Page:The Elements of Style (Strunk).djvu/26

 In proportion as the manners, customs, and amusements of a nation are cruel and barbarous, the regulations of their penal code will be severe.

In proportion as men delight in battles, bull-fights, and combats of gladiators, will they punish by hanging, burning, and the rack.

13. Omit needless words.

Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that he make every word tell.

Many expressions in common use violate this principle:

the question as to whether

there is no doubt but that

used for fuel purposes

he is a man who

in a hasty manner

this is a subject which

His story is a strange one.

whether (the question whether)

no doubt (doubtless)

used for fuel

he

hastily

this subject

His story is strange.

In especial the expression the fact that should be revised out of every sentence in which it occurs.

owing to the fact that

in spite of the fact that

call your attention to the fact that

I was unaware of the fact that

the fact that he had not succeeded

the fact that I had arrived

since (because)

though (although)

remind you (notify you)

I was unaware that (did not know)

his failure

my arrival

See also under case, character, nature, system in Chapter V. Who is, which was, and the like are often superfluous.

His brother, who is a member of the same firm

Trafalgar, which was Nelson's last battle

His brother, a member of the same firm

Trafalgar, Nelson's last battle