How to Speak and Write Correctly by Joseph Devlin
page 131 of 188 (69%)
page 131 of 188 (69%)
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_Two_ prepositions should not govern _one objective_ unless there is an
immediate connection between them. "He was refused admission to and forcibly ejected from the school" should be "He was refused admission to the school and forcibly ejected from it." SUMMON--SUMMONS Don't say "I shall summons him," but "I shall summon him." _Summon_ is a verb, _summons_, a noun. It is correct to say "I shall get a _summons_ for him," not a _summon_. UNDENIABLE--UNEXCEPTIONABLE "My brother has an undeniable character" is wrong if I wish to convey the idea that he has a good character. The expression should be in that case "My brother has an unexceptionable character." An _undeniable_ character is a character that cannot be denied, whether bad or good. An unexceptionable character is one to which no one can take exception. THE PRONOUNS Very many mistakes occur in the use of the pronouns. "Let you and I go" should be "Let you and _me_ go." "Let them and we go" should be "Let them and us go." The verb let is transitive and therefore takes the objective case. |
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