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We are all creatures of habit. Our sayings, as well as our doings, are largely a series of habits. In some instances we are unconscious of our peculiarities and find it almost impossible to shake them off.
The following are verbatim expressions as they dropped from the lips of a young clergyman in the pulpit. They show a deeply-seated habit of repetition of thought. As he was a graduate of one of the first colleges in the land, we are the more surprised that the habit was not checked before he passed through his college and seminary courses. The expressions are here given as a caution to others to be on their guard: "Supremest and highest," "separate and sever us," "derision, sarcasm, and contempt," "disobedient and disloyal and sinful," "hold aloof from iniquity, from sin," "necessity of being reclaimed and brought back," "their beautiful and their elegant city," "so abandoned and given up to evil and iniquity," "soaked and stained with human gore and blood," "beautiful and resplendent," "hardened and solidified into stone and adamant," "this arctic splendor and brilliancy," "were being slaughtered and cut down," "in the rapidity and the swiftness of the train," "with all the mightiness and the splendor of his genius," "the force and the pressure it brings to bear," "has and possesses the power," "lights flashed and gleamed."
The above were all taken from a single discourse. Another peculiarity of the same speaker was his use of the preposition between. Instead of saying, "Between him and his father there was a perfect understanding of the matter," he would say, "Between him and between his father there was a perfect understanding of the matter."
Young writers will find it a valuable exercise to go through a letter, essay, or other composition which they have written, with the view of ascertaining how many words they can eliminate without diminishing the force of what has been written. An article or two from the daily paper, and an occasional page from some recent work of fiction will afford further opportunity for profitable practice in pruning.
Widow woman
"And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king."-- I Kings xi, 26.
The expression is now regarded as an archaism, and not to be used in modern speech or writing. Omit woman.
Why
Many persons have a foolish habit of beginning their answer to a question with the word why. In some cases it doubtless has its origin in the desire to gain time while the mind is preparing the answer, but in most instances it is merely a habit.
Some persons prefix the word why to the statement of a fact or to the asking of a question. This is even worse than to employ it to introduce the answer. Restrict it to its legitimate use.
Look at here
This is one of the numerous expressions designed to call the attention of the person addressed to the speaker. It is both ungrammatical and vulgar. The omission of at will render it grammatical. "See here" is still better.
Look and see
"Look and see if the teacher is coming." The words "look and" are superfluous. "See whether the teacher is coming" is a better expression.
Recollect of
The word of is superfluous in such expressions; as, "I recollect of crossing Lake Champlain on the ice," "Do you recollect of his paying you a compliment?"
Settle up, down
"He has settled up his father's affairs." "He has settled down upon the old farm." Up and down may be omitted.
"He has settled down to business" is a colloquial expression which may be improved by recasting the sentence.
In so far
"He is not to blame in so far as I understand the circumstances." "In so far as I know he is a thoroughly honest man." "In so far as I have influence it shall be exerted in your favor." Omit in.
Pocket-handkerchief
The word handkerchief conveys the full meaning. Pocket is therefore superfluous and should be omitted. If a cloth or tie for the neck is meant, call it a neck tie or a neckerchief, but not a neck-handkerchief.
Have got
"I have got a fine farm." "He has got four sons and three daughters." "James has got a rare collection of butterflies." In such expressions got is superfluous. But, if the idea of gaining or acquiring is to be conveyed, the word got may be retained; as, "I have got my license," "I have got my degree," "I have got my reward."
Off of
"Can I borrow a pencil off of you?" "I bought a knife off of him yesterday." Such faulty expressions are very common among school children, and should be promptly checked by the teacher. The off is superfluous.
"He jumped off of the boat." Say, "He jumped off the boat."
The young lady appointed to sell articles at a church fair entreated her friends to "buy something off of me." She should say, "Please buy something from me," or "Make your purchases at my table."
For to see
"But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment?" Matt. xi, 8. "I will try for to do what you wish." This form of expression, once very common, is now obsolete. Omit for.
Appreciate highly
To appreciate is to set a full value upon a thing. We may value highly, or prize highly, or esteem highly, but the word highly when used with appreciate is superfluous.
Ascend up
"With great difficulty they ascended up the hill." As they could not ascend down the hill it is evident that the word up is superfluous.
Been to
"Where has he been to?" The sentence is not only more concise, but more elegant without the terminal to.
Both
The sentence, "The two children both resembled each other," will be greatly improved by omitting the word both. So also in "These baskets are both alike," "William and I both went to Cuba."
But that
"I do not doubt but that my uncle will come." The sentence is shorter and more clear without the word but. "I have no idea but that the crew was drowned." Here but is necessary. Without it the opposite meaning would be conveyed.
Equally as well
"James did it well, but Henry did it equally as well." As well or equally well should be used instead of equally as well. "This method will be equally as efficacious." Omit as.
Everywheres
"I have looked everywheres for the book, and I cannot find it." This is a vulgarism that should be avoided. Say everywhere.
Feel like
"I feel like as if I should be sick." The word like is unnecessary.
Few
"There are a few persons who read well." This sentence will be improved by saying, "Few persons read well."
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.
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.
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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