I think it is great to have seven-day projects, because you can produce or finish something in a week, don't get bored, and begin another exciting project for the next week!
Maybe someday I'll do a project for a longer period of time, but for now I'm pretty content with it :)
This is my final day of studying Strunk & White's
The Elements of Style. The book was very helpful!
Chapter IV. A Few Matters of Form
Headings
Numerals: do not spell out dates or other serial numbers, but write them in figures or in Roman notation.
- Example.
August 9, 1918 Chapter XII Rule 3
Parentheses: punctuation outside of the marks of parenthesis!
Quotations
References: abbreviate titles that occur frequently.
- Example.
After the killing of Polonius, Halmet is placed under guard (IV. ii. 14).
Titles: use italics! - Example.
The Iliad; the Odyssey; A Tale of Two Cities; (but omit
A or
The when you place the possessive before them:)
Dickens's Tale of Two Cities.
Chapter V. Words and Expressions Commonly Misused
(Not necessarily bad English, but better be replaced)
All right = "Agreed" or "Go ahead." In other uses better avoided.
As good or better than: correct this type of expression by rearranging the sentence.
- Example.
My opinion is as good or better than his.
-->
My opinion is as good as his, or better (if not better).
As to whether (gosh I use this a lot!):
Whether is sufficient. (wow!)
Bid: bid-bade. Takes the infinitive without
to.
Case: not often necessary.
- Example:
In many cases, the rooms were poorly ventilated.
-->
Many of the rooms were poorly ventilated.
- Example:
It has rarely been the case that any mistake has been made.
-->
Few mistakes have been made.
Certainly:
certainly and
very are often used indiscriminately. Avoid mannerism. Also applies to
nature.
Character: often simply redundant. Example.
Acts of a hostile character -->
Hostile acts (neat!)
Claim, vb.: better be used "
claimed to be..." than "
claimed that.." Not a substitute for
declare, maintain, or
charge.
Compare: (Yes, I hoped it will come up! So confusing)
-
compare to: point out or imply
resemblances, between objects regarded as essentially of
different order.
-
compare with: mainly to point out
differences, between objects regarded as essentially of the
same order.
- Example.
Life has been compared to a pilgrimage, to a drama, to a battle.
Congress may be compared with the British Parliament.
Paris has been compared to ancient Athens; it may be compared with modern London.
Clever: overused. Best restricted to ingenuity displayed in small matters.
Consider: NOT followed by
as when it means, "believe to be." (Really?!)
- Example.
I consider him thoroughly competent.
- Compare.
The lecturer considered Cromwell first as soldier and second as administrator.
--> in this case, "considered" means "examined" or "discussed."
Dependable: a needless substitute for reliable, trustworthy.
Due to: incorrectly used for through, because of, or owing to. Example.
He lost the first game, due to carelessness.
In correct use related as predicate or as modifier to a particular noun. Example.
This invention is due to Edison. / Losses due to preventable fires.
Actually, I didn't get the meaning of this, so I looked up my bookshelf, and it said:
Usage Note:
Due to has been widely used for many years as a
compound preposition like
owing to, but some critics have insisted that the adjectival status of due must be retained. According to this view, it is incorrect to say
The concert was canceled due to the rain, as opposed to the acceptable
The cancellation of the concert was due to the rain, where due continues to function as an
adjective modifying cancellation.
Excerpted from The American Heritage(r) Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition (c) 1996 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Electronic version licensed from INSO Corporation; further reproduction and distribution in accordance with the Copyright Law of the United States. All rights reserved.
Ehh.... okay....? Still confused, but moving on to the next one:
Etc.: Not to be used of
persons. Equivalent to and the rest, and so forth, and hence not to be used if one of these would be insufficient.
Factor: A hackney! Replace it with something more direct and idiomatic.
- Example.
Heavy artillery is becoming an increasingly important factor in deciding battles.
-->
Heavy artillery is playing a larger and larger part in deciding battles.
Feature: A hackneyed word like factor.
However: (Yes! here it comes!)
In the meaning
nevertheless, NOT to come
first in its sentence or clause.
- Example.
The roads were almost impassable. However, we at last succeeded in reaching camp.
-->
The roads were almost impassable. At last, however, we succeeded in reaching camp.
When however comes
first, it means
in whatever way or
to whatever extent.
- Example.
However discouraging the prospect, he never lost heart.
Oh now I get it. :)
Kind of/Sort of: NOT to be used as a substitute for
rather. Restrict it to its literal sense.
- Example.
Amber is a kind of fossil resin. / I dislike that kind of notoriety.
Phase: Means a stage of transition or development: "
the phases of the moon;" "
the last phase."
Not to be used for
aspect or
topic (Ohhh..).
- Example.
Another phase of the subject -->
Another point (another question)
Possess: Not to be used as a mere substitute for
have or
own.
- Example.
He possessed great courage. -->
He had great courage (was very brave).
He was the fortunate possessor of -->
He owned
State: Not to be used as a mere substitute for
say, remark. Restrict it to the sense of
express fully or clearly, as, "
He refused to state his objections."
Viewpoint: Write
point of view, but do
not misuse this, as many do, for
view or
opinion.
While: Avoid the indiscriminate use of this word for
and, but, and
although. Best replaced by a
semicolon.
- Example.
The office and salesrooms are on the ground floor, while the rest of the building is devoted to manufacturing. -->
The office and salesrooms are on the ground floor; the rest of the building is devoted to manufacturing.
But it is okay to be used as an equivalent of
although when there is no ambiguity or absurdity in the sentence. Example.
While I admire his energy, I wish it were employed in a better cause.
Worthwhile: Overworked as a term of vague approval and (with not) of disapproval. Strictly applicable only to actions: "
Is it worthwhile to telegraph?"
- Example.
His books are not worthwhile. -->
His books are not worth reading (not worth one's while to read; do not repay reading).
Don't use it before a noun: "
a worthwhile story."
Chapter VI. Words Often Misspelled
privilege, sacrilegious, parallel, playwright :)
I think I need to go over this many times till I get used to them.
Anyway, THE END!! HORRAY!! What shall I do for the next project?!
