not to the ear, he ought to be more accurate; and so to connect those adverbs with the words which they qualify as to put his meaning out of doubt, upon the first inspection.' 1 The safest position for "only," "merely," is immediately before, or immediately after, the word or phrase to be modified: He is only eighteen. He is eighteen only. He was (became) eighteen only yesterday. Only he knows of this. At least; At all events.-These phrases are slightly ambiguous. Either they are sentence-adverbs-that is, they modify the whole sentence or they are ordinary adverbs—that is, they modify some particular word or phrase. As sentenceadverbs they are put at the beginning of the sentence, and— by some printers-are marked off by a comma. When used 1 Blair's Rhetoric, Lecture xi. Why did not Blair say "in' spoken discourse," instead of "in ordinary discourse"? as ordinary adverbs they follow immediately the word or phrase modified, and they are not often marked off by commas. For example: At all events, you will grant that I have made some progress. (Sentence-adverb.) At least we ought not to decide rashly. (Sentence-adverb.) His brother at all events will not at least as well as we. He knows at least how to read, even if he cannot sing. disappoint us. (Ordinary adverb.} The Romans understood liberty as well at least as we. He knows how to read at least, even if he cannot sing. Even stands immediately before the word or phrase modified. Yet it is certain that even some of our best critics and grammarians talk occasionally as if they had a notion of some other standard. This answer even puzzled the wisest. Yet it is certain that some of even our best critics and grammarians talk occasionally as if they had notion of some other standard. This answer puzzled even the wisest. 3. Not. Usually this word is a sentence-negative, that is, it gives to the whole sentence a negative cast. For example: She did not, however, seem to hear me coming along the grass. Let us not condescend to revenge ourselves by the blood of these miserable wretches. Do not allow yourselves to be misled by the notion that an hypothesis is untrustworthy simply because it is an hypothesis. In all such expressions the "not" is closely coupled with the verb. Frequently, however, "not" expresses only a limited negation; instead of modifying the whole sentence, it modifies only a part. In such cases the "not" should be placed immediately in front of the word or words modified. For example: But this time it was not Piedmont, nor a constitutional sovereign, that woke Italy from her sleep, but the Pope. The state is not founded for charity but for protection. The state is founded, not for charity, but for protection. Every temperance man is not a prohibitionist. Is this the result of excessive study? In most cases I answer, No! I do not purpose to tell my reader how to see things, but only to talk about the art of seeing things, as one might talk of any other art. All that is said on the floors of Congress does not get into the Record. A nation is tested, not by watching the class which looks down but by the class which looks up. Not every temperance man is a prohibitionist. Is this the result of excessive study? Not in most cases, I answer. I purpose, not to tell my reader how to see things, but merely to talk about the art of seeing things, as one might talk of any other art. Not all that is said on the floors of Congress gets into the Record. A nation is tested by watching, not the class which looks down, but the class which looks up. 4. For. This word is either a preposition marking the indirect object of an action, for example: I have reserved a place for you. or a conjunction denoting the cause of an action or the ground of belief. As a conjunction, "for" is akin to "because," but is less direct. For example: He attracted little notice from the other inhabitants of the valley; for they saw nothing remarkable in his way of life-HAWTHORNE. It is not proper, however, to use "for" as a conjunction introducing an hypothesis. For example: Steele endeavored to make men see that women were rational creatures, intended for companions, not for toys or drudges, and that for them to occupy the position for which they were created they must be educated. Steele endeavored to make men see that women are rational creatures, intended for companions, not for toys or drudges, and that if they (women) are to occupy the position for which they have been created, they must be educated. 5. With. The proper use of "with" is to introduce some person or thing that takes part in the verbal action. For example: Yesterday I went to town with my brother. Mortar mixed with hair makes a better cement. He ate his dinner with a keen appetite. Frequently, however, even by good writers, "with" is used to introduce something which is properly a part of a subordinate action. For example: When he again pursued his course with his face to the Rhine, a huge mountain appeared to rise sheer above him. When he again pursued his course, his face (turned) to the Rhine, a huge mountain appeared to rise sheer above him. The face, of course, always accompanies the man; but we can scarcely say that the man goes with his face. The following two are even ambiguous: Innsbruck, Tyrol, 1900 feet above the sea, with dry, bracing climate. Adv't. Innsbruck, Tyrol, 1900 feet above the sea; climate dry and bracing. The sea does not have a dry climate. He died at sunset with his faithful slaves about him. He died at sunset, his faithful slaves standing round him. The writer did not mean that the slaves died with their master. We have these incidents of garrison life with the Kipling element left out (!). They had but to lift their eyes and there it was plainly to be seen, though miles away, with the sunshine brightening all its features.— HAWTHORNE. We have these incidents of garrison life, minus the Kipling ele ment. They had but to lift their eyes and there it was plainly to be seen, though miles away, the sunshine brightening all its features. The use of "with" has become so excessive in modern writing that the beginner should be on his guard; he will act wisely in suppressing it wherever possible. 6. While. The conjunction "while" is properly used to represent one action as taking place during the time of another action. For example: While William was at his repast, a group of horsemen appeared close to the water on the other side.-MACAULAY. "While is not properly used to contrast one action with another. Such contrast should be marked by " though," "although," or "whereas." For example: At this Esmond ground his teeth with rage, and well nigh throttled the amazed miscreant who was speaking, whereas Castlewood, seizing hold of his cousin's hand, burst into a great fit of laughter.-THACKERAY. *While the conscious purpose of the poet may have nothing to do with questions of morals, surely the sense of moral proportion in him must manifest itself in his work. *While Dante has succeeded in making his images concrete, Milton usually leaves his vague. Although it may not be the conscious aim of the poet to give a direct answer to questions of morals, surely his sense of moral proportion must manifest itself in his work. Whereas Dante's images are concrete, Milton's are usually vague. FORCE. [These sections are to be read in connection with ? 9.] Conciseness. 26. By conciseness is here meant the omission of all words and phrases not needed for unity and clearness. The habit of condensing is not readily acquired; when acquired, however, it is very effective. Concise expression saves the reader much time and quickens his understanding. 1. Adverbs.—Learn to avoid the tame and irritating formula "in. manner,' "in *Having tethered their horses in a careful manner. * The student ought to be able to write with considerable fluency and in a clear manner. * He told the story in a straightforward manner. *The ending of the poem is accomplished in a very peculiar manner. . . way." Having carefully tethered their horses. The student ought to be able to write rapidly and clearly. He told a straightforward story. The ending of the poem is very peculiar. |