Help but be
This is an awkward expression which is improved by being reduced to the two words help being; as, “I could not help being moved by his appeal.”
Kind of a
“He jumped into a kind of a chaise, and hurried off to the station.” A kind of chaise would be better.
New beginner
“Mary plays on the piano very well for a new beginner.” If she is a beginner she must of necessity be new to it.
Opens up
“This story opens up beautifully.” The up is superfluous.
Seeming paradox
The word paradox alone implies all that the word seeming is intended to convey, hence seeming is superfluous. “This was once a paradox but time now gives it proof.”
Different
“There were ten different men ready to accept
the offer.” As no reference to the appearance
or characteristics of the men is intended, the word
different is unnecessary.
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Rise up
“They rose up early and started on their journey.” Up is superfluous and should be omitted.
Sink down
“The multitude sank down upon the ground.” As they could not sink up or in any other direction than down, the latter word should be omitted.
Smell of
“Did you smell of the roses?” “No; but I smelled them and found them very fragrant.” “The gardener smelt of them for he has been culling them all morning and his clothing is perfumed with them.” The of is superfluous in such expressions as taste of, feel of, and usually in smell of.
Think for
“He is taller than you think for.” For is unnecessary. “He is taller than you think” is the contracted form of “He is taller than you think he is.”
Differ among themselves
“The authorities differed among themselves.” The words among themselves may be omitted.
End up
“That ends up the business.” Say “that ends (or closes) the business.”
Had have
“Had I have known that he was a lawyer I should
have consulted him.”
Omit have.
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Had ought to
“I had ought to have gone to school to-day;
I hadn’t ought to have gone fishing.”
Incorrect. Say, “I ought to have gone (or
I should have gone) to school to-day; I ought not
to have gone fishing.” If the second clause
is not an after-thought the sentence can be still
further improved by condensing it; as, “I should
have gone to school to-day, and not to have gone fishing.”
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CHAPTER XV
Two Negatives
The use of two negatives in a sentence is much more common than is generally supposed. To assume that only those who are grossly ignorant of grammatical rules and constructions employ them, is an error. Writers whose names are as bright stars in the constellation of literature have slipped on this treacherous ground.