Читать книгу The Century Handbook of Writing - Garland Greever - Страница 9

3. Do not omit a word or a phrase which is necessary to an immediate understanding of a sentence.

 Ambiguous: I consulted the secretary and president. [Did the speaker consult one man or two?]

 Right: I consulted the secretary and the president. [Or] I consulted the man who was president and secretary.

 Ambiguous: Water passes through the cement as well as the bricks.

 Right: Water passes through the cement as well as through the bricks.

 Wrong: I have had experience in every phase of the automobile.

 Right: I have had experience in every phase of automobile driving and repairing.

 Wrong: About him were men whom he could not tell whether they were friends or foes.

 Right: About him were men regarding whom he could not tell whether they were friends or foes. [Or, better] About him were men who might have been either friends or foes.

Exercise:

1 When still a small boy, my family moved to Centerville.

2 Constantly in conversation with some one broadens our ideas and our vocabulary.

3 It was a trick which opposing teams were sure to be baffled.

4 They departed for the battle front with the knowledge they might never return.

5 At the banquet were all classes of people; I met a banker and plumber.