Chapter 8

Conjunctions

As a general rule, sentences should not begin with conjunctions. _And, or,_ and _nor_ are often needlessly employed to introduce a sentence. The disjunctive _but_ may sometimes be used to advantage in this position, and in animated and easy speech or writing the coordinate conjunction _and_ may be serviceable, but these and all other conjunctions, when made to introduce sentences, should be used sparingly.

Reason, Because

“The _reason_ I ask you to tell the story is _because_ you can do it better than I.” _Because_ means _“for the reason_.” This makes the sentence equivalent to “The _reason_ I ask you to tell the story is _for the reason_ that you can do it better than I.” Use _that _instead of because.

_“Because_ William studied law is no _reason_ why his brother should not do so.” The following is better: _“That_ William studied law is no _reason_ why his brother should not do so.”

Only, Except, But

“The house was as convenient as his, _only_ that it was a trifle smaller.” Use _except_ for _only._

“The field was as large as his, _only_ the soil was less fertile.” Use _but_ for _only._

But, Except

“Being the eldest of the brothers _but_ Philip, who was an invalid, he assumed charge of his father’s estate.” _Except_ is better than _but._

But what, But that

“Think no man so perfect _but what_ he may err.” Say, _“but that_ he may err.”

“I could not think _but what_ he was insane.” Use _but that._

But, If

“I should not wonder _but_ the assembly would adjourn to-day.” Use _if_ instead of _but._

But, That

“I have no doubt _but_ he will serve you well.” Say, “_that _he will serve you well.”

That, That

“I wished to show, by your own writings, _that_ so far were you from being competent to teach others English composition, _that_ you had need yourself to study its first principles.”—_Moon, Dean’s English._

The second _that_ is superfluous. This fault is very common with writers who use long sentences. The intervention of details between the first _that_ and the clause which it is intended to introduce causes the writer to forget that he has used the introductory word, and prompts him to repeat it unconsciously.

But

“There is no doubt _but_ that he is the greatest painter of the age.” The word _but_ is superfluous. “He never doubted _but_ that he was the best fisherman on the coast.” Omit _but._

That

“He told me he would write as soon as he reached London.” Say, “He told me _that_ he would write,” etc.

Than

“The Romans loved war better _than_ the Greeks.” Such ambiguous forms should be avoided. As it is not probable that the speaker intended to say that the Romans loved war better than they loved the Greeks, he should have framed his sentence thus: “The Romans loved war better than the Greeks did.”

But that

“He suffered no inconvenience _but that_ arising from the dust.” _But that,_ or _except that,_ is correct. Some persons improperly use _than that_ after _no._

“I don’t know _but_ _that_ I shall go to Europe.” Omit _that. “_I don’t know _but_ I shall go,” etc.

Other than

“We suffered no _other_ inconvenience _but_ that arising from the dust.” This is incorrect. After _other_ we should use _than. _Therefore, “We suffered no _other_ inconvenience _than_ that arising from the dust.”

After _else, other, rather,_ and all comparatives, the latter term of comparison should be introduced by the conjunction _than._

Either the

“Passengers are requested not to converse with _either_ conductor or driver.” This is one of those business notices that are often more concise than correct. It implies that there are two conductors and two drivers. The sentence should read, “Passengers are requested not to converse with _either the _conductor _or the_ driver.”

Lest, That

“I feared _lest_ I should be left behind.” Use the copulative _that, _and not the disjunctive _lest._ “I feared _that_ I should be left behind.”

Otherwise than

“He cannot do _otherwise but_ follow your direction.” Use _than, _not _but,_ after _otherwise._ Hence, “He cannot do _otherwise than_ follow,” etc.

After that

_“After that_ I have attended to the business I will call upon you.” The word _that_ is superfluous.

But what

“His parents will never believe _but what_ he was enticed away by his uncle.” Omit _what._ The use of _but that_ would be equally objectionable. _But_ is sufficient.

A reconstruction of the sentence would improve it. “His parents will always believe,” or “Will never cease to believe that,” etc.

Doubt not but

“I _doubt not but_ your friend will return.” Say, “I _doubt not that_ your friend will return.”

Not impossible but

“It is _not impossible but_ he may call to-day.” Use _that _instead of _but._

Whether, Whether

“Ginevra has not decided _whether_ she will study history or _whether_ she will study philosophy.” As there is nothing gained in clearness or in emphasis by the repetition of _“whether she will,”_ this shorter sentence would be better: “Ginevra has not decided whether she will study history or philosophy.”

As though

“He spoke _as_ _though,_ he had a customer for his house.” Say, “_as_ _if_ he had a _purchaser,”_ etc.

Except

“I will not let thee go _except_ thou bless me.” This use of the word _except_ occurs frequently in the Scriptures, but it is now regarded as obsolete. The word _unless_ should be used instead.

“Few speakers _except_ Burke could have held their attention.” In this sentence, _besides_ should take the place of _except._