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:
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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.
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whether (the question whether) no doubt (doubtless) used for fuel he hastily this subject His story is strange.
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In especial the expression the fact that should be revised out
of every sentence in which it occurs.
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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
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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.
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His brother, who is a member of the same firm Trafalgar, which was Nelson's last battle
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His brother, a member of the same firm Trafalgar, Nelson's last battle |
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