ELEMENTS OF STYLE (UPDATED 2011 EDITION) The All-Time Bestselling Bohe Elements of Style by & Press, The Elements of Style & Hong, Chris [13]
A literal flood of abuse > A flood of abuse
Literally dead with fatigue > Almost dead with fatigue (dead tired)
Lose out. Meant to be more emphatic than lose, but actually less so, because of its commonness. The same holds true of try out, win out, sign up, register up. With a number of verbs, out and up form idiomatic combinations: find out, run out, turn out, cheer up, dry up, make up, and others, each distinguishable in meaning from the simple verb. Lose out is not.
Most. Not to be used for almost.
Most everybody > Almost everybody
Most all the time > Almost all the time
Nature. Often simply redundant, used like character.
Acts of a hostile nature > Hostile acts
Often vaguely used in such expressions as "a lover of nature;" "poems about nature." Unless more specific statements follow, the reader cannot tell whether the poems have to do with natural scenery, rural life, the sunset, the untracked wilderness, or the habits of squirrels.
Nearby. Adverbial phrase, not yet fully accepted as good English, though the analogy of close by and hard by seems to justify it. Near, or near at hand, is as good, if not better.
Not to be used as an adjective; use neighboring.
Oftentimes, Archaic forms, no longer in good use. The modern word is often.
One hundred and one. Retain the and in this and similar expressions, in accordance with the unvarying usage of English prose from Old English times.
One of the most. Avoid beginning essays or paragraphs with this formula, as, "One of the most interesting developments of modern science is, etc.;" "Switzerland is one of the most interesting countries of Europe." There is nothing wrong in this; it is simply threadbare and forcible-feeble.
People.The people is a political term, not to be confused with the public. From the people comes political support or opposition; from the public comes artistic appreciation or commercial patronage.
The word people is not to be used with words of number, in place of persons. If of "six people" five went away, how many "people" would be left?
Phase. Means a stage of transition or development: "the phases of the moon;" "the last phase." Not to be used for aspect or topic.
Another phase of the subject > Another point (another question)
Possess. Not to be used as a mere substitute for have or own.
He possessed great courage. > He had great courage (was very brave).
He was the fortunate possessor of > He owned
Respective, respectively. These words may usually be omitted with advantage.
Works of fiction are listed under the names of their respective authors. > Works of fiction are listed under the names of their authors.
The one mile and two mile runs were won by Jones and Cummings respectively. > The one mile and two mile runs were won by Jones and by Cummings.
In some kinds of formal writing, as in geometrical proofs, it may be necessary to use respectively, but it should not appear in writing on ordinary subjects.
So. Avoid, in writing, the use of so as an intensifier: "so good;" "so warm;" "so delightful."
On the use of so to introduce clauses, see Rule 4.
Sort of. See under Kind of.
State. Not to be used as a mere substitute for say, remark. Restrict it to the sense of express fully or clearly, as, "He refused to state his objections."
Student body. A needless and awkward expression, meaning no more than the simple word students.
A member of the student body > A student
Popular with the student body
Liked by the students > The student body passed resolutions.
Or
The students passed resolutions.
System. Frequently used without need.
Dayton has adopted the commission system of government. > Dayton has adopted government by commission.
The dormitory system > Dormitories
Thanking you in advance. This sounds as if the writer meant, "It will not be worth my while to write to you again." Simply write, "Thanking you," and if the favor which you have requested is granted,