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case, or a phrase, a clause, or a sentence, used as a

noun.

It is the house of the man [not the man's house] who lives in Florida.

32. A pronoun and its grammatical antecedent should denote the same person or thing.

Incorrect: Leather shoes which had formerly been made of wood now appeared in France.

33. Do not use adjectives for adverbs, or adverbs for adjectives.

He writes well [not good].

34. If a proposition is intended to be negative, it must contain only one negative word or phrase.

He has [not hasn't] no bread.

35. The subjunctive mood is used in speaking of something uncertain or merely thought of as possible.

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The last two examples may well be regarded as elliptical forms of the potential mode; thus, [May] thy kingdom come, Judge not that ye [may] not be judged.

36. Be careful to use corresponding forms of verbs in principal and subordinate propositions.

Incorrect: If he received your letter, he would have come. Correct: If he had received your letter, he would have come.

37. In making comparisons, be sure that there is a similarity in the things or qualities compared.

Incorrect: Their notions are similar to Mr. Brown.

Correct: Their notions are similar to those of Mr. Brown.

In making contrasts, be sure that the things contrasted have opposite qualities.

38. Use the comparative degree when two objects or classes are compared, the superlative when more than two are compared.

He is the better of the two.

He is the best of all.

39. Avoid double forms of comparison.

Incorrect: This is the most costliest garment in the shop.
Correct: This is the most costly garment in the shop.

40. When a thing is compared with everything else of the same class, use the comparative degree with other (or equivalent word); or use the superlative degree without other (or equivalent word).

The Herald has a larger circulation than any other paper.

41. When the comparative degree is used the latter term of comparison should exclude the former; when the superlative is used, the latter term should include the former.

He is the greatest of all poets.
He is a greater poet than Milton.

42. Some adjectives express a quality incapable of increase or diminution; as, chief, extreme, universal, etc. In such cases, the comparative and superlative terminations should not be used.

Incorrect: He is the chiefest of sinners.

Correct He is the chief of sinners.

43. The co-ordinate conjunctions, and, or, but, etc., join co-ordinate words, phrases, clauses, or sentences. The word, phrase, clause, or sentence following the conjunction must therefore be similar to that preceding it.

The opinions are mine, and for them [not which] no one else is responsible.

Applying this general rule to a particular case, we may say that a co-ordinate conjunction can be followed by a relative clause only when it is also preceded by one.

RULES FOR ARRANGEMENT.

44. In the use of the personal pronouns in the singular, the second person precedes the others, and the third person precedes the first.

You and I will go. He and I will go. You and he will go.

In confessions the first person precedes the others.

45. Place prepositions before the relative pronouns governed by them.

Correct: The man of whom we read.
Incorrect: The man whom we read of.

That precedes its governing proposition.

The ship that we fired upon soon sank.

46. Adverbs, adjectives, phrases, and clauses should be placed near the words that they modify.

Correct: His dexterity appeared almost miraculous.
Incorrect: His dexterity almost appeared miraculous.
The word only requires especial care.

Correct He rents the store only.

Incorrect: He only rents the store.

47. An adverb should not be placed between the infinitive and its auxiliary to.

Correct: The alumni are requested to answer promptly.
Incorrect: The alumni are requested to promptly answer.

48. When either... or, neither... nor, whether...or, not only...but also, both... and, etc., are used correlatively, each correlative should be followed immediately by the same construction.

Correct: He answered neither my letter nor my card.
Incorrect: He neither answered my letter nor my card.

RULES FOR THE CHOICE OF WORDS.

49. Use, as far as possible, simple words of our mothertongue.

Correct: They shared the gains.

Incorrect: They participated in the pecuniary advantages.

50. Avoid all new, strange, foreign, provincial, and slang words and phrases.

Correct He understood the teacher.

Incorrect: He caught on to the teacher's remarks.

51. Do not use poetical words in prose composition.

Correct: His horse was in the meadow.

Incorrect: His steed was in the lea.

52. The pronouns formed by the addition of self and selves to some of the personal pronouns cannot be used as personal pronouns.

Mr. A. and I [not myself] will do it.

They are properly used only as direct and indirect reflexives, and as intensives.

53. In general, who relating to persons, and which relating to things, are best used as non-restrictive relatives; and that is best used as a restrictive relative.

Non-restrictive: Horses, which are very useful animals, are found wild in Brazil.

Restrictive: Horses that become very useful animals are found wild in Brazil.

Some good writers wholly disregard this rule. It is always subject to the following exceptions:

That should not be used (1) when the antecedent is modified by the adjective that, (2) when the antecedent is governed by a preposition, and (3) when the relative is separated by a phrase or a clause from its antecedent or its verb.

That should be used (1) when there are two antecedents, one requiring who and the other requiring which, (2) after a superlative, (3) after same, (4) after all or any similar antecedent expressing a general meaning limited by the following verb, (5) after who used interrogatively, (6) after it used indefinitely.

It was my father that [not who] said it.

The lady and the lap-dog that [not which] we saw.

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