The Elements of Style Part 9

He could not help see but that

He could not help seeing that

The too frequent use of _but_ as a conjunction leads to the fault discussed under Rule 14. A loose sentence formed with _but_ can always be converted into a periodic sentence formed with _although_, as ill.u.s.trated under Rule 4.

Particularly awkward is the following of one _but_ by another, making a contrast to a contrast or a reservation to a reservation. This is easily corrected by re-arrangement.

America had vast resources, but she seemed almost wholly unprepared for war. But within a year she had created an army of four million men.

America seemed almost wholly unprepared for war, but she had vast resources. Within a year she had created an army of four million men.

=Can.= Means _am (is, are) able_. Not to be used as a subst.i.tute for _may_.

=Case.= The _Concise Oxford Dictionary_ begins its definition of this word: "instance of a thing's occurring; usual state of affairs." In these two senses, the word is usually unnecessary.

In many cases, the rooms were poorly ventilated.

Many of the rooms were poorly ventilated.

It has rarely been the case that any mistake has been made.

Few mistakes have been made.

See Wood, _Suggestions to Authors_, pp. 68-71, and Quiller-Couch, _The Art of Writing_, pp. 103-106.

=Certainly.= Used indiscriminately by some writers, much as others use _very_, to intensify any and every statement. A mannerism of this kind, bad in speech, is even worse in writing.

=Character.= Often simply redundant, used from a mere habit of wordiness.

Acts of a hostile character

Hostile acts

=Claim, vb.= With object-noun, means _lay claim to_. May be used with a dependent clause if this sense is clearly involved: "He claimed that he was the sole surviving heir." (But even here, "claimed to be" would be better.) Not to be used as a subst.i.tute for _declare_, _maintain_, or _charge_.

=Clever.= This word has been greatly overused; it is best restricted to ingenuity displayed in small matters.

=Compare.= To _compare to_ is to point out or imply resemblances, between objects regarded as essentially of 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 with the British Parliament. Paris has been compared to ancient Athens; it may be compared with modern London.

=Consider.= Not followed by _as_ when it means "believe to be." "I consider him thoroughly competent." Compare, "The lecturer considered Cromwell first as soldier and second as administrator," where "considered" means "examined" or "discussed."

=Data.= A plural, like _phenomena_ and _strata_.

These data were tabulated.

=Dependable.= A needless subst.i.tute for _reliable_, _trustworthy_.

=Different than.= Not permissible. Subst.i.tute _different from_, _other than_, or _unlike_.

=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.

=Don't.= Contraction of _do not_. The contraction of _does not_ is _doesn't_.

=Due to.= Incorrectly used for _through_, _because of_, or _owing to_, in adverbial phrases: "He lost the first game, due to carelessness." In correct use related as predicate or as modifier to a particular noun: "This invention is due to Edison;" "losses due to preventable fires."

=Folk.= A collective noun, equivalent to _people_. Use the singular form only.

=Effect.= As noun, means _result_; as verb, means _to bring about_, _accomplish_ (not to be confused with _affect_, which means "to influence").

As noun, often loosely used in perfunctory writing about fashions, music, painting, and other arts: "an Oriental effect;" "effects in pale green;" "very delicate effects;" "broad effects;" "subtle effects;" "a charming effect was produced by." The writer who has a definite meaning to express will not take refuge in such vagueness.

=Etc.= Equivalent to _and the rest_, _and so forth_, and hence 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 terms of a list already given in full, or immaterial words at the end of a quotation.

At the end of a list introduced by _such as_, _for example_, or any similar expression, _etc._ is incorrect.

=Fact.= Use this word only of matters of a kind capable of direct verification, not of matters of judgment. That a particular event happened on a given date, that lead melts at a certain temperature, are facts. But such conclusions as that Napoleon was the greatest of modern generals, or that the climate of California is delightful, however incontestable they may be, are not properly facts.

On the formula _the fact that_, see under Rule 13.

=Factor.= A hackneyed word; the expressions of which it forms part can usually be replaced by something more direct and idiomatic.

His superior training was the great factor in his winning the match.

He won the match by being better trained.

Heavy artillery has become an increasingly important factor in deciding battles.

Heavy artillery has played a constantly larger part in deciding battles.

=Feature.= Another hackneyed word; like _factor_ it usually adds nothing to the sentence in which it occurs.

A feature of the entertainment especially worthy of mention was the singing of Miss A.

(Better use the same number of words to tell what Miss A. sang, or if the programme has already been given, to tell how she sang.)

As a verb, in the advertising sense of _offer as a special attraction_, to be avoided.

=Fix.= Colloquial in America for _arrange_, _prepare_, _mend_. In writing restrict it to its literary senses, _fasten_, _make firm or immovable_, etc.

=Get.= The colloquial _have got_ for _have_ should not be used in writing. The preferable form of the participle is _got_.

=He is a man who.= A common type of redundant expression; see Rule 13.

He is a man who is very ambitious.

He is very ambitious.

Spain is a country which I have always wanted to visit.