Conjunctions

Rule : Use “Unless” Instead of “Except”

“Except” is not used as a conjunction equivalent to “unless.”

Examples:

1. Correct: I shall not come unless you need me.
   • Incorrect: I shall not come except you need me.
2. Correct: Do not trouble yourself about writing to me unless you are quite in the mood for it. Incorrect: Do not trouble yourself about writing to me except you are quite in the mood for it.
3. Correct: I will not stay unless you ask me to.
   • Incorrect: I will not stay except you ask me to.

Rule : Use “Unless” Instead of “Without”

“Without” should not be used as a conjunction equivalent to “unless.”

Examples:

1. Correct: Unless you apologize, I shall punish you.
   Incorrect: Without you apologize, I shall punish you.
2. Correct: I shall not go unless you do.
   Incorrect: I shall not go without you do.
3. Correct: Unless you finish your homework, you cannot go out.
   Incorrect: Without you finish your homework, you cannot go out.

Rule : Use “As” Instead of “Like”

“Like” is often wrongly used as a conjunction instead of “as.”

Examples:

1. Correct: He speaks as his father does.
   Incorrect: He speaks like his father does.
2. Correct: She sings as her mother did.
   Incorrect: She sings like her mother did.
3. Correct: He runs as fast as a cheetah does.
   Incorrect: He runs like a cheetah does.

Note: “Like” is correct when used as a preposition.

1. He speaks like his father. (Here, “like” is a preposition.)

Rule : Use “As Soon As” Instead of “Directly”

“Directly” should not be used as a conjunction where “as soon as” would be better.

Examples:

1. Correct: As soon as the session commenced, the government was pressed to do something for the unemployed.
   Incorrect: Directly the session commenced, the government was pressed to do something for the unemployed.
2. Correct: As soon as the bell rang, the students left the classroom.
   Incorrect: Directly the bell rang, the students left the classroom.
3. Correct: As soon as it started raining, we went inside.
   Incorrect: Directly it started raining, we went inside.

Rule : Avoid Redundant Repetition of “That”

The conjunction “that” should not be redundantly repeated.

Examples:

1. Correct: He must remember that, although the first people in Europe would like his society, none of them would either give or lend him a farthing.
   Incorrect: He must remember that, although the first people in Europe would like his society, and place him on an equality with themselves, that none of them would either give or lend him a farthing.
2. Correct: She realized that, even though he apologized, the damage was done.
   Incorrect: She realized that, even though he apologized, that the damage was done.
3. Correct: It’s important to note that, while these issues are significant, they are not insurmountable. Incorrect: It’s important to note that, while these issues are significant, that they are not insurmountable.

Rule : Avoid Unnecessary “That” After Conjunctions

Do not introduce a subsequent clause with “that” if the conjunction has already been used in the preceding clause.

Examples:

1. Correct: If I do not speak of them, it is because they do not come within my subject, and not because they are lightly esteemed by me.
   Incorrect: If I do not speak of them, it is because they do not come within my subject, and not that they are lightly esteemed by me.
2. Correct: If she doesn’t attend, it’s because she is busy, and not because she doesn’t care.
   Incorrect: If she doesn’t attend, it’s because she is busy, and not that she doesn’t care.
3. Correct: If he doesn’t participate, it’s because he is shy, and not because he is uninterested. Incorrect: If he doesn’t participate, it’s because he is shy, and not that he is uninterested.

Rule : Use “When” After “Scarcely”

“Scarcely” should be followed by “when,” not “than.”

Examples:

1. Correct: Scarcely had he gone when a policeman knocked at the door.
   Incorrect: Scarcely had he gone than a policeman knocked at the door.
2. Correct: Scarcely had she finished her meal when the phone rang.
   Incorrect: Scarcely had she finished her meal than the phone rang.
3. Correct: Scarcely had they started their journey when it began to rain.
   Incorrect: Scarcely had they started their journey than it began to rain.

Rule : Use “Than” After “No Sooner”

“No sooner” is followed by “than,” not “but.”

Examples:

1. Correct: No sooner had he returned than he was off again.
   Incorrect: No sooner had he returned but he was off again.
2. Correct: No sooner had she spoken than she regretted it.
   Incorrect: No sooner had she spoken but she regretted it.
3. Correct: No sooner had they arrived than they had to leave again.
   Incorrect: No sooner had they arrived but they had to leave again.

Rule : Use “Seldom or Never” Instead of “Seldom or Ever”

“Seldom or ever” is incorrect; use “seldom or never.”

Examples:

1. Correct: Such goods are made for export, and are seldom or never used in this country.
   Incorrect: Such goods are made for export, and are seldom or ever used in this country.
2. Correct: He seldom or never misses a class.
   Incorrect: He seldom or ever misses a class.
3. Correct: They are seldom or never seen together.
   Incorrect: They are seldom or ever seen together.

Rule : Use “Than I Could Help”

Use “than I could help” to express giving no more than necessary.

Examples:

1. Correct: I gave no more than I could help.
   Incorrect: I gave no more than I could not help.
2. Correct: She spoke no more than she could help.
   Incorrect: She spoke no more than she could not help.
3. Correct: He spent no more than he could help.
   Incorrect: He spent no more than he could not help.

Rule : Correct Use of Correlative Conjunctions

Ensure correlative conjunctions are followed by the same part of speech.

Examples:

1. Correct: He lost not only his ticket but also his luggage.
   Incorrect: He not only lost his ticket, but also his luggage.
2. Correct: She is both intelligent and hardworking.
   Incorrect: She is both intelligent and works hard.
3. Correct: They are interested not only in sports but also in music.
   Incorrect: They are interested not only in sports, but also music.

Rule : Use “Nor” After “Neither”

“Neither” should be followed by “nor,” not “or.”

Examples:

1. Correct: He washed neither his hands nor his face.
   Incorrect: He washed neither his hands or his face.
2. Correct: She likes neither tea nor coffee.
   Incorrect: She likes neither tea or coffee.
3. Correct: They will neither confirm nor deny the allegations.
   Incorrect: They will neither confirm or deny the allegations.