Sunday, August 17, 2008

Fowler's Modern English Usage

From Ernest Gowers' Preface, about Fowler:

The most prominent element in Fowler's idiosyncracy was evidently what the Romans called aequanimitus. He knew what he wanted in life; what he wanted was within his reach; he took it and was content. (v-vi)


Also this:

...those who are over-fussy about the placing of the adverb only are the sort of friends from whom the English language may well pray to be saved. (vii)


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