wood [Periodic, long,
conveying the idea of distance better than a loose sentence].
On my left stood the village, the houses like specks; on my
right wound the creek, nearer and nearer through the willows
[Balanced]. The creek advanced by slow sinuous turns, until,
reaching the dam, it plunged over tumultuously [Loose]. Through
a thicket of tall trees, near at hand, I could see the white
tents of my fellow campers, and their glowing camp fires
[Periodic through the middle of the sentence; then loose].

=5.= Use question, exclamation, direct quotation.

Somewhat flat: He asked me the road to Camden. I did not know.
I told him to ask Thurber, who knew the country well.

Better: He asked me the road to Camden. The road to Camden? How
should I know? "Ask Thurber," I said impatiently; "he knows
this country. I'm a stranger."

=6.= Avoid an excessive use of participles. Do not pile adjectives around
every noun. Above all, do not form a habit of using adjectives in pairs
or triplets.

Bad: Sitting by the window, I saw a sharp, dazzling flash of
lightning, and heard a loud rumbling crash of heavy thunder,
warning me of the coming of the storm. Darting across the gray,
leaden sky, the quick, jagged lightning flashed incessantly.
The tall stately poplar trees thrashed around in the boisterous
wind. Then across the window, like a great white curtain, swept
the streaming, blinding rain.

Right: I sat by the window. Suddenly a sharp flash of lightning
and a roll of thunder gave warning of the approach of a storm.
Soon lightning zig-zagged across the sky incessantly. The wind
huddled the poplar trees. Then like a white curtain across the
window streamed the rain.

Exercise:

1. The parts of the tables are not put together at the factory,
but the different parts are shipped in different shipments.

2. In order to convince the reader that the present management
of farms is inefficient, I shall give some examples of
efficiency in the farm management on some farms with which I am
acquainted.

3. When one wishes to learn how to swim one must first become
accustomed to the water. The best way to become accustomed to
the water is to go into it frequently. After one has become
accustomed to the water he may begin to learn the strokes.

4. _The L