The Elements of Style (EOS) CHRISTMAS EXAM REVIEW

Flammable

An oddity, chiefly useful in saving lives. The common word meaning "combustible" is inflammable. But some people are thrown off by the in- and think inflammable means "not combustible". For this reason, trucks carrying gasoline or explosives are now marked Flammable. Unless you are operating such a truck and hence are concerned with the safety of children and illiterates, use inflammable.

Feature

Another hackneyed word, like factor, it usually adds nothing to the sentence in which it occurs. Wrong: A feature of the entertainment especially worthy of mention was the singing of Allison Jones Right: (better use the same number of words to tell what Allison Jones sang and how she sang it) As a verb, in the sense of "offer as a special attraction" it is to be avoided

Effect

As a noun means "result" as a verb, means "to bring about" "to accomplish" (not to be confused with affect, which means "to influence") -As a noun, often loosely used in perfunctory writing about fashions, music, painting, and other arts: "A south western effect" "effects in pale green"; very delicate effects" "subtle effects" " a charming effect was produced." The writer who has a definite meaning to express will not take refuge in such vagueness.

Contact

As a transitive verb, the word is vague and self important. Do not cot act people; get in touch with them, look them up, phone them, find them, or meet them.

However

Avoid starting a sentence with however when the meaning is "nevertheless." The word usually serves better when not in first position. Wrong: The roads were almost impassable. however, we at last succeeded in reaching camp. Right: The roads were almost impassable. At last, however, we succeeded in reaching camp. -When however comes first, it means "in whatever way" or "to whatever extent" However you advise him, he will probably do as he thinks best. However discouraging the prospect, they never lost heart.

Fix

Colloquial in America for arrange, prepare, mend. The usage is well established. But bear in mind that this verb is from figere: "to make firm," "to place definitely" These are the preferred meaning of the word.

Illusion

Do NOT confuse with allusion -it is Not a reference

Allude

Do not confuse with elude. You allude to a book; you elude a perished. Note, too, that allude is not synonymous with refer. An allusion is an indirect mention, a reference is a specific one

Allusion

Easily confused with illusion. The first means "an indirect reference" the second means "an un-real image" or a false impression."

As good or better than

Expressions like this type should be corrected by rearranging the sentences Wrong: My opinion is as good or better than his. Right: My opinion is as good as his, or better.

Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding ('s)

Follow this rule whatever the consonant. Thus write: Charles's friend Burns's poems the witch's malice *Exceptions are the the possessives of ancient proper names ending in -es and -is, the possesive Jesus', and such forms as Moses' Laws, Isis' temple are commonly replaced by: the law of Moses the temple of Isis -The pronomial possessives hers, its, theirs, yours, and ours have no apostrophe. Indefinite pronouns, however, use the apostophe to show possession: one's rights somebody else's umbrella -A common error is to write it's for its, or vice versa. The first is a contraction, meaning "it is". The second is a possessive: It's a wise dog that scratches it own fleas

Different than

Here logic supports established usage: one thing differs from another, hence, different from. Or, other than, unlike

Data

Like strata, phenomena, and media, data is a plural and is best used with a plural verb. The word, however, is slowly gaining acceptance as a singular. Wrong: The data is misleading. Right: These data are misleading.

Fortuitous

Limited to what happens by chance. Not to be used for fortunate or lucky.

Character

Often simply redundant, used from a mere habit of wordiness Wrong: acts of a hostile character Right: hostile acts

Case

Often unnecessary Wrong: In many cases, the rooms lacked air conditioning. Right: Many of the room lacked air conditioning. Wrong: It has rarely been the case that any mistake has been made. Right: Few mistakes have been made

In regard to

Often wrongly written in regards to. But as regards is correct and means the same thing.

Among. Between

When more than two things or persons are involved, among is usually called for: "the money was divided among the four players." When however, mode than two are involved but each is considered individually between is preferred: "an agreement between the six heirs."

Facility

Why must jails, hospitals, and schools suddenly become "facilities" Wrong: parents complained bitterly about the fire hazard in the wooden facility. Right: parents complained bitterly about the fire hazard in the wooden schoolhouse. Wrong: he has been appointed warden of the new facility. Right: he has been appointed warden of the new prison.

Claim

With object-noun, means "lay claim to" Mag be used with a dependent clause if this sense is clearly intended: "she claimed that she was the sole heir" ( Bht even here claimed to be would be better) Not to be used as a substitute for declare, maintain, or charge. Wrong: He claimed he knew how. Right: He declared he knew how

As yet

Yet nearly always is as good, if not better. Wrong: No agreement has been reached as yet. Right: No agreement has yet been reached. - the CHEIF exception is at the beginning of a sentence, where yet means something different. Yet (or despite anything) he has not succeeded. As yet (or so far) he has not succeeded

Finalize

a pompous, ambiguous verb. (See Chapter v, Reminder 21.) -just use finish

In the last analysis

A bankrupt expression

Use a dash to set off an abrupt break or interruption and to announce a long appositive or summary

-A dash is a mark of separation stronger than a comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than parentheses. His first thought on getting out of bed --- if he had any thought at all --- was to get back in again. The rear axle began to make a noise --- a grinding, chattering, teeth-gritting rasp. The increasing reluctance of the sun to ruse, the extra nip in the breeze, the patter of shed leaves dropping--- all the evidences of fall drifting into winter were clearer each day. -Use a dash only when a more common mark of punctuation seems inadequate. Wrong: Her father's suspicions proved well-founded--- it was not Edward she cared for--- it was San Franscisco. Right: Her father's suspcions proved well founded.. It was not Edward she cared for, it was San Francisco. Wrong: Violence--- the kind you see on television--- is not honeslty violent--- there lies its harm. Right: Violence, the kind you see on television, is not honestly violent. There lies its harm.

Importantly

-Avoid by rephrasing Wrong: More importantly, he paid for the damages. Right: What's more, he paid for the damage. Wrong: With the breeze freshening, he altered course to pass inside the island. More importantly, as things turned out, he touched in a reef. Right: With the breeze freshening, he altered course to pass inside the island. More important, as things turned out, he tucked in a reef.

The number of the subject determined the number of the verb.

-Words that intervene between subject and ver do not affect the number of the verb Wrong: The bittersweet flavor of youth---its trials, its joys, its adventures, its challenges--- are not soon forgotten. Right: The bittersweet flavor of youth--- its trials, its joys, its adventures, its challenges--- is not soon forgotten. -A common blunder is the use of a singular verb form in a relative clause following "one of..." or a similar expression when the relative is the subject Wrong: One of the ablest scientists who has attacked this problem Right: One of the ablest scientists who have attacked this problem. Wrong: One of those people who is never ready on time Right: One of those people who are never ready on time -Use a singular verb form after each, either, everyone, everybody, neither, nobody, someone (indefinite pronouns) Everybody thinks he has a unique sense of humor. Although both clocks strike cheerfully, neither keeps good time. -With none, use the singular verb when the word means "no one" or "not one" Wrong: None of us are perfect. Right: None of use is perfect. -A plural verb is commonly used when none suggest more than one thing or person. None are so fallible as those who are sure they're right. A compound subject formed of two or more nouns joined by and almost always requires a plural verb. The walrus and the carpenter were walking close at hand. -But certain compounds, often clichés, are so insperable they are considereed a unit and so take a ingular verbm as do compound subjects qualified by each and every. The long and short of it is Bread and butter was all she served Give and take is essential to a happy household Every window, picture, and mirror was smashed -A singular subject remains sigular even if other nouns are connected to it by with, as well as, in addition to, except, together with, and no less than. His speech as well as his manner is objectionable. -A linking verb agrees with the number of its subject What is wanted is a few more pairs of hands. The trouble with truth is its many varieties. -Some nouns that appear to be plural are usually construed as singular and given a singular verb. Politics is an art, not a science. The Republican Headquarters is on this side of the tracks. But The general's quaters are across the river. In these cases the writer must simply learn the idions. The contents of a book is singular. The contenet of a jar may be either singular or plural, depending on whats in the jar--- jam or marbles.

Folk

A collective noun, equivalent to people. Use the singular form only. Folks, in the the sense of "parents", "family", "those present" is colloquial and too folksy for formal writing. Wrong: Her folks arrived by the afternoon train. Right: Her father and mother arrived by the afternoon train.

Enthuse

An annoying verb growing out of the noun enthusiasm. Not recommended. Wrong: she was enthused about her new car. Right: she was enthusiastic about her new car. Wrong: she enthused about her new car. Right: she talked enthusiastically about her new car.

Cope

An intransitive verb use with "with". In formal writing, one doesn't "cope", one "copes with" something or somebody Wrong: I knew they'd cope. Right: I knew they would cope with the situation

Use a colon after an independent clause to introduce a list of particulars, an appositive, an amplification, or an illustrative quotation.

A colon tells the reader that what follows is closely related to the preceeding clause. The colon has more effect than the comma, less powere to spearate than the semicolon, and more formality than the dash. It usually flllows an independent clause and should not separate a verb from its complement or a preposition from its object. The examples in the left handed column, below, are wrong; they should be rewritten as in the righthand column. Wrong: Your dedicaed whittler requires: a kinife, a piece of wood, and a back porch Right: Your dedicated whittler requires three propes: a knife, a piece of wood and a back porch. Wrong: Understanding is that penetrating quality of knowledge that grows from: theory, practice, conviction, assertion, error, and humiliation. Right: Understnading is that peetrating quality or knowledge that grows from theory, practice, conviction, assertion, error, an humiliation. -Join tow independent clauses with a colon if the second interprets or amplieifes the first (elaborates it) But even so, there was a directness and dispatch about animal burial; there was no stopover in the undertaker's foul parlor, no wreath or spray. -A colon may introduce a quotation that supports or contributes to the preceeding clause The squalor of the streets reminded her of aline from Oscar Wilde. "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." -The colon also has certain functions to form: to follow the salutation of a formal letter, to separate hour from minute in a notation time, and to separate the title of a work from its subtitle or a Bible chapter from a verse. Dear Mr. Montague: departs at 10:48 P.M Practical Calligraphy: An introduction to Italic Script Nehemiah 11: 7

He is a man who

A common type of redundant expression; see Rule 17. Wrong: He is a man who is very ambitious. Right: He is very ambitious. Wrong: Vermont is a state that attracts visitors because of its winter sports. Right: Vermont attracts visitors because of its winter sports.

And. Or

A device, or shortcut, that damages a sentence and often leads to confusion or ambiguity. Wrong: First of all, would an honor system successfully cut down on the amount of stealing and/or cheating? Right: First of all, would an honor system reduce the incidence of stealing or cheating or both? And/or = x or y or both

Factor

A hackneyed word; the expressions of which it is a part can usually be replaced by something more direct and idiomatic Wrong: her superior training was the great factor in her winning the match Right: she won the match by being better trained. Wrong: air power is becoming an increasingly important factor in deciding battles. Right: air power is playing a larger and larger part in deciding battles.

All right

Idiomatic in familiar speech as a detached phrase in the sense "Agreed" or "go ahead" or "o.k" properly written as two words- all right

Do not join independent clauses with a comma

If two or more clauses grammatically complete and not joined by a conjunction are to form a single compound sentence, the proper mark of punctionation is a semicolon. (suggests a close relationship between the two clauses) Mary Shelley's works are entertaining; they are full of engagin ideas It it nearly half past five; we cannot reach town before dark -It is of course, equally correct to write each of these as two sentences, replacing the semicolons with periods. Mary Shelley's workds are entertaing. They are full of engagin ideas. It is nearly half past five. We cannot reach town before dark. -If a conjunction is inserted, the proper mark is a comma (rule 4) Mary Shelley's works are entertaining, for they are full of engaging ideas. It is nearly half past five, and we cannot reach town before dark. -A comparison of the three forms given above wll show clearly the advantage of the first. It is, at least in the examples given, better than the second form because it suggest the close relationship between the two statements in a wat that the second does not attempt, and better than the third because it is broefere and therefore more forcible. Indeed, this simple method of indicating relationship betwen statements is one of the most useful devices of composition. Te relationship, as above, is commonly one of cause and consequence. Note that if the second clause is preceded by an adverb, such as accordingly, besides, then, therefore, or thus, and not by a conjunction, the semicolon is still required. I have never been in the place before; besides, it was dark as a tomb. -An exception to the semicolon rule is worth noting here. A comma is preferable when the clauses are very short and alike in form or when the tone of the sentence is easy nad conversational. Man proposes, God disposes. The gates swung apart, the bridge fell, the portucullis was drawn up. I hardly knew him, he was so chnages. Here today, gone tomorrow

Do not break sentences in two.

In other words, do not use periods for commas. I met them on a Cunard liner many years ago. Coming home from Liverpool to New York. (fragment) She was a interesting talker. A woman who had traveled all over the world and lived in half a dozen countries.(fragment) -In both these examples, the first period would be replaced by a comma and the following word begun with a small letter. -It is permissible to make an emphatic world or expression serve the purpose of a sentence and to punctuate it accordingly. Again and again he called out. No reply -The writer must, however, be certain that the emphasis is warranted,lest a clipped sentence seem merely a blunder in syntax or in punctuation. Generally speaking, the place fir broken sentences is in dialogue, when a character happens to speak in a clipped or fragmentary way. -Rules 3,4,5, and 6 cover the most important principles that govern punctuation. They should be so thoroughly mastered that their application becomes second nature.

Anybody

In the sense of "any person" not to be written as two words. Any body means "any corpse" or "any Human form" or "any group." The rule holds equally for everybody, nobody, and somebody.

Anyone

In the sense of "anybody," written as one word. Any one means "any single person" or "any single thing."

Currently

In the sense of now with a verb in the present tense, currently is usually redundant; emphasis is better achieved through a more precise reference to time. Wrong: We are currently reviewing your application. Right: We are at this moment reviewing your application.

Etc

Literally "and other things" sometimes loosely used to mean "and other persons." The phrase is equivalent to and the rest, and so forth, and hence is not to be used if one of these would be insufficient---- that is, if the reader would be left in doubt as to any important particulars. Least open to objection when it represents the last term as of a list already given almost in full, or immaterial words at the end of a quotation. - at then end of a list introduced by such as, for example, or any similar expression, etc, is incorrect. In formal writing, etc, is a misfit. An item important enough to call for etc is probably important enough to be named.

comprise

Literally, "embrace": A zoo comprises mammals, reptiles, and birds (because it "embraces" or includes, them). But animals do not comprise ("embrace") a zoo- they constitute a zoo

Due to

Loosely use for through, because of, or owing to, in adverbial phrases Wrong: He lost the first game due to carelessness. Right: He lost the first game because of carelessness. - In correct use, synonymous with attributable to. "The accident was due to bad weather"; loses due to preventable fires."

Can

Means "am (is are) able." Not to be used as a substitute for may.

Disinterested

Means "impartial" (not biased). Do not confuse it with uninterested, which means "not interested in" Let a disinterested person judge our dispute. ( an impartial person) This man is obviously uninterested in our dispute. ( couldn't care less )

Being

Not appropriate after regard.... as Wrong: he is regarded as being the best dancer in the club. Right: he is regarded as the best dancer in the club.

Consider

Not followed by as when it means "believe to be" Wrong: I consider him as competent Right: I consider him competent -when considered means "examined" or "discussed" it is followed by as: the lecturer considered Eisenhower first as soldier and second as administrator

Imply, Infer

Not interchangeable. Something implies is something suggested or indicated, though not expressed. Something inferred is something deduced from evidence at hand. Farming implies early rising. Since she was a farmer, we inferred that she got up early.

Divided into

Not to be misused for composed of. The line is sometimes difficult to draw; doubtless plays are divided into acts, but poems are composed of stanzas. An apple, halved, is divided into sections, but an apple is composed of seeds, flesh, and skin.

Clever

Note that the word means one thing when applied to people, another when applied to horses. A clever horse is a good-natured one, not an ingenious one

each and every one

Pitchman's jargon. Avoid, except in dialogue. Wrong: it should be a lesson to each and every one of us. Right: it should be a lesson to every one of us.

Place a comma before a conjunction introducing an independent clause

The aerly records of the city have disappeared, and the story of its first years can no longer be reconstructed. The situation is perilous, but there is still one chance of escape Ind cl + conjuction + ind cl -Two part sentence of which the second member is introduced by as (in the send of because), for, or, nor, or while (in the sense of "and at the same time) likewise require a comma before the conjunction. -If a dependent clause, or an introductory phrase requiring to be set off by a comma, precedes the second independent clause, no comma is needed after the conjunction: The situation is perilous, bt if we are prepared to act promptly, there is still one chance of escape -When the subject is the same for both clauses and is expresssed only once, a comma is useful if the connective is but. When the connective is and, the comma should be omitted if the relation between the two statements is close or immediate. I have heard the arguments, but am still unconvinced. He has had several year's experience and is thoroughly competent.

Enclose parenthetic expressions between commas.

The best way to see a country, unless you are pressed for time, is to travel on foot -This rule is difficult to apply; it is frequently hard to decide wheter a single word, such as however, or a brief phrase is or is not parenthetic. If the interruption to flow of the sentence is but slight, the commas may be safetly omitted. But whether the interruption is slight or considerab;e, never omit one camma and leave the other. There is no defense for such punctuation as: Marjorie's husband, Colonel Nelson paid us a visit yesterday or My brother you will be please to hear, is now in perfect health -Dates usually contain parenthetic words or figures. Punctuate as follows: February to July, 1992 April 6, 1986 Wednesday, November 14, 1990 Note that it is customary to omit the comma in: 6 April 1988 -The last form is an excellent way to write a date; the figures are separated by a word and are, for that reason, quickly grasped: A name or a title in direct address is parenthetic If, Sir, you refuse, I cannot predict what will happen. Well, Susan, this is a fine mess you are in -The abbreviations etc, i.e, and e.g, the abbrevaitions for academic degrees and titiles that follow a name are parenthietic and should be punctuated accordingly: Letter, packages, etc, should go here Horace Fulsom, Ph.D, presided Rachel Simonds, Attorney The Reverend Harry Lang, S.J -No comma however, should separate a noun from a restrictive term of identification Billy the Kid The novelist Jane Austen William the Conquerer The poet Sappho -Although Junior, with its abbreviation Jr, has commonly been regarded as parenthetic, logic suggest that it is, in fact, restrictive and therefore not in need of a comma: James Wright Jr. -Nonrestrictive relative clauses are parenthetic, as are similar clauses introduced by conjuctions indicating time or place. Commas are therefore needed. A nonrestrictive clause is one that does not serve to identify or define the antecedent noun: The audience, which has at first been indifferent, became more and more interested. In 1769, when Napoleon was born, Corisca has but recently been acquired by France. Nether Stowey, where Coleridge wrote The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, is a few miles from Bridgewater. -In these sentences, the clauses introduced by which, when, and where are nonrestrictive; they do not limit or define, they nerely add something. In the first example, the clause introduced by which does not serve to tell which of several possible audiences is meant; the reader persumably knows that already. The clause adds, parenthetically, a statement supplementing that in the main clause. Each of the three sentences is a combination of two statements that might have been made independently: The audience was at first indifferent. Later it became more and more interested. Napoleon was bron in 1769. At that time Corisca has but recently been acquireed by France. Coleridge wrote The Rime of the Ancient Mariner at Nether Stowey. Nether Stowey is a few miles from Bridgwater. -Restictive clauses, by contrast, are not parenthetic and are not set off by commas. Thus, People who live in glass houses shouldnt throw stones. Here the clause introduced by who does serve to tell which people are meant; the sentrnce, unlke the sentences above, cannot be split into two independent statements. The same principle of coma use applies to participial phrases and to appositives. People sitting in the rear couldnt hear (restrictive) Uncle Bert, being slightly deaf, moved forward. (non-restrictive) My cousin Bob is a talented harpist. (restrictive) Our oldest daughter, Mary, sings (non restrictive) -When the main clause of a sentence is preceded by a phrase or a subordinate clause, use a comma to set off these elements: Partly by hard fightung, partly by diplomatic skills, they enlarged their dominions to the east and rose to royal rank with the possession of Sicily.

Get

The colloquial have got for have should not be used in writing. The prederable form of the partcipile is got not gotten. Wrong: He has not got any sense. Right: He has no sense. Wrong: They returned without having gotten any. Right: They returned without having got any.

Careless

The dismissive "I couldn't care less" is often used with the shortened "not" mistakenly (any mysteriously) omitted: "I could care less." The error destroys the meaning of the sentence and is careless indeed.

Aggravate. Irritate

The first means "to add to" and already troublesome or vexing matter or condition. The second means "to vex" of "annoy" of "to chafe"

Inside of. Inside

The of following inside is correct in the adverbial meaning "in less than." In other meanings, of is unnecessary. Inside of five minutes I'll be inside the bank.

Use the proper of case of pronoun

The personal pronouns, as well as the pronoun wo, change form as they function as subject or object. Will Jane or he be hired, do you think? The culprit, it turned out, was he. We heavy eaters would rather walk than ride. Who knocks? Give this work to whoever looks idle. -In the last example, whoever is the subject of looks idle; the object of the prepostition to is the entire clause whoever looks idle, When who introduces a subordinate clause, its case depends on its function in that clause. Wrong: Virgil Soames is the canidate whom we think will win. Right: Virgil Soames is the candidate who we thik will win. (We think he will win) Wrong: Vergil Soames is the canidate who we hope to elect. Right: Virgil Soames is the candidate whom we hoe to elect (We hope to elect him) -A pronoun in a comparision is nomative if it it the subject of a stated or understood verb. Standy writes better than I -In general, avoid "understood" verbs by supplying them Wrong: I think Horace admires Jessica more than I. Right: I think Horace admires Jessica more than I do. Wrong: Polly loves cake more than me. Right: Polly loves cake more tan she loves me. -The objective case is correct in the following examples: The ranger offered Shirley and him some advice on campsites. They came to meet the Baldwins and us. Let's talk over between us, then you and me. Whom should I ask? A group of taxpayers protested. -Us in the lats example is in apposition to taxplayers, the object of the propostion of. The worlding although grammatically defensivle, is rearely apt. " A group of us protested as tax payers" is better, if not exactly equivalent. Use the simple personal pronoun as a subject. Wrong: Blake and myself stayed home. Right: Blake and I stayed home. Wrong: Howard and yourself brought the lunch, I thought. Right: Howard and you brought the lunch, I thought. -**** The possessive case of pronouns is used to show ownership. It has two forms: the adjectival modifier, your hat, and the noun form, a hat of yours. The dog has buried one of your gloves and one of mine in the flower bed. -Gerunds usually require the possessive case. Mother objected to our diving on the icy roads. -* A present participles as a verbal, on the other hand, takes the objective case. They heard him singing in the shower. -The difference between a verbal participle and a gerund is not always obvious, but ntoe what is really said in each of the following. Do you mind me asking a question? Do you mind my asking a question? -In the first sentence, the queried objection is to me, as opposed to other members of the group, asking a question. In the second example, the issue is whether a question may be asked at all.

Farther. Further

The two words are commonly interchanged, but there is a distinction worth observing: farther serves best as a distance word, further as a time or quantity word. You chase a ball farther than the other fellow; you pursue a subject further

Insightful

The word is suspicious overstatement for "perceptive". If it is to be used at all, it should be used for instances of remarkably penetrating vision. Usually, it crops up merely to inflate the commonplace. Wrong: That was an insightful remark you made. Right: That was a perceptive remark you made.

Alternate. Alternative

The words are not always interchangeable as nouns or adjectives. The first means every other one in a series; the second, one of two possiblities. As the other one of a series of two, an alternate may stand for a substitute, but an alternative, although used in a similar sense, connotes a matter of choice that is never present with alternate -As the flooded road left them no alternative (choice), they took the alternate route

Hopefully

This once-useful adverb meaning "with hope" has been distorted and is now widely used to mean "I hope" or "it is to be hoped." Such use is not merely wrong, it is silly. To say, "Hopefully Ill leave on the noon plane" is to talk nonsense. Do you mean you'll leave on the noon plane in a hopeful frame of mind? Or do you mean you hope you'll leave on the noon plane? Whichever you mean, you haven't said it clearly. Although the word in its new, free-floating capacity may be pleasurable and even useful to many, it offend the ear of many others, who do not like to see words dulled or eroded, particularly when the erosion leads to ambiguity, softeness, or nonsense.

Compare

To compare to us to point out or imply resemblances between objects regarded as essential of a different order; to compare with is mainly to point out differences between objects regarded as essentially of the same order. Thus, life has been compared to a pilgrimage, to a drama, to a battle; Congress may be compared to ancient Athens; it may be compared with modern London.

But

Unnecessary after doubt and help. Wrong: I have no doubt but that. Right: I have no doubt that Wrong: he could not help but see that Right: he could not help seeing that - the too-frequent use of but as a conjunction leads to the fault discussed under Rule 18. A loose sentence formed with but can usually be converted into a periodic sentence formed with although. —particularly awkward is one but closely following another, thus making a contrast to a contrast, or a reservation to a reservation. This is easily corrected by rearrangement Wrong: Our country had vast resources but seemed almost wholly unprepared for war. But within a year it had created an army of four million. Right: Our country seemed almost wholly unprepared for war, but it had vast resources. Within a year it had created an army of four million.

Anticipate

Use expect in the sense of simple expectation . Wrong: I anticipate that he would look older. Right: I expected that he would look older. Wrong: my brother anticipated the upturn in the market. Right: My brother expected the upturn in the market. In the second example, the word anticipated is ambiguous. It could mean simply that the brother believed the upturn would occur, or it could mean that he acted in advance of the expected upturn-- by buying stock, perhaps.

Enormity

Use only in the sense of "monstrous wickedness" Misleading, if not wrong, when used to express bigness.

Fact

Use this word only of matters capable of direct verification, not of matters of judgement. That a particular event happened in a given date and that lead melts at a certain temperature are facts. But such conclusions as that Napoelon was the greatest of modern generals or that the climate of California is delightful, however defensible they may be, are not properly called facts.

Certainly

Used indiscriminately by some speakers, much as others use very, in an attempt to intensify any and every statement. A mannerism of this kind, bad in speech, is even worse in writing.

A participial phrase at the beginning of a sentence must refer to the grammatical subject

Walking slowly down the road, he saw a woman accompanied by two children. The word walking referes to the subject of the sentence, not to the woman. To make it refer to the woman , thw riter must recast the sentence. He was a woman, accompanied by two children, waking slowly down the road. -Participial phrases preceded by a conjunction or by a preposition, nouns in apposition, adjectives, and adjective phrases come under the same rule if they begin the sentence. Wrong: On arriving in Chicago, his friends met him at the station. Right: On arriving in Chicago, he was met at the station by his friends. Wrong: A soldier of proved valor, they entrusted him with the defense of the city. Right: A soldier of proved valor, he was entrusted with the defense of the city. Wrong: Young and inexpierenced, the task seemed easy to me. Right: Young and inexperienced, I thought the task easy, Wrong: Without a friend to counsel him, the temptation proved irrestible. Right: Without a friend to counsel him, he found the temptation irresistible. -Sentences violating Rule 11 are often ludicrous: Being in a dilapidated condition, I was able ot buy the house very cheap. Wondering irresolutely what to do next, the clock struck twelve.

Gratuitous

means "unearned" or "unwarranted". The insult seemed gratuitous. (undeserved)

In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last:

thus right; red, white, and blue gold, silver, or copper He opened the letter, read it, and made a note of its contents -This comma is often referred to as the "serial" comma. In the names of business firms that last comma is usually omitted. Follow the usage of the individual firm: Little, Brown and Company Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette

as to whether

whether is sufficient