The Elements Of Style - ChokseKU: Home

M I S U S E D W O R D S A N D E X P R E S S I O N S [ 5 5
One must watch his One must watch one's
s t e p . s t e p . ( Y o u m u s t w a t c h y o u r
step.)
One of the most. Avoid this feeble formula. "One of
the most exciting developments of modern science is ...";
"Switzerland is one of die most beautiful countries of
Europe." There is nothing wrong with the grammar; the
formula is simply threadbare.
-oriented. A clumsy, pretentious device, much in vogue.
Find a better way of indicating orientation or alignment or
direction.
It was a manufacturing- It was a company chiefly
oriented company. concerned with manufac
turing.
Many of the skits are Many of the skits rely on
situation-oriented. situation.
Partially. Not always interchangeable with partly.
Best used in the sense of "to a certain degree," when speak
ing of a condition or state: "I'm partially resigned to it."
Partly carries the idea of a part as distinct from die whole—
usually a physical object.
The log was partially The log was partly subs
u b m e r g e d , m e r g e d .
She was partially in and She was partly in and
p a r t i a l l y o u t . p a r t l y o u t .
She was part in, part
out.
Participle for verbal noun.
There was little prospect There was litde prospect
of the Senate accepting of the Senate's accepting
even this compromise. even this compromise.
In the lefthand column, accepting is a present participle;
in the righthand column, it is a verbal noun (gerund). The