I hope to hear from him once more may by the insertion of only assume five different meanings. (1) Only I hope to hear from him once more. I hope; nobody else does. (2) I only hope to hear from him once more. I hope, but I do not expect. (3) I hope only to hear from him once more. Only to hear, not to see. (4) I hope to hear only from him once more. From him, not from anyone else. (5) I hope to hear from him only once more. Once, not more. 188. An examination of the examples just given will show (1) That only is placed before the word which it is intended to modify; and (2) That with a Noun (or Proncun) alone is often a better word than only. 189. At the beginning of a sentence only often has the force of but; as Come when you please, only let me know when I may expect you. 190. Before a Verb in the Imperative Mood only is used in a diminutive or deprecatory sense; as Only try to regard your prospects more cheerfully. 191. At the end of a sentence only is often used to limit the whole sentence, and to diminish or deprecate the action expressed; as Brown studied books; Smith wrote them only. Used thus, only makes the writing of books appear a smaller matter than the studying of them. 192. In the following sentences only is misplaced: (1) We were only permitted to stop for refreshment once by the way, so that without the provision of cold fowl, bread, and water which we only happened to think of the moment before setting out, our situation would have been somewhat deplorable. The first only should come before once, and the second before the moment. (2) These will raise a man above many disappointments, and by leading him only to feed his heart upon expectations which are likely to be realised will do very much towards making him rejoice evermore. Only should come after heart. Exercise 86. Move each only to the right place. They felt that under his banner only they could hope for victory. He sub-let it to the agency in question, by which it was only used for one week. Theism can only be opposed to polytheism or atheism. She only drank milk by the advice of her medical attendant. I reside only in a small country village. Breathe through the nose only in cold weather. His efforts were confined only to remonstrance and exhortation. Dr. A. remembered that he had a salary to receive and only forgot that he had duties to perform. These revolutions extended only to a change of persons but not of principles. The principle of the bill was only confirmed by a majority of one. The captain and the crew had only been there about an hour when three canoes made their appearance. The Polish artillery consisted only of twelve pieces. He was possessed of all the high spirits and happy insouciance [an English word would be better] which can only charm at that early period. The Spirit of Laws' was only completed when the author was sixty years of age. The first two named only ascended to the summit. The river could only be distinguished from the ocean by its calmness and discoloured water. Speculative truth is pursued only for the sake of intellectual activity. The crown can be worn only by a Protestant. I only spoke a very few words. These practices are only discontinued through the neglect and degeneracy of later times. 193. When words are used correlatively, care should be taken that they come before the words compared, contrasted, or emphasised. As will be seen by the following examples, each member of the pair should come before the same part of speech. Not... but. The wise ruler aims not [Preposition] at the punishment of offenders but [Preposition] at the prevention of offences. Not... but only. He strove not [Infinitive] to punish offenders, but only [Infinitive] to prevent offence. Providing for honest things not only [Preposition] in the sight of the Lord but also [Preposition] in the sight of men. Unto whom not only [Pronoun Noun] I give thanks but also [Noun with Adjectives qualifying it] all the churches of the Gentiles. Not only... but. 1 The Greek language had obtained such a vogue in Rome itself that all the great and noble were not only 1 obliged to learn it but were ambitious everywhere to speak it. Not merely... but. They will interest also not merely children but grown-up persons. They seem to me necessary to the accuracy not more of the extracts than of the portrait I seek to give of the writer. Neither James nor his sister was at school this morning. 194. The following examples show correlatives misplaced: (1) He strives not to inspire liking but love. Not only comes between were and obliged; but must come before the second were. The Participle (= Adjective) obliged and the Adjective ambitious are the words compared. M (2) The man worked not to provide for the future but only for the present. (3) In considering the life of Seneca we are not only dealing with a life which was rich in memorable incidents . . . but also with a life, &c. ... (4) In one or two places he has caught not merely their idioms and phrases but has become imbued with something of their high manner of spirit. (5) Attention to details is not more essential to the strength than to the beauty of the building. (6) Every composition is fairly liable to criticism both in regard to its design and to its execution. (7) The gods are either angry or nature too powerful. (8) His almost vulgar personality may convey to those who are neither acquainted with the writer or [should be nor] his works not altogether an inadequate impression of both. 195. As well as requires care. As well as has almost the force of and, and, as in the case of and, the words connected should be brought close together. This rule is violated in the following sentence: The beaux of the day painted their faces as well as the women. This means that the beaux painted the women. meant was What the writer The beaux of the day as well as the women painted their faces. 196. At least, at all events, at any rate, and similar modifying phrases should be so placed that there can be no ambiguity. The sentence The Britons at least fought as bravely as the Romans may mean (1) The Britons fought as bravely as the Romans, though some other nations did not. (2) The Britons fought as bravely, though they may have not endured as bravely as the Romans. Exercise 87. Re-arrange the following sentences: The traveller saw that these foreigners at all events were as intelligent as their own countrymen. Others had seen that she was sweet as well as Oliver. It should have been added that A. was acquitted by the jury as well as B. and C. The Commander-in-Chief had to strip off his necessary overcoat as well as the heads of the garrison and their staff. A few hours later one Mahoney strangled the unfortunate man as well as an accomplice named White. He not only lent me his carriage but also his horses. I am not expecting to hear from my brother but from my sister. I do not intend to row to Windsor but only to Staines. These not only enable him to bear emotion with impunity but to prolong its duration with enjoyment. Homer was not only the maker of a nation but of a language and a religion. The laws are for the government not only of those who are to obey them but for those who make them. The result is not pleasant to us only because it fulfils our predictions but because any other would have been productive of mischief. We cannot even have an inclination to do good until ... I am neither an ascetic in theory or [should be nor] in practice. In these times one can neither speak of kings or [should be nor] queens without suspicion of politics or personalities. Her days neither passed in indolence nor without enjoyment. He was neither fitted by abilities nor disposition to answer the wishes of his mother and sister. We must neither forget the temper of the man nor of the age in which he lived. Neither the name of author nor bookseller has the least sway with the editor. I neither believe that there is any contradiction in all this nor that Bacon gives us the right interpretation. He is neither disposed to sanction bloodshed nor deceit. Her success is neither the result of system nor strategy. He has been either educated at a University or at a public school. We cannot admit that either in qualities of head or heart his women are inferior to the women we generally meet. I know not what better description I can give you either of a great captain or great orator. The engraving is neither like me nor the picture. He neither shrinks from the cold nor the absolutely disgusting. By greatness I do not only mean the bulk of any single object but the largeness of a whole view. Sixtus IV. was a great collector of books at least. If Louis XIV. was not the greatest king, he was the best actor of majesty at least that ever filled a throne. |