2. In the position of phrases and members. “Are these designs which any man who is born a Briton, in any circumstances, in any situation, ought to be ashamed or afraid to avow?” Corrected:  “Are these designs which any man who is born a Briton, ought to be ashamed or afraid, in any circumstances, in any situation, to avow?”

3. In the position of pronouns. The reference of a pronoun to its noun, should always be so clear that we cannot possibly mistake it: otherwise the noun ought to be repeated.  “It is folly to pretend to arm ourselves against the accidents of life, by heaping up treasures, which nothing can protect us against but the good providence of our Heavenly Father.” Which, in this sentence, grammatically refers to treasures; and this would convert the whole period into nonsense.  The sentence should have been thus constructed, “It is folly to pretend, by heaping up treasures, to arm ourselves against the accidents of life, against which nothing can protect us but the good providence of our Heavenly Father.”

STRENGTH.  By the strength of a sentence is meant such an arrangement of its several words and members, as exhibits the sense to the best advantage, and gives every word and member its due weight and force.

1.  The first rule for promoting the strength of a sentence, is, to take from it all redundant words and members. Whatever can be easily supplied in the mind, should generally be omitted; thus, “Content with deserving a triumph, he refused the honor of it,” is better than to say, “Being content with deserving a triumph.” &c.  “They returned back again to the same city from whence they came forth.”  If we expunge from this snort sentence five which are were expletives, it will be much more neat and forcible thus, “They returned to the city whence they came.”  But we should be cautious of pruning so closely as to give a hardness and dryness to the style.  Some leaves must be left to shelter and adorn the fruit.

2. Particular attention to the use of copulatives, relatives, and all the particles employed for transition and connexion, is required.  In compositions of an elevated character, the relative should generally be inserted.  An injudicious repetition of and enfeebles style; but when enumerating objects which we wish to have appear as distinct from each other as possible, it may be repeated with peculiar advantage; thus, “Such a man may fall a victim to power; but truth, and reason, and liberty, would fall with him.”

3. Dispose of the capital word or words in that part of the sentence in which they will make the most striking impression.

4. Cause the members of a sentence to go on rising in their importance one above another.  In a sentence of two members, the longer should generally be the concluding one.

5. Avoid concluding a sentence with an adverb, a preposition, or any inconsiderable word, unless it be emphatical.