Practical Grammar and Composition Part 56

6. I shall _leave_ you go at noon.

7. The _balance_ of the essay was uninteresting.

8. By questions they tried to _eliminate_ the true story.

9. They _impugn_ false motives to me.

10. He was greatly _effected_ by the news.

11. Sabbath _observation_ was then very strict.

12. They _expect_ that she wrote the letter.

13. The _invention_ of electricity has revolutionized all manufactures.

14. Who _learned_ her to sing?

15. Edison _discovered_ the phonograph.

16. One cannot comprehend the _enormity_ of a billion of dollars.

17. Many _complements_ were paid to her beauty.

18. His _consciousness_ p.r.i.c.ked him.

19. How could any one be guilty of such a cruel _action_.

20. The _advancement_ of the army was very slow.

195. IDIOMS. There are in English, as in other languages, a number of expressions that cannot be justified by the rules of grammar or rhetoric; and yet these expressions are among the most forcible ones in the language, and are continually used by the best writers.

These expressions that lie outside all rules we call idioms. Compare the following idiomatic expressions with the unidiomatic expressions that succeed them. The second expression in each group is in accord with the strict rules of composition; but the first, the idiomatic, is far more forceful.

Idiomatic: The book which I read about.

Unidiomatic: The book about which I read.

Idiomatic: More than one life was lost.

Unidiomatic: More lives than one life were lost.

Idiomatic: Speak loud. Speak louder.

Unidiomatic: Speak loudly. Speak more loudly.

Idiomatic: A ten-foot pole.

Unidiomatic: A ten-feet pole.

Idiomatic: He strove with might and main.

Unidiomatic: He strove with might. (Might and main are two words of the same meaning.)

Idiomatic: He lectured on every other day.

Unidiomatic: He lectured on one day out of every two.

Idioms are not to be avoided. On the contrary, because they contribute great ease and force to composition, their use is to be encouraged.

But the distinction between idiomatic and unidiomatic expressions is a fine one, and rests solely on usage. Care must be taken not to go beyond the idiomatic. There is probably little danger that the ordinary writer or speaker will not use idioms enough.

The following expressions are examples of commonly used idioms:

He was standing at the door _in his shirt sleeves_.

I _don't think_ it will rain (I think it will not rain).

She walked out of the room _on her father's arm_.

John was a poor _shot_.

Do you feel _like a little candy_?

See what my foolishness has brought me _to_.

What part of the city will they settle _in_?

What was the house built _for_?

John needs a match to light his pipe _with_.

That is all I ask _for_.

What are you driving _at_?

_Hard put to it._

_By all odds._

_Must needs._

I must _get up_ by noon.

_Get rid of._

_Get used to._

_Never so good._

_Whether or no._

I can't go _either_.

_You forget yourself_ when you speak so harshly.

I can come only _every other_ day.

If the bell rings _answer the door_.

_I take it_ that you will be there too.

_Come and see_ me.

_Try and_ do it.