The Elements of Style Part 11

A common blunder is to use a singular verb in a relative clause following this or a similar expression, when the relative is the subject.

One of the ablest men that has attacked this problem.

One of the ablest men that have attacked this problem.

=Participle for verbal noun.=

Do you mind me asking a question?

Do you mind my asking a question?

There was little prospect of the Senate accepting even this compromise.

There was little prospect of the Senate's accepting even this compromise.

In the left-hand column, _asking_ and _accepting_ are present participles; in the right-hand column, they are verbal nouns (gerunds).

The construction shown in the left-hand column is occasionally found, and has its defenders. Yet it is easy to see that the second sentence has to do not with a prospect of the Senate, but with a prospect of accepting. In this example, at least, the construction is plainly illogical.

As the authors of _The King's English_ point out, there are sentences apparently, but not really, of this type, in which the possessive is not called for.

I cannot imagine Lincoln refusing his a.s.sent to this measure.

In this sentence, what the writer cannot imagine is Lincoln himself, in the act of refusing his a.s.sent. Yet the meaning would be virtually the same, except for a slight loss of vividness, if he had written,

I cannot imagine Lincoln's refusing his a.s.sent to this measure.

By using the possessive, the writer will always be on the safe side.

In the examples above, the subject of the action is a single, unmodified term, immediately preceding the verbal noun, and the construction is as good as any that could be used. But in any sentence in which it is a mere clumsy subst.i.tute for something simpler, or in which the use of the possessive is awkward or impossible, should of course be recast.

In the event of a reconsideration of the whole matter's becoming necessary

If it should become necessary to reconsider the whole matter

There was great dissatisfaction with the decision of the arbitrators being favorable to the company.

There was great dissatisfaction that the arbitrators should have decided in favor of the company.

=People.= _The people_ is a political term, not to be confused with _the public_. From the people comes political support or opposition; from the public comes artistic appreciation or commercial patronage.

=Phase.= Means a stage of transition or development: "the phases of the moon;" "the last phase." Not to be used for _aspect_ or _topic_.

Another phase of the subject

Another point (another question)

=Possess.= Not to be used as a mere subst.i.tute for _have_ or _own_.

He possessed great courage.

He had great courage (was very brave).

He was the fortunate possessor of

He owned

=Prove.= The past participle is _proved_.

=Respective, respectively.= These words may usually be omitted with advantage.

Works of fiction are listed under the names of their respective authors.

Works of fiction are listed under the names of their authors.

The one mile and two mile runs were won by Jones and c.u.mmings respectively.

The one mile and two mile runs were won by Jones and by c.u.mmings.

In some kinds of formal writing, as geometrical proofs, it may be necessary to use _respectively_, but it should not appear in writing on ordinary subjects.

=Shall, Will.= The future tense requires _shall_ for the first person, _will_ for the second and third. The formula to express the speaker's belief regarding his future action or state is _I shall_; _I will_ expresses his determination or his consent.

=Should.= See under =Would=.

=So.= Avoid, in writing, the use of _so_ as an intensifier: "so good;"

"so warm;" "so delightful."

On the use of _so_ to introduce clauses, see Rule 4.

=Sort of.= See under =Kind of=.

=Split Infinitive.= There is precedent from the fourteenth century downward for interposing an adverb between _to_ and the infinitive which it governs, but the construction is in disfavor and is avoided by nearly all careful writers.

To diligently inquire

To inquire diligently

=State.= Not to be used as a mere subst.i.tute for _say_, _remark_.

Restrict it to the sense of _express fully or clearly_, as, "He refused to state his objections."

=Student Body.= A needless and awkward expression meaning no more than the simple word _students_.

A member of the student body

A student

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