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Read Ebook: How to Write Clearly: Rules and Exercises on English Composition by Abbott Edwin Abbott
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Ebook has 210 lines and 41285 words, and 5 pages
"When we look back upon the havoc that two hundred years have made in the ranks of our national authors--and, above all, we refer their rapid disappearance to the quick succession of new competitors--we cannot help being dismayed at the prospect that lies before the writers of the present day."
Here omit "when," and we at once substitute a parenthetical statement for what is really a subordinate clause.
In reporting a speech or opinion, "that" must be continually repeated, to avoid the danger of confusing what the writer says with what others say.
"We might say that the Caesars did not persecute the Christians; they only punished men who were charged, rightly or wrongly, with burning Rome, and committing the foulest abominations in secret assemblies; and the refusal to throw frankincense on the altar of Jupiter was not the crime, but only evidence of the crime." But see .
This repetition is more common with speakers than with writers, and with slovenly speakers than with good speakers.
Where the relative is either implied or repeated, the antecedent must often be repeated also. In the following sentence we have the Subject repeated not only in the final summary, but also as the antecedent:--
In the following there are two climaxes, each of which has three terms:--
In the following, there are several climaxes, and note how they contribute to the clearness of a long sentence:--
The neglect of climax produces an abruptness that interferes with the even flow of thought. Thus, if Pope, in his ironical address to mankind, had written--
"Go, wondrous creature, mount where science guides; Go, measure earth, weigh air, and state the tides; Go, teach Eternal Wisdom how to rule"--
the ascent would have been too rapid. The transition from earth to heaven, and from investigating to governing, is prepared by the intervening climax--
"Instruct the planets in what orbs to run; Correct old Time, and regulate the Sun; Go, soar with Plato to th' empyreal sphere, To the first good, first perfect, and first fair."
INTENTIONAL BATHOS has a humorous incongruity and abruptness that is sometimes forcible. For example, after the climax ending with the line--
"Go, teach Eternal Wisdom how to rule,"
Pope adds--
Excessive antithesis is unnatural and wearisome:--
Epigram may be defined as a "short sentence expressing truth under an amusing appearance of incongruity." It is often antithetical.
There is a sort of implied antithesis in:--
"Verbosity is cured by a large vocabulary."
Avoid a style like that of Bishop Burnet, which strings together a number of sentences with "and" or "so," or with no conjunction at all:
FOOTNOTES:
So useful that, on mature consideration, I am disposed to adopt "that" here and in several of the following exceptional cases.
Of course "and which" may be used where "which" precedes.
Of course punctuation will remove the ambiguity; but it is better to express oneself clearly, as far as possible, independently of punctuation.
Professor Bain.
See .
The repetition of Auxiliary Verbs and Pronominal Adjectives is also conducive to clearness.
Professor Bain says: "In the epigram the mind is roused by a conflict or contradiction between the form of the language and the meaning really conveyed."
This metaphor is not recommended for imitation.
BREVITY.
"The cares and responsibilities of a sovereign often disturb his sleep," is not so brief as "Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown," where the effect of care on the mind is assimilated to the effect of a heavy crown pressing on the head.
The words "of such a nature that" are often unnecessarily inserted. See the extract from Sir Archibald Alison.
Sometimes the participle "being" is omitted. "France at our doors, he sees no danger nigh," for "France being" or "though France is."
When sentences are short, as in Macaulay's writings, conjunctions may be advantageously omitted.
"He resided here for many years, and, after he had won the esteem of all the citizens, died," &c. So, "He came to, and was induced to reside in, this city," is shorter than "He came to this city, and was induced to reside in it."
"We are all offended at the treatment we have received," is shorter and more forcible than the sentence would have been if the parenthesis had been appended in a separate sentence: "Who, indeed, would not be offended?"
Extreme care must, however, be taken that a parenthesis may not obscure the meaning of a long sentence.
Forcible style springs from vividness and exactness of thought, and from a corresponding vividness and exactness in the use of words.
Exactness in the use of words requires an exact knowledge of their meanings and differences. This is a study by itself, and cannot be discussed here.
FOOTNOTES:
EXERCISES
Write "than for his friend," or "than had his friend," "had more attractions than his friend."
This sentence naturally stops at "purpose." Also "being restless" seems to give the reason why "leisure" could not be employed. Begin "Restless by nature...."
"unjustifiably." Write, for "which," either "an attempt that &c.," or "a failure that &c."
Write "the Navy." Instead of "to" write "in order to," so as to distinguish the different infinitives, "obsequiousness."
Begin with "In this line of action." Why? Write "than was France" or "than France was."
"This," "that," and "it," cause a little perplexity. Write "The startling assertion that the discoveries...." "ignored." "a mere youth," "a mere stripling."
Write "cardinal recommendations." Derive "cardinal." Write, either "and should report," or "and to report." Write "in its province," or "district."
What is a "period"? Express the particular kind of event . What is the meaning of "transpired"? Transpose thus: "While the king was on his return ... his horse ...; the king fell and &c." The cause should precede the effect.
Begin with "Believing that &c." "hoping thereby to satisfy &c." "to sell" or "on quitting.".
Point out the absurdity of "during which" applied to the last part of the sentence. "Meanwhile." Insert "then."
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