What is tautology?

Tautology is the repetition of the same, or a similar, word in a sentence.

How may tautology be corrected?

By substituting a synonyme for the word repeated.

What is a synonyme? (See Lesson XLVII.)

Correct in this way the sentence given above.

"The general directed the captain to command the soldiers to observe good order."

In the sentence, "We looked out of the window, and took a view,” does the clause, took a view, add any thing to the meaning?

It does not.

What then is its effect on the sentence?

It weakens the sentence.

What is this fault called?

Redundancy.

What is redundancy?

Redundancy is the repetition of an idea in the

same sentence.

How may redundancy be corrected?

By leaving out the superfluous word or clause. Correct, in this way, the sentence given above.

"We looked out of the window."

What two short rules will conduce much to strength of style? Rule I. Avoid tautology.

Rule II. Avoid redundancy.

EXERCISE.

Correct the tautology and redundancy in the following sentences:

EXAMPLE. 1. He said that his father said that he would not leave the city.

2. Washington was a good and excellent man.

Corrected. 1. He stated that his father said that he would not leave the city.

2. Washington was a good man.

1. The sexton told the minister that he had tolled the bell for an hour.

2. He went to Baltimore by steamboat, and thence went to Philadelphia by rail-road.

3. Mahomet was distinguished by the dignity and majesty of his person.

4. She is so lovely a woman that no one can help loving her.

5. The ancient Egyptians used to use myrrh, spices, and nitre, for embalming the dead bodies of the deceased. 6. Sit down, and take a seat.

7. The brilliant brightness of the sun makes all nature look lively and animated.

8. The children are playing in the umbrageous shadow of a shady oak.

9. They returned back again to the same place from whence they came.

10. While travelling through Russia, we met a traveller, who, in seven days, had travelled over a thousand miles.

11. Generals are generally men of decision and energy. 12. No Christian will revenge himself on his enemies, and take vengeance on his foes.

13. Charlemagne found that his subjects were very ignorant, and therefore founded several seminaries of learning; but all his attempts and efforts were insufficient and unable to enlighten the darkness of his age.

14. No learning is generally so dearly bought, or so valuable when it is bought, as the learning that we learn in the school of experience.

15. Pity us, and have compassion on us.

LESSON LIX.

STRENGTH.

IN what does strength consist?

What is tautology?

What is redundancy?

Repeat the two short rules for promoting strength.

Repeat three more rules, the observance of which will conduce much to strength of style.

Rule III. Do not use the conjunction and too much, or let it commence à sentence.

Rule IV. Do not end a sentence with a preposition, an unimportant word, or a succession of short words.

Rule V. When there are several similar dependent clauses, as a general thing, place the longest last, and do not let a weaker assertion follow a stronger.

EXERCISE.

Correct the following sentences, so that there may be no violation of the rules just given:

EXAMPLE. 1. Idleness, and luxury, and pleasure destroy many a youth.

2. Ingratitude is a crime that I cannot accuse myself of.

3. Catiline plunged into every species of iniquity, and left the path of virtue.

Corrected.

many a youth.

1. Idleness, luxury, and pleasure destroy

2. Ingratitude is a crime of which I cannot accuse myself.

3. Catiline left the path of virtue, and plunged into every species of iniquity.

1. Charlemagne was a successful warrior, and a sound statesman, and an able monarch.

2. And he evinced incredible activity; he superintended the public improvements, and managed the affairs of the kingdom, and still found time to foster literature and the arts.

3. He is one that I cannot depend on.

4. Galileo made many discoveries in astronomy, but he was imprisoned on account of them.

5. Charity ought to exert an influence over all our actions, and regulate our speech.

6. The faith which Mahomet professed, and which he was the author of, soon spread over Arabia, and Turkey, and the northern part of Africa.

7. His conduct was disgraceful; it was unbecoming. 8. There are many mysteries which we cannot understand, yet which we must believe in.

9. His assistance I am sure of.

10. Robert Burns, although originally a poor ploughman, was one that men of letters were glad to be acquainted with, and associate with.

11. When one is out of health, life becomes a burden, and there is no pleasure in it.

12. His gross excesses, and indulgence in pleasure, cut him off at an early age.

LESSON LX.

HARMONY.

WHAT is the sixth essential property of a good style?
Harmony.

In what does harmony consist?

Harmony consists in that smooth and easy flow which pleases the ear.

What words are, for the most part, inharmonious?

1. Such as are derived from long compound words; as, sobermindedness, shamefacedness.

2. Such as contain a great number of consonants; as, phthisic, asthma.

3. Such as are composed of a number of short syllables, with the accent on or near the first; as, primarily, temporarily.

แ

What combination of words is found to be inharmonious?

A succession of words of the same length; thus, no kind of joy can long please us," is by no means as harmonious as, "no species of joy can long delight us."

What other combination of words should be avoided?

A succession of words that resemble each other in the sound of any of their syllables; thus, "a fair fairy," "a mild child," are less harmonious than "a handsome fairy," "a gentle child."

As to the general arrangement of words and clauses, what is the best guide?

The ear.

Is not a strong style generally harmonious?

It is.

EXERCISE.

Correct the following sentences in such a way that their harmony may be increased. When any particular word causes the want of harmony, it is in italics.