Only, Except, But

“The house was as convenient as his, only that it was a trifle smaller.”  Use except for only.

“The field was as large as his, only the soil was less fertile.”  Use but for only.

But, Except

“Being the eldest of the brothers but Philip, who was an invalid, he assumed charge of his father’s estate.”  Except is better than but.

But what, But that

“Think no man so perfect but what he may err.”  Say, “but that he may err.”

“I could not think but what he was insane.”  Use but that.

But, If

“I should not wonder but the assembly would adjourn to-day.”  Use if instead of but.

But, That

“I have no doubt but he will serve you well.”  Say, “that he will serve you well.”

That, That

“I wished to show, by your own writings, that so far were you from being competent to teach others English composition, that you had need yourself to study its first principles.”—­ Moon, Dean’s English.

The second that is superfluous.  This fault is very
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common with writers who use long sentences.  The intervention of details between the first that and the clause which it is intended to introduce causes the writer to forget that he has used the introductory word, and prompts him to repeat it unconsciously.

But

“There is no doubt but that he is the greatest painter of the age.”  The word but is superfluous.  “He never doubted but that he was the best fisherman on the coast.”  Omit but.

That

“He told me he would write as soon as he reached London.”  Say, “He told me that he would write,” etc.

Than

“The Romans loved war better than the Greeks.”  Such ambiguous forms should be avoided.  As it is not probable that the speaker intended to say that the Romans loved war better than they loved the Greeks, he should have framed his sentence thus:  “The Romans loved war better than the Greeks did.”

But that

“He suffered no inconvenience but that arising from the dust.”  But that, or except that, is correct.  Some persons improperly use than that after no.

“I don’t know but that I shall go to Europe.”  Omit that.  “I don’t know but I shall go,” etc.
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Other than

“We suffered no other inconvenience but that arising from the dust.”  This is incorrect.  After other we should use than.  Therefore, “We suffered no other inconvenience than that arising from the dust.”

After else, other, rather, and all comparatives, the latter term of comparison should be introduced by the conjunction than.

Either the

“Passengers are requested not to converse with either conductor or driver.”  This is one of those business notices that are often more concise than correct.  It implies that there are two conductors and two drivers.  The sentence should read, “Passengers are requested not to converse with either the conductor or the driver.”