Читать книгу The Century Handbook of Writing - Garland Greever - Страница 13

7. Do not halfway express an idea. If the idea is important, develop it. If it is not important, omit it.

 Incomplete: We were now quite sure that we had lost our way, and Jack said he had a business engagement that night.

 Better: We were now quite sure that we had lost our way, a fact which was all the more annoying as Jack said he had a business engagement that night.

 Puzzling: Since McAndrew had inherited money, his suitcase was plastered with labels.

 Right: Since McAndrew had inherited money, he had traveled extensively. His suitcase was plastered with the labels of foreign hotels.

 Careless: In looking for gasoline troubles, we forgot to see whether the tank was supplied.

 Right: In looking for the cause of the trouble, we forgot to see whether the tank was supplied with gasoline.

Note.—In giving information about books, do not confuse the title with the contents or some part of the contents. Be accurate in referring to the time, scene, action, plot, or characters.

 Loose thinking: Shakespeare's Hamlet occurs in Denmark [The scene is laid?]. Many passages are powerful, especially the grave-digging [Is grave-digging a passage?]. The character of Horatio is a noble fellow [conception], and the same is true of Ophelia [Ophelia a fellow?]. The drama takes place over several weeks. [The action covers a period of several weeks.]

Exercise:

1 The victrola brings to the home the world's musical ability.

2 The user of Dietzgen instruments is not vexed by numerous troubles that accompany the inferior makes.

3 To the picnicker rainy weather is bad weather, while the farmer raises a big crop.

4 Some diseases can be checked by preventives, and in many cases can be of great use to an army.

5 This idea of breaking all records held for eating is naturally harmful to the digestion, and these important organs may thank their stars that Christmas does not come very often.