Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 4 · column 3 of 6 · from the scan, no model involved
It seems to me that in the first two instances, the “or not” is redundant. It adds nothing to the clear meaning of the sentence. In the third exhibit, the “or not” serves the function of emphasis. I’d leave it in.
Speaking of “emphasis,” let me make a recommendation of general application: Beware the use of typographical devices merely for the sake of emphasis. It’s a poor practice. A few weeks ago I was reading proof on an article by an author who just LOVED italics. He just HAD to use them, even where there w-as NO REASON for italics. He also loved double quotes. He spoke of George Bush’s “Achilles heel.” The campaign had moved at a “snail’s pace.”
Our goal should be to write so clearly that the emphasis emerges without italic crutches to lean on. Now and then a writer can justify the use of italics, or boldface, or capital letters, or the underlined word in a letter, but these devices seldom are necessary. They make a printed page look as if it itched.
Inquiries constantly come to me about the use of “less” and “fewer.”
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