Page:The king's English (IA kingsenglish00fowlrich).pdf/366
No year passes now without evidence of the truth of the statement that the work of government is becoming increasingly difficult.—Spectator.
It has taken a leading part in protesting against the Congo State's treatment of natives controlled by it, and in procuring the pressure which the House of Commons has put upon our Government with a view to international insistence on fulfilment of the obligations entered upon by the Congo Government as regards native rights.–Times.
The outcome of a desire to convince the Government of the expediency of granting the return recently ordered by the House with regard to the names,...–Times.
In default of information of the result of the deliberations which it has been stated the Imperial Defence Committee have been engaged in...–Times.
The volunteer does not volunteer to be compelled to suffer long, filthy, and neglected illnesses and too often death, yet such was South Africa on a vast scale, and is inevitable in war under the present official indifference.–Times.
55. Somewhat, &c.
Indulgence in qualifying adverbs, as perhaps, possibly, probably, rather, a little, somewhat, amounts with English journalists to a disease; the intemperate orgy of moderation is renewed every morning. As somewhat is rapidly swallowing up the rest, we shall almost confine our attention to it; and it is useless to deprecate the use without copious illustration. Examples will be classified under headings, though these are not quite mutually exclusive.
1. Somewhat clearly illogical.
A number of questions to the Prime Minister have been put upon the paper with the object of eliciting information as to the personnel of the proposed Royal Commission and the scope of their inquiry. These are now somewhat belated in view of the official announcement made this morning.–Times. (The announcement contained both the list of members and the full reference)
Thrills which gave him rather a unique pleasure.–Hutton.
Russian despatches are somewhat inconsistent, one of them stating that there is no change in the position of the armies, while another says that the Japanese advance continues.–Times.
Being faint with hunger I was somewhat in a listless condition bordering on stupor.–Corelli.