How to parse. ...

138

IRREGULARITIES. [Par. 210-2I2.

2IO "As," in many similar sentences, is used to give
the impression that the writer is not stating a fact,
but somebody else's opinion: -
(1) "He considered pleasure as (it would be considered if it were) the object of life."
(2) " Ie represented the results of the expedition as
(they would be represented, if they were) most
disastrous."
In all these cases " as" may be parsed as " redundant." The full construction should be given,
or the construction that has caused the irregularity
by a" confusion."
For " as yet" and other uses of " as," see Index.
211 7. "As if," "as though," are often used
where (I.) the Consequent is omitted:(1) "He loved her as (he would have loved her) if
she had been his own daughter."
(2) " Ile loved her as (much as he could have loved
her, for he could not have loved her more)
though she had been his own daughter."
In both examples, Brevity is the Cause of Irregularity.
212 Words of Number.l
Some much-used Adjectives and Adverbs of
1 (I.), (II.), (III.), refer to the "Laws of Irregularity," mentioned in Par. 198.