The Century Handbook of Writing Part 15

2. Such conduct is not only dangerous to society but becomes a national disgrace as well.

3. She had neither affectation of manners nor was she sharp-tongued.

4. After reading Th.o.r.eau's _Walden_ I appreciate not only the style but also I am inclined to believe in his ideas.

5. The good that the delegates derive from the convention not only helps them, but they tell others what happened.

CONSISTENCY

=s.h.i.+ft in Subject or Voice=

=32. Do not needlessly s.h.i.+ft the subject, voice, or mode in the middle of a sentence. Keep one point of view, until there is a reason for changing.=

Faulty: In the stream which the road led over, fish were plentiful. [Here the first mental picture is of a stream. Then the thought is jerked away to the road above. Then it returns to the fish in the stream.]

Right: In the stream which flowed under the roadway, fish were plentiful.

Faulty: Mark Twain was born in the West, but the East was his home in later years. [The change of subject is uncalled for.]

Right: Mark Twain was born in the West, but lived in the East in his later years. [Or] The West was the birthplace of Mark Twain, and the East was his home in his later years.

Faulty: A careful driver can go fifteen miles on a gallon of gasoline, and at the same time very little lubricating oil is used. [The s.h.i.+ft from active to pa.s.sive voice is awkward and confusing.]

Right: A careful driver can go fifteen miles on a gallon of gasoline, and at the same time use very little lubricating oil.

Faulty: When a problem in chemistry is given, or when we wish to calculate certain formulas, we find that a knowledge of mathematics is indispensable.

Right: When a problem in chemistry is given, or when certain formulas are to be calculated, a knowledge of mathematics is indispensable. [Or] When we face a problem in chemistry, or wish to calculate certain formulas, we find that a knowledge of mathematics is indispensable.

Faulty: Next the ground should be harrowed. Then you sow the wheat. [The subject changes from _ground_ to _you_. One verb explains what _should_ be done, the other what somebody _does_.]

{is } Right: Next the ground { } harrowed. Then it {should be} {is } { } sown to wheat. [Or] Next you should harrow {should be} the ground. Then you should sow the wheat.

Exercise:

1. One end of a camera carries the film, and the lens and shutter are in the other end.

2. When an athlete is in training, good healthful food should be eaten.

3. An engineer's time is not devoted to one branch of science, but should include many.

4. By having only five men in charge of our city government, they would have more power, and we could then fix responsibility.

5. There are two main cla.s.ses of cake, sponge and b.u.t.ter. We are taught to make both in cooking school. I like the sponge cake. The b.u.t.ter cake is preferred by most persons.

=s.h.i.+ft in Number, Person, or Tense=

=33. Avoid an inconsistent change in number, person, or tense.=

Faulty change in number: One should save their money.

Right: People should save their money. [Or] A man should save his money.

Faulty change in person: Place the seeds in water, and in a few days a person can see that they have started to grow.

Right: Place the seeds in water, and in a few days you will see that they have started to grow.

Faulty change in number: Take your umbrella with you. They will be needed today.

Right: Take your umbrella with you. You will need it today.

Faulty change in tense: Freedom means that a man may conduct his affairs as he pleases so long as he did not injure anybody else.

Right: Freedom means that a man may conduct his affairs as he pleases so long as he does not injure anybody else.

Faulty change in tense: When he heard the news, he hurries down town and buys a paper.

Right: When he heard the news, he hurried down town and bought a paper.

Note.--A change of tense within a sentence is desirable and necessary in certain instances, for which see 55.

Sometimes, for the sake of vividness, past events are described in the present tense, as if they were taking place before our eyes. This usage is called the _historical present_. A s.h.i.+ft to the historical present should not be made abruptly, or frequently, or for any subject except an important crisis.

Exercise:

1. A person should be careful of their conduct.

2. Sentences should be so formed that the reader feels it to be a unit.

3. One should make the best of their surroundings and their possessions, provided they cannot better them.

4. When he sees me coming, he looked the other way.

5. Silas Marner lost many of his habits of solitude, and goes out among his neighbors.

=Mixed Constructions=

=34. Do not make a compromise between two constructions.=

Faulty: I cannot help but go.

Right: I cannot help going. [Or] I cannot but go. [Or] I can but go.

Faulty: They are as following: