Lest, That

“I feared lest I should be left behind.”  Use the copulative that, and not the disjunctive lest.  “I feared that I should be left behind.”

Otherwise than

“He cannot do otherwise but follow your direction.”  Use than, not but, after otherwise.  Hence, “He cannot do otherwise than follow,” etc.

After that

“After that I have attended to the business I will call upon you.”  The word that is superfluous.
  ________________________________________________
_________________

160

But what

“His parents will never believe but what he was enticed away by his uncle.”  Omit what.  The use of but that would be equally objectionable.  But is sufficient.

A reconstruction of the sentence would improve it.  “His parents will always believe,” or “Will never cease to believe that,” etc.

Doubt not but

“I doubt not but your friend will return.”  Say, “I doubt not that your friend will return.”

Not impossible but

“It is not impossible but he may call to-day.”  Use that instead of but.

Whether, Whether

“Ginevra has not decided whether she will study history or whether she will study philosophy.”  As there is nothing gained in clearness or in emphasis by the repetition of “whether she will,” this shorter sentence would be better:  “Ginevra has not decided whether she will study history or philosophy.”

As though

“He spoke as though, he had a customer for his house.”  Say, “as if he had a purchaser,” etc.
  ________________________________________________
_________________

161

Except

“I will not let thee go except thou bless me.”  This use of the word except occurs frequently in the Scriptures, but it is now regarded as obsolete.  The word unless should be used instead.

“Few speakers except Burke could have held their attention.”  In this sentence, besides should take the place of except.
  ________________________________________________
_________________

162

CHAPTER IX

 Correlatives

Certain adverbs and conjunctions, in comparison or antithesis, require
the use of corresponding adverbs and conjunctions.  Such corresponding
words are called correlatives.  The following are the principal ones in
use: 
  as, as. not merely, but also.
  as, so. not merely, but even.
  both, and. so, as.
  if, then. so, that.
  either, or. such, as.
  neither, nor. such, that.
  not only, but. though, yet.
  not only, but also. when, then.
  not only, but even. where, there.
  not merely, but. whether, or.

The improper grouping of these correlatives is the cause of many errors in speech and writing.