The Elements of Style Part 12

The student body pa.s.sed resolutions.

The students pa.s.sed resolutions.

=System.= Frequently used without need.

Dayton has adopted the commission system of government.

Dayton has adopted government by commission.

The dormitory system

Dormitories

=Thanking You in Advance.= This sounds as if the writer meant, "It will not be worth my while to write to you again." In making your request, write, "Will you please," or "I shall be obliged," and if anything further seems necessary write a letter of acknowledgment later.

=They.= A common inaccuracy is the use of the plural p.r.o.noun when the antecedent is a distributive expression such as _each_, _each one_, _everybody_, _every one_, _many a man_, which, though implying more than one person, requires the p.r.o.noun to be in the singular. Similar to this, but with even less justification, is the use of the plural p.r.o.noun with the antecedent _anybody_, _any one_, _somebody_, _some one_, the intention being either to avoid the awkward "he or she," or to avoid committing oneself to either. Some bashful speakers even say, "A friend of mine told me that they, etc."

Use _he_ with all the above words, unless the antecedent is or must be feminine.

=Very.= Use this word sparingly. Where emphasis is necessary, use words strong in themselves.

=Viewpoint.= Write _point of view_, but do not misuse this, as many do, for _view_ or _opinion_.

=While.= Avoid the indiscriminate use of this word for _and_, _but_, and _although_. Many writers use it frequently as a subst.i.tute for _and_ or _but_, either from a mere desire to vary the connective, or from uncertainty which of the two connectives is the more appropriate. In this use it is best replaced by a semicolon.

The office and salesrooms are on the ground floor, while the rest of the building is devoted to manufacturing.

The office and salesrooms are on the ground floor; the rest of the building is devoted to manufacturing.

Its use as a virtual equivalent of _although_ is allowable in sentences where this leads to no ambiguity or absurdity.

While I admire his energy, I wish it were employed in a better cause.

This is entirely correct, as shown by the paraphrase,

I admire his energy; at the same time I wish it were employed in a better cause.

Compare:

While the temperature reaches 90 or 95 degrees in the daytime, the nights are often chilly.

Although the temperature reaches 90 or 95 degrees in the daytime, the nights are often chilly.

The paraphrase,

The temperature reaches 90 or 95 degrees in the daytime; at the same time the nights are often chilly,

shows why the use of _while_ is incorrect.

In general, the writer will do well to use _while_ only with strict literalness, in the sense of _during the time that_.

=Whom.= Often incorrectly used for _who_ before _he said_ or similar expressions, when it is really the subject of a following verb.

His brother, whom he said would send him the money

His brother, who he said would send him the money

The man whom he thought was his friend

The man who (that) he thought was his friend (whom he thought his friend)

=Worth while.= Overworked as a term of vague approval and (with _not_) of disapproval. Strictly applicable only to actions: "Is it worth while to telegraph?"

His books are not worth while.

His books are not worth reading (are not worth one's while to read; do not repay reading; are worthless).

The use of _worth while_ before a noun ("a worth while story") is indefensible.

=Would.= A conditional statement in the first person requires _should_, not _would_.

I should not have succeeded without his help.

The equivalent of _shall_ in indirect quotation after a verb in the past tense is _should_, not _would_.

He predicted that before long we should have a great surprise.

To express habitual or repeated action, the past tense, without _would_, is usually sufficient, and from its brevity, more emphatic.

Once a year he would visit the old mansion.

Once a year he visited the old mansion.

VI. SPELLING

The spelling of English words is not fixed and invariable, nor does it depend on any other authority than general agreement. At the present day there is practically unanimous agreement as to the spelling of most words. In the list below, for example, _rime_ for _rhyme_ is the only allowable variation; all the other forms are co-extensive with the English language. At any given moment, however, a relatively small number of words may be spelled in more than one way. Gradually, as a rule, one of these forms comes to be generally preferred, and the less customary form comes to look obsolete and is discarded. From time to time new forms, mostly simplifications, are introduced by innovators, and either win their place or die of neglect.

The practical objection to unaccepted and over-simplified spellings is the disfavor with which they are received by the reader. They distract his attention and exhaust his patience. He reads the form _though_ automatically, without thought of its needless complexity; he reads the abbreviation _tho_ and mentally supplies the missing letters, at the cost of a fraction of his attention. The writer has defeated his own purpose.

WORDS OFTEN MISSPELLED

accidentally advice affect believe benefit challenge coa.r.s.e course criticize deceive definite describe despise develop disappoint dissipate duel ecstasy effect embarra.s.s existence fascinate fiery formerly humorous hypocrisy immediately impostor incident incidentally latter led lose marriage mischief murmur necessary occurred opportunity parallel Philip playwright preceding prejudice princ.i.p.al principle privilege pursue repet.i.tion rhyme rhythm ridiculous sacrilegious seize separate shepherd siege similar simile too tragedy tries undoubtedly until villain