Page:The king's English (IA kingsenglish00fowlrich).pdf/203

Rh this: if you cannot omit the verb, put it at the end; and if you can neither omit it nor put it at the end, reconstruct the sentence.

The German government was as anxious to upset M. Delcassé as have been his bitterest opponents in France.—Times.

The verb is preserved to avoid ambiguity. But it should go to the end, especially as it is compound.

Relishing humour more than does any other people, the Americans could not be seriously angry.—.

Ambiguity cannot fairly be pleaded here; the verb should be omitted.

If France remains as firm as did England at that time, she will probably have as much reason as had England to congratulate herself.—Times.

Either 'as England did', or, since the parallel is significant, 'as England then remained'. Also, 'as England had '.

St. Paul's writings are as full of apparent paradoxes as sometimes seems the Sermon on the Mount.—Spectator.

The verb must be retained, for the sake of sometimes; but it should go to the end.

But he has performed as have few, if any, in offices similar to his the larger, benigner functions of an Ambassador.—Times.

'As few...have performed them.'

Her impropriety was no more improper than is the natural instinct of a bird or animal improper.—E. F..

This is like the case considered in b. 'so is every one selfish'.

If improper is repeated with rhetorical effect, there is no need of inversion: if not, it should be left out.

There had been from time to time a good deal of interest over Mrs. Emsworth's career, the sort of interest which does more for a time in filling a theatre than would acting of a finer quality than hers have done.—E. F..

Either 'would have done' at the end, or (perhaps better) no verb at all.

All must join with me in the hope you express—that...as also must all hope that some good will come of...—Times.

Like the indiscriminate use of while, this ungainly as connexion is popular with slovenly writers, and is always aggravated by inversion. 'All, too, must hope...'