The Elements Of Style - ChokseKU: Home

42] THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE
The too-frequent use of but as a conjunction leads to the
fault discussed under Rule 18. A loose sentence formed
with but can usually be converted into a periodic sentence
formed with although.
Particularly awkward is one but closely following an
other, thus making a contrast to a contrast, or a reservation
to a reservation. This is easily corrected by rearrangement.
Our country had vast Our country seemed
resources but seemed al- almost wholly unprepared
most wholly unprepared for war, but it had vast re
fer war. But within a year sources. Within a year it
it had created an army of had created an army of
f o u r m i l l i o n . f o u r m i l l i o n .
Can. Means "am (is, are) able." Not to be used as a
substitute for may.
Care less. The dismissive "I couldn't care less" is often
used with the shortened "not" mistakenly (and mysterious
ly) omitted: "I could care less." The error destroys the
meaning of the sentence and is careless indeed.
Case. Often unnecessary.
In many cases, the rooms Many of the rooms
lacked air conditioning. lacked air conditioning.
It has rarely been the Few mistakes have been
case that any mistake has made,
been made.
Certainly. Used indiscriminately by some speakers,
much as odiers use very, in an attempt to intensify any and
every statement. A mannerism of this land, bad in speech,
is even worse in writing.
Character. Often simply redundant, used from a mere
habit of wordiness.
acts of a hostile character hostile acts
Claim (verb). With object-noun, means "lay claim to."
May be used with a dependent clause if this sense is clear-