Page:The king's English (IA kingsenglish00fowlrich).pdf/147

Rh So far from aiming to be mistress of Europe, she was rapidly sinking into the almost helpless prey of France.—J. R..

This is to avoid aiming at being; compare the avoidance of double of above.

Lose no time, I pray you, to advise.—.

In advising may have been avoided as ambiguous.

In the common phrase addicted to drink, drink is a noun, not a verb.

d. If a deferred subject, anticipated by it, is to be verbal, it must of course be either the infinitive or a gerund without preposition.

Fortune, who has generally been ready to gratify my inclinations, provided it cost her very little by so doing...—.

It is unfortunate that the idiomatic use, while it comes by nature to southern Englishmen (who will find most of this section superfluous), is so complicated that those who are not to the manner born can hardly acquire it; and for them the section is in danger of being useless. In apology for the length of these remarks it must be said that the short and simple directions often given are worse than useless. The observant reader soon loses faith in them from their constant failure to take him right; and the unobservant is the victim of false security.

Roughly speaking, should follows the same rules as shall,