CHAPTER XIII

Leslie M. Shaw, former Secretary of the Treasury, was in New York, attending a meeting of a board of which he is a member. Something was said about the present-day discussion of moneypower, and Shaw said that it reminded him of a speech he had made in Seattle in the campaign of 1896."I was speaking to a filled hall and had almost finished," said Shaw, "when a long-whiskered man arose about the middle of the hall and held up his hand, saying he wanted to ask a question."'Go ahead,' I said."'How, then, Mr. Speaker, do you explain the unequal distribution of wealth?' was his question."When I answered him with, 'In the same way that I explain the unequal distribution of whiskers,' bedlam broke loose."As soon as I could get quiet restored, I said: 'Now don't think I returned the answer I did to make fun of your whiskers. You will observe that I have no whiskers, as I dissipate them by shaving them off. Nature gives me abundance of whiskers, and, if I conserved them as you do, I also should be abundantly supplied. Now, it is the same way with money. The man who conserves his money has more than his share, as with whiskers; while the man who dissipates his money is without his allotment.'"

"I was speaking to a filled hall and had almost finished," said Shaw, "when a long-whiskered man arose about the middle of the hall and held up his hand, saying he wanted to ask a question.

"'Go ahead,' I said.

"'How, then, Mr. Speaker, do you explain the unequal distribution of wealth?' was his question.

"When I answered him with, 'In the same way that I explain the unequal distribution of whiskers,' bedlam broke loose.

"As soon as I could get quiet restored, I said: 'Now don't think I returned the answer I did to make fun of your whiskers. You will observe that I have no whiskers, as I dissipate them by shaving them off. Nature gives me abundance of whiskers, and, if I conserved them as you do, I also should be abundantly supplied. Now, it is the same way with money. The man who conserves his money has more than his share, as with whiskers; while the man who dissipates his money is without his allotment.'"

Exercise 190—The Semicolon (;)

The semicolon is used between the propositions of a compound sentence when no coördinate conjunction is used. (SeeExercise 176, 2.)

It is not work that kills men; it is worry.

It is important not to overdo this use of the semicolon. Do not use it unless the two principal clauses of the sentence taken together easily form one idea.

Especial care must be taken not to confuse coördinate conjunctions and conjunctive adverbs. The following are conjunctive adverbs:then,therefore,consequently,moreover,however,so,also,besides,thus,still,otherwise,accordingly. When they are used to join principal clauses, they should be preceded by a coördinate conjunction or a semicolon; as,

Fruit was plentiful, and therefore the price was low.Fruit was plentiful; therefore the price was low.

When there is a series of phrases or clauses, each of which is long and contains commas within itself, the sentencebecomes clearer if the members of the series are separated by semicolons instead of by commas; as,

You know how prolific the American mind has been in invention; how much civilization has been advanced by the steamboat, the cotton-gin, the sewing-machine, the reaping-machine, the typewriter, the electric light, the telephone, the phonograph.

Write the following from dictation:

No man can deny that the lines of endeavor have more and more narrowed and stiffened; no one who knows anything about the development of industry in this country can fail to have observed that the larger kinds of credit are more and more difficult to obtain, unless you obtain them upon the terms of uniting your efforts with those who already control the industries of the country; and nobody can fail to observe that any man who tries to set himself up in competition with any process of manufacture which has been taken under the control of large combinations of capital will presently find himself either squeezed out or obliged to sell and allow himself to be absorbed.—Woodrow Wilson:The New Freedom.

If the total amount of savings deposited in the savings banks were equally divided among the population of the country, the amount apportioned to each person in 1820 would have been twelve cents; in 1830, fifty-four cents; in 1840, eighty-two cents; in 1850, $1.87; in 1860, $4.75; in 1870, $14.26; in 1880, $16.33; in 1890, $24.75; in 1900, $31.78; in 1910, $45.05, and it is steadily increasing. Remember the fact that the population had increased from 10,000,000 in 1820 to over 90,000,000 in 1910; the "rainy day" money, therefore, assumes gigantic proportions.

In Germany, saysThe Scientific American, wood is too expensive to be burned, and it is made into artificial silk worth two dollars a pound and bristles worth four dollars a pound; into paper, yarn, twine, carpet, canvas, and cloth. Parquet flooring is made from sawdust; the materials may be bought by the pound and then mixed, so that the householder can lay his own hardwood floors according to his individual taste and ingenuity.

The country gentlemen and country clergymen had fully expected that the policy of these ministers would be directly opposed to that which had been almost constantly followed by William; that the landed interest would be favored at the expense of trade; that no addition would be made to the funded debt; that the privileges conceded to Dissenters by the late king would be curtailed, if not withdrawn; that the war with France, if there must be such a war, would, on our part, be almost entirely naval; and that the government would avoid close connections with foreign powers and, above all, with Holland.—Macaulay.

Exercise 191—The Colon (:)

The colon is always used to indicate that something of importance follows, usually an enumeration or a list of some kind, or a quotation of several sentences or paragraphs; as,

1. Three things are necessary: intelligence, perseverance, and tact.2. The buffalo supplies them with almost all the necessities of life: with habitation, food, and clothing; with strings for their bows; with thread, cordage, and trail-ropes for their horses; with coverings for their saddles; and with the means of purchasing all that they desire from traders.3. Quoting from the current number of the—— Magazine, he read: (four paragraphs).

1. Three things are necessary: intelligence, perseverance, and tact.

2. The buffalo supplies them with almost all the necessities of life: with habitation, food, and clothing; with strings for their bows; with thread, cordage, and trail-ropes for their horses; with coverings for their saddles; and with the means of purchasing all that they desire from traders.

3. Quoting from the current number of the—— Magazine, he read: (four paragraphs).

Punctuate:

1. For the first fifty miles we had companions with us Troche a little trapper and Rouville a nondescript in the employ of the fur company.2. About a week previous four men had arrived from beyond the mountains Sublette Reddick and two others.3. Reynal was gazing intently he began to speak at last "Many a time when I was with the Indians I have been hunting gold all through the Black Hills there's a plenty of it here you may be certain of that I have dreamed about it fifty times" etc.4. Objects familiar from childhood surrounded me crags and rocks a black and sullen brook that gurgled with a hollow voice among the crevices a wood of mossy distorted trees.

1. For the first fifty miles we had companions with us Troche a little trapper and Rouville a nondescript in the employ of the fur company.

2. About a week previous four men had arrived from beyond the mountains Sublette Reddick and two others.

3. Reynal was gazing intently he began to speak at last "Many a time when I was with the Indians I have been hunting gold all through the Black Hills there's a plenty of it here you may be certain of that I have dreamed about it fifty times" etc.

4. Objects familiar from childhood surrounded me crags and rocks a black and sullen brook that gurgled with a hollow voice among the crevices a wood of mossy distorted trees.

Exercise 192

The colon is used afterthus,as follows,the following, or similar expressions; as,

Name the adverbs in the following: He left hurriedly rather early in the morning.

The colon is not used afternamely,as,that is,for example, for instance, and the like. Such expressions are preceded by the semicolon and followed by the comma.

Punctuate the following:

1. The Christmas presents that he wants are the following a toy train a toy automobile a toy circus and a printing press.2. Do the exercise thus first lunge to the left second raise the arms forward and third wind the wand.3. We are offering for sale three residences of the size that you wish namely 438 Bishop Ave 1614 Winchester St and 2015 Logan Square.4. The following are the two that we liked best 438 Bishop Ave and 2015 Logan Square.5. One use of the comma is to set off an appositive for example Mr Kearne the buyer has left the city.6. The comma is used to set off an independent adverb as We have not yet decided however when we shall leave.7. The plan is this I'll do the work and you pay for the materials.8. The officers are as follows Edward Lawrence for President John Kelly for Secretary and Fred Morrison for Treasurer.

1. The Christmas presents that he wants are the following a toy train a toy automobile a toy circus and a printing press.

2. Do the exercise thus first lunge to the left second raise the arms forward and third wind the wand.

3. We are offering for sale three residences of the size that you wish namely 438 Bishop Ave 1614 Winchester St and 2015 Logan Square.

4. The following are the two that we liked best 438 Bishop Ave and 2015 Logan Square.

5. One use of the comma is to set off an appositive for example Mr Kearne the buyer has left the city.

6. The comma is used to set off an independent adverb as We have not yet decided however when we shall leave.

7. The plan is this I'll do the work and you pay for the materials.

8. The officers are as follows Edward Lawrence for President John Kelly for Secretary and Fred Morrison for Treasurer.

Exercise 193—The Dash(—)

The dash is used to set off parenthetical expressions that have very little connection with the rest of the sentence; as,

In New York the Harlem River tunnel was comparatively a simple one, but the first East River tunnels—the two subway tubes from the Battery to Brooklyn—presented all the difficulties known to subaqueous construction.These tunnels extend on under the great Pennsylvania terminal building—another of the same decade's accomplishments—to East Thirty-fourth Street.

These tunnels extend on under the great Pennsylvania terminal building—another of the same decade's accomplishments—to East Thirty-fourth Street.

The dash is also used to indicate a sudden change or break in the thought; as,

1. When the millennium comes—if it ever does—all of our problems will be solved.2. "I believe—" began the lawyer."Believe!" interrupted his client. "I don't want you to believe. I want you to know."

1. When the millennium comes—if it ever does—all of our problems will be solved.

2. "I believe—" began the lawyer.

"Believe!" interrupted his client. "I don't want you to believe. I want you to know."

The dash is used before a word that summarizes the preceding part of the sentence; as,

He had robbed himself of the most precious thing a man can have in business—his friends.

After a comma the dash has the effect of lengthening the separation; as,

One thing the Puritans desired,—freedom to worship God.

Exercise 194—Parenthesis Marks ()

Parenthesis marks are used to enclose explanatory expressions that are not an essential part of the sentence; as,

The United States Department of Agriculture estimates that the receipts of cattle at the six leading markets (Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, South Omaha, St. Joseph, and Sioux City) from January 1 to August 1 of this year are 15 per cent less than they were in the corresponding period of last year.

Wrong.—Do not use parenthesis marks to cancel a word or a passage. A line should be drawn through a word that is wrong.

Bring to class five sentences that illustrate the correct use of parenthesis marks.

Exercise 195—The Hyphen (-)

The hyphen is used when a word has been divided. It is always used at the end of the line and never at the beginning.

When several short words are taken together to form one word, they are hyphenated; as,

a one-hundred-pound bag of coffee

As a rule, when two words taken together are each accented, they must be written with the hyphen. When only one is accented, no hyphen is used; as,

follow-up, first-class, self-reliant, railroad, steamship

As a rule, nouns which are compounded of a participle and a noun use the hyphen; as,

talking-machine, driving-wheel

When fractions are written out, the hyphen is used; as,

one-third, three-fifths

In other numerals expressing a compound number the hyphen is also used; as,

twenty-one, sixty-six

Exercise 196

Punctuate the following letters, supplying a heading and an introduction for each:

Gentlemen:We are glad to tell you that contrary to the fears expressed in your last letter there are no present indications of sudden changes at least no indications of drops in prices. With the exception of two fruits and one vegetable grapes cantaloupes and cauliflower all commodities sold on the wholesale fruit and produce markets here were quoted yesterday at the prices announced last Friday.The change in grape prices affected the Red Peru variety in which the supply has almost stopped the price being raised from $1.05 to $1.25 a box. If one may trust the forecast of local merchants the price will probably remain at this higher point until the supply is exhausted. Cantaloupes seem to be a trifle scarce especially the pineapple variety the price of which was raised from $1.10 to $1.30 a crate. Cauliflower was raised to $1.35 a dozen heads the staple price probably for the rest of the season.Excepting these items we shall be glad to receive any orders at Friday's quotations.Yours truly,

We are glad to tell you that contrary to the fears expressed in your last letter there are no present indications of sudden changes at least no indications of drops in prices. With the exception of two fruits and one vegetable grapes cantaloupes and cauliflower all commodities sold on the wholesale fruit and produce markets here were quoted yesterday at the prices announced last Friday.

The change in grape prices affected the Red Peru variety in which the supply has almost stopped the price being raised from $1.05 to $1.25 a box. If one may trust the forecast of local merchants the price will probably remain at this higher point until the supply is exhausted. Cantaloupes seem to be a trifle scarce especially the pineapple variety the price of which was raised from $1.10 to $1.30 a crate. Cauliflower was raised to $1.35 a dozen heads the staple price probably for the rest of the season.

Excepting these items we shall be glad to receive any orders at Friday's quotations.

Yours truly,

Gentlemen:Your order of the 20th instant forwarded from our Trenton office came this morning. We regret to say however that we do not carry the Sanito brand of canned goods as we do not consider the grade first-class. If the Monsoon brand which is generally acknowledged to be excellent will serve your purpose we can fill your order at once.We are now in a position to supply the trade with Mrs. Keller's coffee of which we have fortunately secured several thousand packages at a very low price. If you wish any at $2.50 per dozen packages less than half the retail price you will notice let us hear from you at once.Yours truly,

Your order of the 20th instant forwarded from our Trenton office came this morning. We regret to say however that we do not carry the Sanito brand of canned goods as we do not consider the grade first-class. If the Monsoon brand which is generally acknowledged to be excellent will serve your purpose we can fill your order at once.

We are now in a position to supply the trade with Mrs. Keller's coffee of which we have fortunately secured several thousand packages at a very low price. If you wish any at $2.50 per dozen packages less than half the retail price you will notice let us hear from you at once.

Yours truly,

Dear Sir:We acknowledge your letter of October 5 but we regret that as yet we have no information in regard to the excess charge of $1.02 which you were obliged to pay on the express shipment of one piece 27 yds. of plaid silk chiffon. We have taken up the matter with the mill however and as soon as we receive their report we shall write you again.Asking your indulgence meanwhile we areYours truly,

We acknowledge your letter of October 5 but we regret that as yet we have no information in regard to the excess charge of $1.02 which you were obliged to pay on the express shipment of one piece 27 yds. of plaid silk chiffon. We have taken up the matter with the mill however and as soon as we receive their report we shall write you again.

Asking your indulgence meanwhile we are

Yours truly,

THE CLEAR SENTENCE

Businessmen like to talk of brevity. They tell you that a talk or a letter must be brief. What they really mean is that the talk or the letter must be concise; that it must state the business clearly in the fewest possible words. Don't omit any essential fact when you write, but don't repeat. If you can express an idea in ten words, don't use twenty. In a later exercise we shall meet the sentence,The size of the crops is always important, and it is especially so to the farmer, and this is because he has to live by the crops.The writer of that sentence was very careless. He had a good idea and thought that, if he kept repeating it, he would make it stronger. Just the reverse is true. The sentence may be expressed in a very few words:The size of the crop is vitally important to the farmer.

If you wish to secure conciseness of expression, be especially careful to avoid joining or completing thoughts by these expressions:and,so,why,that is why,this is the reason,and everything.

In this chapter we shall consider some of the larger faults that should be avoided in sentences.

Exercise 197—Unity of the Sentence

Give the definition of a sentence.

How many thoughts may one sentence express?

What is likely to happen when two thoughts are joined byand?What, then, is the danger in using the compound sentence?

The compound sentence is good to use to express certain ideas, especially contrast; as,

It is not work that kills men; it is worry.It is not the revolution that destroys the machinery, but the friction [but it is the friction].

It is not work that kills men; it is worry.

It is not the revolution that destroys the machinery, but the friction [but it is the friction].

The sentences which most clearly and easily give us one thought are the simple and the complex sentences.

Compare the following sentences. Which of them leaveoneidea in your mind?

The tongue is a sharp-edged tool.A sharp tongue is the only edged tool that grows keener with constant use.A sharp tongue is like an edged tool, and it grows keener with constant use.

The tongue is a sharp-edged tool.

A sharp tongue is the only edged tool that grows keener with constant use.

A sharp tongue is like an edged tool, and it grows keener with constant use.

Exercise 198

The following is wordy. Rewrite it, condensing as much as possible. Use simple and complex sentences rather than compound, expressing in each only one thought.

In the early summer the corn crop frequently seems to be very poor, and so reports begin to circulate that corn will be high in the autumn, but when the autumn really comes, Wall Street, that great center of business life, begins to see that the reports have been greatly exaggerated and that crops really will be very good, and so business begins to pick up. The size of the crop largely settles the volume of the next season's business, because so great a part of the world's business activity is made up of buying and selling the actual potatoes and corn and wheat and cattle or the products made from these, and when the crop is poor there are a great many people concerned, because they will be poor just as the crops are poor, and this applies to the farmer as well as to the dealer.The size of the crops is always important, and is especially so to the farmer, and this is because he has to live by the crops. A man may be living in the city and working for a salary and begin to see that his work is not supporting him, and if he is an ambitious man, he will change his occupation. This the farmer cannot do because he has made an enormous investment; in the firstplace, he has invested in his land, and then in his seed and farm implements, and this investment often means all the available money the farmer has, and often it means a mortgage on his farm. He puts the mortgage on his farm in hope of getting a good crop, and when his hope is not realized, he is in trouble, because he may lose his whole farm if he cannot pay the installments of interest due on his mortgage; but then, on the other hand, if we consider the other side of the question, when the crop is large, the situation is altogether different. Even if the farmer has put a mortgage on his farm, he gets enough money from his produce to pay the debt of that mortgage, and he need not worry how he is to live during the next winter.The town merchants depend on a good crop, because, if the farmer has not a good return from his fields, he will have almost no ready money, and so he cannot buy much clothing or household furnishings. In Iowa, for instance, there is a little town in the center of a corn-raising community, and it is here that the farmers congregate to do their buying, and in this town there is quite a large department store, and it is run by a woman. She does most of her buying in the autumn and she prefers to do it personally, and so she likes to make a trip to New York for the purpose, but she never sets out until she knows that the corn crop is good. And the reason for this is that she knows that it will cost her hundreds of dollars to make the trip East, to stay at a good hotel, and to spend the requisite length of time choosing her purchases at the different wholesale houses, and she knows that if there is no corn crop she will sell very few coats and hats and lace curtains, and it will never pay her to run up her expenses into the hundreds of dollars, but she will buy as best she can from the drummers, and buy only a little, and thus the size of the crop determines how much the farmer can buy, and, therefore, how much the wholesale and retail dealers can sell.

The size of the crops is always important, and is especially so to the farmer, and this is because he has to live by the crops. A man may be living in the city and working for a salary and begin to see that his work is not supporting him, and if he is an ambitious man, he will change his occupation. This the farmer cannot do because he has made an enormous investment; in the firstplace, he has invested in his land, and then in his seed and farm implements, and this investment often means all the available money the farmer has, and often it means a mortgage on his farm. He puts the mortgage on his farm in hope of getting a good crop, and when his hope is not realized, he is in trouble, because he may lose his whole farm if he cannot pay the installments of interest due on his mortgage; but then, on the other hand, if we consider the other side of the question, when the crop is large, the situation is altogether different. Even if the farmer has put a mortgage on his farm, he gets enough money from his produce to pay the debt of that mortgage, and he need not worry how he is to live during the next winter.

The town merchants depend on a good crop, because, if the farmer has not a good return from his fields, he will have almost no ready money, and so he cannot buy much clothing or household furnishings. In Iowa, for instance, there is a little town in the center of a corn-raising community, and it is here that the farmers congregate to do their buying, and in this town there is quite a large department store, and it is run by a woman. She does most of her buying in the autumn and she prefers to do it personally, and so she likes to make a trip to New York for the purpose, but she never sets out until she knows that the corn crop is good. And the reason for this is that she knows that it will cost her hundreds of dollars to make the trip East, to stay at a good hotel, and to spend the requisite length of time choosing her purchases at the different wholesale houses, and she knows that if there is no corn crop she will sell very few coats and hats and lace curtains, and it will never pay her to run up her expenses into the hundreds of dollars, but she will buy as best she can from the drummers, and buy only a little, and thus the size of the crop determines how much the farmer can buy, and, therefore, how much the wholesale and retail dealers can sell.

Exercise 199—Subordination in the Sentence

Sentences containing compound predicates may be made more direct in thought if one of the verbs is changed to a participle or an infinitive, because the predicate will then express only one action; as,

1. The carpenterthrewdown his hammerand walkedout of the shop.2.Throwingdown his hammer, the carpenter walked out of the shop.3. Iwentdowntownand appliedfor the position.4. I went downtownto applyfor the position.

1. The carpenterthrewdown his hammerand walkedout of the shop.

2.Throwingdown his hammer, the carpenter walked out of the shop.

3. Iwentdowntownand appliedfor the position.

4. I went downtownto applyfor the position.

Change the following sentences so that one action is denoted by the predicate of each:

1. A teamster drove out of the alley east of the theater and swung his horses directly in front of a Madison street car.2. The tongue struck the front of the car and bored a hole in the fuse box.3. The fire spread and burned the roof of the car.4. The half dozen passengers were badly frightened and got out quickly.5. Several people ran and turned in a fire alarm.6. In a few minutes the fire engines arrived and began to fight the flames.7. Crowds came from all directions and silently watched the flames.8. The people poured out of the theater and cheered the firemen.9. The half dozen passengers soon recovered and stood on the curbstone in the crowd.10. The firemen did their work quickly and departed amid the cheers of the crowd.

1. A teamster drove out of the alley east of the theater and swung his horses directly in front of a Madison street car.

2. The tongue struck the front of the car and bored a hole in the fuse box.

3. The fire spread and burned the roof of the car.

4. The half dozen passengers were badly frightened and got out quickly.

5. Several people ran and turned in a fire alarm.

6. In a few minutes the fire engines arrived and began to fight the flames.

7. Crowds came from all directions and silently watched the flames.

8. The people poured out of the theater and cheered the firemen.

9. The half dozen passengers soon recovered and stood on the curbstone in the crowd.

10. The firemen did their work quickly and departed amid the cheers of the crowd.

Exercise 200—Combination of Short Sentences

Sometimes short sentences are bad because two or three of them are needed to express one complete thought. If that is the case, they should be combined, the most important detail being put into the principal clause, and the other details into modifiers, as in the preceding exercise.

Make use of—

1. Adjectives.2. Adverbs.3. Participial phrases.4. Infinitives.5. Relative pronouns.6. Subordinate conjunctions.

Below, the first and second sentences together make one thought, which is expressed in the third.

John is a good reporter.That is why he earns a good salary.Because John is a good reporter, he earns a good salary.

Combine the sentences of each group below into a single sentence, either simple or complex, omitting as many words as possible but no ideas:

1. We stayed at home for two reasons: first of all, we thought Baltimore might be unpleasantly warm. Then, the other reason was that we thought we ought to economize.2. In China the wedding takes place at the bridegroom's house. This has been decorated with strips of bright red paper, and they have the word "Hsi" on them. This means "Live in happiness."3. First in the procession come the standard bearers. They are hired for the occasion. These men have red coats put on over their dirty clothes. The men they hire are usually beggars.4. Six years ago I went sailing on Lake George with my father. I was ten years old at that time. Two other men went along with us. The boat that we went in belonged to my father and these men.5. The wind was high and it would come in gusts. This made it hard to sail. It shifted the sails so quickly that it would throw the boat over on one side.6. Several times the boat leaned over at an angle of forty degrees. This let the water come in on that side. When this happened, we all had to jump to the other side. We did this so that the boat would right itself.7. The heart is the most important organ in the body. This is because if the heart stops beating, you cannot live. Besides, all the other organs are connected with it. It is something like the main spring in a watch.8. This is a good machine. And since that's the case, I don't see why it is that it doesn't work as it should.9. In every business there are many bad debts. Some can be collected and others cannot be. This is because the men who made them were given credit, and they didn't have any money.10. The night was dark, and there were no stars. The fishermenstood on the shore, and they gazed at the wild sea. A storm had arisen, and they could not go out in their boats.

1. We stayed at home for two reasons: first of all, we thought Baltimore might be unpleasantly warm. Then, the other reason was that we thought we ought to economize.

2. In China the wedding takes place at the bridegroom's house. This has been decorated with strips of bright red paper, and they have the word "Hsi" on them. This means "Live in happiness."

3. First in the procession come the standard bearers. They are hired for the occasion. These men have red coats put on over their dirty clothes. The men they hire are usually beggars.

4. Six years ago I went sailing on Lake George with my father. I was ten years old at that time. Two other men went along with us. The boat that we went in belonged to my father and these men.

5. The wind was high and it would come in gusts. This made it hard to sail. It shifted the sails so quickly that it would throw the boat over on one side.

6. Several times the boat leaned over at an angle of forty degrees. This let the water come in on that side. When this happened, we all had to jump to the other side. We did this so that the boat would right itself.

7. The heart is the most important organ in the body. This is because if the heart stops beating, you cannot live. Besides, all the other organs are connected with it. It is something like the main spring in a watch.

8. This is a good machine. And since that's the case, I don't see why it is that it doesn't work as it should.

9. In every business there are many bad debts. Some can be collected and others cannot be. This is because the men who made them were given credit, and they didn't have any money.

10. The night was dark, and there were no stars. The fishermenstood on the shore, and they gazed at the wild sea. A storm had arisen, and they could not go out in their boats.

Exercise 201

As in the preceding exercise, rewrite the following, omitting as many words as possible, but no ideas. Use shorter, simpler expressions wherever possible.

Uncle Sam now has an aerial navy, but it's a small one, and foundations of it were recently laid. This was done when contracts were signed for the delivery of three aeroplanes and they are the first aeroplanes that the United States bought. These aeroplanes are of the latest development. They are all capable of rising from land or water. They are able also to land on water or on the deck of a ship, and they can carry at least one passenger and are equipped with wireless outfits. Two of them are Curtis machines and the third is a Wright, and they ranged in price from $2,700 to $5,500.

The United States produces more steel than any two European countries, and it is continuing to produce more. Moreover, it has the productive capacity to produce more than any other three or four countries put together. This capacity is being still further increased. At the present time, there is one very important steel company. It is very large, and seems to wish to monopolize the entire iron and steel industry. Even at this time it owns half the principal plants that are now producing steel and iron, and controls half the trade of the entire steel and iron industry, and when such a thing happens, it is a matter of international concern.

Condense the following into a single sentence, either simple or complex:

The iron and steel industry is very important, and it includes a great deal. First, the ore has to be mined, and then the work includes everything up to making the finest wire for musical instruments. Or, to put it another way, you can say from smeltingthe ore to building a battle ship. This is a very interesting occupation and, as said before, very important. There is hardly anything more interesting or important except agriculture.

Exercise 202—Dangling Expressions

Sometimes a sentence is not clear because it contains a participle which does not modify anything in the sentence. A participle is partverband partadjective. As a verb, it expresses the idea of the verb from which it is derived. As an adjective, it must modify a noun or a pronoun. The important point is that this noun or pronoun must be expressed in the sentence and not lie in the mind of the writer, as it does in the following:

Riding from Saugatuck to Holland last year, the country showed unmistakable signs of lack of rain.

Here the writer means,We saw that the country, etc., but he says that the country rode from Saugatuck to Holland.

Again, an expression may be used which is really an incomplete clause. Do not use such a clause, unless the understood subject is the same as the subject expressed in the independent proposition.

Wrong:When almost exhausted, the camp was reached.Right:When almost exhausted, we reached the camp.

Recast the following sentences, correcting the dangling expressions:

1. You should not stop studying your lessons until thoroughly prepared.2. In talking to the postman yesterday, he said that his route had been changed.3. Owing two months' rent, the foreman laid me off.4. Before becoming a physician, the law sets a very severe examination.5. Having eaten our luncheon very hastily, the typewriters were soon clicking merrily again.6. The difficulty could easily be settled, going about it in the right way.7. Although determined to get my money, the task was harder than I had expected.8. Having installed an adding machine, our office work could be done in half the time.9. On entering the car, the first thing that caught my attention was the sign at the end.10. Silk should be washed with warm water and a mild soap, being careful not to rub it.11. The house was redecorated, making it clean and homelike.12. The book should be carefully studied, reviewing each chapter after it is read.13. Going to work this morning, an accident happened.14. Having entered college, Mr. Brown watched his son's progress with pride.15. Soon after abandoning the boat, it sank.16. They say he will be lame, caused by a fall on the ice while skating.17. While trying to break the half mile record, his back was injured.18. Many people object to football, because in tackling the boys' hearts are weakened.19. He did not wish to take up an extra study, thus lessening his chance of being eligible for athletics.20. While a child, my father often told me stories of Indian days.21. Absorbed all day in superintending his work, in the evening the newspaper brought him political news enough to fill the hours between dinner and bed-time.22. Discussing the happenings in the ward with an old crony, his daughter would often sit near him listening.23. He is failing in his work, caused by his laziness.24. Although a good tonic, I did not gain weight while taking it.25. In the new telephone, upon lifting the receiver, a ticking sound is heard.26. Leaving the window open when she went to lunch, of course the papers were disarranged on her return.27. Dictionaries must be returned to the desk after using.

1. You should not stop studying your lessons until thoroughly prepared.

2. In talking to the postman yesterday, he said that his route had been changed.

3. Owing two months' rent, the foreman laid me off.

4. Before becoming a physician, the law sets a very severe examination.

5. Having eaten our luncheon very hastily, the typewriters were soon clicking merrily again.

6. The difficulty could easily be settled, going about it in the right way.

7. Although determined to get my money, the task was harder than I had expected.

8. Having installed an adding machine, our office work could be done in half the time.

9. On entering the car, the first thing that caught my attention was the sign at the end.

10. Silk should be washed with warm water and a mild soap, being careful not to rub it.

11. The house was redecorated, making it clean and homelike.

12. The book should be carefully studied, reviewing each chapter after it is read.

13. Going to work this morning, an accident happened.

14. Having entered college, Mr. Brown watched his son's progress with pride.

15. Soon after abandoning the boat, it sank.

16. They say he will be lame, caused by a fall on the ice while skating.

17. While trying to break the half mile record, his back was injured.

18. Many people object to football, because in tackling the boys' hearts are weakened.

19. He did not wish to take up an extra study, thus lessening his chance of being eligible for athletics.

20. While a child, my father often told me stories of Indian days.

21. Absorbed all day in superintending his work, in the evening the newspaper brought him political news enough to fill the hours between dinner and bed-time.

22. Discussing the happenings in the ward with an old crony, his daughter would often sit near him listening.

23. He is failing in his work, caused by his laziness.

24. Although a good tonic, I did not gain weight while taking it.

25. In the new telephone, upon lifting the receiver, a ticking sound is heard.

26. Leaving the window open when she went to lunch, of course the papers were disarranged on her return.

27. Dictionaries must be returned to the desk after using.

Exercise 203—Pronouns with Uncertain Antecedents

Sometimes the meaning of a sentence is not clear because the pronouns have uncertain antecedents.

1. Sometimes a pronoun may refer to either of two antecedents; as,

Wrong:He gave his brother John the umbrella and thenheleft.Right:He gave the umbrella to his brother John, who then left.

2. Sometimes the sentence must be entirely recast and a direct quotation used before the pronouns can be made clear; as,

Wrong:Tom told his father thathissuit case was lost.Right:a.Tom said, "Father, your suit case is lost."b.Tom said, "Father, my suit case is lost."

3. Sometimes the pronoun refers to a word that has not been expressed or to anidea. In that case, the antecedent must be supplied; as,

Wrong:If any one wishes to contribute to the cause, let him senditin the enclosed envelope.Right:If any one wishes to contribute to the cause, let him sendhis contributionin the enclosed envelope.Wrong:I wouldn't wear mittens. Nobody doesthatnowadays.Right:I wouldn't wear mittens. Nobody wearsthemnowadays.

4. A sentence containing an indefinitetheyoritis corrected thus:

Wrong:Don'ttheyhave street cars where you live?Right:Are therenostreet cars where you live?

Recast the following:

1. She asked her mother if she could go, and she said she thought she ought to stay at home.2. John told James he was sure he did not know the office that he meant.3. George told his father his watch had stopped.4. The manager asked the clerk to bring his book.5. A light touch is important in a typewriter, because it makes it easy to write upon it.6. The size of the crops is important to the farmers, because they have to live by them.7. They decided to reorganize the company, which is always a difficult task.8. They went into the hands of a receiver, which is an indication that the affairs of the company had been poorly managed.9. There is a boat on the lake over which there is a pleasant view, in which there is a club for working girls.10. He stole some money which brought about an investigation.11. She asked her aunt how old she was.12. John is famous for telling anecdotes, and he got it by remembering every story he reads.13. The sleighing party last night was a success, which is not always the case.14. He told a lie, which is a bad thing to do.15. They engaged a gardener, which doubled their monthly expenses.16. Why don't you get some of that new fur trimming for your blue dress?17. They had an accident on the street car this morning.18. In the newspaper it said that the lecture would begin at 8:15.19. They don't find iron in Illinois, do they?20. Do they have the original paintings in our art gallery?21. It says "Closed" on that door.22. It doesn't mention a bank draft in this book.23. They have a great many foreigners in New York City.24. John accompanied his brother to the city where he bought a typewriter.25. I had expected to take the 9:30 train, but I couldn't do it.26. Going up to the horse he put a lump of sugar into his mouth.27. In letter writing one should always be exact and arrange them in the customary form.28. Those hooks are not rust-proof because the back of my dress is stained with it.29. The telephone is a great convenience to all. They are now used in almost every house.30. As we came down the road, it sounded like a train, which, as we approached, grew louder and louder.

1. She asked her mother if she could go, and she said she thought she ought to stay at home.

2. John told James he was sure he did not know the office that he meant.

3. George told his father his watch had stopped.

4. The manager asked the clerk to bring his book.

5. A light touch is important in a typewriter, because it makes it easy to write upon it.

6. The size of the crops is important to the farmers, because they have to live by them.

7. They decided to reorganize the company, which is always a difficult task.

8. They went into the hands of a receiver, which is an indication that the affairs of the company had been poorly managed.

9. There is a boat on the lake over which there is a pleasant view, in which there is a club for working girls.

10. He stole some money which brought about an investigation.

11. She asked her aunt how old she was.

12. John is famous for telling anecdotes, and he got it by remembering every story he reads.

13. The sleighing party last night was a success, which is not always the case.

14. He told a lie, which is a bad thing to do.

15. They engaged a gardener, which doubled their monthly expenses.

16. Why don't you get some of that new fur trimming for your blue dress?

17. They had an accident on the street car this morning.

18. In the newspaper it said that the lecture would begin at 8:15.

19. They don't find iron in Illinois, do they?

20. Do they have the original paintings in our art gallery?

21. It says "Closed" on that door.

22. It doesn't mention a bank draft in this book.

23. They have a great many foreigners in New York City.

24. John accompanied his brother to the city where he bought a typewriter.

25. I had expected to take the 9:30 train, but I couldn't do it.

26. Going up to the horse he put a lump of sugar into his mouth.

27. In letter writing one should always be exact and arrange them in the customary form.

28. Those hooks are not rust-proof because the back of my dress is stained with it.

29. The telephone is a great convenience to all. They are now used in almost every house.

30. As we came down the road, it sounded like a train, which, as we approached, grew louder and louder.

Exercise 204—Misplaced Modifiers

Sometimes a sentence is not clear because a modifier does not stand close to the word it modifies.

Wrong:I can'tevendo the first problem.Right:I can't doeventhe first problem.

Change the order of words in the following sentences, placing each modifier as closely as possible to the word which it modifies. Some of the sentences are incorrect because they contain split infinitives. (SeeExercise 92.)

1. I only waited for him about ten minutes.2. She stood at the window, trying to close it with a troubled face.3. The city is supplied with water from cold springs which flow nearly a hundred million gallons of the purest liquid that ever burst from the earth, daily.4. The famous S. F. ice cream is made in this factory containing fifty per cent pure cream.5. A man should not be allowed to cast a vote, who cannot read and write.6. After taking the medicine for a short time, the appetite is improved, and a desire is created for food, that has not existed before.7. In real value, this magazine towers head and shoulders over all others to the woman who is in charge of her home.8. There are pages of fashion news and embroidery hints and news articles of the day that will appeal to the husband and father as the others do to the wife and daughter as well as departments for the children.9. The number of the sewing machine is 37A with a drop head.10. They neither are gentle nor well-mannered.11. I only heard about the trouble yesterday.12. He left the same station at which, thirty years before, he had arrived very humbly, in his own special car.13. He urged his brother to buy a home in his letter.14. The lighting system has been developed to a really remarkable degree of perfection for the trains.15. The dynamo is so arranged that when the train is standing still or only traveling twenty miles an hour, the lamps are lighted from a storage battery.16. The batteries must be large enough during the run to carry the entire lighting load.17. Please send me 6 Dining Tables No. 46 that extend to ten feet as soon as possible.18. Large trees grow on each side of the house which is a rambling affair shutting out the light.19. They decided to give a bonus to the one doing the best work, amounting to fifty dollars.20. We had almost got to the corner before we saw the fire.21. I don't ever remember having seen so big a fire.22. Remember to thoroughly oil the machine.23. Do you need to in any way alter the machine?24. If we expect to completely fill the order to-day, we need more help.

1. I only waited for him about ten minutes.

2. She stood at the window, trying to close it with a troubled face.

3. The city is supplied with water from cold springs which flow nearly a hundred million gallons of the purest liquid that ever burst from the earth, daily.

4. The famous S. F. ice cream is made in this factory containing fifty per cent pure cream.

5. A man should not be allowed to cast a vote, who cannot read and write.

6. After taking the medicine for a short time, the appetite is improved, and a desire is created for food, that has not existed before.

7. In real value, this magazine towers head and shoulders over all others to the woman who is in charge of her home.

8. There are pages of fashion news and embroidery hints and news articles of the day that will appeal to the husband and father as the others do to the wife and daughter as well as departments for the children.

9. The number of the sewing machine is 37A with a drop head.

10. They neither are gentle nor well-mannered.

11. I only heard about the trouble yesterday.

12. He left the same station at which, thirty years before, he had arrived very humbly, in his own special car.

13. He urged his brother to buy a home in his letter.

14. The lighting system has been developed to a really remarkable degree of perfection for the trains.

15. The dynamo is so arranged that when the train is standing still or only traveling twenty miles an hour, the lamps are lighted from a storage battery.

16. The batteries must be large enough during the run to carry the entire lighting load.

17. Please send me 6 Dining Tables No. 46 that extend to ten feet as soon as possible.

18. Large trees grow on each side of the house which is a rambling affair shutting out the light.

19. They decided to give a bonus to the one doing the best work, amounting to fifty dollars.

20. We had almost got to the corner before we saw the fire.

21. I don't ever remember having seen so big a fire.

22. Remember to thoroughly oil the machine.

23. Do you need to in any way alter the machine?

24. If we expect to completely fill the order to-day, we need more help.

Exercise 205—Omission of Necessary Words

Sometimes a sentence is not clear because a word has been omitted that is necessary to the sense; as,

Wrong:The two officers that they elected are the president and secretary.Right:The two officers that they elected are the president andthesecretary.Wrong:His writing is as good or better than yours.Right:His writing is as goodasor better than yours.Wrong:The library is where we go to read.Right:The library isthe placewhere we go to read.

State the difference between the following typewriter ribbons:

1. A red and blue and black ribbon.2. A red and a blue and black ribbon.3. A red and blue and a black ribbon.4. A red and a blue and a black ribbon.

Supply the omitted part in each of the following:

1. I always have and I'm sure I always shall be considerate of others' feelings.2. They have a stenographer and bookkeeper, who are kept busy all day.3. I believe he has already or will soon begin the work.4. The cushions of the rocker are much softer than the armchair.5. The arrangement of your flat is much more convenient than our house.6. The number of shelves in your sideboard is just the same as our china closet.7. I think the articles you ordered will arrive as soon or sooner than you expect.8. She is as tall or taller than you.9. When your message arrived, I had already or at least had decided to begin cutting the goods.10. It may not be better but it is fully as good as the other article.11. I think you cook fully as well if not better than your sister.12. His poems hold a place in our hearts second only to the Bible.13. Your idea is as good if not better than mine.14. We decided to make the change both for the sake of health and economy.15. You will find the armchair fully as comfortable, if not more so, than the rocker.16. The river is where we had the most fun.17. I know you better than Mary.18. She went to the park but I didn't care to.19. We didn't object to the scheme as much as you.20. A conservatory is where there are all kinds of flowers.

1. I always have and I'm sure I always shall be considerate of others' feelings.

2. They have a stenographer and bookkeeper, who are kept busy all day.

3. I believe he has already or will soon begin the work.

4. The cushions of the rocker are much softer than the armchair.

5. The arrangement of your flat is much more convenient than our house.

6. The number of shelves in your sideboard is just the same as our china closet.

7. I think the articles you ordered will arrive as soon or sooner than you expect.

8. She is as tall or taller than you.

9. When your message arrived, I had already or at least had decided to begin cutting the goods.

10. It may not be better but it is fully as good as the other article.

11. I think you cook fully as well if not better than your sister.

12. His poems hold a place in our hearts second only to the Bible.

13. Your idea is as good if not better than mine.

14. We decided to make the change both for the sake of health and economy.

15. You will find the armchair fully as comfortable, if not more so, than the rocker.

16. The river is where we had the most fun.

17. I know you better than Mary.

18. She went to the park but I didn't care to.

19. We didn't object to the scheme as much as you.

20. A conservatory is where there are all kinds of flowers.

Exercise 206—Shift in Construction

Sometimes the meaning of the sentence is obscure because there has been a shift in construction. Do not change subject, person, tense, or any grammatical form without a good reason. Remember thatandis a coördinate conjunction. If there is an adjective beforeand, there must be an adjectiveafter it. If a clause precedes, a clause must follow. In other words,andjoins two members of exactly the same structure.Andmay not join one word and a phrase, nor may it join a prepositional and a participial phrase. Both members must be alike. In the following extract, parallel constructions are used correctly. Be able to tell what kinds of elements are used and how they are parallel.

To eat your cake and keep it too; to wear a gown with the air of originality and distinction, and keep a full purse; to have your house display taste and refinement, and be praised as an economical housewife; to dress your children daintily, and save money for their education—use ABC transfer patterns. By their aid you can make an inexpensive waist look like a French blouse, have table linen of unrivaled elegance, and dress your babies in the most approved style. These patterns cost,—some ten, some fifteen cents. They cover the entire field of dress,—waists, tunics, panels, infants' clothes, underwear, men's apparel, and neckwear; and of household articles,—towels, table-linen, and pillow tops.

Recast the following sentences, correcting the shift of construction in each:

1. In the large department stores every clerk is to report on her way to lunch and coming back.2. When one hears a cry of "Fire," your first thought is to run.3. He seemed fond of his work and to have skill in doing it quickly.4. I decided on taking the trip and to keep my expenses within fifty dollars if possible.5. X Y Z Cleaner is good for softening water and other household uses.6. Because of the rise in the price of meats and owing to the fact that grocers charge more for butter and eggs, people find it hard to live.7. The office is well-heated and with plenty of light.8. The crowds began to watch the fire and cheering loudly.9. I heard the opera last year and have gone again this year.10. It was wonderful to see how fast they worked and their accuracy.11. I can't decide whether to take up stenography or if bookkeeping is better.12. He taught us the principles of letter writing, and somewhat of advertising was taken up.13. Hoping that the work progressed, and unless a landslide occurred, the Americans expected to remove 5,000,000 cubic yards each year.14. The study of the earth has always been stimulated by two fundamental passions of humanity—a desire for wealth and because of their curiosity.15. He insists on our taking the trip and to go without further delay.16. In reviewing, it is well to go over each part of the course carefully, and you should make a note of every point which you do not understand, and let each ask those questions which he himself cannot answer.17. Mr. Fitzmorris is a man of great technical skill and who has handled the situation capably.18. It will cost her hundreds of dollars to make the trip East and spending the requisite length of time choosing her purchases at the different wholesale houses.19. He had assumed control of the office, planned the advertising, and the finances were also directed by him.20. We have decided to go on the excursion to the Capitol and at the same time visiting Uncle John.

1. In the large department stores every clerk is to report on her way to lunch and coming back.

2. When one hears a cry of "Fire," your first thought is to run.

3. He seemed fond of his work and to have skill in doing it quickly.

4. I decided on taking the trip and to keep my expenses within fifty dollars if possible.

5. X Y Z Cleaner is good for softening water and other household uses.

6. Because of the rise in the price of meats and owing to the fact that grocers charge more for butter and eggs, people find it hard to live.

7. The office is well-heated and with plenty of light.

8. The crowds began to watch the fire and cheering loudly.

9. I heard the opera last year and have gone again this year.

10. It was wonderful to see how fast they worked and their accuracy.

11. I can't decide whether to take up stenography or if bookkeeping is better.

12. He taught us the principles of letter writing, and somewhat of advertising was taken up.

13. Hoping that the work progressed, and unless a landslide occurred, the Americans expected to remove 5,000,000 cubic yards each year.

14. The study of the earth has always been stimulated by two fundamental passions of humanity—a desire for wealth and because of their curiosity.

15. He insists on our taking the trip and to go without further delay.

16. In reviewing, it is well to go over each part of the course carefully, and you should make a note of every point which you do not understand, and let each ask those questions which he himself cannot answer.

17. Mr. Fitzmorris is a man of great technical skill and who has handled the situation capably.

18. It will cost her hundreds of dollars to make the trip East and spending the requisite length of time choosing her purchases at the different wholesale houses.

19. He had assumed control of the office, planned the advertising, and the finances were also directed by him.

20. We have decided to go on the excursion to the Capitol and at the same time visiting Uncle John.

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