The Century Handbook of Writing Part 17

Permissible: I was excited, so I missed the target.

_So_ may sometimes be used to express result. But when a clause of result is important and needs emphasis, it is perhaps better to strike out _so_ and subordinate the preceding clause.

Right: In my excitement I missed the target.

Right: Because I was excited, I missed the target.

Right: Being excited, I missed the target.

=List of Connectives=

=A. With Coordinate Clauses, expressing=

=1. Addition:= and, besides, furthermore, again, in addition, in like manner, likewise, moreover, then too, and finally.

=2. Contrast:= but, and yet, however, in spite of, in contrast to this, nevertheless, notwithstanding, nor, on the contrary, for all that, rather still, but unhappily, yet unfortunately, whereas.

=3. Alternative:= or, nor, else, otherwise, neither, nor, or on the other hand.

=4. Consequence:= therefore, hence, consequently, accordingly, in this way, it follows that, the consequence is, and under such circ.u.mstances, wherefore, thus, as a result, as a consequence.

=5. Explanation:= for example, for instance, in particular, more specifically, for, because.

=6. Repet.i.tion for emphasis:= in other words, that is to say, and a.s.suredly, certainly, in fact, and in truth, indeed it is certain, undoubtedly, for example, in the same way, as I have said.

=B. With Subordinate Adverb Clauses, expressing=

=1. Time:= when, then, before, while, after, until at last, as long as, now that, upon which, until, whenever, whereupon, meanwhile.

=2. Place:= where, whence, whither, wherever.

=3. Degree or Comparison:= as, more than, rather than, than, to the degree in which.

=4. Manner:= as, as if, as though.

=5. Cause:= because, for, as, inasmuch as, since, owing to the fact that, seeing that, in that.

=6. Purpose:= that, so that, in order that, lest.

=7. Result:= that is, so that, but that.

=8. Condition:= if, provided that, in case that, on condition that, supposing that, unless.

=9. Concession:= though, although, a.s.suming that, admitting that, granting that, even if, no matter how, notwithstanding, of course.

=C. With Adjective Clauses.= Adjective or relative clauses are introduced by who, which, that, or an equivalent compound.

Exercise:

Insert within the parentheses all the connectives that might conceivably be used, and underscore the one which you consider to be most exact:

1. He is not a broad-minded man; ( ) he has many prejudices.

2. A number of friends came in, bringing refreshments, ( ) we spent a delightful evening.

3. We ought to return now, for it is growing dark; ( ) I told Mary we would be home at six o'clock.

4. I do not believe that climate is responsible for many of the differences between races, ( ) Taine says that it is.

5. She took the letter from me and read it slowly, ( ) her eyes filled with tears.

=Repet.i.tion of Connective with a Gain in Clearness=

=37. Connectives that accompany a parallel series should be repeated when clearness requires.=

Preposition to be repeated: He was regarded as a hero by all who had known him at school, and especially his old school mates.

Right: He was regarded as a hero _by_ all who had known him at school, and especially _by_ his old school mates.

Sign of the infinitive to be repeated: He wishes to join with those who love freedom and justice, and end needless suffering.

Right: He wishes _to_ join with those who love freedom and justice, and _to_ end needless suffering.

Conjunction to be repeated: Since he was known to have succeeded in earlier enterprises, though confronted by difficulties that would have taxed the ability of older men, and his powers were now acknowledged to be mature, he was put in charge of the undertaking.

Right: _Since_ he was known to have succeeded in earlier enterprises, though confronted by difficulties that would have taxed the ability of older men, and _since_ his powers were now acknowledged to be mature, he was put in charge of the undertaking.

Conjunction to be repeated: He explained that the strikers asked only a fair hearing, since their contentions were misunderstood; were by no means in favor of the violent measures to which the public had grown accustomed; and had no desire to resort to bloodshed and the destruction of property.

Right: He explained _that_ the strikers asked only a fair hearing, since their contentions were misunderstood; _that_ they were by no means in favor of the violent measures to which the public had grown accustomed; and _that_ they had no desire to resort to bloodshed and the destruction of property.

Exercise:

1. The place is often visited by fishermen who catch some strange varieties of fish and especially summer tourists.

2. The worth of a man depends upon his character, not his possessions. 3. He was delighted with that part of the city which overlooked the harbor and bay, and especially the citadel on the highest point.

4. Although he was so youthful in appearance that the recruiting officer must have known he was under twenty-one, and had not yet become a fully naturalized citizen, his effort to enlist met with immediate success.

5. In the course of his speech he said that he was a foreigner, he came to this country when he was fourteen years old, landing in New York with his only possessions tied in a handkerchief, went to work in an iron foundry, and after many years of toil he found himself at the head of a great industry.

=Repet.i.tion of Connective with a Loss in Clearness=

=38. Do not complicate thought by persistent repet.i.tion of elements beginning with _that_, _which_, _of_, _for_, or _but_, and NOT parallel in structure.=