1. Do you object to me (my) talking?

2. Imagine him (his) climbing a mountain with no one to talk to. 3. Just imagine me (my) distributing political circulars.

4. Think of me (my) eating frogs' legs.

5. I heard of him (his) coming home.

6. You (your) having come to town will soon be known. 7. He smiled at me (my) trying to learn Hebrew.

"The One" and "The Ones." ones are frequently misused.

I

At last Wildrake came into the presence of him whom he dreaded.

99

"The one and "the

II

At last Wildrake reached the presence of the one whom he dreaded.

The sentence under II exemplifies the common fault of using the one for "he" "she," or 99 "him or "her." "The one" is correctly used to distinguish a particular one of a class from others: e.g. "When the camp was hungry each scout prayed that he might be the one who should find food" (George Bird Grinnell); "I haven't the smallest doubt that you will outlast us all, and that you are the one who will live" (Douglas Jerrold).

I

The story is told by one who observed the facts.

99

II

The story is told by the one who observed the facts.

If the writer means that only one of several persons observed the facts, and that the story is told by that one, "the one is correct; but if, as seems probable, he means that it is told by some observer, no matter who, the vague one is the proper word.

66

I

I have been comparing these themes with those I wrote last year.

Milton's ideas were very different from those of the old Italians.

II

I have been comparing these themes with the ones I wrote last year.

Milton's ideas were very different from the ones of the old Italians.

99

In each of these examples, the comparison is not between certain things (themes or ideas) considered one by one and certain others, but between one set of things and another set. In the first example, moreover, "these" before "themes naturally calls for "those " before "I wrote." Correctly used, "the ones" fixes attention on persons or things regarded individually, "those" on persons or things regarded collectively. "The ones" is correct in the following sentence from a short story by Mr. Charles W. Chesnutt: "I know about the flowers on the short road [as contrasted with the flowers on the long road], and they are the ones I want." "The ones" is usually, however, coupled with an adjective, as "the shining ones," "the blue ones," "the long ones.

Use "the one" or "the ones" to mark a contrast between individuals in a class or a group.

"Either" or "Any One," "Neither" or "No One"?— Either and neither are sometimes used where "any one and "no one" would be the

I

Subscriptions may be sent to any one of the ten subscribers.

No one of the three women could perform the easiest work.

proper words.

II

Subscriptions may be sent to either of the ten subscribers.

Neither of the three women could perform the easiest work. Had there been but two subscribers and two women, "either" and "neither" would have been correct.

Use "either" and "neither" to refer to two persons or things, "any one and "no one" to refer to more than two.

"All," "Each," or "Every One"?-The adjective all is sometimes used for the pronoun "each" or "every one"; and each is sometimes used for "all."

I

Each of the workmen received two dollars a day.

All the children are of the

same size.

II

All the workmen received two dollars a day.

Each of the children is of the same size.

In the first example, "each" is the proper word; for the meaning is, not that the workmen as a body received two dollars a day, but that every individual in the body received that amount. In the second example, "all" is the proper word; for it is absurd to say that each child is of the same size with himself.

I

Election gave the governed some choice in the selection of the governors, and lot gave every one a chance of being made one of the governors.

II

Election gave the governed some choice in the selection of the governors, and lot gave all a chance of being made one of the governors.

Be

All could not be made "one of the governors." tween “all" and "every one" the distinction seems to be that " every one" expresses distributively what "all ” expresses collectively. "Every one" puts less emphasis than "each" on individuals. Shakspere's lines bring out the distinction between "all" and "every one":

Son. What is a traitor?

Lady Macduff. Why, one that swears and lies.

Son. And be all traitors that do so?

Lady Macduff. Every one that does so is a traitor, and must be hanged.

Son. And must they all be hanged that swear and lie?

Lady Macduff. Every one.1

Use "all" to direct attention to a number or amount, "each" and every one " to direct attention to individuals.

"Each Other" or "One Another"?-Some grammarians maintain that "each other" should be used in speaking of two persons or things, "one another" in speaking of more than two; but good writers use "each other" and "one another” interchangeably.2

1 Macbeth, iv. 2.

2 A reader of the second volume of "Woodstock" noticed nine instances of the use of "each other" to refer to two persons, five to refer to more than two.

EXERCISE XLVII

Insert in each blank the proper pronoun;1 give the reason for your choice:

He, him, she, her, the one; those, the ones

1. He was very hard and unrelenting to

who owed him.

who selects

2. One of these three contains Portia's portrait; the casket containing it will be the fortunate suitor.

is

3. Of all creatures that feed upon the earth, the professional critic

whose judgment I

he sits in judgment on is

least value; but of all writers

whom whom he is least qualified to criticize.

depicted.

whom I mean is sitting in the back seat.

4. These trees are
5. My mind is filled with plots similar to
6. Of the four,

to be cut out.

7. I have every opportunity for making to be my wife.

happy who consents

2. Dryden, Pope, and Wordsworth have not scrupled to lay a profane hand upon Chaucer, a mightier genius than of them.

5. Has

of you two gentlemen a fountain-pen?

4. I have several histories of France,

the information.

of which will give you

Choice of Relative. — It is not always easy to determine which is the proper relative pronoun.

1 In some cases one pronoun or another may be used, according to the meaning intended.

"Which," once commonly used of persons, -a usage that survives in "Our Father which art in heaven," now always refers to a neuter antecedent.

I

Dewey's only need now is men with whom to take and hold the city.

II

Dewey's only need now is men with which to take and hold the city.

In this example, "whom " is correct; for the antecedent of the relative is "men." If, however, the antecedent had been a collective noun meaning a body of men, "which" would have been correct e.g. "Dewey's only need now is a force with which to take and hold the city." A collective noun that refers to a collection of persons as a whole takes "which," one that refers to the individuals composing the collection takes "who": e.g. "I was a member of the committee which had in charge the victualling of Paris after the surrender"; "Your committee, who are unable to agree on this point, ask for instructions."

In speaking of animals, we should, according to some grammarians, always use "which"; but there is plenty of authority in support of "who." For example:

Against the Capitol I met a lion,

Who glared upon me, and went surly by.—SHAKSPERE.1

Shere Khan was the tiger who lived near the Waingunga River, twenty miles away.

KIPLING.

The prevailing obscurity and silence have made these vaults a favorite resort of bats, who nestle during the day in the dark nooks and corners. — IRVING.

The sun is.. turning even the muddy water . . . into a mirror for the yellow-billed ducks, who are seizing the opportunity of getting a drink with as much body in it as possible. - George Eliot.