Do not use the conjunction and within a sentence unless it clearly connects elements of the same rank.

In the sentence, He left the room and without further leave taking, there are no such elements for it to connect and it should be omitted.

In the sentence, Our percolator prepares coffee in a very short time and eliminating the undesirable boiling process, the word and is used to connect a verb and a verbal. The verbal should be changed to a verb or the and should be dropped.

Exercise 105. Composition

Show that and or but is used incorrectly at least once in each of these sentences. Omit the conjunction or change the form of the sentence so that the conjunction is used correctly.

1. She went home in great haste and to help her mother.

2. The "New England" has a special curtain for sleeping porches, and is furnished in stripes and in plain khaki color.

3. Cables are used principally by newspaper reporters, by government officers, and in times of war.

4. To-day there are 1700 submarine cables and if put together would go over twenty times around the earth.

5. An oversupply of water will rot the plants, but when judiciously applied insures success.

6. A salesman with ability and who really wants to succeed can secure a good position and with an established company.

7. The committee adjusted several long-standing claims and which involved millions of dollars.

8. The new officers reorganized the bank and to such an extent as to make it efficient.

9. The kitchen is fitted with cabinets built to the ceiling and space for all necessary furniture.

10. The food in the lunch basket must be easy to digest or the blood will be in the stomach instead of the head and make a dull student in the afternoon.