“Ye see how that not many wise men are called.”  We must read the Bible as we find it, but in modern English the sentence would be corrected by omitting how.

“Be careful how you offend him.”  If the manner of offending is the thought to be expressed, the sentence is correct.  But the true meaning is doubtless better expressed by, “Be careful lest you offend him.”

No, Not

“I cannot tell whether he will come or no.”  “Whether he be a sinner or no I know not.”  In such cases not should be used instead of no.

This much

“This much can be said in his favor.”  Change this much to so much or thus much.

That far

The expressions this far and that far, although they are very common, are, nevertheless, incorrect.  Thus far or so far should be used instead.
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Over, More than

“There were not over thirty persons present.”  Over is incorrect; above has some sanction; but more than, is the best, and should be used.

Real good

This is one of those good-natured expressions that insinuate themselves into the speech of even cultured people.  Very good is just as short, and much more correct.  Really good scarcely conveys the thought intended.

So nice

“This basket of flowers is so nice.”  So nice does not tell how nice.  So requires a correlative to complete its meaning.  Use very nice or very pretty.

Pell-mell

“He rushes pell-mell down the street.”  One bird cannot flock by itself, nor can one man rush pell-mell.  It will require at least several men to produce the intermixing and confusion which the word is intended to convey.
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CHAPTER VIII

Conjunctions

As a general rule, sentences should not begin with conjunctions.  And, or, and nor are often needlessly employed to introduce a sentence.  The disjunctive but may sometimes be used to advantage in this position, and in animated and easy speech or writing the coordinate conjunction and may be serviceable, but these and all other conjunctions, when made to introduce sentences, should be used sparingly.

Reason, Because

“The reason I ask you to tell the story is because you can do it better than I.”  Because means “for the reason.”  This makes the sentence equivalent to “The reason I ask you to tell the story is for the reason that you can do it better than I.”  Use that instead of because.

“Because William studied law is no reason why his brother should not do so.”  The following is better:  “That William studied law is no reason why his brother should not do so.”
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