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26] THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE others as well as for themselves, they are considerate without being fussy, their pluck is not swankiness but the power to endure, and they can take a joke.* A writer who has written a series of loose sentences should recast enough of them to remove the monotony, replacing them with simple sentences, sentences of two clauses joined by a semicolon, periodic sentences of two clauses, or sen tences (loose or periodic) of three clauses—whichever best represent the real relations of the thought. 19. Express coordinate ideas in similar form. This principle, that of parallel construction, requires that expressions similar in content and function be outwardly similar. The likeness of form enables the reader to recognize more readily the likeness of content and function. The famil iar Beatitudes exemplify the virtue of parallel construction. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. The unskilled writer often violates this principle, mis takenly believing in the value of constandy varying the form of expression. When repeating a statement to emphasize it, the writer may need to vary its form. Otherwise, the writer should follow the principle of parallel construction. Formerly, science was Formerly, science was taught by the textbook taught by the textbook method, while now the labo- method; now it is taught by ratory method is employed. the laboratory method. The lefthand version gives the impression that the writer is undecided or timid, apparendy unable or afraid to choose *Excerpt from "What I Believe" in Two Cheers for Democracy, copyright 1939 and renewed 1967 by E. M. Forster, reprinted by per mission of Harcourt, Inc. Also, by permission of The Provost and Schol ars of King's College, Cambridge, and The Society of Authors as the literary representatives of the E. M. Forster Estate.
P R I N C I P L E S O F C O M P O S I T I O N [ 2 7 one form of expression and hold to it. The righthand ver sion shows that the writer has at least made a choice and abided by it. By this principle, an article or a preposition applying to all the members of a series must either be used only before the first term or else be repeated before each term. the French, the Italians, Spanish, and Portuguese in spring, summer, or m winter the French, the Italians, the Spanish, and the Por tuguese in spring, summer, or winter (in spring, in sum mer, or in winter) Some words require a particular preposition in certain idiomatic uses. When such words are joined in a compound construction, all the appropriate prepositions must be in cluded, unless they are the same. His speech was marked by disagreement and scom for his opponent's position. His speech was marked by disagreement with and scorn for his opponent's position. Correlative expressions (both, and; not, but; not only, but also; either, or; first, second, third; and the like) should be fol lowed by the same grammatical construction. Many violations of this rule can be corrected by rearranging the sentence. It was both a long cere mony and very tedious. A time not for words but action. Either you must grant his request or incur his ill will. My objections are, first, the injustice of the mea sure; second, that it is unconstitutional. The ceremony was both long and tedious. A time not for words but for action. You must either grant his request or incur his ill will. My objections are, first, that die measure is unjust; second, that it is unconsti tutional.
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REFERENCE $7.95 Strunk and white Th
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