Brevity often clashes with clearness. Let clearness be the first
consideration.

CLEARNESS AND FORCE.

_Numbers in brackets refer to the Rules._

WORDS.

*1. Use words in their proper sense.*

Write, not "His _apparent_ guilt justified his friends in disowning
him," but "his _evident_ guilt." "Conscious" and "aware," "unnatural"
and "supernatural," "transpire" and "occur," "circumstance" and
"event," "reverse" and "converse," "eliminate" and "elicit," are often
confused together.

This rule forbids the use of the same word in different senses. "It is
in my _power_ to refuse your request, and since I have _power_ to do
this, I may lawfully do it." Here the second "power" is used for
"authority."

This rule also forbids the slovenly use of "nice," "awfully,"
"delicious," "glorious," &c. See (2).

*2. Avoid exaggerations.*

"The _boundless_ plains in the heart of the empire furnished
_inexhaustible_ supplies of corn, that would have almost sufficed for
twice the population."

Here "inexhaustible" is inconsistent with what follows. The words
"unprecedented," "incalculable," "very," and "stupendous" are often
used in the same loose way.

*3. Avoid useless circumlocution and "fine writing."*

"Her Majesty here _partook of lunch_." Write "_lunched_."

"Partook of" implies sharing, and is incorrect as well as lengthy.

So, do not use "apex" for "top," "species" for "kind," "individual"
for "man," "assist" for "help," &c.

*4. Be careful how you use the following words: "not ... and," "any,"
"only," "not ... or," "that."*[5]

*And.* See below, "Or."

*Any.*--"I am not bound to receive _any_ messenger that you send."
Does this mean _every_, or _a single_? Use "every" or "a single."

*Not.*--(1) "I do _not_ intend to help you, because you are my enemy
&c." ought to mean (2), "I intend not to help you, and my reason for
not helping you is, because you are my enemy." But it is often wrongly
used to mean (3), "I intend to help you, not because you are my enemy
(but because you are poor, blind, &c.)." In the latter case, _not_
ought to be separated from _intend_. By distinctly marking the limits
to which the influence of _not_ extends, the ambiguity may be removed.

*Only* is often used ambiguously for _alone_. "The rest help me to
revenge myself; you _only_ advise me to wait." This ought to mean,
"you only _advise_, instead of _helping_;" but in similar sentences
"you only" is often used for