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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:56:22 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/31766-8.txt b/31766-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..91d9c00 --- /dev/null +++ b/31766-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3290 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Five Hundred Mistakes of Daily Occurrence +in Speaking, Pronouncing, and Writing the English Language, Corrected, by Anonymous + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Five Hundred Mistakes of Daily Occurrence in Speaking, Pronouncing, and Writing the English Language, Corrected + +Author: Anonymous + +Release Date: March 25, 2010 [EBook #31766] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 500 MISTAKES OF DAILY OCCURRENCE *** + + + + +Produced by Meredith Bach, Stephanie Eason, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. (This +book was produced from scanned images of public domain +material from the Google Print project.) + + + + + + + + + + "NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN!" + + + FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES + OF DAILY OCCURRENCE + IN SPEAKING, PRONOUNCING, AND WRITING + THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, + CORRECTED. + + + "Which--if you but open-- + You will be unwilling, + For many a shilling, + To part with the profit + Which you shall have of it." + + + [_The Key to Unknown Knowledge._--LONDON, 1569. + + + "It is highly important, that whatever we learn or know, we should + know CORRECTLY; for unless our knowledge be correct, we lose half its + value and usefulness."--_Conversations on Botany._ + + + NEW-YORK: + DANIEL BURGESS & CO., 60 JOHN STREET. + 1856. + + + + Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1855, by + WALTON BURGESS, + in the Clerk's Office of the District Court + of the United States for the Southern + District of New York. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +This book is offered to the public, not to be classed with elaborate or +learned works, nor expected, like some of its more pretending companions +among the offspring of the press, to run the gauntlet of literary +criticism. It was prepared to meet the wants of persons--numbered by +_multitudes_ in even the most intelligent and refined communities--who +from deficiency of education, or from carelessness of manner, are in the +habit of misusing many of the most common words of the English language, +distorting its grammatical forms, destroying its beauty, and corrupting +its purity. The most thorough mode that could be adopted to correct such +errors, would doubtless be to impart to the ignorant a practical knowledge +of the principles of language, as embodied in treatises on grammar; but +such a good work, however desirable its results, has, in time past, been +too difficult for the promoters of education to complete, and is still too +great to give promise of speedy accomplishment. A better expedient, +bearing immediate fruits, has been adopted in the present volume, which, +while it does not aim to produce a radical reform, cannot fail to render +great service to those who need to improve their usual modes of +expression, and to be more discriminating in their choice of words. + +The more frequent and less excusable mistakes that may be noticed in +ordinary conversation or correspondence, are here taken up, one by +one--exposed, explained, and corrected. They consist variously of abuses +of grammar, misapplications of words and phrases, improprieties of +metaphor and comparison, misstatements of meaning, and faults of +pronunciation. They are grouped miscellaneously, _without classification_, +not so much because of the difficulty of devising an arrangement that +would be systematic and intelligible, as from the evident fact that a +division of subjects would render no assistance to those for whom the book +is specially designed; for an appropriate classification would necessarily +derive its features from the forms of grammar, and with these the readers +of this book are supposed to be to a great extent unfamiliar. + +The volume is put forth with no flourish of trumpets, and makes no +extravagant pretensions; yet the publishers believe it will be regarded as +a timely and useful work. If the race of _critics_ should not like it--and +while books have their "faults," critics have their "failings"--they are +reminded that he who corrects an old error, may render no less service to +his brethren, than he who discovers a new truth. If the work shall be the +means of saving one sensitive man from a confusion of blushes, in the +presence of a company before which he desired to preserve his equanimity, +it will not have gone forth without a mission of benefit, which will merit +at least one acknowledgment. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +The aim of this book, by correcting a multitude of common errors in the +use of language, is mainly to offer assistance to such persons as need +greater facilities for accurate expression _in ordinary conversation_. It +is not designed to suggest topics of talk, nor to give rules or examples +pointing out the proper modes of arranging them; but simply to insure +persons who often have a good thing to say, from the confusion and +mortification of improperly saying it. This chapter of introduction will +not, therefore, be expected to present an essay on the general subject of +conversation. + +It may be remarked, however, by way of admonitory hint to some, that the +most prominent error in the conversation of those who commit the most +blunders, does not consist in saying too little that amounts to much, but +too much that amounts to little; talkativeness is a characteristic more +commonly of the ignorant, than of the wise. Shenstone says, "The common +fluency of speech in many men, and most women, is owing to a scarcity of +matter and a scarcity of words; for whoever is master of a language, and +moreover has a mind full of ideas, will be apt, in speaking, to hesitate +upon the choice of both; but common speakers have only one set of ideas +and one set of words to clothe them in,--and these are always ready at the +mouth. Just so, _people can come faster out of a church when it is almost +empty, than when a crowd is at the door_!" But although, according to the +old proverb, "a still tongue denotes a wise head," the faculty of speech +should not be neglected, merely because it may be misused. + +Conversation is not a gift bestowed only upon those whom genius favors; on +the contrary, many men eminent for their fluency of style in writing, have +been noted for habitual taciturnity in their intercourse with society. +Hazlitt remarked, that "authors should be read, not heard!" Charles II. of +England, not only the wittiest of monarchs, but one of the liveliest of +men, is said to have been so charmed in reading the humor of Butler's +"Hudibras," that he disguised himself as a private gentleman, and was +introduced to the author, whom, to his astonishment, he found to be one of +the _dullest_ of companions. On the other hand, some of the humblest men +with whom one falls into company, possessed of but little variety, and +less extent of information, are highly entertaining talkers. The +particular topic of remark does not form so essential a part of an +interesting conversation, as the words and manner of those who engage in +it. Robert Burns, sitting down on one occasion to write a poem, said: + + "Which way the subject theme may gang, + Let time or chance determine; + Perhaps it may turn out a sang,-- + Or probably a sermon." + +In the same manner, the subject of a conversation need not be made a +matter of study, or special preparation. Men may talk of things momentous +or trivial, and in either strain be alike attractive and agreeable. + +But quitting the consideration of the thought, to refer to the mode of its +expression, it must be remarked and insisted, that to "murder the king's +English" is hardly less a crime, than to design against one of the king's +subjects. If committed from ignorance, the fault is at least deplorable; +but if from carelessness, it is inexcusable. The greatest of sciences is +that of language; the greatest of human arts is that of using words. No +"cunning hand" of the artificer can contrive a work of mechanism that is +to be compared, for a moment, with those wonderful masterpieces of +ingenuity, which may be wrought by him who can skilfully mould a beautiful +thought into a form that shall preserve, yet radiate its beauty. A mosaic +of words may be made more fair, than of inlaid precious stones. The +scholar who comes forth from his study, a master of the English language, +is a workman who has at his command hardly less than a hundred thousand +finely-tempered instruments, with which he may fashion the most cunning +device. This is a trade which all should learn, for it is one that every +individual is called to practise. The greatest support of virtue in a +community is intelligence; intelligence is the outgrowth of knowledge; and +the almoner of all knowledge is language. The possession, therefore, of +the resources, and a command over the appliances of language, is of the +utmost importance to every individual. Words are current coins of the +realm, and they who do not have them in their treasury, suffer a more +pitiable poverty than others who have not a penny of baser specie in their +pocket; and the multitude of those who have an unfailing supply, but which +is of the wrong stamp, are possessed only of counterfeit cash, that will +not pass in circles of respectability. The present work therefore is, in +some respects, not unlike the "Detector" issued for the merchants, to +indicate the great amount of worthless money that is in general +circulation with the good. + +It is not to be supposed that all the mistakes of daily occurrence in the +use of language, are to be numbered by "five hundred"--possibly not by +five thousand; but it is evident that he who is instructed against five +hundred of his habitual blunders, and enabled to steer clear of every one +of them, has in no slight degree improved his conversation, and thereby +increased his importance. As a prefix, or accompaniment, to this catalogue +of corrected mistakes, the presentation of a few rules or principles of +language, which, strictly observed, might guard against numerous general +classes of errors, would not be thought misplaced, or undesirable. Some +suggestions on points most prominent are accordingly given among these +introductory remarks--not in formal statements of grammatical rules, but +in examples in which the spirit of such rules is revealed. + +Not the least glaring among the many misuses of words and forms of +expression in conversation, occur by incorrectly employing the +pronouns--_who_, _which_, _what_, and _that_. It may be remarked, that +_who_ should be applied exclusively to persons. _Which_ usually refers to +animals and inanimate objects, except in such an expression as, "Tell me +_which_ of the two men was chosen?" _What_, means _that which_: thus, +"This is the book _what_ I wanted," should read, "This is the book _that_ +(or _which_) I wanted." + +Among interrogatives, _who?_ inquires for the name; _which?_ for the +individual; _what?_ for the character, or occupation. Thus, "_Who_ built +the bridge?" "Mr. Blake." "_Which_ of the Blakes?" "_Charles_ Blake." +"_What_ was he?" "A distinguished civil engineer." + +The title of a small book for young people, recently published, was--"The +Way _that_ Little Children enter Heaven:" the word _that_ is here +incorrectly used as a substitute for _in which_, or _by which_. + +When _this_ and _that_, and their plurals, are used in the sense of +_latter_ and _former_, _this_ and _these_ signify the _latter_, and _that_ +and _those_ the _former_. Thus, in the following couplet from Burns: + + "Farewell my friends, farewell my foes, + My peace with _these_, my love with _those_." + +_these_ refers to "foes," and _those_ to "friends." + +In the possessive case of nouns, some instances occur in which a wise +choice may be made, but in respect to which usage is divided. Thus, we may +say, "They called at _Walton's the bookseller's_," or, with equal +propriety, as far as custom is concerned, "at _Walton the bookseller's_." +The first form, however, is preferable. + +The use of the hyphen [-] is frequently disregarded in epistolary +correspondence, occasioning not only a blemish but a blunder. Its +importance may be seen by comparing the meaning of "_glass house_" with +"_glass-house_;" the former may mean the Crystal Palace, while the latter +is a manufactory of glass-ware. + +Adjectives are often improperly used for adverbs: as, "_extreme_ bad +weather," for "_extremely_ bad weather." + +It is sometimes difficult to choose between such phrases as "the _first +three_," and "the _three first_." To say _first three_ when there is no +_second three_ is inelegant, because superfluous; and _three first_ is +absurd, because impossible. The most successful pupil in each of two +classes at school would not improperly be called "the _two first boys_;" +while propriety would require that the first and second boys of the same +class should be called "the _first two boys_." As a general rule, and easy +to be recollected, let _"first" be first_. + +The use of _some_ for _about_ is by many writers thought to be awkward: +as, "_Some_ fifty years ago," instead of "_About_ Fifty years." + +An ambiguity occasionally arises in employing the adjective _no_. Thus, +"No money is better than gold," may mean either that gold is the best kind +of money, or that gold is not so good as _no money at all_! + +After numerals, the words _couple_, _pair_, _dozen_, _score_, _hundred_, +_thousand_, and a few others, need not take the plural form: thus, custom +first, and finally grammar, have sanctioned such uses as, "three _pair_ of +shoes," "nine _dozen_ bushels," "four _couple_ of students;" also, "_forty +sail_ of vessels," "seventy _head_ of cattle." + +The article (_a_ or _an_) renders an important service in such expressions +as, "_A few_ followed their leader throughout the long struggle." To say, +"_Few_ followed him," would imply, unlike the former phrase, that he was +almost deserted. + +"A black and a white horse," suggests the idea of two horses; while "a +black and white horse," refers to but one--as if written "a +_black-and-white_ horse." + +"The red and white dahlias were most admired," properly means the dahlias +in which both these colors were blended. "The red and _the_ white +dahlias," implies two species. + +The grammatical number of a verb should agree with that of its subject, +and not of its predicate. Thus, the sentences, "Death _is_ the wages of +sin," and "The wages of sin _are_ death," are properly written. + +In changing from a past tense to the present, when the same nominative +remains, the form of the verb should continue unaltered. Thus, instead of +saying "He _was traveling_ and _travels_," say "He _was traveling_ and _is +traveling_." + +When a verb has both a singular and a plural nominative, separated by +_or_, its number agrees with that of the _nearer_: as, "the cup or his +_billiards were_ his ruin;" or, "his billiards or the _cup was_ his ruin." + +Custom--which, when _crystallized_, becomes grammar--allows expressions +like "The linen _tears_," and "The meadow _plows_ well," although they +should not be frequently employed, and should be more seldom coined. + +A fruitful source of mistakes in language, is in the linking together of +two or more inappropriate tenses, or in the misuse of one. Many among the +learned and refined commit blunders of these kinds. A few corrected +examples of such are here given: + +"His text was, that God _was_ love;" the sentence should be written, "His +text was, that God _is_ love." + +"The Lord _hath given_, and the Lord hath taken away;" say, "The Lord +_gave_, and the Lord hath taken away." + +"They _arrived_ before we left the city:" say, "they _had arrived_." + +"All the brothers _have been_ greatly indebted to their father:" say, +"_are indebted_." + +"This painting _was preserved and exhibited_ for the last century:" say, +"_has been_ preserved and exhibited." + +"It was the last act he intended _to have performed_." say, "_to +perform_." + +"He _drinks_ wine at dinner," means that such is his habit; "he _is +drinking_ wine at dinner," refers to one particular time and occasion. + +Adverbs are often inelegantly used instead of adjectives; as, "the _then_ +ministry," for "the ministry of that time." + +Of the phrases "_never_ so good," or, "_ever_ so good," as to whether one +is preferable to the other, authority is divided. Modern usage inclines to +the latter, while ancient preferred the former, as in the Scriptural +expression, "charm he _never_ so wisely." + +_Yea_ and _nay_ are not equivalent to _yes_ and _no_; the latter are +directly affirmative and negative, while the former are variously +employed. + +Of prepositions, it has been frequently said, that no words in the +language are so liable to be incorrectly used. For example, "The love _of_ +God," may mean either "His love to us," or, "our love to Him." + +Many more of these particles are inelegantly, if not ambiguously used. +Instead of "the natives were a different race _to_ what they are now," +say, "different _from_." + +"He was made much _on_ in the country:" say, "made much _of_." + +"In compliance _of_ your request:" say, "in compliance _with_." + +"He doubts _if_ his friend will come," is not so elegant and accurate as, +"He doubts _whether_ his friend will come." + +More instances might be given, setting forth other frequent errors of +speaking and writing, at the risk, however, of destroying the due +proportion which should exist between the size of a work and the _length +of the Introduction_. But a good heed to what has been said in the few +preceding paragraphs, will enable a person who carefully reads this work +to mend his modes of expression, to no inconsiderable degree. It is well +known that there is no "royal road to learning," but if there were, it +could hardly be expected that such a little book as this would afford a +passport to the end of the course. About two hundred years ago, a small +volume was put forth by one "John Peters, learned scholar and author," +which had the following long-winded title: "A New Way to make Latin +Verses, whereby any one of ordinary capacity, that only _knows the A, B, +C_ and can _count nine_, though he understands not _one word of Latin_, or +what a verse means, may be plainly taught to make thousands of Hexameter +and Pentameter Verses, which shall be true Latin, true Verse, and Good +Sense!" The present volume must not be expected to accomplish so great a +result as this--not having so comprehensive an aim, nor possessing so +great a secret of success. But it is hoped that it may incite some who are +unfortunately deficient in education, to seek so much additional knowledge +as shall enable them at least to converse in a dialect which is within the +compass of the language of their country, and free them from the +imputation of belonging to another tribe of men, speaking another tongue. + +A Welshman, residing near Caermarthon, who was seldom seen at the only +church in the parish of his residence, was one day accosted by the worthy +clergyman with the question, "My friend--to what church do you belong?" He +responded, "To the Church of England." "Ah," replied the pastor, "I was +sure that it must be some church _out of Wales_!" There are not a few +persons who speak the English language about as truly as the Caermarthon +Welshman attended the English Church! + + + + +FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. + + +1. "The business would suit any one who _enjoys bad health_." [From an +advertisement in a daily newspaper of New-York.] Few persons who have bad +health can be said to _enjoy it_. Use some other form of expression: as, +one _in delicate health_, or, one _whose health is bad_. + +2. "We have no _corporeal_ punishment here," said a schoolmaster. +_Corporeal_ is opposed to _spiritual_. Say, _corporal_ punishment. +_Corporeal_ means having a body. + +3. "She is a _notable_ woman," as was said of the wife of the Shepherd of +Salisbury Plain,--meaning _careful_, and pronounced as though divided +_not-able_. This word is no longer current, with this pronunciation or +signification, except to a slight extent in England. It has become +obsolete, and its use now is in bad taste. + +4. "Insert the _advertisement_ in the Weekly." Emphasize _vert_, and not +_ise_. + +5. "He _rose up_, and left the room:" leave out _up_, as it is absurd to +say _rise down_. The Irishman who was _hoisted down_ the coal pit, did not +observe this rule. + +6. "_Set down_ and rest yourself:" say _sit down_; _setting_ is said of +the sun in the west, but cannot be properly applied to a person taking a +seat. "Sit _down_" is not improper, though "rise _up_" (as in No. 5) +should never be used. _Sitting down_ expresses the act of appropriating a +chair, while _sitting up_ means _sitting erect_. _Sitting up_ also refers +to watching during the night with the sick. + +7. "You have _sown_ it very neatly," said a seamstress to her apprentice: +say _sewed_, and pronounce so as to rhyme with _road_. The pronunciation +of _sew_, meaning "to use the needle," violates its spelling; it is the +same as that of _sow_, meaning "to scatter seed." + +8. "This is a secret between _you and I_:" say, _you and me_. The +construction requires the objective case in place of _I_, which is in the +nominative. It is in still better taste to say, "This is a secret _with_ +you and me." + +9. "Let _you and I_ take a walk:" say, Let _you and me_, or, _Let us_. Who +would think of saying, _Let I go_? The expression "Let _I and you_" is +frequently heard, which contains the additional impropriety of putting the +first person before the second. + +10. "He is going to _learn his brother_ Alfred how to knit nets:" say, +_teach_. The act of _communicating_ instruction is expressed by +"teaching," the act of _receiving_ it by "learning." The distinction +between these words was made as early as the time of Shakespeare, and +cannot be violated without incurring censure. + +11. "John and Henry both read well, but John is the _best_ reader:" say, +the _better_ reader, as _best_ can be properly used only when _three or +more persons_, or objects, are compared. + +12. "Thompson was there _among the rest_." This mode of expression, which +is very common, literally declares an impossibility. The signification of +"the rest" is, those _in addition_ to Thompson, and of which Thompson +formed _no part_; he could not therefore be _among_ them. A more correct +form would be, "Thompson was there _with_ the rest." + +13. "The _two first_ cows are the fattest," said a farmer at an +agricultural fair. He should have said, "the _first two_;" there can be +only _one_ that is _first_--the other must necessarily be _second_. + +14. "It is an error; _you are mistaken_:" say, you _mistake_. _Mistaken_ +means _misapprehended_; "you _mistake_," means "you _misapprehend_." + +15. "Have you _lit_ the fire, Bridget?" say, _lighted_; _lit_ is now +obsolete. + +16. "To be is an _auxiliary_ verb:" pronounce _auxiliary_ as though +spelled _awg-zil-ya-re_, and not in five syllables. + +17. _February_: this word is often incorrectly spelled by omitting the +_r_. + +18. The "_Miscellany_" was an interesting publication: pronounce +_miscellany_ with the accent on _mis_, and not on _cel_. + +19. "_Celery_ is a pleasant vegetable:" pronounce _celery_ as it is +written, and not _salary_. + +20. "Are you at _leisure_?" pronounce _lei_ in _leisure_ the same as +_lee_. The word should not rhyme with _measure_. + +21. "John is my _oldest_ brother:" say, _eldest_. _Elder and eldest_ are +applied to _persons_--_older and oldest_ to _things_. Usage, however, does +not make these distinctions imperative. + +22. "The cloth was _wove_ in a very short time:" say, _woven_. + +23. "I prefer the _yolk_ of an egg to the white:" the more common word is +_yelk_, with the _l_ sounded; but if _yolk_ be used, it should be +pronounced like _yoke_. + +24. _Sparrowgrass_: it is only the grossest ignorance which confounds this +word with _asparagus_. The same is the case with _ing-uns_ for _onions_. A +man in an obscure section of New Jersey, inquiring at a country store for +_onions_, was told that there were none in the place. On his going out, +the storekeeper turned to half a dozen idlers sitting round the stove, and +said, "I wonder if that 'tarnal fool meant _ing-uns_!" + +25. "You are very _mischievous_:" pronounce _mischievous_ with the accent +on _mis_, and not on _chie_, and do not say _mischievious_ +(_mis-cheev-yus_). + +26. The following words were posted, as a sign, in a reading-room--"No +Talking Allowed;" which was designed to prohibit all conversation. A wag +altered the inscription so as to read, "No Talking Aloud," which (he +declared) did not prevent _whispering_, and chatting in _low tones_. What +shall be said of the following--"_No Smoking Aloud_?" + +27. "_No extras or vacations_:" [from the prospectus of a schoolmistress:] +say, NOR _vacations_. + +28. "He was never known to be _covetous_:" pronounce _covetous_ as if +written _covet us_, and _not covetyus_. + +29. _The Three R.'s._--An ignorant and vain pedagogue, on being asked what +he could teach, replied, "The three R.'s--_'ritin'_, _'rethmetic_, and +_readin'_." Any persons among the readers of this little book, who may +chance to be schoolmasters, are warned against giving such a course of +instruction. + +30. "Dearly _beloved_ brethren:" when _beloved_ is placed _before_ the +noun, as in this instance, pronounce it in three syllables; when placed +_after_, in two syllables, as, "She was much _be-loved_ by us all." When +used as a noun by itself, it is pronounced in three syllables; as, +"_Be-lov-ed_, let us love one another." + +31. "Not _as I know_:" say, _that I know_. + +32. "He came on purpose _for to do_ it:" omit _for_. + +33. "He would never believe _but what_ I did it:" say, _but that_ I did +it. + +34. "He is quite _as good as me_:" say, _as good as I_. Also, instead of +_as good as him_, say, _as good as he_. In both these instances _am_ or +_is_ must be mentally supplied at the end of the phrase, to suggest the +meaning; and the pronouns should, therefore, be in the nominative case. + +35. "_Many an one_ has done the same:" say, _many a one_. _A_, and _not +an_, is also used before the _long sound of u_, that is, when _u_ forms _a +distinct syllable of itself_: as, _a unit_, _a union_, _a university_: it +is also used before _eu_: as, a _euphony_, and likewise before the word +_ewe_: as, _a ewe_: we should also say, _a youth_, not _an youth_. + +36. "How do you like _these kind_ of pears?" say, _these kinds_; a noun in +the singular number will not allow its adjective to be in the plural. + +37. "You should have _went_ home:" say, _gone_. + +38. "John went with _James and I_:" say, _James and me_. + +39. "I _see him_ last Monday:" say, _saw him_. + +40. "He was _averse from_ such a proceeding:" say, _averse to_. + +41. "Have you _shook_ the table-cloth?" say, _shaken_. + +42. "I have _rang_ several times:" say, _rung_. + +43. "I _know'd_ him at once:" say, _knew_. + +44. "You have _drank_ too much of it:" say, _drunk_. + +45. "He has _chose_ a very poor pattern:" say, _chosen_. + +46. "They have _broke_ a window:" say, _broken_. + +47. "I have just _began_ my letter:" say, _begun_. + +48. "Give me _them books_:" say, _those books_. + +49. "Whose are _these here books_?" say, _these books_. _Here_ is +superfluous and inelegant. + +50. "_Who_ do you mean?" say, _whom_. + +51. "The men _which_ we saw:" say, _whom_. + +52. "The flowers _what_ you have:" say, _which_, or _that_. + +53. "The boy _as is_ reading:" _who_ is reading. + +54. "It was _them_ who did it:" say, _they_. + +55. "_It is me_ who am in fault:" say, _It is I_. + +56. "Was it _her_ who called me?" say, _she_. + +57. "If I were _her_, I would accept his offer:" say, If I were _she_. + +58. "He _has got_ my slate:" omit _got_; _has_ is sufficient for the +sense. The addition of _got_, though not ungrammatical, but gradually +becoming obsolete, does not in any degree strengthen the meaning. + +59. "The pond is _froze_:" say, _frozen_. + +60. "I know _I am him_ whom he meant:" say, _I am he_. + +61. "You cannot _catch_ him:" pronounce _catch_ so as to rhyme with +_match_, and not _ketch_--as the fishermen are in the habit of saying. + +62. "_Who done it?_" say, _Who did it?_ + +63. "The club gives an _impetus_ to the ball:" pronounce _impetus_ with +the stress on _im_, and not on _pe_. + +64. "Spain and Portugal form a _peninsula_:" pronounce _pen-in-su-la_, +with the accent on _in_, and not on _su_. + +65. _Sar-da-na-pa-lus_: pronounce it with the accent on _pa_, and not on +_ap_. The latter pronunciation cannot be changed for the former, without +incurring a gross error. + +66. "He must by this time be almost as far as the _antipodes_:" pronounce +_antipodes_ with the accent on _tip_, and let _des_ rhyme with _ease_; it +is a word of _four_ syllables, and _not of three_. + +67. _Vouchsafe_: a word seldom used, but when used, the first syllable +should rhyme with _pouch_; _never say vousafe_. + +68. "The land in those parts is very _fertile_:" pronounce _fertile_ so as +to rhyme with _myrtle_. _Ile_ in such words must be sounded as _ill_, with +the exception of _exile_, _senile_, _gentile_, _reconcile_, and +_camomile_, in which _ile_ rhymes with _mile_. + +69. _Benefited_: often spelt _benefitted_, but _incorrectly_. + +70. "_Gather_ a few ears of corn for dinner:" pronounce _gather_ so as to +rhyme with _lather_, and _not gether_. + +71. _Purpose and propose_: these two words, which are often confounded, +are entirely distinct in meaning. To _purpose_ means _to intend_; _to +propose_ means _to offer a proposition_. + +72. _Directing and addressing letters_: _Directing_ designates the persons +to whom, and the place to which the letter, as a parcel, is to be sent; +_addressing_ refers to the individual to whom, as a communication, it is +written. A letter _addressed_ to the President, may be _directed_ to his +secretary. + +73. "_Who_ do you think I saw yesterday?" say, _Whom_. + +74. A popular proverb is expressed in the following language: "Of _two_ +evils choose the _least_;" say, _the less_. Of no less than _three_ evils +can a person choose the _least_. + +75. _Exaggerate_: pronounce _exad-gerate_, and _do not sound agger_ as in +_dagger_. + +76. _Ladies School_: the _usual_ form, but _not correct_; write, _Ladies' +School_. The apostrophe (') is thus used after nouns in the plural, and +indicates _possession_. In the singular, it is placed _before the s_, as, +_The lady's school_. + +77. The following equivocal notice is said to swing out on a sign-board +somewhere in the Western country: "SMITH & HUGGS--SELECT SCHOOL.--_Smith +teaches the boys, and Huggs the girls._" _Huggs needs correction!_ + +78. "He keeps a _chaise_:" pronounce it _shaze_, and not _shay_; it has a +regular plural, _chaises_. + +79. "The _drought_ lasted a long time:" pronounce _drought_ so as to rhyme +with _sprout_, and not _drowth_. + +80. "The two friends _conversed together_ for an hour:" omit _together_, +as the full meaning of this word is implied in _con_, which means _with_, +or _together_, or _in company_. + +81. "The affair was _compromised_:" pronounce _compromised_ in three +syllables, and place the accent on _com_, sounding _mised_ like _prized_. + +82. "A _steam-engine_:" pronounce _engine_ with _en_ as in _pen_, and _not +like in_; also, pronounce _gine_ like _gin_. + +83. "Several of the trappers were massacred by the Indians:" pronounce +_massacred_ with the accent on _mas_, and _red_ like _erd_, as if +_massaker'd_; never say _massacreed_, which is abominable. + +84. "The King of Israel and the King of Judah sat _either of them_ on his +throne:" say, _each of them_. _Either_ signifies the _one_ or the _other_, +but _not both_. _Each_ relates to _two or more objects_, and signifies +_both of the two_, or _every one of any number taken singly_. We can say, +"_either_ of the three," for "_one_ of the three." + +85. "A _respite_ was granted the convict:" pronounce _respite_ with the +accent on _res_, and sound _pite_ as _pit_. + +86. "He soon _returned back_:" leave out _back_, which is implied by _re_ +in _returned_. + +87. "The ship looked like a speck on the edge of the _horizon_:" pronounce +_horizon_ with the accent on _ri_, and not on _hor_, which is often the +case. + +88. "They were early at the _sepulchre_:" pronounce _sepulchre_ with the +accent on _sep_, and not on the second syllable. + +89. "I have often _swam_ across the Hudson:" say, _swum_. + +90. "I found my friend better than I expected _to have found him_:" say, +_to find him_. + +91. "I intended _to have written_ a letter yesterday:" say, _to write_; as +however long it now is since I thought of writing, "_to write_" was then +present to me, and must still be considered as present, when I recall that +time and the thoughts of it. + +92. _Superfluous R's_: Many persons pronounce words which have no letter +_r_ in them, exactly as though they had; as _drawring_ for _drawing_; "I +_sawr_ Thomas," for "I _saw_," &c. Some who do not insert a full-toned +_r_, do worse by appending an _ah_ to almost every word they utter. They +would do well to recall the reproof which the excellent Rev. John Gruber +administered to a brother in the ministry, who was guilty of this habit. +That eccentric clergyman addressed a note to his friend, as follows: +"Dear-ah Sir-ah--When-ah you-ah speak-ah in-ah public-ah, take-ah my-ah +ad-ah-vice-ah and-ah never-ah say-ah _ah-ah_!--JOHN-AH GRUBER-AH." + +93. _Shall_ and _will_ are often confounded, or misused. The following +suggestion will be of service to the reader: mere _futurity_ is expressed +by _shall_ in the _first_ person, and by _will_ in the _second_ and +_third_; the _determination_ of the speaker by _will_, in the _first_, and +_shall_, in the _second_ and _third_. For example: "_I shall go by the way +of Halifax_," simply expresses an event about to take place--as also _you +will_, and _they will_: _I will_ expresses determination--as also _you +shall_ and _they shall_. Brightland has the following illustrative stanza: + + "In the first person simply _shall_ foretells; + In _will_ a threat, or else a promise, dwells. + _Shall_, in the second and the third, does threat;-- + _Will_, simply, then, foretells the future feat." + +94. "_Without_ the grammatical form of a word can be recognized at a +glance, little progress can be made in reading the language:" [from a work +on the study of the Latin language:] say, _Unless_ the grammatical, &c. +The use of _without_ for _unless_ is a very common mistake. + +95. "He claimed admission to the _chiefest_ offices:" say, _chief_. +_Chief_, _right_, _supreme_, _correct_, _true_, _universal_, _perfect_, +_consummate_, _extreme_, _&c._, _imply_ the superlative degree without +adding _est_, or prefixing _most_. In language sublime or impassioned, +however, the word _perfect_ requires the superlative form, to give it its +fullest effect. + +96. "I _had rather do_ it now:" say, I _would rather do_. The +incorrectness of the first form of expression is very clearly seen by +cutting out _rather_, leaving "_I had do_," which is ungrammatical and +meaningless. + +97. An obituary notice contained the following ludicrous statement: "He +left a large circle of mourners, _embracing his amiable wife and +children_!" _Comprising_ should have been used, instead of _embracing_. + +98. "His _court-of-arms_ is very splendid:" say, _coat-of-arms_. + +99. "They ride about in small carriages, which are called _flies_:" write +the last word _flys_; _flies_ is the plural of _fly_, the insect. + +100. "Victoria is Queen of the _United Kingdom_:" say, _United Kingdoms_. +Who ever speaks of the _United State of America_? + +101. "I have not traveled _this twenty years_:" say, _these twenty years_. + +102. "Soldier arms!" Say, "_Shoulder arms!_" The latter is frequently +corrupted into "_Sojer arms!_" + +103. "He is _very much the gentleman_:" say, He is _a very gentlemanly +man_, or, _He is very gentlemanly_. + +104. "The _yellow_ part of an egg is very nourishing:" never pronounce +_yellow_ so as to rhyme with _tallow_, as we so often hear. + +105. "We are going to the _Zoological_ Gardens:" pronounce _Zoological_ in +_five_ syllables, and place the accent on _log_ in _logical_; sound _log_ +like _lodge_, and _the first two o's in distinct syllables_; _never_ make +_Zool one_ syllable. + +106. "He _strived_ to obtain an appointment:" say, _strove_. + +107. "He always preaches _extempore_:" pronounce _extempore in four +syllables_, with the accent on _tem_, and _never in three_, making _pore_ +to rhyme with _sore_--but with _story_. + +108. "Allow me to _suggest_:" pronounce _sug_ as to rhyme with _mug_, and +_gest_ like _jest_; never say _sudjest_. + +109. "That building is an _episcopal_ chapel:" pronounce _episcopal_ with +the accent on the second syllable, and _not_ on _co_. + +110. "The Emperor of Russia is a _formidable_ sovereign:" pronounce +_formidable_ with the accent on _for_, and _not on mid_. + +111. Before the words _heir_, _herb_, _honest_, _honor_, and _hour_, and +their compounds, instead of the article _a_, we make use of _an_, as the +_h_ is not sounded; likewise before words beginning with _h_, that are not +accented on the first syllable: such as _heroic_, _historical_, +_hypothesis_, &c., as, "_an heroic action_;" "_an historical work_;" "_an +hypothesis_ that can scarcely be allowed." The letter _h_ is seldom mute +at the beginning of a word; but from the negligence of tutors, and the +inattention of pupils, many persons have become almost incapable of +acquiring its just and full pronunciation. It is, therefore, incumbent on +teachers to be particularly careful to inculcate a clear and distinct +utterance of this sound. + +112. "He was _such an extravagant young man_, that he soon spent his whole +patrimony." This construction, which is much used, is not so elegant as, +"He was _so extravagant a young man_," &c. + +113. "The girl speaks _distinct_:" say, _distinctly_. _Never use +Adjectives as Adverbs._ + +114. "The accident of which he was _reading_, occurred not far from +_Reading_:" pronounced the first italicized word to rhyme with _feeding_, +and the other, with _wedding_. + +115. The combination of letters _ough_ is pronounced in eight different +ways, as follows: 1. Th_ough_, in which it is pronounced _o_; 2. +Thr_ough_, pronounced _oo_; 3. Pl_ough_, _ow_; 4. S_ought_, _awe_; 5. +C_ough_, _off_; 6. R_ough_, _uff_; 7. Bor_ough_, _ugh_; 8. L_ough_, _ok_. +The following sentence, which is of doubtful authorship, affords an +example of each of these eight modes of pronunciation: "I put (1) _dough_ +(6) _enough_ in the (5) _trough_ near the (3) _slough_ by the (8) _lough_, +to last the ducks that I (4) _bought_ at the (7) _borough_ (2) _through_ +the day." + +116. "I saw his _august_ majesty, the Emperor of Hayti, last _August_:" +pronounce the former word with the accent on _gust_; the latter, on _Au_. + +117. "She is _quite the lady_:" say, She is _very lady-like in her +demeanor_. + +118. "He is _seldom or ever_ out of town:" say, _seldom or never_, or, +_seldom if ever_. + +119. "We _laid down_ to sleep:" say, we _lay down_, &c. We can say, +however, "we laid _him_ down to sleep." + +120. It is somewhat singular, that while _tie_ and _untie_ convey meanings +directly opposite, _loose_ and _unloose_ signify precisely the same thing. +_Loose_ is the original word, and _unloose_ is a corruption; both words, +however, are now sanctioned by good usage, and may be indiscriminately +employed, without offence against propriety. + +121. "It is dangerous to walk _of a_ slippery morning:" say, _on a_ +slippery morning. But the expression, "_walking on a slippery morning_," +and all others like it, of which a strictly literal interpretation will +not give the designed signification, are to be avoided. They often excite +a smile when seriousness is intended. + +122. "He who makes himself famous by his eloquence, makes illustrious his +origin, let it be _never so mean_:" say, _ever so mean_. The practice of +using _never_ in such phrases was anciently in vogue, but is now becoming +obsolete. (See Introduction.) + +123. "His reputation is acknowledged _through_ Europe:" say, _throughout_ +Europe. + +124. "The bank of the river is frequently _overflown_:" say, _overflowed_. +_Flown_ is the perfect participle of _fly, flying_; _flowed_, of _flow, +flowing_. + +125. "I doubt _if this_ will ever reach you:" say, _whether this_, &c. + +126. "It is not improbable _but I may_ be able to procure you a copy:" +say, _that I may_, &c. + +127. "He was _exceeding kind_ to me:" say, _exceedingly kind_. + +128. "I doubt not _but I shall_ be able:" say, _that I shall_. + +129. "I lost _near_ twenty pounds:" say, _nearly_, or _almost_. + +130. "There were not _over_ twenty persons present:" say, _more than_. +Such a use of this word is not frequent among writers of reputation. It +may, however, be less improperly employed, where the sense invests it with +more of a semblance to its literal signification: as, "This pair of +chickens will weigh _over_ seven pounds." Even in this case, it is better +to say _more than_. + +131. "_Bills are requested to be paid quarterly_:" _the bills are not +requested_, but _the persons who owe them_. Say instead, _It is requested +that bills be paid quarterly_. + +132. "There can be no doubt _but that_ he will succeed:" omit _but_. + +133. "It was _no use asking_ him any more questions:" say, _of no use to +ask him_, or _there was no use in asking_, &c. + +134. "The Americans said they _had no right_ to pay taxes." [From a Fourth +of July Oration.] They certainly _had a right_ to pay them, if they +wished. What the speaker meant was, _they were under no obligation to +pay_, or, _they were not bound to pay_. + +135. "He intends to _stop_ at home for a few days:" it is more elegant to +say _stay_. If the time, however, should be very brief, _stop_ would +better express the idea; as, "We _stopped_ at Elmira about twenty +minutes." + +136. "At this time, I _grew_ my own corn:" say, I _raised_. Farmers have +made this innovation against good taste; but for what reason, it is not +apparent; there seems to be no sufficient occasion for so awkward a +substitute for _raised_. + +137. "Having incautiously _laid down_ on the damp grass, he caught a +severe cold:" say, _lain down_. + +138. "We suffered no other inconvenience _but_ that arising from the +rain:" say, _than_ that, &c. _But_, to be properly used in this sentence, +would require the omission of _other_. + +139. "Brutus and Aruns killed _one another_:" say, _each other_, which is +more proper. But many similar instances which occur in the New Testament, +as, "_Beloved, love one another_," and others no less beautiful and +cherished, have rendered this form of expression common, and almost +unexceptionable. + +140. In a recently issued work on Arithmetic, the following is given: "If +for 72 cents I can buy 9 lbs. of raisins, _how much_ can I purchase for +$14 49?" say, "_what quantity_ can I," &c. Who would think of saying, +"_how much raisins?_" + +141. WORDS TO BE CAREFULLY DISTINGUISHED.--Be very careful to distinguish +between _indite_ and _indict_ (the former meaning _to write_, and the +latter _to accuse_); _key_ and _quay_; _principle_ and _principal_; +_marshal_ and _martial_; _counsel_ and _council_; _counsellor_ and +_councillor_; _fort_ and _forte_; _draft_ and _draught_; _place_ and +_plaice_ (the latter being the name of a _fish_); _stake_ and _steak_; +_satire_ and _satyr_; _stationery_ and _stationary_; _ton_ and _tun_; +_levy_ and _levee_; _foment_ and _ferment_; _fomentation_ and +_fermentation_; _petition_ and _partition_; _Francis_ and _Frances_; +_dose_ and _doze_; _diverse_ and _divers_; _device_ and _devise_; _wary_ +and _weary_; _salary_ and _celery_; _radish_ and _reddish_; _treble_ and +_triple_; _broach_ and _brooch_; _ingenious_ and _ingenuous_; _prophesy_ +and _prophecy_ (some clergymen sounding the final syllable of the latter +word _long_, like the former); _fondling_ and _foundling_; _lightning_ and +_lightening_; _genus_ and _genius_; _desert_ and _dessert_; _currier_ and +_courier_; _pillow_ and _pillar_; _executer_ and _executor_ (the former +being the regular noun from the verb "to _execute_," and the latter a +strictly _legal_ term); _ridicule_ and _reticule_; _lineament_ and +_liniment_; _track_ and _tract_, _lickerish_ and _licorice_ (_lickerish_ +signifying _dainty_, and _licorice_ being a plant, or preparation from +it); _statute_ and _statue_; _ordinance_ and _ordnance_; _lease_ and +_leash_; _recourse_ and _resource_; _straight_ and _strait_ (_straight_ +meaning _direct_, and _strait_, _narrow_); _immerge_ and _emerge_; _style_ +and _stile_; _compliment_ and _complement_; _bass_ and _base_; +_contagious_ and _contiguous_; _eminent_ and _imminent_; _eruption_ and +_irruption_; _precedent_ and _president_; _relic_ and _relict_. + +142. "The number of _emigrants_ arriving in this country is increasing and +alarming:" say, _immigrants_. _Emigrants_ are those _going out_ from a +country; _immigrants_, those _coming into_ it. + +143. "I prefer _radishes_ to _cucumbers_:" pronounce _radishes_ exactly +as spelt, and not _redishes_; also, the first syllable of _cucumber_ like +_fu_ in _fuel_, and not as if the word were spelled _cowcumber_. + +144. "The _two last_ letters were dated from Calcutta:" say, the _last +two_, &c. + +145. "The soil in those islands is so very thin, that little is produced +in them _beside_ cocoa-nut trees:" "_beside_ cocoa-nut trees" means +strictly _alongside_, or _by the side_, of them. _Besides_, or _except_, +should be used. _Besides_ also signifies _in addition to_: as, "I sat +_beside_ the President, and conversed with him _besides_." + +146. "He could neither _read nor write_:" say, more properly, _write nor +read_. All persons who can _write_ can _read_, but not all who _read_ can +_write_. This sentence, as corrected, is much stronger than in the other +form. + +147. "He was _bred and born_ among the hills of the Hudson:" say, _born +and bred_, which is the natural order. + +148. "THIS HOUSE TO LET:" more properly, _to be let_. + +149. _Here_, _there_, _where_, with verbs of motion, are generally better +than _hither_, _thither_, _whither_; as, "_Come here_; _Go there_." +_Hither_, _thither_, and _whither_, which were used formerly, are now +considered stiff and inelegant. + +150. "_As far as I_ am able to judge, the book is well written:" say, _So +far as_, &c. + +151. "It is doubtful whether he will act _fairly or no_:" say, _fairly or +not_. + +152. "The _camelopard_ is the tallest of known animals:" pronounce +_camelopard_ with the accent on _mel_; never say _camel leopard_. Few +words, by being mispronounced, occasion greater blunders than this term. + +153. "He ran _again_ me;" or, "I stood _again_ the hydrant:" say, +_against_. This word is frequently and inelegantly abbreviated, in +pronunciation, into _agin_. + +154. "_No one_ should incur censure for being careful of _their_ good +character:" say, of _his_ (or _her_). + +155. "The yacht capsized in rounding the stake-boat, and the helmsman was +_drownded_:" say, _drowned_. + +156. "_Jalap_ will be of service to you:" pronounce the word as it is +spelled, never saying _jollop_. + +157. The word _curiosity_, though a very common term, and one that should +be correctly pronounced by everybody, is frequently called _curosity_. + +158. "He has just set out to _take a tour_:" pronounce _tour_ so as to +rhyme with _poor_. Be careful to avoid saying, _take a tower_; such a +pronunciation might suggest the Mamelon, instead of a trip of travel. + +159. "The storm _is_ ceased, and the sky is clear:" say, _has_ ceased. + +160. "Do you know _who_ this dog-headed cane belongs to?" say, _whom_. In +expressing in _writing_ the idea conveyed in this question, a better form +of sentence would be, "Do you know _to whom_ this belongs?" In familiar +conversation, however, the latter mode might be thought too formal and +precise. + +161. "_Who_ did you wish to see?" say, _whom_. + +162. "_Whom_ say ye that I am?" This is the English translation, given in +Luke ix. 20, of the question of Christ to Peter. The word _whom_ should be +_who_. Other instances of grammatical inaccuracies occur in the Bible; for +example, in the Sermon on the Mount, the Saviour says: "Lay not up for +yourselves treasures on earth, where _moth and rust doth corrupt_," &c. +"_Moth and rust_" make a plural nominative to "_doth_ corrupt," a singular +verb. The following, however, is correct: "But lay up for yourselves +treasures in heaven, where _neither moth nor rust doth corrupt_." + +163. The word _chimney_ is sometimes called incorrectly _chimley_ and +_chimbley_. + +164. "I was walking _towards_ home:" pronounce _towards_ so as to rhyme +with _boards_; _never_ say, _to-wards_. + +165. "A _courier_ is expected from Washington:" pronounce _cou_ in +_courier_ so as to rhyme with _too_, never like _currier_; the two words +have entirely distinct significations. + +166. "Let each of us mind _their_ own business:" say, _his_ own business. + +167. "Who made that noise? Not _me_:" say, Not _I_. + +168. "Is this or that the _best_ road?" say, the _better_ road. + +169. "_Rinse_ your mouth:" pronounce _rinse_ as it is written, and never +_rense_. "_Rench your mouth_," said a fashionable dentist one day to a +patient. "You have already _wrenched it for me_," was the reply. + +170. "He was tired of the dust of the town, and _flew_ to the pure air of +the country:" say, _fled_. _Flew_ is part of the verb _to fly_; _fled_, of +_to flee_. + +171. "The first edition was not _as_ well printed as the present:" say, +_so_ well, &c. + +172. "The Unabridged Dictionary was his greatest work, it being the labor +of a life-time:" pronounce _Dictionary_ as if written _Dik-shun-a-ry_; +not, as is too commonly the practice, _Dixonary_. + +173. "I should feel sorry to be _beholding_ to him:" say, _beholden_. + +174. "He is a _despicable_ fellow, and such an epitaph is strictly +_applicable_ to him:" _never_ place the accent in _despicable_ and +_applicable_ on the _second_ syllable, but _always_ on the _first_. + +175. "Some disaster has certainly _befell_ him:" say, _befallen_. + +176. Carefully distinguish between _sergeant_ and _serjeant_: both are +pronounced _sarjant_, but the _former_ is used in a military sense, and +the _latter_ applied to a lawyer. These distinctions are, however, +observed chiefly in England. + +177. "She is a pretty _creature_:" never pronounce _creature_ like +_creetur_. + +178. The following expression would be of special significance on coming +from a surgeon or anatomist: "Desiring to know your friend better, _I took +him apart_ to converse with him." It has been said that two persons who +_take each other apart_, frequently do so for the express purpose of +_putting their heads together_. + +179. "I am very wet, and must go and _change myself_:" say, _change my +clothes_. + +180. "He is taller _than me_:" say, _than I_. + +181. "He is much better _than me_:" say, _than I_. + +182. "You are stronger _than him_:" say, _than he_. + +183. "That is the _moot_ point:" say, _disputed_ point. The other word is +inelegant, and nearly obsolete. + +184. "They are at _loggerheads_": this is an extremely unpoetical figure +to express the mutual relations of two individuals who have an "honest +difference;" say, at _variance_, or use some other form of expression. It +might just as well be said, "They are at _tadpoles_!" + +185. "He paid a _florin_ to the _florist_:" divide the syllables so as to +pronounce like _flor-in_ and _flo-rist_. + +186. "His character is _undeniable_:" a very common expression: say, +_unexceptionable_. + +187. "Bring me the _lantern_:" never spell _lantern_--_lanthorn_. + +188. "The room is twelve _foot_ long, and nine _foot_ broad:" say, twelve +_feet_, nine _feet_. + +189. "He is a _Highlander_:" never say, _Heelander_. + +190. "He is _singular_, though _regular_ in his habits, and also very +_particular_:" beware of leaving out the _u_ in _singular_, _regular_, and +_particular_, which is a very common practice. + +191. "They are detained _at_ France:" say, _in_ France. + +192. "He lives _at_ New-York:" say, _in_ New-York. + +193. "He is very _dry_" (meaning _thirsty_), is a very common and very +improper word to use: say, _thirsty_. + +194. "No _less_ than fifty persons were there:" say, _fewer_, &c. _Less_ +refers to _quantity_; _fewer_ to _number_. + +195. "_Such another_ victory, and we shall be ruined:" say, _Another such_ +victory, &c. + +196. "It is _some distance_, from our house:" say, _at some distance_, &c. + +197. "I shall call _upon_ him:" say, _on_ him. + +198. "Remove those _trestles_:" pronounce _trestles_ exactly as written, +only leaving out the _t_; never say _trussles_. + +199. "He is much addicted to _raillery_:" in pronouncing _raillery_, leave +out the _i_; never say, _rail-le-ry_. + +200. "He is a Doctor of _Medicine_:" pronounce _medicine_ in _three_ +syllables, NEVER in _two_. + +201. "They told me to enter _in_:" leave out _in_, as it is implied in +_enter_. + +202. "His _strength_ is failing:" never say, _strenth_. + +203. "Give me both _of_ those books:" leave out _of_. + +204. "_Whenever_ I try to write well, I _always_ find I can do it:" leave +out _always_, which is unnecessary and improper. + +205. "He plunged _down_ into the stream:" leave out _down_. + +206. "I never saw his _nephew_:" say, _nef-ew_; never _nev-u_, or +_nevvey_. + +207. "She is the _matron_:" say, _may-tron_, and not _mat-ron_. + +208. "Give me _leave_ to tell you:" never say _lief_ for _leave_. + +209. "The _height_ is considerable:" pronounce _height_ so as to rhyme +with _tight_; never _hate_ nor _heighth_. An instance occurs in "Paradise +Lost" in which this word is spelled and pronounced _highth_. + +210. "Who has my _scissors_?" never call _scissors_, _sithers_. + +211. "He has obtained a good _situation_:" pronounce _situation_ as if +written _sit-you-a-tion_, and do not say, _sitch-u-a-tion_. + +212. "I had as _lief_ do it as not:" _lief_ means _willingly_, _gladly_, +and is not to be confounded with _leave_, as in example No. 208. + +213. "First _of all_ I shall give you a lesson in French, and last _of +all_ in music:" omit _of all_ in both instances, as unnecessary. + +214. "I shall have finished by the _latter_ end of the week:" leave out +_latter_, which is superfluous. + +215. "They sought him _throughout_ the _whole_ country:" leave out +_whole_, which is implied in _throughout_. + +216. "Iron sinks _down_ in water:" leave out _down_. + +217. "A warrant was _issued out_ for his apprehension:" leave out the word +_out_, which is implied in _issued_. + +218. "If you inquire _for why_ I did so, I can give a very good reason:" +leave out _for_. + +219. "I own that I did not come soon enough; but _because why_? I was +detained:" leave out _because_. + +220. "I _cannot by no means_ allow it:" say, _I can by no means_, &c.; or, +_I cannot by any means_, &c. + +221. "He _covered it over_:" leave out _over_. + +222. "I bought _a new pair of shoes_:" say, _a pair of new shoes_. + +223. "He _combined together_ these facts:" leave out _together_. + +224. "My brother called on me, and we _both_ took a walk:" leave out +_both_, which is unnecessary. + +225. "Evil spirits are not occupied about the _dead corpses_ of bad men:" +leave out _dead_, which is altogether unnecessary, as it is _implied_ in +the word _corpses_, "_corpse_" and "_dead body_" being strictly +synonymous. + +226. "He has gone to the _Lyceum_:" pronounce _Lyceum_ with the accent on +the second syllable, and not on the first. + +227. "This is a picture of _Westminster Abbey_:" never say _Westminister_, +as if there were two words, _West-minister_. + +228. "We are going to take a _holiday_:" this word was originally spelled +and pronounced _holyday_, being compounded of the two words _holy_ +(meaning "_set apart_") and _day_. Custom, however, has changed the +orthography from _y_ to _i_, and made the first syllable rhyme with +_Poll_. + +229. "It was referred to the _Committee_ on Ways and Means:" emphasize the +second, not the first syllable. + +230. "He is now settled in _Worcester_:" pronounce as if written +_Wooster_. _Gloucester_ and _Leicester_ are pronounced _Gloster_ and +_Lester_. The termination _cester_ or _chester_, occurring in the names of +many English towns, is derived and corrupted from the Latin _Castra_, +camps; and every town so named is supposed to have been the site of a camp +of soldiers, during the possession of Britain by the Romans. + +231. "_Relatives_ and _Relations_:" both these words designate kinsfolk, +and are in most instances used indiscriminately. _Relatives_, however, is +by some deemed the more proper and elegant. + +232. "What a long _lirry_ he has to say!" This word should be pronounced +and spelt _lurry_; its more general meaning is a "heap," a "throng," a +"crowd," but is often applied to a long dull speech. + +233. "_Diamonds_ are charcoals:" pronounce _diamonds_ in three syllables. + +234. "Honor to the _patriot_ and the sage:" divide the syllables like +_pa-tri-ot_, not _pat-ri-ot_. Irish rowdyism has been called +"_Pat-riot-ism_." + +235. "Do you _believe_ that he will _receive_ my letter?" observe that in +the former word the diphthong is _ie_, and in the latter _ei_. A +convenient rule for the spelling of such words is the following: _c_ takes +_ei_ after it; all other consonants are followed by _ie_:--as, dec_ei_ve, +repr_ie_ve. + +236. "He is now confirmed in _idiotcy_:" say, _idiocy_; the _t_ in _idiot_ +is dropped in forming the word. + +237. "He raised the _national_ standard:" pronounce the first two +syllables like the word _nation_, never as if written _nash-ion-al_. + +238. _Principal_ and _Principle_: be careful to observe the distinction +between these words. _Principal_ signifies _chief_; _principle_, _motive_. + +239. "He favors the _Anti-Slavery_ reform:" pronounce _Anti_ with a +distinct sounding of the _i_; else the word becomes _ante_, which means +not "against," but "before,"--as "ante-deluvian," signifying "before the +Deluge." + +240. _Cincinnati_ is often misspelled _Cincinnatti_. The name is derived +from _Cincinnatus_, a celebrated Roman. + +241. "Her dress was made of _moiré antique_:" _moiré antique_ is an +article of _watered silk_, very well known to the "shopping" sisterhood, +but very frequently called "_Murray Antique_." + +242. "It was mentioned in a _Californian newspaper_:" say, _California_ +newspaper. No one says _Philadelphian_, or _Chicagonian_ journal. + +243. "The lecture was _characterized_ as a brilliant performance:" accent +the first, and not the second syllable. + +244. "This is one of the traditions of St. _Helena_:" accent _le_, and not +_Hel_. + +245. "The boy was found by a _washwoman_:" say, _washerwoman_. + +246. "St. John's is about two days nearer England than Halifax." [From an +account, in a New-York newspaper, of the Submarine Telegraph Expedition, +September, 1855.] Does it mean that St. John's is nearer to England than +Halifax is, or nearer to England than to Halifax? + +247. "He wears a blue-spotted _neck-handkerchief_:" say, _neckerchief_, +or, still better, _neck-cloth_, or _cravat_. The original word is +_kerchief_, and not _handkerchief_, which is a _kerchief_ for the _hand_. + +248. "The city was _illumined_ in honor of the victory:" better say, +_illuminated_. Distinguish between the pronunciation of _illumined_ and +_ill-omened_. + +249. "She has brought the _cloze pins_ in a bag:" say, _clothes' pins_. + +250. "He met with _luck_:" say either "_bad luck_," or "_good luck_;" +_luck_ primarily refers to simple "chance," although its derivatives, +_lucky_ and _luckily_, imply only _good fortune_. + +251. "The _in-va-lid_ signed a deed, that was _in-val-id_:" pronounce the +former "_invalid_" with the accent on the _first_ syllable; the _latter_, +with the accent on the _second_. + +252. "The _duke_ discharged his _duty_." Be careful to give the slender, +clear sound of _u_. Avoid saying _dook_ and _dooty_, or _doo_ for _dew_ or +_due_. Say _flute_, not _floot_; _suit_, not _soot_; _mute_, not _moot_. +As well might you say _bute_ for _boot_, or _shute_ for shoot. + +253. "_Genealogy_, _geography_, and _geometry_ are words of Greek +derivation:" beware of saying _geneology_, _jography_, and _jometry_, a +very common practice. + +254. "He made out the _inventory_:" place the accent in _inventory_ on the +syllable _in_, and NEVER on _ven_. + +255. "He deserves _chastisement_:" say, _chas-tiz-ment_, with the accent +on _chas_, and NEVER on _tise_. + +256. "He threw the _rind_ away:" never call _rind_, _rine_. + +257. "His _knowledge_ is very great:" always pronounce _knowledge_ so as +to rhyme with _college_, and NEVER say _know-ledge_. + +258. "They contributed to his _maintenance_:" pronounce _maintenance_ with +the accent on _main_, and never say _maintainance_. + +259. "She wears a silk _gown_:" never say _gownd_. + +260. "Maine is a _maritime_ State:" pronounce the last syllable of +_maritime_ so as to rhyme with _rim_. + +261. "They _desisted_ from their _design_:" pronounce the _former s_ in +_desisted_ with a soft sound, and _always_ pronounce _design_ as if +written _de-zine_. + +262. "They committed a _heinous_ crime:" pronounce _heinous_ as if spelled +_hay-nus_; NEVER call the word _hee-nus_ or _hain-yus_. + +263. "He _hovered_ about the enemy:" pronounce _hovered_ so as to rhyme +with _covered_. + +264. "He is a powerful _ally_:" _never_ place the accent on _al_ in +_ally_, as many do. + +265. "_We have never been called, almost, to the consideration_ of the +Apocalypse, without finding fresh reasons for our opinion." [Such are the +words of a very eminent reviewer.] He should have said, "We have _scarcely +ever_ been called," or, "we have _almost never_." + +266. "He is very _bigoted_:" never spell the last word with _double t_, a +very common mistake. + +267. "The _Weekly Tribune_ has a large circulation:" pronounce Tribune as +if divided _Trib-une_, and not _Try-bune_. + +268. "He said _as how_ you _was_ to do it:" say, he said _that you were to +do it_. + +269. Never say, "_I acquiesce with you_," but, "_I acquiesce in your +proposal_, _in your opinion_," &c. + +270. "He is a distinguished _antiquarian_:" say, _antiquary_. +_Antiquarian_ is an adjective; _antiquary_, a noun. + +271. An injudicious disposition of a clause in a sentence frequently +creates great merriment in the reading. In Goldsmith's "History of +England," a book remarkable for its carelessness of style, we find the +following extraordinary sentence, in one of the chapters of the reign of +Queen Elizabeth: "This" [a communication to Mary Queen of Scots] "they +effected by conveying their letters to her by means of a brewer that +_supplied the family with ale through a chink in the wall of her +apartment_." A queer brewer that--to supply ale through a chink in the +wall! How easy the alteration to make the passage clear! "This they +effected by conveying their letters to her _through a chink in the wall of +her apartment, by means of a brewer that supplied the family with ale_." + +272. "Lavater wrote on _Physiognomy_:" in the last word sound the _g_ +distinctly, as _g_ is always pronounced before _n_, when it is not in the +same syllable; as, _indignity_, &c. + +273. "She is a very amiable _girl_:" pronounce _girl_ as if written +_gurl_; _gal_ is a vulgarism; _gehl_ or _gul_ is an affectation of which +many polite persons are guilty. + +274. "He built a large _granary_:" _do not_ pronounce _granary_ so as to +rhyme with _tannery_. Call the word _grainary_. Both pronunciations, +however, are given by scholars. + +275. Beware of using _Oh!_ and _O_ indiscriminately: _Oh!_ is used to +express the emotion of _pain_, _sorrow_, or _surprise_; as, "_Oh!_ the +exceeding grace of God." _O_ is used to express _wishing_, _exclamation_, +or a direct _address_ to a person; as, + + "O mother, will the God above + Forgive my faults like thee?" + +276. Be careful to sound distinctly the _r_ in such words as _farther_, +_martyr_, _charter_, _murder_, &c. Never say, _fah-ther_, _mah-tyr_, +_chah-ter_ and _muh-der_. On the other hand, avoid _trilling_ the _r_, as +_mur-er-der_, _r'r'robber_. It is altogether too tragical for common life. + +277. "The Duke of Wellington was an _Irishman_, but knew nothing of the +_Irish_ language:" beware of saying _Ierishman_ for _Irishman_, or +_Ierish_ for _Irish_; a very common mistake, which the "Know-Nothings" are +quick to detect. + +278. "He did it _unbeknown_ to us:" say, _unknown_, &c. + +279. "He lives in _affluence_, as he is in _affluent_ circumstances:" +beware of placing the accent in _affluence_ and _affluent_ on the syllable +_flu_ instead of on _af_, a very common error. + +280. "If I say, 'They retreated _back_,' I use a word that is +_superfluous_, as _back_ is implied in the syllable _re_ in _retreated_:" +never place the accent on _flu_ in _superfluous_, but always on _per_. + +281. "In reading Paley's 'Evidences of Christianity,' I unexpectedly _lit +on_ the passage I wanted:" say, _met with_ the passage, &c. + +282. A gentleman having selected a book from the library shelves of the +Mechanics' Institute, went to the librarian to have the volume registered +under his name, and said, "_I have taken the life of Julius Cæsar_." "I +shall then," responded the librarian, "charge the work to Mr. Brutus!" Be +careful how you "take the lives" of distinguished men. + +283. "He has a _bayonet_ to his gun:" never say _baggonet_. This error is +a peculiarity of the Wiltshire dialect, in England. In an old Wiltshire +song the following stanza occurs: + + "A hornet zet in a holler tree, + A proper spiteful twoad was he; + And merrily zung while he did zet,-- + His sting as sharp as a _baggonet_." + +284. "Aunt Deborah is down with the _rheumatiz_:" say, _rheumatism_; this +is one among the _isms_, though a very unpopular one. + +285. "It is _obligatory_ upon every honest man to go to the polls to-day:" +accent _lig_, and not _ga_. + +286. "On the _contrary_:" accent _con_, not _tra_. The old song takes up +with a bad pronunciation, for the sake of a good rhyme: + + "Mistress Mary, + Quite _contrary_, + How does your garden grow?" + +287. "That is altogether _above my bend_:" say, _out of my power_. + +288. "He has _absquatulated_, and taken the specie with him:" _absconded_ +is a more classical word. + +289. "It's _eenamost_ time we had started:" say, _almost_. + +290. "_I haven't ary one_:" say, _I have neither_, or, _I haven't either_. + +291. "That man is in a _bad box_:" say, _bad predicament_, or bad +_situation_. + +292. It may be doubted whether to say of a man "that _he barked up the +wrong tree_," is a complimentary or elegant metaphor. + +293. "I will retain two-thirds, and give you the _balance_:" say, +_remainder_. + +294. "I _calculate_ to go by steam:" say, "I _expect_." + +295. Avoid using the phrase "_I cave in_," for "_I give up_." It savors of +slang. + +296. Do not say, "_chicken fixings_," for "_trifles_," or "_extras_," +connected with dress. + +297. "He is a _cute_ man:" this is an inelegant abbreviation of _acute_, +and employed to mean _smart_. It may, however, be properly applied to +Yankees! + +298. "He _dickered_ with him an hour:" say, "he _bargained_." This is a +word somewhat peculiar to New-York. + +299. "_Do don't_" is a vulgar usage of the Southern States, especially +Georgia, for "_do not_." + +300. "He is _done gone_:" say, _ruined_. + +301. "We had a _dreadful_ fine time:" say, _very_, or _exceedingly_. + +302. "It rains, and I want an umbrella _the worst kind_:" say, "_I am +greatly in want_," &c. An umbrella _of the worst kind_ would not be likely +to answer the best of purposes on a rainy day! + +303. "The whole concern _fizzled out_:" say, _proved a failure_. + +304. "As soon as I mentioned it to him, he _flared up_:" say, he _became +excited_, or _grew violent_. + +305. "The choir sang _Old Hundred_:" pronounce _Hundred_ as written, and +not _Hunderd_. + +306. "The message was sent by his _aid-de-camp_:" pronounce as if written +_ade-de-kawng_, avoiding, however, as much as possible a twang on the last +syllable. + +307. "My _beard_ is long:" don't say _baird_. + +308. "The blacksmith blows the _bellows_:" pronounce as written, and not +_bellus_. + +309. "Let me help you to some _catsup_:" avoid saying _ketchup_. + +310. "It is new _China ware_:" do not say, _chaney ware_; this latter +article exists only in the traditions of old women. + +311. "The _combatants_ parted in good humor:" accent the first +syllable--never the second. + +312. "We poled the raft up the _creek_:" pronounce as if written _krik_. + +313. "Then spake the _warrior_ bold:" pronounce in two syllables, as +_war-yur_, not _war-ri-or_. + +314. In using the word _venison_, sound the _i_: _venzun_ is a common, +though not elegant pronunciation. + +315. _Tapestry_ is divided _tap-es-try_ and not _ta-pes-try_. + +316. "He is only a _subaltern_:" accent the first syllable of _subaltern_. + +317. "The barge is at the _quay_:" pronounce _quay_, _kay_. + +318. "The path over the meadow was _queachy_:" this word, meaning _soft_ +or _boggy_, is now obsolete, and cannot be used with propriety. + +319. "He talks _pulpitically_:" this word, which some who copy +Chesterfield persist in using, has never by any good authority been +admitted into the language. + +320. To _peff_, meaning to _cough faintly_ (like a sheep), is hardly a +useable word. + +321. Be careful to distinguish between _pencil_, an instrument for +writing, and _pensile_, meaning _hanging down_. + +322. _To yank_ is a vulgarism, meaning _to twitch powerfully_. + +323. Avoid the slang phrase, "_I used to could_." Say, "_I could +formerly_." + +324. "She _takes on_ about it greatly:" say, _grieves_. + +325. "He _staved off_ the case two days longer:" say, he _put off_, or +_delayed_. + +326. "He made a great _splurge_:" say, he made a _blustering effort_. + +327. "I _reckon_ it is going to rain:" say, I _think_, or _expect_. +_Reckon_ applies to _calculation_. + +328. "The basket is _pretty large_:" avoid, if possible, the use of the +word _pretty_ out of its legitimate signification; the language abounds +with substitutes more elegant. + +329. "She weighs a _plaguy sight_:" say, _a great deal_. + +330. "He _made tracks_ at sundown:" say, _he left_, or _escaped_. + +331. "He was compelled to _fork over the cash_:" say, _to pay over_. + +332. "_To flunk out_" is a vulgar expression for _to retire through fear_; +the most that can be tolerated is, _to sneak out_. + +333. "When last observed, he was _going at full chisel_:" say, _at the top +of his speed_. + +334. "That bill is a _counterfeit_:" the last syllable is pronounced as if +written _fit_, and not _feet_. + +335. "I am very much _obliged_ to you:" do not say _obleeged_. + +336. The following sentence affords an example of three words of similar +pronunciation, but different signification: "It is not easy to _pare_ a +_pear_ with a _pair_ of scissors." + +337. "The _robber_ entered the dwelling, and secretly carried off the +silver:" say, _thief_; a _robber_ attacks violently, and commits his +depredations by main force; a _thief_ is one who uses secrecy and +deception. + +338. "Go and _fetch_ me my riding-whip:" say, _bring_. _Fetch_ means to +_go and bring_; _go and fetch_ is repetition. + +339. _To leave_ and _to quit_ are often used as synonymous terms, though +improperly; _to leave_ implies a design of returning soon--_to quit_, an +absence of a long time, or forever; as, in Shakespeare:-- + + "----the very rats + Instinctively had _quit_ it."--_Tempest_, i. 2. + +"I shall _leave_ my house for a month before next Autumn; but I shall not +be obliged to _quit_ it until after Christmas." + +340. _Mute_ and _dumb_. A _dumb_ man has not the power to speak; a _mute_ +man either does not choose, or is not allowed to speak. It is, therefore, +more proper to say of a person who can neither hear nor speak, that he is +"deaf and _dumb_," than that he is a "deaf _mute_." + +341. _Strong_ and _robust_. These words are frequently misused: a _strong_ +man is able to bear a heavy burden, but not necessarily for a long time; a +_robust_ man bears _continual_ fatigue with ease; a _strong_ man may be +active and nimble; while an excess of muscular development, together with +a clumsiness of action, exclude these qualities from the _robust_ man:-- + + "_Strong_ as a tower in hope, I cry Amen!" + + SHAKESPEARE, _Richard II._ i. 3. + + "For one who, though of drooping mien, had yet + From nature's kindliness received a frame + _Robust_ as ever rural labor bred." + + WORDSWORTH, _Excursion_, VI. + +342. "Isaac Newton _invented_ the law of gravitation:" say, _discovered_. +"Galileo _discovered_ the telescope:" say, _invented_. + +343. To _hear_ and to _listen_ have each distinct degrees of meaning. To +_hear_ implies no effort or particular attention. To _listen_ implies some +eagerness to hear. An old proverb says, "They that _listen_ seldom _hear_ +any good of themselves." + +344. _Ought_ and _should_ both express obligation, but the latter is not +so binding as the former. "Children _ought to_ love their parents, and +_should_ be neat in their appearance." + +345. _Alone_ and _only_ are often misapplied. "He _only_ could do it," +means that no other but himself could do it; "he _alone_ could do it," +should mean that he, without the assistance of others, could do it. + +346. "Please the pigs."--(_Old Proverb._) This is a corruption from +"Please the _pyx_." The _pyx_ is the receptacle which contains the +consecrated wafer on Romish altars; and the exclamation is equal to +"Please God." This corruption is as curious a one as that of "tawdry" from +"'t Audrey," or "at St. Audrey's Fair," famous for the sale of +frippery--showy, cheap, and worthless. + +347. "The _partridge_ is a delightful bird:" do not say _patridge_. Also, +do not say _pasley_ for _parsley_. + +348. "After this, let him hide his _diminished head_:" this common phrase +is a poetical quotation from Milton, and is therefore proper to be used +even when it does not _literally_ express the idea:-- + + "At whose sight all the stars + Hide their _diminished heads_." + +349. "That bourne from whence no traveler returns." How often are +precisely these words spoken? They are improperly quoted from Shakespeare, +in Hamlet, and correctly read as follows:-- + + "That undiscovered country, from whose bourne + No traveler returns." + +350. "Bring me my _waistcoat_:" pronounce as if written _waste-coat_, and +not _weskut_. It should rhyme, as it did in an old ballad, with "_laced +coat_." + +351. "Your _bonnet_ to its right use."--(_Shakespeare:_) never say +_bunnet_. + +352. "It is not cold enough to wear my _gloves_:" pronounce as if written +_gluvs_, and to rhyme with _loves_. In "Fair Rosamond" the following +illustrative stanza occurs:-- + + "He said he had his _gloves_ from France: + The Queen said, 'That can't be: + If you go there for _glove-making_, + It is without the _g_.'" + +353. "_Egad!_ what great good luck!" This word is now inelegantly used, +except in certain species of poetry, where it is introduced with much +effect, as in the following distich:-- + + "All tragedies, _egad!_ to me sound oddly; + I can no more be serious, than you godly." + +354. "The frigate is now in the Yellow Sea, or _thereabouts_:" say, +_thereabout_. This term is a transposed combination of _about there_; +there is no such word as _thereabouts_. The same may be said of +_hereabouts_, and _whereabouts_. + +355. "Whether he will or _no_:" say, _not_. The reason of this correction +is clearly seen by supplying what is needed to complete the sense: Whether +he will or _will not_. + +356. "He looked at it first _lengthways_, then _sideways_:" say, +_lengthwise_ and _sidewise_. Also, say _otherwise_ instead of _otherways_. +A nobleman said to his fool, "I am _wise_, and you are _otherwise_." +"Yes," replied his jester, "you are _wise_, and I am _another wise_." + +357. If you are a landlord, beware of incorrectly using such an expression +as in the following: A landed proprietor went to a tenant with a view of +increasing his rent, and said to him, "Neighbor, I am going to _raise your +rent_." "Thank you, sir," was the reply, "for I am utterly unable to +_raise it myself_." + +358. "Will you _accept_ of this slight testimonial?" Omit _of_, which is +superfluous, and weakens the sentence. + +359. "He convinced his opponent by _dint_ of good reasoning:" _dint_, +meaning _force_ or strength, is an obsolete word, and should not now be +employed. + +360. "The Danube _empties_ into the Black Sea:" say, _flows_; to _empty_ +means _to make vacant_; no river can properly be called _empty_, until it +is entirely dried up. + +361. Such words as _bamboozle_, _topsyturvy_, _helterskelter_, +_hurlyburly_, and _pellmell_ are generally to be avoided. They answer, +however, for familiar conversation. + +362. Never say _seraphims_, for the plural of _seraph_, but _seraphim_; +the same rule holds with _cherubims_. _Cherubs_ and _seraphs_ are proper +plurals, suiting a familiar style of speaking or writing, while _cherubim_ +and _seraphim_ are to be used only in more dignified and solemn discourse. + +363. "_There's_ the books you wanted:" say, _there are_: avoid all +abbreviations when they lead to a grammatical error, as in the present +instance. + +364. "This prisoner has, of all the gang, committed _fewer_ misdemeanors:" +say, _fewest_. We may say _fewer than_ all, but we must say _fewest of_ +all. + +365. "I esteem you more than _the others_:" this sentence is equivocal. +Does it mean, "I esteem you more than _I esteem the others_," or, "I +esteem you more than _the others esteem you_?" + +366. "The most eminent scholars will, on some points, differ _among one +another_:" say, _among themselves_. + +367. "He, from that moment, doubled his _kindness and caresses of me_:" +say, "kindness _for_ and caresses of me;" by omitting _caresses_ we have, +"He doubled his _kindness of_ me," which is not good English. + +368. _To differ from_ and _to differ with_: to _differ from_ a man means +to have an opinion different from his; to _differ with_ a person signifies +a _quarrel_ or _rupture_. + +369. "He barely escaped having _one or two broken heads_:" a man has but +_one_ head, let it be broken or whole. Say, "He _once or twice barely +escaped_ having a broken head." + +370. "Whenever _I fall into that man's conversation_ I am entertained and +profited:" say, _fall into conversation with that man_. + +371. "The lecturer _spoke to several points_:" say, "spoke _on_ several +points." He spoke _to_ his audience. + +372. "I shall regard your _strictures_ only so far as _concerns_ my own +errors:" say, _concern_; the phrase when filled out should read, "only so +far as _they concern_ my own errors." + +373. "I found him better than I expected _to have found him_:" say, _to +find him_. + +374. "I perceived that he was totally blind _with half an eye_:" say, "I +perceived, with half an eye, that he was totally blind." Otherwise, to a +man _totally blind_ you allot _half an eye_! + +375. The word _only_ is often wrongly placed in the sentence, and made to +express an idea which is not designed to be conveyed. "Not _only_ Chinese +are superstitious," implies that others besides the Chinese are +superstitious. "Chinese are not _only_ superstitious," implies that in +addition to being superstitious, they have some other characteristics. +"Chinese not _only_ are superstitious," leaves room for something still +further to be implied of the Chinese than superstition, and which is not +necessarily the predicate of _are_; as, "Chinese not only are +superstitious, but they persecute those who do not put faith in +Confucius." + +376. _Not the least_ and _nothing less than_, sometimes literally convey +just the opposite of what is intended. "He has _not the least_ excuse for +going," may mean that he has _a great excuse_, or _none at all_. "He seeks +_nothing less than_ worldly honor," may signify that nothing inferior to +worldly honor will satisfy his desire; or, on the other hand, it may mean +that nothing is less sought by him than worldly honor. Such expressions, +therefore, are to be used with caution, else they will mislead. + +377. Care should be taken in the use of epithets. For instance, in the +sentence, "_A wise and good man_ should be respected," the words _wise_ +and _good_ may properly be applied to the same man; but if the sentence +should be altered to read, "An _old and young man_," it is obvious that +both epithets could not relate to the same person. + +378. Never say _turkle soup_, for _turtle soup_. + +379. The word _long_ should not now be employed to signify _many_. An +example of this early usage is found in the Fifth Commandment, "that thy +days may be _long_ upon the land." The following lines furnish an instance +of the verb _to lengthen_, meaning to _make many_:-- + + "The best of all ways + To _lengthen_ our days, + Is to take a few hours from the night, my lad." + +380. "They returned _back again_ to the _same_ city _from_ whence they +came _forth_:" omit the italicized words, which are redundant and +inelegant. + +381. "Have you any leisure _upon your hands_?" omit _upon your +hands_,--not so much because anything after "leisure" is superfluous, in +such a sentence, as because the idea of _having leisure upon your hands_ +is absurd. + +382. "Seven lads were present, and he gave them _all_ a book:" say, _gave +them each_ a book. _All_ refers to a number of persons or things taken +_collectively_, as _one body_; _each_ refers to _every individual_, +separately considered. + +383. "Lend me your _umberell_:" say, _umbrella_. The former pronunciation, +however, is allowed by _poetic license_, as in the following, adapted from +Thomas Moore:-- + + "Oh, ever thus from childhood's hour, + Has chilling fate upon me fell! + There always comes a soakin' shower + When I hain't got an _umbrell_." + +384. We lately met a grammarian, who had just made a tour through the +mines, conjugating, or, rather, cogitating thus: "Positive, _mine_; +comparative _miner_; superlative, _minus_!" + +385. "Put not thy secret into the mouth of the _Bosphorus_, for it will +betray it to the ears of the Black Sea."--(_Oriental Proverb._) Pronounce +_Bosphorus_ as if written _Bosforus_, and not _Bos-porous_. + +386. Be careful to use the hyphen (-) correctly: it joins compound words, +and words broken by the ending of a line. The use of the hyphen will +appear more clearly from the following example: "_many colored_ wings" +means _many_ wings which are _colored_; but "_many-colored_ wings" means +"wings of _many colors_." + +387. "I am _afraid_ it will rain:" say, _I fear_. _Afraid_ expresses +terror; _fear_ may mean only _anxiety_. + +388. Never say _o-fences_ for _offences_; _pison_ for _poison_; +_co-lection_ for _collection_; _voiolent_ for _violent_; _kivver_ for +_cover_; _afeard_ for _afraid_; _debbuty_ for _deputy_. The last three +examples are very common. + +389. "It is a mere _cipher_:" never spell _cipher_ with a _y_. + +390. "I was _necessitated_ to do it:" a poor expression, and often made +worse by _necessiated_ being used: say, I was _obliged_, or _compelled_, +to do it. + +391. "Gibbon wrote the _Rise_ and Fall of the Roman Empire:" pronounce +_Rise_, the noun, so as to rhyme with _price_; _Rise_, the verb, rhymes +with _prize_. + +392. "He joined his _regiment_ last week:" never say, _ridgiment_ for +_regiment_. + +393. "He bought a _gimlet_:" never spell the last word _gimblet_, as many +do. + +394. "He is a supporter of the _Government_:" beware of omitting the _n_ +in the second syllable of _Government_--a very common practice. + +395. "Received this day _of_ Mr. Brown ten dollars:" say, "Received this +day _from_," &c. + +396. "Of whatever you _get_, endeavor to save something; and with all your +_getting, get_ wisdom:" carefully avoid saying _git_ for _get_, and +_gitting_ for _getting_. + +397. "So intent was he on the song he was _singing_, while he stood by the +fire, that he did not perceive that his clothes were _singeing_." Verbs +ending with a _single e_, omit the _e_ when the termination _ing_ is +added, as, _give_, _giving_; in _singeing_, however, the _e_ must be +retained, to prevent its being confounded with _singing_. The _e_ must +also be retained in _dyeing_, to distinguish it from _dying_. + +398. The following sentences may be studied: "The _dyer dyes_ daily, yet +he _dies_ not." "The _miner minds_ the _minor mines_." "It is not _meet_ +to _mete_ out such _meat_." "He performed a great _feat_ with his _feet_ +at the _fête_." (_Fête_ is pronounced _fate_.) + +399. "_Lower_ the sails, as the sky begins to _lower_:" pronounce _low_ in +the _former_ so as to rhyme with _mow_, and _low_ in the _latter_ so as to +rhyme with _cow_. + +400. "There was a great _row_ on Monday, in Tryon _Row_:" pronounce the +former _row_ so as to rhyme with _cow_--the latter _row_, so as to rhyme +with _mo_. + +401. "His _surname_ is Clifford:" never spell the _sur_ in "surname" +_sir_, which shows an ignorance of its true derivation, which is from the +Latin. + +402. "The buildings are so old that they pay _almost no rent_ now:" +_scarcely any rent_, is better. + +403. "His _mamma_ sent him to a preparatory school:" _mamma_ is often +written with one _m_ only, which is not, as may at first be supposed, in +imitation of the French _maman_, but in sheer ignorance. + +404. Active verbs often take a neuter sense; as, "_The house is +building_:" here, _is building_ is used in a neuter signification, because +it has no object after it. By this rule are explained such sentences as, +"_Application is wanting_;" "_The Grammar is printing_," &c. + +405. "He _attackted_ me without the slightest provocation:" say, +_attacked_. + +406. "I called on him every day in the week _successfully_:" very common, +but incorrect; say, _successively_. + +407. "I fear I shall _discommode_ you:" it is better to say, _incommode_. + +408. "I can do it _equally as well as_ he:" leave out _equally_, which is +superfluous. + +409. "We could not forbear _from_ doing it:" leave out _from_, which is +unnecessary; or say, _refrain from_. + +410. "He was totally dependent _of_ his father:" say, dependent _on_ his +father. + +411. "They accused him _for_ neglecting his duty:" say, _of_ neglecting, +&c. + +412. "They have a great resemblance _with_ each other:" say, _to_ each +other. + +413. "I entirely dissent _with_ him:" say, _from_ him. + +414. "He was made much _on_ at the Springs:" say, made much _of_, &c. + +415. "He is a man _on_ whom you can confide:" say, _in_ whom, &c. + +416. "He was obliged to _fly_ the country:" say, _flee_ the country. A +very common mistake. + +417. "The snuffers _wants_ mending:" say, _want_ mending. No one would +say, "My _pantaloons is_ ripped." + +418. "His conduct admits _of_ no apology:" omit _of_, which is quite +unnecessary. + +419. "A _gent_ has been here inquiring for you:" a detestable, but very +common expression; say, a _gentleman_ has been, &c. Oliver Wendell Holmes +hits off this liberty with language, in the following happy couplet:-- + + "The things called _pants_, in certain documents, + Were never made for _gentlemen_, but _gents_." + +420. "That was _all along of_ you:" say, "That was _all your fault_." + +421. "You have no _call_ to be angry with me:" say, no _occasion_, &c. + +422. "Too free an _indulgence_ in luxuries _enervate_ and _injure_ the +system:" say, _enervates_ and _injures_, &c. The plural, _luxuries_, +standing directly before the verb, (which should be _enervates_, in the +singular,) deceives the ear. Errors of this kind are very common, though a +moment's thought would correct them. The verb must agree with its subject +in person and in number; if the _noun_ is in the singular, the _verb_ that +belongs to it must also be in the singular. + +423. "A father divided a portion of his property _among_ his two children, +and the remainder he distributed _between_ the poor:" say, _between_ his +two children, and _among_ the poor. _Between_ is applicable to two only, +_among_ to three or more. + +424. "_Every_ child should obey _their_ parents:" say, _his_ parents. The +pronoun must agree with the noun in number, &c. + +425. "He is a person _who_ I respect greatly:" say, _whom_. "Be careful +_who_ you trust:" _whom_ you trust. + +426. "Let me consider _of_ this matter." "The culprit dreaded to enter +_in_ the prison." "The laborers were not allowed to want _for_ anything." +Leave out the _italicized_ words--the sense being complete without them. + +427. _Cupola_ is often pronounced _cupalo_; _foliage_, _foilage_; +_future_, _futur_; _nature_, _natur_: all of which errors should be +carefully avoided. + +428. "'Ow 'appens it that _H_englishmen so _h_often misplace their +_h_aitches?" It is a cockneyism; and if you have fallen into the habit, it +will require perhaps more perseverance than you imagine, to correct it. + +429. Do you say _w_agabond or _v_agabond, _w_inegar or _v_inegar, _w_ery +or _v_ery, _v_alking or _w_alking, _v_atchman or _w_atchman? It is a local +custom, but if you have any taint of it, don't sing "_V_illikins and his +Dinah." + +430. Provid_ence_, confid_ence_, and similar words, are often pronounced +Provid_unce_, confid_unce_, &c., substituting _unce_ for _ence_. So also, +words ending in _ance_, as mainte_nance_, suste_nance_, SURVEIL_lance_, +are pronounced falsely mainten_unce_, susten_unce_, &c. + +431. _Coming_, _going_, _according_, &c., are often pronounced without the +final _g_: speak them distinctly, and pronounce difficult words with +de-lib-er-a-tion. + +432. If you are a Yankee, you should (though, as a general thing, you +_will not_) take special pains with your vowel sounds, that they be not +formed through the nasal cavities. Don't say _heow_, _ceow_, _confeound_, +for _how_, _cow_, &c. + +433. If you are a Western man, you are liable to give your vowel sounds +too great breadth. You should not say _bar_ for _bear_, _hum_ for _home_, +_dawlar_ for _dollar_; and it is better to avoid using such expressions as +_I reckon_, _I guess_, _I calculate_, too frequently. + +434. "I am going _a fishing_:" be bold enough to be one among the foremost +to break away from the bad habit of saying _a fishing_, _a talking_, _a +courting_, &c. This custom, however, should be retained in quoting +proverbs and wise sayings; these are better in proportion as they are +older; for example: "_Who goes a-borrowing, goes a-sorrowing._" The +quaintness would be destroyed by saying simply _borrowing_ and +_sorrowing_. + +435. Some people add a superfluous preposition at the end of a +sentence--"More than you think _for_." This is awkward. + +436. "Then think _on_ the friend who once welcomed it too," &c. &c.: say, +_of_. + +437. _Thou_ and _thee_ are no longer used in spelling or writing, except +by some of The Friends; but proverbial citations, originally expressed in +that form, lose much of their beauty and force by alteration; as, "If thou +seest thy house in flames, approach and warm thyself by it." How greatly +would a change of person tame the spirit of this fine proverb! + +438. "By the street of '_By-and-By_,' one arrives at the house of +'Never.'" Do not say, _By'mby_. + +439. Be careful to observe the _two plurals_ of the following nouns: + + Singular. First Plural. Second Plural. + + _Brother,_ _Brothers_ (of the same _Brethren_ (of the same + parents), society). + + _Die,_ _Dies_ (for coining), _Dice_ (for gaming). + + _Index,_ _Indexes_ (tables of contents), _Indices_ (signs in + algebra). + + _Pea,_ _Peas_ (referring to a _Pease_ (referring to the + limited number), whole species). + + _Penny,_ _Pennies_ (coins), _Pence_ (the value). + + _Cow,_ _Cows_ (a herd of cattle), _Kine_ (the species). + + _Sow,_ _Sows_ (a litter), _Swine_ (the species). + + _Genius,_ _Geniuses_ (men of genius), _Genii_ (imaginary spirits). + +440. Different shades of meaning may be expressed by slight variations in +the position of the important words in a sentence. For example, "_The +Paradise Lost of Milton_," is not exactly the same in import as, +"_Milton's Paradise Lost_;" in the former, attention is called to the +author--in the latter, to the poem. + +441. In uniting the plural of _one_, _two_, _three,_ do not use the +apostrophe ['] as _one's_, _two's_, _three's._ Good writers never conform +to the latter mode. Wordsworth, who was remarkably particular, not only in +the choice of his words but in their orthography, wrote: + + "The sun has long been set, + The stars are out by _twos and threes_; + The little birds are piping yet + Among the bushes and the trees." + +442. "_How's yourself_, this morning?" an exceedingly common, but very +objectionable expression: say, "_How are you_;" &c. + +443. "Wanted, two apprentices, who will be treated as _one_ of the +family:" great practical difficulty would be found in realizing such +treatment! Say, "as _members_ of the family." + +444. The following lines afford an instance of the ingenious uses to which +the English language may be put: + + "You _sigh for_ a _cipher_, but _I sigh for you;_ + Oh, _sigh for no cipher_, but oh, _sigh for me;_ + Oh, let not my _sigh for_ a _cipher_ go, + But give _sigh for sigh, for I sigh_ for you so!" + +The above is more briefly expressed in the following manner: + + "U O a O, but I O u, + Oh, O no O, but oh, O me; + Oh, let not my O a O go, + But give O O I O u so!" + +445. Sometimes _but_ is incorrectly substituted for _that_: as, "I have no +doubt _but_ he will be here to-night." Sometimes for the conjunction _if_, +as, "I shouldn't wonder _but_ that was the case." And sometimes _two_ +conjunctions are used instead of one, as, "_If that_ I have offended him," +"_After that_ he had seen the parties," &c. All this is very awkward and +should be avoided. + +446. "My hands are _chopped_:" say, _chapped_. + +447. "This will serve as a _preventative_:" say, _preventive_. + +448. "A _nishe_ young man," "What _makesh_ you laugh?" "If he _offendsh_ +you, don't speak to him," "_Ash_ you please," "Not _jush_ yet," "We +always _passh_ your house in going to call on _Missh Yatesh_." This is +decided, unmitigated _cockneyism_, having its parallel in nothing except +the broken English of the sons of Abraham, and to adopt it in conversation +is certainly "not speaking like a Christian." + +449. Never say, "Cut it in _half_," for this you cannot do unless you +could _annihilate one_ half. You may "cut it in two," or "cut it in +halves," or "cut it through," or "divide it," but no human ability will +enable you _to cut it in half_. + +451. _To lay and to lie._--_To lay_ is an active or transitive verb, and +must always have an object, expressed or understood. _To lie_ (not meaning +_to tell a falsehood_) is a neuter or intransitive, and therefore does not +admit of an object. The only real difficulty arises from the fact, that +the past tense of "lie," when used without an auxiliary, is the same as +the present of "lay." But a little attention will obviate this. Nothing +can be more erroneous than to say, "I shall go and lay down." The question +which naturally arises in the mind of the discriminating hearer is, +"_What_ are you going to lay down--money, carpets, plans, or what?" for, +as a transitive verb is used, an object is wanted to complete the sense. +The speaker means, that he himself is going to _lie down_. "My brother +_lays_ ill of a fever," should be, "My brother _lies_," &c. + + VERB ACTIVE. VERB NEUTER. + + _To lay._ _To lie._ + + Present Tense. Present Tense. + + I lay } I lie } + Thou layest } money, Thou liest } down, + He lays } carpets, He lies } too long, + We lay } plans, We lie } on a sofa, + You lay } --any _thing_. You lie } --any _where_. + They lay } They lie } + + + Imperfect Tense. Imperfect Tense. + + I laid } I lay } + Thou laidest } money, Thou layest } down, + He laid } carpets, He lays } too long, + We laid } plans, We lay } on a sofa, + You laid } --any _thing_. You lay } --any _where_. + They laid } They lay } + + Present Participle, Laying. Present Participle, Lying. + Perfect Participle, Laid. Perfect Participle, Lain. + +452. Many people have an odd way of saying, "I expect," when they mean +only "I think," or "I conclude;" as, "I expect my brother went to Richmond +to-day," "I expect those books were sent to Paris last year." _Expect_ can +relate only to _future_ time, and must be followed by a future tense, or a +verb in the infinitive mood; as, "I expect my brother _will go_ to +Richmond to-day," "I expect _to find_ those books were sent to Paris last +year." + +453. "A _summer's_ morning," should be, A _summer_ morning. + +454. The vulgar speaker uses adjectives instead of adverbs, and says, +"This letter is written _shocking_;" the genteel speaker uses adverbs +instead of adjectives, and says, "This writing looks _shockingly_." + +455. "_Nobody else_ but him," should be, _Nobody_ but him. + +456. "That _ain't_ just," should be, That _is not_ just. + +457. "He was killed _by_ a cannon-ball," should be, He was killed _with_ a +cannon-ball. He was killed _by_ the cannoneer. + +458. "A _new pair_ of gloves," should be, A _pair of new_ gloves. + +459. "_Before_ I do that, I must _first_ be paid," should be, Before I do +that, I must be paid. + +460. A grammatical play upon the word THAT: + + "Now _that_ is a word which may often be joined, + For _that that_ may be doubled is clear to the mind; + And _that that that_ is right, is as plain to the view, + As _that that that that_ we use is rightly used too; + And _that that that that that_ line has in it, is right-- + In accordance with grammar, is plain in our sight." + +461. "He will go _from thence_ to-morrow." The preposition "from" is +included in these adverbs, therefore it becomes tautology in sense when +prefixed to them. + +462. "Equally as well," is a very common expression, and a very incorrect +one; the adverb of comparison, "as," has no right in the sentence. +"Equally well," "Equally high," "Equally dear," should be the +construction; and if a complement be necessary in the phrase, it should be +preceded by the preposition "with," as, "The wall was equally high with +the former one," "The goods at Smith's are equally dear with those sold at +the shop next door," &c. "Equally the same" is tautology. + +463. Some persons talk of "_continuing on_:" in what other direction would +it be possible to _continue_? + +464. "The satin measured twelve yards before I cut this piece _off of_ +it." "The fruit was gathered _off of_ that tree." Omit _of_; or, omitting +_off of,_ insert _from_. + +465. "He left his horse, and got _on to_ a stage-coach," "He jumped _on +to_ the floor," "She laid it _on to_ a dish," "I threw it _on to_ the +fire." Why use two prepositions where one would be quite as explicit, and +far more elegant? Nobody would think of saying, "He came to New-York, +_for_ to go to the exhibition." + +466. "No other resource _but_ this was allowed him:" say, "No other +resource _than_ this," &c. + +467. "I don't know but _what_ I shall go to White Plains to-morrow:" say, +"I don't know but _that_," &c. + +468. "One of those houses _were_ sold last week," "Each of the daughters +_are_ to have a separate share," "Every tree in those plantations _have_ +been injured by the storm," "Either of the children _are_ at liberty to +claim it." Here it will be perceived that the pronouns "one," "each," +"every," "either," are the true nominatives to the verbs; but the +intervening noun in the plural number, in each sentence, deludes the ear; +and the speaker, without reflection, renders the verb in the plural +instead of the singular number. + +469. "Many still die annually _from_ the plague:" say, _of_ the plague. + +470. "He spoke _contemptibly_ of him," should be, He spoke +_contemptuously_ of him. + +471. "_Was_ you?" should be, _Were_ you? + +472. "This is the more _perfect_ of the two:" say, More _complete_. +_Perfect_ rarely admits comparison. + +473. Avoid all slang and vulgar words and phrases, as, _Anyhow_, _Bating_, +_Bran new_, _To blow up_, _Bother_, _Cut_, _Currying favor_, _Fork out_, +_Half an eye_, _I am up to you_, _Kick up_, _Scrape_, _The Scratch_, _Walk +into_. + +474. "Go _over_ the bridge," should be, Go _across_ the bridge. + +475. "_I was some distance from home_," should be, I was _at_ some +distance from home. + +476. "Is Mr. Smith _in_?" should be, Is Mr. Smith _within_? + +477. "It is _above_ a month since," should be, It is _more_ than a month +since. + +478. "Vegetables were _plenty_," should be, Vegetables were _plentiful_. + +479. "We both were _very disappointed_." This is an incomplete expression: +say, _very much_, or _very greatly_. No one would think of saying, "We +both were _very pleased_." + +480. "It is I who _is_ to receive the appointment:" say, who _am_ to +receive; _who_ is in the first person, and the verb of which it is the +subject must be in the same. + +481. Never say _biscake_, for _biscuit_. + +482. "Passengers are _not requested_ to let down the chains, before the +boat is fastened to the bridge." [From a printed regulation on one of the +New-York and Brooklyn ferry-boats.] The reading should be, "Passengers +_are requested not to let down_ the chains." + +483. "How will you _swap_ jack-knives?" _swap,_ although it is a word +familiarly used in connection with "jack-knives," is a term that cannot +lay the least claim to elegance. Use some other of the many mercantile +expressions to which trade has given rise. + +484. "He's put his nose to the _grin-stone_ at an early age." [A remark +usually made by old ladies, suggested by the first marriage among their +grandsons.] Say, _grind-stone_. A _grin-stone_ implies a stone that +"grins," whereas, especially in this instance, the "nose" fulfills that +office. + +485. The importance of punctuating a written sentence is often neglected. +Space does not permit the giving of rules on this subject, in this book. +Business correspondence is generally blemished by many omissions of this +character; for example, "Messrs G Longman & Co have recd a note from the +Cor Sec Nat Shipwreck Soc informing them of the loss of one of their +vessels off the N E Coast of S A at 8 P M on the 20 of Jan." A clergyman, +standing in his pulpit, was once handed a slip of paper, to be read in the +hearing of the congregation, which was intended to convey the following +notice: "A man going to sea, his wife desires the prayers of the church." +But the sentence was improperly punctuated, and he read, "A man going to +see his wife, desires the prayers of the church!" + +486. "The knave thereupon commenced rifling his _friend's_ (as he called +him) _pocket_:" say, "The knave commenced rifling the _pocket of his +friend_, as he facetiously called him." The possessive case, and the word +that governs it, must not be separated by an intervening clause. + +487. "I owe _thee_ a heavy debt of gratitude, and _you_ will not permit me +to repay it:" say, either "I owe _you_," &c., preserving "and _you_ will" +in the second clause; or, "I owe _thee_," and altering "and _you_ will" +into "and _thou wilt_." + +488. "Every lancer and every rifleman _were at their post_:" say, _was at +his_ post. + +489. "I can lift as many pounds _as he has_:" add _lifted_. + +490. Do not use _to_, the sign of the infinitive mood, for the infinitive +itself. "I have not written to him, and I am not likely _to_," should +read, "I am not likely _to write to him_." + +491. The word _agree_ is sometimes followed by the wrong preposition. We +should say, agree _with_ a person--_to_ a proposition--_upon_ a thing +among ourselves. + +492. We should say _compare with_, in respect of quality--_compare to_, +for the sake of illustration. + +493. We should say copy _after_ a person--_copy from_ a thing. + +494. _Between_ is properly applied only to two objects; _among_, to three +or more. "A father divided a portion of his property _between_ his two +sons; the rest he distributed _among_ the poor." + +495. _In_ should not be used for _into_, after verbs denoting entrance. +"Come _in_ my parlor," should read, "Come _into_ my parlor." + +496. "We confide _in_, and have respect _for_, the good." Such a form of +expression is strained and awkward. It is better to say, "We confide _in_ +the good, and have respect for _them_," or, "We _trust_ and _respect_ the +good." + +497. "This veil of flesh parts the visible and the invisible world:" say, +"parts the visible _from_ the invisible." It certainly is not meant that +the veil of flesh _parts_ (or _divides_) each of these worlds. + +498. "Every leaf, every twig, every blade, every drop of water, _teem_ +with life:" say, _teems_. + +499. "Dr. Prideaux used to relate that when he brought the manuscript of +his Connection of the Old and the New Testaments to the publisher, _he +told him_ it was a dry subject, and that the printing could not be safely +ventured upon unless he could enliven the work with a little humor." The +sense alone, and not the _sentence_, indicates to whom _he_ and _him_ +respectively refer; such a form of expression is faulty, because it may +lead to a violation of _perspicuity_, which is one of the most essential +qualities of a good style. + +500. The last direction which this little book will give, on the subject +with which it has been occupied, is one that long ago was given in the +greatest of books--"Let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of +Christ." If obedience to this injunction may not guard him who heeds it +against the commission of such mistakes as are numbered in this catalogue, +it will not fail to lead him out of the way of errors more grievous and +solemn. + + + + +THE SPELLER AND DEFINER'S MANUAL. + +BY WILLIAM W. SMITH, Principal of Grammar School No. 1, New-York; Author +of The Speller's Manual. + + +This work contains about fourteen thousand of the most useful words in the +English language, correctly spelled, pronounced, defined, and arranged in +classes, together with rules for spelling, prefixes and suffixes, with +their significations, rules for use of capitals, punctuation and other +marks used in writing and printing, quotations from other languages used +in English composition, abbreviations, &c., to which is added a ++Vocabulary+ for reference. Words which resemble each other in +pronunciation, but have different meanings, are arranged together, and +occupy about one eighth of the entire work, containing nearly three +hundred pages. The sentences for examples for pupils (each embracing two +or more of these words) will be found very instructive and interesting. +While +The Speller and Definer's Manual+ supplies all that can be desired +in an ordinary dictionary or speller, it furnishes much important +information that cannot be found in these, and presents a study, usually +dry and uninteresting, in a natural and attractive manner. It is adapted +to the capacities of children, and will essentially aid the teacher in the +work of instruction by suggesting _questions_ and _ideas_ that are very +often overlooked amid the anxieties of the school-room. + +It will be found to be one of the most useful works for schools or ++SELF-INSTRUCTION+ ever issued as a text-book, and its examination will +abundantly repay any friend of education. + +The Manual has been adopted by the Board of Education for use in the +Public Schools of New-York City. + +We invite attention to the following extracts of notices of this work from +city papers: + + +NOTICES OF THE PRESS. + +"The volume is not only valuable as a text-book for schools, but will be ++USEFUL TO ADULTS+ whose knowledge of the mechanics of literature has +grown rusty."--_Commercial Advertiser._ + +"We like the plan and execution of this new work, and recommend it to the +attention of teachers."--_Life Illustrated._ + +"The author of this excellent little manual is the principal of one of our +grammar schools, and is well known as a teacher. If his manual have any +fault, it is that of _brevity_, for the principle upon which it is +constructed, strikes us as perfect."--_New-York Courier._ + +Retail price 62-1/2 cents. Single copies, for examination, sent to any +part of the country post-paid on receipt of Fifty Cents. Address + ++DANIEL BURGESS & CO., Publishers+, + +NO. 60 JOHN STREET, NEW-YORK. + + + + +THE GRADUAL SERIES OF READERS. BY D. B. TOWER, A. M., (Principal of Park +Latin School, Boston,) AND CORNELIUS WALKER, A. M. (Principal of Wells +Grammar School, Boston.) + + +The _first essential_ of good reading is a _distinct articulation_. This +can only result from practice of the elementary sounds and their +combinations. All of these simple elements and their combinations are +given, with ample directions, arranged in the simplest and most compact +form, in the first books of Tower's series. + +The _next points_ are _Emphasis_ and the _Tones_. + +These are set forth and illustrated in the last three Readers. The +elements of expression requisite for the utterance of every sentiment are +clearly described and explained by appropriate examples. By these +examples, it is clearly shown how a passage is to be read, and thence is +deduced a rule or principle that all similar passages are to be read in a +similar manner. + +The character of the selections is such as to claim the attention of all +who are in search of good reading matter. They are exciting, instructive, +and interesting, and admirably adapted to the capacity of the pupils. + +The higher books of the series contain selections from authors who are +considered standards in their respective departments. The dignity and +objects of literature are distinctly brought to view, whether in the form +of prose to persuade and instruct--in that of poetry, to please the +fancy--or in that of the drama, to move the passions. + +The character of the selections in these two books is such as to claim the +attention of all who are in search of _reading matter_ that will _wear_. + +The superiority of these books is acknowledged, wherever they have been +brought to a practical test. The more intelligent any school committee, or +teachers are, the more readily are these Readers appreciated, and the more +eagerly are they sought for use in the school-room. So decided is the +preference for them, among the educated, over every other series, that +they are gradually but surely superseding them all, and going into general +use in all the best schools in our country. + + Price. + + TOWER'S FIRST READER, or Gradual Primer, 14 cts. + Do. SECOND READER, or Introduction to Gradual Reader, 25 " + Do. THIRD READER, or Gradual Reader, 34 " + Do. FOURTH READER, or Sequel to Gradual Reader, 50 " + Do. FIFTH READER, or North American Second Class Reader, 62-1/2 " + Do. SIXTH READER, or North American First Class Reader, 84 " + Do. GRADUAL SPELLER, or Complete Enunciator, 17 " + Do. INTERMEDIATE READER, 25 " + + +Copies of the above sent by mail, postage paid, on receipt of the prices +annexed. Address + +DANIEL BURGESS & Co., + +PUBLISHERS, NEW-YORK. + + + + +ENGLISH GRAMMARS. BY DAVID B. TOWER, A. M., AND PROF. BENJAMIN F. TWEED, +A. M. + + + + +Tower's ELEMENTS OF GRAMMAR. PRICE 25 CENTS. + +FIRST LESSONS IN LANGUAGE: OR, ELEMENTS OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR. BY DAVID B. +TOWER, A. M., AND PROF. BENJAMIN F. TWEED, A. M. + + +This little book was prepared for beginners, that they might feel their +way understandingly, and become interested in this sometimes dry study. +This subject is presented in a natural way, avoiding all unnecessary +innovations. The plan is simple and plain, introducing only one thing at a +time, that the pupil may see a reason for each step, and thus be led to +think. It is concise, that the whole subject may be placed before the +learner in the simplest manner and encumbered by as few words for the +memory as possible, that the interest may be kept up till he is master of +the study. By easy questions, principles are deduced from familiar +examples already explained for the sake of such inferences, that a clear +understanding of these principles and their application may be acquired, +rather than the words used to explain and describe them. + + + + +Towers ENGLISH GRAMMAR. PRICE FIFTY-SIX CENTS. + + + + + +GRADUAL LESSONS IN GRAMMAR; + +OR, GUIDE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE BY THE ANALYSIS AND +COMPOSITION OF SENTENCES; WITH A SEQUEL. BY DAVID B. TOWER, A. M., AND +PROF. BENJAMIN F. TWEED, A. M. + +The first object in the Gradual Lessons in Grammar, is to render the pupil +familiar with the different CLASSES of words, in the various _relations_ +in which they may be used, by directing attention to the manner in which +they affect the _meaning_ of the sentence. Thus it is stated, that "words +used as names are nouns." Then follow examples of the different kinds of +nouns, and the pupil is required to tell _why_ they are nouns, and to +write others, till he recognizes the noun wherever it is found. + +The same course is then taken with reference to the verb, after which +_sentences_ are introduced in their simplest form, containing only the +essential elements, and the pupil is required to analyze them and +_construct_ similar sentences. + +Then follows the adjective, and attention is called to its effect on the +meaning of the sentence. The _statement_ at the head of each section is +not to be committed to memory, but is made to assist the pupil in +appreciating the _grammatical forms of the sentences_ which follow. In +this manner, by the introduction of a new class of words, or the use of +the same class in a different relation, the sentence is _gradually built +up_; till, from the most simple, we have the most complex an involved +forms. The _technical terms_, denoting the various relations and +modifications, are then given, with marginal references to the +illustrations. The _definitions_ and _rules_ in the Sequel are deduced +from illustrations in the First Part. + +The First Part of this Grammar has one _peculiar_ advantage. It combines +CONSTRUCTION with Analysis. On every principle developed, _written_ +exercises are required of the pupils, not only to insure an understanding +of that particular principle and to perpetuate a knowledge of it, but also +to furnish gradual and continued practice in the _construction_ of +sentences. This method of instruction makes _correct writers_, as it +regards the using of words _understandingly_ and _grammatically_ in +sentences, and prepares the pupil for the task of _composition_, by +enabling him to express his thoughts _correctly_ if _he has_ any. + +Persons who wish to acquire a knowledge of English Grammar +WITHOUT A +MASTER+, will find these works of great service. Sent singly or +together, by mail, post-paid, on receipt of price. + +DANIEL BURGESS & CO. + ++Publishers, No. 60 John St., New-York.+ + + + + +MAYHEW'S BOOK-KEEPING. + + +A PRACTICAL SYSTEM OF BOOK-KEEPING BY SINGLE AND DOUBLE ENTRY. BY IRA +MAYHEW, A. M. FOR FARMERS, MECHANICS, AND MERCHANTS. + +This is a very neat-looking volume, whose title, "Practical Book-keeping," +is indicative of its leading characteristics. The specimens of accounts +presented in it are in script that closely resembles writing, and they +hence afford excellent models for imitation. The book contains four forms +of accounts, immediately following each of which is a large number of +examples for practice. In their solution, the pupil has occasion +practically to apply the knowledge he has already acquired of both +arithmetic and penmanship, while at the same time he learns Book-keeping +as he will have occasion to practice it in after life. For this purpose a +set of account books, in which the examples for practice are to be written +out by the learner, and a Key for teachers containing the solution, +accompany the book. + +Agesilaus, king of Sparta, being asked what things he thought most proper +for boys to learn, very appropriately replied, "Those things which they +should _practice_ when they become men." Ever since it was said to Adam, +"In the sweat of thy face shall thou eat bread," there has been a +necessity laid upon man not only to _labor,_ but to _exchange_ with others +the products of his industry, in order to secure a comfortable support. +Excepting merchants, mechanics, and professional men, very few, +comparatively, keep any accounts. The principal reason for this is found +in the fact, that when young they were not taught how to do so, and the +necessity of its being done. Considerations are presented, in the +Introduction to this work, to show some of the many advantages that would +result to individuals and to the community from making Book-keeping a +common study, and the design of the present work is to furnish a practical +system of popular Book-keeping, which may meet the wants of the great +majority of the American people. + +Sent by mail, post-paid, to any part of the country, on receipt of 37-1/2 +cts. Blanks, 50 cts. + ++Daniel Burgess & Co.,+ + +_Publishers, 60 John St., New-York._ + + + + +GEOGRAPHY FOR THE MILLION. + +Smith's Modern and Ancient Geography, + +ACCOMPANIED BY A LARGE AND VALUABLE + +ATLAS, + +Containing 35 Beautiful Colored Maps, drawn and engraved expressly for +this work. The Maps have all been corrected and brought up to the times; +Railroads have all been laid down as far as completed. This Atlas also +contains a large number of new and interesting Statistical Tables from the +Census of 1850. The Tables contain the POPULATION OF EACH COUNTY in the +United States. Also, the AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIONS of each of the States, +with 30 other Tables from the Census. A + +CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE + +of the principal Political and other Events in American History, from 1492 +to 1853, has been added, in which everything of any importance has been +noticed, with the date at which it happened. There has also been added a +large and beautiful Map of the ROMAN EMPIRE, which will be of use in the +study of Ancient Geography and History, most of the towns mentioned being +laid down on this Map. + +The descriptions of the States and Territories are full and complete, +having been brought up to the times in every respect. This work is +rendered still more valuable by a complete + +COMPENDIUM OF ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY, + +which will be found as interesting and instructive as the more extended +treatises of this subject. A series of DRILL QUESTIONS for General +Revision is appended to this work, which will be found of great +convenience to the Teacher and aid to the Scholar in bringing definitely +to his mind, in a condensed form, the main features of the subject he has +gone over. This Book is receiving universal favor where it is known by +Teachers, Committees, and others. It has been introduced into the Best +Schools of our country, and they cannot be without it. + +Full and complete descriptions of our new Territories of + +NEBRASKA AND KANSAS, + +with their Boundaries accurately laid down on the Map. This Map will be of +great use to those who intend emigrating to these Territories. This work +contains more information than will be found in any other book for the +price. Price, for both Geography and Atlas, $1.13, sent by mail, +post-paid. The Atlas can be had separately by those who want it, at 75 +cts., postage paid. + + +SMITH'S PRIMARY GEOGRAPHY, + +A beautiful Book for young Students. Price, 37-1/2 cents. + + +SMITH'S QUARTO GEOGRAPHY, + +combining Maps and Text in one volume; well adapted to private study. +Price, 75 cents. Sent by mail, post-paid. + ++DANIEL BURGESS & Co.+, + +PUBLISHERS, NO. 60 JOHN ST., N. Y. + + + + +WESTWARD, HO! + +A NEW TOWNSHIP MAP OF THE STATE OF IOWA, + +Showing the Streams, Roads, Towns, Post-offices, County Seats, Railroads, +&c., compiled from the latest U. S. Surveys, official information, and +personal reconnoissance, just published. Pocket edition. Very large and +beautifully colored. + +Travellers, Emigrants, and all others interested, will find this the best +and only complete and reliable Map of this State published. Sent by mail, +post-paid, on receipt of One Dollar. + + +ALSO, + +A NEW SECTIONAL MAP OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, + +Comprising all the most recent Surveys, Towns, Post-offices, Railroads, +County Seats, &c., &c. Sent by mail, post-paid, for 60 cents. + +These are very elegant Maps, and should be in the possession of every +person who intends emigrating to the Western Country. + +Dealers in Western Lands will find these Maps invaluable. + +Address, + +DANIEL BURGESS & CO., _Publishers_, + +No. 60 John Street, New-York. + + + + + ELOCUTION MADE EASY. + CONTAINING + RULES AND SELECTIONS + FOR + DECLAMATION AND READING, + WITH + FIGURES ILLUSTRATIVE OF GESTURE, ETC. + +BY RUFUS CLAGGETT, A. M. + +This book is given to the public with a view to encourage the study and +practice of a branch of education which gives a tenfold vigor to all other +intellectual acquirements. Thousands of men, otherwise well educated, are +often heard to lament their neglect of Elocution in their school-boy days, +and their consequent inability to utter in public those thoughts which +they would gladly disseminate, and thereby confer a benefit on society. + +The Selections in this work are principally from standard American +authors, and contain everything which can ennoble the mind and fill it +with exalted ideas of patriotism and virtue. At the same time, the price +of the book is so low that it can be placed in the hands of every pupil, +where, indeed, we are confident it will shortly find its way. + + +NOTICES. + +_From the Brooklyn Evening Star._ + +Mr. Claggett, the author of this work on Elocution, has well performed his +task, giving evidence on every page of his familiarity with the subject. +He has prepared several rules easily understood and applied, and appended +forty-eight figures illustrative of gestures. The selections, both in +prose and poetry, are carefully made with reference to the object of the +work. We should like to see the work in daily use in our schools. + +_From the New-York Express._ + +The whole theory and practice of the art of Elocution is so dissected and +simplified, that the pupil cannot fail to get a thorough understanding of +the subject. + +Sent by mail, post-paid, on receipt of 30 cents. + +DANIEL BURGESS & CO., PUBLISHERS, + +No. 60 John Street, New-York. + + + + ++A BOOK FOR EVERY CARPENTER+. + +THE AMERICAN House-Carpenters' and Joiners' Assistant. + +BY LUCIUS D. 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The winter evenings spent in pursuing +such studies, would fit many a man, now skilful as a workman, to take a +higher stand among his associates, and a more useful one in the community. +The whole book, which has been a very expensive one to get up, does great +credit to the publishers, and when known generally, cannot but receive a +cordial welcome from that valuable class of men to whom we are indebted +for the shelter afforded by 'the house we live in.'" + +A new edition just out. Send and get a copy. + ++DANIEL BURGESS & Co+., + +Publishers, No. 60 John-st., New-York. + + + + +Photographs and Ambrotypes. + +THE NEW SUN PICTURES. + +This new style of Pictures which are soon destined to supercede the +far-famed + +DAGUERREOTYPES + +Are taken in all their wonderful perfection by + +N. G. BURGESS, + ++At his Rooms, No. 293 BROADWAY, New-York.+ + +All persons who may wish to see their PORTRAITS TRUE TO LIFE, will do well +to call at his Gallery, and procure one of these new glass pictures known +as + +AMBROTYPES. + +The perfection to which this Art is brought, has induced the Subscriber to +bestow more than usual pains on this branch of Photography, and he is now +without a rival in the profession. + +These AMBROTYPES are sealed with a durable cement, which renders them +perfectly impervious to air, and even water itself. They are therefore + +IMPERISHABLE. + +This fact alone will recommend them before all other pictures taken by the +Sun's rays, added to which is their wonderful truthfulness, being taken +without reversal as in the ordinary Daguerreotype, and capable of being +viewed in any angle of light. + +PHOTOGRAPHS + +Taken in Colors--of various sizes up to the SIZE OF LIFE. + +Pupils taught the Art of Ambrotyping and Photography with the greatest +care, and warranted success. + +All the various CHEMICALS used in the Art for Sale. + +BURGESS' AMBROTYPE COLLODION, + +A new and Superior article--with full directions for use. + +CHLORIDE OF GOLD, + +For Daguerreotype purposes, and Photographs. The former has been made by +the Subscriber for the past twelve years, and has gained a World Wide +reputation. Please address + +N. G. BURGESS, + ++Photographic Rooms, No. 293 BROADWAY, New-York+. + +French, German, Spanish, and Italian languages spoken at the rooms. + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Passages in italics are indicated by _underscore_. + +Passages in bold are indicated by +bold+. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Five Hundred Mistakes of Daily +Occurrence in Speaking, Pronouncing, and Writing the English Language, Corrected, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 500 MISTAKES OF DAILY OCCURRENCE *** + +***** This file should be named 31766-8.txt or 31766-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/7/6/31766/ + +Produced by Meredith Bach, Stephanie Eason, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Five Hundred Mistakes of Daily Occurrence in Speaking, Pronouncing, and Writing the English Language, Corrected + +Author: Anonymous + +Release Date: March 25, 2010 [EBook #31766] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 500 MISTAKES OF DAILY OCCURRENCE *** + + + + +Produced by Meredith Bach, Stephanie Eason, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. (This +book was produced from scanned images of public domain +material from the Google Print project.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<h3>“NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN!”</h3> + +<h2>FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES</h2> +<h4>OF DAILY OCCURRENCE</h4> +<h3>IN SPEAKING, PRONOUNCING, AND WRITING</h3> +<h3>THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE,</h3> +<h2>CORRECTED.</h2> +<p> </p><p> </p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/squiggle.png" alt="" /></div> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" summary="title"> +<tr><td>“Which—if you but open—<br /> +You will be unwilling,<br /> +For many a shilling,<br /> +To part with the profit<br /> +Which you shall have of it.”<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">[<i>The Key to Unknown Knowledge.</i>—<span class="smcap">London, 1569.</span></span></td></tr></table> + +<div class="verts"><p>“It is highly important, that whatever we learn or know, we should +know <span class="smcap">correctly</span>; for unless our knowledge be correct, we lose half its +value and usefulness.”—<i>Conversations on Botany.</i></p></div> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/squiggle.png" alt="" /></div> +<p> </p><p> </p> +<h3>NEW-YORK:<br /> +DANIEL BURGESS & CO., 60 JOHN STREET.<br /> +1856.</h3> + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<p class="center">Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1855, by<br /> +<span class="gesp">WALTON BURGESS</span>,<br /> +in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern<br /> +District of New York.<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</a></span></p> +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> + +<p>This book is offered to the public, not to be classed with elaborate or +learned works, nor expected, like some of its more pretending companions +among the offspring of the press, to run the gauntlet of literary +criticism. It was prepared to meet the wants of persons—numbered by +<i>multitudes</i> in even the most intelligent and refined communities—who +from deficiency of education, or from carelessness of manner, are in the +habit of misusing many of the most common words of the English language, +distorting its grammatical forms, destroying its beauty, and corrupting +its purity. The most thorough mode that could be adopted to correct such +errors, would doubtless be to impart to the ignorant a practical knowledge +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</a></span>of the principles of language, as embodied in treatises on grammar; but +such a good work, however desirable its results, has, in time past, been +too difficult for the promoters of education to complete, and is still too +great to give promise of speedy accomplishment. A better expedient, +bearing immediate fruits, has been adopted in the present volume, which, +while it does not aim to produce a radical reform, cannot fail to render +great service to those who need to improve their usual modes of +expression, and to be more discriminating in their choice of words.</p> + +<p>The more frequent and less excusable mistakes that may be noticed in +ordinary conversation or correspondence, are here taken up, one by +one—exposed, explained, and corrected. They consist variously of abuses +of grammar, misapplications of words and phrases, improprieties of +metaphor and comparison, misstatements of meaning, and faults of +pronunciation. They are grouped miscellaneously, <i>without classification</i>, +not so much because of the difficulty of devising an arrangement that +would be systematic and intelligible, as from the evident fact that a +division of subjects would render no assistance to those for whom the book +is specially designed; for an appropriate classification would necessarily +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span>derive its features from the forms of grammar, and with these the readers +of this book are supposed to be to a great extent unfamiliar.</p> + +<p>The volume is put forth with no flourish of trumpets, and makes no +extravagant pretensions; yet the publishers believe it will be regarded as +a timely and useful work. If the race of <i>critics</i> should not like it—and +while books have their “faults,” critics have their “failings”—they are +reminded that he who corrects an old error, may render no less service to +his brethren, than he who discovers a new truth. If the work shall be the +means of saving one sensitive man from a confusion of blushes, in the +presence of a company before which he desired to preserve his equanimity, +it will not have gone forth without a mission of benefit, which will merit +at least one acknowledgment.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> +<h2>INTRODUCTION.</h2> + + +<p>The aim of this book, by correcting a multitude of common errors in the +use of language, is mainly to offer assistance to such persons as need +greater facilities for accurate expression <i>in ordinary conversation</i>. It +is not designed to suggest topics of talk, nor to give rules or examples +pointing out the proper modes of arranging them; but simply to insure +persons who often have a good thing to say, from the confusion and +mortification of improperly saying it. This chapter of introduction will +not, therefore, be expected to present an essay on the general subject of +conversation.</p> + +<p>It may be remarked, however, by way of admonitory hint to some, that the +most prominent error in the conversation of those who commit the most +blunders, does not consist in saying too little that amounts to much, but +too much that amounts to little; talkativeness is a characteristic more +commonly of the ignorant, than of the wise. Shenstone says, “The common +fluency of speech in many men, and most women, is owing to a scarcity of +matter and a scarcity of words; for whoever is master of a language, and +moreover<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> has a mind full of ideas, will be apt, in speaking, to hesitate +upon the choice of both; but common speakers have only one set of ideas +and one set of words to clothe them in,—and these are always ready at the +mouth. Just so, <i>people can come faster out of a church when it is almost +empty, than when a crowd is at the door</i>!” But although, according to the +old proverb, “a still tongue denotes a wise head,” the faculty of speech +should not be neglected, merely because it may be misused.</p> + +<p>Conversation is not a gift bestowed only upon those whom genius favors; on +the contrary, many men eminent for their fluency of style in writing, have +been noted for habitual taciturnity in their intercourse with society. +Hazlitt remarked, that “authors should be read, not heard!” Charles II. of +England, not only the wittiest of monarchs, but one of the liveliest of +men, is said to have been so charmed in reading the humor of Butler’s +“Hudibras,” that he disguised himself as a private gentleman, and was +introduced to the author, whom, to his astonishment, he found to be one of +the <i>dullest</i> of companions. On the other hand, some of the humblest men +with whom one falls into company, possessed of but little variety, and +less extent of information, are highly entertaining talkers. The +particular topic of remark does not form so essential a part of an +interesting conversation, as the words and manner of those who engage in +it. Robert Burns, sitting down on one occasion to write a poem, said:</p> + +<p class="poem"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +“Which way the subject theme may gang,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Let time or chance determine;</span><br /> +Perhaps it may turn out a sang,—<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or probably a sermon.”</span></p> + +<p>In the same manner, the subject of a conversation need not be made a +matter of study, or special preparation. Men may talk of things momentous +or trivial, and in either strain be alike attractive and agreeable.</p> + +<p>But quitting the consideration of the thought, to refer to the mode of its +expression, it must be remarked and insisted, that to “murder the king’s +English” is hardly less a crime, than to design against one of the king’s +subjects. If committed from ignorance, the fault is at least deplorable; +but if from carelessness, it is inexcusable. The greatest of sciences is +that of language; the greatest of human arts is that of using words. No +“cunning hand” of the artificer can contrive a work of mechanism that is +to be compared, for a moment, with those wonderful masterpieces of +ingenuity, which may be wrought by him who can skilfully mould a beautiful +thought into a form that shall preserve, yet radiate its beauty. A mosaic +of words may be made more fair, than of inlaid precious stones. The +scholar who comes forth from his study, a master of the English language, +is a workman who has at his command hardly less than a hundred thousand +finely-tempered instruments, with which he may fashion the most cunning +device. This is a trade which all should learn, for it is one that every +individual is called to practise. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> greatest support of virtue in a +community is intelligence; intelligence is the outgrowth of knowledge; and +the almoner of all knowledge is language. The possession, therefore, of +the resources, and a command over the appliances of language, is of the +utmost importance to every individual. Words are current coins of the +realm, and they who do not have them in their treasury, suffer a more +pitiable poverty than others who have not a penny of baser specie in their +pocket; and the multitude of those who have an unfailing supply, but which +is of the wrong stamp, are possessed only of counterfeit cash, that will +not pass in circles of respectability. The present work therefore is, in +some respects, not unlike the “Detector” issued for the merchants, to +indicate the great amount of worthless money that is in general +circulation with the good.</p> + +<p>It is not to be supposed that all the mistakes of daily occurrence in the +use of language, are to be numbered by “five hundred”—possibly not by +five thousand; but it is evident that he who is instructed against five +hundred of his habitual blunders, and enabled to steer clear of every one +of them, has in no slight degree improved his conversation, and thereby +increased his importance. As a prefix, or accompaniment, to this catalogue +of corrected mistakes, the presentation of a few rules or principles of +language, which, strictly observed, might guard against numerous general +classes of errors, would not be thought misplaced, or undesirable. Some +suggestions on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> points most prominent are accordingly given among these +introductory remarks—not in formal statements of grammatical rules, but +in examples in which the spirit of such rules is revealed.</p> + +<p>Not the least glaring among the many misuses of words and forms of +expression in conversation, occur by incorrectly employing the +pronouns—<i>who</i>, <i>which</i>, <i>what</i>, and <i>that</i>. It may be remarked, that +<i>who</i> should be applied exclusively to persons. <i>Which</i> usually refers to +animals and inanimate objects, except in such an expression as, “Tell me +<i>which</i> of the two men was chosen?” <i>What</i>, means <i>that which</i>: thus, +“This is the book <i>what</i> I wanted,” should read, “This is the book <i>that</i> +(or <i>which</i>) I wanted.”</p> + +<p>Among interrogatives, <i>who?</i> inquires for the name; <i>which?</i> for the +individual; <i>what?</i> for the character, or occupation. Thus, “<i>Who</i> built +the bridge?” “Mr. Blake.” “<i>Which</i> of the Blakes?” “<i>Charles</i> Blake.” +“<i>What</i> was he?” “A distinguished civil engineer.”</p> + +<p>The title of a small book for young people, recently published, was—“The +Way <i>that</i> Little Children enter Heaven:” the word <i>that</i> is here +incorrectly used as a substitute for <i>in which</i>, or <i>by which</i>.</p> + +<p>When <i>this</i> and <i>that</i>, and their plurals, are used in the sense of +<i>latter</i> and <i>former</i>, <i>this</i> and <i>these</i> signify the <i>latter</i>, and <i>that</i> +and <i>those</i> the <i>former</i>. Thus, in the following couplet from Burns:</p> + +<p class="poem"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +“Farewell my friends, farewell my foes,<br /> +My peace with <i>these</i>, my love with <i>those</i>.”</p> + +<p><i>these</i> refers to “foes,” and <i>those</i> to “friends.”</p> + +<p>In the possessive case of nouns, some instances occur in which a wise +choice may be made, but in respect to which usage is divided. Thus, we may +say, “They called at <i>Walton’s the bookseller’s</i>,” or, with equal +propriety, as far as custom is concerned, “at <i>Walton the bookseller’s</i>.” +The first form, however, is preferable.</p> + +<p>The use of the hyphen [-] is frequently disregarded in epistolary +correspondence, occasioning not only a blemish but a blunder. Its +importance may be seen by comparing the meaning of “<i>glass house</i>” with +“<i>glass-house</i>;” the former may mean the Crystal Palace, while the latter +is a manufactory of glass-ware.</p> + +<p>Adjectives are often improperly used for adverbs: as, “<i>extreme</i> bad +weather,” for “<i>extremely</i> bad weather.”</p> + +<p>It is sometimes difficult to choose between such phrases as “the <i>first +three</i>,” and “the <i>three first</i>.” To say <i>first three</i> when there is no +<i>second three</i> is inelegant, because superfluous; and <i>three first</i> is +absurd, because impossible. The most successful pupil in each of two +classes at school would not improperly be called “the <i>two first boys</i>;” +while propriety would require that the first and second boys of the same +class should be called “the <i>first two boys</i>.” As a general rule, and easy +to be recollected, let <i>“first” be first</i>.</p> + +<p>The use of <i>some</i> for <i>about</i> is by many writers thought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> to be awkward: +as, “<i>Some</i> fifty years ago,” instead of “<i>About</i> Fifty years.”</p> + +<p>An ambiguity occasionally arises in employing the adjective <i>no</i>. Thus, +“No money is better than gold,” may mean either that gold is the best kind +of money, or that gold is not so good as <i>no money at all</i>!</p> + +<p>After numerals, the words <i>couple</i>, <i>pair</i>, <i>dozen</i>, <i>score</i>, <i>hundred</i>, +<i>thousand</i>, and a few others, need not take the plural form: thus, custom +first, and finally grammar, have sanctioned such uses as, “three <i>pair</i> of +shoes,” “nine <i>dozen</i> bushels,” “four <i>couple</i> of students;” also, “<i>forty +sail</i> of vessels,” “seventy <i>head</i> of cattle.”</p> + +<p>The article (<i>a</i> or <i>an</i>) renders an important service in such expressions +as, “<i>A few</i> followed their leader throughout the long struggle.” To say, +“<i>Few</i> followed him,” would imply, unlike the former phrase, that he was +almost deserted.</p> + +<p>“A black and a white horse,” suggests the idea of two horses; while “a +black and white horse,” refers to but one—as if written “a +<i>black-and-white</i> horse.”</p> + +<p>“The red and white dahlias were most admired,” properly means the dahlias +in which both these colors were blended. “The red and <i>the</i> white +dahlias,” implies two species.</p> + +<p>The grammatical number of a verb should agree with that of its subject, +and not of its predicate. Thus, the sentences, “Death <i>is</i> the wages of +sin,” and “The wages of sin <i>are</i> death,” are properly written.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span>In changing from a past tense to the present, when the same nominative +remains, the form of the verb should continue unaltered. Thus, instead of +saying “He <i>was traveling</i> and <i>travels</i>,” say “He <i>was traveling</i> and <i>is +traveling</i>.”</p> + +<p>When a verb has both a singular and a plural nominative, separated by +<i>or</i>, its number agrees with that of the <i>nearer</i>: as, “the cup or his +<i>billiards were</i> his ruin;” or, “his billiards or the <i>cup was</i> his ruin.”</p> + +<p>Custom—which, when <i>crystallized</i>, becomes grammar—allows expressions +like “The linen <i>tears</i>,” and “The meadow <i>plows</i> well,” although they +should not be frequently employed, and should be more seldom coined.</p> + +<p>A fruitful source of mistakes in language, is in the linking together of +two or more inappropriate tenses, or in the misuse of one. Many among the +learned and refined commit blunders of these kinds. A few corrected +examples of such are here given:</p> + +<p>“His text was, that God <i>was</i> love;” the sentence should be written, “His +text was, that God <i>is</i> love.”</p> + +<p>“The Lord <i>hath given</i>, and the Lord hath taken away;” say, “The Lord +<i>gave</i>, and the Lord hath taken away.”</p> + +<p>“They <i>arrived</i> before we left the city:” say, “they <i>had arrived</i>.”</p> + +<p>“All the brothers <i>have been</i> greatly indebted to their father:” say, +“<i>are indebted</i>.”</p> + +<p>“This painting <i>was preserved and exhibited</i> for the last century:” say, +“<i>has been</i> preserved and exhibited.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>“It was the last act he intended <i>to have performed</i>.” say, “<i>to +perform</i>.”</p> + +<p>“He <i>drinks</i> wine at dinner,” means that such is his habit; “he <i>is +drinking</i> wine at dinner,” refers to one particular time and occasion.</p> + +<p>Adverbs are often inelegantly used instead of adjectives; as, “the <i>then</i> +ministry,” for “the ministry of that time.”</p> + +<p>Of the phrases “<i>never</i> so good,” or, “<i>ever</i> so good,” as to whether one +is preferable to the other, authority is divided. Modern usage inclines to +the latter, while ancient preferred the former, as in the Scriptural +expression, “charm he <i>never</i> so wisely.”</p> + +<p><i>Yea</i> and <i>nay</i> are not equivalent to <i>yes</i> and <i>no</i>; the latter are +directly affirmative and negative, while the former are variously +employed.</p> + +<p>Of prepositions, it has been frequently said, that no words in the +language are so liable to be incorrectly used. For example, “The love <i>of</i> +God,” may mean either “His love to us,” or, “our love to Him.”</p> + +<p>Many more of these particles are inelegantly, if not ambiguously used. +Instead of “the natives were a different race <i>to</i> what they are now,” +say, “different <i>from</i>.”</p> + +<p>“He was made much <i>on</i> in the country:” say, “made much <i>of</i>.”</p> + +<p>“In compliance <i>of</i> your request:” say, “in compliance <i>with</i>.”</p> + +<p>“He doubts <i>if</i> his friend will come,” is not so elegant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> and accurate as, +“He doubts <i>whether</i> his friend will come.”</p> + +<p>More instances might be given, setting forth other frequent errors of +speaking and writing, at the risk, however, of destroying the due +proportion which should exist between the size of a work and the <i>length +of the Introduction</i>. But a good heed to what has been said in the few +preceding paragraphs, will enable a person who carefully reads this work +to mend his modes of expression, to no inconsiderable degree. It is well +known that there is no “royal road to learning,” but if there were, it +could hardly be expected that such a little book as this would afford a +passport to the end of the course. About two hundred years ago, a small +volume was put forth by one “John Peters, learned scholar and author,” +which had the following long-winded title: “A New Way to make Latin +Verses, whereby any one of ordinary capacity, that only <i>knows the A, B, +C</i> and can <i>count nine</i>, though he understands not <i>one word of Latin</i>, or +what a verse means, may be plainly taught to make thousands of Hexameter +and Pentameter Verses, which shall be true Latin, true Verse, and Good +Sense!” The present volume must not be expected to accomplish so great a +result as this—not having so comprehensive an aim, nor possessing so +great a secret of success. But it is hoped that it may incite some who are +unfortunately deficient in education, to seek so much additional knowledge +as shall enable them at least to converse in a dialect which is within the +compass of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> language of their country, and free them from the +imputation of belonging to another tribe of men, speaking another tongue.</p> + +<p>A Welshman, residing near Caermarthon, who was seldom seen at the only +church in the parish of his residence, was one day accosted by the worthy +clergyman with the question, “My friend—to what church do you belong?” He +responded, “To the Church of England.” “Ah,” replied the pastor, “I was +sure that it must be some church <i>out of Wales</i>!” There are not a few +persons who speak the English language about as truly as the Caermarthon +Welshman attended the English Church!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p> +<h2>FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED.</h2> + +<p>1. “The business would suit any one who <i>enjoys bad health</i>.” [From an +advertisement in a daily newspaper of New-York.] Few persons who have bad +health can be said to <i>enjoy it</i>. Use some other form of expression: as, +one <i>in delicate health</i>, or, one <i>whose health is bad</i>.</p> + +<p>2. “We have no <i>corporeal</i> punishment here,” said a schoolmaster. +<i>Corporeal</i> is opposed to <i>spiritual</i>. Say, <i>corporal</i> punishment. +<i>Corporeal</i> means having a body.</p> + +<p>3. “She is a <i>notable</i> woman,” as was said of the wife of the Shepherd of +Salisbury Plain,—meaning <i>careful</i>, and pronounced as though divided +<i>not-able</i>. This word is no longer current, with this pronunciation or +signification, except to a slight extent in England. It has become +obsolete, and its use now is in bad taste.</p> + +<p>4. “Insert the <i>advertisement</i> in the Weekly.” Emphasize <i>vert</i>, and not +<i>ise</i>.</p> + +<p>5. “He <i>rose up</i>, and left the room:” leave out <i>up</i>, as it is absurd to +say <i>rise down</i>. The Irishman who was <i>hoisted down</i> the coal pit, did not +observe this rule.</p> + +<p>6. “<i>Set down</i> and rest yourself:” say <i>sit down</i>; <i>setting</i> is said of +the sun in the west, but cannot be properly applied to a person taking a +seat. “Sit <i>down</i>” is not improper,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> though “rise <i>up</i>” (as in No. 5) +should never be used. <i>Sitting down</i> expresses the act of appropriating a +chair, while <i>sitting up</i> means <i>sitting erect</i>. <i>Sitting up</i> also refers +to watching during the night with the sick.</p> + +<p>7. “You have <i>sown</i> it very neatly,” said a seamstress to her apprentice: +say <i>sewed</i>, and pronounce so as to rhyme with <i>road</i>. The pronunciation +of <i>sew</i>, meaning “to use the needle,” violates its spelling; it is the +same as that of <i>sow</i>, meaning “to scatter seed.”</p> + +<p>8. “This is a secret between <i>you and I</i>:” say, <i>you and me</i>. The +construction requires the objective case in place of <i>I</i>, which is in the +nominative. It is in still better taste to say, “This is a secret <i>with</i> +you and me.”</p> + +<p>9. “Let <i>you and I</i> take a walk:” say, Let <i>you and me</i>, or, <i>Let us</i>. Who +would think of saying, <i>Let I go</i>? The expression “Let <i>I and you</i>” is +frequently heard, which contains the additional impropriety of putting the +first person before the second.</p> + +<p>10. “He is going to <i>learn his brother</i> Alfred how to knit nets:” say, +<i>teach</i>. The act of <i>communicating</i> instruction is expressed by +“teaching,” the act of <i>receiving</i> it by “learning.” The distinction +between these words was made as early as the time of Shakespeare, and +cannot be violated without incurring censure.</p> + +<p>11. “John and Henry both read well, but John is the <i>best</i> reader:” say, +the <i>better</i> reader, as <i>best</i> can be properly used only when <i>three or +more persons</i>, or objects, are compared.</p> + +<p>12. “Thompson was there <i>among the rest</i>.” This mode of expression, which +is very common, literally declares an impossibility. The signification of +“the rest” is, those <i>in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> addition</i> to Thompson, and of which Thompson +formed <i>no part</i>; he could not therefore be <i>among</i> them. A more correct +form would be, “Thompson was there <i>with</i> the rest.”</p> + +<p>13. “The <i>two first</i> cows are the fattest,” said a farmer at an +agricultural fair. He should have said, “the <i>first two</i>;” there can be +only <i>one</i> that is <i>first</i>—the other must necessarily be <i>second</i>.</p> + +<p>14. “It is an error; <i>you are mistaken</i>:” say, you <i>mistake</i>. <i>Mistaken</i> +means <i>misapprehended</i>; “you <i>mistake</i>,” means “you <i>misapprehend</i>.”</p> + +<p>15. “Have you <i>lit</i> the fire, Bridget?” say, <i>lighted</i>; <i>lit</i> is now +obsolete.</p> + +<p>16. “To be is an <i>auxiliary</i> verb:” pronounce <i>auxiliary</i> as though +spelled <i>awg-zil-ya-re</i>, and not in five syllables.</p> + +<p>17. <i>February</i>: this word is often incorrectly spelled by omitting the +<i>r</i>.</p> + +<p>18. The “<i>Miscellany</i>” was an interesting publication: pronounce +<i>miscellany</i> with the accent on <i>mis</i>, and not on <i>cel</i>.</p> + +<p>19. “<i>Celery</i> is a pleasant vegetable:” pronounce <i>celery</i> as it is +written, and not <i>salary</i>.</p> + +<p>20. “Are you at <i>leisure</i>?” pronounce <i>lei</i> in <i>leisure</i> the same as +<i>lee</i>. The word should not rhyme with <i>measure</i>.</p> + +<p>21. “John is my <i>oldest</i> brother:” say, <i>eldest</i>. <i>Elder and eldest</i> are +applied to <i>persons</i>—<i>older and oldest</i> to <i>things</i>. Usage, however, does +not make these distinctions imperative.</p> + +<p>22. “The cloth was <i>wove</i> in a very short time:” say, <i>woven</i>.</p> + +<p>23. “I prefer the <i>yolk</i> of an egg to the white:” the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> more common word is +<i>yelk</i>, with the <i>l</i> sounded; but if <i>yolk</i> be used, it should be +pronounced like <i>yoke</i>.</p> + +<p>24. <i>Sparrowgrass</i>: it is only the grossest ignorance which confounds this +word with <i>asparagus</i>. The same is the case with <i>ing-uns</i> for <i>onions</i>. A +man in an obscure section of New Jersey, inquiring at a country store for +<i>onions</i>, was told that there were none in the place. On his going out, +the storekeeper turned to half a dozen idlers sitting round the stove, and +said, “I wonder if that ’tarnal fool meant <i>ing-uns</i>!”</p> + +<p>25. “You are very <i>mischievous</i>:” pronounce <i>mischievous</i> with the accent +on <i>mis</i>, and not on <i>chie</i>, and do not say <i>mischievious</i> +(<i>mis-cheev-yus</i>).</p> + +<p>26. The following words were posted, as a sign, in a reading-room—“No +Talking Allowed;” which was designed to prohibit all conversation. A wag +altered the inscription so as to read, “No Talking Aloud,” which (he +declared) did not prevent <i>whispering</i>, and chatting in <i>low tones</i>. What +shall be said of the following—“<i>No Smoking Aloud</i>?”</p> + +<p>27. “<i>No extras or vacations</i>:” [from the prospectus of a schoolmistress:] +say, <span class="smcap">nor</span> <i>vacations</i>.</p> + +<p>28. “He was never known to be <i>covetous</i>:” pronounce <i>covetous</i> as if +written <i>covet us</i>, and <i>not covetyus</i>.</p> + +<p>29. <i>The Three R.’s.</i>—An ignorant and vain pedagogue, on being asked what +he could teach, replied, “The three R.’s—<i>’ritin’</i>, <i>’rethmetic</i>, and +<i>readin’</i>.” Any persons among the readers of this little book, who may +chance to be schoolmasters, are warned against giving such a course of +instruction.</p> + +<p>30. “Dearly <i>beloved</i> brethren:” when <i>beloved</i> is placed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> <i>before</i> the +noun, as in this instance, pronounce it in three syllables; when placed +<i>after</i>, in two syllables, as, “She was much <i>be-loved</i> by us all.” When +used as a noun by itself, it is pronounced in three syllables; as, +“<i>Be-lov-ed</i>, let us love one another.”</p> + +<p>31. “Not <i>as I know</i>:” say, <i>that I know</i>.</p> + +<p>32. “He came on purpose <i>for to do</i> it:” omit <i>for</i>.</p> + +<p>33. “He would never believe <i>but what</i> I did it:” say, <i>but that</i> I did it.</p> + +<p>34. “He is quite <i>as good as me</i>:” say, <i>as good as I</i>. Also, instead of +<i>as good as him</i>, say, <i>as good as he</i>. In both these instances <i>am</i> or +<i>is</i> must be mentally supplied at the end of the phrase, to suggest the +meaning; and the pronouns should, therefore, be in the nominative case.</p> + +<p>35. “<i>Many an one</i> has done the same:” say, <i>many a one</i>. <i>A</i>, and <i>not +an</i>, is also used before the <i>long sound of u</i>, that is, when <i>u</i> forms <i>a +distinct syllable of itself</i>: as, <i>a unit</i>, <i>a union</i>, <i>a university</i>: it +is also used before <i>eu</i>: as, a <i>euphony</i>, and likewise before the word +<i>ewe</i>: as, <i>a ewe</i>: we should also say, <i>a youth</i>, not <i>an youth</i>.</p> + +<p>36. “How do you like <i>these kind</i> of pears?” say, <i>these kinds</i>; a noun in +the singular number will not allow its adjective to be in the plural.</p> + +<p>37. “You should have <i>went</i> home:” say, <i>gone</i>.</p> + +<p>38. “John went with <i>James and I</i>:” say, <i>James and me</i>.</p> + +<p>39. “I <i>see him</i> last Monday:” say, <i>saw him</i>.</p> + +<p>40. “He was <i>averse from</i> such a proceeding:” say, <i>averse to</i>.</p> + +<p>41. “Have you <i>shook</i> the table-cloth?” say, <i>shaken</i>.</p> + +<p>42. “I have <i>rang</i> several times:” say, <i>rung</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span>43. “I <i>know’d</i> him at once:” say, <i>knew</i>.</p> + +<p>44. “You have <i>drank</i> too much of it:” say, <i>drunk</i>.</p> + +<p>45. “He has <i>chose</i> a very poor pattern:” say, <i>chosen</i>.</p> + +<p>46. “They have <i>broke</i> a window:” say, <i>broken</i>.</p> + +<p>47. “I have just <i>began</i> my letter:” say, <i>begun</i>.</p> + +<p>48. “Give me <i>them books</i>:” say, <i>those books</i>.</p> + +<p>49. “Whose are <i>these here books</i>?” say, <i>these books</i>. <i>Here</i> is +superfluous and inelegant.</p> + +<p>50. “<i>Who</i> do you mean?” say, <i>whom</i>.</p> + +<p>51. “The men <i>which</i> we saw:” say, <i>whom</i>.</p> + +<p>52. “The flowers <i>what</i> you have:” say, <i>which</i>, or <i>that</i>.</p> + +<p>53. “The boy <i>as is</i> reading:” <i>who</i> is reading.</p> + +<p>54. “It was <i>them</i> who did it:” say, <i>they</i>.</p> + +<p>55. “<i>It is me</i> who am in fault:” say, <i>It is I</i>.</p> + +<p>56. “Was it <i>her</i> who called me?” say, <i>she</i>.</p> + +<p>57. “If I were <i>her</i>, I would accept his offer:” say, If I were <i>she</i>.</p> + +<p>58. “He <i>has got</i> my slate:” omit <i>got</i>; <i>has</i> is sufficient for the +sense. The addition of <i>got</i>, though not ungrammatical, but gradually +becoming obsolete, does not in any degree strengthen the meaning.</p> + +<p>59. “The pond is <i>froze</i>:” say, <i>frozen</i>.</p> + +<p>60. “I know <i>I am him</i> whom he meant:” say, <i>I am he</i>.</p> + +<p>61. “You cannot <i>catch</i> him:” pronounce <i>catch</i> so as to rhyme with +<i>match</i>, and not <i>ketch</i>—as the fishermen are in the habit of saying.</p> + +<p>62. “<i>Who done it?</i>” say, <i>Who did it?</i></p> + +<p>63. “The club gives an <i>impetus</i> to the ball:” pronounce <i>impetus</i> with +the stress on <i>im</i>, and not on <i>pe</i>.</p> + +<p>64. “Spain and Portugal form a <i>peninsula</i>:” pronounce <i>pen-in-su-la</i>, +with the accent on <i>in</i>, and not on <i>su</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>65. <i>Sar-da-na-pa-lus</i>: pronounce it with the accent on <i>pa</i>, and not on +<i>ap</i>. The latter pronunciation cannot be changed for the former, without +incurring a gross error.</p> + +<p>66. “He must by this time be almost as far as the <i>antipodes</i>:” pronounce +<i>antipodes</i> with the accent on <i>tip</i>, and let <i>des</i> rhyme with <i>ease</i>; it +is a word of <i>four</i> syllables, and <i>not of three</i>.</p> + +<p>67. <i>Vouchsafe</i>: a word seldom used, but when used, the first syllable +should rhyme with <i>pouch</i>; <i>never say vousafe</i>.</p> + +<p>68. “The land in those parts is very <i>fertile</i>:” pronounce <i>fertile</i> so as +to rhyme with <i>myrtle</i>. <i>Ile</i> in such words must be sounded as <i>ill</i>, with +the exception of <i>exile</i>, <i>senile</i>, <i>gentile</i>, <i>reconcile</i>, and +<i>camomile</i>, in which <i>ile</i> rhymes with <i>mile</i>.</p> + +<p>69. <i>Benefited</i>: often spelt <i>benefitted</i>, but <i>incorrectly</i>.</p> + +<p>70. “<i>Gather</i> a few ears of corn for dinner:” pronounce <i>gather</i> so as to +rhyme with <i>lather</i>, and <i>not gether</i>.</p> + +<p>71. <i>Purpose and propose</i>: these two words, which are often confounded, +are entirely distinct in meaning. To <i>purpose</i> means <i>to intend</i>; <i>to +propose</i> means <i>to offer a proposition</i>.</p> + +<p>72. <i>Directing and addressing letters</i>: <i>Directing</i> designates the persons +to whom, and the place to which the letter, as a parcel, is to be sent; +<i>addressing</i> refers to the individual to whom, as a communication, it is +written. A letter <i>addressed</i> to the President, may be <i>directed</i> to his +secretary.</p> + +<p>73. “<i>Who</i> do you think I saw yesterday?” say, <i>Whom</i>.</p> + +<p>74. A popular proverb is expressed in the following language: “Of <i>two</i> +evils choose the <i>least</i>;” say, <i>the less</i>. Of no less than <i>three</i> evils +can a person choose the <i>least</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>75. <i>Exaggerate</i>: pronounce <i>exad-gerate</i>, and <i>do not sound agger</i> as in +<i>dagger</i>.</p> + +<p>76. <i>Ladies School</i>: the <i>usual</i> form, but <i>not correct</i>; write, <i>Ladies’ +School</i>. The apostrophe (’) is thus used after nouns in the plural, and +indicates <i>possession</i>. In the singular, it is placed <i>before the s</i>, as, +<i>The lady’s school</i>.</p> + +<p>77. The following equivocal notice is said to swing out on a sign-board +somewhere in the Western country: “<span class="smcap">Smith & Huggs—Select School.</span>—<i>Smith +teaches the boys, and Huggs the girls.</i>” <i>Huggs needs correction!</i></p> + +<p>78. “He keeps a <i>chaise</i>:” pronounce it <i>shaze</i>, and not <i>shay</i>; it has a +regular plural, <i>chaises</i>.</p> + +<p>79. “The <i>drought</i> lasted a long time:” pronounce <i>drought</i> so as to rhyme +with <i>sprout</i>, and not <i>drowth</i>.</p> + +<p>80. “The two friends <i>conversed together</i> for an hour:” omit <i>together</i>, +as the full meaning of this word is implied in <i>con</i>, which means <i>with</i>, +or <i>together</i>, or <i>in company</i>.</p> + +<p>81. “The affair was <i>compromised</i>:” pronounce <i>compromised</i> in three +syllables, and place the accent on <i>com</i>, sounding <i>mised</i> like <i>prized</i>.</p> + +<p>82. “A <i>steam-engine</i>:” pronounce <i>engine</i> with <i>en</i> as in <i>pen</i>, and <i>not +like in</i>; also, pronounce <i>gine</i> like <i>gin</i>.</p> + +<p>83. “Several of the trappers were massacred by the Indians:” pronounce +<i>massacred</i> with the accent on <i>mas</i>, and <i>red</i> like <i>erd</i>, as if +<i>massaker’d</i>; never say <i>massacreed</i>, which is abominable.</p> + +<p>84. “The King of Israel and the King of Judah sat <i>either of them</i> on his +throne:” say, <i>each of them</i>. <i>Either</i> signifies the <i>one</i> or the <i>other</i>, +but <i>not both</i>. <i>Each</i> relates to <i>two or more objects</i>, and signifies +<i>both of the two</i>, or <i>every one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> of any number taken singly</i>. We can say, +“<i>either</i> of the three,” for “<i>one</i> of the three.”</p> + +<p>85. “A <i>respite</i> was granted the convict:” pronounce <i>respite</i> with the +accent on <i>res</i>, and sound <i>pite</i> as <i>pit</i>.</p> + +<p>86. “He soon <i>returned back</i>:” leave out <i>back</i>, which is implied by <i>re</i> +in <i>returned</i>.</p> + +<p>87. “The ship looked like a speck on the edge of the <i>horizon</i>:” pronounce +<i>horizon</i> with the accent on <i>ri</i>, and not on <i>hor</i>, which is often the case.</p> + +<p>88. “They were early at the <i>sepulchre</i>:” pronounce <i>sepulchre</i> with the +accent on <i>sep</i>, and not on the second syllable.</p> + +<p>89. “I have often <i>swam</i> across the Hudson:” say, <i>swum</i>.</p> + +<p>90. “I found my friend better than I expected <i>to have found him</i>:” say, <i>to find him</i>.</p> + +<p>91. “I intended <i>to have written</i> a letter yesterday:” say, <i>to write</i>; as +however long it now is since I thought of writing, “<i>to write</i>” was then +present to me, and must still be considered as present, when I recall that +time and the thoughts of it.</p> + +<p>92. <i>Superfluous R’s</i>: Many persons pronounce words which have no letter +<i>r</i> in them, exactly as though they had; as <i>drawring</i> for <i>drawing</i>; “I +<i>sawr</i> Thomas,” for “I <i>saw</i>,” &c. Some who do not insert a full-toned +<i>r</i>, do worse by appending an <i>ah</i> to almost every word they utter. They +would do well to recall the reproof which the excellent Rev. John Gruber +administered to a brother in the ministry, who was guilty of this habit. +That eccentric clergyman addressed a note to his friend, as follows: +“Dear-ah Sir-ah—When-ah you-ah speak-ah in-ah public-ah, take-ah my-ah +ad-ah-vice-ah and-ah never-ah say-ah <i>ah-ah</i>!—<span class="smcap">John-ah Gruber-ah.</span>”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>93. <i>Shall</i> and <i>will</i> are often confounded, or misused. The following +suggestion will be of service to the reader: mere <i>futurity</i> is expressed +by <i>shall</i> in the <i>first</i> person, and by <i>will</i> in the <i>second</i> and +<i>third</i>; the <i>determination</i> of the speaker by <i>will</i>, in the <i>first</i>, and +<i>shall</i>, in the <i>second</i> and <i>third</i>. For example: “<i>I shall go by the way +of Halifax</i>,” simply expresses an event about to take place—as also <i>you +will</i>, and <i>they will</i>: <i>I will</i> expresses determination—as also <i>you +shall</i> and <i>they shall</i>. Brightland has the following illustrative stanza:</p> + +<p class="poem">“In the first person simply <i>shall</i> foretells;<br /> +In <i>will</i> a threat, or else a promise, dwells.<br /> +<i>Shall</i>, in the second and the third, does threat;—<br /> +<i>Will</i>, simply, then, foretells the future feat.”</p> + +<p>94. “<i>Without</i> the grammatical form of a word can be recognized at a +glance, little progress can be made in reading the language:” [from a work +on the study of the Latin language:] say, <i>Unless</i> the grammatical, &c. +The use of <i>without</i> for <i>unless</i> is a very common mistake.</p> + +<p>95. “He claimed admission to the <i>chiefest</i> offices:” say, <i>chief</i>. +<i>Chief</i>, <i>right</i>, <i>supreme</i>, <i>correct</i>, <i>true</i>, <i>universal</i>, <i>perfect</i>, +<i>consummate</i>, <i>extreme</i>, <i>&c.</i>, <i>imply</i> the superlative degree without +adding <i>est</i>, or prefixing <i>most</i>. In language sublime or impassioned, +however, the word <i>perfect</i> requires the superlative form, to give it its +fullest effect.</p> + +<p>96. “I <i>had rather do</i> it now:” say, I <i>would rather do</i>. The +incorrectness of the first form of expression is very clearly seen by +cutting out <i>rather</i>, leaving “<i>I had do</i>,” which is ungrammatical and +meaningless.</p> + +<p>97. An obituary notice contained the following ludicrous statement: “He +left a large circle of mourners,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> <i>embracing his amiable wife and +children</i>!” <i>Comprising</i> should have been used, instead of <i>embracing</i>.</p> + +<p>98. “His <i>court-of-arms</i> is very splendid:” say, <i>coat-of-arms</i>.</p> + +<p>99. “They ride about in small carriages, which are called <i>flies</i>:” write +the last word <i>flys</i>; <i>flies</i> is the plural of <i>fly</i>, the insect.</p> + +<p>100. “Victoria is Queen of the <i>United Kingdom</i>:” say, <i>United Kingdoms</i>. +Who ever speaks of the <i>United State of America</i>?</p> + +<p>101. “I have not traveled <i>this twenty years</i>:” say, <i>these twenty years</i>.</p> + +<p>102. “Soldier arms!” Say, “<i>Shoulder arms!</i>” The latter is frequently +corrupted into “<i>Sojer arms!</i>”</p> + +<p>103. “He is <i>very much the gentleman</i>:” say, He is <i>a very gentlemanly +man</i>, or, <i>He is very gentlemanly</i>.</p> + +<p>104. “The <i>yellow</i> part of an egg is very nourishing:” never pronounce +<i>yellow</i> so as to rhyme with <i>tallow</i>, as we so often hear.</p> + +<p>105. “We are going to the <i>Zoological</i> Gardens:” pronounce <i>Zoological</i> in +<i>five</i> syllables, and place the accent on <i>log</i> in <i>logical</i>; sound <i>log</i> +like <i>lodge</i>, and <i>the first two o’s in distinct syllables</i>; <i>never</i> make +<i>Zool one</i> syllable.</p> + +<p>106. “He <i>strived</i> to obtain an appointment:” say, <i>strove</i>.</p> + +<p>107. “He always preaches <i>extempore</i>:” pronounce <i>extempore in four +syllables</i>, with the accent on <i>tem</i>, and <i>never in three</i>, making <i>pore</i> +to rhyme with <i>sore</i>—but with <i>story</i>.</p> + +<p>108. “Allow me to <i>suggest</i>:” pronounce <i>sug</i> as to rhyme with <i>mug</i>, and +<i>gest</i> like <i>jest</i>; never say <i>sudjest</i>.</p> + +<p>109. “That building is an <i>episcopal</i> chapel:” pronounce<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> <i>episcopal</i> with +the accent on the second syllable, and <i>not</i> on <i>co</i>.</p> + +<p>110. “The Emperor of Russia is a <i>formidable</i> sovereign:” pronounce +<i>formidable</i> with the accent on <i>for</i>, and <i>not on mid</i>.</p> + +<p>111. Before the words <i>heir</i>, <i>herb</i>, <i>honest</i>, <i>honor</i>, and <i>hour</i>, and +their compounds, instead of the article <i>a</i>, we make use of <i>an</i>, as the +<i>h</i> is not sounded; likewise before words beginning with <i>h</i>, that are not +accented on the first syllable: such as <i>heroic</i>, <i>historical</i>, +<i>hypothesis</i>, &c., as, “<i>an heroic action</i>;” “<i>an historical work</i>;” “<i>an +hypothesis</i> that can scarcely be allowed.” The letter <i>h</i> is seldom mute +at the beginning of a word; but from the negligence of tutors, and the +inattention of pupils, many persons have become almost incapable of +acquiring its just and full pronunciation. It is, therefore, incumbent on +teachers to be particularly careful to inculcate a clear and distinct +utterance of this sound.</p> + +<p>112. “He was <i>such an extravagant young man</i>, that he soon spent his whole +patrimony.” This construction, which is much used, is not so elegant as, +“He was <i>so extravagant a young man</i>,” &c.</p> + +<p>113. “The girl speaks <i>distinct</i>:” say, <i>distinctly</i>. <i>Never use +Adjectives as Adverbs.</i></p> + +<p>114. “The accident of which he was <i>reading</i>, occurred not far from +<i>Reading</i>:” pronounced the first italicized word to rhyme with <i>feeding</i>, +and the other, with <i>wedding</i>.</p> + +<p>115. The combination of letters <i>ough</i> is pronounced in eight different +ways, as follows: 1. Th<i>ough</i>, in which it is pronounced <i>o</i>; 2. +Thr<i>ough</i>, pronounced <i>oo</i>; 3. Pl<i>ough</i>, <i>ow</i>; 4. S<i>ought</i>, <i>awe</i>; 5. +C<i>ough</i>, <i>off</i>; 6. R<i>ough</i>, <i>uff</i>; 7. Bor<i>ough</i>, <i>ugh</i>; 8. L<i>ough</i>, <i>ok</i>. +The following sentence,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> which is of doubtful authorship, affords an +example of each of these eight modes of pronunciation: “I put (1) <i>dough</i> +(6) <i>enough</i> in the (5) <i>trough</i> near the (3) <i>slough</i> by the (8) <i>lough</i>, +to last the ducks that I (4) <i>bought</i> at the (7) <i>borough</i> (2) <i>through</i> the day.”</p> + +<p>116. “I saw his <i>august</i> majesty, the Emperor of Hayti, last <i>August</i>:” +pronounce the former word with the accent on <i>gust</i>; the latter, on <i>Au</i>.</p> + +<p>117. “She is <i>quite the lady</i>:” say, She is <i>very lady-like in her demeanor</i>.</p> + +<p>118. “He is <i>seldom or ever</i> out of town:” say, <i>seldom or never</i>, or, <i>seldom if ever</i>.</p> + +<p>119. “We <i>laid down</i> to sleep:” say, we <i>lay down</i>, &c. We can say, +however, “we laid <i>him</i> down to sleep.”</p> + +<p>120. It is somewhat singular, that while <i>tie</i> and <i>untie</i> convey meanings +directly opposite, <i>loose</i> and <i>unloose</i> signify precisely the same thing. +<i>Loose</i> is the original word, and <i>unloose</i> is a corruption; both words, +however, are now sanctioned by good usage, and may be indiscriminately +employed, without offence against propriety.</p> + +<p>121. “It is dangerous to walk <i>of a</i> slippery morning:” say, <i>on a</i> +slippery morning. But the expression, “<i>walking on a slippery morning</i>,” +and all others like it, of which a strictly literal interpretation will +not give the designed signification, are to be avoided. They often excite +a smile when seriousness is intended.</p> + +<p>122. “He who makes himself famous by his eloquence, makes illustrious his +origin, let it be <i>never so mean</i>:” say, <i>ever so mean</i>. The practice of +using <i>never</i> in such phrases was anciently in vogue, but is now becoming +obsolete. (See Introduction.)</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>123. “His reputation is acknowledged <i>through</i> Europe:” say, <i>throughout</i> +Europe.</p> + +<p>124. “The bank of the river is frequently <i>overflown</i>:” say, <i>overflowed</i>. +<i>Flown</i> is the perfect participle of <i>fly, flying</i>; <i>flowed</i>, of <i>flow, +flowing</i>.</p> + +<p>125. “I doubt <i>if this</i> will ever reach you:” say, <i>whether this</i>, &c.</p> + +<p>126. “It is not improbable <i>but I may</i> be able to procure you a copy:” +say, <i>that I may</i>, &c.</p> + +<p>127. “He was <i>exceeding kind</i> to me:” say, <i>exceedingly kind</i>.</p> + +<p>128. “I doubt not <i>but I shall</i> be able:” say, <i>that I shall</i>.</p> + +<p>129. “I lost <i>near</i> twenty pounds:” say, <i>nearly</i>, or <i>almost</i>.</p> + +<p>130. “There were not <i>over</i> twenty persons present:” say, <i>more than</i>. +Such a use of this word is not frequent among writers of reputation. It +may, however, be less improperly employed, where the sense invests it with +more of a semblance to its literal signification: as, “This pair of +chickens will weigh <i>over</i> seven pounds.” Even in this case, it is better +to say <i>more than</i>.</p> + +<p>131. “<i>Bills are requested to be paid quarterly</i>:” <i>the bills are not +requested</i>, but <i>the persons who owe them</i>. Say instead, <i>It is requested +that bills be paid quarterly</i>.</p> + +<p>132. “There can be no doubt <i>but that</i> he will succeed:” omit <i>but</i>.</p> + +<p>133. “It was <i>no use asking</i> him any more questions:” say, <i>of no use to +ask him</i>, or <i>there was no use in asking</i>, &c.</p> + +<p>134. “The Americans said they <i>had no right</i> to pay taxes.” [From a Fourth +of July Oration.] They certainly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> <i>had a right</i> to pay them, if they +wished. What the speaker meant was, <i>they were under no obligation to +pay</i>, or, <i>they were not bound to pay</i>.</p> + +<p>135. “He intends to <i>stop</i> at home for a few days:” it is more elegant to +say <i>stay</i>. If the time, however, should be very brief, <i>stop</i> would +better express the idea; as, “We <i>stopped</i> at Elmira about twenty +minutes.”</p> + +<p>136. “At this time, I <i>grew</i> my own corn:” say, I <i>raised</i>. Farmers have +made this innovation against good taste; but for what reason, it is not +apparent; there seems to be no sufficient occasion for so awkward a +substitute for <i>raised</i>.</p> + +<p>137. “Having incautiously <i>laid down</i> on the damp grass, he caught a +severe cold:” say, <i>lain down</i>.</p> + +<p>138. “We suffered no other inconvenience <i>but</i> that arising from the +rain:” say, <i>than</i> that, &c. <i>But</i>, to be properly used in this sentence, +would require the omission of <i>other</i>.</p> + +<p>139. “Brutus and Aruns killed <i>one another</i>:” say, <i>each other</i>, which is +more proper. But many similar instances which occur in the New Testament, +as, “<i>Beloved, love one another</i>,” and others no less beautiful and +cherished, have rendered this form of expression common, and almost +unexceptionable.</p> + +<p>140. In a recently issued work on Arithmetic, the following is given: “If +for 72 cents I can buy 9 lbs. of raisins, <i>how much</i> can I purchase for +$14 49?” say, “<i>what quantity</i> can I,” &c. Who would think of saying, +“<i>how much raisins?</i>”</p> + +<p>141. <span class="smcap">Words to be Carefully Distinguished.</span>—Be very careful to distinguish +between <i>indite</i> and <i>indict</i> (the former meaning <i>to write</i>, and the +latter <i>to accuse</i>); <i>key</i> and <i>quay</i>;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> <i>principle</i> and <i>principal</i>; +<i>marshal</i> and <i>martial</i>; <i>counsel</i> and <i>council</i>; <i>counsellor</i> and +<i>councillor</i>; <i>fort</i> and <i>forte</i>; <i>draft</i> and <i>draught</i>; <i>place</i> and +<i>plaice</i> (the latter being the name of a <i>fish</i>); <i>stake</i> and <i>steak</i>; +<i>satire</i> and <i>satyr</i>; <i>stationery</i> and <i>stationary</i>; <i>ton</i> and <i>tun</i>; +<i>levy</i> and <i>levee</i>; <i>foment</i> and <i>ferment</i>; <i>fomentation</i> and +<i>fermentation</i>; <i>petition</i> and <i>partition</i>; <i>Francis</i> and <i>Frances</i>; +<i>dose</i> and <i>doze</i>; <i>diverse</i> and <i>divers</i>; <i>device</i> and <i>devise</i>; <i>wary</i> +and <i>weary</i>; <i>salary</i> and <i>celery</i>; <i>radish</i> and <i>reddish</i>; <i>treble</i> and +<i>triple</i>; <i>broach</i> and <i>brooch</i>; <i>ingenious</i> and <i>ingenuous</i>; <i>prophesy</i> +and <i>prophecy</i> (some clergymen sounding the final syllable of the latter +word <i>long</i>, like the former); <i>fondling</i> and <i>foundling</i>; <i>lightning</i> and +<i>lightening</i>; <i>genus</i> and <i>genius</i>; <i>desert</i> and <i>dessert</i>; <i>currier</i> and +<i>courier</i>; <i>pillow</i> and <i>pillar</i>; <i>executer</i> and <i>executor</i> (the former +being the regular noun from the verb “to <i>execute</i>,” and the latter a +strictly <i>legal</i> term); <i>ridicule</i> and <i>reticule</i>; <i>lineament</i> and +<i>liniment</i>; <i>track</i> and <i>tract</i>, <i>lickerish</i> and <i>licorice</i> (<i>lickerish</i> +signifying <i>dainty</i>, and <i>licorice</i> being a plant, or preparation from +it); <i>statute</i> and <i>statue</i>; <i>ordinance</i> and <i>ordnance</i>; <i>lease</i> and +<i>leash</i>; <i>recourse</i> and <i>resource</i>; <i>straight</i> and <i>strait</i> (<i>straight</i> +meaning <i>direct</i>, and <i>strait</i>, <i>narrow</i>); <i>immerge</i> and <i>emerge</i>; <i>style</i> +and <i>stile</i>; <i>compliment</i> and <i>complement</i>; <i>bass</i> and <i>base</i>; +<i>contagious</i> and <i>contiguous</i>; <i>eminent</i> and <i>imminent</i>; <i>eruption</i> and +<i>irruption</i>; <i>precedent</i> and <i>president</i>; <i>relic</i> and <i>relict</i>.</p> + +<p>142. “The number of <i>emigrants</i> arriving in this country is increasing and +alarming:” say, <i>immigrants</i>. <i>Emigrants</i> are those <i>going out</i> from a +country; <i>immigrants</i>, those <i>coming into</i> it.</p> + +<p>143. “I prefer <i>radishes</i> to <i>cucumbers</i>:” pronounce<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> <i>radishes</i> exactly +as spelt, and not <i>redishes</i>; also, the first syllable of <i>cucumber</i> like +<i>fu</i> in <i>fuel</i>, and not as if the word were spelled <i>cowcumber</i>.</p> + +<p>144. “The <i>two last</i> letters were dated from Calcutta:” say, the <i>last +two</i>, &c.</p> + +<p>145. “The soil in those islands is so very thin, that little is produced +in them <i>beside</i> cocoa-nut trees:” “<i>beside</i> cocoa-nut trees” means +strictly <i>alongside</i>, or <i>by the side</i>, of them. <i>Besides</i>, or <i>except</i>, +should be used. <i>Besides</i> also signifies <i>in addition to</i>: as, “I sat +<i>beside</i> the President, and conversed with him <i>besides</i>.”</p> + +<p>146. “He could neither <i>read nor write</i>:” say, more properly, <i>write nor +read</i>. All persons who can <i>write</i> can <i>read</i>, but not all who <i>read</i> can +<i>write</i>. This sentence, as corrected, is much stronger than in the other +form.</p> + +<p>147. “He was <i>bred and born</i> among the hills of the Hudson:” say, <i>born +and bred</i>, which is the natural order.</p> + +<p>148. “<span class="smcap">This House To Let</span>:” more properly, <i>to be let</i>.</p> + +<p>149. <i>Here</i>, <i>there</i>, <i>where</i>, with verbs of motion, are generally better +than <i>hither</i>, <i>thither</i>, <i>whither</i>; as, “<i>Come here</i>; <i>Go there</i>.” +<i>Hither</i>, <i>thither</i>, and <i>whither</i>, which were used formerly, are now +considered stiff and inelegant.</p> + +<p>150. “<i>As far as I</i> am able to judge, the book is well written:” say, <i>So +far as</i>, &c.</p> + +<p>151. “It is doubtful whether he will act <i>fairly or no</i>:” say, <i>fairly or +not</i>.</p> + +<p>152. “The <i>camelopard</i> is the tallest of known animals:” pronounce +<i>camelopard</i> with the accent on <i>mel</i>; never say <i>camel leopard</i>. Few +words, by being mispronounced, occasion greater blunders than this term.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span>153. “He ran <i>again</i> me;” or, “I stood <i>again</i> the hydrant:” say, +<i>against</i>. This word is frequently and inelegantly abbreviated, in +pronunciation, into <i>agin</i>.</p> + +<p>154. “<i>No one</i> should incur censure for being careful of <i>their</i> good +character:” say, of <i>his</i> (or <i>her</i>).</p> + +<p>155. “The yacht capsized in rounding the stake-boat, and the helmsman was +<i>drownded</i>:” say, <i>drowned</i>.</p> + +<p>156. “<i>Jalap</i> will be of service to you:” pronounce the word as it is +spelled, never saying <i>jollop</i>.</p> + +<p>157. The word <i>curiosity</i>, though a very common term, and one that should +be correctly pronounced by everybody, is frequently called <i>curosity</i>.</p> + +<p>158. “He has just set out to <i>take a tour</i>:” pronounce <i>tour</i> so as to +rhyme with <i>poor</i>. Be careful to avoid saying, <i>take a tower</i>; such a +pronunciation might suggest the Mamelon, instead of a trip of travel.</p> + +<p>159. “The storm <i>is</i> ceased, and the sky is clear:” say, <i>has</i> ceased.</p> + +<p>160. “Do you know <i>who</i> this dog-headed cane belongs to?” say, <i>whom</i>. In +expressing in <i>writing</i> the idea conveyed in this question, a better form +of sentence would be, “Do you know <i>to whom</i> this belongs?” In familiar +conversation, however, the latter mode might be thought too formal and +precise.</p> + +<p>161. “<i>Who</i> did you wish to see?” say, <i>whom</i>.</p> + +<p>162. “<i>Whom</i> say ye that I am?” This is the English translation, given in +Luke ix. 20, of the question of Christ to Peter. The word <i>whom</i> should be +<i>who</i>. Other instances of grammatical inaccuracies occur in the Bible; for +example, in the Sermon on the Mount, the Saviour says: “Lay not up for +yourselves treasures on earth,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> where <i>moth and rust doth corrupt</i>,” &c. +“<i>Moth and rust</i>” make a plural nominative to “<i>doth</i> corrupt,” a singular +verb. The following, however, is correct: “But lay up for yourselves +treasures in heaven, where <i>neither moth nor rust doth corrupt</i>.”</p> + +<p>163. The word <i>chimney</i> is sometimes called incorrectly <i>chimley</i> and +<i>chimbley</i>.</p> + +<p>164. “I was walking <i>towards</i> home:” pronounce <i>towards</i> so as to rhyme +with <i>boards</i>; <i>never</i> say, <i>to-wards</i>.</p> + +<p>165. “A <i>courier</i> is expected from Washington:” pronounce <i>cou</i> in +<i>courier</i> so as to rhyme with <i>too</i>, never like <i>currier</i>; the two words +have entirely distinct significations.</p> + +<p>166. “Let each of us mind <i>their</i> own business:” say, <i>his</i> own business.</p> + +<p>167. “Who made that noise? Not <i>me</i>:” say, Not <i>I</i>.</p> + +<p>168. “Is this or that the <i>best</i> road?” say, the <i>better</i> road.</p> + +<p>169. “<i>Rinse</i> your mouth:” pronounce <i>rinse</i> as it is written, and never +<i>rense</i>. “<i>Rench your mouth</i>,” said a fashionable dentist one day to a +patient. “You have already <i>wrenched it for me</i>,” was the reply.</p> + +<p>170. “He was tired of the dust of the town, and <i>flew</i> to the pure air of +the country:” say, <i>fled</i>. <i>Flew</i> is part of the verb <i>to fly</i>; <i>fled</i>, of +<i>to flee</i>.</p> + +<p>171. “The first edition was not <i>as</i> well printed as the present:” say, +<i>so</i> well, &c.</p> + +<p>172. “The Unabridged Dictionary was his greatest work, it being the labor +of a life-time:” pronounce <i>Dictionary</i> as if written <i>Dik-shun-a-ry</i>; +not, as is too commonly the practice, <i>Dixonary</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span>173. “I should feel sorry to be <i>beholding</i> to him:” say, <i>beholden</i>.</p> + +<p>174. “He is a <i>despicable</i> fellow, and such an epitaph is strictly +<i>applicable</i> to him:” <i>never</i> place the accent in <i>despicable</i> and +<i>applicable</i> on the <i>second</i> syllable, but <i>always</i> on the <i>first</i>.</p> + +<p>175. “Some disaster has certainly <i>befell</i> him:” say, <i>befallen</i>.</p> + +<p>176. Carefully distinguish between <i>sergeant</i> and <i>serjeant</i>: both are +pronounced <i>sarjant</i>, but the <i>former</i> is used in a military sense, and +the <i>latter</i> applied to a lawyer. These distinctions are, however, +observed chiefly in England.</p> + +<p>177. “She is a pretty <i>creature</i>:” never pronounce <i>creature</i> like +<i>creetur</i>.</p> + +<p>178. The following expression would be of special significance on coming +from a surgeon or anatomist: “Desiring to know your friend better, <i>I took +him apart</i> to converse with him.” It has been said that two persons who +<i>take each other apart</i>, frequently do so for the express purpose of +<i>putting their heads together</i>.</p> + +<p>179. “I am very wet, and must go and <i>change myself</i>:” say, <i>change my +clothes</i>.</p> + +<p>180. “He is taller <i>than me</i>:” say, <i>than I</i>.</p> + +<p>181. “He is much better <i>than me</i>:” say, <i>than I</i>.</p> + +<p>182. “You are stronger <i>than him</i>:” say, <i>than he</i>.</p> + +<p>183. “That is the <i>moot</i> point:” say, <i>disputed</i> point. The other word is +inelegant, and nearly obsolete.</p> + +<p>184. “They are at <i>loggerheads</i>”: this is an extremely unpoetical figure +to express the mutual relations of two individuals who have an “honest +difference;” say, at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> <i>variance</i>, or use some other form of expression. It +might just as well be said, “They are at <i>tadpoles</i>!”</p> + +<p>185. “He paid a <i>florin</i> to the <i>florist</i>:” divide the syllables so as to +pronounce like <i>flor-in</i> and <i>flo-rist</i>.</p> + +<p>186. “His character is <i>undeniable</i>:” a very common expression: say, +<i>unexceptionable</i>.</p> + +<p>187. “Bring me the <i>lantern</i>:” never spell <i>lantern</i>—<i>lanthorn</i>.</p> + +<p>188. “The room is twelve <i>foot</i> long, and nine <i>foot</i> broad:” say, twelve +<i>feet</i>, nine <i>feet</i>.</p> + +<p>189. “He is a <i>Highlander</i>:” never say, <i>Heelander</i>.</p> + +<p>190. “He is <i>singular</i>, though <i>regular</i> in his habits, and also very +<i>particular</i>:” beware of leaving out the <i>u</i> in <i>singular</i>, <i>regular</i>, and +<i>particular</i>, which is a very common practice.</p> + +<p>191. “They are detained <i>at</i> France:” say, <i>in</i> France.</p> + +<p>192. “He lives <i>at</i> New-York:” say, <i>in</i> New-York.</p> + +<p>193. “He is very <i>dry</i>” (meaning <i>thirsty</i>), is a very common and very +improper word to use: say, <i>thirsty</i>.</p> + +<p>194. “No <i>less</i> than fifty persons were there:” say, <i>fewer</i>, &c. <i>Less</i> +refers to <i>quantity</i>; <i>fewer</i> to <i>number</i>.</p> + +<p>195. “<i>Such another</i> victory, and we shall be ruined:” say, <i>Another such</i> +victory, &c.</p> + +<p>196. “It is <i>some distance</i>, from our house:” say, <i>at some distance</i>, &c.</p> + +<p>197. “I shall call <i>upon</i> him:” say, <i>on</i> him.</p> + +<p>198. “Remove those <i>trestles</i>:” pronounce <i>trestles</i> exactly as written, +only leaving out the <i>t</i>; never say <i>trussles</i>.</p> + +<p>199. “He is much addicted to <i>raillery</i>:” in pronouncing <i>raillery</i>, leave +out the <i>i</i>; never say, <i>rail-le-ry</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span>200. “He is a Doctor of <i>Medicine</i>:” pronounce <i>medicine</i> in <i>three</i> +syllables, <span class="smcap">never</span> in <i>two</i>.</p> + +<p>201. “They told me to enter <i>in</i>:” leave out <i>in</i>, as it is implied in <i>enter</i>.</p> + +<p>202. “His <i>strength</i> is failing:” never say, <i>strenth</i>.</p> + +<p>203. “Give me both <i>of</i> those books:” leave out <i>of</i>.</p> + +<p>204. “<i>Whenever</i> I try to write well, I <i>always</i> find I can do it:” leave +out <i>always</i>, which is unnecessary and improper.</p> + +<p>205. “He plunged <i>down</i> into the stream:” leave out <i>down</i>.</p> + +<p>206. “I never saw his <i>nephew</i>:” say, <i>nef-ew</i>; never <i>nev-u</i>, or <i>nevvey</i>.</p> + +<p>207. “She is the <i>matron</i>:” say, <i>may-tron</i>, and not <i>mat-ron</i>.</p> + +<p>208. “Give me <i>leave</i> to tell you:” never say <i>lief</i> for <i>leave</i>.</p> + +<p>209. “The <i>height</i> is considerable:” pronounce <i>height</i> so as to rhyme +with <i>tight</i>; never <i>hate</i> nor <i>heighth</i>. An instance occurs in “Paradise +Lost” in which this word is spelled and pronounced <i>highth</i>.</p> + +<p>210. “Who has my <i>scissors</i>?” never call <i>scissors</i>, <i>sithers</i>.</p> + +<p>211. “He has obtained a good <i>situation</i>:” pronounce <i>situation</i> as if +written <i>sit-you-a-tion</i>, and do not say, <i>sitch-u-a-tion</i>.</p> + +<p>212. “I had as <i>lief</i> do it as not:” <i>lief</i> means <i>willingly</i>, <i>gladly</i>, +and is not to be confounded with <i>leave</i>, as in example No. 208.</p> + +<p>213. “First <i>of all</i> I shall give you a lesson in French, and last <i>of +all</i> in music:” omit <i>of all</i> in both instances, as unnecessary.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>214. “I shall have finished by the <i>latter</i> end of the week:” leave out +<i>latter</i>, which is superfluous.</p> + +<p>215. “They sought him <i>throughout</i> the <i>whole</i> country:” leave out +<i>whole</i>, which is implied in <i>throughout</i>.</p> + +<p>216. “Iron sinks <i>down</i> in water:” leave out <i>down</i>.</p> + +<p>217. “A warrant was <i>issued out</i> for his apprehension:” leave out the word +<i>out</i>, which is implied in <i>issued</i>.</p> + +<p>218. “If you inquire <i>for why</i> I did so, I can give a very good reason:” +leave out <i>for</i>.</p> + +<p>219. “I own that I did not come soon enough; but <i>because why</i>? I was +detained:” leave out <i>because</i>.</p> + +<p>220. “I <i>cannot by no means</i> allow it:” say, <i>I can by no means</i>, &c.; or, +<i>I cannot by any means</i>, &c.</p> + +<p>221. “He <i>covered it over</i>:” leave out <i>over</i>.</p> + +<p>222. “I bought <i>a new pair of shoes</i>:” say, <i>a pair of new shoes</i>.</p> + +<p>223. “He <i>combined together</i> these facts:” leave out <i>together</i>.</p> + +<p>224. “My brother called on me, and we <i>both</i> took a walk:” leave out +<i>both</i>, which is unnecessary.</p> + +<p>225. “Evil spirits are not occupied about the <i>dead corpses</i> of bad men:” +leave out <i>dead</i>, which is altogether unnecessary, as it is <i>implied</i> in +the word <i>corpses</i>, “<i>corpse</i>” and “<i>dead body</i>” being strictly +synonymous.</p> + +<p>226. “He has gone to the <i>Lyceum</i>:” pronounce <i>Lyceum</i> with the accent on +the second syllable, and not on the first.</p> + +<p>227. “This is a picture of <i>Westminster Abbey</i>:” never say <i>Westminister</i>, +as if there were two words, <i>West-minister</i>.</p> + +<p>228. “We are going to take a <i>holiday</i>:” this word was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> originally spelled +and pronounced <i>holyday</i>, being compounded of the two words <i>holy</i> +(meaning “<i>set apart</i>”) and <i>day</i>. Custom, however, has changed the +orthography from <i>y</i> to <i>i</i>, and made the first syllable rhyme with +<i>Poll</i>.</p> + +<p>229. “It was referred to the <i>Committee</i> on Ways and Means:” emphasize the +second, not the first syllable.</p> + +<p>230. “He is now settled in <i>Worcester</i>:” pronounce as if written +<i>Wooster</i>. <i>Gloucester</i> and <i>Leicester</i> are pronounced <i>Gloster</i> and +<i>Lester</i>. The termination <i>cester</i> or <i>chester</i>, occurring in the names of +many English towns, is derived and corrupted from the Latin <i>Castra</i>, +camps; and every town so named is supposed to have been the site of a camp +of soldiers, during the possession of Britain by the Romans.</p> + +<p>231. “<i>Relatives</i> and <i>Relations</i>:” both these words designate kinsfolk, +and are in most instances used indiscriminately. <i>Relatives</i>, however, is +by some deemed the more proper and elegant.</p> + +<p>232. “What a long <i>lirry</i> he has to say!” This word should be pronounced +and spelt <i>lurry</i>; its more general meaning is a “heap,” a “throng,” a +“crowd,” but is often applied to a long dull speech.</p> + +<p>233. “<i>Diamonds</i> are charcoals:” pronounce <i>diamonds</i> in three syllables.</p> + +<p>234. “Honor to the <i>patriot</i> and the sage:” divide the syllables like +<i>pa-tri-ot</i>, not <i>pat-ri-ot</i>. Irish rowdyism has been called +“<i>Pat-riot-ism</i>.”</p> + +<p>235. “Do you <i>believe</i> that he will <i>receive</i> my letter?” observe that in +the former word the diphthong is <i>ie</i>, and in the latter <i>ei</i>. A +convenient rule for the spelling of such words is the following: <i>c</i> takes +<i>ei</i> after it;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> all other consonants are followed by <i>ie</i>:—as, dec<i>ei</i>ve, +repr<i>ie</i>ve.</p> + +<p>236. “He is now confirmed in <i>idiotcy</i>:” say, <i>idiocy</i>; the <i>t</i> in <i>idiot</i> +is dropped in forming the word.</p> + +<p>237. “He raised the <i>national</i> standard:” pronounce the first two +syllables like the word <i>nation</i>, never as if written <i>nash-ion-al</i>.</p> + +<p>238. <i>Principal</i> and <i>Principle</i>: be careful to observe the distinction +between these words. <i>Principal</i> signifies <i>chief</i>; <i>principle</i>, <i>motive</i>.</p> + +<p>239. “He favors the <i>Anti-Slavery</i> reform:” pronounce <i>Anti</i> with a +distinct sounding of the <i>i</i>; else the word becomes <i>ante</i>, which means +not “against,” but “before,”—as “ante-deluvian,” signifying “before the +Deluge.”</p> + +<p>240. <i>Cincinnati</i> is often misspelled <i>Cincinnatti</i>. The name is derived +from <i>Cincinnatus</i>, a celebrated Roman.</p> + +<p>241. “Her dress was made of <i>moiré antique</i>:” <i>moiré antique</i> is an +article of <i>watered silk</i>, very well known to the “shopping” sisterhood, +but very frequently called “<i>Murray Antique</i>.”</p> + +<p>242. “It was mentioned in a <i>Californian newspaper</i>:” say, <i>California</i> +newspaper. No one says <i>Philadelphian</i>, or <i>Chicagonian</i> journal.</p> + +<p>243. “The lecture was <i>characterized</i> as a brilliant performance:” accent +the first, and not the second syllable.</p> + +<p>244. “This is one of the traditions of St. <i>Helena</i>:” accent <i>le</i>, and not +<i>Hel</i>.</p> + +<p>245. “The boy was found by a <i>washwoman</i>:” say, <i>washerwoman</i>.</p> + +<p>246. “St. John’s is about two days nearer England than Halifax.” [From an +account, in a New-York newspaper,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> of the Submarine Telegraph Expedition, +September, 1855.] Does it mean that St. John’s is nearer to England than +Halifax is, or nearer to England than to Halifax?</p> + +<p>247. “He wears a blue-spotted <i>neck-handkerchief</i>:” say, <i>neckerchief</i>, +or, still better, <i>neck-cloth</i>, or <i>cravat</i>. The original word is +<i>kerchief</i>, and not <i>handkerchief</i>, which is a <i>kerchief</i> for the <i>hand</i>.</p> + +<p>248. “The city was <i>illumined</i> in honor of the victory:” better say, +<i>illuminated</i>. Distinguish between the pronunciation of <i>illumined</i> and +<i>ill-omened</i>.</p> + +<p>249. “She has brought the <i>cloze pins</i> in a bag:” say, <i>clothes’ pins</i>.</p> + +<p>250. “He met with <i>luck</i>:” say either “<i>bad luck</i>,” or “<i>good luck</i>;” +<i>luck</i> primarily refers to simple “chance,” although its derivatives, +<i>lucky</i> and <i>luckily</i>, imply only <i>good fortune</i>.</p> + +<p>251. “The <i>in-va-lid</i> signed a deed, that was <i>in-val-id</i>:” pronounce the +former “<i>invalid</i>” with the accent on the <i>first</i> syllable; the <i>latter</i>, +with the accent on the <i>second</i>.</p> + +<p>252. “The <i>duke</i> discharged his <i>duty</i>.” Be careful to give the slender, +clear sound of <i>u</i>. Avoid saying <i>dook</i> and <i>dooty</i>, or <i>doo</i> for <i>dew</i> or +<i>due</i>. Say <i>flute</i>, not <i>floot</i>; <i>suit</i>, not <i>soot</i>; <i>mute</i>, not <i>moot</i>. +As well might you say <i>bute</i> for <i>boot</i>, or <i>shute</i> for shoot.</p> + +<p>253. “<i>Genealogy</i>, <i>geography</i>, and <i>geometry</i> are words of Greek +derivation:” beware of saying <i>geneology</i>, <i>jography</i>, and <i>jometry</i>, a +very common practice.</p> + +<p>254. “He made out the <i>inventory</i>:” place the accent in <i>inventory</i> on the +syllable <i>in</i>, and <span class="smcap">never</span> on <i>ven</i>.</p> + +<p>255. “He deserves <i>chastisement</i>:” say, <i>chas-tiz-ment</i>, with the accent +on <i>chas</i>, and <span class="smcap">never</span> on <i>tise</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>256. “He threw the <i>rind</i> away:” never call <i>rind</i>, <i>rine</i>.</p> + +<p>257. “His <i>knowledge</i> is very great:” always pronounce <i>knowledge</i> so as +to rhyme with <i>college</i>, and <span class="smcap">never</span> say <i>know-ledge</i>.</p> + +<p>258. “They contributed to his <i>maintenance</i>:” pronounce <i>maintenance</i> with +the accent on <i>main</i>, and never say <i>maintainance</i>.</p> + +<p>259. “She wears a silk <i>gown</i>:” never say <i>gownd</i>.</p> + +<p>260. “Maine is a <i>maritime</i> State:” pronounce the last syllable of +<i>maritime</i> so as to rhyme with <i>rim</i>.</p> + +<p>261. “They <i>desisted</i> from their <i>design</i>:” pronounce the <i>former s</i> in +<i>desisted</i> with a soft sound, and <i>always</i> pronounce <i>design</i> as if +written <i>de-zine</i>.</p> + +<p>262. “They committed a <i>heinous</i> crime:” pronounce <i>heinous</i> as if spelled +<i>hay-nus</i>; <span class="smcap">never</span> call the word <i>hee-nus</i> or <i>hain-yus</i>.</p> + +<p>263. “He <i>hovered</i> about the enemy:” pronounce <i>hovered</i> so as to rhyme +with <i>covered</i>.</p> + +<p>264. “He is a powerful <i>ally</i>:” <i>never</i> place the accent on <i>al</i> in +<i>ally</i>, as many do.</p> + +<p>265. “<i>We have never been called, almost, to the consideration</i> of the +Apocalypse, without finding fresh reasons for our opinion.” [Such are the +words of a very eminent reviewer.] He should have said, “We have <i>scarcely +ever</i> been called,” or, “we have <i>almost never</i>.”</p> + +<p>266. “He is very <i>bigoted</i>:” never spell the last word with <i>double t</i>, a +very common mistake.</p> + +<p>267. “The <i>Weekly Tribune</i> has a large circulation:” pronounce Tribune as +if divided <i>Trib-une</i>, and not <i>Try-bune</i>.</p> + +<p>268. “He said <i>as how</i> you <i>was</i> to do it:” say, he said <i>that you were to +do it</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span>269. Never say, “<i>I acquiesce with you</i>,” but, “<i>I acquiesce in your +proposal</i>, <i>in your opinion</i>,” &c.</p> + +<p>270. “He is a distinguished <i>antiquarian</i>:” say, <i>antiquary</i>. +<i>Antiquarian</i> is an adjective; <i>antiquary</i>, a noun.</p> + +<p>271. An injudicious disposition of a clause in a sentence frequently +creates great merriment in the reading. In Goldsmith’s “History of +England,” a book remarkable for its carelessness of style, we find the +following extraordinary sentence, in one of the chapters of the reign of +Queen Elizabeth: “This” [a communication to Mary Queen of Scots] “they +effected by conveying their letters to her by means of a brewer that +<i>supplied the family with ale through a chink in the wall of her +apartment</i>.” A queer brewer that—to supply ale through a chink in the +wall! How easy the alteration to make the passage clear! “This they +effected by conveying their letters to her <i>through a chink in the wall of +her apartment, by means of a brewer that supplied the family with ale</i>.”</p> + +<p>272. “Lavater wrote on <i>Physiognomy</i>:” in the last word sound the <i>g</i> +distinctly, as <i>g</i> is always pronounced before <i>n</i>, when it is not in the +same syllable; as, <i>indignity</i>, &c.</p> + +<p>273. “She is a very amiable <i>girl</i>:” pronounce <i>girl</i> as if written +<i>gurl</i>; <i>gal</i> is a vulgarism; <i>gehl</i> or <i>gul</i> is an affectation of which +many polite persons are guilty.</p> + +<p>274. “He built a large <i>granary</i>:” <i>do not</i> pronounce <i>granary</i> so as to +rhyme with <i>tannery</i>. Call the word <i>grainary</i>. Both pronunciations, +however, are given by scholars.</p> + +<p>275. Beware of using <i>Oh!</i> and <i>O</i> indiscriminately: <i>Oh!</i> is used to +express the emotion of <i>pain</i>, <i>sorrow</i>, or <i>surprise</i>;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> as, “<i>Oh!</i> the +exceeding grace of God.” <i>O</i> is used to express <i>wishing</i>, <i>exclamation</i>, + +or a direct <i>address</i> to a person; as,</p> + +<p class="poem">“O mother, will the God above<br /> +Forgive my faults like thee?”</p> + +<p>276. Be careful to sound distinctly the <i>r</i> in such words as <i>farther</i>, +<i>martyr</i>, <i>charter</i>, <i>murder</i>, &c. Never say, <i>fah-ther</i>, <i>mah-tyr</i>, +<i>chah-ter</i> and <i>muh-der</i>. On the other hand, avoid <i>trilling</i> the <i>r</i>, as +<i>mur-er-der</i>, <i>r'r'robber</i>. It is altogether too tragical for common life.</p> + +<p>277. “The Duke of Wellington was an <i>Irishman</i>, but knew nothing of the +<i>Irish</i> language:” beware of saying <i>Ierishman</i> for <i>Irishman</i>, or +<i>Ierish</i> for <i>Irish</i>; a very common mistake, which the “Know-Nothings” are +quick to detect.</p> + +<p>278. “He did it <i>unbeknown</i> to us:” say, <i>unknown</i>, &c.</p> + +<p>279. “He lives in <i>affluence</i>, as he is in <i>affluent</i> circumstances:” +beware of placing the accent in <i>affluence</i> and <i>affluent</i> on the syllable +<i>flu</i> instead of on <i>af</i>, a very common error.</p> + +<p>280. “If I say, ‘They retreated <i>back</i>,’ I use a word that is +<i>superfluous</i>, as <i>back</i> is implied in the syllable <i>re</i> in <i>retreated</i>:” +never place the accent on <i>flu</i> in <i>superfluous</i>, but always on <i>per</i>.</p> + +<p>281. “In reading Paley’s ‘Evidences of Christianity,’ I unexpectedly <i>lit +on</i> the passage I wanted:” say, <i>met with</i> the passage, &c.</p> + +<p>282. A gentleman having selected a book from the library shelves of the +Mechanics’ Institute, went to the librarian to have the volume registered +under his name, and said, “<i>I have taken the life of Julius Cæsar</i>.” “I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +shall then,” responded the librarian, “charge the work to Mr. Brutus!” Be +careful how you “take the lives” of distinguished men.</p> + +<p>283. “He has a <i>bayonet</i> to his gun:” never say <i>baggonet</i>. This error is +a peculiarity of the Wiltshire dialect, in England. In an old Wiltshire +song the following stanza occurs:</p> + +<p class="poem">“A hornet zet in a holler tree,<br /> +A proper spiteful twoad was he;<br /> +And merrily zung while he did zet,—<br /> +His sting as sharp as a <i>baggonet</i>.”</p> + +<p>284. “Aunt Deborah is down with the <i>rheumatiz</i>:” say, <i>rheumatism</i>; this +is one among the <i>isms</i>, though a very unpopular one.</p> + +<p>285. “It is <i>obligatory</i> upon every honest man to go to the polls to-day:” +accent <i>lig</i>, and not <i>ga</i>.</p> + +<p>286. “On the <i>contrary</i>:” accent <i>con</i>, not <i>tra</i>. The old song takes up +with a bad pronunciation, for the sake of a good rhyme:</p> + +<p class="poem"><span style="margin-left: 2em;">“Mistress Mary,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Quite <i>contrary</i>,</span><br /> +How does your garden grow?”</p> + +<p>287. “That is altogether <i>above my bend</i>:” say, <i>out of my power</i>.</p> + +<p>288. “He has <i>absquatulated</i>, and taken the specie with him:” <i>absconded</i> +is a more classical word.</p> + +<p>289. “It’s <i>eenamost</i> time we had started:” say, <i>almost</i>.</p> + +<p>290. “<i>I haven’t ary one</i>:” say, <i>I have neither</i>, or, <i>I haven’t either</i>.</p> + +<p>291. “That man is in a <i>bad box</i>:” say, <i>bad predicament</i>, or bad +<i>situation</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span>292. It may be doubted whether to say of a man “that <i>he barked up the +wrong tree</i>,” is a complimentary or elegant metaphor.</p> + +<p>293. “I will retain two-thirds, and give you the <i>balance</i>:” say, +<i>remainder</i>.</p> + +<p>294. “I <i>calculate</i> to go by steam:” say, “I <i>expect</i>.”</p> + +<p>295. Avoid using the phrase “<i>I cave in</i>,” for “<i>I give up</i>.” It savors of slang.</p> + +<p>296. Do not say, “<i>chicken fixings</i>,” for “<i>trifles</i>,” or “<i>extras</i>,” connected with dress.</p> + +<p>297. “He is a <i>cute</i> man:” this is an inelegant abbreviation of <i>acute</i>, +and employed to mean <i>smart</i>. It may, however, be properly applied to Yankees!</p> + +<p>298. “He <i>dickered</i> with him an hour:” say, “he <i>bargained</i>.” This is a +word somewhat peculiar to New-York.</p> + +<p>299. “<i>Do don’t</i>” is a vulgar usage of the Southern States, especially +Georgia, for “<i>do not</i>.”</p> + +<p>300. “He is <i>done gone</i>:” say, <i>ruined</i>.</p> + +<p>301. “We had a <i>dreadful</i> fine time:” say, <i>very</i>, or <i>exceedingly</i>.</p> + +<p>302. “It rains, and I want an umbrella <i>the worst kind</i>:” say, “<i>I am +greatly in want</i>,” &c. An umbrella <i>of the worst kind</i> would not be likely +to answer the best of purposes on a rainy day!</p> + +<p>303. “The whole concern <i>fizzled out</i>:” say, <i>proved a failure</i>.</p> + +<p>304. “As soon as I mentioned it to him, he <i>flared up</i>:” say, he <i>became +excited</i>, or <i>grew violent</i>.</p> + +<p>305. “The choir sang <i>Old Hundred</i>:” pronounce <i>Hundred</i> as written, and +not <i>Hunderd</i>.</p> + +<p>306. “The message was sent by his <i>aid-de-camp</i>:”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> pronounce as if written +<i>ade-de-kawng</i>, avoiding, however, as much as possible a twang on the last +syllable.</p> + +<p>307. “My <i>beard</i> is long:” don’t say <i>baird</i>.</p> + +<p>308. “The blacksmith blows the <i>bellows</i>:” pronounce as written, and not +<i>bellus</i>.</p> + +<p>309. “Let me help you to some <i>catsup</i>:” avoid saying <i>ketchup</i>.</p> + +<p>310. “It is new <i>China ware</i>:” do not say, <i>chaney ware</i>; this latter +article exists only in the traditions of old women.</p> + +<p>311. “The <i>combatants</i> parted in good humor:” accent the first +syllable—never the second.</p> + +<p>312. “We poled the raft up the <i>creek</i>:” pronounce as if written <i>krik</i>.</p> + +<p>313. “Then spake the <i>warrior</i> bold:” pronounce in two syllables, as +<i>war-yur</i>, not <i>war-ri-or</i>.</p> + +<p>314. In using the word <i>venison</i>, sound the <i>i</i>: <i>venzun</i> is a common, +though not elegant pronunciation.</p> + +<p>315. <i>Tapestry</i> is divided <i>tap-es-try</i> and not <i>ta-pes-try</i>.</p> + +<p>316. “He is only a <i>subaltern</i>:” accent the first syllable of <i>subaltern</i>.</p> + +<p>317. “The barge is at the <i>quay</i>:” pronounce <i>quay</i>, <i>kay</i>.</p> + +<p>318. “The path over the meadow was <i>queachy</i>:” this word, meaning <i>soft</i> +or <i>boggy</i>, is now obsolete, and cannot be used with propriety.</p> + +<p>319. “He talks <i>pulpitically</i>:” this word, which some who copy +Chesterfield persist in using, has never by any good authority been +admitted into the language.</p> + +<p>320. To <i>peff</i>, meaning to <i>cough faintly</i> (like a sheep), is hardly a +useable word.</p> + +<p>321. Be careful to distinguish between <i>pencil</i>, an instrument for +writing, and <i>pensile</i>, meaning <i>hanging down</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>322. <i>To yank</i> is a vulgarism, meaning <i>to twitch powerfully</i>.</p> + +<p>323. Avoid the slang phrase, “<i>I used to could</i>.” Say, “<i>I could formerly</i>.”</p> + +<p>324. “She <i>takes on</i> about it greatly:” say, <i>grieves</i>.</p> + +<p>325. “He <i>staved off</i> the case two days longer:” say, he <i>put off</i>, or <i>delayed</i>.</p> + +<p>326. “He made a great <i>splurge</i>:” say, he made a <i>blustering effort</i>.</p> + +<p>327. “I <i>reckon</i> it is going to rain:” say, I <i>think</i>, or <i>expect</i>. +<i>Reckon</i> applies to <i>calculation</i>.</p> + +<p>328. “The basket is <i>pretty large</i>:” avoid, if possible, the use of the +word <i>pretty</i> out of its legitimate signification; the language abounds +with substitutes more elegant.</p> + +<p>329. “She weighs a <i>plaguy sight</i>:” say, <i>a great deal</i>.</p> + +<p>330. “He <i>made tracks</i> at sundown:” say, <i>he left</i>, or <i>escaped</i>.</p> + + +<p>331. “He was compelled to <i>fork over the cash</i>:” say, <i>to pay over</i>.</p> + +<p>332. “<i>To flunk out</i>” is a vulgar expression for <i>to retire through fear</i>; +the most that can be tolerated is, <i>to sneak out</i>.</p> + +<p>333. “When last observed, he was <i>going at full chisel</i>:” say, <i>at the top +of his speed</i>.</p> + +<p>334. “That bill is a <i>counterfeit</i>:” the last syllable is pronounced as if +written <i>fit</i>, and not <i>feet</i>.</p> + +<p>335. “I am very much <i>obliged</i> to you:” do not say <i>obleeged</i>.</p> + +<p>336. The following sentence affords an example of three words of similar +pronunciation, but different signification: “It is not easy to <i>pare</i> a +<i>pear</i> with a <i>pair</i> of scissors.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>337. “The <i>robber</i> entered the dwelling, and secretly carried off the +silver:” say, <i>thief</i>; a <i>robber</i> attacks violently, and commits his +depredations by main force; a <i>thief</i> is one who uses secrecy and deception.</p> + +<p>338. “Go and <i>fetch</i> me my riding-whip:” say, <i>bring</i>. <i>Fetch</i> means to +<i>go and bring</i>; <i>go and fetch</i> is repetition.</p> + +<p>339. <i>To leave</i> and <i>to quit</i> are often used as synonymous terms, though +improperly; <i>to leave</i> implies a design of returning soon—<i>to quit</i>, an +absence of a long time, or forever; as, in Shakespeare:—</p> + +<p class="poem"><span style="margin-left: 3em;">“——the very rats</span><br /> +Instinctively had <i>quit</i> it.”—<i>Tempest</i>, i. 2.</p> + +<p>“I shall <i>leave</i> my house for a month before next Autumn; but I shall not +be obliged to <i>quit</i> it until after Christmas.”</p> + +<p>340. <i>Mute</i> and <i>dumb</i>. A <i>dumb</i> man has not the power to speak; a <i>mute</i> +man either does not choose, or is not allowed to speak. It is, therefore, +more proper to say of a person who can neither hear nor speak, that he is +“deaf and <i>dumb</i>,” than that he is a “deaf <i>mute</i>.”</p> + +<p>341. <i>Strong</i> and <i>robust</i>. These words are frequently misused: a <i>strong</i> +man is able to bear a heavy burden, but not necessarily for a long time; a +<i>robust</i> man bears <i>continual</i> fatigue with ease; a <i>strong</i> man may be +active and nimble; while an excess of muscular development, together with +a clumsiness of action, exclude these qualities from the <i>robust</i> man:—</p> + +<p class="poem">“<i>Strong</i> as a tower in hope, I cry Amen!”<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 12em;"><span class="smcap">Shakespeare</span>, <i>Richard II.</i> i. 3.</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span><br /> +“For one who, though of drooping mien, had yet<br /> +From nature’s kindliness received a frame<br /> +<i>Robust</i> as ever rural labor bred.”<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 12em;"><span class="smcap">Wordsworth</span>, <i>Excursion</i>, VI.</span></p> + +<p>342. “Isaac Newton <i>invented</i> the law of gravitation:” say, <i>discovered</i>. +“Galileo <i>discovered</i> the telescope:” say, <i>invented</i>.</p> + +<p>343. To <i>hear</i> and to <i>listen</i> have each distinct degrees of meaning. To +<i>hear</i> implies no effort or particular attention. To <i>listen</i> implies some +eagerness to hear. An old proverb says, “They that <i>listen</i> seldom <i>hear</i> +any good of themselves.”</p> + +<p>344. <i>Ought</i> and <i>should</i> both express obligation, but the latter is not +so binding as the former. “Children <i>ought to</i> love their parents, and +<i>should</i> be neat in their appearance.”</p> + +<p>345. <i>Alone</i> and <i>only</i> are often misapplied. “He <i>only</i> could do it,” +means that no other but himself could do it; “he <i>alone</i> could do it,” +should mean that he, without the assistance of others, could do it.</p> + +<p>346. “Please the pigs.”—(<i>Old Proverb.</i>) This is a corruption from +“Please the <i>pyx</i>.” The <i>pyx</i> is the receptacle which contains the +consecrated wafer on Romish altars; and the exclamation is equal to +“Please God.” This corruption is as curious a one as that of “tawdry” from +“’t Audrey,” or “at St. Audrey’s Fair,” famous for the sale of +frippery—showy, cheap, and worthless.</p> + +<p>347. “The <i>partridge</i> is a delightful bird:” do not say <i>patridge</i>. Also, +do not say <i>pasley</i> for <i>parsley</i>.</p> + +<p>348. “After this, let him hide his <i>diminished head</i>:” this common phrase +is a poetical quotation from Milton,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> and is therefore proper to be used +even when it does not <i>literally</i> express the idea:—</p> + +<p class="poem">“At whose sight all the stars<br /> +Hide their <i>diminished heads</i>.”</p> + +<p>349. “That bourne from whence no traveler returns.” How often are +precisely these words spoken? They are improperly quoted from Shakespeare, +in Hamlet, and correctly read as follows:—</p> + +<p class="poem">“That undiscovered country, from whose bourne<br /> +No traveler returns.”</p> + +<p>350. “Bring me my <i>waistcoat</i>:” pronounce as if written <i>waste-coat</i>, and +not <i>weskut</i>. It should rhyme, as it did in an old ballad, with “<i>laced +coat</i>.”</p> + +<p>351. “Your <i>bonnet</i> to its right use.”—(<i>Shakespeare:</i>) never say +<i>bunnet</i>.</p> + +<p>352. “It is not cold enough to wear my <i>gloves</i>:” pronounce as if written +<i>gluvs</i>, and to rhyme with <i>loves</i>. In “Fair Rosamond” the following +illustrative stanza occurs:—</p> + +<p class="poem">“He said he had his <i>gloves</i> from France:<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The Queen said, ‘That can’t be:</span><br /> +If you go there for <i>glove-making</i>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">It is without the <i>g</i>.’”</span></p> + +<p>353. “<i>Egad!</i> what great good luck!” This word is now inelegantly used, +except in certain species of poetry, where it is introduced with much +effect, as in the following distich:—</p> + +<p class="poem">“All tragedies, <i>egad!</i> to me sound oddly;<br /> +I can no more be serious, than you godly.”</p> + +<p>354. “The frigate is now in the Yellow Sea, or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> <i>thereabouts</i>:” say, +<i>thereabout</i>. This term is a transposed combination of <i>about there</i>; +there is no such word as <i>thereabouts</i>. The same may be said of +<i>hereabouts</i>, and <i>whereabouts</i>.</p> + +<p>355. “Whether he will or <i>no</i>:” say, <i>not</i>. The reason of this correction +is clearly seen by supplying what is needed to complete the sense: Whether +he will or <i>will not</i>.</p> + +<p>356. “He looked at it first <i>lengthways</i>, then <i>sideways</i>:” say, +<i>lengthwise</i> and <i>sidewise</i>. Also, say <i>otherwise</i> instead of <i>otherways</i>. +A nobleman said to his fool, “I am <i>wise</i>, and you are <i>otherwise</i>.” +“Yes,” replied his jester, “you are <i>wise</i>, and I am <i>another wise</i>.”</p> + +<p>357. If you are a landlord, beware of incorrectly using such an expression +as in the following: A landed proprietor went to a tenant with a view of +increasing his rent, and said to him, “Neighbor, I am going to <i>raise your +rent</i>.” “Thank you, sir,” was the reply, “for I am utterly unable to +<i>raise it myself</i>.”</p> + +<p>358. “Will you <i>accept</i> of this slight testimonial?” Omit <i>of</i>, which is +superfluous, and weakens the sentence.</p> + +<p>359. “He convinced his opponent by <i>dint</i> of good reasoning:” <i>dint</i>, +meaning <i>force</i> or strength, is an obsolete word, and should not now be employed.</p> + +<p>360. “The Danube <i>empties</i> into the Black Sea:” say, <i>flows</i>; to <i>empty</i> +means <i>to make vacant</i>; no river can properly be called <i>empty</i>, until it +is entirely dried up.</p> + +<p>361. Such words as <i>bamboozle</i>, <i>topsyturvy</i>, <i>helterskelter</i>, +<i>hurlyburly</i>, and <i>pellmell</i> are generally to be avoided. They answer, +however, for familiar conversation.</p> + +<p>362. Never say <i>seraphims</i>, for the plural of <i>seraph</i>,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> but <i>seraphim</i>; +the same rule holds with <i>cherubims</i>. <i>Cherubs</i> and <i>seraphs</i> are proper +plurals, suiting a familiar style of speaking or writing, while <i>cherubim</i> +and <i>seraphim</i> are to be used only in more dignified and solemn discourse.</p> + +<p>363. “<i>There’s</i> the books you wanted:” say, <i>there are</i>: avoid all +abbreviations when they lead to a grammatical error, as in the present instance.</p> + +<p>364. “This prisoner has, of all the gang, committed <i>fewer</i> misdemeanors:” +say, <i>fewest</i>. We may say <i>fewer than</i> all, but we must say <i>fewest of</i> all.</p> + +<p>365. “I esteem you more than <i>the others</i>:” this sentence is equivocal. +Does it mean, “I esteem you more than <i>I esteem the others</i>,” or, “I +esteem you more than <i>the others esteem you</i>?”</p> + +<p>366. “The most eminent scholars will, on some points, differ <i>among one +another</i>:” say, <i>among themselves</i>.</p> + +<p>367. “He, from that moment, doubled his <i>kindness and caresses of me</i>:” +say, “kindness <i>for</i> and caresses of me;” by omitting <i>caresses</i> we have, +“He doubled his <i>kindness of</i> me,” which is not good English.</p> + +<p>368. <i>To differ from</i> and <i>to differ with</i>: to <i>differ from</i> a man means +to have an opinion different from his; to <i>differ with</i> a person signifies +a <i>quarrel</i> or <i>rupture</i>.</p> + +<p>369. “He barely escaped having <i>one or two broken heads</i>:” a man has but +<i>one</i> head, let it be broken or whole. Say, “He <i>once or twice barely +escaped</i> having a broken head.”</p> + +<p>370. “Whenever <i>I fall into that man’s conversation</i> I am entertained and +profited:” say, <i>fall into conversation with that man</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span>371. “The lecturer <i>spoke to several points</i>:” say, “spoke <i>on</i> several +points.” He spoke <i>to</i> his audience.</p> + +<p>372. “I shall regard your <i>strictures</i> only so far as <i>concerns</i> my own +errors:” say, <i>concern</i>; the phrase when filled out should read, “only so +far as <i>they concern</i> my own errors.”</p> + +<p>373. “I found him better than I expected <i>to have found him</i>:” say, <i>to find him</i>.</p> + +<p>374. “I perceived that he was totally blind <i>with half an eye</i>:” say, “I +perceived, with half an eye, that he was totally blind.” Otherwise, to a +man <i>totally blind</i> you allot <i>half an eye</i>!</p> + +<p>375. The word <i>only</i> is often wrongly placed in the sentence, and made to +express an idea which is not designed to be conveyed. “Not <i>only</i> Chinese +are superstitious,” implies that others besides the Chinese are +superstitious. “Chinese are not <i>only</i> superstitious,” implies that in +addition to being superstitious, they have some other characteristics. +“Chinese not <i>only</i> are superstitious,” leaves room for something still +further to be implied of the Chinese than superstition, and which is not +necessarily the predicate of <i>are</i>; as, “Chinese not only are +superstitious, but they persecute those who do not put faith in Confucius.”</p> + +<p>376. <i>Not the least</i> and <i>nothing less than</i>, sometimes literally convey +just the opposite of what is intended. “He has <i>not the least</i> excuse for +going,” may mean that he has <i>a great excuse</i>, or <i>none at all</i>. “He seeks +<i>nothing less than</i> worldly honor,” may signify that nothing inferior to +worldly honor will satisfy his desire; or, on the other hand, it may mean +that nothing is less sought by him than worldly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> honor. Such expressions, +therefore, are to be used with caution, else they will mislead.</p> + +<p>377. Care should be taken in the use of epithets. For instance, in the +sentence, “<i>A wise and good man</i> should be respected,” the words <i>wise</i> and +<i>good</i> may properly be applied to the same man; but if the sentence should +be altered to read, “An <i>old and young man</i>,” it is obvious that both +epithets could not relate to the same person.</p> + +<p>378. Never say <i>turkle soup</i>, for <i>turtle soup</i>.</p> + +<p>379. The word <i>long</i> should not now be employed to signify <i>many</i>. An +example of this early usage is found in the Fifth Commandment, “that thy +days may be <i>long</i> upon the land.” The following lines furnish an instance +of the verb <i>to lengthen</i>, meaning to <i>make many</i>:—</p> + +<p class="poem"><span style="margin-left: 4em;">“The best of all ways</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">To <i>lengthen</i> our days,</span><br /> +Is to take a few hours from the night, my lad.”</p> + +<p>380. “They returned <i>back again</i> to the <i>same</i> city <i>from</i> whence they +came <i>forth</i>:” omit the italicized words, which are redundant and inelegant.</p> + +<p>381. “Have you any leisure <i>upon your hands</i>?” omit <i>upon your +hands</i>,—not so much because anything after “leisure” is superfluous, in +such a sentence, as because the idea of <i>having leisure upon your hands</i> is absurd.</p> + +<p>382. “Seven lads were present, and he gave them <i>all</i> a book:” say, <i>gave +them each</i> a book. <i>All</i> refers to a number of persons or things taken +<i>collectively</i>, as <i>one body</i>; <i>each</i> refers to <i>every individual</i>, separately considered.</p> + +<p>383. “Lend me your <i>umberell</i>:” say, <i>umbrella</i>. The former pronunciation, +however, is allowed by <i>poetic license</i>, as in the following, adapted from +Thomas Moore:—</p> + +<p class="poem"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +“Oh, ever thus from childhood’s hour,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Has chilling fate upon me fell!</span><br /> +There always comes a soakin’ shower<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">When I hain’t got an <i>umbrell</i>.”</span></p> + +<p>384. We lately met a grammarian, who had just made a tour through the +mines, conjugating, or, rather, cogitating thus: “Positive, <i>mine</i>; +comparative <i>miner</i>; superlative, <i>minus</i>!”</p> + +<p>385. “Put not thy secret into the mouth of the <i>Bosphorus</i>, for it will +betray it to the ears of the Black Sea.”—(<i>Oriental Proverb.</i>) Pronounce +<i>Bosphorus</i> as if written <i>Bosforus</i>, and not <i>Bos-porous</i>.</p> + +<p>386. Be careful to use the hyphen (-) correctly: it joins compound words, +and words broken by the ending of a line. The use of the hyphen will +appear more clearly from the following example: “<i>many colored</i> wings” +means <i>many</i> wings which are <i>colored</i>; but “<i>many-colored</i> wings” means +“wings of <i>many colors</i>.”</p> + +<p>387. “I am <i>afraid</i> it will rain:” say, <i>I fear</i>. <i>Afraid</i> expresses +terror; <i>fear</i> may mean only <i>anxiety</i>.</p> + +<p>388. Never say <i>o-fences</i> for <i>offences</i>; <i>pison</i> for <i>poison</i>; +<i>co-lection</i> for <i>collection</i>; <i>voiolent</i> for <i>violent</i>; <i>kivver</i> for +<i>cover</i>; <i>afeard</i> for <i>afraid</i>; <i>debbuty</i> for <i>deputy</i>. The last three +examples are very common.</p> + +<p>389. “It is a mere <i>cipher</i>:” never spell <i>cipher</i> with a <i>y</i>.</p> + +<p>390. “I was <i>necessitated</i> to do it:” a poor expression, and often made +worse by <i>necessiated</i> being used: say, I was <i>obliged</i>, or <i>compelled</i>, +to do it.</p> + +<p>391. “Gibbon wrote the <i>Rise</i> and Fall of the Roman Empire:” pronounce +<i>Rise</i>, the noun, so as to rhyme with <i>price</i>; <i>Rise</i>, the verb, rhymes +with <i>prize</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span>392. “He joined his <i>regiment</i> last week:” never say, <i>ridgiment</i> for +<i>regiment</i>.</p> + +<p>393. “He bought a <i>gimlet</i>:” never spell the last word <i>gimblet</i>, as many do.</p> + +<p>394. “He is a supporter of the <i>Government</i>:” beware of omitting the <i>n</i> +in the second syllable of <i>Government</i>—a very common practice.</p> + +<p>395. “Received this day <i>of</i> Mr. Brown ten dollars:” say, “Received this +day <i>from</i>,” &c.</p> + +<p>396. “Of whatever you <i>get</i>, endeavor to save something; and with all your +<i>getting, get</i> wisdom:” carefully avoid saying <i>git</i> for <i>get</i>, and +<i>gitting</i> for <i>getting</i>.</p> + +<p>397. “So intent was he on the song he was <i>singing</i>, while he stood by the +fire, that he did not perceive that his clothes were <i>singeing</i>.” Verbs +ending with a <i>single e</i>, omit the <i>e</i> when the termination <i>ing</i> is +added, as, <i>give</i>, <i>giving</i>; in <i>singeing</i>, however, the <i>e</i> must be +retained, to prevent its being confounded with <i>singing</i>. The <i>e</i> must +also be retained in <i>dyeing</i>, to distinguish it from <i>dying</i>.</p> + +<p>398. The following sentences may be studied: “The <i>dyer dyes</i> daily, yet +he <i>dies</i> not.” “The <i>miner minds</i> the <i>minor mines</i>.” “It is not <i>meet</i> +to <i>mete</i> out such <i>meat</i>.” “He performed a great <i>feat</i> with his <i>feet</i> +at the <i>fête</i>.” (<i>Fête</i> is pronounced <i>fate</i>.)</p> + +<p>399. “<i>Lower</i> the sails, as the sky begins to <i>lower</i>:” pronounce <i>low</i> in +the <i>former</i> so as to rhyme with <i>mow</i>, and <i>low</i> in the <i>latter</i> so as to rhyme with <i>cow</i>.</p> + +<p>400. “There was a great <i>row</i> on Monday, in Tryon <i>Row</i>:” pronounce the +former <i>row</i> so as to rhyme with <i>cow</i>—the latter <i>row</i>, so as to rhyme with <i>mo</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span>401. “His <i>surname</i> is Clifford:” never spell the <i>sur</i> in “surname” +<i>sir</i>, which shows an ignorance of its true derivation, which is from the Latin.</p> + +<p>402. “The buildings are so old that they pay <i>almost no rent</i> now:” +<i>scarcely any rent</i>, is better.</p> + +<p>403. “His <i>mamma</i> sent him to a preparatory school:” <i>mamma</i> is often +written with one <i>m</i> only, which is not, as may at first be supposed, in +imitation of the French <i>maman</i>, but in sheer ignorance.</p> + +<p>404. Active verbs often take a neuter sense; as, “<i>The house is +building</i>:” here, <i>is building</i> is used in a neuter signification, because +it has no object after it. By this rule are explained such sentences as, +“<i>Application is wanting</i>;” “<i>The Grammar is printing</i>,” &c.</p> + +<p>405. “He <i>attackted</i> me without the slightest provocation:” say, <i>attacked</i>.</p> + +<p>406. “I called on him every day in the week <i>successfully</i>:” very common, +but incorrect; say, <i>successively</i>.</p> + +<p>407. “I fear I shall <i>discommode</i> you:” it is better to say, <i>incommode</i>.</p> + +<p>408. “I can do it <i>equally as well as</i> he:” leave out <i>equally</i>, which is superfluous.</p> + +<p>409. “We could not forbear <i>from</i> doing it:” leave out <i>from</i>, which is +unnecessary; or say, <i>refrain from</i>.</p> + +<p>410. “He was totally dependent <i>of</i> his father:” say, dependent <i>on</i> his father.</p> + +<p>411. “They accused him <i>for</i> neglecting his duty:” say, <i>of</i> neglecting, &c.</p> + +<p>412. “They have a great resemblance <i>with</i> each other:” say, <i>to</i> each other.</p> + +<p>413. “I entirely dissent <i>with</i> him:” say, <i>from</i> him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>414. “He was made much <i>on</i> at the Springs:” say, made much <i>of</i>, &c.</p> + +<p>415. “He is a man <i>on</i> whom you can confide:” say, <i>in</i> whom, &c.</p> + +<p>416. “He was obliged to <i>fly</i> the country:” say, <i>flee</i> the country. A very common mistake.</p> + +<p>417. “The snuffers <i>wants</i> mending:” say, <i>want</i> mending. No one would +say, “My <i>pantaloons is</i> ripped.”</p> + +<p>418. “His conduct admits <i>of</i> no apology:” omit <i>of</i>, which is quite unnecessary.</p> + +<p>419. “A <i>gent</i> has been here inquiring for you:” a detestable, but very +common expression; say, a <i>gentleman</i> has been, &c. Oliver Wendell Holmes +hits off this liberty with language, in the following happy couplet:—</p> + +<p class="poem">“The things called <i>pants</i>, in certain documents,<br /> +Were never made for <i>gentlemen</i>, but <i>gents</i>.”</p> + +<p>420. “That was <i>all along of</i> you:” say, “That was <i>all your fault</i>.”</p> + +<p>421. “You have no <i>call</i> to be angry with me:” say, no <i>occasion</i>, &c.</p> + +<p>422. “Too free an <i>indulgence</i> in luxuries <i>enervate</i> and <i>injure</i> the +system:” say, <i>enervates</i> and <i>injures</i>, &c. The plural, <i>luxuries</i>, +standing directly before the verb, (which should be <i>enervates</i>, in the +singular,) deceives the ear. Errors of this kind are very common, though a +moment’s thought would correct them. The verb must agree with its subject +in person and in number; if the <i>noun</i> is in the singular, the <i>verb</i> that +belongs to it must also be in the singular.</p> + +<p>423. “A father divided a portion of his property <i>among</i> his two children, +and the remainder he distributed <i>between</i><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> the poor:” say, <i>between</i> his +two children, and <i>among</i> the poor. <i>Between</i> is applicable to two only, <i>among</i> to three or more.</p> + +<p>424. “<i>Every</i> child should obey <i>their</i> parents:” say, <i>his</i> parents. The +pronoun must agree with the noun in number, &c.</p> + +<p>425. “He is a person <i>who</i> I respect greatly:” say, <i>whom</i>. “Be careful +<i>who</i> you trust:” <i>whom</i> you trust.</p> + +<p>426. “Let me consider <i>of</i> this matter.” “The culprit dreaded to enter +<i>in</i> the prison.” “The laborers were not allowed to want <i>for</i> anything.” +Leave out the <i>italicized</i> words—the sense being complete without them.</p> + +<p>427. <i>Cupola</i> is often pronounced <i>cupalo</i>; <i>foliage</i>, <i>foilage</i>; +<i>future</i>, <i>futur</i>; <i>nature</i>, <i>natur</i>: all of which errors should be +carefully avoided.</p> + +<p>428. “’Ow ’appens it that <i>H</i>englishmen so <i>h</i>often misplace their +<i>h</i>aitches?” It is a cockneyism; and if you have fallen into the habit, it +will require perhaps more perseverance than you imagine, to correct it.</p> + +<p>429. Do you say <i>w</i>agabond or <i>v</i>agabond, <i>w</i>inegar or <i>v</i>inegar, <i>w</i>ery +or <i>v</i>ery, <i>v</i>alking or <i>w</i>alking, <i>v</i>atchman or <i>w</i>atchman? It is a local +custom, but if you have any taint of it, don’t sing “<i>V</i>illikins and his +Dinah.”</p> + +<p>430. Provid<i>ence</i>, confid<i>ence</i>, and similar words, are often pronounced +Provid<i>unce</i>, confid<i>unce</i>, &c., substituting <i>unce</i> for <i>ence</i>. So also, +words ending in <i>ance</i>, as mainte<i>nance</i>, suste<i>nance</i>, <span class="smcap">surveil</span><i>lance</i>, +are pronounced falsely mainten<i>unce</i>, susten<i>unce</i>, &c.</p> + +<p>431. <i>Coming</i>, <i>going</i>, <i>according</i>, &c., are often pronounced without the +final <i>g</i>: speak them distinctly, and pronounce difficult words with +de-lib-er-a-tion.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span>432. If you are a Yankee, you should (though, as a general thing, you +<i>will not</i>) take special pains with your vowel sounds, that they be not +formed through the nasal cavities. Don’t say <i>heow</i>, <i>ceow</i>, <i>confeound</i>, +for <i>how</i>, <i>cow</i>, &c.</p> + +<p>433. If you are a Western man, you are liable to give your vowel sounds +too great breadth. You should not say <i>bar</i> for <i>bear</i>, <i>hum</i> for <i>home</i>, +<i>dawlar</i> for <i>dollar</i>; and it is better to avoid using such expressions as +<i>I reckon</i>, <i>I guess</i>, <i>I calculate</i>, too frequently.</p> + +<p>434. “I am going <i>a fishing</i>:” be bold enough to be one among the foremost +to break away from the bad habit of saying <i>a fishing</i>, <i>a talking</i>, <i>a +courting</i>, &c. This custom, however, should be retained in quoting +proverbs and wise sayings; these are better in proportion as they are +older; for example: “<i>Who goes a-borrowing, goes a-sorrowing.</i>” The +quaintness would be destroyed by saying simply <i>borrowing</i> and <i>sorrowing</i>.</p> + +<p>435. Some people add a superfluous preposition at the end of a +sentence—“More than you think <i>for</i>.” This is awkward.</p> + +<p>436. “Then think <i>on</i> the friend who once welcomed it too,” &c. &c.: say, <i>of</i>.</p> + +<p>437. <i>Thou</i> and <i>thee</i> are no longer used in spelling or writing, except +by some of The Friends; but proverbial citations, originally expressed in +that form, lose much of their beauty and force by alteration; as, “If thou +seest thy house in flames, approach and warm thyself by it.” How greatly +would a change of person tame the spirit of this fine proverb!</p> + +<p>438. “By the street of ‘<i>By-and-By</i>,’ one arrives at the house of +‘Never.’” Do not say, <i>By’mby</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span>439. Be careful to observe the <i>two plurals</i> of the following nouns:</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" summary="plurals"> +<tr><td align="center">Singular.</td><td><span class="spacer"> </span></td><td align="center">First Plural.</td><td><span class="spacer"> </span></td><td align="center">Second Plural.</td></tr> + +<tr><td><i>Brother,</i></td><td> </td><td><i>Brothers</i> (of the same parents),</td><td> </td><td><i>Brethren</i> (of the same society).</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Die,</i></td><td> </td><td><i>Dies</i> (for coining),</td><td> </td><td><i>Dice</i> (for gaming).</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Index,</i></td><td> </td><td><i>Indexes</i> (tables of contents),</td><td> </td><td><i>Indices</i> (signs in algebra).</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Pea,</i></td><td> </td><td><i>Peas</i> (referring to a limited number),</td><td> </td><td><i>Pease</i> (referring to the whole species).</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Penny,</i></td><td> </td><td><i>Pennies</i> (coins),</td><td> </td><td><i>Pence</i> (the value).</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Cow,</i></td><td> </td><td><i>Cows</i> (a herd of cattle),</td><td> </td><td><i>Kine</i> (the species).</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Sow,</i></td><td> </td><td><i>Sows</i> (a litter),</td><td> </td><td><i>Swine</i> (the species).</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Genius,</i></td><td> </td><td><i>Geniuses</i> (men of genius),</td><td> </td><td><i>Genii</i> (imaginary spirits).</td></tr></table> + +<p>440. Different shades of meaning may be expressed by slight variations in +the position of the important words in a sentence. For example, “<i>The +Paradise Lost of Milton</i>,” is not exactly the same in import as, +“<i>Milton’s Paradise Lost</i>;” in the former, attention is called to the +author—in the latter, to the poem.</p> + +<p>441. In uniting the plural of <i>one</i>, <i>two</i>, <i>three,</i> do not use the +apostrophe [’] as <i>one’s</i>, <i>two’s</i>, <i>three’s.</i> Good writers never conform +to the latter mode. Wordsworth, who was remarkably particular, not only in +the choice of his words but in their orthography, wrote:</p> + +<p class="poem">“The sun has long been set,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The stars are out by <i>twos and threes</i>;</span><br /> +The little birds are piping yet<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Among the bushes and the trees.”</span></p> + +<p>442. “<i>How’s yourself</i>, this morning?” an exceedingly common, but very +objectionable expression: say, “<i>How are you</i>;” &c.</p> + +<p>443. “Wanted, two apprentices, who will be treated as <i>one</i> of the +family:” great practical difficulty would be found in realizing such +treatment! Say, “as <i>members</i> of the family.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span>444. The following lines afford an instance of the ingenious uses to which +the English language may be put:</p> + +<p class="poem">“You <i>sigh for</i> a <i>cipher</i>, but <i>I sigh for you;</i><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Oh, <i>sigh for no cipher</i>, but oh, <i>sigh for me;</i></span><br /> +Oh, let not my <i>sigh for</i> a <i>cipher</i> go,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">But give <i>sigh for sigh, for I sigh</i> for you so!”</span></p> + +<p>The above is more briefly expressed in the following manner:</p> + +<p class="poem">“U O a O, but I O u,<br /> +Oh, O no O, but oh, O me;<br /> +Oh, let not my O a O go,<br /> +But give O O I O u so!”</p> + +<p>445. Sometimes <i>but</i> is incorrectly substituted for <i>that</i>: as, “I have no +doubt <i>but</i> he will be here to-night.” Sometimes for the conjunction <i>if</i>, +as, “I shouldn’t wonder <i>but</i> that was the case.” And sometimes <i>two</i> +conjunctions are used instead of one, as, “<i>If that</i> I have offended him,” +“<i>After that</i> he had seen the parties,” &c. All this is very awkward and +should be avoided.</p> + +<p>446. “My hands are <i>chopped</i>:” say, <i>chapped</i>.</p> + +<p>447. “This will serve as a <i>preventative</i>:” say, <i>preventive</i>.</p> + +<p>448. “A <i>nishe</i> young man,” “What <i>makesh</i> you laugh?” “If he <i>offendsh</i> +you, don’t speak to him,” “<i>Ash</i> you please,” “Not <i>jush</i> yet,” “We +always <i>passh</i> your house in going to call on <i>Missh Yatesh</i>.” This is +decided, unmitigated <i>cockneyism</i>, having its parallel in nothing except +the broken English of the sons of Abraham, and to adopt it in conversation +is certainly “not speaking like a Christian.”</p> + +<p>449. Never say, “Cut it in <i>half</i>,” for this you cannot do unless you +could <i>annihilate one</i> half. You may “cut it in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> two,” or “cut it in +halves,” or “cut it through,” or “divide it,” but no human ability will +enable you <i>to cut it in half</i>.</p> + +<p>451. <i>To lay and to lie.</i>—<i>To lay</i> is an active or transitive verb, and +must always have an object, expressed or understood. <i>To lie</i> (not meaning +<i>to tell a falsehood</i>) is a neuter or intransitive, and therefore does not +admit of an object. The only real difficulty arises from the fact, that +the past tense of “lie,” when used without an auxiliary, is the same as +the present of “lay.” But a little attention will obviate this. Nothing +can be more erroneous than to say, “I shall go and lay down.” The question +which naturally arises in the mind of the discriminating hearer is, +“<i>What</i> are you going to lay down—money, carpets, plans, or what?” for, +as a transitive verb is used, an object is wanted to complete the sense. +The speaker means, that he himself is going to <i>lie down</i>. “My brother +<i>lays</i> ill of a fever,” should be, “My brother <i>lies</i>,” &c.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" summary="verbs"> +<tr><td> </td><td align="center"><span class="smcap">Verb Active.</span></td><td> </td><td><span class="spacer"> </span></td><td> </td><td align="center"><span class="smcap">Verb Neuter.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td align="center"><i>To lay.</i><br />Present Tense.</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td align="center"><i>To lie.</i><br />Present Tense.</td></tr> +<tr><td>I lay<br/>Thou layest<br/>He lays<br/>We lay<br/>You lay<br/>They lay</td><td align="center" valign="middle"><span class="bracket3">}</span></td><td valign="middle">money,<br/>carpets,<br/>plans,<br/>—any<i>thing</i>.</td><td> </td> +<td>I lie<br />Thou liest<br />He lies<br />We lie<br />You lie<br />They lie</td><td align="center" valign="middle"><span class="bracket3">}</span></td><td valign="middle">down,<br />too long,<br />on a sofa,<br />—any <i>where</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td align="center">Imperfect Tense.</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td align="center">Imperfect Tense.</td></tr> +<tr><td>I laid<br/>Thou laidest<br/>He laid<br/>We laid<br/>You laid<br/>They laid</td><td align="center" valign="middle"><span class="bracket3">}</span></td><td valign="middle">money,<br/>carpets,<br/>plans,<br/>—any<i>thing</i>.</td><td> </td> +<td>I lay<br />Thou layest<br />He lays<br />We lay<br />You lay<br />They lay</td><td align="center" valign="middle"><span class="bracket3">}</span></td><td valign="middle">down,<br />too long,<br />on a sofa,<br />—any <i>where</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3" align="center">Present Participle, Laying.</td><td> </td><td colspan="3" align="center">Present Participle, Lying.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3" align="center">Perfect Participle, Laid.</td><td> </td><td colspan="3" align="center">Perfect Participle, Lain.</td></tr></table> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span>452. Many people have an odd way of saying, “I expect,” when they mean +only “I think,” or “I conclude;” as, “I expect my brother went to Richmond +to-day,” “I expect those books were sent to Paris last year.” <i>Expect</i> can +relate only to <i>future</i> time, and must be followed by a future tense, or a +verb in the infinitive mood; as, “I expect my brother <i>will go</i> to +Richmond to-day,” “I expect <i>to find</i> those books were sent to Paris last year.”</p> + +<p>453. “A <i>summer’s</i> morning,” should be, A <i>summer</i> morning.</p> + +<p>454. The vulgar speaker uses adjectives instead of adverbs, and says, +“This letter is written <i>shocking</i>;” the genteel speaker uses adverbs +instead of adjectives, and says, “This writing looks <i>shockingly</i>.”</p> + +<p>455. “<i>Nobody else</i> but him,” should be, <i>Nobody</i> but him.</p> + +<p>456. “That <i>ain’t</i> just,” should be, That <i>is not</i> just.</p> + +<p>457. “He was killed <i>by</i> a cannon-ball,” should be, He was killed <i>with</i> a +cannon-ball. He was killed <i>by</i> the cannoneer.</p> + +<p>458. “A <i>new pair</i> of gloves,” should be, A <i>pair of new</i> gloves.</p> + +<p>459. “<i>Before</i> I do that, I must <i>first</i> be paid,” should be, Before I do +that, I must be paid.</p> + +<p>460. A grammatical play upon the word <span class="smcap">that</span>:</p> + +<p class="poem">“Now <i>that</i> is a word which may often be joined,<br /> +For <i>that that</i> may be doubled is clear to the mind;<br /> +And <i>that that that</i> is right, is as plain to the view,<br /> +As <i>that that that that</i> we use is rightly used too;<br /> +And <i>that that that that that</i> line has in it, is right—<br /> +In accordance with grammar, is plain in our sight.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span>461. “He will go <i>from thence</i> to-morrow.” The preposition “from” is +included in these adverbs, therefore it becomes tautology in sense when prefixed to them.</p> + +<p>462. “Equally as well,” is a very common expression, and a very incorrect +one; the adverb of comparison, “as,” has no right in the sentence. +“Equally well,” “Equally high,” “Equally dear,” should be the +construction; and if a complement be necessary in the phrase, it should be +preceded by the preposition “with,” as, “The wall was equally high with +the former one,” “The goods at Smith’s are equally dear with those sold at +the shop next door,” &c. “Equally the same” is tautology.</p> + +<p>463. Some persons talk of “<i>continuing on</i>:” in what other direction would it be possible to <i>continue</i>?</p> + +<p>464. “The satin measured twelve yards before I cut this piece <i>off of</i> +it.” “The fruit was gathered <i>off of</i> that tree.” Omit <i>of</i>; or, omitting +<i>off of,</i> insert <i>from</i>.</p> + +<p>465. “He left his horse, and got <i>on to</i> a stage-coach,” “He jumped <i>on +to</i> the floor,” “She laid it <i>on to</i> a dish,” “I threw it <i>on to</i> the +fire.” Why use two prepositions where one would be quite as explicit, and +far more elegant? Nobody would think of saying, “He came to New-York, +<i>for</i> to go to the exhibition.”</p> + +<p>466. “No other resource <i>but</i> this was allowed him:” say, “No other +resource <i>than</i> this,” &c.</p> + +<p>467. “I don’t know but <i>what</i> I shall go to White Plains to-morrow:” say, +“I don’t know but <i>that</i>,” &c.</p> + +<p>468. “One of those houses <i>were</i> sold last week,” “Each of the daughters +<i>are</i> to have a separate share,” “Every tree in those plantations <i>have</i> +been injured by the storm,” “Either of the children <i>are</i> at liberty to +claim it.” Here<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> it will be perceived that the pronouns “one,” “each,” +“every,” “either,” are the true nominatives to the verbs; but the +intervening noun in the plural number, in each sentence, deludes the ear; +and the speaker, without reflection, renders the verb in the plural +instead of the singular number.</p> + +<p>469. “Many still die annually <i>from</i> the plague:” say, <i>of</i> the plague.</p> + +<p>470. “He spoke <i>contemptibly</i> of him,” should be, He spoke <i>contemptuously</i> of him.</p> + +<p>471. “<i>Was</i> you?” should be, <i>Were</i> you?</p> + +<p>472. “This is the more <i>perfect</i> of the two:” say, More <i>complete</i>. +<i>Perfect</i> rarely admits comparison.</p> + +<p>473. Avoid all slang and vulgar words and phrases, as, <i>Anyhow</i>, <i>Bating</i>, +<i>Bran new</i>, <i>To blow up</i>, <i>Bother</i>, <i>Cut</i>, <i>Currying favor</i>, <i>Fork out</i>, +<i>Half an eye</i>, <i>I am up to you</i>, <i>Kick up</i>, <i>Scrape</i>, <i>The Scratch</i>, <i>Walk into</i>.</p> + +<p>474. “Go <i>over</i> the bridge,” should be, Go <i>across</i> the bridge.</p> + +<p>475. “<i>I was some distance from home</i>,” should be, I was <i>at</i> some distance from home.</p> + +<p>476. “Is Mr. Smith <i>in</i>?” should be, Is Mr. Smith <i>within</i>?</p> + +<p>477. “It is <i>above</i> a month since,” should be, It is <i>more</i> than a month since.</p> + +<p>478. “Vegetables were <i>plenty</i>,” should be, Vegetables were <i>plentiful</i>.</p> + +<p>479. “We both were <i>very disappointed</i>.” This is an incomplete expression: +say, <i>very much</i>, or <i>very greatly</i>. No one would think of saying, “We both were <i>very pleased</i>.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span>480. “It is I who <i>is</i> to receive the appointment:” say, who <i>am</i> to +receive; <i>who</i> is in the first person, and the verb of which it is the subject must be in the same.</p> + +<p>481. Never say <i>biscake</i>, for <i>biscuit</i>.</p> + +<p>482. “Passengers are <i>not requested</i> to let down the chains, before the +boat is fastened to the bridge.” [From a printed regulation on one of the +New-York and Brooklyn ferry-boats.] The reading should be, “Passengers +<i>are requested not to let down</i> the chains.”</p> + +<p>483. “How will you <i>swap</i> jack-knives?” <i>swap,</i> although it is a word +familiarly used in connection with “jack-knives,” is a term that cannot +lay the least claim to elegance. Use some other of the many mercantile +expressions to which trade has given rise.</p> + +<p>484. “He’s put his nose to the <i>grin-stone</i> at an early age.” [A remark +usually made by old ladies, suggested by the first marriage among their +grandsons.] Say, <i>grind-stone</i>. A <i>grin-stone</i> implies a stone that +“grins,” whereas, especially in this instance, the “nose” fulfills that +office.</p> + +<p>485. The importance of punctuating a written sentence is often neglected. +Space does not permit the giving of rules on this subject, in this book. +Business correspondence is generally blemished by many omissions of this +character; for example, “Messrs G Longman & Co have recd a note from the +Cor Sec Nat Shipwreck Soc informing them of the loss of one of their +vessels off the N E Coast of S A at 8 P M on the 20 of Jan.” A clergyman, +standing in his pulpit, was once handed a slip of paper, to be read in the +hearing of the congregation, which was intended to convey the following +notice: “A man going to sea, his wife desires the prayers of the church.” +But the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> sentence was improperly punctuated, and he read, “A man going to +see his wife, desires the prayers of the church!”</p> + +<p>486. “The knave thereupon commenced rifling his <i>friend’s</i> (as he called +him) <i>pocket</i>:” say, “The knave commenced rifling the <i>pocket of his +friend</i>, as he facetiously called him.” The possessive case, and the word +that governs it, must not be separated by an intervening clause.</p> + +<p>487. “I owe <i>thee</i> a heavy debt of gratitude, and <i>you</i> will not permit me +to repay it:” say, either “I owe <i>you</i>,” &c., preserving “and <i>you</i> will” +in the second clause; or, “I owe <i>thee</i>,” and altering “and <i>you</i> will” into +“and <i>thou wilt</i>.”</p> + +<p>488. “Every lancer and every rifleman <i>were at their post</i>:” say, <i>was at his</i> post.</p> + +<p>489. “I can lift as many pounds <i>as he has</i>:” add <i>lifted</i>.</p> + +<p>490. Do not use <i>to</i>, the sign of the infinitive mood, for the infinitive +itself. “I have not written to him, and I am not likely <i>to</i>,” should +read, “I am not likely <i>to write to him</i>.”</p> + +<p>491. The word <i>agree</i> is sometimes followed by the wrong preposition. We +should say, agree <i>with</i> a person—<i>to</i> a proposition—<i>upon</i> a thing +among ourselves.</p> + +<p>492. We should say <i>compare with</i>, in respect of quality—<i>compare to</i>, +for the sake of illustration.</p> + +<p>493. We should say copy <i>after</i> a person—<i>copy from</i> a thing.</p> + +<p>494. <i>Between</i> is properly applied only to two objects; <i>among</i>, to three +or more. “A father divided a portion of his property <i>between</i> his two +sons; the rest he distributed <i>among</i> the poor.”</p> + +<p>495. <i>In</i> should not be used for <i>into</i>, after verbs denoting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> entrance. +“Come <i>in</i> my parlor,” should read, “Come <i>into</i> my parlor.”</p> + +<p>496. “We confide <i>in</i>, and have respect <i>for</i>, the good.” Such a form of +expression is strained and awkward. It is better to say, “We confide <i>in</i> +the good, and have respect for <i>them</i>,” or, “We <i>trust</i> and <i>respect</i> the good.”</p> + +<p>497. “This veil of flesh parts the visible and the invisible world:” say, +“parts the visible <i>from</i> the invisible.” It certainly is not meant that +the veil of flesh <i>parts</i> (or <i>divides</i>) each of these worlds.</p> + +<p>498. “Every leaf, every twig, every blade, every drop of water, <i>teem</i> +with life:” say, <i>teems</i>.</p> + +<p>499. “Dr. Prideaux used to relate that when he brought the manuscript of +his Connection of the Old and the New Testaments to the publisher, <i>he +told him</i> it was a dry subject, and that the printing could not be safely +ventured upon unless he could enliven the work with a little humor.” The +sense alone, and not the <i>sentence</i>, indicates to whom <i>he</i> and <i>him</i> +respectively refer; such a form of expression is faulty, because it may +lead to a violation of <i>perspicuity</i>, which is one of the most essential +qualities of a good style.</p> + +<p>500. The last direction which this little book will give, on the subject +with which it has been occupied, is one that long ago was given in the +greatest of books—“Let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of +Christ.” If obedience to this injunction may not guard him who heeds it +against the commission of such mistakes as are numbered in this catalogue, +it will not fail to lead him out of the way of errors more grievous and +solemn.</p> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="verts"> +<h3>THE</h3> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/speller.png" alt="SPELLER AND DEFINER'S MANUAL" /></div> + +<p class="center"><big>BY WILLIAM W. SMITH,</big></p> +<p class="center"> Principal of Grammar School No. 1, New-York; Author +of The Speller’s Manual.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/bar.png" alt="" /></div> + +<p>This work contains about fourteen thousand of the most useful words in the +English language, correctly spelled, pronounced, defined, and arranged in +classes, together with rules for spelling, prefixes and suffixes, with +their significations, rules for use of capitals, punctuation and other +marks used in writing and printing, quotations from other languages used +in English composition, abbreviations, &c., to which is added a <b>Vocabulary</b> +for reference. Words which resemble each other in pronunciation, but have +different meanings, are arranged together, and occupy about one eighth of +the entire work, containing nearly three hundred pages. The sentences for +examples for pupils (each embracing two or more of these words) will be +found very instructive and interesting. While <b>The Speller and Definer’s +Manual</b> supplies all that can be desired in an ordinary dictionary or +speller, it furnishes much important information that cannot be found in +these, and presents a study, usually dry and uninteresting, in a natural +and attractive manner. It is adapted to the capacities of children, and +will essentially aid the teacher in the work of instruction by suggesting +<i>questions</i> and <i>ideas</i> that are very often overlooked amid the anxieties +of the school-room.</p> + +<p>It will be found to be one of the most useful works for schools or +<b>SELF-INSTRUCTION</b> ever issued as a text-book, and its examination will +abundantly repay any friend of education.</p> + +<p>The Manual has been adopted by the Board of Education for use in the +Public Schools of New-York City.</p> + +<p>We invite attention to the following extracts of notices of this work from +city papers:</p> + +<h3>NOTICES OF THE PRESS.</h3> + +<p>“The volume is not only valuable as a text-book for schools, but will be +<b>USEFUL TO ADULTS</b> whose knowledge of the mechanics of literature has grown +rusty.”—<i>Commercial Advertiser.</i></p> + +<p>“We like the plan and execution of this new work, and recommend it to the +attention of teachers.”—<i>Life Illustrated.</i></p> + +<p>“The author of this excellent little manual is the principal of one of our +grammar schools, and is well known as a teacher. If his manual have any +fault, it is that of <i>brevity</i>, for the principle upon which it is +constructed, strikes us as perfect.”—<i>New-York Courier.</i></p> + +<p>Retail price 62½ cents. Single copies, for examination, sent to any +part of the country post-paid on receipt of Fifty Cents. Address</p> + +<p class="center"><big><b>DANIEL BURGESS & CO., Publishers</b>,</big></p> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">No. 60 John Street, New-York</span>.</p> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/gradual.png" alt="THE GRADUAL SERIES" /></div> +<h4>OF</h4> +<h1>READERS.</h1> +<h4>BY</h4> +<h3>D. B. TOWER, A. M.,</h3> +<p class="center">(Principal of Park Latin School, Boston,)</p> +<h4>AND</h4> +<h3>CORNELIUS WALKER, A. M.</h3> +<p class="center">(Principal of Wells Grammar School, Boston.)</p> +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/sectionalbar.png" alt="" /></div> +<p> </p> + +<p>The <i>first essential</i> of good reading is a <i>distinct articulation</i>. This +can only result from practice of the elementary sounds and their +combinations. All of these simple elements and their combinations are +given, with ample directions, arranged in the simplest and most compact +form, in the first books of Tower’s series.</p> + +<p>The <i>next points</i> are <i>Emphasis</i> and the <i>Tones</i>.</p> + +<p>These are set forth and illustrated in the last three Readers. The +elements of expression requisite for the utterance of every sentiment are +clearly described and explained by appropriate examples. By these +examples, it is clearly shown how a passage is to be read, and thence is +deduced a rule or principle that all similar passages are to be read in a +similar manner.</p> + +<p>The character of the selections is such as to claim the attention of all +who are in search of good reading matter. They are exciting, instructive, +and interesting, and admirably adapted to the capacity of the pupils.</p> + +<p>The higher books of the series contain selections from authors who are +considered standards in their respective departments. The dignity and +objects of literature are distinctly brought to view, whether in the form +of prose to persuade and instruct—in that of poetry, to please the +fancy—or in that of the drama, to move the passions.</p> + +<p>The character of the selections in these two books is such as to claim the +attention of all who are in search of <i>reading matter</i> that will <i>wear</i>.</p> + +<p>The superiority of these books is acknowledged, wherever they have been +brought to a practical test. The more intelligent any school committee, or +teachers are, the more readily are these Readers appreciated, and the more +eagerly are they sought for use in the school-room. So decided is the +preference for them, among the educated, over every other series, that +they are gradually but surely superseding them all, and going into general +use in all the best schools in our country.</p> + +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/bar.png" alt="" /></div> +<p> </p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" summary="Tower"> +<tr><td> </td><td> </td><td><span class="spacer"> </span></td><td colspan="2" align="center">Price.</td></tr> +<tr><td>TOWER’S</td><td>FIRST READER, or Gradual Primer,</td><td> </td><td>14</td><td>cts.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">Do.</td><td>SECOND READER, or Introduction to Gradual Reader,</td><td> </td><td>25</td><td align="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">Do.</td><td>THIRD READER, or Gradual Reader,</td><td> </td><td>34</td><td align="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">Do.</td><td>FOURTH READER, or Sequel to Gradual Reader,</td><td> </td><td>50</td><td align="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">Do.</td><td>FIFTH READER, or North American Second Class Reader,</td><td> </td><td>62½</td><td align="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">Do.</td><td>SIXTH READER, or North American First Class Reader,</td><td> </td><td>84</td><td align="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">Do.</td><td>GRADUAL SPELLER, or Complete Enunciator,</td><td> </td><td>17</td><td align="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">Do.</td><td>INTERMEDIATE READER,</td><td> </td><td>25</td><td align="center">"</td></tr></table> +<p> </p> + +<p>Copies of the above sent by mail, postage paid, on receipt of the prices +annexed. Address</p> + +<p class="center"><big><b>DANIEL BURGESS & Co.,</b></big></p> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Publishers, New-York</span>.</p> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/english.png" alt="ENGLISH GRAMMARS." /></div> +<h4>BY</h4> +<h3>DAVID B. TOWER, A. M.,</h3> +<h4>AND</h4> +<h3>PROF. BENJAMIN F. TWEED, A. M.</h3> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/towers.png" alt="Tower's ELEMENTS OF GRAMMAR." /></div> +<h4>PRICE 25 CENTS.</h4> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/towerbar.png" alt="" /></div> +<h3>FIRST LESSONS IN LANGUAGE: OR, ELEMENTS OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR.</h3> +<h5>BY</h5> +<h4><span class="smcap">David B. Tower, A. M., and Prof. Benjamin F. Tweed, A. M.</span></h4> + + +<p>This little book was prepared for beginners, that they might feel their +way understandingly, and become interested in this sometimes dry study. +This subject is presented in a natural way, avoiding all unnecessary +innovations. The plan is simple and plain, introducing only one thing at a +time, that the pupil may see a reason for each step, and thus be led to +think. It is concise, that the whole subject may be placed before the +learner in the simplest manner and encumbered by as few words for the +memory as possible, that the interest may be kept up till he is master of +the study. By easy questions, principles are deduced from familiar +examples already explained for the sake of such inferences, that a clear +understanding of these principles and their application may be acquired, +rather than the words used to explain and describe them.</p> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/towers2.png" alt="Towers ENGLISH GRAMMAR." /></div> +<h4>PRICE FIFTY-SIX CENTS.</h4> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/sectionalbar.png" alt="" /></div> + +<h3>GRADUAL LESSONS IN GRAMMAR;</h3> + +<p class="hang"><span class="smcaplc">OR, GUIDE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE BY THE ANALYSIS AND +COMPOSITION OF SENTENCES; WITH A SEQUEL. BY DAVID B. TOWER, A. M., AND +PROF. BENJAMIN F. TWEED, A. M.</span></p> + +<p>The first object in the Gradual Lessons in Grammar, is to render the pupil +familiar with the different <span class="smcap">classes</span> of words, in the various <i>relations</i> +in which they may be used, by directing attention to the manner in which +they affect the <i>meaning</i> of the sentence. Thus it is stated, that “words +used as names are nouns.” Then follow examples of the different kinds of +nouns, and the pupil is required to tell <i>why</i> they are nouns, and to +write others, till he recognizes the noun wherever it is found.</p> + +<p>The same course is then taken with reference to the verb, after which +<i>sentences</i> are introduced in their simplest form, containing only the +essential elements, and the pupil is required to analyze them and +<i>construct</i> similar sentences.</p> + +<p>Then follows the adjective, and attention is called to its effect on the +meaning of the sentence. The <i>statement</i> at the head of each section is +not to be committed to memory, but is made to assist the pupil in +appreciating the <i>grammatical forms of the sentences</i> which follow. In +this manner, by the introduction of a new class of words, or the use of +the same class in a different relation, the sentence is <i>gradually built +up</i>; till, from the most simple, we have the most complex an involved +forms. The <i>technical terms</i>, denoting the various relations and +modifications, are then given, with marginal references to the +illustrations. The <i>definitions</i> and <i>rules</i> in the Sequel are deduced +from illustrations in the First Part.</p> + +<p>The First Part of this Grammar has one <i>peculiar</i> advantage. It combines +<span class="smcap">Construction</span> with Analysis. On every principle developed, <i>written</i> +exercises are required of the pupils, not only to insure an understanding +of that particular principle and to perpetuate a knowledge of it, but also +to furnish gradual and continued practice in the <i>construction</i> of +sentences. This method of instruction makes <i>correct writers</i>, as it +regards the using of words <i>understandingly</i> and <i>grammatically</i> in +sentences, and prepares the pupil for the task of <i>composition</i>, by +enabling him to express his thoughts <i>correctly</i> if <i>he has</i> any.</p> + +<p>☞ Persons who wish to acquire a knowledge of English +Grammar <b>WITHOUT A MASTER</b>, will find these works of great service. Sent +singly or together, by mail, post-paid, on receipt of price.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/daniel.png" alt="DANIEL BURGESS & CO." /></div> +<p class="center"><big><b>Publishers, No. 60 John St., New-York.</b></big></p> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>MAYHEW’S BOOK-KEEPING.</h2> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/bar.png" alt="" /></div> + +<h4>A PRACTICAL SYSTEM OF</h4> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/book.png" alt="BOOK-KEEPING" /></div> +<h4>BY</h4> +<h3>SINGLE AND DOUBLE ENTRY.<br />BY IRA MAYHEW, A. M.<br />FOR FARMERS, MECHANICS, AND MERCHANTS.</h3> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/squiggle.png" alt="" /></div> +<p>This is a very neat-looking volume, whose title, “Practical Book-keeping,” +is indicative of its leading characteristics. The specimens of accounts +presented in it are in script that closely resembles writing, and they +hence afford excellent models for imitation. The book contains four forms +of accounts, immediately following each of which is a large number of +examples for practice. In their solution, the pupil has occasion +practically to apply the knowledge he has already acquired of both +arithmetic and penmanship, while at the same time he learns Book-keeping +as he will have occasion to practice it in after life. For this purpose a +set of account books, in which the examples for practice are to be written +out by the learner, and a Key for teachers containing the solution, +accompany the book.</p> + +<p>Agesilaus, king of Sparta, being asked what things he thought most proper +for boys to learn, very appropriately replied, “Those things which they +should <i>practice</i> when they become men.” Ever since it was said to Adam, +“In the sweat of thy face shall thou eat bread,” there has been a +necessity laid upon man not only to <i>labor,</i> but to <i>exchange</i> with others +the products of his industry, in order to secure a comfortable support. +Excepting merchants, mechanics, and professional men, very few, +comparatively, keep any accounts. The principal reason for this is found +in the fact, that when young they were not taught how to do so, and the +necessity of its being done. Considerations are presented, in the +Introduction to this work, to show some of the many advantages that would +result to individuals and to the community from making Book-keeping a +common study, and the design of the present work is to furnish a practical +system of popular Book-keeping, which may meet the wants of the great +majority of the American people.</p> + +<p>Sent by mail, post-paid, to any part of the country, on receipt of 37½ +cts. Blanks, 50 cts.</p> + +<p class="center"><big><b>Daniel Burgess & Co.,</b></big></p> +<p class="center"><i>Publishers, 60 John St., New-York.</i></p> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>GEOGRAPHY FOR THE MILLION.</h2> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/sectionalbar.png" alt="" /></div> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/smiths.png" alt="Smith's Modern and Ancient Geography" /></div> +<h4>ACCOMPANIED BY A LARGE AND VALUABLE</h4> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/atlas.png" alt="ATLAS" /></div> + +<p>Containing 35 Beautiful Colored Maps, drawn and engraved expressly for +this work. The Maps have all been corrected and brought up to the times; +Railroads have all been laid down as far as completed. This Atlas also +contains a large number of new and interesting Statistical Tables from the +Census of 1850. The Tables contain the POPULATION OF EACH COUNTY in the +United States. Also, the AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIONS of each of the States, +with 30 other Tables from the Census. A</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/chrono.png" alt="CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE" /></div> + +<p>of the principal Political and other Events in American History, from 1492 +to 1853, has been added, in which everything of any importance has been +noticed, with the date at which it happened. There has also been added a +large and beautiful Map of the ROMAN EMPIRE, which will be of use in the +study of Ancient Geography and History, most of the towns mentioned being +laid down on this Map.</p> + +<p>The descriptions of the States and Territories are full and complete, +having been brought up to the times in every respect. This work is +rendered still more valuable by a complete</p> + +<h3>COMPENDIUM OF ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY,</h3> + +<p>which will be found as interesting and instructive as the more extended +treatises of this subject. A series of DRILL QUESTIONS for General +Revision is appended to this work, which will be found of great +convenience to the Teacher and aid to the Scholar in bringing definitely +to his mind, in a condensed form, the main features of the subject he has +gone over. This Book is receiving universal favor where it is known by +Teachers, Committees, and others. It has been introduced into the Best +Schools of our country, and they cannot be without it.</p> + +<p>Full and complete descriptions of our new Territories of</p> + +<h3>NEBRASKA AND KANSAS,</h3> + +<p>with their Boundaries accurately laid down on the Map. This Map will be of +great use to those who intend emigrating to these Territories. This work +contains more information than will be found in any other book for the +price. Price, for both Geography and Atlas, $1.13, sent by mail, +post-paid. The Atlas can be had separately by those who want it, at 75 +cts., postage paid.</p> + +<h3>SMITH’S PRIMARY GEOGRAPHY,</h3> + +<p>A beautiful Book for young Students. Price, 37½ cents.</p> + +<h3>SMITH’S QUARTO GEOGRAPHY,</h3> + +<p>combining Maps and Text in one volume; well adapted to private study. +Price, 75 cents. Sent by mail, post-paid.</p> + +<p class="center"><big><b>DANIEL BURGESS & Co.</b>,</big></p> +<p class="center">PUBLISHERS, NO. 60 JOHN ST., N. Y.</p> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>WESTWARD, HO!</h3> + +<h4>A NEW</h4> +<h2>TOWNSHIP MAP</h2> +<h4>OF THE</h4> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/iowa.png" alt="STATE OF IOWA" /></div> + +<p>Showing the Streams, Roads, Towns, Post-offices, County Seats, Railroads, +&c., compiled from the latest U. S. Surveys, official information, and +personal reconnoissance, just published. Pocket edition. Very large and +beautifully colored.</p> + +<p>Travellers, Emigrants, and all others interested, will find this the best +and only complete and reliable Map of this State published. Sent by mail, +post-paid, on receipt of One Dollar.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/sectionalbar.png" alt="" /></div> + +<h4>ALSO,</h4> +<h3>A NEW</h3> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/sectional.png" alt="SECTIONAL MAP" /></div> +<h4>OF THE</h4> +<h2>STATE OF WISCONSIN,</h2> + +<p>Comprising all the most recent Surveys, Towns, Post-offices, Railroads, +County Seats, &c., &c. Sent by mail, post-paid, for 60 cents.</p> + +<p>These are very elegant Maps, and should be in the possession of every +person who intends emigrating to the Western Country.</p> + +<p>Dealers in Western Lands will find these Maps invaluable.</p> + +<p>Address,</p> + +<p class="center"><big>DANIEL BURGESS & CO.,</big> <i>Publishers</i>,<br /> +No. 60 John Street, New-York.</p> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/iadpg9.png" alt="ELOCUTION MADE EASY. CONTAINING RULES AND SELECTIONS FOR DECLAMATION AND READING," /></div> + +<h5>WITH</h5> +<h4>FIGURES ILLUSTRATIVE OF GESTURE, ETC.</h4> +<h3>BY RUFUS CLAGGETT, A. M.</h3> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/towerbar.png" alt="" /></div> + +<p>This book is given to the public with a view to encourage the study and +practice of a branch of education which gives a tenfold vigor to all other +intellectual acquirements. Thousands of men, otherwise well educated, are +often heard to lament their neglect of Elocution in their school-boy days, +and their consequent inability to utter in public those thoughts which +they would gladly disseminate, and thereby confer a benefit on society.</p> + +<p>The Selections in this work are principally from standard American +authors, and contain everything which can ennoble the mind and fill it +with exalted ideas of patriotism and virtue. At the same time, the price +of the book is so low that it can be placed in the hands of every pupil, +where, indeed, we are confident it will shortly find its way.</p> + +<h3>NOTICES.</h3> + +<p class="center"><i>From the Brooklyn Evening Star.</i></p> + +<p>Mr. Claggett, the author of this work on Elocution, has well performed his +task, giving evidence on every page of his familiarity with the subject. +He has prepared several rules easily understood and applied, and appended +forty-eight figures illustrative of gestures. The selections, both in +prose and poetry, are carefully made with reference to the object of the +work. We should like to see the work in daily use in our schools.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>From the New-York Express.</i></p> + +<p>The whole theory and practice of the art of Elocution is so dissected and +simplified, that the pupil cannot fail to get a thorough understanding of +the subject.</p> + +<p>Sent by mail, post-paid, on receipt of 30 cents.</p> + +<p class="center"><big>DANIEL BURGESS & CO., PUBLISHERS,</big></p> +<p class="center">No. 60 John Street, New-York.</p> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><b>A BOOK FOR EVERY CARPENTER.</b></h2> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/carpenter.png" alt="THE AMERICAN House-Carpenters' and Joiners' Assistant." /></div> + +<h3>BY LUCIUS D. GOULD, ARCHITECT.</h3> +<h4>A NEW AND EASY SYSTEM OF INSTRUCTION, ESPECIALLY ADAPTED TO THE WANTS OF +THE COUNTRY.</h4> + +<p>The Publishers respectfully ask the attention of the Public to this work, +believing that anything that is calculated to favor an advance in the +industrial arts, must meet with the approbation of all who seek the +elevation of the masses, and cannot fail to be appreciated by the +intelligent artisan.</p> + +<h3>GOULD’S AMERICAN HOUSE-CARPENTERS AND JOINER’S ASSISTANT</h3> + +<p>Places within the reach of a Carpenter, with no other necessary +preparation than an ordinary education, and a knowledge of the practical +principles of his handicraft, the highest efforts of the constructive art. +It contains practical directions for performing the most difficult tasks +of the business, for cutting every description of joints, framing and +constructing every variety of roofs, mitering, splayed work, hand railing, +&c., and to all this are added tables of the weight and cohesive strength +of the different materials used in the construction of buildings, and a</p> + +<p class="center">COMPLETE TREATISE ON MATHEMATICAL INSTRUMENTS,</p> + +<p>Making the reader familiar with the tools of his study. The work is</p> + +<p class="center"><b>PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED BY ACCURATE AND BEAUTIFUL PLATES</b>,</p> + +<p>And should be in the hands of every Carpenter and Joiner whose ambition +reaches beyond the bench and the workshop.</p> + +<p>Persons desirous to canvass for the sale of this work, can learn terms, +&c., by addressing the Publishers, post-paid.</p> + +<p class="center"><b>One large Quarto Volume, 175 pages, price,<span class="spacer"> </span>$3.00.</b></p> + +<p>A copy of the work will be sent by Mail, free of postage, to any person +remitting the sum above named.</p> + +<p>Read the following from The Trade Journal:</p> + +<p>“To just such instructions as he meets with in this work, is the writer of +this paragraph indebted for his own advancement from the journeyman’s rank +to the position he now occupies. The winter evenings spent in pursuing +such studies, would fit many a man, now skilful as a workman, to take a +higher stand among his associates, and a more useful one in the community. +The whole book, which has been a very expensive one to get up, does great +credit to the publishers, and when known generally, cannot but receive a +cordial welcome from that valuable class of men to whom we are indebted +for the shelter afforded by ‘the house we live in.’”</p> + +<p>A new edition just out. Send and get a copy.</p> + +<p class="center"><big><b>DANIEL BURGESS & Co.,</b></big></p> +<p class="center">Publishers, No. 60 John-st., New-York.</p> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/photographs.png" alt="Photographs and Ambrotypes." /></div> + +<h3>THE</h3> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/newsun.png" alt="NEW SUN PICTURES." /></div> + +<p class="center">This new style of Pictures which are soon destined to supercede the +far-famed</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/daguer.png" alt="DAGUERREOTYPES" /></div> + +<p class="center">Are taken in all their wonderful perfection by</p> + +<h2>N. G. BURGESS,</h2> + +<p class="center"><b>At his Rooms, No. 293 BROADWAY, New-York.</b></p> + +<p>All persons who may wish to see their <span class="smcap">Portraits True to Life</span>, will do well +to call at his Gallery, and procure one of these new glass pictures known +as</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/ambrotypes.png" alt="AMBROTYPES." /></div> + +<p>The perfection to which this Art is brought, has induced the Subscriber to +bestow more than usual pains on this branch of Photography, and he is now +without a rival in the profession.</p> + +<p>These <span class="smcap">Ambrotypes</span> are sealed with a durable cement, which renders them +perfectly impervious to air, and even water itself. They are therefore</p> + +<h3>IMPERISHABLE.</h3> + +<p>This fact alone will recommend them before all other pictures taken by the +Sun’s rays, added to which is their wonderful truthfulness, being taken +without reversal as in the ordinary Daguerreotype, and capable of being +viewed in any angle of light.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/photographs2.png" alt="PHOTOGRAPHS" /></div> + +<p class="center">Taken in Colors—of various sizes up to the SIZE OF LIFE.</p> + +<p>Pupils taught the Art of Ambrotyping and Photography with the greatest +care, and warranted success.</p> + +<p>All the various <span class="smcap">Chemicals</span> used in the Art for Sale.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/burgess.png" alt="BURGESS' AMBROTYPE COLLODION," /></div> + +<p class="center">A new and Superior article—with full directions for use.</p> + +<h3>CHLORIDE OF GOLD,</h3> + +<p>For Daguerreotype purposes, and Photographs. The former has been made by +the Subscriber for the past twelve years, and has gained a World Wide +reputation. Please address</p> + +<h3>N. G. BURGESS,</h3> +<p class="center"><b>Photographic Rooms, No. 293 BROADWAY, New-York</b>.</p> + +<p class="center">French, German, Spanish, and Italian languages spoken at the rooms.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Five Hundred Mistakes of Daily +Occurrence in Speaking, Pronouncing, and Writing the English Language, Corrected, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 500 MISTAKES OF DAILY OCCURRENCE *** + +***** This file should be named 31766-h.htm or 31766-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/7/6/31766/ + +Produced by Meredith Bach, Stephanie Eason, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. 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Hundred Mistakes of Daily Occurrence +in Speaking, Pronouncing, and Writing the English Language, Corrected, by Anonymous + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Five Hundred Mistakes of Daily Occurrence in Speaking, Pronouncing, and Writing the English Language, Corrected + +Author: Anonymous + +Release Date: March 25, 2010 [EBook #31766] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 500 MISTAKES OF DAILY OCCURRENCE *** + + + + +Produced by Meredith Bach, Stephanie Eason, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. (This +book was produced from scanned images of public domain +material from the Google Print project.) + + + + + + + + + + "NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN!" + + + FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES + OF DAILY OCCURRENCE + IN SPEAKING, PRONOUNCING, AND WRITING + THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, + CORRECTED. + + + "Which--if you but open-- + You will be unwilling, + For many a shilling, + To part with the profit + Which you shall have of it." + + + [_The Key to Unknown Knowledge._--LONDON, 1569. + + + "It is highly important, that whatever we learn or know, we should + know CORRECTLY; for unless our knowledge be correct, we lose half its + value and usefulness."--_Conversations on Botany._ + + + NEW-YORK: + DANIEL BURGESS & CO., 60 JOHN STREET. + 1856. + + + + Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1855, by + WALTON BURGESS, + in the Clerk's Office of the District Court + of the United States for the Southern + District of New York. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +This book is offered to the public, not to be classed with elaborate or +learned works, nor expected, like some of its more pretending companions +among the offspring of the press, to run the gauntlet of literary +criticism. It was prepared to meet the wants of persons--numbered by +_multitudes_ in even the most intelligent and refined communities--who +from deficiency of education, or from carelessness of manner, are in the +habit of misusing many of the most common words of the English language, +distorting its grammatical forms, destroying its beauty, and corrupting +its purity. The most thorough mode that could be adopted to correct such +errors, would doubtless be to impart to the ignorant a practical knowledge +of the principles of language, as embodied in treatises on grammar; but +such a good work, however desirable its results, has, in time past, been +too difficult for the promoters of education to complete, and is still too +great to give promise of speedy accomplishment. A better expedient, +bearing immediate fruits, has been adopted in the present volume, which, +while it does not aim to produce a radical reform, cannot fail to render +great service to those who need to improve their usual modes of +expression, and to be more discriminating in their choice of words. + +The more frequent and less excusable mistakes that may be noticed in +ordinary conversation or correspondence, are here taken up, one by +one--exposed, explained, and corrected. They consist variously of abuses +of grammar, misapplications of words and phrases, improprieties of +metaphor and comparison, misstatements of meaning, and faults of +pronunciation. They are grouped miscellaneously, _without classification_, +not so much because of the difficulty of devising an arrangement that +would be systematic and intelligible, as from the evident fact that a +division of subjects would render no assistance to those for whom the book +is specially designed; for an appropriate classification would necessarily +derive its features from the forms of grammar, and with these the readers +of this book are supposed to be to a great extent unfamiliar. + +The volume is put forth with no flourish of trumpets, and makes no +extravagant pretensions; yet the publishers believe it will be regarded as +a timely and useful work. If the race of _critics_ should not like it--and +while books have their "faults," critics have their "failings"--they are +reminded that he who corrects an old error, may render no less service to +his brethren, than he who discovers a new truth. If the work shall be the +means of saving one sensitive man from a confusion of blushes, in the +presence of a company before which he desired to preserve his equanimity, +it will not have gone forth without a mission of benefit, which will merit +at least one acknowledgment. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +The aim of this book, by correcting a multitude of common errors in the +use of language, is mainly to offer assistance to such persons as need +greater facilities for accurate expression _in ordinary conversation_. It +is not designed to suggest topics of talk, nor to give rules or examples +pointing out the proper modes of arranging them; but simply to insure +persons who often have a good thing to say, from the confusion and +mortification of improperly saying it. This chapter of introduction will +not, therefore, be expected to present an essay on the general subject of +conversation. + +It may be remarked, however, by way of admonitory hint to some, that the +most prominent error in the conversation of those who commit the most +blunders, does not consist in saying too little that amounts to much, but +too much that amounts to little; talkativeness is a characteristic more +commonly of the ignorant, than of the wise. Shenstone says, "The common +fluency of speech in many men, and most women, is owing to a scarcity of +matter and a scarcity of words; for whoever is master of a language, and +moreover has a mind full of ideas, will be apt, in speaking, to hesitate +upon the choice of both; but common speakers have only one set of ideas +and one set of words to clothe them in,--and these are always ready at the +mouth. Just so, _people can come faster out of a church when it is almost +empty, than when a crowd is at the door_!" But although, according to the +old proverb, "a still tongue denotes a wise head," the faculty of speech +should not be neglected, merely because it may be misused. + +Conversation is not a gift bestowed only upon those whom genius favors; on +the contrary, many men eminent for their fluency of style in writing, have +been noted for habitual taciturnity in their intercourse with society. +Hazlitt remarked, that "authors should be read, not heard!" Charles II. of +England, not only the wittiest of monarchs, but one of the liveliest of +men, is said to have been so charmed in reading the humor of Butler's +"Hudibras," that he disguised himself as a private gentleman, and was +introduced to the author, whom, to his astonishment, he found to be one of +the _dullest_ of companions. On the other hand, some of the humblest men +with whom one falls into company, possessed of but little variety, and +less extent of information, are highly entertaining talkers. The +particular topic of remark does not form so essential a part of an +interesting conversation, as the words and manner of those who engage in +it. Robert Burns, sitting down on one occasion to write a poem, said: + + "Which way the subject theme may gang, + Let time or chance determine; + Perhaps it may turn out a sang,-- + Or probably a sermon." + +In the same manner, the subject of a conversation need not be made a +matter of study, or special preparation. Men may talk of things momentous +or trivial, and in either strain be alike attractive and agreeable. + +But quitting the consideration of the thought, to refer to the mode of its +expression, it must be remarked and insisted, that to "murder the king's +English" is hardly less a crime, than to design against one of the king's +subjects. If committed from ignorance, the fault is at least deplorable; +but if from carelessness, it is inexcusable. The greatest of sciences is +that of language; the greatest of human arts is that of using words. No +"cunning hand" of the artificer can contrive a work of mechanism that is +to be compared, for a moment, with those wonderful masterpieces of +ingenuity, which may be wrought by him who can skilfully mould a beautiful +thought into a form that shall preserve, yet radiate its beauty. A mosaic +of words may be made more fair, than of inlaid precious stones. The +scholar who comes forth from his study, a master of the English language, +is a workman who has at his command hardly less than a hundred thousand +finely-tempered instruments, with which he may fashion the most cunning +device. This is a trade which all should learn, for it is one that every +individual is called to practise. The greatest support of virtue in a +community is intelligence; intelligence is the outgrowth of knowledge; and +the almoner of all knowledge is language. The possession, therefore, of +the resources, and a command over the appliances of language, is of the +utmost importance to every individual. Words are current coins of the +realm, and they who do not have them in their treasury, suffer a more +pitiable poverty than others who have not a penny of baser specie in their +pocket; and the multitude of those who have an unfailing supply, but which +is of the wrong stamp, are possessed only of counterfeit cash, that will +not pass in circles of respectability. The present work therefore is, in +some respects, not unlike the "Detector" issued for the merchants, to +indicate the great amount of worthless money that is in general +circulation with the good. + +It is not to be supposed that all the mistakes of daily occurrence in the +use of language, are to be numbered by "five hundred"--possibly not by +five thousand; but it is evident that he who is instructed against five +hundred of his habitual blunders, and enabled to steer clear of every one +of them, has in no slight degree improved his conversation, and thereby +increased his importance. As a prefix, or accompaniment, to this catalogue +of corrected mistakes, the presentation of a few rules or principles of +language, which, strictly observed, might guard against numerous general +classes of errors, would not be thought misplaced, or undesirable. Some +suggestions on points most prominent are accordingly given among these +introductory remarks--not in formal statements of grammatical rules, but +in examples in which the spirit of such rules is revealed. + +Not the least glaring among the many misuses of words and forms of +expression in conversation, occur by incorrectly employing the +pronouns--_who_, _which_, _what_, and _that_. It may be remarked, that +_who_ should be applied exclusively to persons. _Which_ usually refers to +animals and inanimate objects, except in such an expression as, "Tell me +_which_ of the two men was chosen?" _What_, means _that which_: thus, +"This is the book _what_ I wanted," should read, "This is the book _that_ +(or _which_) I wanted." + +Among interrogatives, _who?_ inquires for the name; _which?_ for the +individual; _what?_ for the character, or occupation. Thus, "_Who_ built +the bridge?" "Mr. Blake." "_Which_ of the Blakes?" "_Charles_ Blake." +"_What_ was he?" "A distinguished civil engineer." + +The title of a small book for young people, recently published, was--"The +Way _that_ Little Children enter Heaven:" the word _that_ is here +incorrectly used as a substitute for _in which_, or _by which_. + +When _this_ and _that_, and their plurals, are used in the sense of +_latter_ and _former_, _this_ and _these_ signify the _latter_, and _that_ +and _those_ the _former_. Thus, in the following couplet from Burns: + + "Farewell my friends, farewell my foes, + My peace with _these_, my love with _those_." + +_these_ refers to "foes," and _those_ to "friends." + +In the possessive case of nouns, some instances occur in which a wise +choice may be made, but in respect to which usage is divided. Thus, we may +say, "They called at _Walton's the bookseller's_," or, with equal +propriety, as far as custom is concerned, "at _Walton the bookseller's_." +The first form, however, is preferable. + +The use of the hyphen [-] is frequently disregarded in epistolary +correspondence, occasioning not only a blemish but a blunder. Its +importance may be seen by comparing the meaning of "_glass house_" with +"_glass-house_;" the former may mean the Crystal Palace, while the latter +is a manufactory of glass-ware. + +Adjectives are often improperly used for adverbs: as, "_extreme_ bad +weather," for "_extremely_ bad weather." + +It is sometimes difficult to choose between such phrases as "the _first +three_," and "the _three first_." To say _first three_ when there is no +_second three_ is inelegant, because superfluous; and _three first_ is +absurd, because impossible. The most successful pupil in each of two +classes at school would not improperly be called "the _two first boys_;" +while propriety would require that the first and second boys of the same +class should be called "the _first two boys_." As a general rule, and easy +to be recollected, let _"first" be first_. + +The use of _some_ for _about_ is by many writers thought to be awkward: +as, "_Some_ fifty years ago," instead of "_About_ Fifty years." + +An ambiguity occasionally arises in employing the adjective _no_. Thus, +"No money is better than gold," may mean either that gold is the best kind +of money, or that gold is not so good as _no money at all_! + +After numerals, the words _couple_, _pair_, _dozen_, _score_, _hundred_, +_thousand_, and a few others, need not take the plural form: thus, custom +first, and finally grammar, have sanctioned such uses as, "three _pair_ of +shoes," "nine _dozen_ bushels," "four _couple_ of students;" also, "_forty +sail_ of vessels," "seventy _head_ of cattle." + +The article (_a_ or _an_) renders an important service in such expressions +as, "_A few_ followed their leader throughout the long struggle." To say, +"_Few_ followed him," would imply, unlike the former phrase, that he was +almost deserted. + +"A black and a white horse," suggests the idea of two horses; while "a +black and white horse," refers to but one--as if written "a +_black-and-white_ horse." + +"The red and white dahlias were most admired," properly means the dahlias +in which both these colors were blended. "The red and _the_ white +dahlias," implies two species. + +The grammatical number of a verb should agree with that of its subject, +and not of its predicate. Thus, the sentences, "Death _is_ the wages of +sin," and "The wages of sin _are_ death," are properly written. + +In changing from a past tense to the present, when the same nominative +remains, the form of the verb should continue unaltered. Thus, instead of +saying "He _was traveling_ and _travels_," say "He _was traveling_ and _is +traveling_." + +When a verb has both a singular and a plural nominative, separated by +_or_, its number agrees with that of the _nearer_: as, "the cup or his +_billiards were_ his ruin;" or, "his billiards or the _cup was_ his ruin." + +Custom--which, when _crystallized_, becomes grammar--allows expressions +like "The linen _tears_," and "The meadow _plows_ well," although they +should not be frequently employed, and should be more seldom coined. + +A fruitful source of mistakes in language, is in the linking together of +two or more inappropriate tenses, or in the misuse of one. Many among the +learned and refined commit blunders of these kinds. A few corrected +examples of such are here given: + +"His text was, that God _was_ love;" the sentence should be written, "His +text was, that God _is_ love." + +"The Lord _hath given_, and the Lord hath taken away;" say, "The Lord +_gave_, and the Lord hath taken away." + +"They _arrived_ before we left the city:" say, "they _had arrived_." + +"All the brothers _have been_ greatly indebted to their father:" say, +"_are indebted_." + +"This painting _was preserved and exhibited_ for the last century:" say, +"_has been_ preserved and exhibited." + +"It was the last act he intended _to have performed_." say, "_to +perform_." + +"He _drinks_ wine at dinner," means that such is his habit; "he _is +drinking_ wine at dinner," refers to one particular time and occasion. + +Adverbs are often inelegantly used instead of adjectives; as, "the _then_ +ministry," for "the ministry of that time." + +Of the phrases "_never_ so good," or, "_ever_ so good," as to whether one +is preferable to the other, authority is divided. Modern usage inclines to +the latter, while ancient preferred the former, as in the Scriptural +expression, "charm he _never_ so wisely." + +_Yea_ and _nay_ are not equivalent to _yes_ and _no_; the latter are +directly affirmative and negative, while the former are variously +employed. + +Of prepositions, it has been frequently said, that no words in the +language are so liable to be incorrectly used. For example, "The love _of_ +God," may mean either "His love to us," or, "our love to Him." + +Many more of these particles are inelegantly, if not ambiguously used. +Instead of "the natives were a different race _to_ what they are now," +say, "different _from_." + +"He was made much _on_ in the country:" say, "made much _of_." + +"In compliance _of_ your request:" say, "in compliance _with_." + +"He doubts _if_ his friend will come," is not so elegant and accurate as, +"He doubts _whether_ his friend will come." + +More instances might be given, setting forth other frequent errors of +speaking and writing, at the risk, however, of destroying the due +proportion which should exist between the size of a work and the _length +of the Introduction_. But a good heed to what has been said in the few +preceding paragraphs, will enable a person who carefully reads this work +to mend his modes of expression, to no inconsiderable degree. It is well +known that there is no "royal road to learning," but if there were, it +could hardly be expected that such a little book as this would afford a +passport to the end of the course. About two hundred years ago, a small +volume was put forth by one "John Peters, learned scholar and author," +which had the following long-winded title: "A New Way to make Latin +Verses, whereby any one of ordinary capacity, that only _knows the A, B, +C_ and can _count nine_, though he understands not _one word of Latin_, or +what a verse means, may be plainly taught to make thousands of Hexameter +and Pentameter Verses, which shall be true Latin, true Verse, and Good +Sense!" The present volume must not be expected to accomplish so great a +result as this--not having so comprehensive an aim, nor possessing so +great a secret of success. But it is hoped that it may incite some who are +unfortunately deficient in education, to seek so much additional knowledge +as shall enable them at least to converse in a dialect which is within the +compass of the language of their country, and free them from the +imputation of belonging to another tribe of men, speaking another tongue. + +A Welshman, residing near Caermarthon, who was seldom seen at the only +church in the parish of his residence, was one day accosted by the worthy +clergyman with the question, "My friend--to what church do you belong?" He +responded, "To the Church of England." "Ah," replied the pastor, "I was +sure that it must be some church _out of Wales_!" There are not a few +persons who speak the English language about as truly as the Caermarthon +Welshman attended the English Church! + + + + +FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. + + +1. "The business would suit any one who _enjoys bad health_." [From an +advertisement in a daily newspaper of New-York.] Few persons who have bad +health can be said to _enjoy it_. Use some other form of expression: as, +one _in delicate health_, or, one _whose health is bad_. + +2. "We have no _corporeal_ punishment here," said a schoolmaster. +_Corporeal_ is opposed to _spiritual_. Say, _corporal_ punishment. +_Corporeal_ means having a body. + +3. "She is a _notable_ woman," as was said of the wife of the Shepherd of +Salisbury Plain,--meaning _careful_, and pronounced as though divided +_not-able_. This word is no longer current, with this pronunciation or +signification, except to a slight extent in England. It has become +obsolete, and its use now is in bad taste. + +4. "Insert the _advertisement_ in the Weekly." Emphasize _vert_, and not +_ise_. + +5. "He _rose up_, and left the room:" leave out _up_, as it is absurd to +say _rise down_. The Irishman who was _hoisted down_ the coal pit, did not +observe this rule. + +6. "_Set down_ and rest yourself:" say _sit down_; _setting_ is said of +the sun in the west, but cannot be properly applied to a person taking a +seat. "Sit _down_" is not improper, though "rise _up_" (as in No. 5) +should never be used. _Sitting down_ expresses the act of appropriating a +chair, while _sitting up_ means _sitting erect_. _Sitting up_ also refers +to watching during the night with the sick. + +7. "You have _sown_ it very neatly," said a seamstress to her apprentice: +say _sewed_, and pronounce so as to rhyme with _road_. The pronunciation +of _sew_, meaning "to use the needle," violates its spelling; it is the +same as that of _sow_, meaning "to scatter seed." + +8. "This is a secret between _you and I_:" say, _you and me_. The +construction requires the objective case in place of _I_, which is in the +nominative. It is in still better taste to say, "This is a secret _with_ +you and me." + +9. "Let _you and I_ take a walk:" say, Let _you and me_, or, _Let us_. Who +would think of saying, _Let I go_? The expression "Let _I and you_" is +frequently heard, which contains the additional impropriety of putting the +first person before the second. + +10. "He is going to _learn his brother_ Alfred how to knit nets:" say, +_teach_. The act of _communicating_ instruction is expressed by +"teaching," the act of _receiving_ it by "learning." The distinction +between these words was made as early as the time of Shakespeare, and +cannot be violated without incurring censure. + +11. "John and Henry both read well, but John is the _best_ reader:" say, +the _better_ reader, as _best_ can be properly used only when _three or +more persons_, or objects, are compared. + +12. "Thompson was there _among the rest_." This mode of expression, which +is very common, literally declares an impossibility. The signification of +"the rest" is, those _in addition_ to Thompson, and of which Thompson +formed _no part_; he could not therefore be _among_ them. A more correct +form would be, "Thompson was there _with_ the rest." + +13. "The _two first_ cows are the fattest," said a farmer at an +agricultural fair. He should have said, "the _first two_;" there can be +only _one_ that is _first_--the other must necessarily be _second_. + +14. "It is an error; _you are mistaken_:" say, you _mistake_. _Mistaken_ +means _misapprehended_; "you _mistake_," means "you _misapprehend_." + +15. "Have you _lit_ the fire, Bridget?" say, _lighted_; _lit_ is now +obsolete. + +16. "To be is an _auxiliary_ verb:" pronounce _auxiliary_ as though +spelled _awg-zil-ya-re_, and not in five syllables. + +17. _February_: this word is often incorrectly spelled by omitting the +_r_. + +18. The "_Miscellany_" was an interesting publication: pronounce +_miscellany_ with the accent on _mis_, and not on _cel_. + +19. "_Celery_ is a pleasant vegetable:" pronounce _celery_ as it is +written, and not _salary_. + +20. "Are you at _leisure_?" pronounce _lei_ in _leisure_ the same as +_lee_. The word should not rhyme with _measure_. + +21. "John is my _oldest_ brother:" say, _eldest_. _Elder and eldest_ are +applied to _persons_--_older and oldest_ to _things_. Usage, however, does +not make these distinctions imperative. + +22. "The cloth was _wove_ in a very short time:" say, _woven_. + +23. "I prefer the _yolk_ of an egg to the white:" the more common word is +_yelk_, with the _l_ sounded; but if _yolk_ be used, it should be +pronounced like _yoke_. + +24. _Sparrowgrass_: it is only the grossest ignorance which confounds this +word with _asparagus_. The same is the case with _ing-uns_ for _onions_. A +man in an obscure section of New Jersey, inquiring at a country store for +_onions_, was told that there were none in the place. On his going out, +the storekeeper turned to half a dozen idlers sitting round the stove, and +said, "I wonder if that 'tarnal fool meant _ing-uns_!" + +25. "You are very _mischievous_:" pronounce _mischievous_ with the accent +on _mis_, and not on _chie_, and do not say _mischievious_ +(_mis-cheev-yus_). + +26. The following words were posted, as a sign, in a reading-room--"No +Talking Allowed;" which was designed to prohibit all conversation. A wag +altered the inscription so as to read, "No Talking Aloud," which (he +declared) did not prevent _whispering_, and chatting in _low tones_. What +shall be said of the following--"_No Smoking Aloud_?" + +27. "_No extras or vacations_:" [from the prospectus of a schoolmistress:] +say, NOR _vacations_. + +28. "He was never known to be _covetous_:" pronounce _covetous_ as if +written _covet us_, and _not covetyus_. + +29. _The Three R.'s._--An ignorant and vain pedagogue, on being asked what +he could teach, replied, "The three R.'s--_'ritin'_, _'rethmetic_, and +_readin'_." Any persons among the readers of this little book, who may +chance to be schoolmasters, are warned against giving such a course of +instruction. + +30. "Dearly _beloved_ brethren:" when _beloved_ is placed _before_ the +noun, as in this instance, pronounce it in three syllables; when placed +_after_, in two syllables, as, "She was much _be-loved_ by us all." When +used as a noun by itself, it is pronounced in three syllables; as, +"_Be-lov-ed_, let us love one another." + +31. "Not _as I know_:" say, _that I know_. + +32. "He came on purpose _for to do_ it:" omit _for_. + +33. "He would never believe _but what_ I did it:" say, _but that_ I did +it. + +34. "He is quite _as good as me_:" say, _as good as I_. Also, instead of +_as good as him_, say, _as good as he_. In both these instances _am_ or +_is_ must be mentally supplied at the end of the phrase, to suggest the +meaning; and the pronouns should, therefore, be in the nominative case. + +35. "_Many an one_ has done the same:" say, _many a one_. _A_, and _not +an_, is also used before the _long sound of u_, that is, when _u_ forms _a +distinct syllable of itself_: as, _a unit_, _a union_, _a university_: it +is also used before _eu_: as, a _euphony_, and likewise before the word +_ewe_: as, _a ewe_: we should also say, _a youth_, not _an youth_. + +36. "How do you like _these kind_ of pears?" say, _these kinds_; a noun in +the singular number will not allow its adjective to be in the plural. + +37. "You should have _went_ home:" say, _gone_. + +38. "John went with _James and I_:" say, _James and me_. + +39. "I _see him_ last Monday:" say, _saw him_. + +40. "He was _averse from_ such a proceeding:" say, _averse to_. + +41. "Have you _shook_ the table-cloth?" say, _shaken_. + +42. "I have _rang_ several times:" say, _rung_. + +43. "I _know'd_ him at once:" say, _knew_. + +44. "You have _drank_ too much of it:" say, _drunk_. + +45. "He has _chose_ a very poor pattern:" say, _chosen_. + +46. "They have _broke_ a window:" say, _broken_. + +47. "I have just _began_ my letter:" say, _begun_. + +48. "Give me _them books_:" say, _those books_. + +49. "Whose are _these here books_?" say, _these books_. _Here_ is +superfluous and inelegant. + +50. "_Who_ do you mean?" say, _whom_. + +51. "The men _which_ we saw:" say, _whom_. + +52. "The flowers _what_ you have:" say, _which_, or _that_. + +53. "The boy _as is_ reading:" _who_ is reading. + +54. "It was _them_ who did it:" say, _they_. + +55. "_It is me_ who am in fault:" say, _It is I_. + +56. "Was it _her_ who called me?" say, _she_. + +57. "If I were _her_, I would accept his offer:" say, If I were _she_. + +58. "He _has got_ my slate:" omit _got_; _has_ is sufficient for the +sense. The addition of _got_, though not ungrammatical, but gradually +becoming obsolete, does not in any degree strengthen the meaning. + +59. "The pond is _froze_:" say, _frozen_. + +60. "I know _I am him_ whom he meant:" say, _I am he_. + +61. "You cannot _catch_ him:" pronounce _catch_ so as to rhyme with +_match_, and not _ketch_--as the fishermen are in the habit of saying. + +62. "_Who done it?_" say, _Who did it?_ + +63. "The club gives an _impetus_ to the ball:" pronounce _impetus_ with +the stress on _im_, and not on _pe_. + +64. "Spain and Portugal form a _peninsula_:" pronounce _pen-in-su-la_, +with the accent on _in_, and not on _su_. + +65. _Sar-da-na-pa-lus_: pronounce it with the accent on _pa_, and not on +_ap_. The latter pronunciation cannot be changed for the former, without +incurring a gross error. + +66. "He must by this time be almost as far as the _antipodes_:" pronounce +_antipodes_ with the accent on _tip_, and let _des_ rhyme with _ease_; it +is a word of _four_ syllables, and _not of three_. + +67. _Vouchsafe_: a word seldom used, but when used, the first syllable +should rhyme with _pouch_; _never say vousafe_. + +68. "The land in those parts is very _fertile_:" pronounce _fertile_ so as +to rhyme with _myrtle_. _Ile_ in such words must be sounded as _ill_, with +the exception of _exile_, _senile_, _gentile_, _reconcile_, and +_camomile_, in which _ile_ rhymes with _mile_. + +69. _Benefited_: often spelt _benefitted_, but _incorrectly_. + +70. "_Gather_ a few ears of corn for dinner:" pronounce _gather_ so as to +rhyme with _lather_, and _not gether_. + +71. _Purpose and propose_: these two words, which are often confounded, +are entirely distinct in meaning. To _purpose_ means _to intend_; _to +propose_ means _to offer a proposition_. + +72. _Directing and addressing letters_: _Directing_ designates the persons +to whom, and the place to which the letter, as a parcel, is to be sent; +_addressing_ refers to the individual to whom, as a communication, it is +written. A letter _addressed_ to the President, may be _directed_ to his +secretary. + +73. "_Who_ do you think I saw yesterday?" say, _Whom_. + +74. A popular proverb is expressed in the following language: "Of _two_ +evils choose the _least_;" say, _the less_. Of no less than _three_ evils +can a person choose the _least_. + +75. _Exaggerate_: pronounce _exad-gerate_, and _do not sound agger_ as in +_dagger_. + +76. _Ladies School_: the _usual_ form, but _not correct_; write, _Ladies' +School_. The apostrophe (') is thus used after nouns in the plural, and +indicates _possession_. In the singular, it is placed _before the s_, as, +_The lady's school_. + +77. The following equivocal notice is said to swing out on a sign-board +somewhere in the Western country: "SMITH & HUGGS--SELECT SCHOOL.--_Smith +teaches the boys, and Huggs the girls._" _Huggs needs correction!_ + +78. "He keeps a _chaise_:" pronounce it _shaze_, and not _shay_; it has a +regular plural, _chaises_. + +79. "The _drought_ lasted a long time:" pronounce _drought_ so as to rhyme +with _sprout_, and not _drowth_. + +80. "The two friends _conversed together_ for an hour:" omit _together_, +as the full meaning of this word is implied in _con_, which means _with_, +or _together_, or _in company_. + +81. "The affair was _compromised_:" pronounce _compromised_ in three +syllables, and place the accent on _com_, sounding _mised_ like _prized_. + +82. "A _steam-engine_:" pronounce _engine_ with _en_ as in _pen_, and _not +like in_; also, pronounce _gine_ like _gin_. + +83. "Several of the trappers were massacred by the Indians:" pronounce +_massacred_ with the accent on _mas_, and _red_ like _erd_, as if +_massaker'd_; never say _massacreed_, which is abominable. + +84. "The King of Israel and the King of Judah sat _either of them_ on his +throne:" say, _each of them_. _Either_ signifies the _one_ or the _other_, +but _not both_. _Each_ relates to _two or more objects_, and signifies +_both of the two_, or _every one of any number taken singly_. We can say, +"_either_ of the three," for "_one_ of the three." + +85. "A _respite_ was granted the convict:" pronounce _respite_ with the +accent on _res_, and sound _pite_ as _pit_. + +86. "He soon _returned back_:" leave out _back_, which is implied by _re_ +in _returned_. + +87. "The ship looked like a speck on the edge of the _horizon_:" pronounce +_horizon_ with the accent on _ri_, and not on _hor_, which is often the +case. + +88. "They were early at the _sepulchre_:" pronounce _sepulchre_ with the +accent on _sep_, and not on the second syllable. + +89. "I have often _swam_ across the Hudson:" say, _swum_. + +90. "I found my friend better than I expected _to have found him_:" say, +_to find him_. + +91. "I intended _to have written_ a letter yesterday:" say, _to write_; as +however long it now is since I thought of writing, "_to write_" was then +present to me, and must still be considered as present, when I recall that +time and the thoughts of it. + +92. _Superfluous R's_: Many persons pronounce words which have no letter +_r_ in them, exactly as though they had; as _drawring_ for _drawing_; "I +_sawr_ Thomas," for "I _saw_," &c. Some who do not insert a full-toned +_r_, do worse by appending an _ah_ to almost every word they utter. They +would do well to recall the reproof which the excellent Rev. John Gruber +administered to a brother in the ministry, who was guilty of this habit. +That eccentric clergyman addressed a note to his friend, as follows: +"Dear-ah Sir-ah--When-ah you-ah speak-ah in-ah public-ah, take-ah my-ah +ad-ah-vice-ah and-ah never-ah say-ah _ah-ah_!--JOHN-AH GRUBER-AH." + +93. _Shall_ and _will_ are often confounded, or misused. The following +suggestion will be of service to the reader: mere _futurity_ is expressed +by _shall_ in the _first_ person, and by _will_ in the _second_ and +_third_; the _determination_ of the speaker by _will_, in the _first_, and +_shall_, in the _second_ and _third_. For example: "_I shall go by the way +of Halifax_," simply expresses an event about to take place--as also _you +will_, and _they will_: _I will_ expresses determination--as also _you +shall_ and _they shall_. Brightland has the following illustrative stanza: + + "In the first person simply _shall_ foretells; + In _will_ a threat, or else a promise, dwells. + _Shall_, in the second and the third, does threat;-- + _Will_, simply, then, foretells the future feat." + +94. "_Without_ the grammatical form of a word can be recognized at a +glance, little progress can be made in reading the language:" [from a work +on the study of the Latin language:] say, _Unless_ the grammatical, &c. +The use of _without_ for _unless_ is a very common mistake. + +95. "He claimed admission to the _chiefest_ offices:" say, _chief_. +_Chief_, _right_, _supreme_, _correct_, _true_, _universal_, _perfect_, +_consummate_, _extreme_, _&c._, _imply_ the superlative degree without +adding _est_, or prefixing _most_. In language sublime or impassioned, +however, the word _perfect_ requires the superlative form, to give it its +fullest effect. + +96. "I _had rather do_ it now:" say, I _would rather do_. The +incorrectness of the first form of expression is very clearly seen by +cutting out _rather_, leaving "_I had do_," which is ungrammatical and +meaningless. + +97. An obituary notice contained the following ludicrous statement: "He +left a large circle of mourners, _embracing his amiable wife and +children_!" _Comprising_ should have been used, instead of _embracing_. + +98. "His _court-of-arms_ is very splendid:" say, _coat-of-arms_. + +99. "They ride about in small carriages, which are called _flies_:" write +the last word _flys_; _flies_ is the plural of _fly_, the insect. + +100. "Victoria is Queen of the _United Kingdom_:" say, _United Kingdoms_. +Who ever speaks of the _United State of America_? + +101. "I have not traveled _this twenty years_:" say, _these twenty years_. + +102. "Soldier arms!" Say, "_Shoulder arms!_" The latter is frequently +corrupted into "_Sojer arms!_" + +103. "He is _very much the gentleman_:" say, He is _a very gentlemanly +man_, or, _He is very gentlemanly_. + +104. "The _yellow_ part of an egg is very nourishing:" never pronounce +_yellow_ so as to rhyme with _tallow_, as we so often hear. + +105. "We are going to the _Zoological_ Gardens:" pronounce _Zoological_ in +_five_ syllables, and place the accent on _log_ in _logical_; sound _log_ +like _lodge_, and _the first two o's in distinct syllables_; _never_ make +_Zool one_ syllable. + +106. "He _strived_ to obtain an appointment:" say, _strove_. + +107. "He always preaches _extempore_:" pronounce _extempore in four +syllables_, with the accent on _tem_, and _never in three_, making _pore_ +to rhyme with _sore_--but with _story_. + +108. "Allow me to _suggest_:" pronounce _sug_ as to rhyme with _mug_, and +_gest_ like _jest_; never say _sudjest_. + +109. "That building is an _episcopal_ chapel:" pronounce _episcopal_ with +the accent on the second syllable, and _not_ on _co_. + +110. "The Emperor of Russia is a _formidable_ sovereign:" pronounce +_formidable_ with the accent on _for_, and _not on mid_. + +111. Before the words _heir_, _herb_, _honest_, _honor_, and _hour_, and +their compounds, instead of the article _a_, we make use of _an_, as the +_h_ is not sounded; likewise before words beginning with _h_, that are not +accented on the first syllable: such as _heroic_, _historical_, +_hypothesis_, &c., as, "_an heroic action_;" "_an historical work_;" "_an +hypothesis_ that can scarcely be allowed." The letter _h_ is seldom mute +at the beginning of a word; but from the negligence of tutors, and the +inattention of pupils, many persons have become almost incapable of +acquiring its just and full pronunciation. It is, therefore, incumbent on +teachers to be particularly careful to inculcate a clear and distinct +utterance of this sound. + +112. "He was _such an extravagant young man_, that he soon spent his whole +patrimony." This construction, which is much used, is not so elegant as, +"He was _so extravagant a young man_," &c. + +113. "The girl speaks _distinct_:" say, _distinctly_. _Never use +Adjectives as Adverbs._ + +114. "The accident of which he was _reading_, occurred not far from +_Reading_:" pronounced the first italicized word to rhyme with _feeding_, +and the other, with _wedding_. + +115. The combination of letters _ough_ is pronounced in eight different +ways, as follows: 1. Th_ough_, in which it is pronounced _o_; 2. +Thr_ough_, pronounced _oo_; 3. Pl_ough_, _ow_; 4. S_ought_, _awe_; 5. +C_ough_, _off_; 6. R_ough_, _uff_; 7. Bor_ough_, _ugh_; 8. L_ough_, _ok_. +The following sentence, which is of doubtful authorship, affords an +example of each of these eight modes of pronunciation: "I put (1) _dough_ +(6) _enough_ in the (5) _trough_ near the (3) _slough_ by the (8) _lough_, +to last the ducks that I (4) _bought_ at the (7) _borough_ (2) _through_ +the day." + +116. "I saw his _august_ majesty, the Emperor of Hayti, last _August_:" +pronounce the former word with the accent on _gust_; the latter, on _Au_. + +117. "She is _quite the lady_:" say, She is _very lady-like in her +demeanor_. + +118. "He is _seldom or ever_ out of town:" say, _seldom or never_, or, +_seldom if ever_. + +119. "We _laid down_ to sleep:" say, we _lay down_, &c. We can say, +however, "we laid _him_ down to sleep." + +120. It is somewhat singular, that while _tie_ and _untie_ convey meanings +directly opposite, _loose_ and _unloose_ signify precisely the same thing. +_Loose_ is the original word, and _unloose_ is a corruption; both words, +however, are now sanctioned by good usage, and may be indiscriminately +employed, without offence against propriety. + +121. "It is dangerous to walk _of a_ slippery morning:" say, _on a_ +slippery morning. But the expression, "_walking on a slippery morning_," +and all others like it, of which a strictly literal interpretation will +not give the designed signification, are to be avoided. They often excite +a smile when seriousness is intended. + +122. "He who makes himself famous by his eloquence, makes illustrious his +origin, let it be _never so mean_:" say, _ever so mean_. The practice of +using _never_ in such phrases was anciently in vogue, but is now becoming +obsolete. (See Introduction.) + +123. "His reputation is acknowledged _through_ Europe:" say, _throughout_ +Europe. + +124. "The bank of the river is frequently _overflown_:" say, _overflowed_. +_Flown_ is the perfect participle of _fly, flying_; _flowed_, of _flow, +flowing_. + +125. "I doubt _if this_ will ever reach you:" say, _whether this_, &c. + +126. "It is not improbable _but I may_ be able to procure you a copy:" +say, _that I may_, &c. + +127. "He was _exceeding kind_ to me:" say, _exceedingly kind_. + +128. "I doubt not _but I shall_ be able:" say, _that I shall_. + +129. "I lost _near_ twenty pounds:" say, _nearly_, or _almost_. + +130. "There were not _over_ twenty persons present:" say, _more than_. +Such a use of this word is not frequent among writers of reputation. It +may, however, be less improperly employed, where the sense invests it with +more of a semblance to its literal signification: as, "This pair of +chickens will weigh _over_ seven pounds." Even in this case, it is better +to say _more than_. + +131. "_Bills are requested to be paid quarterly_:" _the bills are not +requested_, but _the persons who owe them_. Say instead, _It is requested +that bills be paid quarterly_. + +132. "There can be no doubt _but that_ he will succeed:" omit _but_. + +133. "It was _no use asking_ him any more questions:" say, _of no use to +ask him_, or _there was no use in asking_, &c. + +134. "The Americans said they _had no right_ to pay taxes." [From a Fourth +of July Oration.] They certainly _had a right_ to pay them, if they +wished. What the speaker meant was, _they were under no obligation to +pay_, or, _they were not bound to pay_. + +135. "He intends to _stop_ at home for a few days:" it is more elegant to +say _stay_. If the time, however, should be very brief, _stop_ would +better express the idea; as, "We _stopped_ at Elmira about twenty +minutes." + +136. "At this time, I _grew_ my own corn:" say, I _raised_. Farmers have +made this innovation against good taste; but for what reason, it is not +apparent; there seems to be no sufficient occasion for so awkward a +substitute for _raised_. + +137. "Having incautiously _laid down_ on the damp grass, he caught a +severe cold:" say, _lain down_. + +138. "We suffered no other inconvenience _but_ that arising from the +rain:" say, _than_ that, &c. _But_, to be properly used in this sentence, +would require the omission of _other_. + +139. "Brutus and Aruns killed _one another_:" say, _each other_, which is +more proper. But many similar instances which occur in the New Testament, +as, "_Beloved, love one another_," and others no less beautiful and +cherished, have rendered this form of expression common, and almost +unexceptionable. + +140. In a recently issued work on Arithmetic, the following is given: "If +for 72 cents I can buy 9 lbs. of raisins, _how much_ can I purchase for +$14 49?" say, "_what quantity_ can I," &c. Who would think of saying, +"_how much raisins?_" + +141. WORDS TO BE CAREFULLY DISTINGUISHED.--Be very careful to distinguish +between _indite_ and _indict_ (the former meaning _to write_, and the +latter _to accuse_); _key_ and _quay_; _principle_ and _principal_; +_marshal_ and _martial_; _counsel_ and _council_; _counsellor_ and +_councillor_; _fort_ and _forte_; _draft_ and _draught_; _place_ and +_plaice_ (the latter being the name of a _fish_); _stake_ and _steak_; +_satire_ and _satyr_; _stationery_ and _stationary_; _ton_ and _tun_; +_levy_ and _levee_; _foment_ and _ferment_; _fomentation_ and +_fermentation_; _petition_ and _partition_; _Francis_ and _Frances_; +_dose_ and _doze_; _diverse_ and _divers_; _device_ and _devise_; _wary_ +and _weary_; _salary_ and _celery_; _radish_ and _reddish_; _treble_ and +_triple_; _broach_ and _brooch_; _ingenious_ and _ingenuous_; _prophesy_ +and _prophecy_ (some clergymen sounding the final syllable of the latter +word _long_, like the former); _fondling_ and _foundling_; _lightning_ and +_lightening_; _genus_ and _genius_; _desert_ and _dessert_; _currier_ and +_courier_; _pillow_ and _pillar_; _executer_ and _executor_ (the former +being the regular noun from the verb "to _execute_," and the latter a +strictly _legal_ term); _ridicule_ and _reticule_; _lineament_ and +_liniment_; _track_ and _tract_, _lickerish_ and _licorice_ (_lickerish_ +signifying _dainty_, and _licorice_ being a plant, or preparation from +it); _statute_ and _statue_; _ordinance_ and _ordnance_; _lease_ and +_leash_; _recourse_ and _resource_; _straight_ and _strait_ (_straight_ +meaning _direct_, and _strait_, _narrow_); _immerge_ and _emerge_; _style_ +and _stile_; _compliment_ and _complement_; _bass_ and _base_; +_contagious_ and _contiguous_; _eminent_ and _imminent_; _eruption_ and +_irruption_; _precedent_ and _president_; _relic_ and _relict_. + +142. "The number of _emigrants_ arriving in this country is increasing and +alarming:" say, _immigrants_. _Emigrants_ are those _going out_ from a +country; _immigrants_, those _coming into_ it. + +143. "I prefer _radishes_ to _cucumbers_:" pronounce _radishes_ exactly +as spelt, and not _redishes_; also, the first syllable of _cucumber_ like +_fu_ in _fuel_, and not as if the word were spelled _cowcumber_. + +144. "The _two last_ letters were dated from Calcutta:" say, the _last +two_, &c. + +145. "The soil in those islands is so very thin, that little is produced +in them _beside_ cocoa-nut trees:" "_beside_ cocoa-nut trees" means +strictly _alongside_, or _by the side_, of them. _Besides_, or _except_, +should be used. _Besides_ also signifies _in addition to_: as, "I sat +_beside_ the President, and conversed with him _besides_." + +146. "He could neither _read nor write_:" say, more properly, _write nor +read_. All persons who can _write_ can _read_, but not all who _read_ can +_write_. This sentence, as corrected, is much stronger than in the other +form. + +147. "He was _bred and born_ among the hills of the Hudson:" say, _born +and bred_, which is the natural order. + +148. "THIS HOUSE TO LET:" more properly, _to be let_. + +149. _Here_, _there_, _where_, with verbs of motion, are generally better +than _hither_, _thither_, _whither_; as, "_Come here_; _Go there_." +_Hither_, _thither_, and _whither_, which were used formerly, are now +considered stiff and inelegant. + +150. "_As far as I_ am able to judge, the book is well written:" say, _So +far as_, &c. + +151. "It is doubtful whether he will act _fairly or no_:" say, _fairly or +not_. + +152. "The _camelopard_ is the tallest of known animals:" pronounce +_camelopard_ with the accent on _mel_; never say _camel leopard_. Few +words, by being mispronounced, occasion greater blunders than this term. + +153. "He ran _again_ me;" or, "I stood _again_ the hydrant:" say, +_against_. This word is frequently and inelegantly abbreviated, in +pronunciation, into _agin_. + +154. "_No one_ should incur censure for being careful of _their_ good +character:" say, of _his_ (or _her_). + +155. "The yacht capsized in rounding the stake-boat, and the helmsman was +_drownded_:" say, _drowned_. + +156. "_Jalap_ will be of service to you:" pronounce the word as it is +spelled, never saying _jollop_. + +157. The word _curiosity_, though a very common term, and one that should +be correctly pronounced by everybody, is frequently called _curosity_. + +158. "He has just set out to _take a tour_:" pronounce _tour_ so as to +rhyme with _poor_. Be careful to avoid saying, _take a tower_; such a +pronunciation might suggest the Mamelon, instead of a trip of travel. + +159. "The storm _is_ ceased, and the sky is clear:" say, _has_ ceased. + +160. "Do you know _who_ this dog-headed cane belongs to?" say, _whom_. In +expressing in _writing_ the idea conveyed in this question, a better form +of sentence would be, "Do you know _to whom_ this belongs?" In familiar +conversation, however, the latter mode might be thought too formal and +precise. + +161. "_Who_ did you wish to see?" say, _whom_. + +162. "_Whom_ say ye that I am?" This is the English translation, given in +Luke ix. 20, of the question of Christ to Peter. The word _whom_ should be +_who_. Other instances of grammatical inaccuracies occur in the Bible; for +example, in the Sermon on the Mount, the Saviour says: "Lay not up for +yourselves treasures on earth, where _moth and rust doth corrupt_," &c. +"_Moth and rust_" make a plural nominative to "_doth_ corrupt," a singular +verb. The following, however, is correct: "But lay up for yourselves +treasures in heaven, where _neither moth nor rust doth corrupt_." + +163. The word _chimney_ is sometimes called incorrectly _chimley_ and +_chimbley_. + +164. "I was walking _towards_ home:" pronounce _towards_ so as to rhyme +with _boards_; _never_ say, _to-wards_. + +165. "A _courier_ is expected from Washington:" pronounce _cou_ in +_courier_ so as to rhyme with _too_, never like _currier_; the two words +have entirely distinct significations. + +166. "Let each of us mind _their_ own business:" say, _his_ own business. + +167. "Who made that noise? Not _me_:" say, Not _I_. + +168. "Is this or that the _best_ road?" say, the _better_ road. + +169. "_Rinse_ your mouth:" pronounce _rinse_ as it is written, and never +_rense_. "_Rench your mouth_," said a fashionable dentist one day to a +patient. "You have already _wrenched it for me_," was the reply. + +170. "He was tired of the dust of the town, and _flew_ to the pure air of +the country:" say, _fled_. _Flew_ is part of the verb _to fly_; _fled_, of +_to flee_. + +171. "The first edition was not _as_ well printed as the present:" say, +_so_ well, &c. + +172. "The Unabridged Dictionary was his greatest work, it being the labor +of a life-time:" pronounce _Dictionary_ as if written _Dik-shun-a-ry_; +not, as is too commonly the practice, _Dixonary_. + +173. "I should feel sorry to be _beholding_ to him:" say, _beholden_. + +174. "He is a _despicable_ fellow, and such an epitaph is strictly +_applicable_ to him:" _never_ place the accent in _despicable_ and +_applicable_ on the _second_ syllable, but _always_ on the _first_. + +175. "Some disaster has certainly _befell_ him:" say, _befallen_. + +176. Carefully distinguish between _sergeant_ and _serjeant_: both are +pronounced _sarjant_, but the _former_ is used in a military sense, and +the _latter_ applied to a lawyer. These distinctions are, however, +observed chiefly in England. + +177. "She is a pretty _creature_:" never pronounce _creature_ like +_creetur_. + +178. The following expression would be of special significance on coming +from a surgeon or anatomist: "Desiring to know your friend better, _I took +him apart_ to converse with him." It has been said that two persons who +_take each other apart_, frequently do so for the express purpose of +_putting their heads together_. + +179. "I am very wet, and must go and _change myself_:" say, _change my +clothes_. + +180. "He is taller _than me_:" say, _than I_. + +181. "He is much better _than me_:" say, _than I_. + +182. "You are stronger _than him_:" say, _than he_. + +183. "That is the _moot_ point:" say, _disputed_ point. The other word is +inelegant, and nearly obsolete. + +184. "They are at _loggerheads_": this is an extremely unpoetical figure +to express the mutual relations of two individuals who have an "honest +difference;" say, at _variance_, or use some other form of expression. It +might just as well be said, "They are at _tadpoles_!" + +185. "He paid a _florin_ to the _florist_:" divide the syllables so as to +pronounce like _flor-in_ and _flo-rist_. + +186. "His character is _undeniable_:" a very common expression: say, +_unexceptionable_. + +187. "Bring me the _lantern_:" never spell _lantern_--_lanthorn_. + +188. "The room is twelve _foot_ long, and nine _foot_ broad:" say, twelve +_feet_, nine _feet_. + +189. "He is a _Highlander_:" never say, _Heelander_. + +190. "He is _singular_, though _regular_ in his habits, and also very +_particular_:" beware of leaving out the _u_ in _singular_, _regular_, and +_particular_, which is a very common practice. + +191. "They are detained _at_ France:" say, _in_ France. + +192. "He lives _at_ New-York:" say, _in_ New-York. + +193. "He is very _dry_" (meaning _thirsty_), is a very common and very +improper word to use: say, _thirsty_. + +194. "No _less_ than fifty persons were there:" say, _fewer_, &c. _Less_ +refers to _quantity_; _fewer_ to _number_. + +195. "_Such another_ victory, and we shall be ruined:" say, _Another such_ +victory, &c. + +196. "It is _some distance_, from our house:" say, _at some distance_, &c. + +197. "I shall call _upon_ him:" say, _on_ him. + +198. "Remove those _trestles_:" pronounce _trestles_ exactly as written, +only leaving out the _t_; never say _trussles_. + +199. "He is much addicted to _raillery_:" in pronouncing _raillery_, leave +out the _i_; never say, _rail-le-ry_. + +200. "He is a Doctor of _Medicine_:" pronounce _medicine_ in _three_ +syllables, NEVER in _two_. + +201. "They told me to enter _in_:" leave out _in_, as it is implied in +_enter_. + +202. "His _strength_ is failing:" never say, _strenth_. + +203. "Give me both _of_ those books:" leave out _of_. + +204. "_Whenever_ I try to write well, I _always_ find I can do it:" leave +out _always_, which is unnecessary and improper. + +205. "He plunged _down_ into the stream:" leave out _down_. + +206. "I never saw his _nephew_:" say, _nef-ew_; never _nev-u_, or +_nevvey_. + +207. "She is the _matron_:" say, _may-tron_, and not _mat-ron_. + +208. "Give me _leave_ to tell you:" never say _lief_ for _leave_. + +209. "The _height_ is considerable:" pronounce _height_ so as to rhyme +with _tight_; never _hate_ nor _heighth_. An instance occurs in "Paradise +Lost" in which this word is spelled and pronounced _highth_. + +210. "Who has my _scissors_?" never call _scissors_, _sithers_. + +211. "He has obtained a good _situation_:" pronounce _situation_ as if +written _sit-you-a-tion_, and do not say, _sitch-u-a-tion_. + +212. "I had as _lief_ do it as not:" _lief_ means _willingly_, _gladly_, +and is not to be confounded with _leave_, as in example No. 208. + +213. "First _of all_ I shall give you a lesson in French, and last _of +all_ in music:" omit _of all_ in both instances, as unnecessary. + +214. "I shall have finished by the _latter_ end of the week:" leave out +_latter_, which is superfluous. + +215. "They sought him _throughout_ the _whole_ country:" leave out +_whole_, which is implied in _throughout_. + +216. "Iron sinks _down_ in water:" leave out _down_. + +217. "A warrant was _issued out_ for his apprehension:" leave out the word +_out_, which is implied in _issued_. + +218. "If you inquire _for why_ I did so, I can give a very good reason:" +leave out _for_. + +219. "I own that I did not come soon enough; but _because why_? I was +detained:" leave out _because_. + +220. "I _cannot by no means_ allow it:" say, _I can by no means_, &c.; or, +_I cannot by any means_, &c. + +221. "He _covered it over_:" leave out _over_. + +222. "I bought _a new pair of shoes_:" say, _a pair of new shoes_. + +223. "He _combined together_ these facts:" leave out _together_. + +224. "My brother called on me, and we _both_ took a walk:" leave out +_both_, which is unnecessary. + +225. "Evil spirits are not occupied about the _dead corpses_ of bad men:" +leave out _dead_, which is altogether unnecessary, as it is _implied_ in +the word _corpses_, "_corpse_" and "_dead body_" being strictly +synonymous. + +226. "He has gone to the _Lyceum_:" pronounce _Lyceum_ with the accent on +the second syllable, and not on the first. + +227. "This is a picture of _Westminster Abbey_:" never say _Westminister_, +as if there were two words, _West-minister_. + +228. "We are going to take a _holiday_:" this word was originally spelled +and pronounced _holyday_, being compounded of the two words _holy_ +(meaning "_set apart_") and _day_. Custom, however, has changed the +orthography from _y_ to _i_, and made the first syllable rhyme with +_Poll_. + +229. "It was referred to the _Committee_ on Ways and Means:" emphasize the +second, not the first syllable. + +230. "He is now settled in _Worcester_:" pronounce as if written +_Wooster_. _Gloucester_ and _Leicester_ are pronounced _Gloster_ and +_Lester_. The termination _cester_ or _chester_, occurring in the names of +many English towns, is derived and corrupted from the Latin _Castra_, +camps; and every town so named is supposed to have been the site of a camp +of soldiers, during the possession of Britain by the Romans. + +231. "_Relatives_ and _Relations_:" both these words designate kinsfolk, +and are in most instances used indiscriminately. _Relatives_, however, is +by some deemed the more proper and elegant. + +232. "What a long _lirry_ he has to say!" This word should be pronounced +and spelt _lurry_; its more general meaning is a "heap," a "throng," a +"crowd," but is often applied to a long dull speech. + +233. "_Diamonds_ are charcoals:" pronounce _diamonds_ in three syllables. + +234. "Honor to the _patriot_ and the sage:" divide the syllables like +_pa-tri-ot_, not _pat-ri-ot_. Irish rowdyism has been called +"_Pat-riot-ism_." + +235. "Do you _believe_ that he will _receive_ my letter?" observe that in +the former word the diphthong is _ie_, and in the latter _ei_. A +convenient rule for the spelling of such words is the following: _c_ takes +_ei_ after it; all other consonants are followed by _ie_:--as, dec_ei_ve, +repr_ie_ve. + +236. "He is now confirmed in _idiotcy_:" say, _idiocy_; the _t_ in _idiot_ +is dropped in forming the word. + +237. "He raised the _national_ standard:" pronounce the first two +syllables like the word _nation_, never as if written _nash-ion-al_. + +238. _Principal_ and _Principle_: be careful to observe the distinction +between these words. _Principal_ signifies _chief_; _principle_, _motive_. + +239. "He favors the _Anti-Slavery_ reform:" pronounce _Anti_ with a +distinct sounding of the _i_; else the word becomes _ante_, which means +not "against," but "before,"--as "ante-deluvian," signifying "before the +Deluge." + +240. _Cincinnati_ is often misspelled _Cincinnatti_. The name is derived +from _Cincinnatus_, a celebrated Roman. + +241. "Her dress was made of _moire antique_:" _moire antique_ is an +article of _watered silk_, very well known to the "shopping" sisterhood, +but very frequently called "_Murray Antique_." + +242. "It was mentioned in a _Californian newspaper_:" say, _California_ +newspaper. No one says _Philadelphian_, or _Chicagonian_ journal. + +243. "The lecture was _characterized_ as a brilliant performance:" accent +the first, and not the second syllable. + +244. "This is one of the traditions of St. _Helena_:" accent _le_, and not +_Hel_. + +245. "The boy was found by a _washwoman_:" say, _washerwoman_. + +246. "St. John's is about two days nearer England than Halifax." [From an +account, in a New-York newspaper, of the Submarine Telegraph Expedition, +September, 1855.] Does it mean that St. John's is nearer to England than +Halifax is, or nearer to England than to Halifax? + +247. "He wears a blue-spotted _neck-handkerchief_:" say, _neckerchief_, +or, still better, _neck-cloth_, or _cravat_. The original word is +_kerchief_, and not _handkerchief_, which is a _kerchief_ for the _hand_. + +248. "The city was _illumined_ in honor of the victory:" better say, +_illuminated_. Distinguish between the pronunciation of _illumined_ and +_ill-omened_. + +249. "She has brought the _cloze pins_ in a bag:" say, _clothes' pins_. + +250. "He met with _luck_:" say either "_bad luck_," or "_good luck_;" +_luck_ primarily refers to simple "chance," although its derivatives, +_lucky_ and _luckily_, imply only _good fortune_. + +251. "The _in-va-lid_ signed a deed, that was _in-val-id_:" pronounce the +former "_invalid_" with the accent on the _first_ syllable; the _latter_, +with the accent on the _second_. + +252. "The _duke_ discharged his _duty_." Be careful to give the slender, +clear sound of _u_. Avoid saying _dook_ and _dooty_, or _doo_ for _dew_ or +_due_. Say _flute_, not _floot_; _suit_, not _soot_; _mute_, not _moot_. +As well might you say _bute_ for _boot_, or _shute_ for shoot. + +253. "_Genealogy_, _geography_, and _geometry_ are words of Greek +derivation:" beware of saying _geneology_, _jography_, and _jometry_, a +very common practice. + +254. "He made out the _inventory_:" place the accent in _inventory_ on the +syllable _in_, and NEVER on _ven_. + +255. "He deserves _chastisement_:" say, _chas-tiz-ment_, with the accent +on _chas_, and NEVER on _tise_. + +256. "He threw the _rind_ away:" never call _rind_, _rine_. + +257. "His _knowledge_ is very great:" always pronounce _knowledge_ so as +to rhyme with _college_, and NEVER say _know-ledge_. + +258. "They contributed to his _maintenance_:" pronounce _maintenance_ with +the accent on _main_, and never say _maintainance_. + +259. "She wears a silk _gown_:" never say _gownd_. + +260. "Maine is a _maritime_ State:" pronounce the last syllable of +_maritime_ so as to rhyme with _rim_. + +261. "They _desisted_ from their _design_:" pronounce the _former s_ in +_desisted_ with a soft sound, and _always_ pronounce _design_ as if +written _de-zine_. + +262. "They committed a _heinous_ crime:" pronounce _heinous_ as if spelled +_hay-nus_; NEVER call the word _hee-nus_ or _hain-yus_. + +263. "He _hovered_ about the enemy:" pronounce _hovered_ so as to rhyme +with _covered_. + +264. "He is a powerful _ally_:" _never_ place the accent on _al_ in +_ally_, as many do. + +265. "_We have never been called, almost, to the consideration_ of the +Apocalypse, without finding fresh reasons for our opinion." [Such are the +words of a very eminent reviewer.] He should have said, "We have _scarcely +ever_ been called," or, "we have _almost never_." + +266. "He is very _bigoted_:" never spell the last word with _double t_, a +very common mistake. + +267. "The _Weekly Tribune_ has a large circulation:" pronounce Tribune as +if divided _Trib-une_, and not _Try-bune_. + +268. "He said _as how_ you _was_ to do it:" say, he said _that you were to +do it_. + +269. Never say, "_I acquiesce with you_," but, "_I acquiesce in your +proposal_, _in your opinion_," &c. + +270. "He is a distinguished _antiquarian_:" say, _antiquary_. +_Antiquarian_ is an adjective; _antiquary_, a noun. + +271. An injudicious disposition of a clause in a sentence frequently +creates great merriment in the reading. In Goldsmith's "History of +England," a book remarkable for its carelessness of style, we find the +following extraordinary sentence, in one of the chapters of the reign of +Queen Elizabeth: "This" [a communication to Mary Queen of Scots] "they +effected by conveying their letters to her by means of a brewer that +_supplied the family with ale through a chink in the wall of her +apartment_." A queer brewer that--to supply ale through a chink in the +wall! How easy the alteration to make the passage clear! "This they +effected by conveying their letters to her _through a chink in the wall of +her apartment, by means of a brewer that supplied the family with ale_." + +272. "Lavater wrote on _Physiognomy_:" in the last word sound the _g_ +distinctly, as _g_ is always pronounced before _n_, when it is not in the +same syllable; as, _indignity_, &c. + +273. "She is a very amiable _girl_:" pronounce _girl_ as if written +_gurl_; _gal_ is a vulgarism; _gehl_ or _gul_ is an affectation of which +many polite persons are guilty. + +274. "He built a large _granary_:" _do not_ pronounce _granary_ so as to +rhyme with _tannery_. Call the word _grainary_. Both pronunciations, +however, are given by scholars. + +275. Beware of using _Oh!_ and _O_ indiscriminately: _Oh!_ is used to +express the emotion of _pain_, _sorrow_, or _surprise_; as, "_Oh!_ the +exceeding grace of God." _O_ is used to express _wishing_, _exclamation_, +or a direct _address_ to a person; as, + + "O mother, will the God above + Forgive my faults like thee?" + +276. Be careful to sound distinctly the _r_ in such words as _farther_, +_martyr_, _charter_, _murder_, &c. Never say, _fah-ther_, _mah-tyr_, +_chah-ter_ and _muh-der_. On the other hand, avoid _trilling_ the _r_, as +_mur-er-der_, _r'r'robber_. It is altogether too tragical for common life. + +277. "The Duke of Wellington was an _Irishman_, but knew nothing of the +_Irish_ language:" beware of saying _Ierishman_ for _Irishman_, or +_Ierish_ for _Irish_; a very common mistake, which the "Know-Nothings" are +quick to detect. + +278. "He did it _unbeknown_ to us:" say, _unknown_, &c. + +279. "He lives in _affluence_, as he is in _affluent_ circumstances:" +beware of placing the accent in _affluence_ and _affluent_ on the syllable +_flu_ instead of on _af_, a very common error. + +280. "If I say, 'They retreated _back_,' I use a word that is +_superfluous_, as _back_ is implied in the syllable _re_ in _retreated_:" +never place the accent on _flu_ in _superfluous_, but always on _per_. + +281. "In reading Paley's 'Evidences of Christianity,' I unexpectedly _lit +on_ the passage I wanted:" say, _met with_ the passage, &c. + +282. A gentleman having selected a book from the library shelves of the +Mechanics' Institute, went to the librarian to have the volume registered +under his name, and said, "_I have taken the life of Julius Caesar_." "I +shall then," responded the librarian, "charge the work to Mr. Brutus!" Be +careful how you "take the lives" of distinguished men. + +283. "He has a _bayonet_ to his gun:" never say _baggonet_. This error is +a peculiarity of the Wiltshire dialect, in England. In an old Wiltshire +song the following stanza occurs: + + "A hornet zet in a holler tree, + A proper spiteful twoad was he; + And merrily zung while he did zet,-- + His sting as sharp as a _baggonet_." + +284. "Aunt Deborah is down with the _rheumatiz_:" say, _rheumatism_; this +is one among the _isms_, though a very unpopular one. + +285. "It is _obligatory_ upon every honest man to go to the polls to-day:" +accent _lig_, and not _ga_. + +286. "On the _contrary_:" accent _con_, not _tra_. The old song takes up +with a bad pronunciation, for the sake of a good rhyme: + + "Mistress Mary, + Quite _contrary_, + How does your garden grow?" + +287. "That is altogether _above my bend_:" say, _out of my power_. + +288. "He has _absquatulated_, and taken the specie with him:" _absconded_ +is a more classical word. + +289. "It's _eenamost_ time we had started:" say, _almost_. + +290. "_I haven't ary one_:" say, _I have neither_, or, _I haven't either_. + +291. "That man is in a _bad box_:" say, _bad predicament_, or bad +_situation_. + +292. It may be doubted whether to say of a man "that _he barked up the +wrong tree_," is a complimentary or elegant metaphor. + +293. "I will retain two-thirds, and give you the _balance_:" say, +_remainder_. + +294. "I _calculate_ to go by steam:" say, "I _expect_." + +295. Avoid using the phrase "_I cave in_," for "_I give up_." It savors of +slang. + +296. Do not say, "_chicken fixings_," for "_trifles_," or "_extras_," +connected with dress. + +297. "He is a _cute_ man:" this is an inelegant abbreviation of _acute_, +and employed to mean _smart_. It may, however, be properly applied to +Yankees! + +298. "He _dickered_ with him an hour:" say, "he _bargained_." This is a +word somewhat peculiar to New-York. + +299. "_Do don't_" is a vulgar usage of the Southern States, especially +Georgia, for "_do not_." + +300. "He is _done gone_:" say, _ruined_. + +301. "We had a _dreadful_ fine time:" say, _very_, or _exceedingly_. + +302. "It rains, and I want an umbrella _the worst kind_:" say, "_I am +greatly in want_," &c. An umbrella _of the worst kind_ would not be likely +to answer the best of purposes on a rainy day! + +303. "The whole concern _fizzled out_:" say, _proved a failure_. + +304. "As soon as I mentioned it to him, he _flared up_:" say, he _became +excited_, or _grew violent_. + +305. "The choir sang _Old Hundred_:" pronounce _Hundred_ as written, and +not _Hunderd_. + +306. "The message was sent by his _aid-de-camp_:" pronounce as if written +_ade-de-kawng_, avoiding, however, as much as possible a twang on the last +syllable. + +307. "My _beard_ is long:" don't say _baird_. + +308. "The blacksmith blows the _bellows_:" pronounce as written, and not +_bellus_. + +309. "Let me help you to some _catsup_:" avoid saying _ketchup_. + +310. "It is new _China ware_:" do not say, _chaney ware_; this latter +article exists only in the traditions of old women. + +311. "The _combatants_ parted in good humor:" accent the first +syllable--never the second. + +312. "We poled the raft up the _creek_:" pronounce as if written _krik_. + +313. "Then spake the _warrior_ bold:" pronounce in two syllables, as +_war-yur_, not _war-ri-or_. + +314. In using the word _venison_, sound the _i_: _venzun_ is a common, +though not elegant pronunciation. + +315. _Tapestry_ is divided _tap-es-try_ and not _ta-pes-try_. + +316. "He is only a _subaltern_:" accent the first syllable of _subaltern_. + +317. "The barge is at the _quay_:" pronounce _quay_, _kay_. + +318. "The path over the meadow was _queachy_:" this word, meaning _soft_ +or _boggy_, is now obsolete, and cannot be used with propriety. + +319. "He talks _pulpitically_:" this word, which some who copy +Chesterfield persist in using, has never by any good authority been +admitted into the language. + +320. To _peff_, meaning to _cough faintly_ (like a sheep), is hardly a +useable word. + +321. Be careful to distinguish between _pencil_, an instrument for +writing, and _pensile_, meaning _hanging down_. + +322. _To yank_ is a vulgarism, meaning _to twitch powerfully_. + +323. Avoid the slang phrase, "_I used to could_." Say, "_I could +formerly_." + +324. "She _takes on_ about it greatly:" say, _grieves_. + +325. "He _staved off_ the case two days longer:" say, he _put off_, or +_delayed_. + +326. "He made a great _splurge_:" say, he made a _blustering effort_. + +327. "I _reckon_ it is going to rain:" say, I _think_, or _expect_. +_Reckon_ applies to _calculation_. + +328. "The basket is _pretty large_:" avoid, if possible, the use of the +word _pretty_ out of its legitimate signification; the language abounds +with substitutes more elegant. + +329. "She weighs a _plaguy sight_:" say, _a great deal_. + +330. "He _made tracks_ at sundown:" say, _he left_, or _escaped_. + +331. "He was compelled to _fork over the cash_:" say, _to pay over_. + +332. "_To flunk out_" is a vulgar expression for _to retire through fear_; +the most that can be tolerated is, _to sneak out_. + +333. "When last observed, he was _going at full chisel_:" say, _at the top +of his speed_. + +334. "That bill is a _counterfeit_:" the last syllable is pronounced as if +written _fit_, and not _feet_. + +335. "I am very much _obliged_ to you:" do not say _obleeged_. + +336. The following sentence affords an example of three words of similar +pronunciation, but different signification: "It is not easy to _pare_ a +_pear_ with a _pair_ of scissors." + +337. "The _robber_ entered the dwelling, and secretly carried off the +silver:" say, _thief_; a _robber_ attacks violently, and commits his +depredations by main force; a _thief_ is one who uses secrecy and +deception. + +338. "Go and _fetch_ me my riding-whip:" say, _bring_. _Fetch_ means to +_go and bring_; _go and fetch_ is repetition. + +339. _To leave_ and _to quit_ are often used as synonymous terms, though +improperly; _to leave_ implies a design of returning soon--_to quit_, an +absence of a long time, or forever; as, in Shakespeare:-- + + "----the very rats + Instinctively had _quit_ it."--_Tempest_, i. 2. + +"I shall _leave_ my house for a month before next Autumn; but I shall not +be obliged to _quit_ it until after Christmas." + +340. _Mute_ and _dumb_. A _dumb_ man has not the power to speak; a _mute_ +man either does not choose, or is not allowed to speak. It is, therefore, +more proper to say of a person who can neither hear nor speak, that he is +"deaf and _dumb_," than that he is a "deaf _mute_." + +341. _Strong_ and _robust_. These words are frequently misused: a _strong_ +man is able to bear a heavy burden, but not necessarily for a long time; a +_robust_ man bears _continual_ fatigue with ease; a _strong_ man may be +active and nimble; while an excess of muscular development, together with +a clumsiness of action, exclude these qualities from the _robust_ man:-- + + "_Strong_ as a tower in hope, I cry Amen!" + + SHAKESPEARE, _Richard II._ i. 3. + + "For one who, though of drooping mien, had yet + From nature's kindliness received a frame + _Robust_ as ever rural labor bred." + + WORDSWORTH, _Excursion_, VI. + +342. "Isaac Newton _invented_ the law of gravitation:" say, _discovered_. +"Galileo _discovered_ the telescope:" say, _invented_. + +343. To _hear_ and to _listen_ have each distinct degrees of meaning. To +_hear_ implies no effort or particular attention. To _listen_ implies some +eagerness to hear. An old proverb says, "They that _listen_ seldom _hear_ +any good of themselves." + +344. _Ought_ and _should_ both express obligation, but the latter is not +so binding as the former. "Children _ought to_ love their parents, and +_should_ be neat in their appearance." + +345. _Alone_ and _only_ are often misapplied. "He _only_ could do it," +means that no other but himself could do it; "he _alone_ could do it," +should mean that he, without the assistance of others, could do it. + +346. "Please the pigs."--(_Old Proverb._) This is a corruption from +"Please the _pyx_." The _pyx_ is the receptacle which contains the +consecrated wafer on Romish altars; and the exclamation is equal to +"Please God." This corruption is as curious a one as that of "tawdry" from +"'t Audrey," or "at St. Audrey's Fair," famous for the sale of +frippery--showy, cheap, and worthless. + +347. "The _partridge_ is a delightful bird:" do not say _patridge_. Also, +do not say _pasley_ for _parsley_. + +348. "After this, let him hide his _diminished head_:" this common phrase +is a poetical quotation from Milton, and is therefore proper to be used +even when it does not _literally_ express the idea:-- + + "At whose sight all the stars + Hide their _diminished heads_." + +349. "That bourne from whence no traveler returns." How often are +precisely these words spoken? They are improperly quoted from Shakespeare, +in Hamlet, and correctly read as follows:-- + + "That undiscovered country, from whose bourne + No traveler returns." + +350. "Bring me my _waistcoat_:" pronounce as if written _waste-coat_, and +not _weskut_. It should rhyme, as it did in an old ballad, with "_laced +coat_." + +351. "Your _bonnet_ to its right use."--(_Shakespeare:_) never say +_bunnet_. + +352. "It is not cold enough to wear my _gloves_:" pronounce as if written +_gluvs_, and to rhyme with _loves_. In "Fair Rosamond" the following +illustrative stanza occurs:-- + + "He said he had his _gloves_ from France: + The Queen said, 'That can't be: + If you go there for _glove-making_, + It is without the _g_.'" + +353. "_Egad!_ what great good luck!" This word is now inelegantly used, +except in certain species of poetry, where it is introduced with much +effect, as in the following distich:-- + + "All tragedies, _egad!_ to me sound oddly; + I can no more be serious, than you godly." + +354. "The frigate is now in the Yellow Sea, or _thereabouts_:" say, +_thereabout_. This term is a transposed combination of _about there_; +there is no such word as _thereabouts_. The same may be said of +_hereabouts_, and _whereabouts_. + +355. "Whether he will or _no_:" say, _not_. The reason of this correction +is clearly seen by supplying what is needed to complete the sense: Whether +he will or _will not_. + +356. "He looked at it first _lengthways_, then _sideways_:" say, +_lengthwise_ and _sidewise_. Also, say _otherwise_ instead of _otherways_. +A nobleman said to his fool, "I am _wise_, and you are _otherwise_." +"Yes," replied his jester, "you are _wise_, and I am _another wise_." + +357. If you are a landlord, beware of incorrectly using such an expression +as in the following: A landed proprietor went to a tenant with a view of +increasing his rent, and said to him, "Neighbor, I am going to _raise your +rent_." "Thank you, sir," was the reply, "for I am utterly unable to +_raise it myself_." + +358. "Will you _accept_ of this slight testimonial?" Omit _of_, which is +superfluous, and weakens the sentence. + +359. "He convinced his opponent by _dint_ of good reasoning:" _dint_, +meaning _force_ or strength, is an obsolete word, and should not now be +employed. + +360. "The Danube _empties_ into the Black Sea:" say, _flows_; to _empty_ +means _to make vacant_; no river can properly be called _empty_, until it +is entirely dried up. + +361. Such words as _bamboozle_, _topsyturvy_, _helterskelter_, +_hurlyburly_, and _pellmell_ are generally to be avoided. They answer, +however, for familiar conversation. + +362. Never say _seraphims_, for the plural of _seraph_, but _seraphim_; +the same rule holds with _cherubims_. _Cherubs_ and _seraphs_ are proper +plurals, suiting a familiar style of speaking or writing, while _cherubim_ +and _seraphim_ are to be used only in more dignified and solemn discourse. + +363. "_There's_ the books you wanted:" say, _there are_: avoid all +abbreviations when they lead to a grammatical error, as in the present +instance. + +364. "This prisoner has, of all the gang, committed _fewer_ misdemeanors:" +say, _fewest_. We may say _fewer than_ all, but we must say _fewest of_ +all. + +365. "I esteem you more than _the others_:" this sentence is equivocal. +Does it mean, "I esteem you more than _I esteem the others_," or, "I +esteem you more than _the others esteem you_?" + +366. "The most eminent scholars will, on some points, differ _among one +another_:" say, _among themselves_. + +367. "He, from that moment, doubled his _kindness and caresses of me_:" +say, "kindness _for_ and caresses of me;" by omitting _caresses_ we have, +"He doubled his _kindness of_ me," which is not good English. + +368. _To differ from_ and _to differ with_: to _differ from_ a man means +to have an opinion different from his; to _differ with_ a person signifies +a _quarrel_ or _rupture_. + +369. "He barely escaped having _one or two broken heads_:" a man has but +_one_ head, let it be broken or whole. Say, "He _once or twice barely +escaped_ having a broken head." + +370. "Whenever _I fall into that man's conversation_ I am entertained and +profited:" say, _fall into conversation with that man_. + +371. "The lecturer _spoke to several points_:" say, "spoke _on_ several +points." He spoke _to_ his audience. + +372. "I shall regard your _strictures_ only so far as _concerns_ my own +errors:" say, _concern_; the phrase when filled out should read, "only so +far as _they concern_ my own errors." + +373. "I found him better than I expected _to have found him_:" say, _to +find him_. + +374. "I perceived that he was totally blind _with half an eye_:" say, "I +perceived, with half an eye, that he was totally blind." Otherwise, to a +man _totally blind_ you allot _half an eye_! + +375. The word _only_ is often wrongly placed in the sentence, and made to +express an idea which is not designed to be conveyed. "Not _only_ Chinese +are superstitious," implies that others besides the Chinese are +superstitious. "Chinese are not _only_ superstitious," implies that in +addition to being superstitious, they have some other characteristics. +"Chinese not _only_ are superstitious," leaves room for something still +further to be implied of the Chinese than superstition, and which is not +necessarily the predicate of _are_; as, "Chinese not only are +superstitious, but they persecute those who do not put faith in +Confucius." + +376. _Not the least_ and _nothing less than_, sometimes literally convey +just the opposite of what is intended. "He has _not the least_ excuse for +going," may mean that he has _a great excuse_, or _none at all_. "He seeks +_nothing less than_ worldly honor," may signify that nothing inferior to +worldly honor will satisfy his desire; or, on the other hand, it may mean +that nothing is less sought by him than worldly honor. Such expressions, +therefore, are to be used with caution, else they will mislead. + +377. Care should be taken in the use of epithets. For instance, in the +sentence, "_A wise and good man_ should be respected," the words _wise_ +and _good_ may properly be applied to the same man; but if the sentence +should be altered to read, "An _old and young man_," it is obvious that +both epithets could not relate to the same person. + +378. Never say _turkle soup_, for _turtle soup_. + +379. The word _long_ should not now be employed to signify _many_. An +example of this early usage is found in the Fifth Commandment, "that thy +days may be _long_ upon the land." The following lines furnish an instance +of the verb _to lengthen_, meaning to _make many_:-- + + "The best of all ways + To _lengthen_ our days, + Is to take a few hours from the night, my lad." + +380. "They returned _back again_ to the _same_ city _from_ whence they +came _forth_:" omit the italicized words, which are redundant and +inelegant. + +381. "Have you any leisure _upon your hands_?" omit _upon your +hands_,--not so much because anything after "leisure" is superfluous, in +such a sentence, as because the idea of _having leisure upon your hands_ +is absurd. + +382. "Seven lads were present, and he gave them _all_ a book:" say, _gave +them each_ a book. _All_ refers to a number of persons or things taken +_collectively_, as _one body_; _each_ refers to _every individual_, +separately considered. + +383. "Lend me your _umberell_:" say, _umbrella_. The former pronunciation, +however, is allowed by _poetic license_, as in the following, adapted from +Thomas Moore:-- + + "Oh, ever thus from childhood's hour, + Has chilling fate upon me fell! + There always comes a soakin' shower + When I hain't got an _umbrell_." + +384. We lately met a grammarian, who had just made a tour through the +mines, conjugating, or, rather, cogitating thus: "Positive, _mine_; +comparative _miner_; superlative, _minus_!" + +385. "Put not thy secret into the mouth of the _Bosphorus_, for it will +betray it to the ears of the Black Sea."--(_Oriental Proverb._) Pronounce +_Bosphorus_ as if written _Bosforus_, and not _Bos-porous_. + +386. Be careful to use the hyphen (-) correctly: it joins compound words, +and words broken by the ending of a line. The use of the hyphen will +appear more clearly from the following example: "_many colored_ wings" +means _many_ wings which are _colored_; but "_many-colored_ wings" means +"wings of _many colors_." + +387. "I am _afraid_ it will rain:" say, _I fear_. _Afraid_ expresses +terror; _fear_ may mean only _anxiety_. + +388. Never say _o-fences_ for _offences_; _pison_ for _poison_; +_co-lection_ for _collection_; _voiolent_ for _violent_; _kivver_ for +_cover_; _afeard_ for _afraid_; _debbuty_ for _deputy_. The last three +examples are very common. + +389. "It is a mere _cipher_:" never spell _cipher_ with a _y_. + +390. "I was _necessitated_ to do it:" a poor expression, and often made +worse by _necessiated_ being used: say, I was _obliged_, or _compelled_, +to do it. + +391. "Gibbon wrote the _Rise_ and Fall of the Roman Empire:" pronounce +_Rise_, the noun, so as to rhyme with _price_; _Rise_, the verb, rhymes +with _prize_. + +392. "He joined his _regiment_ last week:" never say, _ridgiment_ for +_regiment_. + +393. "He bought a _gimlet_:" never spell the last word _gimblet_, as many +do. + +394. "He is a supporter of the _Government_:" beware of omitting the _n_ +in the second syllable of _Government_--a very common practice. + +395. "Received this day _of_ Mr. Brown ten dollars:" say, "Received this +day _from_," &c. + +396. "Of whatever you _get_, endeavor to save something; and with all your +_getting, get_ wisdom:" carefully avoid saying _git_ for _get_, and +_gitting_ for _getting_. + +397. "So intent was he on the song he was _singing_, while he stood by the +fire, that he did not perceive that his clothes were _singeing_." Verbs +ending with a _single e_, omit the _e_ when the termination _ing_ is +added, as, _give_, _giving_; in _singeing_, however, the _e_ must be +retained, to prevent its being confounded with _singing_. The _e_ must +also be retained in _dyeing_, to distinguish it from _dying_. + +398. The following sentences may be studied: "The _dyer dyes_ daily, yet +he _dies_ not." "The _miner minds_ the _minor mines_." "It is not _meet_ +to _mete_ out such _meat_." "He performed a great _feat_ with his _feet_ +at the _fete_." (_Fete_ is pronounced _fate_.) + +399. "_Lower_ the sails, as the sky begins to _lower_:" pronounce _low_ in +the _former_ so as to rhyme with _mow_, and _low_ in the _latter_ so as to +rhyme with _cow_. + +400. "There was a great _row_ on Monday, in Tryon _Row_:" pronounce the +former _row_ so as to rhyme with _cow_--the latter _row_, so as to rhyme +with _mo_. + +401. "His _surname_ is Clifford:" never spell the _sur_ in "surname" +_sir_, which shows an ignorance of its true derivation, which is from the +Latin. + +402. "The buildings are so old that they pay _almost no rent_ now:" +_scarcely any rent_, is better. + +403. "His _mamma_ sent him to a preparatory school:" _mamma_ is often +written with one _m_ only, which is not, as may at first be supposed, in +imitation of the French _maman_, but in sheer ignorance. + +404. Active verbs often take a neuter sense; as, "_The house is +building_:" here, _is building_ is used in a neuter signification, because +it has no object after it. By this rule are explained such sentences as, +"_Application is wanting_;" "_The Grammar is printing_," &c. + +405. "He _attackted_ me without the slightest provocation:" say, +_attacked_. + +406. "I called on him every day in the week _successfully_:" very common, +but incorrect; say, _successively_. + +407. "I fear I shall _discommode_ you:" it is better to say, _incommode_. + +408. "I can do it _equally as well as_ he:" leave out _equally_, which is +superfluous. + +409. "We could not forbear _from_ doing it:" leave out _from_, which is +unnecessary; or say, _refrain from_. + +410. "He was totally dependent _of_ his father:" say, dependent _on_ his +father. + +411. "They accused him _for_ neglecting his duty:" say, _of_ neglecting, +&c. + +412. "They have a great resemblance _with_ each other:" say, _to_ each +other. + +413. "I entirely dissent _with_ him:" say, _from_ him. + +414. "He was made much _on_ at the Springs:" say, made much _of_, &c. + +415. "He is a man _on_ whom you can confide:" say, _in_ whom, &c. + +416. "He was obliged to _fly_ the country:" say, _flee_ the country. A +very common mistake. + +417. "The snuffers _wants_ mending:" say, _want_ mending. No one would +say, "My _pantaloons is_ ripped." + +418. "His conduct admits _of_ no apology:" omit _of_, which is quite +unnecessary. + +419. "A _gent_ has been here inquiring for you:" a detestable, but very +common expression; say, a _gentleman_ has been, &c. Oliver Wendell Holmes +hits off this liberty with language, in the following happy couplet:-- + + "The things called _pants_, in certain documents, + Were never made for _gentlemen_, but _gents_." + +420. "That was _all along of_ you:" say, "That was _all your fault_." + +421. "You have no _call_ to be angry with me:" say, no _occasion_, &c. + +422. "Too free an _indulgence_ in luxuries _enervate_ and _injure_ the +system:" say, _enervates_ and _injures_, &c. The plural, _luxuries_, +standing directly before the verb, (which should be _enervates_, in the +singular,) deceives the ear. Errors of this kind are very common, though a +moment's thought would correct them. The verb must agree with its subject +in person and in number; if the _noun_ is in the singular, the _verb_ that +belongs to it must also be in the singular. + +423. "A father divided a portion of his property _among_ his two children, +and the remainder he distributed _between_ the poor:" say, _between_ his +two children, and _among_ the poor. _Between_ is applicable to two only, +_among_ to three or more. + +424. "_Every_ child should obey _their_ parents:" say, _his_ parents. The +pronoun must agree with the noun in number, &c. + +425. "He is a person _who_ I respect greatly:" say, _whom_. "Be careful +_who_ you trust:" _whom_ you trust. + +426. "Let me consider _of_ this matter." "The culprit dreaded to enter +_in_ the prison." "The laborers were not allowed to want _for_ anything." +Leave out the _italicized_ words--the sense being complete without them. + +427. _Cupola_ is often pronounced _cupalo_; _foliage_, _foilage_; +_future_, _futur_; _nature_, _natur_: all of which errors should be +carefully avoided. + +428. "'Ow 'appens it that _H_englishmen so _h_often misplace their +_h_aitches?" It is a cockneyism; and if you have fallen into the habit, it +will require perhaps more perseverance than you imagine, to correct it. + +429. Do you say _w_agabond or _v_agabond, _w_inegar or _v_inegar, _w_ery +or _v_ery, _v_alking or _w_alking, _v_atchman or _w_atchman? It is a local +custom, but if you have any taint of it, don't sing "_V_illikins and his +Dinah." + +430. Provid_ence_, confid_ence_, and similar words, are often pronounced +Provid_unce_, confid_unce_, &c., substituting _unce_ for _ence_. So also, +words ending in _ance_, as mainte_nance_, suste_nance_, SURVEIL_lance_, +are pronounced falsely mainten_unce_, susten_unce_, &c. + +431. _Coming_, _going_, _according_, &c., are often pronounced without the +final _g_: speak them distinctly, and pronounce difficult words with +de-lib-er-a-tion. + +432. If you are a Yankee, you should (though, as a general thing, you +_will not_) take special pains with your vowel sounds, that they be not +formed through the nasal cavities. Don't say _heow_, _ceow_, _confeound_, +for _how_, _cow_, &c. + +433. If you are a Western man, you are liable to give your vowel sounds +too great breadth. You should not say _bar_ for _bear_, _hum_ for _home_, +_dawlar_ for _dollar_; and it is better to avoid using such expressions as +_I reckon_, _I guess_, _I calculate_, too frequently. + +434. "I am going _a fishing_:" be bold enough to be one among the foremost +to break away from the bad habit of saying _a fishing_, _a talking_, _a +courting_, &c. This custom, however, should be retained in quoting +proverbs and wise sayings; these are better in proportion as they are +older; for example: "_Who goes a-borrowing, goes a-sorrowing._" The +quaintness would be destroyed by saying simply _borrowing_ and +_sorrowing_. + +435. Some people add a superfluous preposition at the end of a +sentence--"More than you think _for_." This is awkward. + +436. "Then think _on_ the friend who once welcomed it too," &c. &c.: say, +_of_. + +437. _Thou_ and _thee_ are no longer used in spelling or writing, except +by some of The Friends; but proverbial citations, originally expressed in +that form, lose much of their beauty and force by alteration; as, "If thou +seest thy house in flames, approach and warm thyself by it." How greatly +would a change of person tame the spirit of this fine proverb! + +438. "By the street of '_By-and-By_,' one arrives at the house of +'Never.'" Do not say, _By'mby_. + +439. Be careful to observe the _two plurals_ of the following nouns: + + Singular. First Plural. Second Plural. + + _Brother,_ _Brothers_ (of the same _Brethren_ (of the same + parents), society). + + _Die,_ _Dies_ (for coining), _Dice_ (for gaming). + + _Index,_ _Indexes_ (tables of contents), _Indices_ (signs in + algebra). + + _Pea,_ _Peas_ (referring to a _Pease_ (referring to the + limited number), whole species). + + _Penny,_ _Pennies_ (coins), _Pence_ (the value). + + _Cow,_ _Cows_ (a herd of cattle), _Kine_ (the species). + + _Sow,_ _Sows_ (a litter), _Swine_ (the species). + + _Genius,_ _Geniuses_ (men of genius), _Genii_ (imaginary spirits). + +440. Different shades of meaning may be expressed by slight variations in +the position of the important words in a sentence. For example, "_The +Paradise Lost of Milton_," is not exactly the same in import as, +"_Milton's Paradise Lost_;" in the former, attention is called to the +author--in the latter, to the poem. + +441. In uniting the plural of _one_, _two_, _three,_ do not use the +apostrophe ['] as _one's_, _two's_, _three's._ Good writers never conform +to the latter mode. Wordsworth, who was remarkably particular, not only in +the choice of his words but in their orthography, wrote: + + "The sun has long been set, + The stars are out by _twos and threes_; + The little birds are piping yet + Among the bushes and the trees." + +442. "_How's yourself_, this morning?" an exceedingly common, but very +objectionable expression: say, "_How are you_;" &c. + +443. "Wanted, two apprentices, who will be treated as _one_ of the +family:" great practical difficulty would be found in realizing such +treatment! Say, "as _members_ of the family." + +444. The following lines afford an instance of the ingenious uses to which +the English language may be put: + + "You _sigh for_ a _cipher_, but _I sigh for you;_ + Oh, _sigh for no cipher_, but oh, _sigh for me;_ + Oh, let not my _sigh for_ a _cipher_ go, + But give _sigh for sigh, for I sigh_ for you so!" + +The above is more briefly expressed in the following manner: + + "U O a O, but I O u, + Oh, O no O, but oh, O me; + Oh, let not my O a O go, + But give O O I O u so!" + +445. Sometimes _but_ is incorrectly substituted for _that_: as, "I have no +doubt _but_ he will be here to-night." Sometimes for the conjunction _if_, +as, "I shouldn't wonder _but_ that was the case." And sometimes _two_ +conjunctions are used instead of one, as, "_If that_ I have offended him," +"_After that_ he had seen the parties," &c. All this is very awkward and +should be avoided. + +446. "My hands are _chopped_:" say, _chapped_. + +447. "This will serve as a _preventative_:" say, _preventive_. + +448. "A _nishe_ young man," "What _makesh_ you laugh?" "If he _offendsh_ +you, don't speak to him," "_Ash_ you please," "Not _jush_ yet," "We +always _passh_ your house in going to call on _Missh Yatesh_." This is +decided, unmitigated _cockneyism_, having its parallel in nothing except +the broken English of the sons of Abraham, and to adopt it in conversation +is certainly "not speaking like a Christian." + +449. Never say, "Cut it in _half_," for this you cannot do unless you +could _annihilate one_ half. You may "cut it in two," or "cut it in +halves," or "cut it through," or "divide it," but no human ability will +enable you _to cut it in half_. + +451. _To lay and to lie._--_To lay_ is an active or transitive verb, and +must always have an object, expressed or understood. _To lie_ (not meaning +_to tell a falsehood_) is a neuter or intransitive, and therefore does not +admit of an object. The only real difficulty arises from the fact, that +the past tense of "lie," when used without an auxiliary, is the same as +the present of "lay." But a little attention will obviate this. Nothing +can be more erroneous than to say, "I shall go and lay down." The question +which naturally arises in the mind of the discriminating hearer is, +"_What_ are you going to lay down--money, carpets, plans, or what?" for, +as a transitive verb is used, an object is wanted to complete the sense. +The speaker means, that he himself is going to _lie down_. "My brother +_lays_ ill of a fever," should be, "My brother _lies_," &c. + + VERB ACTIVE. VERB NEUTER. + + _To lay._ _To lie._ + + Present Tense. Present Tense. + + I lay } I lie } + Thou layest } money, Thou liest } down, + He lays } carpets, He lies } too long, + We lay } plans, We lie } on a sofa, + You lay } --any _thing_. You lie } --any _where_. + They lay } They lie } + + + Imperfect Tense. Imperfect Tense. + + I laid } I lay } + Thou laidest } money, Thou layest } down, + He laid } carpets, He lays } too long, + We laid } plans, We lay } on a sofa, + You laid } --any _thing_. You lay } --any _where_. + They laid } They lay } + + Present Participle, Laying. Present Participle, Lying. + Perfect Participle, Laid. Perfect Participle, Lain. + +452. Many people have an odd way of saying, "I expect," when they mean +only "I think," or "I conclude;" as, "I expect my brother went to Richmond +to-day," "I expect those books were sent to Paris last year." _Expect_ can +relate only to _future_ time, and must be followed by a future tense, or a +verb in the infinitive mood; as, "I expect my brother _will go_ to +Richmond to-day," "I expect _to find_ those books were sent to Paris last +year." + +453. "A _summer's_ morning," should be, A _summer_ morning. + +454. The vulgar speaker uses adjectives instead of adverbs, and says, +"This letter is written _shocking_;" the genteel speaker uses adverbs +instead of adjectives, and says, "This writing looks _shockingly_." + +455. "_Nobody else_ but him," should be, _Nobody_ but him. + +456. "That _ain't_ just," should be, That _is not_ just. + +457. "He was killed _by_ a cannon-ball," should be, He was killed _with_ a +cannon-ball. He was killed _by_ the cannoneer. + +458. "A _new pair_ of gloves," should be, A _pair of new_ gloves. + +459. "_Before_ I do that, I must _first_ be paid," should be, Before I do +that, I must be paid. + +460. A grammatical play upon the word THAT: + + "Now _that_ is a word which may often be joined, + For _that that_ may be doubled is clear to the mind; + And _that that that_ is right, is as plain to the view, + As _that that that that_ we use is rightly used too; + And _that that that that that_ line has in it, is right-- + In accordance with grammar, is plain in our sight." + +461. "He will go _from thence_ to-morrow." The preposition "from" is +included in these adverbs, therefore it becomes tautology in sense when +prefixed to them. + +462. "Equally as well," is a very common expression, and a very incorrect +one; the adverb of comparison, "as," has no right in the sentence. +"Equally well," "Equally high," "Equally dear," should be the +construction; and if a complement be necessary in the phrase, it should be +preceded by the preposition "with," as, "The wall was equally high with +the former one," "The goods at Smith's are equally dear with those sold at +the shop next door," &c. "Equally the same" is tautology. + +463. Some persons talk of "_continuing on_:" in what other direction would +it be possible to _continue_? + +464. "The satin measured twelve yards before I cut this piece _off of_ +it." "The fruit was gathered _off of_ that tree." Omit _of_; or, omitting +_off of,_ insert _from_. + +465. "He left his horse, and got _on to_ a stage-coach," "He jumped _on +to_ the floor," "She laid it _on to_ a dish," "I threw it _on to_ the +fire." Why use two prepositions where one would be quite as explicit, and +far more elegant? Nobody would think of saying, "He came to New-York, +_for_ to go to the exhibition." + +466. "No other resource _but_ this was allowed him:" say, "No other +resource _than_ this," &c. + +467. "I don't know but _what_ I shall go to White Plains to-morrow:" say, +"I don't know but _that_," &c. + +468. "One of those houses _were_ sold last week," "Each of the daughters +_are_ to have a separate share," "Every tree in those plantations _have_ +been injured by the storm," "Either of the children _are_ at liberty to +claim it." Here it will be perceived that the pronouns "one," "each," +"every," "either," are the true nominatives to the verbs; but the +intervening noun in the plural number, in each sentence, deludes the ear; +and the speaker, without reflection, renders the verb in the plural +instead of the singular number. + +469. "Many still die annually _from_ the plague:" say, _of_ the plague. + +470. "He spoke _contemptibly_ of him," should be, He spoke +_contemptuously_ of him. + +471. "_Was_ you?" should be, _Were_ you? + +472. "This is the more _perfect_ of the two:" say, More _complete_. +_Perfect_ rarely admits comparison. + +473. Avoid all slang and vulgar words and phrases, as, _Anyhow_, _Bating_, +_Bran new_, _To blow up_, _Bother_, _Cut_, _Currying favor_, _Fork out_, +_Half an eye_, _I am up to you_, _Kick up_, _Scrape_, _The Scratch_, _Walk +into_. + +474. "Go _over_ the bridge," should be, Go _across_ the bridge. + +475. "_I was some distance from home_," should be, I was _at_ some +distance from home. + +476. "Is Mr. Smith _in_?" should be, Is Mr. Smith _within_? + +477. "It is _above_ a month since," should be, It is _more_ than a month +since. + +478. "Vegetables were _plenty_," should be, Vegetables were _plentiful_. + +479. "We both were _very disappointed_." This is an incomplete expression: +say, _very much_, or _very greatly_. No one would think of saying, "We +both were _very pleased_." + +480. "It is I who _is_ to receive the appointment:" say, who _am_ to +receive; _who_ is in the first person, and the verb of which it is the +subject must be in the same. + +481. Never say _biscake_, for _biscuit_. + +482. "Passengers are _not requested_ to let down the chains, before the +boat is fastened to the bridge." [From a printed regulation on one of the +New-York and Brooklyn ferry-boats.] The reading should be, "Passengers +_are requested not to let down_ the chains." + +483. "How will you _swap_ jack-knives?" _swap,_ although it is a word +familiarly used in connection with "jack-knives," is a term that cannot +lay the least claim to elegance. Use some other of the many mercantile +expressions to which trade has given rise. + +484. "He's put his nose to the _grin-stone_ at an early age." [A remark +usually made by old ladies, suggested by the first marriage among their +grandsons.] Say, _grind-stone_. A _grin-stone_ implies a stone that +"grins," whereas, especially in this instance, the "nose" fulfills that +office. + +485. The importance of punctuating a written sentence is often neglected. +Space does not permit the giving of rules on this subject, in this book. +Business correspondence is generally blemished by many omissions of this +character; for example, "Messrs G Longman & Co have recd a note from the +Cor Sec Nat Shipwreck Soc informing them of the loss of one of their +vessels off the N E Coast of S A at 8 P M on the 20 of Jan." A clergyman, +standing in his pulpit, was once handed a slip of paper, to be read in the +hearing of the congregation, which was intended to convey the following +notice: "A man going to sea, his wife desires the prayers of the church." +But the sentence was improperly punctuated, and he read, "A man going to +see his wife, desires the prayers of the church!" + +486. "The knave thereupon commenced rifling his _friend's_ (as he called +him) _pocket_:" say, "The knave commenced rifling the _pocket of his +friend_, as he facetiously called him." The possessive case, and the word +that governs it, must not be separated by an intervening clause. + +487. "I owe _thee_ a heavy debt of gratitude, and _you_ will not permit me +to repay it:" say, either "I owe _you_," &c., preserving "and _you_ will" +in the second clause; or, "I owe _thee_," and altering "and _you_ will" +into "and _thou wilt_." + +488. "Every lancer and every rifleman _were at their post_:" say, _was at +his_ post. + +489. "I can lift as many pounds _as he has_:" add _lifted_. + +490. Do not use _to_, the sign of the infinitive mood, for the infinitive +itself. "I have not written to him, and I am not likely _to_," should +read, "I am not likely _to write to him_." + +491. The word _agree_ is sometimes followed by the wrong preposition. We +should say, agree _with_ a person--_to_ a proposition--_upon_ a thing +among ourselves. + +492. We should say _compare with_, in respect of quality--_compare to_, +for the sake of illustration. + +493. We should say copy _after_ a person--_copy from_ a thing. + +494. _Between_ is properly applied only to two objects; _among_, to three +or more. "A father divided a portion of his property _between_ his two +sons; the rest he distributed _among_ the poor." + +495. _In_ should not be used for _into_, after verbs denoting entrance. +"Come _in_ my parlor," should read, "Come _into_ my parlor." + +496. "We confide _in_, and have respect _for_, the good." Such a form of +expression is strained and awkward. It is better to say, "We confide _in_ +the good, and have respect for _them_," or, "We _trust_ and _respect_ the +good." + +497. "This veil of flesh parts the visible and the invisible world:" say, +"parts the visible _from_ the invisible." It certainly is not meant that +the veil of flesh _parts_ (or _divides_) each of these worlds. + +498. "Every leaf, every twig, every blade, every drop of water, _teem_ +with life:" say, _teems_. + +499. "Dr. Prideaux used to relate that when he brought the manuscript of +his Connection of the Old and the New Testaments to the publisher, _he +told him_ it was a dry subject, and that the printing could not be safely +ventured upon unless he could enliven the work with a little humor." The +sense alone, and not the _sentence_, indicates to whom _he_ and _him_ +respectively refer; such a form of expression is faulty, because it may +lead to a violation of _perspicuity_, which is one of the most essential +qualities of a good style. + +500. The last direction which this little book will give, on the subject +with which it has been occupied, is one that long ago was given in the +greatest of books--"Let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of +Christ." If obedience to this injunction may not guard him who heeds it +against the commission of such mistakes as are numbered in this catalogue, +it will not fail to lead him out of the way of errors more grievous and +solemn. + + + + +THE SPELLER AND DEFINER'S MANUAL. + +BY WILLIAM W. SMITH, Principal of Grammar School No. 1, New-York; Author +of The Speller's Manual. + + +This work contains about fourteen thousand of the most useful words in the +English language, correctly spelled, pronounced, defined, and arranged in +classes, together with rules for spelling, prefixes and suffixes, with +their significations, rules for use of capitals, punctuation and other +marks used in writing and printing, quotations from other languages used +in English composition, abbreviations, &c., to which is added a ++Vocabulary+ for reference. Words which resemble each other in +pronunciation, but have different meanings, are arranged together, and +occupy about one eighth of the entire work, containing nearly three +hundred pages. The sentences for examples for pupils (each embracing two +or more of these words) will be found very instructive and interesting. +While +The Speller and Definer's Manual+ supplies all that can be desired +in an ordinary dictionary or speller, it furnishes much important +information that cannot be found in these, and presents a study, usually +dry and uninteresting, in a natural and attractive manner. It is adapted +to the capacities of children, and will essentially aid the teacher in the +work of instruction by suggesting _questions_ and _ideas_ that are very +often overlooked amid the anxieties of the school-room. + +It will be found to be one of the most useful works for schools or ++SELF-INSTRUCTION+ ever issued as a text-book, and its examination will +abundantly repay any friend of education. + +The Manual has been adopted by the Board of Education for use in the +Public Schools of New-York City. + +We invite attention to the following extracts of notices of this work from +city papers: + + +NOTICES OF THE PRESS. + +"The volume is not only valuable as a text-book for schools, but will be ++USEFUL TO ADULTS+ whose knowledge of the mechanics of literature has +grown rusty."--_Commercial Advertiser._ + +"We like the plan and execution of this new work, and recommend it to the +attention of teachers."--_Life Illustrated._ + +"The author of this excellent little manual is the principal of one of our +grammar schools, and is well known as a teacher. If his manual have any +fault, it is that of _brevity_, for the principle upon which it is +constructed, strikes us as perfect."--_New-York Courier._ + +Retail price 62-1/2 cents. Single copies, for examination, sent to any +part of the country post-paid on receipt of Fifty Cents. Address + ++DANIEL BURGESS & CO., Publishers+, + +NO. 60 JOHN STREET, NEW-YORK. + + + + +THE GRADUAL SERIES OF READERS. BY D. B. TOWER, A. M., (Principal of Park +Latin School, Boston,) AND CORNELIUS WALKER, A. M. (Principal of Wells +Grammar School, Boston.) + + +The _first essential_ of good reading is a _distinct articulation_. This +can only result from practice of the elementary sounds and their +combinations. All of these simple elements and their combinations are +given, with ample directions, arranged in the simplest and most compact +form, in the first books of Tower's series. + +The _next points_ are _Emphasis_ and the _Tones_. + +These are set forth and illustrated in the last three Readers. The +elements of expression requisite for the utterance of every sentiment are +clearly described and explained by appropriate examples. By these +examples, it is clearly shown how a passage is to be read, and thence is +deduced a rule or principle that all similar passages are to be read in a +similar manner. + +The character of the selections is such as to claim the attention of all +who are in search of good reading matter. They are exciting, instructive, +and interesting, and admirably adapted to the capacity of the pupils. + +The higher books of the series contain selections from authors who are +considered standards in their respective departments. The dignity and +objects of literature are distinctly brought to view, whether in the form +of prose to persuade and instruct--in that of poetry, to please the +fancy--or in that of the drama, to move the passions. + +The character of the selections in these two books is such as to claim the +attention of all who are in search of _reading matter_ that will _wear_. + +The superiority of these books is acknowledged, wherever they have been +brought to a practical test. The more intelligent any school committee, or +teachers are, the more readily are these Readers appreciated, and the more +eagerly are they sought for use in the school-room. So decided is the +preference for them, among the educated, over every other series, that +they are gradually but surely superseding them all, and going into general +use in all the best schools in our country. + + Price. + + TOWER'S FIRST READER, or Gradual Primer, 14 cts. + Do. SECOND READER, or Introduction to Gradual Reader, 25 " + Do. THIRD READER, or Gradual Reader, 34 " + Do. FOURTH READER, or Sequel to Gradual Reader, 50 " + Do. FIFTH READER, or North American Second Class Reader, 62-1/2 " + Do. SIXTH READER, or North American First Class Reader, 84 " + Do. GRADUAL SPELLER, or Complete Enunciator, 17 " + Do. INTERMEDIATE READER, 25 " + + +Copies of the above sent by mail, postage paid, on receipt of the prices +annexed. Address + +DANIEL BURGESS & Co., + +PUBLISHERS, NEW-YORK. + + + + +ENGLISH GRAMMARS. BY DAVID B. TOWER, A. M., AND PROF. BENJAMIN F. TWEED, +A. M. + + + + +Tower's ELEMENTS OF GRAMMAR. PRICE 25 CENTS. + +FIRST LESSONS IN LANGUAGE: OR, ELEMENTS OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR. BY DAVID B. +TOWER, A. M., AND PROF. BENJAMIN F. TWEED, A. M. + + +This little book was prepared for beginners, that they might feel their +way understandingly, and become interested in this sometimes dry study. +This subject is presented in a natural way, avoiding all unnecessary +innovations. The plan is simple and plain, introducing only one thing at a +time, that the pupil may see a reason for each step, and thus be led to +think. It is concise, that the whole subject may be placed before the +learner in the simplest manner and encumbered by as few words for the +memory as possible, that the interest may be kept up till he is master of +the study. By easy questions, principles are deduced from familiar +examples already explained for the sake of such inferences, that a clear +understanding of these principles and their application may be acquired, +rather than the words used to explain and describe them. + + + + +Towers ENGLISH GRAMMAR. PRICE FIFTY-SIX CENTS. + + + + + +GRADUAL LESSONS IN GRAMMAR; + +OR, GUIDE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE BY THE ANALYSIS AND +COMPOSITION OF SENTENCES; WITH A SEQUEL. BY DAVID B. TOWER, A. M., AND +PROF. BENJAMIN F. TWEED, A. M. + +The first object in the Gradual Lessons in Grammar, is to render the pupil +familiar with the different CLASSES of words, in the various _relations_ +in which they may be used, by directing attention to the manner in which +they affect the _meaning_ of the sentence. Thus it is stated, that "words +used as names are nouns." Then follow examples of the different kinds of +nouns, and the pupil is required to tell _why_ they are nouns, and to +write others, till he recognizes the noun wherever it is found. + +The same course is then taken with reference to the verb, after which +_sentences_ are introduced in their simplest form, containing only the +essential elements, and the pupil is required to analyze them and +_construct_ similar sentences. + +Then follows the adjective, and attention is called to its effect on the +meaning of the sentence. The _statement_ at the head of each section is +not to be committed to memory, but is made to assist the pupil in +appreciating the _grammatical forms of the sentences_ which follow. In +this manner, by the introduction of a new class of words, or the use of +the same class in a different relation, the sentence is _gradually built +up_; till, from the most simple, we have the most complex an involved +forms. The _technical terms_, denoting the various relations and +modifications, are then given, with marginal references to the +illustrations. The _definitions_ and _rules_ in the Sequel are deduced +from illustrations in the First Part. + +The First Part of this Grammar has one _peculiar_ advantage. It combines +CONSTRUCTION with Analysis. On every principle developed, _written_ +exercises are required of the pupils, not only to insure an understanding +of that particular principle and to perpetuate a knowledge of it, but also +to furnish gradual and continued practice in the _construction_ of +sentences. This method of instruction makes _correct writers_, as it +regards the using of words _understandingly_ and _grammatically_ in +sentences, and prepares the pupil for the task of _composition_, by +enabling him to express his thoughts _correctly_ if _he has_ any. + +Persons who wish to acquire a knowledge of English Grammar +WITHOUT A +MASTER+, will find these works of great service. Sent singly or +together, by mail, post-paid, on receipt of price. + +DANIEL BURGESS & CO. + ++Publishers, No. 60 John St., New-York.+ + + + + +MAYHEW'S BOOK-KEEPING. + + +A PRACTICAL SYSTEM OF BOOK-KEEPING BY SINGLE AND DOUBLE ENTRY. BY IRA +MAYHEW, A. M. FOR FARMERS, MECHANICS, AND MERCHANTS. + +This is a very neat-looking volume, whose title, "Practical Book-keeping," +is indicative of its leading characteristics. The specimens of accounts +presented in it are in script that closely resembles writing, and they +hence afford excellent models for imitation. The book contains four forms +of accounts, immediately following each of which is a large number of +examples for practice. In their solution, the pupil has occasion +practically to apply the knowledge he has already acquired of both +arithmetic and penmanship, while at the same time he learns Book-keeping +as he will have occasion to practice it in after life. For this purpose a +set of account books, in which the examples for practice are to be written +out by the learner, and a Key for teachers containing the solution, +accompany the book. + +Agesilaus, king of Sparta, being asked what things he thought most proper +for boys to learn, very appropriately replied, "Those things which they +should _practice_ when they become men." Ever since it was said to Adam, +"In the sweat of thy face shall thou eat bread," there has been a +necessity laid upon man not only to _labor,_ but to _exchange_ with others +the products of his industry, in order to secure a comfortable support. +Excepting merchants, mechanics, and professional men, very few, +comparatively, keep any accounts. The principal reason for this is found +in the fact, that when young they were not taught how to do so, and the +necessity of its being done. Considerations are presented, in the +Introduction to this work, to show some of the many advantages that would +result to individuals and to the community from making Book-keeping a +common study, and the design of the present work is to furnish a practical +system of popular Book-keeping, which may meet the wants of the great +majority of the American people. + +Sent by mail, post-paid, to any part of the country, on receipt of 37-1/2 +cts. Blanks, 50 cts. + ++Daniel Burgess & Co.,+ + +_Publishers, 60 John St., New-York._ + + + + +GEOGRAPHY FOR THE MILLION. + +Smith's Modern and Ancient Geography, + +ACCOMPANIED BY A LARGE AND VALUABLE + +ATLAS, + +Containing 35 Beautiful Colored Maps, drawn and engraved expressly for +this work. The Maps have all been corrected and brought up to the times; +Railroads have all been laid down as far as completed. This Atlas also +contains a large number of new and interesting Statistical Tables from the +Census of 1850. The Tables contain the POPULATION OF EACH COUNTY in the +United States. Also, the AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIONS of each of the States, +with 30 other Tables from the Census. A + +CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE + +of the principal Political and other Events in American History, from 1492 +to 1853, has been added, in which everything of any importance has been +noticed, with the date at which it happened. There has also been added a +large and beautiful Map of the ROMAN EMPIRE, which will be of use in the +study of Ancient Geography and History, most of the towns mentioned being +laid down on this Map. + +The descriptions of the States and Territories are full and complete, +having been brought up to the times in every respect. This work is +rendered still more valuable by a complete + +COMPENDIUM OF ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY, + +which will be found as interesting and instructive as the more extended +treatises of this subject. A series of DRILL QUESTIONS for General +Revision is appended to this work, which will be found of great +convenience to the Teacher and aid to the Scholar in bringing definitely +to his mind, in a condensed form, the main features of the subject he has +gone over. This Book is receiving universal favor where it is known by +Teachers, Committees, and others. It has been introduced into the Best +Schools of our country, and they cannot be without it. + +Full and complete descriptions of our new Territories of + +NEBRASKA AND KANSAS, + +with their Boundaries accurately laid down on the Map. This Map will be of +great use to those who intend emigrating to these Territories. This work +contains more information than will be found in any other book for the +price. Price, for both Geography and Atlas, $1.13, sent by mail, +post-paid. The Atlas can be had separately by those who want it, at 75 +cts., postage paid. + + +SMITH'S PRIMARY GEOGRAPHY, + +A beautiful Book for young Students. Price, 37-1/2 cents. + + +SMITH'S QUARTO GEOGRAPHY, + +combining Maps and Text in one volume; well adapted to private study. +Price, 75 cents. Sent by mail, post-paid. + ++DANIEL BURGESS & Co.+, + +PUBLISHERS, NO. 60 JOHN ST., N. Y. + + + + +WESTWARD, HO! + +A NEW TOWNSHIP MAP OF THE STATE OF IOWA, + +Showing the Streams, Roads, Towns, Post-offices, County Seats, Railroads, +&c., compiled from the latest U. S. Surveys, official information, and +personal reconnoissance, just published. Pocket edition. Very large and +beautifully colored. + +Travellers, Emigrants, and all others interested, will find this the best +and only complete and reliable Map of this State published. Sent by mail, +post-paid, on receipt of One Dollar. + + +ALSO, + +A NEW SECTIONAL MAP OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, + +Comprising all the most recent Surveys, Towns, Post-offices, Railroads, +County Seats, &c., &c. Sent by mail, post-paid, for 60 cents. + +These are very elegant Maps, and should be in the possession of every +person who intends emigrating to the Western Country. + +Dealers in Western Lands will find these Maps invaluable. + +Address, + +DANIEL BURGESS & CO., _Publishers_, + +No. 60 John Street, New-York. + + + + + ELOCUTION MADE EASY. + CONTAINING + RULES AND SELECTIONS + FOR + DECLAMATION AND READING, + WITH + FIGURES ILLUSTRATIVE OF GESTURE, ETC. + +BY RUFUS CLAGGETT, A. M. + +This book is given to the public with a view to encourage the study and +practice of a branch of education which gives a tenfold vigor to all other +intellectual acquirements. Thousands of men, otherwise well educated, are +often heard to lament their neglect of Elocution in their school-boy days, +and their consequent inability to utter in public those thoughts which +they would gladly disseminate, and thereby confer a benefit on society. + +The Selections in this work are principally from standard American +authors, and contain everything which can ennoble the mind and fill it +with exalted ideas of patriotism and virtue. At the same time, the price +of the book is so low that it can be placed in the hands of every pupil, +where, indeed, we are confident it will shortly find its way. + + +NOTICES. + +_From the Brooklyn Evening Star._ + +Mr. Claggett, the author of this work on Elocution, has well performed his +task, giving evidence on every page of his familiarity with the subject. +He has prepared several rules easily understood and applied, and appended +forty-eight figures illustrative of gestures. The selections, both in +prose and poetry, are carefully made with reference to the object of the +work. We should like to see the work in daily use in our schools. + +_From the New-York Express._ + +The whole theory and practice of the art of Elocution is so dissected and +simplified, that the pupil cannot fail to get a thorough understanding of +the subject. + +Sent by mail, post-paid, on receipt of 30 cents. + +DANIEL BURGESS & CO., PUBLISHERS, + +No. 60 John Street, New-York. + + + + ++A BOOK FOR EVERY CARPENTER+. + +THE AMERICAN House-Carpenters' and Joiners' Assistant. + +BY LUCIUS D. 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The winter evenings spent in pursuing +such studies, would fit many a man, now skilful as a workman, to take a +higher stand among his associates, and a more useful one in the community. +The whole book, which has been a very expensive one to get up, does great +credit to the publishers, and when known generally, cannot but receive a +cordial welcome from that valuable class of men to whom we are indebted +for the shelter afforded by 'the house we live in.'" + +A new edition just out. Send and get a copy. + ++DANIEL BURGESS & Co+., + +Publishers, No. 60 John-st., New-York. + + + + +Photographs and Ambrotypes. + +THE NEW SUN PICTURES. + +This new style of Pictures which are soon destined to supercede the +far-famed + +DAGUERREOTYPES + +Are taken in all their wonderful perfection by + +N. G. BURGESS, + ++At his Rooms, No. 293 BROADWAY, New-York.+ + +All persons who may wish to see their PORTRAITS TRUE TO LIFE, will do well +to call at his Gallery, and procure one of these new glass pictures known +as + +AMBROTYPES. + +The perfection to which this Art is brought, has induced the Subscriber to +bestow more than usual pains on this branch of Photography, and he is now +without a rival in the profession. + +These AMBROTYPES are sealed with a durable cement, which renders them +perfectly impervious to air, and even water itself. They are therefore + +IMPERISHABLE. + +This fact alone will recommend them before all other pictures taken by the +Sun's rays, added to which is their wonderful truthfulness, being taken +without reversal as in the ordinary Daguerreotype, and capable of being +viewed in any angle of light. + +PHOTOGRAPHS + +Taken in Colors--of various sizes up to the SIZE OF LIFE. + +Pupils taught the Art of Ambrotyping and Photography with the greatest +care, and warranted success. + +All the various CHEMICALS used in the Art for Sale. + +BURGESS' AMBROTYPE COLLODION, + +A new and Superior article--with full directions for use. + +CHLORIDE OF GOLD, + +For Daguerreotype purposes, and Photographs. The former has been made by +the Subscriber for the past twelve years, and has gained a World Wide +reputation. Please address + +N. G. BURGESS, + ++Photographic Rooms, No. 293 BROADWAY, New-York+. + +French, German, Spanish, and Italian languages spoken at the rooms. + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Passages in italics are indicated by _underscore_. + +Passages in bold are indicated by +bold+. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Five Hundred Mistakes of Daily +Occurrence in Speaking, Pronouncing, and Writing the English Language, Corrected, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 500 MISTAKES OF DAILY OCCURRENCE *** + +***** This file should be named 31766.txt or 31766.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/7/6/31766/ + +Produced by Meredith Bach, Stephanie Eason, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. 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