Page:The king's English (IA kingsenglish00fowlrich).pdf/88

74 In this, the answer to More on what account? is possibly implied in the last clause; it would perhaps be, if clearly put, Because I go to church seldomer. The right form would be, I can the more acknowledge...for going (or that I go) to church only once where twenty years ago I went ten times. Unless the than-clause is got rid of, we ought to have more without the.

This question of the is important for lucidity, is rather difficult, and has therefore had to be treated at length. The other points that call for mention are quite simple; they are illogicalities licensed by custom, but perhaps better avoided. Avoidance, however, that proclaims itself is not desirable; to set readers asking 'Who are you, pray, that the things everybody says are not good enough for you?' is bad policy; 'in vitium ducit culpae fuga si caret arte.' But if a way round presents itself that does not at once suggest an assumption of superiority, so much the better.

1. More than I can help.

Without thinking of the corresponding phrase in his native language more than he can help.—H..

We don't haul guns through traffic more than we can help.—.

These really mean, of course, more than he (we) cannot help. To say that, however, is by this time impossible. More than he need, if (when) he can help it, too much, unnecessarily, and other substitutes, will sometimes do.

2. Most of any (singular).

A political despotism, the most unbounded, both in power and principle, of any tyranny that ever existed so long.—.

She has the most comfortable repository of stupid friends to have recourse to of anybody I ever knew.—S..

And they had the readiest ear for a bold, honourable sentiment, of any class of men the world ever produced.—.

Latin at any rate should be an essential ingredient in culture as the best instrument of any language for clear and accurate expression of thought.—Times.

The first chapter, which from the lessons it enforces is perhaps the most valuable of any in the present volume...—.