced value of old English silver may be due partly to the increase in the number of collectors; but it also has been largely influenced by the publication....--_Times._

Mr. Fry showed to a very great extent his power of defence.... To-day, if runs are to be of importance, he very likely will show his powers of hitting.--_Times._

47. OVERLOADING

A single sentence is sometimes made to carry a double burden:

So unique a man as Sir George Lewis has, in truth, rarely been lost to this country.--BAGEHOT.

The meaning is not ‘Men like Sir G. Lewis have seldom been lost’, but ‘Men like the late Sir G. Lewis have seldom been found’. But instead of _the late_ a word was required that should express proper concern; _lost_ is a short cut to ‘men so unique as he whose loss we now deplore’.

There are but few men whose lives abound in such wild and romantic adventure, and, for the most part, crowned with success.--PRESCOTT.

The writer does not mean ‘adventures so wild, so romantic, and so successful in the main’; that is shown by the qualifying parenthesis, which is obviously one of comment on the individual case. What he does mean ought to have been given in two sentences: ‘There are but few ... adventure;--’s, moreover, was for the most part crowned with success’.

The Sultan regrets that the distance and the short notice alone prevent him from coming in person.--_Times._

This is as much as to say that the Sultan wishes there were more obstacles. Read: ‘The Sultan regrets that he cannot come in person; nothing but the distance and the short notice could prevent him’.

48. DEMONSTRATIVE, NOUN, AND PARTICIPLE OR ADJECTIVE

Of the forms, _persons interested_, _the persons interested_, _those interested_, _those who are interested_, one or another may better suit a particular phrase or context. _Those interested_ is the least to be recommended, especially with an active participle or adjective. The form _those persons interested_ is a hybrid, and is very seldom used by any good writer; but it is becoming so common in inferior work that it is thought necessary to give many examples. The first two, of the form _those interested_, will pass, though _those who were concerned_, _all who drive_, would be better. In the others _that_ and _those_ should be either replaced by _the_ or (sometimes) simply omitted.

The idea of a shortage had hardly entered the heads even of _those_ most immediately _concerned_.--_Times._

They are the terror of all _those driving_ or riding spirited horses.--_Times._

At every time and in every place throughout _that_ very limited _portion_ of time and space _open_ to human observation.--BALFOUR.

_That part_ of the regular army _quartered_ at home should be grouped by divisions.--_Times._

Here they beheld acres of _that_ stupendous _growth seen_ only in the equinoctial regions.--PRESCOTT.

It is not likely that General Kuropatkine has amassed _those reserves_ of military stores and supplies plainly _required_ by the circumstances of his situation.--_Times._

The insurrection had been general throughout the country, at least _that portion_ of it _occupied_ by the Spaniards.--PRESCOTT.

My amendment would be that _that part_ of the report _dealing_ with the dividend on the ‘A’ shares ... be not adopted.--Company report.

We shall fail to secure _that unanimity_ of thought and doctrine so _indispensable_ both for....--_Times._

... in order to minimize the effect produced by _that portion_ of the Admirals’ report _favourable_ to England.--_Times._

A struggle ... which our nation must be prepared to face in the last resort, or else give way to _those countries_ not _afraid_ to accept the responsibilities and sacrifices inseparable from Empire.--_Times._

Civil servants will not, nay, cannot, work with _that freedom_ of action so _essential_ to good work in the case of such persons, so long as....--_Times._

To _those Colonies unable_ to concur with these suggestions a warning should be addressed.--_Times._

49. FALSE SCENT

It is most annoying to a reader to be misled about the construction, and therefore most foolish in a writer to mislead him. In the sentences that follow, _facilities_ and _excesses_ are naturally taken as in the same construction, and similarly _influences_ and _nature_, until the ends of the sentences show us that we have gone wrong. These are very bad cases; but minor offences of the kind are very common, and should be carefully guarded against.

He gloats over the facilities the excesses and the blunders of the authorities have given his comrades for revolutionary action among the masses.--_Times._

The influences of that age, his open, kind, susceptible nature, to say nothing of his highly untoward situation, made it more than usually difficult for him to cast aside or rightly subordinate.--CARLYLE.

That there is no comma between _facilities_ and _the excesses_ is no defence, seeing how often commas go wrong; indeed the comma after _age_ in the second piece, which is strictly wrong, is a proof how little reliance is to be placed on such signs.

50. MISPLACEMENT OF WORDS

Generous interpretation will generally get at a writer’s meaning; but for him to rely on that is to appeal _ad misericordiam_. Appended to the sentences, when necessary, is the result of supposing them to mean what they say.

It is with grief and pain, that, _as admirers of the British aristocracy_, we find ourselves obliged to admit the existence of so many ill qualities in a person whose name is in Debrett.--THACKERAY. (implies that admirers must admit this more than other people)

It is from this fate that the son of a commanding prime minister is _at any rate_ preserved.--BAGEHOT. (implies that _preserved_ is a weak word used instead of a stronger)

And even if we could suppose it to be our duty, it is not one which, _as was shown in the last chapter_, we are practically competent to perform.--BALFOUR.

The chairman said there was no sadder sight in the world than to see women drunk, because they seemed to lose _complete_ control of themselves. (implies that losing complete control leaves you with less than if you lost incomplete control)

The soldiers are deeply chagrined at having had to give up positions, _in obedience to orders_, which the Japanese could not take.--_Times._

Great and heroic men have existed, who had almost no other information than by the printed page. I _only_ would say, that it needs a strong head to bear that diet.--EMERSON. (implies that no one else would say it)

Yes, the laziest of human beings, through the providence of God, _a being, too, of rather inferior capacity_, acquires the written part of a language so difficult that....--BORROW.

Right or wrong as his hypothesis may be, no one that knows him will suspect that he himself had not seen it, and seen over it.... Neither, _as we often hear_, is there any superhuman faculty required to follow him.--CARLYLE. (implies that we often hear there is not)

This, we say to ourselves, may be all very true (for have we, _too_, not browsed in the Dictionary of National Biography?); but why does Tanner say it all, just at that moment, to....--_Times._ (implies that others have refrained from browsing)

But in 1798 the Irish rising was crushed in a defeat of the insurgents at Vinegar Hill; and Tippoo’s death in the storm of his own capital, Seringapatam, _only_ saved him from witnessing the English conquest of Mysore.--J. R. GREEN. (implies that that was all it saved him from)

51. AMBIGUOUS POSITION

In this matter judgement is required. A captious critic might find examples on almost every page of almost any writer; but most of them, though they may strictly be called ambiguous, would be quite justifiable. On the other hand a careless writer can nearly always plead, even for a bad offence, that an attentive reader would take the thing the right way. That is no defence; a rather inattentive and sleepy reader is the true test; if the run of the sentence is such that he at first sight refers whatever phrase is in question to the wrong government, then the ambiguity is to be condemned.

Louis XVIII, dying in 1824, was succeeded, as Charles X, by his brother the Count d’Artois.--E. SANDERSON. (The sleepy reader, assisted by memories of James the First and Sixth, concludes, though not without surprise, which perhaps finally puts him on the right track, that Louis XVIII of France was also Charles X of some other country)

In 1830 Paris overthrew monarchy by divine right.--MORLEY. (_By divine right_ looks so much more like an adverbial than an adjectival phrase that the sleepy reader takes it with _overthrew_)

(From review of a book on ambidexterity) Two kinds of emphatic type are used, and both are liberally sprinkled about the pages on some principle which is not at all obvious. The practice may have its merits, like ambidexterity, but it is generally eschewed by good writers who know their business, although they are not ambidextrous.--_Times._ (The balance of the sentence is extremely bad if the _although_ clause is subordinated to _who_; and the sleepy reader accordingly does not take it so, but with _is eschewed_, and so makes nonsense)

It was a temper not only legal, but pedantic in its legality, intolerant from its very sense of a moral order and law _of_ the lawlessness and disorder of a personal tyranny.--J. R. GREEN.

The library over the porch of the church, which is large and handsome, contains one thousand printed books.--R. CURZON. (A large and handsome library, or porch, or church?)

Both these last are very unkind to the poor sleepy reader; it is true that in one of them he is inexcusable if he goes wrong, but we should for our own sakes give him as few chances of going wrong as possible.

Luck and dexterity always give more pleasure than intellect and knowledge; because they fill up what they fall _on to_ the brim at once, and people run to them with acclamation at the splash.--LANDOR. (_On_ and _to_ so regularly belong together now, though they did not in Landor’s time, that it is disconcerting to be asked to pause between them)

52. AMBIGUOUS ENUMERATION

In comma’d enumerations, care should be taken not to insert appositions that may be taken, even if only at first sight, for separate members.

Some high officials of the Headquarter Staff, including the officer who is primus inter pares, the Director of Military Operations, and the Director of Staff duties....--_Times._ (Two, or three, persons? Probably two; but those who can be sure of this do not need the descriptive clause, and those who need it cannot be sure)

Lord Curzon, Sir Edmond Elles, the present Military Member, and the Civilian Members of Council traverse the most material of Lord Kitchener’s statements of fact.--_Times._ (Is Sir E. Elles the Military Member? No need to tell any one who knows; and any one who does not know is not told)

I here wish to remark that Lord Dufferin first formed the Mobilization Committee, of which the Commander-in-Chief is President, and the Military Member, Secretary, Military Department, and the heads of departments both at Army Headquarters and under the Government of India, are members with the express intention of....--_Times._ (Is the Military Member Secretary of the Mobilization Committee? Well, he may be, but a certain amount of patience shows us that the sentence we are reading does not tell us so)

53. ANTICS

A small selection must suffice. Straining after the dignified, the unusual, the poignant, the high-flown, the picturesque, the striking, often turns out badly. It is not worth while to attain any of these aims at the cost of being unnatural.

1. Use of stiff, full-dress, literary, or out-of-the-way words.

And in no direction was the slightest concern _evinced_.--_Times._

The majority display _scant_ anxiety for news.--_Times._

... treating his characters on broader lines, occupying himself with more elemental emotions and types, and forsaking altogether his almost _meticulous_ analysis of motive and temperament.--_Westminster Gazette._ (We recommend to this reviewer a more meticulous use of the dictionary)

And most probably he is voted a fool for not doing as many men in similar positions are doing--viz., making up for a lack of principle by an abundance of _bawbees_ easily extracted from a large class of contractors who are only too willing....--_Times._

It is Victor Hugo’s people, the motives on which they act, the means they take to carry out their objects, their relations to one another, that strike us as so _monumentally_ droll.--_Times._

Nothing definite has been decided upon as to the exact date of the visits, the _venue_ of the visits, the....--_Times._

2. Pretentious circumlocution.

That life was brought to a close in November 1567, at an age, probably, not far from _the one fixed by the sacred writer as the term of human existence_.--PRESCOTT.

She skated extremely badly, but with an enjoyment that was almost pathetic, _in consideration of the persistence of ‘frequent fall’_.--E. F. BENSON.

The question of an extension of the Zemstvos to the southwest provinces is believed to be under consideration. It is understood that the visit of General Kleigels to St. Petersburg is _not unconnected therewith_.--_Times._

3. Poetic phraseology, especially the Carlylese superlative. Almost any page of Milton’s prose will show whence Carlyle had this; but it is most offensive in ordinary modern writing.

A period when, as she puts it, men and women of fashion ‘tried not to be themselves, yet never so successfully displayed _the naked hearts of them_’.--_Times._

The last week in February was harnessing her seven bright steeds in shining tandem in the silent courtyard of the time to be.--_The Lamp._

Our enveloping movements since some days prove successful, and fiercest battle is now proceeding.--_Times._

The unhappy man persuades himself that he has in truth become a new creature, of the wonderfullest symmetry.--CARLYLE.

4. Patronizing superiority expressed by describing simple things in long words.

The skating-rink, where happy folk all day slide with set purpose on the elusive material, and with great content perform mystic evolutions of the most complicated order.--E. F. BENSON.

5. The determined picturesque.

Across the street blank shutters flung back the gaslight in cold smears.--KIPLING.

The outflung white water at the foot of a homeward-bound Chinaman not a hundred yards away, and her shadow-slashed rope-purfled sails bulging sideways like insolent cheeks.--KIPLING.

An under-carry of grey woolly spindrift of a slaty colour flung itself noiselessly in the opposite direction, a little above the tree tops.--CROCKETT.

Then for a space the ground was more clayey, and a carpet of green water-weeds were combed and waved by the woven ropes of water.--E. F. BENSON.

At some distance off, in Winchester probably, which pricked the blue haze of heat with dim spires, a church bell came muffled and languid.--E. F. BENSON.

A carriage drive lay in long curves like a flicked whip lash, surmounting terrace after terrace set with nugatory nudities.--E. F. BENSON.

6. Recherché epithets.

Perhaps both Milton and Beethoven would live in our memories as writers of idylls, had not a _brusque_ infirmity dreadfully shut them off from their fellow men.--_Times._

The high _canorous_ note of the north-easter.--STEVENSON.

By specious and _clamant_ exceptions.--STEVENSON.

7. Formal antithesis or parallel. This particular form of artificiality is perhaps too much out of fashion to be dangerous at present. The great storehouse of it is in Macaulay.

He had neither the qualities which make dulness respectable, nor the qualities which make libertinism attractive.--MACAULAY.

The first two kings of the House of Hanover had neither those hereditary rights which have often supplied the place of merit, nor those personal qualities which have often supplied the defect of title.--MACAULAY.

But he was indolent and dissolute, and had early impaired a fine estate with the dice-box, and a fine constitution with the bottle.--MACAULAY.

The disclosure of the stores of Greek literature had wrought the revolution of the Renascence. The disclosure of the older mass of Hebrew literature wrought the revolution of the Reformation.--J. R. GREEN.

8. Author’s self-consciousness.

‘You mean it is,’ she said--‘about Bertie’. Charlie made the noise usually written ‘Pshaw’.--E. F. BENSON.

9. Intrusive smartness--another form of self-consciousness.

Round her lay piles of press notices, which stripped the American variety of the English language bare of epithets.--E. F. BENSON.

Income-tax payers are always treated to the fine words which butter no parsnips, and are always assured that it is really a danger to the State to go on skinning them in time of peace to such an extent as to leave little integument to remove in time of war.--_Times._

Yet in the relentless city, where no one may pause for a moment unless he wishes to be left behind in the great universal race for gold which begins as soon as a child can walk, and ceases not until he is long past walking, the climbing of the thermometer into the nineties _is an acrobatic feat which concerns the thermometer only_, and at the junction of Sixth Avenue and Broadway there was no slackening in the tides of the affairs of men.--E. F. BENSON.

54. MISCELLANEOUS TYPES OF JOURNALESE

Mr. Lionel Phillips maintained that it was impossible to introduce white unskilled _labour_ on a large scale _as a payable proposition_ without lowering the position of the white man.--_Times._

How _labour_ can be a _proposition_, and how a _proposition_ can be _payable_ it is not easy to say. The sentence seems to mean: ‘to introduce ... labour on a large scale and make it pay’. This is what comes of a fondness for abstracts.

They have not hitherto discovered the formula for the intelligent use of our unrivalled resources for the _satisfaction of our security_.--_Times._

This perhaps means: ‘They have not yet discovered how our unrivalled resources may be made to ensure our safety’.

An attempt to efface the ill-effects of the Czar’s refusal to see the workmen has been made _by_ the grant _of_ an interview _by_ the Czar _at_ Tsarkoe Selo _to_ a body _of_ workmen officially selected to represent the masses.--_Spectator._

The powerful and convincing article on the question of War Office administration as it affects the Volunteers to be found in this month’s National.--_Spectator._

The Russian Government is at last face to face with the greatest crisis of the war, _in the shape of the fact that_ the Siberian railway....--_Spectator._

No year passes now without evidence of the truth of the statement that the work of government is becoming increasingly difficult.--_Spectator._

It has taken a leading part in protesting against the Congo State’s treatment of natives controlled by it, and in procuring the pressure which the House of Commons has put upon our Government with a view to international insistence on fulfilment of the obligations entered upon by the Congo Government as regards native rights.--_Times._

The outcome of a desire to convince the Government of the expediency of granting the return recently ordered by the House with regard to the names, ....--_Times._

In default of information of the result of the deliberations which it has been stated the Imperial Defence Committee have been engaged in....--_Times._

The volunteer does not volunteer to be compelled to suffer long, filthy, and neglected illnesses and too often death, yet such was South Africa on a vast scale, and is inevitable in war under the present official indifference.--_Times._

55. SOMEWHAT, &c.

Indulgence in qualifying adverbs, as _perhaps_, _possibly_, _probably_, _rather_, _a little_, _somewhat_, amounts with English journalists to a disease; the intemperate orgy of moderation is renewed every morning. As _somewhat_ is rapidly swallowing up the rest, we shall almost confine our attention to it; and it is useless to deprecate the use without copious illustration. Examples will be classified under headings, though these are not quite mutually exclusive.

1. _Somewhat_ clearly illogical.

A number of questions to the Prime Minister have been put upon the paper with the object of eliciting information as to the personnel of the proposed Royal Commission and the scope of their inquiry. These are now _somewhat belated_ in view of the official announcement made this morning.--_Times._ (The announcement contained both the list of members and the full reference)

Thrills which gave him _rather a unique_ pleasure.--HUTTON.

Russian despatches are _somewhat inconsistent_, one of them stating that there is no change in the position of the armies, while another says that the Japanese advance continues.--_Times._

Being faint with hunger I was _somewhat in a listless condition_ bordering on stupor.--CORELLI.

In the light of these, it would be hard to say what full belatedness, inconsistency, and listlessness may be.

2. _Somewhat_ with essentially emphatic words.

We may call a thing dirty, or filthy; if we choose the latter, we mean to be emphatic; it is absurd to use the emphatic word and take away its emphasis with _somewhat_, when we might use the gentler word by itself.

A member of the Legislative Council is allowed now to speak in Dutch if he cannot express himself clearly in English; under the proposed arrangement he will be able to decide for himself in which medium he can express himself the more clearly. Surely a _somewhat infinitesimal_ point.--_Times._

Thirdly, it is _rather agonizing_ at times to the philologist.--_Times._

The distances at which the movements are being conducted receive a _somewhat startling_ illustration from the statement that....--_Times._

Under these circumstances it is _somewhat extraordinary_ to endeavour to save the Government from blame.--_Times._

In various evidently ‘well-informed’ journals the _somewhat amazing_ proposition is set up that....--_Times._

But unfortunately the word ‘duties’ got accidentally substituted for ‘bounties’ in two places, and made the utterance _somewhat unintelligible_ to the general reader.--_Times._

The songs are sung by students to the accompaniment of a _somewhat agonizing_ band.--_Times._

There is a mysterious man-killing orchid, a great Eastern jewel of State, and many other properties, some of them _a little well worn_, suitable for the staging of a tale of mystery.--_Spectator._

Some of the instances in these two classes would be defended as humorous under-statement. But if this hackneyed trick is an example of the national humour, we had better cease making reflections on German want of humour.

3. _Somewhat_ shyly announcing an epigrammatic or well-chosen phrase.

There is a very pretty problem awaiting the decision of Prince Bülow, and one which is entirely worthy of his _somewhat acrobatic_ diplomacy.--_Times._

Gaston engaged in a controversy on the origin of evil, which terminated by his _somewhat abruptly quitting his Alma Mater_.--BEACONSFIELD.

Why even Tennyson became an amateur milkman to _somewhat conceal and excuse the shame and degradation of writing verse_.--CORELLI.

The virtuous but _somewhat unpleasing_ type of the Roman nation.--_Times._

The sight of these soldiers and sailors sitting round camp-fires in the midst of the snow in fashionable thoroughfares, transforming the city into an armed camp, is _somewhat weird_.--_Times._

While Mary was trying to decipher these _somewhat mystic_ lines.--S. FERRIER.

4. _Somewhat_ conveying a sneer.

It is somewhat strange that any one connected with this institution should be so unfamiliar with its regulations.--_Times._

... that the conclusion arrived at by the shortest route is to be accepted--a somewhat extravagant doctrine, according to which....--BALFOUR.

But very few points of general interest have been elicited in any quarter by these somewhat academic reflections.--_Times._

This somewhat glowing advertisement of the new loan.--_Times._

5. The genuine _somewhat_, merely tame, timid, undecided, conciliatory, or polite.

It is somewhat pitiful to see the efforts of a foreign State directed, not to the pursuit of its own aims by legitimate means, but to the gratification of personal hostility to a great public servant of France.--_Times._

I am certain that the clergy themselves only too gladly acquiesce in this somewhat illogical division of labour.--_Times._

This, no doubt, is what Professor Ray Lankester is driving at in his somewhat intemperate onslaught.--Times.

The _rather mysterious_ visit of S. Tittoni, the Italian Foreign Minister, to Germany.--_Times._

These are of _rather remarkable_ promise; the head shows an unusual power of realizing character under a purely ideal conception.--_Times._

The _rather finely_ conceived statuette called ‘The Human Task’ by Mr. Oliver Wheatley.--_Times._

It is somewhat the fashion to say that in these days....--_Times._

A letter from one whose learning and experience entitle him to be heard, conceived, as I think, in a spirit of somewhat exaggerated pessimism.--_Times._

The statement made by the writer is somewhat open to doubt.--_Times._

I have read with much interest the letters on the subject of hush-money, especially as they account to me somewhat for the difficulties I have experienced.--_Times._

It would be valuable if he would somewhat expand his ideas regarding local defence by Volunteers.--_Times._

Sir,--I have been somewhat interested in the recent correspondence in your columns.--_Times._

So many persons of undoubted integrity believe in ‘dowsing’ that he is a somewhat rash man who summarily dismisses the matter.--_Times._

Sir Francis Bertie, whose dislike of unnecessary publicity is somewhat pronounced.--_Times._

It is not too much to say that any one who hopes to write well had better begin by abjuring _somewhat_ altogether.

We cannot tell whether this long list will have a dissuasive effect, or will be referred to foolish individual prejudice against an unoffending word. But on the first assumption we should like to add that a not less dissuasive collection might easily be made of the intensifier _distinctly_ than of the qualifier _somewhat_. The use meant is that seen in:

The effect as the procession careers through the streets of Berlin is described as distinctly interesting.

_Distinctly_ gives the patronizing interest, as _somewhat_ gives the contemptuous indifference, with which a superior person is to be conceived surveying life; and context too often reveals that the superiority is imaginary.

56. CLUMSY PATCHING

When a writer detects a fault in what he has written or thought of writing, his best course is to recast the whole sentence. The next best is to leave it alone. The worst is to patch it in such a way that the reader has his attention drawn, works out the original version, and condemns his author for carelessness aggravated by too low an estimate of his own intelligence.

Numerous allegations, too, were made of prejudiced treatment _measured out against_ motorists by rural magistrates.--_Times._ (avoidance of the jingle in _meted_ out to _motor_ists)

No crew proved to be of the very highest class; but this, perhaps, _led the racing to be_ on the whole close and exciting.--_Times._ (avoidance of the jingle in led to the rac_ing_ be_ing_)

The Lord Mayor last night entertained the Judges _to_ a banquet at the Mansion House.--_Times._ (avoidance of double _at_)

The occupants talked, inspected the cars _of one another_, interchanged tales of....--_Times._ (avoidance, in grammatical pusillanimity, of _one another’s cars_)

... who have only themselves in view _by_ breaking through it.--RICHARDSON. (avoidance of double _in_)

He nodded, _as one who would say_, ‘I have already thought of that’.--CROCKETT. (avoidance of the archaism, which however is the only natural form, _as who should say_)

It is now practically certain that the crews of Nebogatoff’s squadron were in a state of mutiny, and that this is the explanation _for_ the surrender _of_ these vessels.--_Times._ (avoidance of double _of_)

And _for_ the first time _after_ twenty years the Whigs saw themselves again in power.--J. R. GREEN. (Avoidance of double _for_; if _after_ had been originally intended, we should have had _at last_ instead of _for the first time_)

And oppressive laws forced even these _few_ with _scant_ exceptions to profess Protestantism.--J. R. GREEN. (To avoid the repetition of _few_ the affected word _scant_ has been admitted)

Given competition, any line would vie with the others in mirrors and gilded furniture; but if there is none, why spend a penny? Not a passenger the less will travel because the mode of transit is _bestial_.--E. F. BENSON. (To avoid the overdone word _beastly_--which however happens to be the right one here; _bestial_ describes character or conduct)

There is, indeed, a kind of timorous atheism in the man who dares not trust God to _render_ all efforts to interpret his Word--and what is criticism but interpretation?--work together for good.--_Spectator._ (_Render_ is substituted for _make_ because _make efforts_ might be taken as complete without the _work together_ that is due. Unfortunately, _to render efforts work together_ is not even English at all)

57. OMISSION OF THE CONJUNCTION ‘THAT’

This is quite legitimate, but often unpleasant. It is partly a matter of idiom, as, _I presume you know_, but _I assume that you know_; partly of avoiding false scent, as in the sixth example below, where _scheme_ might be object to _discover_. In particular it is undesirable to omit _that_ when a long clause or phrase intervenes between it and the subject and verb it introduces, as in the first four examples.

And it is to be hoped, _as the tree-planting season has arrived_, Stepney will now put its scheme in hand.--_Times._

Sir,--We notice _in a leading article in your issue to-day on the subject of the carriage of Australian mails_ you imply that the increased price demanded by the Orient Pacific Line was due to....--_Times._

Lord Balfour ... moved that it is necessary, _before the constituencies are asked to determine upon the desirability of such conference_, they should be informed first....--_Times._

Lord Spencer held that it was impossible _with regard to a question which had broken up the Government and disturbed the country_ they could go into a conference which....--_Times._

If the Australian is to be convinced that is an unreasonable wish, it will not be by arguments about taxation.--_Times._

I think he would discover the scheme unfolded and explained in them is a perfectly intelligible and comprehensive one.--_Times._

It is not till He cometh the ideal will be seen.--_Times._

And it is only by faith the evils you mention as productive of war can be cast out of our hearts.--_Times._

I do not wish it to be understood that I consider all those who applied for work during the past two winters and who are now seeking employment are impostors.--_Times._

I assume Turkey would require such a cash payment of at least £500,000.--_Times._

Tawno leaped into the saddle, where he really looked like Gunnar of Hlitharend, save and except the complexion of Gunnar was florid, whereas that of Tawno was of nearly Mulatto darkness.--BORROW.

In some of these the motive is obvious, to avoid one _that_-clause depending on another; the end was good, but the means bad; a more thorough recasting was called for.

58. MEANINGLESS ‘WHILE’

_While_, originally temporal, has a legitimate use also in contrasts. The further colourless use of it, whether with verb or with participle, as a mere elegant variation for _and_ is very characteristic of journalese, and much to be deprecated.

Of its value there can be no question. The editor’s article on ‘Constitutions’, for example, and that of Mr. W. Wyse on ‘Law’ both well repay most careful study; _while_ when Sir R. Jebb writes on ‘Literature’, Dr. Henry Jackson on ‘Philosophy’, or Professor Waldstein on ‘Sculpture’, their contributions must be regarded as authoritative.--_Spectator._

The fireman was killed on the spot, and the driver as well as the guard of the passenger train was slightly injured; _while_ the up-line was blocked for some time with débris from broken trucks of the goods train.--_Times._

The deer on the island took some interest in the proceeding, while the peacocks on the lawn screamed at the right time.--_Birmingham Daily Post._

It cannot be contended that it is more profitable to convey a passenger the twenty-four miles to Yarmouth for payment than to accept the same payment without performing the service; _while_, if the company wish to discourage the use of cheap week-end tickets, why issue them at all?--_Times._

59. COMMERCIALISMS

Certain uses of _such_, _the same_, and other words, redolent of commerce and the law, should be reserved for commercial and legal contexts. _Anent_, which has been noticed in Part I, is a legalism of this kind. In the Brontë instances quoted, a twang of flippancy will be observed; the other writers are probably unconscious.

This gentleman’s state of mind was very harrowing, and I was glad when he wound up his exposition of the same.--C. BRONTË.

The present was no occasion for showy array; my dun mist crape would suffice, and I sought the same in the great oak wardrobe in the dormitory.--C. BRONTË.

There are certain books that almost defy classification, and this volume ... is one of such.--_Daily Telegraph._

I am pleased to read the correspondence in your paper, and hope that good will be the result of the same.--_Daily Telegraph._

The man who has approached nearest to the teaching of the Master, and carried the same to its logical and practical conclusion is General Booth.--_Daily Telegraph._

Do I believe that by not having had the hands of a bishop laid upon my head I cannot engage in the outward and visible commemoration of the Lord’s Supper as not being fit to receive the same?--_Daily Telegraph._

But do the great majority of people let their belief in the hereafter affect their conduct with regard to the same. I think not.--_Daily Telegraph._

Let us hope, Sir, that it may be possible in your own interests to continue the same till the subject has had a good innings.--_Daily Telegraph._

I believe, and have believed since, a tiny child, made miserable by the loss of a shilling, I prayed my Heavenly Father to help me to recover the same.--_Daily Telegraph._

It is of course possible, in this connexion, that the Prayer Book is responsible for ‘the same’.

If I am refused the Sacrament I do not believe that I shall have less chance of entering the Kingdom of God than if I received such Sacrament.--_Daily Telegraph._

But when it comes to us following his life and example, in all its intricate details, all will, I think, agree that such is impossible.--_Daily Telegraph._

An appeal to philanthropy is hardly necessary, the grounds for such being so self-evident.--_Times._

... such a desire it should be the purpose of a Unionist Government to foster; but such will not be attained under the present regime in Dublin.--_Times._

... regaling themselves on half-pints at the said village hostelries.--BORROW.

Having read with much interest the letters re ‘believe only’ now appearing in the _Daily Telegraph_....--_Daily Telegraph._

He ruined himself and family by his continued experiments for the benefit of the British nation.--_Times._

60. PET PHRASES

Vivid writers must be careful not to repeat any conspicuous phrase so soon that a reader of ordinary memory has not had time to forget it before it invites his attention again. Whatever its merits, to use it twice (unless deliberately and with point) is much worse than never to have thought of it. The pages below are those of Green’s _Short History_ (1875).

The temper of the first [King George] was that of a gentleman usher. p. 704.

Bute was a mere court favourite, with the abilities of a gentleman usher. p. 742.

‘For weeks’, laughs Horace Walpole, ‘it rained gold boxes’. p. 729.

‘We are forced to ask every morning what victory there is’, laughed Horace Walpole. p. 737.

The two following passages occur on pp. 6 and 81 of _The Bride of Lammermoor_ (Standard Edition).

In short, Dick Tinto’s friends feared that he had acted like the animal called the sloth, which, having eaten up the last green leaf upon the tree where it has established itself, ends by tumbling down from the top, and dying of inanition.

‘... but as for us, Caleb’s excuses become longer as his diet turns more spare, and I fear we shall realise the stories they tell of the sloth: we have almost eaten up the last green leaf on the plant, and have nothing left for it but to drop from the tree and break our necks.’

61. ‘ALSO’ AS CONJUNCTION; AND ‘&c.’

_Also_ is an adverb; the use of it as a conjunction is slovenly, if not illiterate.

We are giving these explanations gently as friends, also patiently as becomes neighbours.--_Times._

‘Special’ is a much overworked word, it being used to mean great in degree, also peculiar in kind.--R. G. WHITE.

Mr. Sonnenschein’s volume will show by parallel passages Shakespeare’s obligations to the ancients, also the obligations of modern writers to Shakespeare.--_Times._

The use of _&c._, except in business communications and such contexts, has often the same sort of illiterate effect. This is very common, but one example must suffice.

There are others with faults of temper, &c., evident enough, beside whom we live content, as if the air about them did us good.--C. BRONTË.

INDEX

_In this index all references are to pages. Small italics are used for words and phrases; small roman type for subjects incidentally mentioned; capitals for subjects expressly, even if not fully, treated._

A

_A-_, 41-2.

_A_ BETWEEN ADJECTIVE AND NOUN, 329-30.

ABSOLUTE CONSTRUCTION, 115-6.

Absolute construction and stops, 222, 241-2, 265.

ABSTRACT WORDS, 4, 5-6.

ACCENT, SENTENCE, 296-8.

_Acquiesce to_, 164.

_Acte de malveillance_, 30.

Adjectival clause, 235.

ADJECTIVAL CLAUSE IN PUNCTUATION, 242-4.

ADVERB AND ADVERBIAL CLAUSE IN PUNCTUATION, 244-7.

Adverbial clause, 236.

_Adverse from_, 163.

_Aesthophysiology_, 23.

_Aggravate_, 59.

_Aggress_, 20.

_Aim to_, 132-3, 164.

AIRS AND GRACES, Cap. III.

_-al_, 22, 42.

_Albeit_, 17, 194, 196-7.

_Alit_, 39-40.

ALLITERATION, 292.

ALLUSION, 307-8.

_Alma mater_, 27.

_Almost quite_, 339.

_ALSO_, CONJ., AND _&C._, 360.

_Altogether_, 11.

Amateurs, 127, 194.

AMBIGUITY, 345-8.

Ambiguity, 88, 109, 117, 120, 127, 142, 144-5, 250, 264-5.

Ambiguity and punctuation, 264-5.

AMBIGUOUS ENUMERATION, 348.

AMBIGUOUS POSITION, 347-8.

_Amend_, n., 38-9.

AMERICANISMS, 23-6.

_A-moral_, 41-2.

_Amphitryon_, 174.

Anachronism in thought, 198, 200.

_And_, 233-4, 245.

_AND WHICH_, 85-93.

_AND WHO_, 85-93.

_Anent_, 3.

_Animatedly_, 47.

_Another story_, 175.

_Antagonize_, 4, 24, 26.

_Antecedentem scelestum_, 33.

ANTICS, 348-51.

Antithesis, 292, 350.

_Anyway_, 25.

_Appendicitis_, 19.

ARCHAISM, 193-200.

Archaism, 17, 83, 103, 137.

Archaism, positive and negative, 198-200.

ARCHAISM, SUSTAINED, 198-9.

_Argon_, 19.

_Arise_, 9.

_Arrière pensée_, 34.

_As also_, 189.

_As_ and _while_ clauses, slovenly, 189.

_AS_, CASE, 62-4.

_AS_ CLAUSE, CAUSAL, 298-300.

_As far as, that_, 168-70.

_As if_, 156-7.

_AS_, LIBERTIES WITH, 324-6.

_AS_, OMISSION OF, 324.

_As to_, 166-7.

_AS TO WHETHER_, 333-4.

_As who should say_, 325-6.

_At anyrate_, 280.

_At the letter_, 33.

_Aught_, 194, 197.

_Au pied de la lettre_, 32.

_Automedon_, 174.

AUXILIARIES, SPLIT, 342-3.

_Avail_, 321.

_Available_, 43.

_Averse from_, 162-3.

Avoidance, clumsy, 17, 74, 125, 179, 277, 355-6, 357.

_Await_, 9.

_Awful_, 49-50.

B

_Back-number_, 25.

_Back of_, 25.

Bagehot, 210-2.

BALANCE INVERSION, 182-7.

Balfour, 225, 249.

_Ballon d’essai_, 30.

_Banal_, 38-9.

_Banality_, 38-9.

_Bang in the eye_, 48.

Bastard enumeration, 251.

_BE_ AND _DO_, 330.

Beadnell, 219.

_Bedrock_, 51.

_Benefits of_, 165.

Besant, 198.

_Bethink_, 9.

_Bêtise_, 27.

_BETWEEN ... OR_, 328-9.

BETWEEN TWO STOOLS, 327-8.

_Between you and I_, 61.

_Bewilderedly_, 47.

_Bien entendu_, 27.

_Bike_, 49.

_Birrelling_, 51.

_Blooming_, 49-50.

_Boom_, 52.

Borrow, G., 13.

_Both ... as well as_, 313.

_Bounder_, 48, 50.

_Bow-street_, 277.

BRACHYLOGY, 326.

Brackets & double dashes, 272, 286.

BRACKETS AND STOPS, 270-1.

_Brisken_, 21.

_Briticism_, 43.

Brontë, C., 29, 358.

_Bureaucracy_, 46.

Burke, E., 111.

_BUT_, SUPERFLUOUS, 334.

C

_Cad_, 50.

_Camaraderie_, 27.

CARELESS REPETITION, 303-4.

Carlyle, 44, 349.

CASE, 60-4.

_Case_, 6.

CASE AFTER _as_ AND _than_, 62-4.

CASE, COMPOUND POSSESSIVE, 64.

CASE CONFUSION, 61-2.

Case in absolute construction, 115-6.

CASE IN APPOSITION, 60.

CASE OF COMPLEMENT, 60.

CASE OF RELATIVES, 93-4, 99-100.

CAUSAL _as_ CLAUSE, 298-300.

_Cela va sans dire_, 31.

_Chamade_, 29.

_Chasseur_, 27, 37.

_Cherchez la femme_, 35.

_Chic_, 51.

CIRCUMLOCUTION, 6.

Circumlocution, 165-70, 349.

_Claim_, 317-8.

_Climb down_, 51.

_Closure_, 23.

CLUMSY PATCHING, 355-6.

_Coastal_, 42.

COLLOQUIALISMS, 331.

COLON, 263-4.

Colon, changed usage of, 220, 222.

_Come into her life_, 215.

Comma before _that_, 236-7, 249-50.

COMMA BETWEEN INDEPENDENT SENTENCES, 254-7.

Comma, distinct functions, 221-2.

COMMA MISPLACED, 248-50.

COMMA, UNACCOUNTABLE, 262-3.

Commas, illogical, 241.

Commas, unnecessary, 232.

_Commercialisms_, 358-9.

Common case, 60.

COMMON PARTS, 314-6.

COMPARATIVES, 70-4.

_Complacent_, 10.

_Complaisant_, 10.

Compositors, 219, 230, 266, 273, 282.

COMPOUND PASSIVES, 319-21.

Compound possessive, 64, 122-3.

Compound verbs and inversion, 184-6.

Compound words, 20.

_Comprehensively_, 8.

_Comprise_, 12.

_Concision_, 18.

CONDITIONALS, 156-8.

CONDITIONALS, SUBJUNCTIVE, 157-8.

Conditionals, subjunctive, 192-3, 195.

CONFUSION WITH NEGATIVES, 321-3.

CONJUNCTIONS, COMPOUND, 165-70.

Conjunctions, coordinating and subordinating, 63, 255.

_Consequential_, 17.

_Consist of_ or _in_, 163-4.

_Content myself by_, 163.

_Contest_, vb, 12.

_Continuance_, 10.

_Continuation_, 10.

_Continuity_, 10.

CONTRADICTIONS IN TERMS, 339-41.

_Contumacity_, 45.

COORDINATION OF RELATIVES, 85-100.

COPULA, NUMBER, 65-7.

Corelli, 47.

_Cornering_, 51.

_Correctitude_, 21.

_Coûte que coûte_, 27-8.

Criterion of rightness, 3, 8, 41, 42, 165, 181, 347.

Crockett, 200.

_Cryptic_, 50.

_Cui bono?_, 35-6, 306.

D

_Dans cette galère_, 32.

DASHES, 266-75.

DASHES AND STOPS, 269-75.

DASHES, DEBATABLE QUESTIONS, 269-74.

DASHES, DOUBLE, 270-1.

DASHES, MISUSES, 274-5.

DASHES, TYPES, 267-9.

Dead metaphors, 201-9.

DECAPITABLE SENTENCES, 303.

DEFINING RELATIVES, 75-85.

Defining relatives in punctuation, 240-1, 242-4.

_Déjeuner_, 27.

_Démarche_, 30.

_Demean_, 16.

_Démenti_, 29-30.

DEMONSTRATIVE, NOUN, AND PARTICIPLE OR ADJECTIVE, 344-5.

_Depend upon it_, 213.

_Dependable_, 43.

_Deplacement_, 21.

_Deprecate_, 12.

_Depreciate_, 12.

De Quincey, 80.

_Desultory_, 18.

_Détente_, 30.

_Determinedly_, 47.

Differentiation, 10, 11, 46, 85.

_Different to_, 162.

_Dilemma_, 208.

DIPLOMATIC FRENCH, 29-30.

_Disagree from_, 163.

_Dishabille_, 37.

_Dispensable_, 43.

_Disposable_, 43.

_Distinction_, 38-9.

Distinction, 217, 319.

_Distinctly_, 355.

_Distinguished_, 38-9.

_Distrait_, 27.

_DO_ AS SUBSTITUTE VERB, 330.

Double dashes & brackets, 272, 286.

DOUBLE EMPHASIS, 341.

_Double event_, 51.

DOUBLE HARNESS, 311-4.

Doubtful gender, 67.

_Doubt that_, 158-60.

DOVETAILING, 33, 308-10.

E

_Each_, 68.

_-edly_, 47.

_E.g._, 311.

_Eirenicon_, 26.

_EITHER_, 69.

_Eke out_, 14-5.

ELEGANT VARIATION, 175-80.

Elegant variation, 30, 163, 211, 357.

Eliot, George, 171.

ELLIPSE IN SUBORDINATE CLAUSES, 317.

_Emblem_, vb, 5.

Emerson, 26, 43, 44, 217.

EMPHASIS, DOUBLE, 341.

EMPHATIC INVERSION, 190-1.

_Employé_, 36.

_Endowed by_, 164.

_English_, vb, 2.

_Enjoinder_, 43-4.

_Ennui_, 26, 37.

_Entente_, 29-30.

_Entourage_, 30.

ENUMERATION, 250-4.

ENUMERATION, AMBIGUOUS, 348.

_Envisage_, 7.

Epithets, recherché, 350.

_Epoch-making_, 31, 50.

_Equally as_, 332.

_Ere_, 2, 194, 196-7.

_Especial_, 11.

_Esprit d’escalier_, 32.

_ETC._, SLOVENLY, 360.

_Euchred_, 51.

_Eudaemometer_, 23.

_Euphemism_, 12.

EUPHONY, 291-304.

Euphony, 46-7, 102, 104, 122, 132, 326;
and punctuation, 245.

Euphony with relatives, 84.

_Euphuism_, 12.

_Evasion_, 11.

_Excepting_, 46.

EXCLAMATION AND QUESTION, 259-61.

EXCLAMATION MARK, 258-62.

EXCLAMATION MARK, INTERNAL, 261-2.

EXCLAMATORY INVERSION, 181-2.

EX-PARTICIPLES, 110-1.

_Experimentalize_, 46.

_Exploit_, vb, 51.

_Extemporaneous_, 45.

F

_Faits divers_, 28.

_Fall_ (autumn), 24.

FALSE SCENT, 345-6.

False scent, 93, 123-4, 246, 264-5, 274, 356.

_Fanfaronnade_, 29.

FAR-FETCHED WORDS, 4-5.

_Femininity_, 38.

Ferrier, S., 67.

Fielding, 215.

_Find fault to_, 164.

_Fix up_, 25.

Flexibility, 41, 120.

FLOOD-OF-TEARS-AND-SEDAN-CHAIR, 173.

_Floored_, 51.

_For_, 233-4, 245.

_For all it is worth_, 48.

_Forbid from_, 164.

_Forceful_, 21-2.

FOREIGN WORDS, 26-39.

FOREIGN WORDS, ADAPTATION OF, 37-9.

FOREIGN WORDS, BLUNDERS, 34-6.

FOREIGN WORDS TRANSLATED, 30-3.

_Foreword_, 2.

FORMATION AND ANALOGY, 41-3.

FORMATION BLUNDERS, 39-41.

FORMATION, UGLY, 46-7.

FRESH STARTS, 330-1.

_Frills_, 195.

_Frontal attack_, 51.

_Frontispiece_, 51-2.

Fudging in punctuation, 240-1.

FUSED PARTICIPLE, 117-25.

G

_Gallant_, 174.

_Galore_, 174.

_Ganymede_, 174.

_Gaucherie_, 27.

George Eliot, 171.

GERUND, 116-33.

GERUND AND INFINITIVE, 129-33.

GERUND AND PARTICIPLE, 107-10, 119.

GERUND AND POSSESSIVE, 116-25.

GERUND, COMPOUND SUBJECT, 123-4.

GERUND, OMISSION OF SUBJECT, 125-9.

_Get the boot_, 48.

_Globetrotter_, 51.

_Go Nap_, 51.

_Go one better_, 51.

GRAMMAR, 311-31.

GRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION, 220-5, 235-63.

Green, J. R., 249, 359.

GROUP SYSTEM IN PUNCTUATION, 228-30.

H

_Half-world_, 31.

_Hebe_, 174.

_Hedge_, vb., 51.

He-or-she, 67.

_Hereof_, 196.

_He said_, 282.

_Homologate_, 7.

_Honey-coloured_, 25.

_Howbeit_, 17, 194, 197.

_However_, 265.

_How it pans out_, 51.

Hugo, 226.

HUMOUR, POLYSYLLABIC, 171-2.

HUMOUR, TYPES, 171-5.

Huxley, 225, 249.

Hybrid words, 41-2, 46.

HYPHENS, 275-80.

Hyphens, 42.

I

_Ideal_, 75.

Idiom, 53, 161, 356.

IDIOMS, MALTREATED, 336-8.

_I. e._, 311.

_IF AND WHEN_, 334-5.

_Ignorance crasse_, 29.

_I guess_, 24.

ILLEGITIMATE INFINITIVES, 317-8.

_Immanence_, 50.

_Immovability_, 46.

IMPERSONAL _one_, 328.

_Impliedly_, 47.

_Inasmuch as_, 166.

_Incentive_, 206.

Incongruity, 194.

_Incontinently_, 9.

Indirect question and punctuation, 238.

_Individual_, 52, 53-6.

INFINITIVE AND GERUND, 129-33.

INFINITIVE, OMISSION OF SUBJECT, 125-9.

INFINITIVE PERFECT, 154-6.

INFINITIVES, ILLEGITIMATE, 317-8.

INFINITIVE, SPLIT, 319.

_-ing_, 107-10.

_Initiative of_, 164.

_Innate_, 12.

_In nowise_, 280.

_Insensate_, 9.

_In so far as, that_, 168-70.

_Instil_, 12.

_Insuccess_, 21.

_Intellectuals_, 22-3.

_Intelligence_, 18.

_Intensate_, 44.

Intervening-noun error in number, 66-7.

_Intimism_, 38-9.

_Intimity_, 38.

INVERSION, 180-93.

Inversion and compound verbs, 184-6.

Inversion and emphasis, 182, 184.

INVERSION, BALANCE, 182-7.

INVERSION, EMPHATIC, 190-1.

INVERSION, EXCLAMATORY, 181-2.

Inversion in _as_ or _than_ clauses, 188-9.

Inversion in relative clauses, 188.

INVERSION IN SYNTACTIC CLAUSES, 187-9.

INVERSION, MISCELLANEOUS, 191-3.

INVERSION, NEGATIVE, 190-1.

_In view of_, 167-8.

_Inwardness_, 50, 52.

IRONY, 215-6.

_Irony_, 15.

_Irreparable_, 12.

Italics, 186.

Italics and irony, 216.

_It should seem_, 194.

_It’s me_, 61.

_It ... that_, 104-7.

_It were_, 195.

J

_Jehu_, 174.

JINGLES, 291-2.

Jonathan Wild, 215.

JOURNALESE, 351-2.

Journalese, 7, 352, 357.

_Judicial_, 8.

_Just_, 25.

K

Kipling 24-5, 175.

_Knock out_, 51.

L

Lamb, Charles, 193.

Lapsus calami, 21.

LATIN ABBREVIATIONS, &c., 311.

_Laughable_, 43.

Laxity, disappearance of, 108, 110-1.

Laxity in punctuation, 235, 244-7.

_Laze_, 51-2.

_Leading question_, 306-7.

_Legislature_, 10.

_Lie_ and _lay_, 40.

_Like_, 331.

_-like_, 278.

Literary critics’ words, 38-9.

LOGIC AND PUNCTUATION, 220-5.

Logic and rhetoric in punctuation, 252.

_Log-rolling_, 51.

LONG AND SHORT DERIVATIVES, 44-6.

Long sentences, 226, 300.

Long words, 349-50.

_Loquently_, 20.

_-ly_, 47, 291.

M

Macaulay, 350.

MALAPROPS, 8-18.

MALTREATED IDIOMS, 336-8.

Mannerism, 47, 190, 195, 210, 212, 217.

MEANING, 331-45.

MEANINGLESS _while_, 357-8.

_Me_, ethic, 199.

_Mercury_, 174.

Meredith, 198.

METAPHOR, 200-9.

Metaphor, live and dead, 201-9.

_Metaphysical_, 16.

_Meticulous_, 38-9, 349.

METRICAL PROSE, 295.