II. With the fewest possible words, state the thought in each of the following selections: The Mountain and the Squirrel, p. 46. The Two Goats, p. 44. Hawthorne's "Great Stone Face." Longfellow's "Rainy Day.” XVI. CLEARNESS. Clearness is an element of style more important than brevity. If you cannot be both brief and clear, by all means be clear. Whenever it is necessary for the sake of clearness, repeat an antecedent, a subject, a verb or an auxiliary, or a preposition. Explain why each of the following sentences would not be clear if the words in parentheses were omitted: 1. The fireman carried out the piano, (a precaution) which was unnecessary. [Here the antecedent of which, "a precaution," must be retained, or the sentence would be ambiguous, for it might be understood that the piano was unnecessary.] 2. The pilot of our boat saw the light sooner than the other pilot (saw it). 3. Ignorance is the mother of fear as well as (of) admiration. 4. He declared he would not come, (a refusal) which I quite expected. 5. The valley of the Amazon is perhaps as large as (that of) the Mississippi. 6. A squirrel can climb a tree quicker than a boy (can). When two forms of the same verb are used in the same sentence, no part of the second verb-phrase should be omitted, unless the part omitted was used in the first verb-phrase. For example, in the sentence, "What you have done once you can again," the second verb is incomplete, and we naturally supply the past participle of the first verb, making the sentence read, "What you have done once you can done again." The sentence should have been written, "What you have done once you can do again.' Tell what part of the verb has been omitted in each of the following sentences. Write the sentences correctly. [Some of these sentences are colloquially correct, but they should be avoided in writing.] 1. He neither has nor can sell this coat at so low a figure. 2. They have not and do not tell all the facts of the case. 3. He was brought to the school by some gentleman who had helped his father and now would him. 4. I always have respected and do now his conscientiousness and liberality, but I never have and never can admire him as a man. 5. I have and will maintain that he was right. 6. If you had written when you said you would, we should not have missed seeing each other. 7. You will break that vase, if you have not already, by your carelessness. 8. The long walk has made us so hungry that we shall eat as we never have before. 9. Industry has always been the way to success, and it will, so long as men are what they are. 10. I am confident that I can do as well as he has. 11. If you had done as well as you could, I should not find fault. XVII. AMBIGUITY. — THE SENTENCE. A well-written sentence expresses the writer's thought exactly. A sentence that can have two or more meanings is called an ambiguous sentence. be carefully avoided. This sentence is ambiguous. Such a sentence should I cannot do one of these examples. It may mean "I cannot do any one of these examples," or, "There is one of these examples which I cannot do." Exercise. Show what two meanings each of the following sentences may have, and write it in a form capable of only one meaning. 1. Since you have come, I have decided not to go. 2. The young man immediately remarked that she had a pleasant voice. 3. I shall grant what you ask readily. 4. We also get salt from the ocean, which is very useful to man. 5. A tear is due at least to the fallen brave. 6. When Mr. Henry came in, the house was crowded. 7. My brother has done more for me than my sister. 8. Were you in the store before to-day? 9. I can testify that I saw everything that he did on that day. 10. The child, being sent to apologize for her rude remark, said: "Miss Mollet, I said you were homely, and I am sorry for it." II. When the travelers complained of the ferocity of his dogs, he said they were ill-bred curs. 12. The time spent in reading that book is wasted, if you do not comprehend the lesson that should be drawn, and you are no better for having read it. 13. The sun shone forth brightly, as if it had never hidden behind a cloud, and changed entirely the appearance of the scene. While the use of the participle secures brevity, it often leads to ambiguity; for it is sometimes difficult to determine what noun or pronoun the participle modifies. In case of ambiguity arising from the use of a participle, change the participle to a finite verb and supply a subject, or change the position of the participle. Exercise. Improve the following sentences: 1. John at once answered the note received from his friend, urging him to come and see him. [Who was urging? Write in two ways.] 2. As I came up in the street-car, I saw a dead horse passing Ninth Street. 3. I did not see you enter studying so diligently. 4. This I could not tell you, making so short a call. [Write in two ways.] 5. The crowd contained the usual number of babies and baby-carriages, crying or sleeping. 6. The wheels said to the horse: "It is we that ought to complain rather than you, having all the weight of the wagon to support." 7. Being badly injured, I took him up tenderly and sent for a carriage. 8. Struck with terror, the boat was launched at once. 9. Alarmed at the news, a messenger was despatched to the queen. 10. Hoping all things, believing all things, and fearing nothing, the ship left the harbor with the noble emigrants. on board. 11. After partaking of a hearty breakfast, the balloon was brought into town amid the cheers and congratulations of the inhabitants. 12. Being comfortably seated in the cars, our journey was very pleasant. 13. Waiting to do a great deed, or dreaming about the great things you will sometime do, the little deeds are left undone. XIX. AMBIGUITY. — THE PERSONAL PRONOUN. Every pronoun should be so used as readily to suggest its antecedent. A sentence may be obscured by the wrong use of pronouns. It is well for a young writer to look over his pages and be sure that each pronoun is rightly used. Exercise. In the following sentences some of the personal pronouns are used ambiguously. Write the sentences so as to avoid the ambiguity: 1. James told John that he (who?) would never abandon his (whose?) friends. [James said to John, "I will never abandon my friends."] |