SENTENCE CORRECTNESS
The language spoken and written by educated persons and by trained
writers in all parts of the English-speaking world has certain forms and
usages to which everyone must conform if he wishes to be recognized as
a well-educated man or woman. Conformity to the word-forms and to the
sentence structure of this widespread language is called correctness.
=300. Use the nominative case for the subject of every finite verb. _I_,
_thou_, _he_, _she_, _we_, _they_, _who_, are nominatives.=
_Wrong._ Him and I graduated last year.
_Right._ He and I graduated last year.
_Revise._ Us and her went by ourselves.
=301. Use the nominative form _who_ for the subject, even if a
parenthetical _he says_, _he thinks_, etc., intervenes between subject
and verb.=
_Wrong._ She was the teacher whom we thought had seen us.
_Right._ She was the teacher who we thought had seen us.
_Revise._ He whom everybody thought would win the prize came
out second.
=302. Use the nominative forms _who_, _whoever_ for the subject of a
subordinate clause, even if a verb or a preposition immediately precedes
_who_, _whoever_.=
_Wrong._ I shall believe whomever has the best argument.
_Right._ I shall believe whoever has the best argument.
_Wrong._ A reward was offered to whomever returned the lost
book.
_Right._ A reward was offered to whoever returned the lost book.
_Revise._ The decision as to whom should be punished no longer
rests with me.
=303. Use the nominative case for a predicated pronoun after _is_, _are_,
_was_, _were_, etc.=
_Wrong._ It was me.
_Right._ It was I.
_Wrong._ The best friends I have are her and him.
_Right._ The best friends I have are she and he.
_Revise._ It is not whom you think it is.
=304. Put a pronoun used as an appositive into the same case as the noun
with which it is in apposition.=
_Wrong._ Let’s you and I go.
_Right._ Let’s you and me go.
_Wrong._ The principal called in several pupils, Jack and Mary
and I.
_Right._ The principal called in several pupils, Jack and Mary
and me.
_Revise._ For whom did you ask—they and she?
=305. After the conjunctions _as_ and _than_, put the pronoun into the
same case as that of the noun or pronoun with which the comparison is
made. (Exception: The form _whom_ is usually used after _than_.)=
_Wrong._ He swims better than me.
_Right._ He swims better than I.
_Wrong._ She is as rich as him.
_Right._ She is as rich as he.
_Wrong._ It improved him more than I.
_Right._ It improved him more than me.
_Right._ He is a student than whom there is none better.
_Revise._ I like him better than she.
=306. Use the possessive case of a noun or pronoun with a gerund.=
_Wrong._ I am tired of you going away like this.
_Right._ I am tired of your going away like this.
_Wrong._ Had you not heard of him being ill?
_Right._ Had you not heard of his being ill?
_Revise._ I will not consider Henry leaving.
_Revise._ Too much attention was paid to Ethel being rewarded.
=307. Put only nouns indicating persons or animate beings into the
possessive case.=
_Wrong._ Biography is history’s most interesting part.
_Right._ Biography is the most interesting part of history.
_Revise._ His striking appearance held the class’s attention.
=308. Use the objective case of a pronoun which is the object of a verb
or of a preposition.=
_Wrong._ My father decided that the farm was the best place for
my brother and I.
_Right._ My father decided that the farm was the best place for
my brother and me.
_Revise._ Most of we girls are studying household art.
=309. Use the objective case of a pronoun which is the subject of an
infinitive after a verb of _saying_, _thinking_, _permitting_, etc.=
_Wrong._ Our parents let my sister and I drive the horse.
_Right._ Our parents let my sister and me drive the horse.
_Revise._ Who do you want to be captain?
=310. Use the objective case of a pronoun which is predicated after _to
be_, _to have been_, used with a verb of _saying_, _thinking_, etc.=
_Wrong._ He thought it to be we.
_Right._ He thought it to be us.
_Wrong._ They believed her to have been I.
_Right._ They believed her to have been me.
_Revise._ We wished it to be they.
=311. Use _this kind of_, _that kind of_, _this sort of_, even if
followed by a plural noun.=
_Wrong._ You cannot use those sort of films.
_Right._ You cannot use that sort of films.
_Revise._ Did you ever see these kind of instruments?
=312. Refer a singular pronoun to a singular antecedent.=
_Wrong._ He carefully crated and boxed the seed to stand
weathering, and shipped them to India.
_Right._ He carefully crated and boxed the seed to stand
weathering, and shipped it to India.
_Wrong._ Everyone did justice to their appetite.
_Right._ Everyone did justice to his appetite.
_Revise._ One can tell when they come to these villages because
of the smell of the cod.
=313. Make the verb agree with its subject.=
_Wrong._ The first five years of my life was spent here.
_Right._ The first five years of my life were spent here.
_Revise._ Magazines, especially the _American_, is what I enjoy
reading.
=314. Make the verb agree with its subject. _Each_, _each one_, _every_,
_everyone_, _everybody_, _anyone_, _anybody_, _either_, _neither_,
_none_, _no one_, _nobody_, are singular.=
_Wrong._ Neither of these treat the subject thoroughly.
_Right._ Neither of these treats the subject thoroughly.
_Wrong._ Oh, how I wanted a bicycle. Everyone either got one or
were going to get one.
_Right._ Oh, how I wanted a bicycle. Everyone either got one or
was going to get one.
_Revise._ For that reason almost everybody there get sleepy.
=315. Make the verb agree with its subject. Two or more singular nouns
joined by _and_ form a plural subject.=
_Wrong._ Across the street is the engineering building and the
university heating plant.
_Right._ Across the street are the engineering building and the
university heating plant.
_Revise._ Both the plot and the style was very good.
=316. Make the verb agree with its subject. Singular nouns or pronouns
joined by _or_ or _nor_ form a singular subject.=
_Wrong._ Clarabell or Sue are going.
_Right._ Clarabell or Sue is going.
_Wrong._ Neither Henry nor Herbert were well treated.
_Right._ Neither Henry nor Herbert was well treated.
_Revise._ Either the captain or the sergeant have made a
mistake.
=317. Make the verb agree with its subject. A collective noun requires a
singular verb if the group is regarded as a unit, a plural verb if it is
regarded as a collection of individuals.=
_Wrong._ She drills us on a lesson until she is sure the class
are familiar with everything in each assignment.
_Right._ She drills us on a lesson until she is sure the class
is familiar with everything in each assignment.
_Wrong._ Sometimes when some member of the class makes a
mistake in his speech, the rest of the class laugh and talk
about it.
_Right._ Sometimes when some member of the class makes a
mistake in his speech, the rest of the class laughs and talks
about it.
_Revise._ Another committee, known as the advisory committee,
is composed of one member from each district, and are chosen by
the board of the district bank represented.
=318. Make the verb agree with its subject. An intervening noun must not
attract the verb into a different form.=
_Wrong._ The number of bearings in a car vary.
_Right._ The number of bearings in a car varies.
_Wrong._ The grounds upon which the building stands consists of
half a city block.
_Right._ The grounds upon which the building stands consist of
half a city block.
_Revise._ A copy of the orders are also sent to the checker.
=319. Make the verb agree with its subject. _There is_ and _there are_
must agree with the subject which follows.=
_Wrong._ There is always a few minutes now and then for reading
newspapers.
_Right._ There are always a few minutes now and then for
reading newspapers.
_Revise._ As I think of my subject there seems to be many
phases open for investigation.
=320. Make the verb agree with its subject. Phrases introduced by
_besides_, _with_, _together with_, _accompanied by_, _including_, _as
well as_, do not affect the number of the verb.=
_Wrong._ The major, as well as all the lieutenants, were soon
out in the open.
_Right._ The major, as well as all the lieutenants, was soon
out in the open.
_Wrong._ Mary, together with Florence, Mabel, and Pearl, are
going to be there.
_Right._ Mary, together with Florence, Mabel, and Pearl, is
going to be there.
_Revise._ The whole army, including the Fifth and Seventh
corps, have received orders to entrain.
=321. Make the verb agree with its subject. If both singular and plural
substantives joined by _or_ or _nor_ make up the subject, the number of
the verb depends upon that of the nearest substantive.=
_Wrong._ Neither the directors nor the president are in
sympathy with the proposal.
_Right._ Neither the directors nor the president is in sympathy
with the proposal.
_Revise._ The rodmill or the furnaces goes on double turn today.
=322. Make the verb agree with its subject. Verbs used with _who_,
_which_, _that_, must agree in person and number with the antecedent of
the pronoun.=
_Wrong._ Each man and woman who were present came away
disgruntled.
_Right._ Each man and woman who was present came away
disgruntled.
_Revise._ These horses that stands here are not for sale.
=323. Make the verb agree with its subject—not with a predicated noun or
nouns.=
_Wrong._ The type of literature I enjoy are books of travel.
_Right._ The type of literature I enjoy is books of travel.
_Revise._ Another group of novels I have read are _Main
Street_, _The Bright Shawl_, and _If Winter Comes_.
=324. Make the verb agree with its subject. The form _don’t_ is correct
in the first and second persons singular and in all persons plural. The
form _doesn’t_ is the only correct form in the third person singular.=
_Wrong._ He don’t seem to know us.
_Right._ He doesn’t seem to know us.
_Revise._ The majority don’t think.
=325. Distinguish between the past tense and the past participle of
irregular verbs.=
_Present_ _Past_ _Past Participle_
He begins he began he has begun
He blows he blew he has blown
It breaks it broke it has broken
He comes he came he has come
He does he did he has done
He draws he drew he has drawn
He drinks he drank he has drunk
He drives he drove he has driven
He eats he ate he has eaten
He falls he fell he has fallen
He flies he flew he has flown
It freezes it froze it has frozen
It grows it grew it has grown
He goes he went he has gone
He knows he knew he has known
He rides he rode he has ridden
It rings it rang it has rung
It rises it rose it has risen
He runs he ran he has run
He sees he saw he has seen
It shakes it shook it has shaken
It shrinks it shrank it has shrunk
He sings he sang he has sung
He speaks he spoke he has spoken
He steals he stole he has stolen
He swims he swam he has swum
He takes he took he has taken
It tears it tore it has torn
He throws he threw he has thrown
_Revise._
I wonder what he has did?
Have you saw him?
He has ran the car into the ditch.
=326. Use the correct past tense or past participle of the following
verbs—not the illiterate form.=
_Present_ _Past_ _Past Participle_
It bursts it burst it has burst
He catches he caught he has caught
He dives he dived he has dived
He drags he dragged he has dragged
He draws he drew he has drawn
He drowns he drowned he has drowned
He eats he ate he has eaten
He grows he grew he has grown
He holds he held he has held
He knows he knew he has known
He leads he led he has led
He proves he proved he has proved
He shows he showed he has shown
He swears he swore he has sworn
He throws he threw he has thrown
He ought he ought (_Had ought_ is not
in good usage)
_Revise._
What has she ate.
I drug it three yards.
I drawed him out.
He drownded last week.
=327. Distinguish between _lie_ and _lay_, _sit_ and _set_, _rise_ and
_raise_.=
_Wrong._ He laid in the hammock all morning.
_Right._ He lay in the hammock all morning.
_Wrong._ All right, set there, then.
_Right._ All right, sit there, then.
_Wrong._ We all raised up and shouted.
_Right._ We all rose up and shouted.
_Revise._ I laid on the couch while the rest of them set around
waiting for me to raise up and tell them to go home.
=328. Use _shall_ in the first person, _will_ in the second and third, to
express simple futurity.=
_Wrong._ I feel that I have had more military training than I
will get here in the university.
_Right._ I feel that I have had more military training than I
shall get here in the university.
_Wrong._ You shall fail unless you get to work.
_Right._ You will fail unless you get to work.
_Revise._ He shall never be found if we do not hurry.
=329. Use _should_ in the first person, _would_ in the second and third,
to express relative futurity.=
_Wrong._ I would like to give it to you.
_Right._ I should like to give it to you.
_Wrong._ He should be glad to help you, I’m sure.
_Right._ He would be glad to help you, I’m sure.
_Revise._ You shouldn’t do that, should you?
=330. In questions, use _shall_ in the first person. In the second and
third persons, use that auxiliary which will be correctly used in the
answer.=
_Wrong._ Will I help you?
_Right._ Shall I help you?
_Wrong._ Will you be at home tonight?
_Right._ Shall you be at home tonight?
_Revise._ Shall she be asked?
=331. To express determination on the part of the speaker, use _will_ in
the first person, _shall_ in the second and third persons.=
_Wrong._ He will tell you; I am determined.
_Right._ He shall tell you; I am determined.
_Wrong._ You will go; I have decided.
_Right._ You shall go; I have decided.
_Revise._ I shall do it; nobody can prevent me.
=332. Make the tenses of parallel verbs conform to one another.=
_Wrong._ I would go down to the library every Saturday and
there I got a book about radio.
_Right._ I would go down to the library every Saturday and
there I would get a book about radio.
_Revise._ I traveled all over the state until I had seen
everything or until I became tired.
=333. Use the present tense for assertions that are universally true.=
_Wrong._ Mars was the most nearly red of all the planets.
_Right._ Mars is the most nearly red of all the planets.
_Revise._ The earth was eight thousand miles in diameter.
=334. Make the tense of a verb in a subordinate clause relative to that
of the verb in the main clause.=
_Wrong._ I also read new, popular novels that I would find in
the public library.
_Right._ I also read new, popular novels that I found in the
public library.
_Revise._ I probably would never have read such low, vulgar
stuff if it were not for the war.
=335. Use the present tense of the infinitive unless its action is
earlier than that of the main verb.=
_Wrong._ It was wrong for you to have gone.
_Right._ It was wrong for you to go.
_Wrong._ I ought to answer before that had happened.
_Right._ I ought to have answered before that had happened.
_Revise._ I intended to have told you.
=336. Use an adverb of time to show that the subordinate clause differs
in time from the main clause.=
_Wrong._ The reason for the fertility of Iowa farm land is that
an ice sheet spread over almost the entire area of the state.
_Right._ The reason for the fertility of Iowa farm land is that
an ice sheet once spread over almost the entire area of the
state.
_Revise._ One little corner of Iowa contains many steep hills
because the ice did not reach it.
=337. Use the subjunctive mood in contrary to fact conditions.=
_Wrong._ If I was you, I should not do that.
_Right._ If I were you, I should not do that.
_Revise._ If he was not ill, he might win today.
=338. Use _have_, the correct auxiliary, not _of_, carelessly written for
the unaccented _have_.=
_Wrong._ You should of seen him run.
_Right._ You should have seen him run.
_Revise._ If it had not rained today, we might of gone away.
=339. _Had ought_ and _hadn’t ought_ are not standard English; _ought_
has no past participle and no past perfect tense.=
_Wrong._ You hadn’t ought to have come so soon.
_Right._ You ought not to have come so soon.
_Revise._ I had ought to have told you but I didn’t have the
courage.
=340. Make a complete sentence out of a fragment carelessly punctuated as
if it were a sentence.=
_Wrong._ I took time to make friends and eventually enjoyed
myself in the same way as any other little girl. My favorite
sport being skating.
_Right._ I took time to make friends and eventually enjoyed
myself in the same way as any other little girl. My favorite
sport was skating.
_Revise._ At seven o’clock every morning I hear the faint
tinkling of a bell which soon becomes an insistent ring,
and another day has begun. Then a dash down the cold stairs
followed by a hurried wash, then down to breakfast.
=341. Attach a phrase, carelessly punctuated as if it were a sentence, to
the sentence to which it belongs.=
_Wrong._ This was placed in a chemical solution, called
developer, for fifteen or twenty minutes. Sometimes even longer.
_Right._ This was placed in a chemical solution, called
developer, for fifteen or twenty minutes, and sometimes even
longer.
_Revise._ My office hours were unlimited during the summer
months. Usually from seven in the morning until after six
o’clock at night on week days.
=342. Attach a participial phrase, carelessly punctuated as if it were a
sentence, to the sentence to which it belongs.=
_Wrong._ We arrived on the peak before sunrise. This being the
best time to arrive.
_Right._ We arrived on the peak before sunrise, this being the
best time.
_Revise._ Asher won the mile in 4:32. Thus breaking the record.
=343. Attach a subordinate clause, carelessly punctuated as if it were a
sentence, to the sentence to which it belongs.=
_Wrong._ Soon after it is plowed. It should be harrowed several
times in order to crush out all the lumps of dirt.
_Right._ Soon after it is plowed it should be harrowed several
times in order to crush out all the lumps of dirt.
_Revise._ When the grain is dry enough to be threshed. The
owner issues invitations for a threshing bee.
=344. Attach part of a compound subject, carelessly punctuated as if it
were a sentence, to the sentence to which it belongs.=
_Wrong._ John, wearing a straw hat. Then his brother, garbed in
a dress suit, entered the hall.
_Right._ John, wearing a straw hat, followed by his brother,
garbed in a dress suit, entered the hall.
_Revise._ The memorial stadium and the chemistry building. The
new administration building and the women’s gymnasium have all
been built since 1910.
=345. Attach part of a compound predicate, carelessly punctuated as if it
were a sentence, to the sentence to which it belongs.=
_Wrong._ The beacon flared. And lighted up the darkness for
miles.
_Right._ The beacon flared and lighted up the darkness for
miles.
_Revise._ Who has ever heard of Dolliver? Much less has ever
been there.
=346. Complete a construction begun but left unfinished.=
_Wrong._ They rediscount notes which arise out of and the
proceeds of which are employed for agricultural, industrial,
and commercial purposes.
_Right._ They rediscount notes which arise out of agricultural,
industrial, and commercial transactions and employ the proceeds
in similar transactions.
_Revise._ Anybody who could design an engine like that, the
largest automobile manufacturers in the country would compete
for his services.
=347. Give every finite verb a subject.=
_Wrong._ It has been about fifteen months since I left high
school, and have not done any studying since.
_Right._ It has been about fifteen months since I left high
school, and I have not done any studying since.
_Revise._ The town has not yet built a very large high school
building, because there are not enough citizens to defray the
expense and have not yet been able to obtain the co-operation
of the farmers.
=348. Insert a word or words which have been carelessly omitted.=
_Wrong._ Their complexion is a reddish color.
_Right._ Their complexion is of a reddish color.
_Wrong._ Hundreds of small creeks were constructed by the
association, for the benefit of an individual.
_Right._ Hundreds of small creeks were constructed by the
association, each for the benefit of an individual.
_Revise._ I consider him my favorite poet not because of his
style but of the feeling in his verse.
=349. Insert material necessary to make evident what is implied.=
_Wrong._ Mr. T.’s method of teaching is stimulating, but
his lack of the English language makes him an undesirable
instructor.
_Right._ Mr. T.’s method of teaching is stimulating, but
his lack of knowledge of the English language makes him an
undesirable instructor.
_Revise._ Douglas Fairbanks is truer to life than the book.
=350. Give every sentence element some grammatical construction.=
_Wrong._ In my American literature class the instructor thought
that it was essential for us to study, at least once a week,
that had to do with current happenings.
_Right._ In my American literature class the instructor thought
that it was essential for us to study, at least once a week,
something that had to do with current happenings.
_Revise._ You should select the ears that have medium-sized
kernels and filled out well at each end.
=351. Use _that_ to introduce noun clauses after verbs of _saying_,
_thinking_, or _feeling_, unless the construction is obvious.=
_Wrong._ I have decided the topic for my long theme will be
_Prehistoric Man_.
_Right._ I have decided that the topic for my long theme will
be _Prehistoric Man_.
_Revise._ Father felt a secondhand car was beneath our dignity.
=352. Make the comparison accurate by inserting a demonstrative pronoun:
_that of_, _those of_, _these which_, etc.=
_Wrong._ Our condition is far better than the students of the
East.
_Right._ Our condition is far better than that of the students
of the East.
_Revise._ The history of the Book of Mormon is very much like
the Bible.
=353. Insert _as_ after the positive of an adjective or an adverb when it
is followed by a conjunction and the comparative with _than_.=
_Wrong._ I am at least as tall or a little taller than anyone
in the first squad.
_Right._ I am at least as tall as, or a little taller than,
anyone in the first squad.
_Revise._ I enjoy biography as well if not better than fiction.
=354. Insert _much_ or _greatly_ between _very_ and a past participle.=
_Wrong._ I was very disappointed.
_Right._ I was very much disappointed.
_Revise._ His table manners showed that they had been very
neglected up to the time we took him in hand.
=355. Repeat the verb in a different person or number if necessary to
make it agree with the second of two alternative subjects.=
_Wrong._ Either he or I goes.
_Right._ Either he goes or I go.
_Revise._ If he or I win the pole vault, Petersham will finish
among the first three in the meet.
=356. Repeat the auxiliary verb if necessary to make it agree with a
second subject in a different person or number.=
_Wrong._ Whether you or Jim is elected makes no difference to
me.
_Right._ Whether you are elected or Jim is, makes no difference
to me.
_Revise._ If you or any other student is caught cheating it
means just one thing—expulsion of the guilty person.
=357. Repeat _is_, _are_, _was_, _were_, etc., if the verb is used both
as a copula and as an auxiliary.=
_Wrong._ Their government was rude and founded solely upon
custom.
_Right._ Their government was rude and was founded solely upon
custom.
_Revise._ Our house is small and built to live in.
=358. Use the correct form of the verb after each of two auxiliaries
which require two different forms.=
_Wrong._ I have always and always shall like cowboy stories.
_Right._ I have always liked and always shall like cowboy
stories.
_Revise._ I hope I may in the future, as I have always in
the past, play fair, whatever may be the provocation to do
otherwise.
=359. Use the correct conjunction, _though_ or _but_ rather than _while_;
_as soon as_ rather than _immediately_; _if_ rather than _so_.=
_Wrong._ Immediately I received the telegram I went home.
_Right._ As soon as I received the telegram I went home.
_Wrong._ It was in the latter part of my high school days when
I did most of my reading.
_Right._ It was in the latter part of my high school days that
I did most of my reading.
_Revise._ I had not gone to school long until it burned down.
=360. Use a transitional word, phrase, or clause to carry the reader from
one unrelated idea to another.=
_Wrong._ I wanted to be popular; how could I start?
_Right._ I wanted to be popular, but the question was, how
could I start.
_Revise._ Officers will be elected, and a good attendance is
desired.
=361. Avoid shifting from one construction to another.=
_Wrong._ Consider the football season just ended, Merrill did
more for the success of the team than any other captain Ohio
ever had.
_Right._ In the football season just ended Merrill did more for
the success of the team than any other captain Ohio ever had.
_Revise._ I enjoyed the freshman year with its essays and
themes, since it proved to be a subject which I did not find
difficult.
=362. In the formula _one of the most ... if not the most ..._ put the
noun in the first element of the formula.=
_Wrong._ It was one of the slowest if not the slowest game ever
played on the Oval.
_Right._ It was one of the slowest games, if not the slowest,
ever played on the Oval.
_Revise._ As a statesman he deserves to rank as one of the
most, if not the most, contemptible figures in our history.
=363. Phrase the subject so that it exactly fits the predication required
by the verb.=
_Wrong._ Mr. Swinnerton’s novel, _Nocturne_, takes place in one
night.
_Right._ The action in Mr. Swinnerton’s novel, _Nocturne_,
takes place in one night.
_Revise._ The character of Mr. Pickwick is a funny creature.
=364. Use the precise verb which is idiomatically required to predicate
the subject.=
_Wrong._ Only one hour of relaxation existed for the noon meal.
_Right._ Only one hour of relaxation was allowed for the noon
meal.
_Revise._ The freshman lecture last week consisted of four
speakers.
=365. Use the idiomatic preposition required after the noun.=
_Wrong._ I went to the library in search for material.
_Right._ I went to the library in search of material.
_Revise._ His personality is one of the greatest factors for
his success.
=366. Use different prepositions after nouns, adjectives, or verbs which
idiomatically require different prepositions.=
_Wrong._ Am I included or excluded from this list?
_Right._ Am I included in or excluded from this list?
_Revise._ American literature is dependent or at least derived
from English literature.
=367. Use a more idiomatic construction.=
_Wrong._ I have often had the desire of some day taking a
vacation into the Rocky Mountains of the West.
_Right._ I have often wanted some time to spend a vacation
among the Rocky Mountains in the West.
_Revise._ Carrie Stevens from Wilton passed three days visiting
the parental home last week.
_Revise._ I spoke with him for something more than ten minutes.
=368. Use a less awkward construction.=
_Wrong._ Dr. Otto’s automobile was badly damaged in the
collision, but Mrs. Otto, driving, was unhurt, fortunately.
_Right._ Dr. Otto’s automobile was badly damaged in the
collision, but Mrs. Otto, who was driving, was fortunately
unhurt.
_Revise._ During my senior year I had some experience in
dramatics by taking part in the class play.
=369. Use a predicated noun rather than a predicated clause beginning
with _when_ or _where_.=
_Wrong._ A B.A. is where you are graduated in a liberal arts
course.
_Right._ A B.A. is a degree given to graduates of a liberal
arts course.
_Revise._ Golf is where you try to get the ball into the hole
in the fewest possible number of strokes.
=370. Use _that_ to introduce a predicated clause of reason.=
_Wrong._ The reason I have not read more is due to the fact
that I have had no time.
_Right._ The reason I have not read more is that I have had no
time.
_Revise._ My reason for reading this book was because I had
previously seen the same story in the movies.
=371. Use the formula _the fact that ..._ to introduce a clause of reason
used as the subject.=
_Wrong._ Since you insist forces me to yield.
_Right._ The fact that you insist forces me to yield.
_Revise._ Because he looked so weak made me offer him a ride.
=372. Use _due to_, _owing to_, and _caused by_ only as adjectives,
obviously modifying a noun. (See 418.)=
_Wrong._ This question is very difficult to answer due to the
small amount of information available.
_Right._ The difficulty about answering this question is caused
by the scarcity of information available.
_Right._ This question is very difficult to answer because
little information is available.
_Revise._ Owing to the high wind Porter’s punts in the second
half averaged only twenty-eight yards.
=373. Use _because of_ and _on account of_ only as prepositions to
introduce adverbial phrases attached to verbs.=
_Wrong._ Purdue’s victory was because of the wet field.
_Right._ Purdue won because of the wet field.
_Right._ Purdue’s victory was due to the wet field.
_Revise._ His kindness to me was on account of his friendship
for my father.
=374. Attach a modifying word, phrase, or clause directly to the modified
element without an intervening _and_ or _but_. _And_ or _but_ should be
used to join only co-ordinate elements.=
_Wrong._ The village priests were of a lower class and lived
like peasants, and preaching only to the peasants.
_Right._ The village priests were of a lower class and lived
like peasants, preaching only to the peasants.
_Revise._ The study of musical appreciation is very
interesting, and especially when one begins to find out how
little he knows about it.
=375. Discard completely any part of a sentence which has nothing to do
with your thought.=
_Wrong._ We arrived in Boston before noon, and the corn was
fully six inches high.
_Right._ We arrived in Boston before noon.
_Revise._ Hugh Walpole is an Englishman, but Poe wrote The
Raven.
=376. Discard a redundant _that_.=
_Wrong._ I really think that upon investigation that we are
shown the shallowness of the objections.
_Right._ I really think that upon investigation we are shown
the shallowness of the objections.
_Revise._ I knew that if I did not read some of my outside
readings before Christmas that I probably should not be up with
my work in time to pass the course.
=377. Change the present participial phrase into a parallel verb or into
a parallel clause if the time of action of the participle differs from
that of the main verb.=
_Wrong._ Leaving home before breakfast, we arrived at our
destination in time for dinner.
_Right._ We left home before breakfast and arrived at our
destination in time for dinner.
_Revise._ He is thirty-six, being born in 1887.
=378. Put the noun into an _of_ phrase, not into the possessive case,
when the noun is the object of the verbal idea in a verbal noun in
_-ing_.=
_Wrong._ Lincoln’s shooting is one of the most tragic events in
American history.
_Right._ The shooting of Lincoln is one of the most tragic
events in American history.
_Revise._ One-eyed Pete’s converting firmly established the new
minister in the eyes of the whole community.
=379. Use an _of_ phrase after the abstract verbal noun in _-ing_.=
_Wrong._ The legislators viewed protection only as a policy for
the fostering industry.
_Right._ The legislators viewed protection only as a policy for
the fostering of industry.
_Revise._ The giving examinations is overdone here.
=380. Two unconnected main clauses must be punctuated as two sentences,
or must be joined with a conjunction, or one clause must be made
subordinate.=
_Wrong._ The fireless cooker that I made consisted of an outer
wooden box which contained a fairly good-sized metal pail,
the box was large enough to allow for at least five inches of
packing.
_Right._ The fireless cooker that I made consisted of an outer
wooden box which contained a fairly good-sized metal pail.
The box was large enough to allow for at least five inches of
packing.
_Wrong._ Nine months of the year I went to school the other
three I worked at home on the farm.
_Right._ Nine months of the year I went to school and the other
three I worked at home on the farm.
_Wrong._ Next, you apply one coat of paint it can be put on
rather thick as you have to rub most of it off later.
_Right._ Next, you apply one coat of paint, which can be put on
rather thick, as you have to rub most of it off later.
_Revise._ The senior English class is required to do some work
in dramatics, this is done by giving the annual class play.
=381. Join co-ordinate elements with _and_; the word _also_ is an adverb,
not a conjunction.=
_Wrong._ The Navajoes have large herds of cattle, also many
fine horses.
_Right._ The Navajoes have large herds of cattle and many fine
horses.
_Revise._ The pitcher made a home run, also two singles.
=382. Join co-ordinate main clauses with a conjunction, _and_, _but_,
_for_, _or_ or _nor_; or make one clause subordinate. Such words as _so_,
_then_, _therefore_, and _also_ are not conjunctions.=
_Wrong._ I have no favorite kinds of books, however, I do read
a great deal.
_Right._ I have no favorite kinds of books, but I do read a
great deal.
_Wrong._ I had to run to supper both nights so I decided I
would quit.
_Right._ After I had had to run to supper both nights I decided
I would quit.
_Revise._ Before school and on Saturdays I worked either in
a restaurant or in a clothing store, so my reading has been
limited for the last two years.
=383. Place similar modifiers of the same word together.=
_Wrong._ We saw an old house painted white.
_Right._ We saw an old white house.
_Revise._ He had a stern face, forbidding and ugly.
=384. Use only one negative in a clause.=
_Wrong._ You haven’t seen nothing yet.
_Right._ You have seen nothing yet.
_Right._ You haven’t seen anything yet.
_Revise._ She had not gone no farther than the post office when
she heard a shot.
=385. Use _or_ as a conjunction—not _nor_—when the first of the connected
elements carries a negative.=
_Wrong._ Some seeds do not need to be very deep in the ground
nor very far apart.
_Right._ Some seeds do not need to be very deep in the ground
or very far apart.
_Revise._ A favorite son is not necessarily known throughout
the whole country, nor even in the neighboring states.
=386. Omit the negative as a supposed reinforcer of _hardly_, _scarcely_,
_only_, and _but_.=
_Wrong._ I can’t scarcely realize it yet.
_Right._ I can scarcely realize it yet.
_Revise._ I do not like but two kinds of reading matter: novels
and short stories.
=387. Use an adverb—not an adjective—to modify a verb, an adjective, or
another adverb. Adverbs formed from adjectives end in _-ly_.=
_Wrong._ I worked steady all vacation.
_Right._ I worked steadily all vacation.
_Revise._ I never expect to become a real proficient student in
this subject.
=388. Predicated adjectives are used correctly after the verbs _is_,
_are_, _was_, _were_, _become_, _seem_, _feel_, _appear_, _look_,
_sound_, _taste_, _smell_, _stand_, and _ring_ when the adjective
characterizes the subject and not the action.=
_Wrong._ This orange tastes sweetly.
_Right._ This orange tastes sweet.
_Revise._ His speech rings falsely.
=389. Relative pronouns _who_, _which_, _that_, are correctly used as
follows: _who_ if the antecedent is a person; _which_ if the antecedent
is an animal or a thing; _that_ if the antecedent is a person, an animal,
or a thing.=
_Wrong._ I once worked for a farmer which worked from sunrise
to sunset.
_Right._ I once worked for a farmer who worked from sunrise to
sunset.
_Revise._ I have a dog who is almost as intelligent as a man.
PRACTICE
1. Them and us were not invited. (300)
2. Whom do you think ought to go? (301)
3. As to whom is best qualified, consult the dean. (302)
4. It was never them. (303)
5. Who is going, him and her? (304)
6. He made me as strong as they. (305)
7. How could you consider Mary going? (306)
8. He is one of art’s greatest contributors. (307)
9. The greatest duty lies toward the parents of the boy or girl who they
send to college. (308)
10. Who did you think her to be? (309)
11. I thought the person to have been he. (310)
12. What about these sort of seeds? (311)
13. When one goes back to work they feel like accomplishing something.
(312)
14. His explanations are very much in detail but does not hit the mark.
(313)
15. If either are late to class, both receive a setback. (314)
16. Scraping and varnishing is necessary in this case. (315)
17. He thinks neither Byron nor Shelley are great poets. (316)
18. A number has already gathered about the jail. (317)
19. The lining of blankets keep the cold air out. (318)
20. There is too many open windows in the house. (319)
21. The football team, in addition to as many graduate players as can be
reached, are invited. (320)
22. Neither Frank nor the Holliwells knows her. (321)
23. Everybody who were there was pleased. (322)
24. The fruit I like best are strawberries. (323)
25. Robert don’t read anything. (324)
26. I wonder what he has drank. (325)
27. He had ought to go. (326)
28. I raised up and shouted at them either to set down or lay down; it
didn’t matter which they did. (327)
29. I will never forget the pleasant time we had at graduation. (328)
30. They should have gone, but it rained. (329)
31. Shall he be able to come? (330)
32. I shall speak to him about it; I insist upon it. (331)
33. He told me time after time and would insist that Percival had told
the whole truth. (332)
34. He said the sun was 93,000,000 miles from the earth. (333)
35. I seldom remember the name of the book or of the author until I would
see the book again. (334)
36. She wanted me to have gone before you came. (335)
37. Vanadium steel is used to make many parts of the Ford car which were
made of various other kinds. (336)
38. If she was able to go, we should have a good time. (337)
39. It would of been better if the paint had dried slowly. (338)
40. They hadn’t ought to have tried that. (339)
41. The varsity basketball outlook is much brighter than was the case
for football. Six letter men on the squad, four other candidates of
outstanding ability, and a coach who says that he will stop at nothing
short of a championship. (340)
42. They were a wonderful six weeks. Just full of happenings of all
kinds. (341)
43. In the first year ancient history is taken up once or twice a
week. The rest of the time being devoted to the study of rhetoric and
composition. (342)
44. I arrived home late in the afternoon. After I had been riding an hour
and a half. (343)
45. In the East, Boston, New York, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia. In the
West, Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh make up the league.
(344)
46. Frightened nearly to death, my friend ran into the house. And hid
there for a long time before she was willing even to look out the window.
(345)
47. The condition that arose, I was unable to meet my obligation. (346)
48. Up in the mountains there would be very few people to bother you, and
would thus enable you to spend many hours alone. (347)
49. Dancing was the next on the program. (348)
50. This historical event has had a great deal to do with the books I
have read and also many other students and persons of my age. (349)
51. It was dark and no other possible way to get there. (350)
52. We heard something exciting was sure to happen before the night was
over. (351)
53. The next time over, the corn is plowed in the opposite direction from
which it was planted. (352)
54. Barnes is as good a hitter and a much more consistent one than anyone
else on the team. (353)
55. He was very surprised to see us. (354)
56. What you or he thinks makes no difference here. (355)
57. If you or he is going, it is time to start now. (356)
58. The science building is three stories high and constructed of brick.
(357)
59. Drinking I have always avoided and always will. (358)
60. I went, while my father objected. (359)
61. More votes were cast than there were voters, and a new election was
ordered. (360)
62. For instance, one theater we were in, everything inside of it was
white. (361)
63. One of the saddest if not the saddest sight I ever saw met my eyes
when I opened the door. (362)
64. Shiloh was a crucial moment in the Civil War. (363)
65. The story was made up of the hills of Hingham. (364)
66. Fraternities were not included with my thoughts of college. (365)
67. The demand and popularity of the gladiatorial games resulted in a
number of uprisings against the government. (366)
68. I like reading books, but I enjoy even more to see a good play. (367)
69. The honors for high scoring for the afternoon spent in playing bridge
were awarded to Mary Devoe. (368)
70. Justice is where each man gets his deserts. (369)
71. The reason I have for liking it was because of the way the part of
Portia was played. (370)
72. Because you are ignorant is no excuse in the eyes of the law. (371)
73. Due to these facts, my reading was neglected. (372)
74. The size of my feet is because of what happened one summer when I was
a bell hop. (373)
75. The observer turns to the east, and looking down a short residential
street which leads to a well-kept cemetery. (374)
76. They say that fools’ names as well as faces are often seen in public
places, but I prefer prose to poetry. (375)
77. I felt that of all the courses I ever took that the one in civics did
the most for me. (376)
78. Parading up Jefferson street in the morning, we had a record-breaking
crowd for the evening performance. (377)
79. Chicago’s burning proved to be the making of the middle western
metropolis. (378)
80. The constant offering excuses enraged me. (379)
81. Every morning except one I have either military drill or physical
training, these serve to break the monotony of being cooped up in a class
room the rest of the time. (380)
82. I also like scout books and detective stories, also a good love story
once in a while. (381)
83. We stayed a few days in Boston and a day in Chicago, then we arrived
at our destination on a rainy Monday morning two hours before breakfast
time. (382)
84. Strong is he and brave. (383)
85. I wouldn’t take no insolence from him. (384)
86. The vassal had to swear that he would not injure his lord nor betray
his secrets. (385)
87. I don’t hardly see what else I could have done. (386)
88. He does not go so deep into details as to bore his students. (387)
89. The new bell sounds harshly. (388)
90. Among the eight instructors which I have are two which I abhor. (389)