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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Slips of Speech, by John H. Bechtel
+
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+Title: Slips of Speech
+
+Author: John H. Bechtel
+
+Release Date: January, 2004  [EBook #4983]
+[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
+[This file was first posted on April 7, 2002]
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+Edition: 10
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+Language: English
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+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, SLIPS OF SPEECH ***
+
+
+
+
+This eBook was produced by Jim Weiler, xooqi.com.
+
+
+
+                             Slips of Speech
+
+  A helpful book for everyone who aspires to correct the everyday
+  errors of speaking and writing.
+              __________________________________________
+
+ By
+
+JOHN H. BECHTEL
+
+   Author of "Practical Synonyms," "Pronunciation," etc.
+
+ Philadelphia
+
+ The Penn Publishing Company
+
+ 1901
+                            ______________
+
+ COPYRIGHT 1895 BY THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY
+                            ______________
+
+ CONTENTS
+
+CHAP.                                     PAGE
+   INTRODUCTION,  . . . . . . . . . . .   3
+I. TASTE, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
+  II. CHOICE OF WORDS, . . . . . . . . . .  15
+ III. CONTRACTIONS,  . . . . . . . . . . . 118
+  IV. POSSESSIVE CASE, . . . . . . . . . . 124
+V. PRONOUNS,  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
+  VI. NUMBER,  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
+ VII. ADVERBS, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
+VIII. CONJUNCTIONS,  . . . . . . . . . . . 156
+  IX. CORRELATIVES,  . . . . . . . . . . . 162
+X. THE INFINITIVE,  . . . . . . . . . . 166
+  XI. PARTICIPLES, . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
+ XII. PREPOSITIONS,  . . . . . . . . . . . 174
+XIII. THE ARTICLE, . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
+ XIV. REDUNDANCY,  . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
+  XV. TWO NEGATIVES, . . . . . . . . . . . 194
+ XVI. ACCORDANCE OF VERB WITH SUBJECT, . . 198
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+3
+
+                             INTRODUCTION
+                               _______
+
+Homer, in all probability, knew no rules of rhetoric, and was not
+tortured with the consideration of grammatical construction, and yet
+his verse will endure through time. If everybody possessed the genius
+of Homer, rules and cautions in writing would be unnecessary.
+
+To-day all men speak, and most men write, but it is observed that
+those who most closely follow Homer's method of writing without rules
+are most unlike Homer in the results. The ancient bard was a law unto
+himself; we need rules for our guidance.
+
+Rules of writing are the outgrowth of the study of the characteristics
+and qualities of style which distinguish the best writers from those
+of inferior skill and ability. Grammarians and rhetoricians, according
+to their several lines of investigation, set forth the laws and
+principles governing speech, and formulate rules whereby we may follow
+the true, and avoid the false.
+
+Grammar and rhetoric, as too often presented in the schools, are such
+uninviting studies that when
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+4
+
+school-days are ended, the books are laid aside, and are rarely
+consulted afterward. The custom of formally burning the text-books
+after the final examinations-- a custom that prevails in some
+institutions-- is but an emphatic method of showing how the students
+regard the subjects treated in the books.
+
+If all the rules and principles had been thoroughly mastered, the huge
+bonfire of text-books in grammar and rhetoric might be regarded a
+fitting celebration of the students' victory over the difficulties of
+"English undefiled." But too often these rules are merely memorized by
+the student for the purpose of recitation, and are not engrafted upon
+his everyday habit of speech. They are, therefore, soon forgotten, and
+the principles involved are subject to daily violation.
+
+Hence arises the need of books like SLIPS OF SPEECH, in which the
+common faults of speakers and writers are pointed out, and the correct
+use of words shown. Brief and informal in treatment, they will be read
+and consulted when the more voluminous text-books will be left
+untouched.
+
+The copious index appended to this volume will afford a ready
+reference to the many subjects discussed, and will contribute greatly
+to the convenience and permanent value of the book.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+5
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+6
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+7
+
+SLIPS OF SPEECH
+
+  "We should be as careful of our words as of our actions."-- CICERO.
+
+  CHAPTER I
+
+ Taste
+
+Taste is a universal gift. It has been found in some degree in all
+nations, races, and ages. It is shown by the savage in his love of
+personal decoration; by the civilized man in his love of art.
+
+But while it is thus universal, it is as different among men as their
+faces, complexions, characters, or languages. Even among people of the
+same nation, it is as different as the degrees of society. The same
+individual at different periods of life, shows this variableness of
+taste.
+
+These diversities of taste imply a susceptibility to improvement. Good
+taste in writing forms no exception to the rule. While it seems to
+require some basis in nature, no degree of inborn aptitude will
+compensate for the lack of careful training.
+
+To give his natural taste firmness and fineness a writer needs to read
+the best literature, not merely so
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+8
+
+as to know it, but so as to feel the beauty, the fitness, the charm,
+the strength, the delicacy of a well-chosen word.
+
+The study of the proper arrangement and the most effective expression
+of our thoughts prompts us to think more accurately. So close is the
+connection between the thought and its expression that looseness of
+style in speaking and writing may nearly always be traced to
+indistinctness and feebleness in the grasp of the subject. No degree
+of polish in expression will compensate for inadequacy of knowledge.
+But with the fullest information upon any subject, there is still room
+for the highest exercise of judgment and good sense in the proper
+choice and arrangement of the thoughts, and of the words with which to
+express them.
+
+The concurrent testimony of those best qualified to render a decision,
+has determined what authors reflect the finest literary taste, and
+these writers should be carefully studied by all who aspire to
+elegance, accuracy, and strength in literary expression.
+
+                             Fine Writing
+
+Never hesitate to call a spade a spade. One of the most frequent
+violations of good taste consists in the effort to dress a common
+subject in high-sounding language. The ass in the fable showed his
+stupidity
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+9
+
+when he put on the lion's skin and expected the other animals to
+declare him to be the king of beasts. The distinction of a subject
+lies in its own inherent character, and no pompous parade of words
+will serve to exalt a commonplace theme.
+
+                             Poetic Terms
+
+In the expression of homely ideas and the discussion of affairs of
+every-day life, avoid such poetic forms as o'er for over, ne'er for
+never, 'mid for amid, e'en for even, 'gan for began, 'twixt for
+betwixt, 'neath for beneath, list for listen, oft for often, morn for
+morning, eve for evening, e'er for ever, ere for before, 'tis for it
+is, 'twas for it was.
+
+In all prose composition, avoid such poetic forms as swain, wight,
+mead, brake, dingle, dell, zephyr.
+
+                            Foreign Words
+
+The unrestrained use of foreign words, whether from the ancient or
+from the modern languages, savors of pedantry and affectation. The
+ripest scholars, in speaking and writing English, make least use of
+foreign words or phrases. Persons who indulge in their use incur the
+risk of being charged with a desire to exhibit their linguistic
+attainments.
+
+On the other hand, occasions arise when the use of words from a
+foreign tongue by one who is thoroughly
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+10
+
+familiar with them, will add both grace and exactness to his style.
+
+Rarely use a foreign term when your meaning can be as well expressed
+in English. Instead of blase, use surfeited, or wearied; for cortege
+use procession for couleur de rose, rose-color; for dejeuner,
+breakfast; for employe, employee; for en route, on the way; for entre
+nous, between ourselves; for fait accompli, an accomplished fact; for
+in toto, wholly, entirely; for penchant, inclination; for raison
+d'etre, reason for existence; for recherche, choice, refined; for
+role, part; for soiree dansante, an evening dancing party; for sub
+rosa, secretly, etc.
+
+The following incident from the Detroit Free Press is in point:
+
+The gentleman from the West pulled his chair up to the hotel table,
+tucked his napkin under his chin, picked up the bill-of-fare and began
+to study it intently. Everything was in restaurant French, and he
+didn't like it.
+
+"Here, waiter," he said, sternly, "there's nothing on this I want."
+
+"Ain't there nothin' else you would like for dinner, sir?" inquired
+the waiter, politely.
+
+"Have you got any sine qua non?"
+
+The waiter gasped.
+
+"No, sir," he replied.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+11
+
+"Got any bon mots?"
+
+"N-- no, sir."
+
+"Got any semper idem?"
+
+"No, sir, we hain't."
+
+"Got any jeu d'esprits?"
+
+"No, sir; not a one."
+
+"Got any tempus fugit?"
+
+"I reckon not, sir."
+
+"Got any soiree dansante?"
+
+"No, sir."
+
+The waiter was edging off.
+
+"Got any sine die?"
+
+"We hain't, sir."
+
+"Got any e pluribus unum?"
+
+The waiter's face showed some sign of intelligence.
+
+"Seems like I heard ob dat, sir," and he rushed out to the kitchen,
+only to return empty-handed.
+
+"We ain't got none, sir," he said, in a tone of disappointment.
+
+"Got any mal de mer?"
+
+"N-- no, sir."
+
+The waiter was going to pieces fast.
+
+The gentleman from the West, was as serene as a May morning.
+
+"Got any vice versa?" he inquired again.
+
+The waiter could only shake his head.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+12
+
+"No? Well, maybe you've got some bacon and cabbage, and a corn
+dodger?"
+
+"'Deed we have, sir," exclaimed the waiter, in a tone of the utmost
+relief, and he fairly flew out to the kitchen.
+
+                          Trite Expressions
+
+Words and phrases which may once have been striking and effective, or
+witty and felicitous, but which have become worn out by oft-repeated
+use, should be avoided. The following hackneyed phrases will serve to
+illustrate: "The staff of life," "gave up the ship," "counterfeit
+presentment," "the hymeneal altar," "bold as a lion," "throw cold
+water upon," "the rose upon the cheek," "lords of creation," "the
+weaker sex," "the better half," "the rising generation," "tripping the
+light fantastic toe," "the cup that cheers but does not inebriate,"
+"in the arms of Morpheus," "the debt of nature," "the bourne whence no
+traveler returns," "to shuffle off this mortal coil," "the devouring
+element," "a brow of alabaster."
+
+                              Pet Words
+
+Avoid pet words, whether individual, provincial, or national in their
+use. Few persons are entirely free from the overuse of certain words.
+Young people largely employ such words as delightful, delicious,
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+13
+
+exquisite, and other expressive adjectives, which constitute a kind of
+society slang.
+
+                        Overworked Expressions
+
+Words and phrases are often taken up by writers and speakers,
+repeated, and again taken up by others, and thus their use enlarges in
+ever-widening circles until the expressions become threadbare. Drop
+them before they have reached that state. Function, environment,
+trend, the masses, to be in touch with, to voice the sentiments of--
+these are enough to illustrate the kind of words referred to.
+
+                        Very Vulgar Vulgarisms
+
+No one who has any regard for purity of diction and the proprieties of
+cultivated society will be guilty of the use of such expressions as
+yaller for yellow, feller for fellow, kittle for kettle, kiver for
+cover, ingons for onions, cowcumbers for cucumbers, sparrowgrass for
+asparagus, yarbs for herbs, taters for potatoes, tomats for tomatoes,
+bile for boil, hain't for ain't or isn't, het for heated, kned for
+kneaded, sot for sat or set, teeny for tiny, fooling you for deceiving
+you, them for those, shut up for be quiet, or be still, or cease
+speaking, went back on me for deceived me or took advantage of me, a
+power of people for a great many
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+14
+
+people, a power of money for great wealth, a heap of houses for many
+houses, lots of books for many books, lots of corn for much corn or
+large quantities of corn, gents for gentlemen, and many others of a
+similar character.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+15
+
+  CHAPTER II
+
+ Choice of Words
+
+Our American writers evince much variety in their graces of diction,
+but in the accurate choice of words James Russell Lowell and William
+Cullen Bryant stand out conspicuous above the rest. So careful and
+persistent was the latter, that during the time that he was editor of
+The Evening Post, of New York City, he required the various writers
+upon that paper to avoid the use of a long list of words and
+expressions which he had prepared for them, and which were commonly
+employed by other papers. This list was not only used, but enlarged by
+his successors.
+
+Strive to cultivate the habit of observing words; trace their delicate
+shades of meaning as employed by the most polished writers; note their
+suggestiveness; mark the accuracy with which they are chosen. In this
+way your mind will be kept on the alert to discover the beauties as
+well as the blemishes of all the thought pictures that are presented,
+and your vocabulary will be greatly enlarged and enriched.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+16
+
+              BRYANT'S LIST OF OBJECTIONABLE EXPRESSIONS
+
+Above, and over, use more than.
+Artiste, use artist.
+Aspirant.
+Authoress
+Beat, use defeat.
+Bagging, use capturing.
+Balance, use remainder.
+Banquet, use dinner or supper.
+Bogus.
+Casket, use coffin.
+Claimed, use asserted.
+Collided.
+Commence, use begin.
+Compete.
+Cortege, use procession.
+Cotemporary, use contemporary.
+Couple, use two.
+Darkey, use negro.
+Day before yesterday, use the day before yesterday.
+Debut.
+Decease, as a verb.
+Democracy, applied to a political party.
+Develop, use expose.
+Devouring element, use fire.
+Donate.
+Employe.
+Enacted, use acted.
+Endorse, use approve.
+En route.
+Esq.
+Graduate, use is graduated.
+Gents, use gentlemen.
+Hon.
+House, use House of Representatives.
+Humbug.
+Inaugurate, use begin.
+In our midst.
+Item, use particle, extract, or paragraph.
+Is being done, and all similar passive forms.
+Jeopardize.
+Jubilant, use rejoicing.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+17
+
+Juvenile, use boy.
+Lady, use wife.
+Last, use latest.
+Lengthy, use long.
+Leniency, use lenity.
+Loafer.
+Loan, or loaned, use lend or lent.
+Located.
+Majority, use most.
+Mrs. President.
+Mrs. Governor.
+Mrs. General.
+Mutual, use common.
+Official, use officer.
+Ovation.
+On yesterday.
+Over his signature.
+Pants, use pantaloons.
+Parties, use persons.
+Partially, use partly.
+Past two weeks, use last two weeks.
+Poetess.
+Portion, use part.
+Posted, use informed.
+Progress, use advance.
+Quite, when prefixed to good, large, etc.
+Raid, use attack.
+Realized, use obtained.
+Reliable, use trustworthy.
+Rendition, use performance.
+Repudiate, use reject or disown.
+Retire, as an active verb.v Rev., use the Rev.
+Role, use part.
+Roughs.
+Rowdies.
+Secesh.
+Sensation, use noteworthy event.
+Standpoint, use point of view.
+Start, in the sense of setting out.
+State, use say.
+Taboo.
+Talent, use talents or ability.
+Talented.
+Tapis.
+The deceased.
+War, use dispute or disagreement.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+18
+
+                                STILTS
+
+Avoid bombastic language. Work for plain expressions rather than for
+the unusual. Use the simplest words that the subject will bear.
+
+The following clipping, giving an account of the commencement
+exercises of a noted female college, strikingly illustrates what to
+avoid:
+
+"Like some beacon-light upon a rock-bound coast against which the
+surges of the ocean unceasingly roll, and casting its beams far across
+the waters warning the mariner from the danger near, the college, like
+a Gibraltar, stands upon the high plains of learning, shedding its
+rays of knowledge, from the murmurings of the Atlantic to the
+whirlwinds of the Pacific, guiding womankind from the dark valley of
+ignorance, and wooing her with wisdom's lore, leads creation's
+fairest, purest, best into flowery dells where she can pluck the
+richest food of knowledge, and crowns her brow with a coronet of gems
+whose brilliancy can never grow dim: for they glisten with the purest
+thought, that seems as a spark struck from the mind of Deity. There is
+no need for the daughters of this community to seek colleges of
+distant climes whereat to be educated, for right here in their own
+city, God's paradise on earth, is situated a noble college, the bright
+diadem of that paradise, that has done more for the higher education
+of woman than any institution in our land."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+19
+
+                                PURITY
+
+An author's diction is pure when he uses such words only as belong to
+the idiom of the language. The only standard of purity is the practice
+of the best writers and speakers. A violation of purity is called a
+barbarism.
+
+Unlike the Latin, Greek, or Hebrew, the English is a living language,
+and, like all living organisms, manifests its life by taking in new
+material and casting off old waste continually. Science, art, and
+philosophy give rise to new ideas which, in turn, demand new words for
+their expression. Of these, some gain a permanent foothold, while
+others float awhile upon the currents of conversation and newspaper
+literature and then disappear.
+
+Good usage is the only real authority in the choice of reputable
+words; and to determine, in every case, what good usage dictates, is
+not an easy matter. Authors, like words, must be tested by time before
+their forms of expression may become a law for others. Pope, in his
+Essay on Criticism, laid down a rule which, for point and brevity, has
+never been excelled:
+
+  "In words, as fashions, the same rule will hold;
+   Alike fantastic, if too new or old;
+   Be not the first by whom the new are tried,
+   Nor yet the last to lay the old aside."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+20
+
+                              BARBARISMS
+
+Campbell, in his Philosophy of Rhetoric, says that a word to be
+legitimate must have these three signs of authority:
+ 1. It must be reputable, or that of educated people, as opposed to
+    that of the ignorant or vulgar.
+ 2. It must be national, as opposed to what is either local or
+    technical.
+ 3. It must be present, as opposed to what is obsolete.
+
+Any word that does not have these three qualities may, in general, be
+styled a barbarism.
+
+                           ANGLICIZED WORDS
+
+Many foreign words, in process of time, become so thoroughly
+domesticated that their translation, or the use of an awkward
+equivalent, would be a greater mark of pedantry than the use of the
+foreign words. The proper use of such terms as fiat, palladium, cabal,
+quorum, omnibus, antique, artiste, coquette, ennui, physique, regime,
+tableau, amateur, cannot be censured on the ground of their foreign
+character.
+
+                            OBSOLETE WORDS
+
+Some writers affect an antiquated style by the introduction of such
+words as peradventure, perchance,
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+21
+
+anon, behest, quoth, erewhile. The use of such words gives a strange
+sound to the sentence, and generally indicates that the writer is not
+thoroughly in earnest. The expression is lowered in tone and is made
+to sound fantastic.
+
+                              NEW WORDS
+
+A word should not be condemned because it is new. If it is really
+needed it will be welcomed, and soon find a permanent place.
+Shakespeare, Addison, and Johnson introduced many new words, to which
+their names afterward gave a sanction. Carlyle, Coleridge, Tennyson,
+and Browning have introduced or given currency to new words, and made
+strange ones familiar.
+
+New words are objectionable when they are employed without proper
+authority. The chief sources of supply of the objectionable kind are
+the current slang of the street and the sensational newspaper. They
+are often the result of a desire to say things in such a manner as to
+reflect smartness upon the speaker, or to present things in a humorous
+or picturesque way. That they are frequently very effective cannot be
+gainsaid. Sometimes they are coined in the heat of political or social
+discussion, and, for a time, express what everybody is talking about;
+but it is impossible to tell whether they will live beyond
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+22
+
+the occasion that produced them. So long as their usage is doubtful it
+is safer not to employ them.
+
+                                SLANG
+
+Slang is somewhat like chicken-pox or measles, very catching, and just
+as inevitable in its run; and very few of us escape it. It is
+severest, too, where the sanitary conditions are most favorable to its
+development. Where there is least thought and culture to counteract
+its influence slang words crowd out those of a more serious character,
+until, in time, the young and inexperienced speaker or writer is
+unable to distinguish between the counterfeit and the genuine.
+
+While most persons condemn slang, there are very few who are entirely
+free from its use. It varies greatly in its degrees of coarseness or
+refinement, and adapts itself to all classes and conditions. Many know
+no other language, and we are unwillingly compelled to admit that
+while their speech is often ungrammatical and unrhetorical, it is
+generally clear, concise, and forcible.
+
+Strive to acquire a vocabulary so large and to cultivate a taste so
+fine that when a slang expression rises to your mind you can use it if
+you think it best fits the occasion, or substitute something better in
+its place. Purity of diction is a garden of slow growth even under the
+most favorable conditions, and the
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+23
+
+unrestrained indulgence in slang is like scattering seeds of the
+vilest plants among the choicest flowers.
+
+                            SOCIETY SLANG
+
+"This is an elegant day," "that is an elegant view," "Mary is awfully
+nice," "Jennie is dreadfully sweet," "Gertrude is delicious," and "Tom
+is perfectly splendid." The use of such extravagant phrases tends to
+weaken the significance of the words when legitimately employed.
+
+                           COMMERCIAL SLANG
+
+Commercial terms are employed in the common language of everyday life
+to such an extent as to constitute a form of commercial slang. The
+following will serve for illustration; "The balance of the journey"
+for remainder, "he was well posted." for well informed, "I calculate
+he will come to-morrow" for believe or think, "I reckon he is your
+friend" for I suppose.
+
+                             COMMON SLANG
+
+To materialize, to burglarize, to enthuse, to suicide, to wire, to
+jump upon, to sit upon, to take in, are a few of the many examples of
+slang that should be avoided.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+24
+
+                            PROVINCIALISMS
+
+A word that is used only in a limited part of the country is called a
+provincialism. It must be known and recognized for what it is worth,
+but not obtruded where it does not belong.
+
+Whatever may be said of the faults of speech of the American people,
+it is doubtful if any other nation, whether it covers a large
+territory or is limited in area, speaks the language native to the
+country with the uniformity that we do. Yet, there are peculiarities
+that mark the expression of most of our people, even among the best
+informed. The words calculate, reckon, and guess are not the only
+words that betray the locality of the speaker. Any person who has been
+five hundred miles from home cannot fail to have observed words that
+were used differently from the way in which he had been accustomed to
+use them, and he probably heard terms of expression that seemed
+strange to him. In like manner, his own expressions sounded strange to
+those who heard him. That which distinguished his speech from theirs
+and theirs from his would, in large part, be covered by the word
+"provincialism."
+
+Not only do we have local and sectional peculiarities of speech, but
+we may be said to have national mannerisms. Mr. Alexander Melville
+Bell, the eminent
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+25
+
+elocutionist, relates that some years ago when residing in Edinburgh,
+a stranger called to make some inquiries in regard to professional
+matters.
+
+"I have called on you, sir, for the purpose of," etc.
+
+"When did you cross the Atlantic?" I asked.
+
+The stranger looked up with surprise amounting almost to
+consternation.
+
+"How do you know that I have crossed the Atlantic?"
+
+"Your manner of using the little word 'sir' is not heard in England or
+Scotland."
+
+This gentleman, Mr. Bell says, was one of the most eminent teachers of
+elocution in America, and his speech was perfectly free from ordinary
+local coloring, in all but the one little element which had escaped
+observation.
+
+                                WHICH?
+
+Much diversity of usage exists and some difference of opinion prevails
+concerning the proper expression to use when you are addressed, and
+fail to understand just what has been said. Such interrogative
+rejoinders as "What?" "How?" "Which?" "Hey?" are plainly
+objectionable. "Sir?" and "Madam!" once common, are no longer
+tolerated in society. The English expression "Beg pardon" has found
+favor, but it is not wholly acceptable. "Excuse me"
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+26
+
+is suggested by a writer on the subject. It has no more syllables than
+"Beg pardon," and is nearly equivalent in signification, but it is
+also subject to the objection that it is often used to imply a
+difference of opinion, as when a person makes a statement to which you
+take exception, you begin your reply with the expression, "Excuse me."
+
+Whatever is adopted will doubtless be a convenient contraction, like
+"Beg pardon," which is a short way of saying, "I beg your pardon for
+failing to understand what you said;" or "Excuse me," which is a
+condensation of "Excuse me for not fully grasping your meaning."
+
+                        WORDS IMPROPERLY USED
+
+Commodious--Convenient
+
+A word of caution in the use of the smaller dictionaries is necessary.
+The most elaborate definition often fails to give an adequate idea of
+the signification of a term unless it is accompanied with one or more
+quotations illustrating its use. The small dictionaries give only the
+briefest definitions, without illustration, and therefore should be
+interpreted with caution.
+
+Some years ago a young man of moderate attainments was very desirous
+of enlarging his vocabulary
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+27
+
+and of using words beyond the ordinary vernacular of his neighborhood.
+To this end, he made a small vest-pocket lexicon his constant
+companion.
+
+Having consulted it in the course of a conversation with a friend, he
+remarked, as he was about to return it to his pocket, "What a
+commodious book this is." His friend suggested that he again consult
+the "commodious" volume. With a look of the utmost confidence he
+turned to the word, and exclaimed: "There! I knew I was right.
+Commodious means convenient, and that is just what this little book
+is."
+
+It was useless to explain that smallness sometimes renders a thing
+inconvenient, and this young man, doubtless, still felicitates himself
+upon his intimate acquaintance with that commodious pocket dictionary.
+
+                          Ability, Capacity
+
+A fond mother was told by the principal of a boarding-school that her
+daughter would not be graduated, as she lacked capacity. "Get her a
+capacity. Her father don't stand on the matter of expense. Get her
+anything she wants. He'll foot the bill." But for once the indulgent
+mother was obliged to learn that there are some things money will not
+purchase. The father had the financial ability, but the daughter
+lacked the necessary intellectual capacity.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+28
+
+But we may have literary as well as financial ability. Ability implies
+the power of doing; capacity the faculty of receiving.
+
+                            About, Almost
+
+"This work is about done." Use "almost done."
+
+                       Acceptance, Acceptation
+
+These words cannot be used interchangeably. "He wrote signifying his
+acceptance of the office." "According to the common acceptation of
+this term, he is a knave."
+
+                          Access, Accession
+
+"He gained access to the fort." "The only accession, which the Roman
+empire received was the province of Britain."
+
+                           Accident, Injury
+
+Accident is sometimes used incorrectly for injury. as "His accident
+was very painful."
+
+                            Mutual, Common
+
+Some men seek to be great by copying great men's faults. Dickens may
+say "Our Mutual Friend," but Dickens's strong point was not grammar.
+If you have a friend in common with Smith, in speaking of him to
+Smith, say our common friend. The word mutual should always convey a
+sense of reciprocity, as "Happy in our mutual help and mutual love."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+29
+
+                                Myself
+
+This word is generally used for emphasis, as "I myself will do it," "I
+wrote it myself." It should not be used for the unemphatic pronouns I
+and me, as in "James and myself are going to town," "He gave the books
+to James and myself." It is properly used with a reflexive verb
+without emphasis, as "I will defend myself."
+
+                         Negligence, Neglect
+
+Negligence is the habit, neglect the act, of leaving things undone.
+The adjectives negligent and neglectful should, in like manner, be
+discriminated.
+
+                              Never, Not
+
+The word never is sometimes colloquially used for not, as "I never
+remember to have seen Lincoln." Say "I do not remember," etc. Never
+should not be used in reference to events that can take place but
+once, as "Warren never died at Lexington."
+
+                              Love, Like
+
+We may love our parents, our children, our country, the truth; and we
+may like roast turkey and cranberry sauce. "I love cherries," "I adore
+strawberries," are school-girl expressions that should be avoided.
+Love is an emotion of the heart, and not of the palate.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+30
+
+                          Cheap, Low-priced
+
+These words are often used synonymously. A picture purchased for ten
+thousand dollars may be cheap; another, for which ten dollars was
+paid, although low-priced, may be dear.
+
+                              Mad, Angry
+
+The frequent use of mad in the sense of angry should be avoided. A
+person who is insane is mad. A dog that has hydrophobia is mad.
+Figuratively we say mad, with rage, mad with terror, mad with pain;
+but to be vexed, or angry, or out of patience, does not justify the
+use of so strong a term as mad.
+
+                          Most, Almost, Very
+
+Sometimes incorrectly used for almost, as "He writes to me most every
+week."
+
+It is often loosely used in the sense of very, as "This is a most
+interesting book." Aim to use most only as the superlative of much, or
+many. Do not use the indefinite article before it, as "This is a most
+beautiful picture." We may say "This is the most beautiful picture,"
+for here comparison is implied.
+
+                            Portion, Part
+
+"Give me the portion of goods that falleth to me." "We traveled a part
+of the distance on foot." Portion is applied to that which is set
+aside for a special
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+31
+
+purpose, often as the share or allotment of an individual, as the
+wife's portion, the portion of the oldest son, etc. Part is a more
+general term.
+
+                                Postal
+
+Bryant would not have said, "I will send you a postal by to-morrow's
+mail." Postal card or post card would be better.
+
+                        Practical, Practicable
+
+These words are sometimes confounded. Practicable means "that may be
+done or accomplished," and implies that the means or resources are
+available; as, a practicable road, a practicable aim. Practical means
+"capable of being turned to use or account;" as, "The practical man
+begins by doing; the theorist often ends by thinking."
+
+                              Predicate
+
+This word is sometimes incorrectly used in the sense of form or base;
+as, "He predicated his statement on the information he had just
+received." Neither should it be used in the sense of predict; as, "The
+sky is overcast, and I predicate a storm tomorrow."
+
+                             Prefer--than
+
+"I prefer to walk than to ride." Say "I prefer walking to riding;" or,
+"I would rather walk than
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+32
+
+ride." "To skate is preferable than to coast." Say "Skating is
+preferable to coasting."
+
+                            Amount, Number
+
+Amount applies to what is thought of in the mass or bulk, as money,
+wheat, coal. Number is used when we think of the individuals composing
+the mass, as men, books, horses, vessels.
+
+                            Answer, Reply
+
+An answer implies a question. We may reply to a remark or assertion. A
+reply is more formal than an answer.
+
+                     Antagonize, Alienate, Oppose
+
+The word antagonize should not be used in the sense of alienate; as,
+"Your proposition will antagonize many supporters of the measure."
+"The Senate opposed the bill which passed the House" is better than
+"antagonized the bill."
+
+                          Anticipate, Expect
+
+"The arrival of the President was hourly anticipated" is pompous. Use
+expected.
+
+                             Any, At all
+
+"He was so far from the speaker's platform that he could not hear
+any." Better "that he could not hear," or "hear at all," or "hear what
+was said."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+33
+
+                          Apparent, Evident
+
+These words are often used interchangeably. That which is apparent may
+be what it appears to be, or it may be very different; that which is
+evident admits of no doubt. The same is true of apparently and
+evidently.
+
+                              Prejudice
+
+"He is not the best person for the position, but his many kindnesses
+to me prejudice me in his favor." We may be prejudiced against a
+person or thing, but cannot be prejudiced in favor. Use predispose.
+
+                               Presume
+
+This word is often employed when think, believe, or daresay would be
+better.
+
+                           Pretend, Profess
+
+"I do not pretend to be an orator." Pretend means to feign, to sham;
+as, "He pretends to be asleep," and should not be used when claim or
+profess would better suit the purpose.
+
+                             Preventative
+
+The correct form of the word is preventive, not preventative.
+
+                         Previous, Previously
+
+The adjective previous is often incorrectly used for the adverb
+previously; as, "Previous to his imprisonment he made a confession of
+his crime."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+34
+
+                           Promise, Assure
+
+"I promise you we had a good time yesterday." Promise relates to the
+future, hence "I assure you," etc., would be better.
+
+                           Propose, Purpose
+
+To propose is to set before the mind for consideration; to purpose is
+to intend. "I propose sending my son to college" should be "I
+purpose," etc. "I propose that you go to college, my son." "Thank you,
+father, I accept the proposal."
+
+                       Sparrowgrass, Asparagus
+
+The word sparrowgrass, which is a corruption of the word asparagus,
+illustrates how readily the uneducated mind associates an unusual term
+with another that is familiar, and as the mental impression is
+received through the ear, and lacks that definiteness which the
+printed form would give, the new idea, when repeated, often assumes a
+picturesque, if not a ludicrous, form. Many of Mrs. Partington's
+quaint sayings furnish further illustration.
+
+The following incident, from a Western paper, shows the successive
+stages in the farmer's mental operations from the familiar terms skin,
+hide, oxhide, up to the unfamiliar chemical term oxide, through which
+he was obliged to pass before he succeeded in making known his wants:
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+35
+
+The man was in a brown study when he went into the drug store.
+
+"What can we do for you?" inquired the clerk.
+
+"I want black-- something of something," he said; "have you got any?"
+
+"Probably we have," replied the clerk, "but you'll have to be more
+definite than that to get it."
+
+The farmer thought for a moment.
+
+"Got any black sheepskin of something?" he asked.
+
+"No; we don't keep sheepskins. We have chamois-skins, though."
+
+"That ain't it, I know," said the customer. "Got any other kind of
+skins?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Skins-- skins-- skins!" slowly repeated the man, struggling with his
+slippery memory. "Calfskin seems to be something like it. Got any
+black calfskins of anything?"
+
+"No, not one," and the clerk laughed.
+
+The customer grew red in the face.
+
+"Confound it!" he said, "if it ain't a skin, what in thunder is it?"
+
+"Possibly it's a hide?" suggested the clerk.
+
+"That's it! That's it!" exclaimed the man.
+
+"Have you got any black hides of something or anything?"
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+36
+
+The clerk shook his head sadly as the man tramped up and down the
+store.
+
+"Got any black cowhide of anything?" he asked, after a moment's
+thought.
+
+The clerk's face showed a gleam of intelligence, and then broke into a
+smile.
+
+"Possibly it's black oxide of manganese you want?" he said, quietly.
+
+"Of course, that's it!" he exclaimed, as he threw his arms around the
+clerk's neck. "I knowed blamed well there was a skin or hide or
+something somewhere about the thing," and he calmed down quietly and
+waited for what he wanted.
+
+                             Accord, Give
+
+"They accorded him due praise." "They gave him the desired
+information."
+
+                             Act, Action
+
+"The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless,
+unremembered acts of kindness and of love." "Suit the action to the
+word." Action suggests the operation; act, the accomplished result.
+
+                         Adherence, Adhesion
+
+These words were once interchangeable, but are now distinct. Adhesion
+relates to physical bodies; adherence to mental states.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+37
+
+                             Adopt, Take
+
+"What course will you take?" is better than "What course will you
+adopt?"
+
+                            Affect, Effect
+
+These words are sometimes confounded. "The climate affected their
+health." "They sailed away without effecting their purpose."
+
+                        Aggravate, Exasperate
+
+To aggravate means to intensify, to make worse; to exasperate means to
+provoke, to irritate. "To aggravate the horrors of the scene." "His
+remarks exasperated me." "His conduct aggravates me" should be "His
+conduct annoys (or displeases, or irritates, or exasperates) me."
+
+                          Alleviate, Relieve
+
+These words differ chiefly in degree. The latter is the stronger word.
+
+                        Proposal, Proposition
+
+A proposition implies consideration or discussion; a proposal
+contemplates acceptance or rejection. "Your proposition to build our
+new warehouse has received favorable consideration, and we are ready
+to receive your proposals."
+
+                         Providing, Provided
+
+"You may go to skate, providing you first finish your task."
+Incorrect. You should say provided.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+38
+
+                            Proved, Proven
+
+Proven is sometimes incorrectly used for proved. "The evidence was
+complete and his guilt was fully proved." Not proven is a legal term
+used in England to denote that the guilt of the accused is not made
+out, though not disproved.
+
+                           Quantity, Number
+
+Quantity refers to the how much; number to the how many. "He purchased
+a large quantity of wheat, corn, apples, lime, and sand, and a number
+of houses, stores, chairs, and books." It is, therefore, incorrect to
+say, "There was a large quantity of bicycles in the yard," "He sold a
+large quantity of books at auction."
+
+                             Quite a few
+
+In some parts of the country this expression is in common use in the
+sense of many, a large number, etc. "How many people were at church
+to-day?" "Quite a few," meaning a considerable number.
+
+                           Commence, Begin
+
+Some persons always commence, but never begin. The tendency toward
+pomp and parade in speech prompts many persons to avoid the use of our
+strong, rugged Anglo-Saxon words, and to substitute their
+high-sounding Latin equivalents, until, in time, the preferable native
+forms come to be regarded as
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+39
+
+commonplace and objectionable. American usage is more faulty than
+English in this regard. Use begin and beginning more, and commence
+and, commencement less.
+
+                          Complete, Finished
+
+There is a distinction in the use of these words that is not always
+observed. Complete signifies nothing lacking, every element and part
+being supplied. That which is finished has had all done to it that was
+intended. A vessel may be finished and yet be incomplete.
+
+                           Conclusion, End
+
+The more pretentious word conclusion is often used where the simple
+Anglo-Saxon word end would be preferable.
+
+                           Conscious, Aware
+
+"He was aware of the enemy's designs." "Conscious of his fate, he
+boldly approached the furious beast." Conscious relates to what is
+within our own mind; aware to what is without.
+
+                        Continual, Continuous
+
+Continuous implies uninterrupted, unbroken. Continual relates to acts
+that are frequently repeated. "The continuous ride is often finished
+in five hours, but owing to continual delays we were eight hours on
+the way."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+40
+
+                          Convict, Convince
+
+The Irishman who brandished his club and, exclaimed that he was open
+to conviction, but he would like to see the man that could convince
+him, used a form of argument that was most convincing, but failed in
+his discrimination of language. Convict refers to the outer condition,
+and generally applies to something wrong; convince, which may be used
+of either right or wrong, refers to the judgment.
+
+                            Custom, Habit
+
+Habit is a tendency which leads us to do easily; custom grows out of
+the habitual doing or frequent repetition of the same act. Custom
+refers to the usages of society, or of the individual; habit refers
+more frequently to the individual acts. "Ill habits gather by unseen
+degrees."
+
+  "Man yields to custom as he bows to fate,
+   In all things ruled-- mind, body, and estate."
+
+                              Want, Need
+
+These words are often used interchangeably, but should be
+discriminated. Need implies the lack; want also implies the lack, but
+couples with it the wish to supply the lack. "Some men need help, but
+will not ask for it; others want help (that is, they need help, or
+think they do, and ask for it) and get it, too."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+41
+
+                              Way, Away
+
+"He is way down in Florida," is incorrect. "He is away down in
+Florida" is better grammar. "He is in Florida" is still better. Down
+indicates the direction, and away magnifies the distance. As most
+persons know the direction, and as modern railway travel shortens long
+distances, the abbreviated sentence is sufficiently full.
+
+                              Ways, Way
+
+"He is a long ways from home" is a very common, but faulty expression.
+Say "Uncle Charles is now a long way on his journey." "The boat is a
+good way off the shore."
+
+                              Whole, All
+
+"The whole of the scholars went to the fair to-day." "All of the
+school went to the fair to-day." The sentences will be improved by
+transposing whole and all. "All of the scholars went to the fair
+to-day," not half of them. "The whole school went to the fair to-day,"
+not a part of it. All refers to the individual scholars; whole to the
+school as a unit.
+
+                           Without, Unless
+
+"He cannot miss the way without he forgets my instructions." "I will
+not dig the potatoes without Tom comes to help." Use unless instead of
+without.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+42
+
+                             Worse, More
+
+"He dislikes arithmetic worse than grammar." Use more instead of
+worse.
+
+                             Rarely, Rare
+
+"It is rarely that you hear of a prodigal youth growing into an
+economical man." Rarely should be rare to form the adjective attribute
+of the verb.
+
+                             Real, Really
+
+Real is often incorrectly used as an adverb, especially by
+schoolgirls; as, "I think he is real mean." The grammar will be
+improved by substituting really for real, but the expression, as a
+whole, being applied to all kinds and degrees of offenses, has become
+meaningless.
+
+Real is often carelessly used in the sense of very; as real pretty,
+real bright, real kind.
+
+                           Recipe, Receipt
+
+A recipe is a formula for making some mixture or preparation of
+materials; a receipt is an acknowledgment of that which has been
+received.
+
+                         Region, Neighborhood
+
+Region is a broader and more comprehensive term, and should not be
+applied to the narrow limits of a neighborhood.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+43
+
+                             Remit, Send
+
+The word remit is often used when send would be better. Remit means to
+send back, to forgive, to relax. In its commercial sense it means to
+transmit or send money in payment of a demand; as, "He remitted the
+amount by mail."
+
+                           Residence, House
+
+This pretentious word is often used when house or home would be in
+better taste.
+
+                          Deface, Disfigure
+
+"The walls of many public buildings are defaced by persons who desire
+that their names shall remain when they are gone." "They disfigure
+their faces that they may appear unto men to fast." Disfigure applies
+more generally to persons; deface, to things.
+
+                           Demean, Degrade
+
+The word demean is often incorrectly used in the sense of degrade,
+lower. It should be used in the sense of behave, conduct, deport, and
+not in the sense of degrade.
+
+                            Depot, Station
+
+For many years the word depot was largely employed in the sense of a
+railway station. Its primary meaning is a warehouse or storehouse or
+military station. As applied to a stopping place for railroad trains
+the
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+44
+
+English word station is greatly to be preferred to the French word
+depot, and is rapidly coming into general use in this country.
+
+                          Description, Kind
+
+"Flowers of every description were found in his garden." In the above
+sense the word kind or variety would be more appropriate.
+
+                         Bring, Fetch, Carry
+
+Bring implies motion from the object toward the person who issues the
+command or makes the request. Fetch implies two motions, first, toward
+the object; second, toward the person who wishes it. The gardener, who
+is in the garden, calls to his servant, who is at the barn, "John,
+bring me the rake. You will find it in the barn." And if John is with
+him in the garden, he would say, "John, fetch me the rake from the
+barn."
+
+The use of fetch is more common among English writers than with us. In
+fact, many speakers and writers in America rarely use the word.
+
+Carry is a more general term, and means to convey, without thought of
+the direction.
+
+                        Character, Reputation
+
+These words are often confounded. "Character," says Abbott, "is what a
+person is; reputation is what he is supposed to be. Character is in
+himself,
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+45
+
+reputation is in the minds of others. Character is injured by
+temptations and by wrong-doing; reputation by slanders and libels.
+Character endures throughout defamation in every form, but perishes
+where there is a voluntary transgression; reputation may last through
+numerous transgressions, but be destroyed by a single, and even an
+unfounded, accusation or aspersion."
+
+                           Farther, Further
+
+Although these words are often used interchangeably even by good
+writers, yet a finer taste and a keener power of discrimination is
+shown in the use of farther when referring to literal distance, and of
+further in reference to quantity or degree; as, "Each day's journey
+removes them farther from home," "He concluded his speech by remarking
+that he had nothing further to say." Farther is the comparative of
+far; further is the comparative of forth.
+
+                            Fault, Defect
+
+Speakers and writers often fail to discriminate in the use of these
+words. A defect implies a deficiency, a lack, a falling short, while a
+fault signifies that there is something wrong.
+
+  "Men still had faults, and men will have them still,
+   He that hath none, and lives as angels do
+   Must be an angel."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+46
+
+"It is in general more profitable to reckon up our defects than to
+boast of our attainments."
+
+                             Few, Little
+
+These words and their comparatives, fewer, less, are often confounded.
+Few relates to number, or to what may be counted; little refers to
+quantity, or to what may be measured. A man may have few books and
+little money; he may have fewer friends and less influence than his
+neighbor. But do not say "The man has less friends than his neighbor."
+
+                       Each other, One another
+
+While some excellent authorities use these expressions
+interchangeably, most grammarians and authors employ each other in
+referring to two persons or things, and one another when more than two
+are considered; as, "Both contestants speak kindly of each other."
+"Gentlemen are always polite to one another."
+
+Those who prefer to have wide latitude in speech will be glad to know
+that Murray, in one of the rules in his grammar, says, "Two negatives
+in English destroy one another."
+
+Shakespeare says, "It is a good divine that follows his own
+instructions. I can easier teach twenty what were good to be done,
+than be one of
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+47
+
+the twenty to follow mine own teaching." This is as true of expression
+as of morals.
+
+                           Either, Neither
+
+"Palms and beautiful flowers lined the hall on either side," is a
+common but faulty form of expression. Either refers to one of two
+things. In the foregoing sentence the thought is that both sides of
+the hall were lined, hence the word both should have been used. If,
+however, each side of the hall is thought of separately, then each,
+would be the proper word to employ.
+
+"Either of the two books will please you." "Any of the three books
+will prove satisfactory." "Any one of the five men would make a good
+candidate." "Neither of the two men will serve." "None of the ten men
+were present." "Not one of all the houses was left standing." These
+sentences represent the best usage with regard to either, neither, and
+also of any, none, any one, not one.
+
+                              These kind
+
+Adjectives implying number must agree with the nouns which they
+qualify. This and that qualify nouns in the singular; these and those
+belong to nouns in the plural.
+
+"These kind of potatoes grow well in this soil." Use this. "This
+twenty years have I known him."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+48
+
+Use these. "The beam was two foot above my head," Use feet. "For this,
+among other reasons, I abandoned the profession." Say "For this
+reason, among others, I abandoned the profession." "He rides the
+bicycle daily, and by this means he preserves his health." "The
+partners were all honest, courteous, and industrious, and by these
+means acquired wealth." The word means being either singular or
+plural, the two preceding sentences are both correct.
+
+                        Some means or another
+
+"By some means or another he always gets the better part of the
+bargain." This sentence may be corrected by saying "one means or
+another," or "some means or other."
+
+                                 Than
+
+After other, otherwise, else, or an adjective in the comparative
+degree, than should be used, and not but or except.
+
+"No other way but this was open to him." Use than.
+
+"History and philosophy cannot otherwise affect the mind but for its
+enlargement and benefit." Use than.
+
+"Flowers are often nothing else but cultivated weeds." Use than.
+
+"He no sooner entered the bridge but he met an infuriated bull coming
+toward him." Use than.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+49
+
+"He offered no other objection except the one already mentioned." Use
+than.
+
+"He read five other books on 'Crime and Its Causes' in addition to
+those you named." Use than.
+
+With equal propriety we may say, "He offered no objection except the
+one already mentioned," or "He read five books on 'Crime and Its
+Causes' in addition to those you named." It is the use of the word
+other, or otherwise, or else, that makes necessary the correlative
+term than.
+
+                               Besides
+
+After else and other the preposition besides is sometimes employed.
+
+"Other boys besides these are mischievous."
+
+"Other arts besides music are elevating and inspiring."
+
+"We must have recourse to something else besides punishment."
+
+It will be observed that the use of besides in this section differs
+from the use of than in the preceding discussion. "Other... than" is
+exclusive of those mentioned; whereas, "other... besides" includes
+those mentioned.
+
+                                Other
+
+"Iron is more useful than all the metals." The faultiness of this
+sentence becomes apparent when
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+50
+
+we remember that iron itself is a metal and is included in the word
+metals, which forms one side of the comparison. In short, "Iron is
+more useful than iron together with all the other metals." This
+statement is absurd. The sentence should, therefore, read, "Iron is
+more useful than all the other metals."
+
+"The Washington monument is higher than any monument in America."
+Since it is in America, and as it cannot be higher than itself, the
+sentence is made correct by adding the word other; as, "The Washington
+monument is higher than any other monument in America."
+
+"This book, which I have just finished, is superior to any work on the
+subject that I have yet seen." Say "to any other work."
+
+"Of all other creatures, man is the most highly endowed." Say "of all
+creatures," etc.
+
+"No general was ever so beloved by his soldiers." Say "No other
+general," etc.
+
+"Nothing delights him so much as a storm at sea." "Nothing else
+delights him," etc.
+
+                              One's, His
+
+Whether we should say "One ought to know one's own mind," or "One
+ought to know his own mind," is a question that the critics have
+earnestly discussed, but have never settled, except as each settles it
+for
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+51
+
+himself. The masculine pronoun is often used with an antecedent whose
+gender is not known. There can, therefore, be no objection to the use
+of his on the question of gender. As a matter of euphony, his is
+preferable to one's. Both have the sanction of good usage.
+
+                                 None
+
+Although literally signifying no one, the word none may be used with a
+plural verb, having the force of a collective noun.
+
+  "None but the brave deserves the fair."-- Dryden.
+  "None knew thee but to love thee,
+   None named thee but to praise."-- Halleck.
+  "I look for ghosts; but none will force
+   Their way to me."-- Wordsworth.
+  "Of all the girls that e'er were seen,
+   There's none so fine as Nelly."-- Swift.
+
+                              All, Whole
+
+The word all is often incorrectly used for the whole.
+
+"The river rose and spread over all the valley." This should be "over
+the whole valley."
+
+"The day being stormy, the members of Class A were all the children at
+school to-day." Correct by saying "were the only children at school
+to-day."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+52
+
+                       Perpetually, Continually
+
+Perpetually is not synonymous with continually. Perpetually means
+never-ceasing. That which is done continually may be subject to
+interruptions.
+
+                           Persuade, Advise
+
+"Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." Paul had advised many
+persons to become Christians, some of whom, like Agrippa, were almost
+persuaded.
+
+                             Wharf, Dock
+
+These words are sometimes confounded. The wharf is the pier, or
+landing, upon which the vessel unloads her cargo. The dock is the
+artificial waterway, or basin, formed by the wharves. "The vessel came
+into the dock and was made fast to the wharf."
+
+                      Contemptible, Contemptuous
+
+Contemptible is sometimes incorrectly used for contemptuous. A story
+is told of Richard Parson, an English scholar and critic. A gentleman
+being in dispute with him, angrily exclaimed, "My opinion of you is
+most contemptible, sir," upon which Parson quickly retorted, "I never
+knew an opinion of yours that was not contemptible."
+
+                          Healthy, Wholesome
+
+These terms are not synonymous. Toadstools may be healthy, but they
+would not be regarded as wholesome.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+53
+
+Plants and animals are healthy when the conditions of their growth are
+favorable. They are wholesome when, as food, they promote the health
+of those persons who eat them.
+
+                               In a fix
+
+Many persons instead of saying "He is in trouble," or "He is in an
+awkward position," or "He is perplexed," or embarrassed, employ the
+vulgarism, "He is in a fix." Although Shakespeare may say, "This was
+the most unkindest cut of all," and De Quincey may write, "Poor Aroar
+cannot live and cannot die-- so that he is in an almighty fix," we
+lesser mortals are forbidden such expressions.
+
+                              Fly, Flee
+
+In a general sense fly is applied to winged creatures and flee to
+persons. "What exile from himself can flee?" "When the swallows
+homeward fly." The past tense forms are sometimes confused, as, "The
+inhabitants flew to the fort for safety," "The wild geese have all
+fled to the South." The principal parts of the verbs are:
+      Present.     Past.     Perf. part.
+        fly,       flew,        flown.
+        flee,      fled,        fled.
+
+The verbs flew and fled in the foregoing sentences should be
+transposed. Fly implies motion either
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+54
+
+from or toward. Flee implies motion from. Fly may be used, in a
+figurative sense, of persons, to indicate great speed as of wings. "I
+flew to his rescue." "He flew to my rescue." "Resist the devil and he
+will flee from you."
+
+The word flown is sometimes used erroneously as the past tense or
+perfect participle of the verb flow. The parts of this verb are flow,
+flowed, flowed. "The river has overflowed (not overflown) its banks."
+
+                               Get, Got
+
+Because a horse is willing is no reason why he should be ridden to
+death. The verb get and its past-tense form got admit of many
+meanings, as the following, from an old English publication, fully
+proves: "I got on horseback within ten minutes after I got your
+letter. When I got to Canterbury I got a chaise for town; but I got
+wet through before I got to Canterbury, and I have got such a cold as
+I shall not be able to get rid of in a hurry. I got to the Treasury
+about noon, but, first of all, I got shaved and dressed. I soon got
+into the secret of getting a memorial before the Board, but I could
+not get an answer then. However, I got intelligence from the messenger
+that I should most likely get an answer the next morning. As soon as I
+got back to my inn I got my supper and got to bed. It was not long
+before I got to sleep.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+55
+
+When I got up in the morning I got myself dressed, and then got my
+breakfast, that I might get out in time to get an answer to my
+memorial. As soon as I got it I got into the chaise and got to
+Canterbury by three, and about teatime I got home. I have got nothing
+more to say."
+
+Those who are disposed to overwork the words get and got will find it
+interesting and profitable to read the foregoing exercise,
+substituting other words for those in italics.
+
+With have the word got is generally superfluous; as, "I have got a
+cold," "I have got to go to Boston this evening," "Have you got
+Hires's root-beer on draught?" For "I did not get to meet your
+cousin," say "I had no opportunity," or "I was prevented," etc.
+
+Another very faulty use of got is heard in such expressions as "He got
+killed," "They got beaten," "She got cured," etc. Was or were would be
+more appropriate.
+
+Since to get means to obtain, to procure, to gain, the use of the word
+is justified in such expressions as "I have got a larger farm than you
+have, because I have worked harder for it." "I have got a better
+knowledge of the Pacific coast than he has, because I traveled
+extensively through that region." And yet, when we have been
+overworked, the physician usually prescribes a period of absolute
+rest; so, in
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+56
+
+view of the multifarious uses to which get has been applied, would it
+not be well to permit it to retire for a time, in order that it may
+the more quickly be rejuvenated.
+
+                   Guess, Reckon, Calculate, Allow
+
+"I guess he is not going to vote to-day." "I reckon we are going to
+have fair weather now." "I calculate this ground would grow good
+potatoes." "I allow she's the prettiest girl that ever visited these
+parts." The foregoing sentences may be improved by recasting them. "I
+think he is not going to (or will not) vote to-day." "I believe we
+shall now have fair weather." "I suppose this ground would yield fine
+potatoes." "I regard her as the handsomest lady that has ever visited
+this place (or neighborhood, or locality).
+
+                           Gums, Overshoes
+
+"Tom is outside, cleaning his gums on the mat." While a mat will do
+very well for overshoes, a tooth-brush and sozodont would be better
+for the gums.
+
+                                Funny
+
+"Isn't it funny that Smith, who resided in Chicago, should have died
+the same day that his father died in Boston?" "Isn't it funny that the
+murderer who escaped hanging on a mere technicality of the law
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+57
+
+should have been killed the next day in a railroad accident?" "How
+funny that these maples should grow so tall on this mountain top!" "It
+is funny to think that James, who now pays his addresses to me, should
+once have been in love with my youngest sister." The foregoing
+illustrations are not more incongruous than those we daily hear. Odd,
+strange, peculiar, unusual, represent some of the ideas intended to be
+conveyed by that much-abused word.
+
+                        Good deal, Great deal
+
+This idiom is defended by some authorities as being in perfectly good
+use, and by others it is denounced as being incorrect. Both good deal
+and greet deal are somewhat colloquial, and should be used sparingly
+in writing.
+
+                       Had better, Would better
+
+Like a good deal and some other idioms, this expression is denounced
+by some writers and defended by others. Grammatical construction
+supports more strongly the forms would better, would rather, etc. "I
+had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in
+the tents of wickedness." "I would rather read than drive to-day." "I
+would rather not go." Omit rather and the superiority of would over
+had becomes apparent.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+58
+
+                             If, Whether
+
+"I do not know if he sold his farm or exchanged it for city property."
+Use whether.
+
+                              Illy, Ill
+
+Do not use illy for ill. The former is becoming obsolete, and the
+latter, as an adverb, is taking its place. Say "An ill-ventilated
+room," not "an illy-ventilated room."
+
+                               Implicit
+
+This word means tacitly understood, resting on the word or authority
+of another. It should not be used in the sense of unbounded,
+unlimited.
+
+                              Individual
+
+This word should not be used broadly in the sense of a person, but
+should always convey some thought of a single thing or person, as
+opposed to many.
+
+                               Journal
+
+As this word is from the French, jour, day, it should not be applied
+to a monthly or quarterly magazine.
+
+                               Know as
+
+"I do not know as I can see you to-day." Say know that.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+59
+
+                             Last, Latest
+
+"Did you receive my last letter?"
+
+"I hope not. I enjoy your letters very much, and I trust you may live
+to write many more."
+
+                               Cunning
+
+This word is much used by young ladies in speaking of what is small,
+or dainty, or pleasing, as "A cunning little bonnet," "A cunning
+little watch," etc. While the word properly embodies the idea of skill
+or dexterity on the part of the workman, and while the appreciation of
+such skill, in speaking of the artist or artisan, might be expressed
+by cunning, it is better not to use the word in referring to the
+product of the workmanship.
+
+                               Curious
+
+Curious means inquisitive, rare. In the sense of strange or
+remarkable, its use should be guarded.
+
+                                 Cute
+
+This word is often used colloquially in the sense of clever, sharp,
+shrewd, ingenious, cunning. It is doubtless an abbreviation of acute.
+It is not found in good literary usage.
+
+                           Favor, Resemble
+
+The use of the word favor in the sense of resemble is a provincialism
+that should be avoided. "The
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+60
+
+son favors the father" is correct if the meaning be that the son shows
+favor or kindness to the father; but if reference to their similarity
+of appearance is intended, the verb resemble should be employed.
+
+                          Balance, Remainder
+
+This word, like numerous others, has been borrowed from the commercial
+world, and has had such a wide use that its faultiness is not noticed
+even by many who regard themselves as careful speakers and writers. "I
+cut down part of the timber this year, and expect to cut the balance
+next spring." "My cousin will remain with us the balance of this
+week." "James ate half of the melon to-day, and will eat the balance
+to-morrow." In these and all similar cases the word remainder should
+be used. Balance is a term that applies to accounts, and signifies the
+amount necessary to be added to one side of the account in order to
+make it equal the other.
+
+                                Behave
+
+"Now, my children, you must behave while I am gone." The mother
+intended to ask her children to behave well, but as behave is a
+neutral word, and may be followed by well or ill, her form of
+expression permits the children to supply whichever adverb suits them
+the better. Behave requires a qualifying word to make the meaning
+clear.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+61
+
+                                Bound
+
+"He was determined to study medicine," not "He was bound," etc. Bound
+implies that he was under a bond or obligation to another, rather than
+impelled by the action of his own mind.
+
+                             Better, Best
+
+While some good writers violate the rule, yet the best authorities
+restrict the use of the comparative degree to two objects.
+
+"Mary is the better scholar of the two."
+
+"Although both are young, Susan is the younger."
+
+"Of two evils, choose the lesser," not the least.
+
+                            Former, First
+
+Former and latter being adjectives of the comparative degree, should
+be used in speaking of two objects. When more than two objects are
+named, use first and last.
+
+"My sons, John and Luther, are both at college. The first expects to
+study law, and the last to study medicine." Use former and latter.
+
+"New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago are the most populous cities in
+the United States. The former has long been at the front; the latter
+has only recently entered the race." Use first and last instead of
+former and latter.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+62
+
+                             These, Those
+
+When objects near and remote are referred to, this and its plural
+these are applied to the objects near at hand, that and its plural
+those to objects at a distance.
+
+When reference is made to contrasted antecedent terms, this and these
+are applied to the latter; that and those to the former, as
+
+  "Farewell my friends! farewell my foes!
+   My peace with these, my love with those!"
+                                                            -- Burns.
+
+                          Fictitious Writer
+
+Do not say a fictitious writer when you mean a writer of fiction.
+
+                               Firstly
+
+First is an adverb as well as an adjective. We should, therefore, say
+first, secondly, thirdly, and not firstly, secondly, etc.
+
+                              First-rate
+
+An article may be rated in quality as first, or second, or third. If
+it rates first, it may be called a first-rate article. The word is
+properly used as an adjective, but should not be employed as an
+adverb, as in the sentence, "He sings first-rate."
+
+                          Fix, Mend, Repair
+
+Fix means to make fast, but its incorrect use in the sense of mend,
+repair, arrange, is so common that the
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+63
+
+word when properly used sounds strange, if not strained. "To fix up
+the room," "to fix up the accounts," "to fix up matters with my
+creditors," "to fix the rascals who betrayed me," are examples
+illustrating the looseness with which the word is used.
+
+                            Round, Square
+
+When a thing is round or square it cannot be rounder or squarer. These
+adjectives do not admit of comparative and superlative forms. But we
+may say more nearly round or less nearly square.
+
+                             States, Says
+
+"He states he is going fishing to-morrow." States is too formal a
+word, and should be used only of some important assertion. "He says he
+is going," etc.
+
+                              Stop, Stay
+
+To stop is to cease moving. "At what hotel do you stop" should be "At
+what hotel do you stay." "When you come to the city stay with me," not
+stop with me.
+
+                           Subtile, Subtle
+
+Subtile means thin, fine, rare, delicate; subtle means sly, artful,
+cunning, elusive. "More subtile web Arachne cannot spin." "He had to
+contend with a subtle foe."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+64
+
+                               Summons
+
+He was summonsed to appear before the judge" should be "He was
+summoned to appear," etc.
+
+                                Tasty
+
+Often used in colloquial speech when tasteful would be better. Tastily
+for tastefully is still worse.
+
+                                 Team
+
+Properly this word relates only to the horses, and does not include
+the carriage.
+
+                        Those kind, These sort
+
+"It is unpleasant to have to associate with those kind of people."
+"These sort of sheep are the most profitable." Kind and sort are nouns
+of the singular number; these and those are plural, and, according to
+the laws of grammar, the adjective and noun must agree in number. The
+corrected sentences will read: "It is unpleasant to have to associate
+with this kind of people." "This sort of sheep is the most
+profitable." The fault arises by associating in the mind the
+adjectives these and those with the nouns sheep and people, which
+nouns are more prominent in the mind than the nouns kind and sort. If
+the ear is not satisfied, the sentences may readily be recast; as, "It
+is unpleasant to have to associate with people of that kind." "Sheep
+of this sort are the most profitable."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+65
+
+                          Transpire, Happen
+
+This word, from trans, across, through, and spirare, to breathe,
+means, physiologically, to pass off in the form of vapor or insensible
+perspiration, or, botanically, to evaporate from living cells. Its
+general meaning is to become known, to escape from secrecy.
+
+It is frequently employed in the sense of to occur, to come to pass,
+but this use is condemned by the best critics in England and America.
+"The proceedings of the secret session of the council soon
+transpired." This sentence illustrates the true meaning of the word.
+
+                          Make, Manufacture
+
+These words may, in some cases, be used interchangeably, but make has
+much the wider range of meanings. The following story, related by Eli
+Perkins, will illustrate this fact:
+
+I was talking one day with Mr. Depew, President of the New York
+Central Railroad, about demand and supply. I said the price of any
+commodity is always controlled by the demand and supply.
+
+"Not always, Eli," said Depew; "demand and supply don't always govern
+prices. Business tact sometimes governs them."
+
+"When," I asked, "did an instance ever occur when the price did not
+depend on demand and supply?"
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+66
+
+"Well," said Mr. Depew, "the other day I stepped up to a German
+butcher, and, out of curiosity, asked:
+
+"'What's the price of sausages?'
+
+"'Dwenty cends a bound,' he said.
+
+"'You asked twenty-five this morning,' I replied.
+
+"'Yah; dot vas ven I had some. Now I ain't got none, I sell him for
+dwenty cents. Dot makes a repudation for selling cheab, und I don't
+lose noddings.'
+
+"You see," said Mr. Depew, laughing, "I didn't want any sausage and
+the man didn't have any; no demand and no supply, and still the price
+of sausage went down five cents."
+
+"Well, there are strange things in this world," I said. "Now, take the
+words manufacture and make. I always thought that both words meant the
+same thing."
+
+"Why, they do, Eli," said Mr. Depew.
+
+"Not always," I said.
+
+"Now, when could they have a different meaning?"
+
+"Why, this morning I came down from Albany on a Central car
+manufactured to carry fifty passengers, but it was made to carry
+seventy-two people."
+
+"Yes, I dare say; but we'll now talk about the Behring Sea question."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+67
+
+                           Truth, Veracity
+
+"The veracity of his statement is doubted." The sentence should be,
+"The truth of his statement is doubted," or "In making that statement
+his veracity is doubted." Veracity is applied to the person; truth to
+the thing.
+
+                          Try the experiment
+
+"They are trying the experiment of running railroad trains by
+electricity." This should be, "They are making the experiment," etc.
+The word experiment contains the idea of trial, hence, to try the
+experiment is to try the trial.
+
+                             Little piece
+
+"I will go with you a little piece." A short distance or a part of the
+way would be more appropriate.
+
+                           Every confidence
+
+"I have every confidence in his ability to succeed." Confidence is a
+unit; every implies several units considered separately. "I have the
+greatest confidence in his ability to succeed" is correct.
+
+                                 Ugly
+
+This word properly applies to the appearance of a person or thing,
+hence such expressions as "He has an ugly temper," "This is an ugly
+customer," "That was an ugly rumor," etc., although common in
+colloquial discourse, should be avoided in dignified address.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+68
+
+                              Unbeknown
+
+This is a provincialism that should be avoided. Use unknown.
+
+                             Underhanded
+
+Often incorrectly used for underhand; as "That was a contemptible and
+underhanded trick."
+
+                             Calligraphy
+
+This word means not writing, simply, but beautiful writing; hence, to
+say, "His calligraphy is wretched" is equivalent to saying, "His
+excellent writing is poor," which is a contradiction of terms.
+
+                         Can but, Cannot but
+
+These expressions are sometimes confounded. "If I perish, I can but
+perish," means "I can only perish," or "I can do no more than perish."
+"I cannot but speak of the things I have heard" means that I am under
+a moral necessity to speak of these things. The past tense forms could
+but and could not but should be, in like manner, discriminated.
+
+                         Casualty, Casuality
+
+The latter word is sometimes used in place of the former. The first is
+legitimate; the second is without authority. The words specialty and
+speciality have a termination similar to the above. They may generally
+be used interchangeably and are both legitimate.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+69
+
+                             Complected.
+
+"The lady is light complected, has blue eyes, and auburn hair."
+Complected is a provincialism without sanction. "The lady is of light
+complexion, has blue eyes," etc.
+
+                             Disremember
+
+This word is obsolete. Use forget, or "I do not remember."
+
+                               Lie, Lay
+
+The verbs lie and lay are often confounded, even by intelligent
+persons. Lie does not take an object. We cannot lie a thing. It is
+therefore intransitive.
+
+Lay, which means to place in position, requires an object. We lay a
+book on a table, or bricks on the wall. It is therefore transitive.
+
+The principal parts of the first verb are lie, lay, lain; and of the
+second, lay, laid, laid. The word lay is found in both, and this is,
+in part, accountable for the confusion. The most frequent errors
+result from using laid, the past tense form of the transitive verb,
+when the word lay, the past tense form of the intransitive verb,
+should be used. The ear naturally expects the usual past tense ending
+of the d or t sound, and as that is absent in the past tense of lie,
+the past tense form of the other verb is substituted. For the same
+reason the participle form laid is often incorrectly used for lain.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+70
+
+"He told me to lie down, and I lay down," not laid down. "I told him
+to lay the book down, and he laid it down." "The ship lay at anchor."
+"They lay by during the storm." "The book is lying on the shelf." "He
+lay on the ground and took cold." "They lay in ambush." "Lie low or he
+will discover you." "The goods are still lying on his hands." "Time
+lay heavily on their hands." "We must lie over at the next station."
+"A motion was made that the resolution lie on the table." "Now I lie
+down to sleep." "Now I lay me down to sleep."
+
+The foregoing sentences illustrate the correct usage of these
+confusing verbs.
+
+                               As, That
+
+"Did your cousin go to town yesterday?" "Not as I know." Better, "Not
+that I know." Better still, "I do not know." "I do not know as I shall
+go." Use that for as.
+
+                            Bad toothache
+
+As it is a rare thing to have a good toothache, we scarcely need the
+adjective bad to distinguish between the two kinds of toothache. Say
+severe.
+
+                        Beautifully, Beautiful
+
+After verbs of seeing, feeling, tasting, and smelling, the adverb is
+often incorrectly used for the adjective.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+71
+
+"The colonel looked handsomely in his military dress," "I feel
+splendidly to-day," "This peach tastes badly," "The rose smells
+sweetly," are incorrect. Use handsome for handsomely, very well or in
+good spirits for splendidly, tastes bad or has a disagreeable taste
+for badly, and sweet for sweetly.
+
+                            Beg, Beg leave
+
+"I beg to announce the sale of a collection of rare and costly rugs."
+"I beg to acknowledge your kindness in sending me this handsome
+present." In each case say "I beg leave to," etc.
+
+                              Due, Owing
+
+His success was due to his honesty and energy." That is due which
+should be paid as a debt; that is owing which is referred to as a
+cause or source.
+
+"The bill is now due and payable at the gas office." "His success was
+owing to his honesty and energy."
+
+                             Each, Every
+
+"I see him at his office each day of the week." In this sentence the
+word every would be better. Each refers to single days particularized.
+Here reference is made to what occurs on all days without exception.
+
+Both words refer to nouns in the singular, hence such expressions as
+the following are incorrect:
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+72
+
+"Every soldier and sailor stood at their post." "The prisoners were
+discharged and went each their several ways." Correct by saying, "The
+prisoners were discharged and went each his several way," "Every
+soldier and sailor stood at his post."
+
+                              Each, Both
+
+"Both parties maintained their original positions." As the parties are
+thought of separately, the sentence should be: "Each party maintained
+its original position." "Both parties strove to place their best
+candidates upon the ticket" is correct, because the parties are
+thought of collectively.
+
+                            Both, Both of
+
+Both is used alone before nouns and both of before pronouns. "Both men
+have studied the currency question." "Both of them are well informed
+in matters relating to the currency."
+
+                             Ever, Never
+
+"Let him be ever so rich," says Emerson. "You spend ever so much money
+in entertaining your equals and betters," says Thackeray. "Though he
+run ever so fast, he cannot win the race." Writers and grammarians
+differ, some preferring ever, others never.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+73
+
+                        Every once in a while
+
+This is a cumbersome, awkward expression that should be avoided.
+Occasionally, frequently, at intervals, are among the expressions that
+may be used in its place.
+
+                      Exceptionable, Exceptional
+
+"He enjoyed exceptionable opportunities for acquiring the Greek
+language." Say exceptional opportunities.
+
+                            Female, Woman
+
+The word female is often employed when woman would be better. Female
+applies to all of the feminine gender, including the brute creation.
+
+                            Poet, Poetess
+
+The tendency to increase the number of nouns with the feminine ending
+ess should be checked. Avoid poetess, authoress, doctress, and other
+newly-invented words of this kind.
+
+                             Fewer, Less
+
+Fewer refers to number, less to quantity. "He had less friends than I,
+and yet he was elected." Say "He had fewer friends." "There were no
+less than fifty cows in the field." Use fewer.
+
+                             Right smart
+
+In some portions of the South the expression right smart is employed
+in colloquial discourse to convey
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+74
+
+the idea of a large quantity or in large measure; as, "We have right
+smart of peaches this summer," meaning "We have a large crop of
+peaches;" "He knows right smart of Latin" for "He knows considerable
+Latin" or "He is well versed in Latin."
+
+                              Little bit
+
+"Will you have some of this pudding?"
+
+"If you please. Give me a little bit."
+
+"Did you injure yourself when you fell?"
+
+"No; but I soiled my clothing a little bit."
+
+A small portion or piece, in the first sentence, and slightly, in the
+second, would serve as good equivalents for a little bit.
+
+                                Sight
+
+"There was a sight of people at the fair to-day." In the sense of a
+large number, this word, like the word lot, should be avoided.
+
+                                Crowd
+
+A dozen persons may constitute a crowd if they push and jostle one
+another by reason of insufficient space. A thousand men will not form
+a crowd if all have ample room to sit or stand or move about.
+
+                              Chuck-full
+
+This word is not authorized. Chock-full and choke-full may be used,
+but are not elegant.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+75
+
+                         Contemplate, Propose
+
+Contemplate is often incorrectly used for propose; as, "I contemplate
+going to the country."
+
+                       Dispense, Dispense with
+
+These expressions are not synonymous. To dispense is to give; to
+dispense with is to do without. The pharmacist dispenses medicines; we
+should be pleased if we could dispense with them.
+
+                             Dry, Thirsty
+
+Dry is often incorrectly used in the sense of thirsty; as, "I am dry;
+let me have a glass of water." To say, "I am dry; my waterproof and
+umbrella kept out the rain," is correct.
+
+                            Dutch, German
+
+Do not call a German a Dutchman. A Dutchman comes from Holland, a
+German from Germany.
+
+                           Evacuate, Vacate
+
+Evacuate means to make empty, and should not be used in the sense of
+to go away, to vacate.
+
+                     Different than, Different to
+
+"The school is conducted in a very different manner than it used to
+be." "This basket of roses is different to yours." The above and
+similar expressions are decided vulgarisms, and should be avoided.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+76
+
+"The school is conducted in a very different manner from what it used
+to be." "This basket of roses is different from yours."
+
+                             Drive, Ride
+
+Some confusion exists in the use of the words drive and ride. In
+England the distinction is made of applying ride to going on horseback
+and drive to going in a carriage, whether you ride or drive. That
+usage is not closely followed in this country. He who guides the horse
+drives; the rest of the company ride. The noun and participial forms
+are more excusable than the verb. "Jones asked me to drive with him
+this afternoon." But as Jones expects to do the driving himself, the
+speaker should have said, "Jones asked me to take a ride," or "go
+driving," or "take a drive," etc.
+
+                           Couple, Several
+
+The word couple is often incorrectly used in the sense of several; as,
+a couple of horses, mules, birds, trees, houses, etc. The use of the
+word couple is not only limited to two, but to two that may be coupled
+or yoked together. A man and wife are spoken of as a couple. We speak
+of a span of horses, a yoke of oxen, a brace of ducks, a pair of
+gloves.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+77
+
+                  Directly, Immediately, As soon as
+
+A faulty English use of the above words has found some favor in the
+United States. "Directly the whistle blew the workmen left the shop."
+Say "As soon as the whistle blew," etc. "Immediately he closed his
+speech his opponent rose to reply." Say "When" or "As soon as he
+closed his speech," etc.
+
+Directly denotes without any delay; immediately implies without any
+interposition of other occupation.
+
+                        Agreeably disappointed
+
+When our hopes are blasted, our plans balked, our expectations
+defeated, our intentions thwarted, we are disappointed. We prefer the
+agreeable to the disagreeable, and plan and labor to secure it. When
+our plans fail we are disappointed, but not agreeably disappointed. If
+the new conditions, which are not of our seeking, prove agreeable, it
+is only after the sense of disappointment has vanished.
+
+                     Allude to, Refer to, Mention
+
+The word allude is often incorrectly used. Allusion is the by-play of
+language. It means to hint at by remote suggestions, to speak of
+figuratively or sportively.
+
+Whatever is directly mentioned, or spoken of, or described, cannot be
+said to be alluded to. The terms
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+78
+
+differ in degree, the first being the weakest. An allusion is an
+indirect reference.
+
+                            Among the rest
+
+"Mary sat on the beach among the rest." Say "with the rest."
+
+                                Peruse
+
+This is one of those high-sounding terms too often employed when read
+would be much better.
+
+                        Emigrants, Immigrants
+
+These words are sometimes confounded. "Did you see the emigrants on
+the 'Indiana,' which arrived this morning?" "Did the immigrants go
+directly to Italy?" Exchange the italicized words in the two sentences
+and they will be correctly used.
+
+                              Somewheres
+
+The terminal s should be omitted in such words as anywheres,
+somewheres, nowheres, anyways, hereabouts, thereabouts, whereabouts.
+In such cases as "Whereabouts did you find him?" and "We knew his
+whereabouts," the s is properly retained.
+
+                             Apart, Aside
+
+"May I see you apart from the others?" It should be, "May I see you
+privately" or "aside"?
+
+                             Fire, Throw
+
+We fire a gun, but throw a stone. To fire a stone, fire him out of the
+house, fire him out of our employ, may
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+79
+
+be graphic ways of presenting the thought, but good writers never use
+them and good speakers should avoid them.
+
+                          The First, Single
+
+"I have not found the first objection to his candidacy." Say "a single
+objection," or "no objection."
+
+                              First two
+
+Such has been the strong desire to continue to use forms of expression
+that we have long used that not a little time and effort have been
+expended in the endeavor to make the wrong appear right. It is an
+accepted fact, however, that a large majority of the best speakers and
+writers now say the first two, the last five, etc., rather than the
+two first, the five last.
+
+                          Future, Subsequent
+
+The word future is sometimes used instead of subsequent; as, "Until he
+was eighteen years old his conduct was marked by cruelty and malice,
+but his future life was characterized by kindness and generosity."
+Future looks forward from the present, and not from some point of time
+in the past.
+
+                             Gent's pants
+
+"Gent's pants scoured and pressed." Business signs and business
+advertisements are responsible for many vulgarisms. Never say gent's
+nor pants. Even pantaloons is not so good a word as trousers.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+80
+
+                               Sit, Set
+
+Few words afford a more fertile field for grammatical blundering than
+the verbs sit and set. The important fact to remember in the use of
+the words is that sit, in modern usage, is an intransitive verb, and
+does not take an object, while set, which means to place in position,
+is transitive, and requires an object to complete its meaning. You
+cannot sit a thing, but you do set or place a thing.
+
+The verb sit undergoes a slight change with the change of tense or
+time. "I sit at the window today." "I sat at the window yesterday." "I
+have sat at the window daily for many years." "Sitting at the window,
+I saw the storm arise." "Having sat at his table, I can testify to his
+hospitality."
+
+The transitive verb set undergoes no tense changes. "See me set this
+vase on the table." "He set his seal to the paper yesterday." "Jones
+will not set the world on fire with his writings." "Having set my
+affairs in order, I returned home." "I sit down." "I sat down." "I set
+him down."
+
+There are many intransitive uses of the verb set; as, "The sun sets,"
+"The tide sets toward the south," "The fruit has set," "He set out for
+Boston."
+
+There is a difference of opinion as to whether we should say "The coat
+sets well" or "The coat sits well," with the greater weight in favor
+of sits. "The
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+81
+
+hen sits on her eggs." "She is a sitting hen." When the verb is used
+reflexively use set and not sat; as, "I set me down beside her," not
+"I sat me down beside her."
+
+                                Anyhow
+
+This word can scarcely be regarded as elegant, and should not be used
+except in colloquial style.
+
+                                Awful
+
+Few words among the many that go to make up the vocabulary of American
+slang have been in longer use and have a wider range than the word
+awful. From the loftiest and most awe-inspiring themes to the
+commonest trifle, this much-abused word has been employed. A correct
+speaker or writer almost fears to use the word lest he should suggest
+the idea of slang, and thus detract from the subject to which the word
+might most fitly be applied.
+
+Even the grammatical form of the word is often violated in such
+expressions as "Isn't he awful nice?" "That hat of hers is awful
+pretty." To say awfully nice and awfully pretty would improve the
+grammar, but the gross vulgarism remains.
+
+The word, when properly used, means "inspiring with awe or dread"
+often accompanied with reverence, as when Milton says:
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+82
+
+  "The trumpet spake not to the armed throng;
+     And kings sat still with awful eye,
+     As if they surely knew their sovran Lord was by."
+
+                               Back up
+
+In the sense of support, this, and the shorter expression back, are
+doubtless borrowed from the commercial world. While they may be
+tolerated in conversation, they must be regarded as slang.
+
+                                 Bulk
+
+This word is often incorrectly used for most or the greater part; as,
+"The bulk of the people opposed the measure." Bulk refers to size, not
+to numbers.
+
+                              Burglarize
+
+This word is often used by the more sensational reporters in their
+reports of crime. It should be avoided.
+
+                          But what, But that
+
+"I don't know but what I shall have to punish him." The sentence
+should read, "I don't know but that I shall have to punish him." It is
+equivalent to, "I think that I shall have to punish him." The omission
+of but will convey the opposite meaning. "I don't know that I shall
+have to punish him" is equivalent to "I think that I shall not have to
+punish him."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+83
+
+                              Calculate
+
+A provincialism often used in the sense of think, deem, suppose,
+believe; as, "I calculate the train will be here in ten minutes."
+
+                          Calculated, Liable
+
+This word is often incorrectly used in the sense of likely, liable,
+apt; as, "His utterances are calculated to injure his cause." In the
+proper use of the word there is present the idea of purpose or intent.
+
+                             Leave, Quit
+
+Leave is often incorrectly used for quit; as, "That eminent actor
+expects soon to leave the stage." It would be a misfortune if he
+should take the stage with him. Say "quit the stage."
+
+"Henry has quit smoking." Here left off or stopped would be better.
+
+"The President gave me lief to speak with him." Say "gave me leave."
+
+Let it alone and let me be are preferable to leave it alone and leave
+me be.
+
+                                 A 1
+
+"I have just read an A 1 article on the currency, question in the last
+issue of the North American Review!" This is an expression from the
+vocabulary of business converted into the slang of the street.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+84
+
+                                 Luck
+
+Luck, like behavior, may be either good or bad. "The carpenter has met
+with luck; he fell and broke his leg." "The manager has met with luck;
+his salary has been doubled." The adjective lucky and the adverb
+luckily are used only in a favorable sense.
+
+                            Make way with
+
+This expression is often incorrectly used for make away with; as, "The
+Judge gave the boot-blacks a Christmas dinner, and the begrimed
+urchins quickly made way with the turkey and cranberry sauce." Say
+"made away with," etc.
+
+To make way is to make room, to provide a way, to dispatch.
+
+                             In our midst
+
+"The doctor settled in our midst." Say "among us," or "in our
+neighborhood."
+
+                           Indorse, Endorse
+
+From the Latin dorsum, the back, these words have come to mean the
+writing of one's name across the back of a check or draft or other
+commercial paper to signify its transfer to another or to secure its
+payment. To indorse a man's arguments or opinions is an incorrect use
+of the word.
+
+While both forms of spelling the word are in good usage, indorse seems
+to be coming into more general favor.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+85
+
+                               In, Into
+
+In is often incorrectly used for into; as, "He hurried up the street
+and rushed in the store." We walk in a room when the walking is wholly
+within the apartment; we walk into a room when we enter it from some
+other room or from the outside.
+
+                            Just going to
+
+"I was just going to write you a letter." Say "I was just about to
+write you a letter."
+
+                               Kind of
+
+"James swallowed the dose, and now feels kind of sick." Use slightly
+or somewhat, or some other modifier, instead of kind of.
+
+                               Knowing
+
+Do not use knowing for skilful or intelligent. "He is a knowing
+artist." "See him prick up his ears; he is a knowing cur."
+
+                            Clever, Smart
+
+In England the word clever is applied to one who is bright,
+intelligent, ready, apt; in the United States it is often misapplied
+to one who is good-natured, kind, or accommodating.
+
+"Do you believe in corporal punishment for stupid school-children?"
+
+"Yes; a spanking always makes them smart."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+86
+
+To express cleverness, brightness, intelligence, aptness, the
+adjectives clever, bright, intelligent, apt, are better than the word
+smart.
+
+                           Posted, Informed
+
+"He is well posted on all matters relating to cattle-breeding." Say
+informed.
+
+                           Perspire, Sweat
+
+While all mankind belongs to the animal kingdom, and no person can
+feel offended at being called an animal, yet society observes certain
+distinctions in speaking of men and of beasts. To sweat and to feed
+are expressions that apply to the latter; to perspire and to eat to
+the former.
+
+                                Empty
+
+The Mississippi river flows, or discharges its water into the Gulf of
+Mexico, but it can not empty so long as any water remains in the
+river.
+
+                         Enjoyed poor health
+
+  "Gold that buys health can never be ill spent,
+   Nor hours laid out in harmless merriment."
+
+The negative form of expression, "I have not enjoyed good health," is
+not only correct, but is, at the same time, a polite way of modestly
+stating a fact. To say "I have enjoyed poor health for the past year"
+is to express a kind of enjoyment not generally appreciated. It is
+like being agreeably disappointed.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+87
+
+                       Aberration of intellect
+
+"He is afflicted with a slight aberration of intellect." Simplicity
+would suggest, "He is slightly insane."
+
+                           Above, Foregoing
+
+"Let me call your attention to the above passage." The highest
+authority does not sanction the use of above as an adjective. Say "the
+foregoing passage."
+
+                            Allowed, Said
+
+"He allowed this was the best speech he had heard." This is a
+provincialism that should be avoided. Use said, or declared, or
+admitted, according to the meaning.
+
+                             Alternation
+
+This word is sometimes used in the sense of an unbroken series. It
+properly signifies a reciprocal succession, as "The alternation of
+summer and winter produces an ever-changing scene."
+
+                             Alternative
+
+Etymologically and by general use, this word refers to a choice
+between two; as, "If this demand is refused the alternative is war."
+But Gladstone is quoted as saying, "My decided preference is for the
+fourth and last of these alternatives."
+
+                             Anniversary
+
+From annus, a year, means recurring every year. Centennial means once
+in a hundred years. What then does centennial anniversary mean? Use
+centenary.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+88
+
+                             Learn, Teach
+
+"I taught him grammar," not "I learned him grammar." "He taught us
+history."
+
+                        Lease, Let, Rent, Hire
+
+We may lease to or from. "I leased the farm to my neighbor." "I leased
+this house from Brown." We let to another; as, "I let my house to my
+cousin." We may rent to or from another. We may hire from another,"
+as, "I hired a servant;" "he hired a boat." With out and reflexively
+we may hire to another; as," I hired out my horses;" "he hired himself
+to the miller."
+
+                               Like, As
+
+Avoid the use of like in the sense of as. "He thinks just as (not
+like) his father does." That Anthony Trollope, Hugh Conway and other
+writers are chargeable with this offence does not justify the use of
+like for as, but rather proves the need of constant vigilance in order
+to avoid such errors.
+
+                        Lit, Lighted, Alighted
+
+"He lighted the candle." "The crow alighted on the top of the tree."
+Avoid the use of lit in such cases, and also that slang form, as, "I
+lit on a beautiful passage in Browning," in the sense of met with.
+
+                              Lend, Loan
+
+"Will you lend me your book," is better than "Will you loan me your
+book."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+89
+
+                             Near, Nearly
+
+"James is not near so good a scholar as his brother is." Use nearly.
+
+                             Nasty, Nice
+
+Nasty is a strong adjective, and should be used only in reference to
+what is offensively filthy, foul, or defiled. Such expressions as a
+nasty day, a nasty rain, mark a loose and careless use of the word.
+
+The word nice once meant foolish, ignorant, weak, effeminate. It has
+now come to mean exact, fine, finished, exciting admiration on account
+of skill or exactness; as nice proportions, nice workmanship, a nice
+distinction in philosophy. It is loosely and colloquially used in
+application to what is pleasing, agreeable, delightful, good.
+
+A bright young lady was once asked, "Don't you think nice is a nasty
+word?" She replied, "And do you think nasty is a nice word." The
+subject was abruptly changed.
+
+                                Nicely
+
+"How do you feel this morning?" "Nicely, thank you." The foregoing use
+of the word is as incorrect as it is common. Use very well instead.
+
+                           No good, No use
+
+"How does that new machine work?" "It's no good." "Shall I try again?"
+"No; it's no use." The answers should have been, "It is of no good, it
+is of no use."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+90
+
+                                O, Oh
+
+While good usage is far from uniform, many excellent authors employ O
+only in cases of direct address and oh when strong and sudden emotion
+is to be expressed. O is always written with a capital letter, and
+should be followed by the name of the person or thing addressed, and
+the exclamation or interrogation point placed at the end of the
+sentence; as, "O Death, where is thy sting? O Grave, where is thy
+victory?" "O the cold and cruel winter!"
+
+Oh in the body of a sentence may begin with a small letter, and is
+immediately followed by the exclamation point; as, "Oh! how terrible
+was his fate!" "The sad intelligence was gently given, but oh! the
+shock was almost unbearable."
+
+                             Observe, Say
+
+"He observed that the orphan pines while the oppressor feeds." To
+observe is to notice carefully, to attend closely to what one sees. In
+the above sentence said or remarked should be used instead of
+observed.
+
+                            Of any, Of all
+
+"This is the largest tree of any I have seen." The meaning clearly is,
+that of all the trees I have seen this is the largest. Hence, of any
+should be changed to of all.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+91
+
+                             Older, Elder
+
+Elder and eldest are terms applied chiefly to persons, generally in
+speaking of members of the same family, while older and oldest are
+applied to persons of different families, and also to things.
+
+"His elder brother died yesterday." "His eldest sister has gone to
+Italy on her wedding trip." "Our oldest neighbor was born in 1825."
+"This oak is older than that pine." The foregoing sentences illustrate
+the best usage as applied to the comparatives older and elder and the
+superlatives oldest and eldest.
+
+When the direct comparison is made the word older is used, followed by
+the conjunction than; as, "My father is older than my mother." But
+when the comparison is assumed the word elder should be employed; as,
+"My father is the elder of my parents."
+
+                                 Only
+
+Perhaps no other word in the language is so often misplaced as the
+word only. The only general rule is to place it as near as possible to
+the word which it modifies. "He only lent me a dollar" means that he
+did not make me a present of the dollar, but expects me to return it.
+"He lent me only a dollar" means that the sum lent was neither greater
+nor less than one dollar. The former expression is often used when the
+latter should be.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+92
+
+"Only the man walked to the post-office to-day." The woman did not
+walk with him.
+
+"The man only walked to the post-office to-day." He did not ride or
+drive.
+
+"The man walked only to the post-office to-day." He did not go so far
+as the store.
+
+"The man walked to the post-once only to-day." Yesterday he rode and
+the day before he drove. Today is the only day that he walked.
+
+George Eliot, in Middlemarch, says: "I only know two gentlemen who
+sing at all well," and in another place, "I have only seen her once
+before." The word only should be placed before two in the first
+sentence, and before once in the second.
+
+                                 Onto
+
+There is a growing tendency to write the words on and to as one word.
+"Although nearly drowned he yet had strength enough to climb onto the
+rock." The use of upon or on is generally better. When neither of
+these can be used write on and to as separate words.
+
+                               Outstart
+
+This word is sometimes used when outset should be employed.
+
+                            Over and Above
+
+"He earned twenty dollars over and above his expenses." Use more than
+or above.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+93
+
+                            Party, Person
+
+"Is she the party of whom you spoke?" "No; she is the person."
+
+One man may be a party to a contract or agreement. Several men may
+form a party. When no contract is implied, one man or woman must be
+spoken of as a person, not as a party.
+
+                           Patron, Customer
+
+Unless there is a sense of obligation or condescension, use the term
+customer and not patron. In like manner, use custom instead of
+patronage.
+
+                                 Per
+
+Per is a Latin preposition and should be used only with Latin nouns.
+We should say per annum, but not per year; per diem, and not per day;
+per capita, and not per head. "He received a thousand dollars a year
+is shorter and better than "he received a thousand dollars per year."
+
+                       Perchance, Peradventure
+
+These are poetic and archaic forms that should be avoided in ordinary
+prose.
+
+                              Performers
+
+"The entertainment consisted of reading, recitations, and singing, and
+the performers acquitted themselves well." Readers, reciters, and
+singers are not
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+94
+
+performers. The term is applied to the stage, and to those who play on
+musical instruments. Even in the latter application, "he plays well on
+the piano," is better than "he performs well on the piano."
+
+                            Period, Point
+
+Do not use period for a point of time. Period implies extended time.
+
+                             Nothing like
+
+"James is nothing like so successful as his brother" illustrates a
+colloquialism that should be avoided. Use not nearly so, etc.
+
+                           Notorious, Noted
+
+"He was elected to Congress, then Governor, and we now think of
+sending him to the United States Senate. He is becoming quite
+notorious." The word notorious implies some bad or doubtful quality or
+characteristic, and must not be used in the sense of noted or famous.
+
+                           Nowhere near so
+
+"He trapped nowhere near so many rabbits as his cousin." This
+vulgarism should be avoided. Use not nearly.
+
+                                Plead
+
+The past tense of read is read, but the past tense of plead is
+pleaded, not plead. "The prisoner pleaded for mercy."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+95
+
+                          Plenty, Plentiful
+
+"Money is plenty this summer." Plenty is a noun and should not be used
+as an adjective. Therefore "money is plentiful this summer."
+Shakespeare says, "If reasons were as plenty as blackberries," etc.,
+but words have settled into more definite grooves since Shakespeare's
+time. "This house is plenty large enough." Neither is plenty an
+adverb. Say, "This house is quite large enough," or, simply, large
+enough.
+
+                            About, around
+
+"She was pleased with the conversation about her." Use "around her."
+
+"She was pained by the conversation about her." Use "concerning her."
+
+                          Overlook, Oversee
+
+This word means to look down upon from a place that is over or above;
+as, "From the top of the Washington monument you can readily overlook
+the city." But it also means to look over and beyond an object in
+order to see a second object, thus missing the view of the first
+object; hence, to refrain from bestowing notice upon, to neglect. The
+confounding of these two ideas begets ambiguity, as "Brown's business
+was to overlook the workmen in the shop." His business was to oversee
+or superintend them, and not to neglect or overlook them.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+96
+
+                              Revolting
+
+To revolt is to rebel, to renounce allegiance, but the participial
+form revolting also means repugnant, loathsome. In the sentence, "A
+band of revolting Huns has just passed down the street," we should be
+in doubt whether the speaker referred to their acts against the
+government or to their appearance. The use of the word rebellious in
+the former sense, and of disagreeable or disgusting, or the stronger
+adjectives given above, for the latter meaning, would make the
+sentence clear.
+
+                              Unexampled
+
+Such adjectives as unexampled, unparalleled, unprecedented, do not
+admit of comparison, hence such expressions as the most unexampled
+bravery, the most unparalleled heroism, etc., should be avoided.
+
+                                Utter
+
+This verb should be distinguished from express or say. Utter carries
+with it the idea of articulate expression, except in the sense of
+uttering false coins or forged notes.
+
+As an adjective it is defined by complete, perfect, absolute, etc.,
+but it can be applied only to what is unpleasant or unfavorable. "I
+enjoyed utter happiness" would be an absurd expression, but "I was
+doomed to utter misery" illustrates a proper use of the word.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+97
+
+                           Valuable, Valued
+
+These words are not synonymous; valuable means precious, costly,
+having value; valued refers to our estimation of the worth. "He is one
+of our most valued contributors," not valuable, unless you are
+thinking of the value of his contributions and the smallness of the
+compensation.
+
+                             Very pleased
+
+A few participles used as adjectives may be directly modified by too
+or very; as, "I was very tired," "He was too fatigued to go farther."
+
+We sometimes hear the expression, "I was very pleased," but the
+critics insist upon "I was very much pleased," or "greatly pleased,"
+or "very greatly pleased."
+
+                               Vicinity
+
+Often too high-sounding a word for the thought; neighborhood is less
+pretentious.
+
+                             The old man
+
+The use of such words as dad, daddy, mam, mammy, the old man, the old
+woman, when applied to parents, not only indicates a lack of
+refinement, but shows positive disrespect. The words pap, pappy,
+governor, etc., are also objectionable. After the first lispings of
+childhood the words papa and mamma, properly accented, should be
+insisted upon by parents, and at
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+98
+
+the age of twelve or fifteen the words father and mother should be
+substituted and ever after used, as showing a proper respect on the
+part of children.
+
+                              Great big
+
+"He gave me a great big apple." This is a colloquialism that should be
+avoided. Use large.
+
+                             Argue, Augur
+
+"The hollow whistling of the wind among the trees argues an
+approaching storm." Use augurs.
+
+                         Barbaric, Barbarous
+
+Barbaric refers to a people; barbarous to their low state of life and
+their habits of cruelty.
+
+                             Cut in half
+
+A colloquialism in very frequent use. "I will cut this melon in half
+and share it with you." Say, cut in two, or cut in halves, or cut in
+two parts.
+
+                             Hearty meal
+
+"He ate a hearty meal before starting on his journey." Hearty applies
+to the eater rather than to the meal. "He ate heartily," etc.
+
+                             Some better
+
+"John has been right sick, but is now some better." Somewhat, rather,
+or slightly may take the place of some. The sentence may be otherwise
+improved. "John has been quite ill, but is now somewhat better."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+99
+
+                          Through, Finished
+
+Unless you have fallen through a trap door and finished your career,
+do not say, "I am through," when you mean "I have finished." The
+school-boy says, "I am through with, that lesson," when he should say,
+"I have finished that lesson." The farmer asks the man in his employ,
+"Are you through with that field?" when he should have asked, "Have
+you finished ploughing that field?" You ask your friend, "Are you
+through, with Trilby?" when you should ask, "Have you finished reading
+Trilby."
+
+                              Winterish
+
+Do not say summerish and winterish, but summery, or summerlike, and
+wintry.
+
+                                 Wish
+
+The word hope should be employed instead of wish in such cases as, "I
+wish you may succeed in your undertaking."
+
+                                Right
+
+This little word has many meanings and is put to many uses. In the
+following senses it should be avoided:
+
+"Stand right here." In most instances the briefer expression, "Stand
+here," is sufficient. If it is necessary to locate the place more
+definitely or to emphasize the position, "Stand just here," or "Stand
+on this very spot," may be better.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+100
+
+"The train came to a standstill right here." Better, "The train
+stopped just here."
+
+"Do it right away." This is a colloquialism that should be avoided.
+Immediately, instantly, at once, without delay, are expressions that
+may safely be substituted for right away.
+
+"I heard of your misfortune, and came to you right away." "John, post
+this letter for me right off." Directly or immediately, in the place
+of right away and right off, is better English.
+
+"James is right sick, and the doctor comes to see him right often."
+The use of right as an intensive with adjectives and adverbs is very
+common in many quarters. Quite ill or very ill is better than right
+sick, and often or frequently is better than right often.
+
+"We have a right good crop of wheat this year." Use very instead of
+right.
+
+"You have as good a right to be punished as I have." The person
+addressed would gladly relinquish his right. "You merit punishment as
+well as I," or "You deserve to be punished," etc.
+
+                      Shall, Will, Should, Would
+
+Few persons can claim to be entirely free from slips of speech in the
+use of these auxiliaries. Simply to express a future action or event,
+shall is used with the first person and will with the second and
+third; as,
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+101
+I shall read,        We shall read,
+You will read,       You will read,
+He will read,        They will read.
+
+But when I desire to show determination on my part to do a certain
+thing, or when I exercise my authority over another, or express
+promise, command, or threat, will is used in the first person and
+shall in the second and third; as,
+I will read,         We will read,
+You shall read,      You shall read,
+He shall read,       They shall read.
+
+Shall primarily implies obligation; will implies intention or purpose.
+Will and would should be used whenever the subject names the one whose
+will controls the action; shall and should must be employed whenever
+the one named by the subject is under the control of another.
+
+The difference between should and would is, in general, about the same
+as that between shall and will.
+
+The foregoing suggestions cover the ordinary uses of these
+auxiliaries, but there are some special cases deserving attention.
+
+Will, in the first person, expresses assent or promise, as well as
+determination; as,
+
+"I will read this poem for you since you have requested it."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+102
+
+"I will meet you to-morrow at the time appointed."
+
+Will, in the second person, may express a command; as,
+
+"You will take the places assigned you."
+
+"You will report immediately at my office."
+
+Will is sometimes employed to express a general fact, without
+conveying the idea of futurity; as, "Accidents will happen."
+"Differences will arise."
+
+Will is sometimes incorrectly used instead of shall; as, "Will I go?"
+for "Shall I go?" This fault is common in Scotland, and prevails to
+some extent in this country.
+
+Will is also used where may would be more appropriate; as, "Be that as
+it will."
+
+                         Shall you? Will you?
+
+The distinction between shall and will in the interrogative forms of
+the second person are not very clearly defined. Many writers and
+speakers use them interchangeably. The answer should have the same
+auxiliary as the question.
+
+"Shall you go to town to-morrow?" "I shall."
+
+"Will you attend to this matter promptly?" "I will."
+
+                         Should, Would, Ought
+
+Should is often used in the sense of ought; as, "Mary should remain at
+home to-day and wait upon her sick mother."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+103
+
+Should and would are employed to express a conditional assertion; as,
+"I should go to college, if I could secure the necessary means." "He
+would have gone fishing, if his father had been willing."
+
+Would is often used to express a custom, a determination, or a wish;
+as, "He would sit all day and moan." "Would to God we had died in the
+land of Egypt." "He would go, and his parents could not prevent him."
+
+                               Talented
+
+Certain authors and critics, including Coleridge, have objected
+strongly to the use of talented. One writer argues that since there is
+no such verb as to talent, the formation of such a participle as
+talented cannot be defended, and he further declares that no good
+writer is known to use it, Webster (The International Dictionary)
+states that, as a formative, talented is just as analogical and
+legitimate as gifted, bigoted, moneyed, lauded, lilied, honeyed, and
+numerous other adjectives having a participial form, but derived
+directly from nouns and not from verbs.
+
+We must therefore conclude that the use of talented as an adjective is
+entirely legitimate.
+
+                              Climb down
+
+The critics generally oppose the use of the expression climb down.
+When the verb is employed without
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+104
+
+its adverbial modifier, the upward direction is always understood. In
+figurative language, as "Black vapors climb aloft, and cloud the day,"
+"The general climbed the heights of fame," the upward direction is
+also understood.
+
+But in a specific sense climb is defined "to mount laboriously,
+especially by the use of hands and feet." Here the manner seems to be
+as important as the direction. When the same manner must be employed
+in descending, as a tree, a mast, or a steep, rocky cliff, the general
+term descend fails to convey the meaning, and to use slip, slide,
+drop, tumble, fall, would be incorrect. We are then left to choose
+between the short and clear, but objectionable, expression climb down
+and some long and cumbersome equivalent.
+
+                                Mighty
+
+Never use mighty in the sense of very, or exceedingly. It is not only
+inappropriate but inelegant.
+
+                               Of, From
+
+"She had consumption and died from the disease." Say, "died of the
+disease."
+
+                            On, Over, Upon
+
+"Mary called upon her friend." Say, "called on her friend." "The
+Senator prevailed over his friends to support his bill." Say,
+"prevailed upon his
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+105
+
+friends." "The candidate prevailed over his enemies."
+
+                               Partake
+
+This word means to take a part of, to share with another. It is often
+incorrectly used for ate, as "He partook sparingly of the food."
+
+                            Powerful sight
+
+This is a Westernism to be avoided. It is used indiscriminately for a
+large number, a great quantity, a vast amount, etc.
+
+                        Apprehend, Comprehend
+
+To apprehend is to take into the mind; to comprehend is to understand
+fully what is already there. We may apprehend many truths which we do
+not comprehend.
+
+                          Introduce, Present
+
+Present implies more formality than introduce. We introduce one friend
+to another. An envoy is presented to the King. Foreign ministers are
+presented to the President of the United States.
+
+                               Same as
+
+"This is the same story as I read last week." Use same that.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+106
+
+                               Section
+
+"We raise finer horses in our section." This is an Americanism that
+should be avoided. Neighborhood, vicinity, region, part of the country
+or State, may be substituted for section.
+
+                            Seldom or ever
+
+This incorrect expression is sometimes used instead of seldom or never
+or seldom if ever. "I have seldom if ever heard so eloquent an
+oration." "I have seldom or never seen the man."
+
+                           Sewage, Sewerage
+
+These words have distinct meanings. Sewage refers to the contents of
+the sewer; sewerage to the system of sewers.
+
+                           Sociable, Social
+
+"He is one of the most sociable men I have met. He is fond of society,
+and is very ready in conversation." Sociable means companionable;
+social applies to the relations of men in society; as social duties,
+social pleasures, social interests.
+
+                        Specialty, Speciality
+
+These words are interchangeable, but the former is the better word.
+
+                 Requirement, Requisition, Requisite
+
+While these words have something in common, each has a meaning
+peculiar to itself. Requirement
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+107
+
+means that which is required as an essential condition, or as
+something necessary; requisition, that which is required as of right,
+a demand or application made as by authority; requisite, that which is
+required by the nature of things, or by circumstances, that which
+cannot be dispensed with. "She understood the nature of the child and
+of its requirements." "The officer made a requisition for more
+troops." "This is as much a requisite as food and clothing."
+
+                              Sick, Ill
+
+There is a growing tendency to discriminate between sickness and
+illness, limiting the words sick and sickness to some slight
+disturbance of the physical system, as nausea, and applying the words
+ill and illness to protracted disease and disordered health.
+
+                            Scholar, Pupil
+
+Although these words are often used synonymously and with good
+authority, it would be better to limit the former to learned persons
+and to apply the latter to persons under instruction.
+
+                          Commenced to write
+
+"I commenced to write at a very early age." After the verb commence
+the best writers use the verbal
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+108
+
+noun instead of the infinitive with to; as, "I commenced writing at a
+very early age."
+
+                           Beside, Besides
+
+These words were formerly used interchangeably, but the best writers
+of to-day make a distinction. Beside means by the side of. Besides
+means in addition to. Besides is sometimes incorrectly used for
+except; as, "No trees will grow here besides the pine."
+
+                         Bountiful, Plentiful
+
+Bountiful applies to the giver; plentiful to the things furnished.
+"The bountiful Giver of all good furnishes a plentiful supply of all
+things needful for our comfort and happiness." Do not say a bountiful
+repast, a bountiful harvest.
+
+                       Attacked, Burst, Drowned
+
+The incorrect past tense forms attackted, bursted, drownded, are
+sometimes heard; as, "The cashier was attackted by three of the
+ruffians," "The cannon bursted and killed the gunners,"" The fishermen
+were drownded off the bar." Use attacked, burst, drowned.
+
+                                 All
+
+This little word is used in a great many ways, some of which are quite
+colloquial, and in some cases provincial. When the grocer's clerk has
+taken your order he is prompted to say, "Is that all?" Or if
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+109
+
+he should say, "Is there anything else that you wish?" you are likely
+to reply, "No; that is all." Whether used in the question or in the
+reply, the word all should be avoided, or else the expression should
+be expanded so as to make a clear sentence.
+
+A friend calls to see you, and, finding you alone when he expected to
+meet others with you, he says, "Good morning; I see you are all
+alone." All is not a good equivalent for quite or entirely, either of
+which words would be better than all. In truth, the sentence is as
+clear and as strong and more concise without the use of a modifier. "I
+see you are alone."
+
+                              Inaugurate
+
+To inaugurate means to induct into office or to set in motion with
+formality and serious ceremony. Pompous writers too often employ the
+word in referring to commonplace events. A new business is
+established. A new hall or library is opened. A new pastor is
+installed. A new order of procedure is adopted. In general, the word
+begin or commence would be more appropriate than inaugurate.
+
+                        Came across, Met with
+
+"I came across the passage quite unexpectedly." Better, "I chanced
+upon," or "happened upon,," or "met with the passage quite
+unexpectedly."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+110
+
+                                Expect
+
+Few words are more frequently incorrectly used than expect. "I expect
+you went to town yesterday," "I expect you will hear from me
+to-morrow," "I expect the train has arrived," represent some of the
+uses to which this word is often put. Expect refers wholly to the
+future, and should not refer to present or past events; as, "I expect
+you to write me from Liverpool." "John expects to see his father
+to-morrow." Among the expressions that can most readily and
+appropriately be substituted for expect are suspect, suppose, think,
+believe, presume, daresay.
+
+                              Over with
+
+"After the supper was over with the guests departed." Omit with.
+
+                              Overflown
+
+"The lowlands along the river are overflown." Use overflowed. The
+perfect participle of overflow is overflowed, not overflown.
+
+                              Good piece
+
+"I have come a good piece to see you." Say "I have come a long
+distance to see you."
+
+                            Stand a chance
+
+"He does not stand any chance of an election." Say, "It is not
+probable that he will be elected."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+111
+
+                      No more than I could help
+
+"As I was not in sympathy with the cause, I gave no more than I could
+help." So accustomed are we to hearing this awkward, blundering
+expression that we readily understand the meaning it is intended to
+convey, and should be sorely puzzled to interpret the correct form.
+Let us analyze it. I gave five dollars. That much I could not help
+(giving). I gave no more. Hence, "I gave no more than I could not
+help." This last form appears to be correct. By changing the
+phraseology the sentence can be greatly improved. "I gave no more than
+I felt compelled to give." "I made my contribution as small as
+possible." "My gift was limited to the measure of my sense of
+obligation."
+
+                     Above, More than, Preceding
+
+"It is above a week since I heard from my brother." We may say "above
+the earth," "above the housetops," but in the preceding sentence it is
+better to say, "It is more than a week since I heard from my brother."
+
+"In the above paragraph he quotes from Horace." Say, "In the preceding
+or foregoing paragraph," etc. The awkwardness of the use of the word
+above becomes very apparent when the line in which it occurs is found
+at the top of a page, and the passage
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+112
+
+to which reference is made appears at the bottom of the previous page.
+
+                                Climax
+
+The Greek word climax means literally a ladder, and implies ascent,
+upward movement. The best authors use it only in this sense, and not
+to denote the highest point.
+
+                                Factor
+
+This word, from the Latin factor, a doer, an agent, signifies working,
+doing, effecting. Its frequent use in the sense of source or part
+should be avoided.
+
+  "All are but factors of one stupendous whole,
+   Whose body Nature is, and God the soul."
+
+Pope employs the better word parts.
+
+                             Hung, Hanged
+
+Pictures, signs, bells, and other inanimate objects are hung; men are
+hanged. While some writers ignore this distinction, the best
+authorities observe it.
+
+                          Healthy, Healthful
+
+A lady wrote to a paper asking, "Are plants in a sleeping-room
+unhealthy?" The answer came, "Not necessarily; we have seen some very
+healthy plants growing in sleeping-rooms."
+
+Persons are healthy or unhealthy. A plant or tree is
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+113
+
+healthy or unhealthy according as it possesses vigor. Food,
+surroundings and conditions are healthful or unhealthful according as
+they promote or destroy health.
+
+                            Idea, Opinion
+
+"Many persons think that the interior of the earth is a mass of fire;
+what is your idea?" Say, "What is your opinion?"
+
+                             Alone, Only
+
+"An only child" is one that has neither brother nor sister. "A child
+alone" is one that is left to itself. "Virtue alone makes us happy"
+means that virtue unaccompanied by any other advantages is sufficient
+to make us happy. "Virtue only makes us happy" means that nothing else
+can do it.
+
+                          Grow, Raise, Rear
+
+"We grow wheat, corn, oats, and potatoes on our farm." "We raise
+wheat," etc., would be better. With the same propriety we might use
+sleep for lodge, and eat for feed, or supply with food; as, "We can
+eat and sleep fifty persons at one time."
+
+The word raise is often incorrectly used in the sense of rear; as,
+"She raised a family of nine children." It is sometimes employed in
+the sense of increase, as, "The landlord raised my rent." Increased
+would be better.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+114
+
+                               Has went
+
+"He goes to school," "He went to school yesterday," "He has gone to
+the West." Avoid such ungrammatical forms as "He has went," "I have
+saw."
+
+                            Badly, Greatly
+
+Badly is often incorrectly used for greatly or very much, as, "I need
+it badly," "He was badly hurt."
+
+"That fence wants painting badly, I think I'll do it myself," said the
+economical husband.
+
+"Yes," said his wife, "you had better do it yourself if you think it
+wants to be done badly."
+
+                                At you
+
+"If you don't stop teasing me I will do something at you," meaning "I
+will punish you." That form of expression is very common in some
+localities, and it is even more inelegant than common. The use of the
+preposition to instead of at would be a slight improvement, but the
+sentence should be entirely recast.
+
+                            Haply, Happily
+
+In the reading of the Scriptures the word happily is sometimes used
+where the archaic word haply should be employed. In like manner the
+word thoroughly is substituted for the old form throughly. Both words
+should be pronounced as they are spelled.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+115
+
+                                Thanks
+
+To say "I thank you" requires but little more effort than to say
+"Thanks," and it will be received as a more sincere token of
+thankfulness.
+
+                                Got to
+
+This inelegant expression is often employed where must would serve the
+purpose better. "This work has got to be done." Say, "Must be done."
+
+                               Hangs on
+
+"The cold weather hangs on." Better, "The cold weather continues."
+
+                          Under the Weather
+
+"Are you well?" "No; I have been quite under the weather." Substitute
+sick or ill, for the colloquial expression under the weather.
+
+                            Again, Against
+
+Again is often erroneously used for against; as, "He leaned again the
+tree for support." Say, "He leaned against the tree for support."
+
+                           Could, Can, Will
+
+Could is often incorrectly employed where can or will would be more
+appropriate.
+
+"Could you lend me a dollar this morning?" If the thought of the
+inquirer is, "Are you willing to lend," etc., he should have used will
+instead of could;
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+116
+
+but if his thought was, "Are you able to lend," or "Do you have a
+dollar to spare this morning," he should have used can.
+
+                           Bravery, Courage
+
+Bravery is inborn; courage is the result of reason and determination.
+The brave are often reckless; the courageous are always cautious.
+
+                                 Hate
+
+Avoid the use of hate for dislike, and all other intensive words when
+the thought is more correctly expressed by a milder word.
+
+                             Pretty, Very
+
+Pretty is often incorrectly used in the sense of very or moderately,
+as "He was pretty badly hurt," "He is a pretty good scholar," "She is
+pretty wealthy," "Thomas is pretty ugly." So common is this
+provincialism in some localities that the incongruity of such an
+expression as the last would pass undiscovered.
+
+                             Lot, Number
+
+The use of lot for number or many is a colloquialism that should be
+avoided. "He collected a lot (large number) of books on the subject."
+"A lot of policemen were gathered there" "I ate lots of oranges while
+I was in Florida."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+117
+
+                             Lead a dance
+
+"He led his companion a fine dance." This expression, as generally
+used, is ironical, and implies that the leader conducts those who are
+led through experiences unfamiliar to them and usually to their
+disadvantage. To lead astray, to deceive, to corrupt the morals of,
+may be substituted for the foregoing inelegant expression.
+
+                               Try and
+
+"Have you been to the country this summer?" "No; but I will try and go
+next week.". The second speaker intends to convey the idea that it is
+his purpose to go if nothing occurs to prevent, but his going is still
+a matter of uncertainty. His statement, however, when properly
+interpreted means that he not only will try, but that he positively
+will go.
+
+"Try and finish that work to-day." Here the purpose is not to command
+that the work shall be finished, but that the trial shall be made. As
+the sentence stands two distinct commands are given, first, that the
+trial shall be made, and, second, that the work must be completed. The
+sentence should read, "Try to finish that work to-day."
+
+Use to instead of and in such expressions as "Try and make it
+convenient to come," "Try and do your work properly," "Try and think
+of your lessons," "Try and go and see our sick neighbor."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+118
+
+  CHAPTER III
+
+ Contractions
+
+Whatever may be said against employing contractions in dignified
+discourse, their use in colloquial speech is too firmly established to
+justify our censure. But, in their use, as, indeed, in the use of all
+words, proper discrimination must be shown.
+
+Just why haven't, hasn't, doesn't, isn't, wasn't, are regarded as
+being in good repute, and ain't, weren't, mightn't, oughtn't, are
+regarded with less favor, and why shalln't, willn't are absolutely
+excluded, it would be difficult to explain.
+
+Use determines the law of language, whether for single words,
+grammatical forms, or grammatical constructions. Wherever a people, by
+common consent, employ a particular word to mean a certain thing, that
+word becomes an inherent part of the language of that people, whether
+it has any basis in etymology or not. We must not wrest this law to
+our own convenience, however, by assuming that such words and phrases
+as are introduced and employed by the illiterate, or even by the
+educated, within a circumscribed territory, are, therefore, to be
+regarded as
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+119
+
+reputable words. The sanction of all classes, the educated as well as
+the uneducated, throughout the entire country in which the language is
+spoken, is necessary and preliminary to the proper introduction of a
+new word into the language.
+
+                                Ain't
+
+This word is a contraction of am not or are not, and can, therefore,
+be used only with the singular pronouns I and you, and with the plural
+pronouns we, you, and they, and with nouns in the plural.
+
+I am not pleased. I ain't pleased.
+
+You are not kind. You ain't kind.
+
+They are not gentlemen. They ain't gentlemen.
+
+These sentences will serve to illustrate the proper use of ain't, if
+it is ever proper to use such an inelegant word as that. "James ain't
+a good student," "Mary ain't a skillful musician," or "This orange
+ain't sweet," are expressions frequently heard, yet those who use them
+would be shocked to hear the same expressions with the proper
+equivalent am not or are not substituted for the misleading ain't.
+
+The expression ain't is compounded of the verb am or are and the
+adverb not, and by the contraction the three vocal impulses I-am-not,
+or you-are-not, or they-are-not, are reduced to two. By compounding
+the pronoun with the verb and preserving the full adverb,
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+120
+
+as in "I'm not," "You're not," "They're not," we also reduce the three
+vocal impulses to two, thus securing as short a contraction in sound
+and one that is as fully adapted to colloquial speech, and that is, at
+the same time, in much better taste.
+
+The old form for ain't was an't, but this has now become obsolete. It
+will be a blessing to the English-speaking people when the descendant
+shall sleep with his father.
+
+Are not is sometimes contracted into aren't, but this form has not
+found much favor.
+
+                          Can't and Couldn't
+
+As cannot and could not may be used with pronouns of the first,
+second, or third person, in either number, and with nouns in both
+numbers, no error is likely to follow the use of their contracted
+forms.
+
+Why cannot is properly written as one word, and could not requires
+two, is not founded upon any principle of philosophy. The concurrent
+sanction of all classes in all parts of the English-speaking world
+establishes it as law.
+
+Observe that the a in the verb can't is broader in sound than the
+short a in the noun cant.
+
+                           Don't and Didn't
+
+Don't is a contraction of do not. It is in very general use and in
+good repute. It may be employed
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+121
+
+wherever the expanded expression do not could be applied, and only
+there.
+
+"One swallow don't make a spring" is equivalent to saying, "One
+swallow do not make a spring." We may say "I don't," "You don't," "We
+don't," "They don't," "The men (or birds, or trees) don't," but we
+must use doesn't with he, or she, or it, or the man, the grove, the
+cloud, etc.
+
+Unlike the verb do, its past tense form did undergoes no change in
+conjugation, hence the contraction didn't is also uniform.
+
+                     Haven't, Hasn't, and Hadn't
+
+The verb have, like the verb do, has a distinct form for the third
+person singular. The same change affects the contraction. I haven't,
+you haven't, he hasn't. The construction hadn't undergoes no change.
+
+                             Haint, Taint
+
+Haint is used indiscriminately for haven't and hasn't. Taint is used
+for tisn't. Their use is indicative of an entire lack of culture.
+
+                                Isn't
+
+No one need hesitate to use this word. It is smooth in utterance and
+contributes much to the freedom and ease of social intercourse. Its
+equivalent is too stately for colloquial forms of speech, and is often
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+122
+
+suggestive of pedantry. Compare "Isn't he an eloquent speaker?" "Isn't
+this a beautiful flower?" with "Is not he an eloquent speaker?" "Is
+this not a beautiful flower?"
+
+                                Wasn't
+
+Although not so elegant as the present tense form isn't, yet the
+contraction wasn't is in excellent repute. It is properly used only in
+the first and third persons singular. No one who makes any pretension
+to culture would be guilty of saying" You was my neighbor, but you
+wasn't my friend," "We was engaged in trade, and they wasn't of any
+use to us." Say we were or were not, but never wasn't or wa'nt.
+
+                               Weren't
+
+The forms aren't, and weren't do not have the sanction of the best
+speakers and writers, and should be used sparingly, if at all.
+
+                        Shouldn't and Wouldn't
+
+These are frequently used in speech, but are not so common in writing.
+
+               Mustn't, Mayn't, Mightn't, and Oughtn't
+
+Mustn't may be used in light conversation, but not in writing. The
+others should be avoided in speech and writing.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+123
+
+            I'm, You're, He's, She's, It's, We're, They're
+
+The contractions formed by compounding the pronoun with the verb are
+very common, and tend to preserve conversation from becoming stiff and
+formal. Nouns in the singular are sometimes compounded in like manner;
+as, "John's going by the early train," "Mary's caught a bird." Not
+many verbs beside is and has are thus compounded, and the practice
+should be discouraged.
+
+                            Mayst, Mightst
+
+Although mayst, canst, mightst, couldst, wouldst, and shouldst are
+contracted forms, the apostrophe is not employed to indicate the
+contraction.
+
+                           Daren't, Dursent
+
+Dare not is sometimes contracted to daren't and durst not to dursent,
+but the practice should not be encouraged.
+
+                                Let's
+
+While verbs are often contracted when compounded with pronouns, as
+it's, he's, I'm, you're, etc., the pronoun must not be contracted to
+form a combination with the verb. It may be a poor rule, but it will
+not work both ways. Let's should therefore be let us.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+124
+
+  CHAPTER IV
+
+ Possessive Case
+
+Some time ago a shoe merchant called upon the writer to know how to
+arrange the points in the wording of a new sign that he was preparing
+to place over his door. He made a specialty of shoes for men and boys.
+He presented a paper containing the lines:
+
+                        Men's and Boy's Shoes.
+                        Mens' and Boys' Shoes.
+
+He was politely informed that both were incorrect; that the two words
+form their plurals differently, and that the possessive case is,
+therefore, formed in a different manner. The plural of man is men,;
+the plural of boy is boys. The possessive of man is man's; of men is
+men's. The possessive of boy is boy's; of boys is boys'. In the latter
+case we are obliged to place the apostrophe after the s in order to
+distinguish the possessive plural from the possessive singular. All
+nouns that form their plurals by adding s to the singular, form their
+possessive case as the word boy does. The sign should therefore read:
+
+                        Men's and Boys' Shoes.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+125
+
+                            Singular Nouns
+
+All nouns in the singular form their possessive case by adding the
+apostrophe and the letter s; as, child's, girl's, woman's, bird's,
+brother's, sister's, judge's, sailor's.
+
+When the noun ends in s, sh, ch, ce, se, or x, the additional s makes
+another syllable in pronouncing the word; as, James's, Charles's,
+witness's, duchess's, countess's, Rush's, March's, prince's, horse's,
+fox's. In poetry the terminal s is sometimes omitted for the sake of
+the meter.
+
+While writers differ, the tendency in modern usage is toward the
+additional s in such expressions as Mrs. Hemans's Poems, Junius's
+Letters, Knowles's "Virginius," Knox's Sermons, Brooks's Arithmetics,
+Rogers's Essays.
+
+By long-established usage such expressions as for conscience' sake,
+for righteousness' sake, for qoodness' sake, for Jesus' sake, have
+become idioms. Some authorities justify the omission of the possessive
+s when the next word begins with s, as in Archimedes' screw, Achilles'
+sword.
+
+                             Plural Nouns
+
+Most nouns form their plurals by adding s or es to the singular. These
+plurals form their possessive by adding the apostrophe; as, horses',
+countesses', foxes', churches', princes'. Nouns whose plurals are
+formed otherwise than by adding s or es, form their possessive
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+126
+
+case by adding the apostrophe and s, just as nouns in the singular do;
+as, men's, women's, children's, seraphim's.
+
+                               Pronouns
+
+Sometimes the mistake is made of using the apostrophe with the
+possessive personal pronouns; as, her's, our's, it's. The personal and
+relative pronouns do not require the apostrophe, but the indefinite
+pronouns one and other form their possessives in the same manner as
+nouns; as, "each other's eyes," "a hundred others' woes."
+
+                          Double Possessives
+
+"John and Mary's sled," means one sled belonging jointly to John and
+Mary. "John's and Mary's sleds" means that one sled belongs to John,
+the other to Mary.
+
+"Men, women, and children's shoes for sale here." When several
+possessives connected by and refer to the same noun, the sign of the
+possessive is applied to the last one only.
+
+When a disjunctive word or words are used, the sign must be annexed to
+each word; as, "These are Charles's or James's books."
+
+                  Possessive of Nouns in Apposition
+
+When two nouns are in apposition, or constitute a title, the
+possessive sign is affixed to the last, as
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+127
+
+"For David my servant's sake," "Give me here John the Baptist's head
+in a charger," "The Prince of Wales's yacht," "Frederick the Great's
+kindness."
+
+                              After "of"
+
+By a peculiarity of idiom the possessive sign is used with a noun in
+the objective; as, "This is a story of Lincoln's," "That is a letter
+of the President's," "A patient of Dr. Butler's," "A pupil of
+Professor Ludlam's."
+
+In ordinary prose the custom of the best writers is to limit the use
+of the possessive chiefly to persons and personified objects; to time
+expressions, as, an hour's delay, a moment's thought; and to such
+idioms as for brevity's sake.
+
+Avoid such expressions as, "America's champion baseball player,"
+"Chicago's best five-cent cigar," "Lake Michigan's swiftest steamer."
+
+                           Somebody else's
+
+The question whether we should say "This is somebody's else pencil,"
+or "This is somebody else's pencil," has been warmly argued by the
+grammarians, the newspapers, and the schools. If some leading journal
+or magazine were to write somebody else as one word, others would,
+doubtless, follow, and the question of the possessive would settle
+itself. The word notwithstanding is composed of three separate words,
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+128
+
+which are no more closely united in thought than are the three words
+some, body, and else. Two of the latter are already united, and the
+close mental union of the third with the first and second would
+justify the innovation.
+
+But the words are at present disunited. A majority of the best writers
+still conform to the old custom of placing the possessive with else.
+
+"People were so ridiculous with their illusions, carrying their fool's
+caps unawares, thinking their own lies opaque, while everybody else's
+were transparent."-- George Eliot.
+
+Some make a distinction by placing the possessive with else when the
+noun follows, and with somebody when the noun precedes; as, "This is
+somebody else's pencil," and "This pencil is somebody's else." This
+distinction is not generally followed.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+129
+
+  CHAPTER V
+
+ Pronouns
+
+The correct use of the pronouns, personal and relative, involves a
+degree of skill which many speakers and writers fail to possess. The
+choice of the appropriate pronoun, the agreement with its antecedent,
+the proper case form, are matters that require careful consideration.
+
+                              Case Forms
+
+Following am, are, is, was, and other forms of the verb to be, the
+pronoun must be in the nominative case.
+
+"Are you the person that called?" "Yes; I am him." The answer should
+have been, "I am he."
+
+"I saw a man trespassing on my grounds, and I think you are him." Say,
+"You are he."
+
+"It is only me; don't be afraid." "It is only I" is the correct form.
+
+"It was him that struck you, not me." Change him, to he, and me to I.
+
+"It might have been him that sent you the present." Use he, not him.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+130
+
+"It is him whom you said it was." The sentence should be, "It is he
+who you said it was."
+
+"That was but a picture of him and not him himself." Say, "and not he
+himself."
+
+                     After Verbs and Prepositions
+
+When a pronoun depends upon a verb or a preposition the pronoun must
+be in the objective case.
+
+"Between you and I, that picture is very faulty." The pronouns you and
+I depend upon the preposition between. The pronoun I should therefore
+be in the objective case, and the sentence should be, "Between you and
+me, that picture is very faulty."
+
+"The president of the meeting appointed you and I upon the committee."
+As both pronouns are objects of the transitive verb appointed, both
+should be in the objective case. You having the same form in the
+objective as in the nominative is, therefore, correct, but I should be
+changed to me.
+
+"The teacher selected he and I to represent the class." The pronouns
+are the objects of the verb selected, and should be changed to him and
+me. The infinitive to represent, like other infinitives, can have no
+subject, and, therefore, does not control the case of the pronouns.
+
+                            Interrogatives
+
+When a question is asked, the subject is usually placed after the
+verb, or between the auxiliary and
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+131
+
+the verb; as, "Did you go to town?" "Will he sail to-day?" "Has your
+uncle arrived?" "Hearest thou thy mother's call?"
+
+The object or attribute of the verb, when a pronoun, is often used to
+introduce the sentence. "Who should I see coming toward me but my old
+friend?" Who should be whom, for it is the object, and not the
+subject, of the verb should see.
+
+"Whom do you think that tall gentleman is?" Whom should be who, as it
+is the attribute of the verb is.
+
+"Who do you take me for?" Being the object of the preposition for, who
+should be whom.
+
+                            After "To be"
+
+"I knew it was him" is incorrect, because the word which forms the
+pronoun attribute of the verb was must be in the nominative case. But
+the infinitive of the neuter verb requires the objective case.
+Therefore we must say, "I knew it to be him," not "I knew it to be
+he." The latter faulty form is very frequently employed.
+
+"Who did you suppose it to be?" Incorrect. Say, "whom."
+
+"Whom did you suppose it was?" Incorrect. Say, "who."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+132
+
+                         After the Imperative
+
+The imperative mood requires the objective case after it. "Let you and
+I try it." It should be, "Let you and me try it."
+
+"Let he who made thee answer that."-- Byron. He should have said, "Let
+him who made thee answer that."
+
+"Let him be whom, he may." Him is the objective after the imperative
+let, and is correct. Whom should be who, as pronoun attribute of the
+verb may be. "Who he may be, I cannot tell," is correct. "Who he may
+be, let him be," is also correct. By transposing, and by omitting be,
+we have "Let him be who he may."
+
+"Let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that
+dwell therein." When, as in this case, the verb is widely separated
+from its object, we need to give particular care to the case of the
+pronoun which constitutes the object. They should be them.
+
+                           Silent Predicate
+
+"Who will go with us to the woods? Me." The complete answer would be,"
+Me will go with you to the woods," the faultiness of which is evident.
+The answer should be "I."
+
+                        After "Than" and "As"
+
+The objective pronoun is often incorrectly used for the nominative
+after than or as.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+133
+
+"He can swim better than me." The complete sentence would be, "He can
+swim better than I can swim." The omission of the verb can swim
+affords no reason for changing I to me.
+
+"He is no better than me." Say, "He is no better than I," meaning, I
+am.
+
+"They are common people, such as you and me." Such people "as you and
+I are." The pronoun should be I, not me.
+
+                      Parenthetical Expressions
+
+When a parenthetical expression comes between a pronoun in the
+nominative case and its verb, the objective is often incorrectly used
+instead of the nominative.
+
+"She sang for the benefit of those whom she thought might be
+interested." The explanatory parenthesis "she thought" comes between
+the pronominal subject and its verb might be interested. Omit the
+explanatory clause and the case of the pronoun becomes clear. "She
+sang for the benefit of those who might be interested."
+
+                      Agreement with Antecedent
+
+A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in gender, person, and
+number. The gender and person usually take care of themselves, but the
+number of pronouns is a serious obstacle to correct speech.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+134
+
+"One tells the quality of their minds when they try to talk well"--
+George Eliot, in Middlemarch. The pronouns their and they should be
+singular.
+
+"Everybody has something to say which they think is worthy of being
+heard." Everybody refers to persons singly, and not collectively. They
+think should be he thinks, he being the proper pronoun to employ when
+the gender is not indicated.
+
+"Every nation has laws and customs of their own." The use of the word
+every necessitates a pronoun in the singular, hence their should be
+its.
+
+"Every one is accountable for their own acts." Use his.
+
+"She studied his countenance like an inscription, and deciphered each
+rapt expression that crossed it, and stored them in her memory."
+Change them to it.
+
+"Each of them, in their turn, received the reward to which they were
+entitled." This should be "Each of them in his turn received the
+reward to which he was entitled."
+
+No and not, like each and every, when they qualify a plural
+antecedent, or one consisting of two or more nouns, require a pronoun
+in the singular.
+
+"No policeman, no employee, no citizen dared to lift their hand" Say,
+his hand.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+135
+
+                               Or, Nor
+
+When the antecedent consists of two or more nouns separated by or,
+nor, as well as, or any other disjunctive, the pronoun must be
+singular.
+
+"Neither spelling nor parsing receive the attention they once
+received." Verb and pronoun should be singular, receives and it.
+
+                           Collective Noun
+
+When a noun of multitude or collective noun is the antecedent, the
+pronoun, like the verb, must be plural or singular according to the
+sense intended to be conveyed.
+
+                              Ambiguity
+
+Never leave the antecedent of your pronoun in doubt.
+
+"John tried to see his father in the crowd, but could not, because he
+was so short." If the father was short, repeat the noun and omit the
+pronoun, as "John tried to see his father in the crowd but could not
+because his father was so short." If John was short, recast the
+sentence: "John, being short of stature, tried in vain to see his
+father in the crowd."
+
+"He said to his friend that, if he did not feel better soon, he
+thought he had better go home." This sentence is susceptible of four
+interpretations. We shall omit the first part of the sentence in the
+last
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+136
+
+three interpretations, as it is the same in all. "He said to his
+friend: 'If I do not feel better soon, I think I had better go home.'"
+"If I do not feel better soon, I think you had better go home." "If
+you do not feel better soon, I think I had better go home." "If you do
+not feel better soon, I think you had better go home."
+
+"The lad cannot leave his father; for, if he should leave him, he
+would die." To avoid ambiguity substitute his father for the
+italicised pronouns. The repetition is not pleasant, but it is the
+lesser of two evils.
+
+                          Needless Pronouns
+
+Avoid all pronouns and other words that are not essential to the
+meaning.
+
+"The father he died, the mother she soon followed after, and the
+children they were all taken down sick."
+
+"Let every one turn from his or her evil ways." Unless there is
+special reason for emphasizing the feminine pronoun, avoid the awkward
+expression his or her. The pronoun his includes the other.
+
+                            Mixed Pronouns
+
+Do not use two styles of the pronoun in the same Sentence. "Enter thou
+into the joy of your Lord." "Love thyself last, and others will love
+you."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+137
+
+                             Them, Those
+
+It should not be necessary to caution the reader against the use of
+them for those.
+
+"Fetch me them books." "Did you see them, fat oxen?" "Them's good;
+I'll take another dish."
+
+                              Which, Who
+
+"Those which say so are mistaken." Who is applied to persons; which,
+to the lower animals and to inanimate things.
+
+"He has some friends which I know." Whom, the objective case form of
+the pronoun who, should here be used.
+
+"The dog, who was called Rover, went mad." Use which.
+
+                              What, That
+
+That is applied to persons, animals, and things. What is applied to
+things. The antecedent of what should not be expressed. What is both
+antecedent and relative.
+
+"All what he saw he described." Say, "What he saw," or "All that he
+saw," etc.
+
+                          Uniform Relatives
+
+When several relative clauses relate to the same antecedent, they
+should have the same relative pronoun.
+
+"It was Joseph that was sold into Egypt, who became
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+138
+
+governor of the land, and which saved his father and brothers from
+famine." Change that and which to who.
+
+                         Choice of Relatives
+
+Since who and that are both applied to persons, and which and that are
+both applied to animals and things, it often becomes a serious
+question which relative we shall employ. Much has been written upon
+the subject, but the critics still differ in theory and in practice.
+The following is probably as simple a statement of the general rule as
+can be found:
+
+If the relative clause is of such a nature that it could be introduced
+by and he, and she, and it, and they, etc., the relative who (for
+persons) and which (for animals or things) should be used in
+preference to the relative that.
+
+"Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble." The
+language of the Bible and of Shakespeare must stand, although the
+forms of expression differ greatly from those employed at the present
+day. According to modern standards, that should be who.
+
+"The earth is enveloped by an ocean of air that is a compound of
+oxygen and nitrogen!" Change that to which.
+
+The relative that should be used in preference to who or which:
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+139
+
+  (1) When the antecedent names both persons and things;
+  (2) When it would prevent ambiguity;
+  (3) After the words same, very, all;
+  (4) After the interrogative pronoun who;
+  (5) After adjectives expressing quality in the highest degree.
+
+"The wisest men who ever lived made mistakes." Use that. See (5).
+
+"He lived near a stagnant pool which was a nuisance." Use that. See
+(2).
+
+"All who knew him loved him." Say that. See (3).
+
+"Who who saw him did not pity him." See (4).
+
+"He spake of the men and things which he had seen." See (1).
+
+"These are my pupils which I have brought to see you." Use whom, as
+which is not applied to persons.
+
+"This is the window whose panes were broken by the rude boys." Use
+"the panes of which." Because of its convenience, perhaps, the faulty
+whose is very largely used; as, "The eagle whose wings," "The house
+whose gables," "The ocean whose waves," "The vessel whose sails," "The
+play whose chief merit," "Music whose chief attraction," etc.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+140
+
+                      Which and Who after "And"
+
+Which and who cannot follow and unless there has been a preceding
+which or who in the same sentence and in the same construction.
+
+"The more important rules, definitions and observations, and which are
+therefore the most proper to be committed to memory, are printed with
+a large type."-- Murray's Grammar. In Moore's Bad English the sentence
+is corrected thus: "The rules, definitions, and observations which are
+the more important, and which are therefore the most proper to be
+committed to memory, are printed in larger type."
+
+                    Adverbs for Relative Pronouns
+
+Adverbs are often employed where a preposition with a relative pronoun
+would better express the sense.
+
+"There is no method known how his safety may be assured." Use by which
+instead of how.
+
+"He wrote me a letter where he repeated his instructions." "Letter in
+which he repeated," etc.
+
+"And curse the country where their fathers dwelt." "In which their
+fathers dwelt."
+
+"This is a case where large interests are involved." The preposition
+and relative will better express the meaning; as, "This is a case in
+which large interests are involved."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+141
+
+                          Misplaced Relative
+
+The relative should be so placed as to prevent ambiguity, and as near
+as possible to its antecedent.
+
+"Mr. Smith needs a surgeon, who has broken his arm." Say, "Mr. Smith,
+who has broken," etc.
+
+"The figs were in small wooden boxes, which we ate." "The figs which
+we ate," etc.
+
+"He needs no boots that cannot walk." "He that cannot walk," etc.
+
+                          Omitted Relatives
+
+The relative pronoun is often omitted when it should be expressed.
+
+"The next falsehood he told was the worst of all." Say, "The next
+falsehood that he told," etc.
+
+"It is little we know of the divine perfections." Say, "Little that we
+know."
+
+"Almost all the irregularities in the construction of any language
+have arisen from the ellipsis of some words which were originally
+inserted in the sentence and made it regular."-- Murray's Grammar. The
+sentence should end with "and which made it regular."
+
+                          The one, the other
+
+When the one and the other refer to things previously mentioned, the
+one applies to the first mentioned, and the other to the last
+mentioned.
+
+"Homer was a genius, Virgil an artist: in the one we most admire the
+man; in the other, the work."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+142
+
+  CHAPTER VI
+
+ Number
+
+Many persons of moderate education regard nouns that do not end with s
+or es as singular. Even the gifted pen of Addison once slipped so far
+as to betray him into using the word seraphim, in the singular.
+
+                          Cherubim, Seraphim
+
+The words cherub and seraph, are singular. Cherub, as applied to a
+little child, takes the English plural, cherubs. As applied to an
+order of angels, it takes the Hebrew plural, cherubim. The singular,
+seraph, has an English plural, seraphs, as well as the Hebrew plural,
+seraphs. The double plurals, cherubims and seraphims, although found
+in the King James version of the Bible, are regarded as faulty in
+modern writing, and should be avoided.
+
+                                 News
+
+Although plural in form, the word news is singular in meaning; as,
+"The news from Europe this morning is quite interesting."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+143
+
+                              Acoustics
+
+Names of sciences ending in ics, are generally regarded as singular.
+"Acoustics is a very considerable branch of physics." Do not say, "The
+acoustics of this hall are good," but "The acoustic properties of this
+hall are good."
+
+Dialectics, dynamics, economics, mathematics, ethics, politics,
+tactics, when used as substantives, require a verb in the singular.
+
+                               Analysis
+
+Many words like analysis, crisis, ellipsis, emphasis, hypothesis,
+oasis, parenthesis, synopsis, form their plurals by changing the
+termination is into es; as, analyses, crises, etc. The word iris takes
+the English plural irises; Latin plural is irides. Chrysalis has only
+the Latin plural, chrysalides; but chrysalid, which means the same as
+chrysalis, takes the English plural, chrysalids.
+
+                               Terminus
+
+Terminus, radius, alumnus, and some other words ending in us, form
+their plurals by changing the termination us into i; as termini,
+radii, etc.
+
+Many words ending in us that formerly were written with only the Latin
+plural, are now given an English plural also; as, focuses, foci;
+cactuses, cacti; sarcophaguses, sarcophagi; convolvuluses, convolvuli
+; funguses, fungi; nucleuses, nuclei.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+144
+
+Isthmus, prospectus, rebus, take only the English plural.
+
+Apparatus has no plural. Avoid apparatuses.
+
+The plural of genius, as applied to a man of unusual vigor of mind, is
+geniuses. When applied to a good or bad spirit, the plural is genii.
+
+                               Formula
+
+Formulas, larvas, stigmas, are regular English plurals; formulae,
+larvae, and stigmata are the classical plurals. Nebulae and alumnae
+are the proper plurals, the latter being the feminine noun
+corresponding to the masculine plural alumni.
+
+                          Datum, Phenomenon
+
+Datum, erratum, candelabrum, and memorandum form their plurals by
+changing um to a; as, data, errata, etc. The last two also take the
+English plurals, memorandums, candelabrums.
+
+The plural of phenomenon and criterion are phenomena, criteria,
+although criterions is sometimes employed.
+
+The plural forms, data, strata, and phenomena, are so much more
+frequently used than their singular forms, datum, stratum, and
+phenomenon, that some writers have slipped into the habit of using the
+plurals with a singular meaning; as, "The aurora borealis is a very
+strange phenomena." "Our data is insufficient to establish a theory."
+"The strata is broken and irregular."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+145
+
+                              Mussulmans
+
+While most words ending in man become plural by changing this
+termination to men, as gentlemen, noblemen, clergymen, statesmen, the
+following simply add s: dragomans, Mussulmans, Ottomnans, talismans "A
+dozen dragomans offered their services as guides and interpreters." "A
+band of Mussulmans cut off our retreat." "Those fierce Ottomans proved
+to be very revengeful." "He purchased five finely upholstered ottomans
+for his drawing-room."
+
+                            Heroes, Cantos
+
+Most nouns ending in o add es to form the plural; as, heroes, negroes,
+potatoes, stuccoes, manifestoes, mosquitoes. Words ending in io or yo
+add s; as, folios, nuncios, olios, ratios, embryos.
+
+The following words, being less frequently used, often puzzle us to
+know whether to add s or es to form the plural: armadillos, cantos,
+cuckoos, halos, juntos, octavos, provisos, salvos, solos, twos, tyros,
+virtuosos.
+
+                          Alms, Odds, Riches
+
+Many nouns that end in s have a plural appearance, and we are often
+perplexed to know whether to use this or these, and whether to employ
+a singular or a plural verb when the noun is used as a substantive.
+
+Amends is singular. Assets, dregs, eaves, bees, pincers, riches,
+scissors, sheers, tongs, vitals, are plural. When we
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+146
+
+say a pair of pincers, or scissors, or shears, or tongs, the verb
+should be singular. Tidings, in Shakespeare's time, was used
+indiscriminately with a singular or plural verb, but is now generally
+regarded as plural.
+
+Alms and headquarters are usually made plural, but are occasionally
+found with a singular verb. Pains is usually singular. Means, odds,
+and species are singular or plural, according to the meaning.
+
+"By this means he accomplished his purpose." "What other means is left
+to us?" "Your means are very slender, and your waste is great."
+
+                             Proper Names
+
+These are usually pluralized by adding s; as, the Stuarts, the
+Caesars, the Beechers, the Brownings.
+
+                       Titles with Proper Names
+
+Shall we say the Miss Browns, the Misses Brown, or the Misses Browns?
+Great diversity of opinion prevails. Gould Brown says: "The name and
+not the title is varied to form the plural; as, the Miss Howards, the
+two Mr. Clarks."
+
+Alexander Bain, LL. D., says: "We may say the Misses Brown, or the
+Miss Browns, or even the Misses Browns."
+
+The chief objection to the last two forms is found when the proper
+name ends with s, as when we say, the Miss Brookses, the Miss Joneses,
+the Miss Pottses, the
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+147
+
+Miss Blisses. The form the Misses Brooks is objected to by some on the
+ground that it sounds affected. On the whole the rule given by Gould
+Brown is the best, and is quite generally observed.
+
+                            Knight Templar
+
+Both words are made plural, Knights Templars, a very unusual way of
+forming the plural.
+
+                           Plural Compounds
+
+The plural sign of a compound word is affixed to the principal part of
+the word, to the part that conveys the predominant idea; as,
+fathers-in-law, man-servants, outpourings, ingatherings. In such words
+as handfuls, cupfuls, mouthfuls, the plural ending is added to the
+subordinate part because the ideas are so closely associated as to
+blend into one.
+
+                             Beaus, Beaux
+
+Some words ending in eau have only the English plurals, as bureaus,
+portmanteaus; others take both the English and the French plurals, as
+beaus, beaux; flambeaus, flambeaux; plateaus, plateaux; and still
+others take only the foreign plural; as, bateaux, chateaux, tableaux.
+
+                         Pair, Couple, Brace
+
+After numerals, the singular form of such words as these is generally
+employed; as, five pair of gloves, eight couple of dancers, three
+brace of pigeons, five
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+148
+
+dozen of eggs, four score years, twenty sail of ships, fifty head of
+cattle, six hundred of these men, two thousand of these cattle, etc.
+
+After such indefinite adjectives as few, many, several, some of the
+above words take the plural form; as, several hundreds, many
+thousands.
+
+                           Index, Appendix
+
+Indexes of books; indices, if applied to mathematical signs in
+algebra. Appendixes or appendices.
+
+                              Fish, Fly
+
+The plural of fish is fishes when considered individually, and fish
+when considered collectively. "My three pet fishes feed out of my
+hand." "Six barrels of fish were landed from the schooner."
+
+Most words ending in y change this termination into ies, as duties,
+cities, etc. The plural of fly, the insect, is formed in the usual
+manner, but fly, a light carriage, adds s; as, "Six flys carried the
+guests to their homes."
+
+                              Animalcule
+
+The plural of this word is animalcules. There is no plural
+animalculae. The plural of the Latin animalculum is animalcula.
+
+                                Bandit
+
+This word has two plural forms, bandits and banditti.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+149
+
+                               Brother
+
+Plural brothers, when referring to members of the same family;
+brethren, when applied to members of the same church or society.
+
+                                 Die
+
+Plural dies, when the stamp with which seals are impressed is meant;
+dice, the cubes used in playing backgammon.
+
+                               Herring
+
+The plural is herrings, but shad, trout, bass, pike, pickerel,
+grayling, have no plural form. "I caught three bass and seven fine
+pickerel this morning."
+
+                                Grouse
+
+The names of game birds, as grouse, quail, snipe, woodcock, usually
+take no plural form.
+
+                                 Pea
+
+Considered individually the plural is peas; when referring to the crop
+the proper form is pease.
+
+                                Penny
+
+"He gave me twelve bright new pennies," referring to the individual
+coins. "I paid him twelve pence," meaning a shilling.
+
+                                Wharf
+
+Plural, generally wharves in America; wharfs in England.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+150
+
+  CHAPTER VII
+
+ Adverbs
+
+The clearness of the sentence is often dependent upon the proper
+placing of the adverb. No absolute rule can be laid down, but it
+should generally be placed before the word it qualifies. It is
+sometimes necessary to place it after the verb, and occasionally
+between the auxiliary and the verb, but it should never come between
+to and the infinitive.
+
+"I have thought of marrying often." As the adverb relates to the
+thinking, and not to the marrying, the sentence should read, "I have
+often thought of marrying."
+
+"We have often occasion to speak of health." This should be, "We often
+have occasion," etc,
+
+"It remains then undecided whether we shall go to Newport or
+Saratoga." Place undecided before then.
+
+                         Adjective or Adverb?
+
+There is often a doubt in the mind of the speaker whether to use the
+adjective or the adverb, and too frequently he reaches a wrong
+decision. When the limiting word expresses a quality or state of the
+subject
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+151
+
+or of the object of a verb, the adjective must be employed; but if the
+manner of the action is to be expressed, the adverb must be used. The
+verbs be, seem, look, taste, smell, and feel furnish many
+stumbling-blocks.
+
+"This rose smells sweetly." As the property or quality of the rose is
+here referred to, and not the manner of smelling, the adjective sweet
+should be employed, and not the adverb sweetly.
+
+"Thomas feels quite badly about it." Here, again, it is the condition
+of Thomas's mind, and not the manner of feeling, that is to be
+expressed; hence, badly should be bad or uncomfortable.
+
+"Didn't she look beautifully upon the occasion of her wedding?" No;
+she looked beautiful.
+
+"The sun shines brightly." Bright is the better word.
+
+"The child looks cold," refers to the condition of the child. "The
+lady looked coldly upon her suitor," refers to the manner of looking.
+
+"The boy feels warm" is correct. "The boy feels warmly the rebuke of
+his teacher" is equally correct.
+
+While license is granted to the poets to use the adjective for the
+adverb, as in the line
+
+             "They fall successive and successive rise,"
+
+in prose the one must never be substituted for the other.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+152
+
+"Agreeably to my promise, I now write," not "Agreeable to my promise."
+
+"An awful solemn funeral," should be "An awfully solemn funeral."
+
+"He acts bolder than was expected," should be "He acts more boldly."
+
+"Helen has been awful sick, but she is now considerable better."
+"Helen has been very ill, but she is now considerably better."
+
+Do not use coarser for more coarsely, finer for more finely, harsher
+for more harshly, conformable for conformably, decided for decidedly,
+distinct for distinctly, fearful for fearfully, fluent for fluently.
+
+Do not say "This melon is uncommon good," but "This melon is
+uncommonly good."
+
+The word ill is both an adjective and an adverb. Do not say "He can
+illy afford to live in such a house," but "He can ill afford."
+
+"That was a dreadful solemn sermon." To say "That was a dreadfully
+solemn sermon" would more grammatically express what the speaker
+intended, but very or exceedingly would better express the meaning.
+
+                               Such, So
+
+Such is often improperly used for the adverb so.
+
+"In such a mild and healthful climate." This should be, "In so mild
+and healthful a climate."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+153
+
+"With all due deference to such a high authority on such a very
+important matter." Change to, "With all due deference to so high an
+authority on so very important a matter."
+
+                              Good, Well
+
+Many intelligent persons carelessly use the adjective good in the
+sense of the adverb well; as, "I feel good to-day." "Did you sleep
+good last night?" "Does this coat look good enough to wear on the
+street?" "I can do it as good as he can." The frequent indulgence in
+such errors dulls the sense of taste and weakens the power of
+discrimination.
+
+                             Very much of
+
+"She is very much of a lady." Say, "She is very ladylike." "He is very
+much of a gentleman." Say, "He is very gentlemanly."
+
+                                Quite
+
+This adverb is often incorrectly used in the sense of very or rather.
+It should be employed only in the sense of wholly or entirely. These
+sentences are therefore incorrect:
+
+"He was wounded quite severely."
+
+"James was quite tired of doing nothing."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+154
+
+                                 How
+
+This word is sometimes used when another would be more appropriate.
+
+"He said how he would quit farming." Use that.
+
+"Ye see how that not many wise men are called." We must read the Bible
+as we find it, but in modern English the sentence would be corrected
+by omitting how.
+
+"Be careful how you offend him." If the manner of offending is the
+thought to be expressed, the sentence is correct. But the true meaning
+is doubtless better expressed by, "Be careful lest you offend him."
+
+                               No, Not
+
+"I cannot tell whether he will come or no." "Whether he be a sinner or
+no I know not." In such cases not should be used instead of no.
+
+                              This much
+
+"This much can be said in his favor." Change this much to so much or
+thus much.
+
+                               That far
+
+The expressions this far and that far, although they are very common,
+are, nevertheless, incorrect. Thus far or so far should be used
+instead.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+155
+
+                           Over, More than
+
+"There were not over thirty persons present." Over is incorrect; above
+has some sanction; but more than, is the best, and should be used.
+
+                              Real good
+
+This is one of those good-natured expressions that insinuate
+themselves into the speech of even cultured people. Very good is just
+as short, and much more correct. Really good scarcely conveys the
+thought intended.
+
+                               So nice
+
+"This basket of flowers is so nice." So nice does not tell how nice.
+So requires a correlative to complete its meaning. Use very nice or
+very pretty.
+
+                              Pell-mell
+
+"He rushes pell-mell down the street." One bird cannot flock by
+itself, nor can one man rush pell-mell. It will require at least
+several men to produce the intermixing and confusion which the word is
+intended to convey.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+156
+
+  CHAPTER VIII
+
+ Conjunctions
+
+As a general rule, sentences should not begin with conjunctions. And,
+or, and nor are often needlessly employed to introduce a sentence. The
+disjunctive but may sometimes be used to advantage in this position,
+and in animated and easy speech or writing the coordinate conjunction
+and may be serviceable, but these and all other conjunctions, when
+made to introduce sentences, should be used sparingly.
+
+                           Reason, Because
+
+"The reason I ask you to tell the story is because you can do it
+better than I." Because means "for the reason." This makes the
+sentence equivalent to "The reason I ask you to tell the story is for
+the reason that you can do it better than I." Use that instead of
+because.
+
+"Because William studied law is no reason why his brother should not
+do so." The following is better: "That William studied law is no
+reason why his brother should not do so."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+157
+
+                          Only, Except, But
+
+"The house was as convenient as his, only that it was a trifle
+smaller." Use except for only.
+
+"The field was as large as his, only the soil was less fertile." Use
+but for only.
+
+                             But, Except
+
+"Being the eldest of the brothers but Philip, who was an invalid, he
+assumed charge of his father's estate." Except is better than but.
+
+                          But what, But that
+
+"Think no man so perfect but what he may err." Say, "but that he may
+err."
+
+"I could not think but what he was insane." Use but that.
+
+                               But, If
+
+"I should not wonder but the assembly would adjourn to-day." Use if
+instead of but.
+
+                              But, That
+
+"I have no doubt but he will serve you well." Say, "that he will serve
+you well."
+
+                              That, That
+
+"I wished to show, by your own writings, that so far were you from
+being competent to teach others English composition, that you had need
+yourself to study its first principles."-- Moon, Dean's English.
+
+The second that is superfluous. This fault is very
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+158
+
+common with writers who use long sentences. The intervention of
+details between the first that and the clause which it is intended to
+introduce causes the writer to forget that he has used the
+introductory word, and prompts him to repeat it unconsciously.
+
+                                 But
+
+"There is no doubt but that he is the greatest painter of the age."
+The word but is superfluous. "He never doubted but that he was the
+best fisherman on the coast." Omit but.
+
+                                 That
+
+"He told me he would write as soon as he reached London." Say, "He
+told me that he would write," etc.
+
+                                 Than
+
+"The Romans loved war better than the Greeks." Such ambiguous forms
+should be avoided. As it is not probable that the speaker intended to
+say that the Romans loved war better than they loved the Greeks, he
+should have framed his sentence thus: "The Romans loved war better
+than the Greeks did."
+
+                               But that
+
+"He suffered no inconvenience but that arising from the dust." But
+that, or except that, is correct. Some persons improperly use than
+that after no.
+
+"I don't know but that I shall go to Europe." Omit that. "I don't know
+but I shall go," etc.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+159
+
+                              Other than
+
+"We suffered no other inconvenience but that arising from the dust."
+This is incorrect. After other we should use than. Therefore, "We
+suffered no other inconvenience than that arising from the dust."
+
+After else, other, rather, and all comparatives, the latter term of
+comparison should be introduced by the conjunction than.
+
+                              Either the
+
+"Passengers are requested not to converse with either conductor or
+driver." This is one of those business notices that are often more
+concise than correct. It implies that there are two conductors and two
+drivers. The sentence should read, "Passengers are requested not to
+converse with either the conductor or the driver."
+
+                              Lest, That
+
+"I feared lest I should be left behind." Use the copulative that, and
+not the disjunctive lest. "I feared that I should be left behind."
+
+                            Otherwise than
+
+"He cannot do otherwise but follow your direction." Use than, not but,
+after otherwise. Hence, "He cannot do otherwise than follow," etc.
+
+                              After that
+
+"After that I have attended to the business I will call upon you." The
+word that is superfluous.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+160
+
+                               But what
+
+"His parents will never believe but what he was enticed away by his
+uncle." Omit what. The use of but that would be equally objectionable.
+But is sufficient.
+
+A reconstruction of the sentence would improve it. "His parents will
+always believe," or "Will never cease to believe that," etc.
+
+                            Doubt not but
+
+"I doubt not but your friend will return." Say, "I doubt not that your
+friend will return."
+
+                          Not impossible but
+
+"It is not impossible but he may call to-day." Use that instead of
+but.
+
+                           Whether, Whether
+
+"Ginevra has not decided whether she will study history or whether she
+will study philosophy." As there is nothing gained in clearness or in
+emphasis by the repetition of "whether she will," this shorter
+sentence would be better: "Ginevra has not decided whether she will
+study history or philosophy."
+
+                              As though
+
+"He spoke as though, he had a customer for his house." Say, "as if he
+had a purchaser," etc.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+161
+
+                                Except
+
+"I will not let thee go except thou bless me." This use of the word
+except occurs frequently in the Scriptures, but it is now regarded as
+obsolete. The word unless should be used instead.
+
+"Few speakers except Burke could have held their attention." In this
+sentence, besides should take the place of except.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+162
+
+  CHAPTER IX
+
+ Correlatives
+
+Certain adverbs and conjunctions, in comparison or antithesis, require
+the use of corresponding adverbs and conjunctions. Such corresponding
+words are called correlatives. The following are the principal ones in
+use:
+  as, as.              not merely, but also.
+  as, so.              not merely, but even.
+  both, and.           so, as.
+  if, then.            so, that.
+  either, or.          such, as.
+  neither, nor.        such, that.
+  not only, but.       though, yet.
+  not only, but also.  when, then.
+  not only, but even.  where, there.
+  not merely, but.     whether, or.
+
+The improper grouping of these correlatives is the cause of many
+errors in speech and writing.
+
+                               As... as
+
+"She is as wise as she is good." "Mary is as clever as her brother."
+The correlatives as... as are
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+163
+
+employed in expressing equality. Their use in any other connection is
+considered inelegant. "As far as I am able to judge, he would make a
+very worthy officer." This is a very common error. The sentence should
+be, "So far as I am able," etc.
+
+As is often followed by so. "As thy days, so shall thy strength be."
+
+                               So... as
+
+In such negative assertions as, "This is not as fine a tree as that,"
+the first as should be changed to so. Say, "She is not so handsome as
+she once was." "This edition of Tennyson is not so fine as that."
+
+                           Either, Neither
+
+The correlatives either, or, and neither, nor, are employed when two
+objects are mentioned; as, "Either you or I must go to town to-day,"
+"Neither James nor Henry was proficient in history."
+
+"He neither bought, sold, or exchanged stocks and bonds." The sentence
+should be, "He neither bought, sold, nor exchanged stocks and bonds."
+
+"That is not true, neither." As we already have one negative in the
+word not, the word neither should be changed to either, to avoid the
+double negation.
+
+A negative other than neither may take either or or nor as its
+correlative, "She was not so handsome as her mother, or so brilliant
+as her father." "He was never happy nor contented afterward."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+164
+
+                       Position of correlatives
+
+The placing of correlatives requires care. "He not only gave me
+advice, but also money." This is a faulty construction because the
+first member of the correlative, not only, being placed before the
+verb gave leads us to expect that the action of giving is to be
+contrasted with some other action. The close of the sentence reveals
+the fact that the words advice and money represent the ideas intended
+for contrast. The first correlative should, therefore, have been
+placed before advice, and the sentence should read, "He gave me not
+only advice, but also money."
+
+"I remember that I am not here as a censor either of manners or
+morals." This sentence from Richard Grant White will be improved by
+changing the position of the first member of the correlative. "I
+remember that I am not here as a censor of either manners or morals."
+
+"I neither estimated myself highly nor lowly." It should be, "I
+estimated myself neither highly nor lowly."
+
+"He neither attempted to excite anger, nor ridicule, nor admiration."
+The sentence should be, "He attempted to excite neither anger, nor
+ridicule, nor admiration." But here we have the correlative neither,
+nor, used with more than two objects, which is a violation of a
+principle previously stated. The
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+165
+
+sentence is purposely introduced to call attention to the fact that
+many respectable writers not only use neither, nor, with three or more
+objects, but also defend it. This usage may be avoided by a
+reconstruction of the sentence; as, "He did not attempt to excite
+anger, nor ridicule, nor admiration."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+166
+
+  CHAPTER X
+
+ The Infinitive
+
+Many errors arise from not knowing how to use the infinitive mood.
+Perhaps the most common fault is to interpose an adverb between the
+preposition to and the infinitive verb; as, "It is not necessary to
+accurately relate all that he said." "You must not expect to always
+find people agreeable." Whether we shall place the adverb before the
+verb or after it must often be determined by considerations of
+emphasis and smoothness as well as of clearness and correctness. In
+the foregoing sentences it is better to place accurately after the
+verb, and always before the preposition to.
+
+                             Supply "to"
+
+The preposition to as the sign of the infinitive is often improperly
+omitted.
+
+"Please write clearly, so that we may understand," "Your efforts will
+tend to hinder rather than hasten the work," "Strive so to criticise
+as not to embarrass
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+167
+
+nor discourage your pupil." These sentences will be corrected by
+inserting to before the italicized words.
+
+In such expressions as "Please excuse my son's absence," "Please write
+me a letter," "Please hand me the book," many authorities insist upon
+the use of to before the verb. The sentences may, however, be regarded
+as softened forms of the imperative; as, "Hand me the book, if you
+please." Transposed, "If you please, hand me the book." Contracted,
+"Please, hand me the book." From this, the comma may have slipped out
+and left the sentence as first written.
+
+                              Omit "to"
+
+When a series of infinitives relate to the same object, the word to
+should be used before the first verb and omitted before the others;
+as, "He taught me to read, write, and cipher." "The most accomplished
+way of using books at present is to serve them as some do lords--
+learn their titles and then brag of their acquaintance."
+
+The active verbs bid, dare, feel, hear, let, make, need, see, and
+their participles, usually take the infinitive after them, without the
+preposition to. Such expressions, as "He bade me to depart," "I dare
+to say he is a villain," "I had difficulty in making him to see his
+error," are, therefore, wrong, and are corrected by omitting to.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+168
+
+                        Incomplete Infinitive
+
+Such incomplete expressions as the following are very common: "He has
+not gone to Europe, nor is he likely to." "She has not written her
+essay, nor does she intend to." "Can a man arrive at excellence who
+has no desire to?" The addition of the word go to the first sentence,
+and of write it, to the second would make them complete. In the case
+of the third sentence it would be awkward to say, "Can a man arrive at
+excellence who has no desire to arrive at excellence." We therefore
+substitute the more convenient expression "to do so."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+169
+
+  CHAPTER XI
+
+ Participles
+
+Participles relate to nouns or pronouns, or else are governed by
+prepositions. Those ending in ing should not be made the subjects or
+objects of verbs while they retain the government and adjuncts of
+participles. They may often be converted into nouns or take the form
+of the infinitive.
+
+"Not attending to this rule is the cause of a very common error."
+Better, "Inattention to this rule," etc. "He abhorred being in debt."
+Better, "He abhorred debt," "Cavilling and objecting upon any subject
+is much easier than clearing up difficulties." Say, "To cavil and
+object upon any subject is much easier than to clear up difficulties."
+
+                              Omit "of"
+
+Active participles have the same government as the verbs from which
+they are derived. The preposition of, therefore, should not be used
+after the participle, when the verb would not require it. Omit of in
+such expressions as these: "Keeping of one day
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+170
+
+in seven," "By preaching of repentance," "They left beating of Paul,"
+"From calling of names they came to blows," "They set about repairing
+of the walls."
+
+If the article the occurs before the participle, the preposition of
+must be retained; as, "They strictly observed the keeping of one day
+in seven."
+
+When a transitive participle is converted into a noun, of must be
+inserted to govern the object following. "He was very exact in forming
+his sentences," "He was very exact in the formation of his sentences."
+
+                         Omit the possessive
+
+The possessive case should not be prefixed to a participle that is not
+taken in all respects as a noun. It should, therefore, be expunged in
+the following sentences: "By our offending others, we expose
+ourselves." "She rewarded the boy for his studying so diligently." "He
+errs in his giving the word a double construction."
+
+The possessives in such cases as the following should be avoided: "I
+have some recollection of his father's being a judge." "To prevent its
+being a dry detail of terms." These sentences may be improved by
+recasting them. "I have some recollection that his father was a
+judge." "To prevent it from being a dry detail of terms."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+171
+
+When the noun or pronoun to which the participle relates is a passive
+subject, it should not have the possessive form; as, "The daily
+instances of men's dying around us remind us of the brevity of human
+life." "We do not speak of a monosyllable's having a primary accent."
+Change men's to men, and monosyllable's to monosyllable.
+
+                             After verbs
+
+Verbs do not govern participles. "I intend doing it," "I remember
+meeting Longfellow," and similar expressions should be changed by the
+substitution of the infinitive for the participle; as, "I intend to do
+it," "I remember to have met Longfellow."
+
+After verbs signifying to persevere, to desist, the participle ending
+in ing is permitted; as, "So when they continued asking him, he lifted
+up himself, and said unto them."
+
+                                Place
+
+In the use of participles and of verbal nouns, the leading word in
+sense should always be made the leading word, and not the adjunct, in
+the construction.
+
+"They did not give notice of the pupil leaving." Here, the leading
+idea is leaving. Pupil should, therefore, be subordinate by changing
+its form to the possessive; as, "They did not give notice of the
+pupil's leaving." Better still, "They did not give notice that the
+pupil had left."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+172
+
+                              Clearness
+
+The word to which the participle relates should stand out clearly. "By
+giving way to sin, trouble is encountered." This implies that trouble
+gives way to sin. The relation of the participle is made clear by
+saying, "By giving way to sin, we encounter trouble."
+
+"By yielding to temptation, our peace is sacrificed." This should be,
+"By yielding to temptation we sacrifice our peace."
+
+"A poor child was found in the streets by a wealthy and benevolent
+gentleman, suffering from cold and hunger." Say, "A poor child,
+suffering from cold and hunger, was found," etc.
+
+                         Awkward Construction
+
+Such awkward sentences as the following should be avoided. In most
+cases they will require to be recast.
+
+"But as soon as the whole body is attempted to be carved, a
+disproportion between its various parts results."
+
+"The offence attempted to be charged should be alleged under another
+section of the statute." The following is a better arrangement:
+
+"But as soon as an attempt is made to carve the whole body," etc. "The
+offence which it is attempted to charge," etc.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+173
+
+                             Is building
+
+The active participle in a passive sense is employed by many excellent
+writers and is condemned by others.
+
+"Corn is selling for fifty cents a bushel."
+
+"Corn is being sold for fifty cents a bushel."
+
+The commercial world evidently prefers the former sentence. There is a
+breeziness and an energy in it that is lacking in the latter. It must,
+however, be used with caution. In the following examples the passive
+form is decidedly better than the active: "The foundation was being
+laid," "They are being educated," "While the speech was being
+delivered," etc.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+174
+
+  CHAPTER XII
+
+ Prepositions
+
+Clearness and elegance of style are, in no small degree, dependent
+upon the choice and right use of prepositions. Many rules have been
+formulated, some of which are deserving of consideration, while others
+are nearly or quite useless. Among the latter may be mentioned, by way
+of illustration, the oft-repeated rule that between or betwixt must
+invariably be used when only two things are referred to, and that
+among must be employed when more than two are named. While it is true
+that the order could not be reversed, that among, when used, must be
+employed in reference to three or more persons or things, and that
+between may always be employed in speaking of two objects, yet the
+practice of many of the best writers does not limit the use of between
+to two objects. In fact, there are cases in which among will not take
+the place of between; as, "I set out eighty trees with ample space
+between them." "The stones on his farm were so plentiful that the
+grass could not grow up between them."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+175
+
+                            Between, Among
+
+"The seven children divided the apples between them." Two children may
+divide apples between, them, but in this case it is better to say,
+"The seven children divided the apples among them."
+
+George Eliot, in Middlemarch, says: "The fight lay entirely between
+Pinkerton, the old Tory member; Bagster, the new Whig member; and
+Brook, the Independent member." In this case, between or with is more
+satisfactory than among, although three persons are referred to.
+
+                                Choice
+
+Many sentences betoken ignorance and others indicate extreme
+carelessness on the part of the writers by the inapt choice of their
+prepositions, which often express relations so delicate in their
+distinctions that nothing short of an extended study of the best
+writers will confer the desired skill. We present some examples.
+
+                                By, In
+
+"We do not accept the proposition referred to by your letter." The
+writer should have employed the preposition in.
+
+                          Differ with, From
+
+We differ with a person in opinion or belief; we differ from him in
+appearance, in attainments, in wealth, in rank, etc.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+176
+
+                       Different from, To, Than
+
+"Your story is very plausible, but Henry's is different to that." "My
+book is quite different than his." The adjective different must not be
+followed by the preposition to or than. The sentences will be correct
+when from is substituted.
+
+                                At, To
+
+Never use the vulgar expression, "He is to home." Say at home.
+
+                         Preferred before, To
+
+"He was preferred before me." Say preferred to me.
+
+                               With, Of
+
+"He died with consumption." Of is the proper preposition to employ.
+But we say, He is afflicted with rheumatism, or bronchitis, or other
+disease.
+
+                          In respect of, To
+
+"In respect of this matter, he is at fault." Better, "to this matter."
+
+                               Of, From
+
+"He was acquitted from the charge of larceny." Acquitted of the
+charge.
+
+                               In, Into
+
+Into implies direction or motion. "They walked into the church," means
+that they entered it from the outside. "They walked in the church,"
+means that they walked back and forth within the church.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+177
+
+"The vessel is in port." "She came into port yesterday."
+
+                                Of, In
+
+"There was no use of asking his permission, for he would not grant
+it." In asking.
+
+                                In, On
+
+"He is a person in whom you can rely." "That is a man in whose
+statements you can depend." Use on for in.
+
+                               To, With
+
+Two persons are reconciled to each other; two doctrines or measures
+are reconciled with each other when they are made to agree.
+
+"This noun is in apposition to that." Use with.
+
+                               With, By
+
+These two prepositions are often confounded. They have a similarity of
+signification with a difference of use. Both imply a connection
+between some instrument or means and the agent by whom it is used.
+With signifies the closer relation and by the more remote one.
+
+It is said that an ancient king of Scotland once asked his nobles by
+what tenure they held their lands. The chiefs drew their swords,
+saying, "By these we acquired our lands, and with these we will defend
+them."
+
+By often relates to the person; with to the instrument.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+178
+
+"He lay on the ground half concealed with a clump of bushes." "That
+speech was characterized with eloquence." Use by in the last two
+sentences.
+
+                               With, To
+
+We correspond with a person when we exchange letters. In speaking of
+the adaptation of one object to another, the preposition to should be
+used after the verb correspond; as, "This picture corresponds to
+that." With is often incorrectly used in such cases instead of to.
+
+                               Position
+
+The old grammarian gave a very good rule when he said, "A preposition
+is a very bad word to end a sentence with;" but it is sometimes easier
+to follow his example than his precept. In general, the strength of a
+sentence is improved by not placing small particles at the end.
+
+"Which house do you live in?" Better, "In which house do you live?"
+
+"Avarice is a vice which most men are guilty of." Say, "of which most
+men are guilty."
+
+"He is a man that you should be acquainted with." Say, "with whom you
+should be acquainted."
+
+"Is this the man that you spoke of?" Better, "of whom you spoke."
+
+"These are principles that our forefathers died for." Rather, "for
+which our forefathers died."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+179
+
+                               Omission
+
+Prepositions are often omitted when their use is necessary to the
+correct grammatical construction of the sentence.
+
+"They now live on this side the river." Say, "on this side of the
+river."
+
+"Esther and Helen sit opposite each other." It is more correct to say,
+"sit opposite to each other."
+
+"John is worthy our help." Better, "of our help."
+
+"What use is this to us?" Of what use, etc.
+
+"This law was passed the same year that I was born." Say, "In the same
+year," etc.
+
+"Washington was inaugurated President April 30, 1789." Some critics
+insist upon the insertion of on before a date, as "on April 30," but
+general usage justifies its omission. With equal force they might urge
+the use of in before 1789. The entire expression of day, month, and
+year is elliptical.
+
+If the same preposition be required by several nouns or pronouns, it
+must be repeated in every case if it be repeated at all. "He is
+interested in philosophy, history, and in science." This sentence may
+be corrected by placing in before history or by omitting it before
+science. The several subjects are individualized more strongly by the
+use of in before each noun. This is shown in the greater obscurity
+given to history by the omission of the preposition in the foregoing
+sentence.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+180
+
+"We may have a feeling of innocence or of guilt, of merit or demerit."
+Insert of before demerit.
+
+                        Needless Prepositions
+
+Prepositions, like other parts of speech that contribute nothing to
+the meaning, should not be suffered to cumber the sentence.
+
+Where am I at? Where is my book at? I went there at about noon. In
+what latitude is Chicago in? Where are you going to? Take your hat off
+of the table. Where has James been to? They offered to Caesar a crown.
+This is a subject of which I intended to speak about (omit of or
+about, but not both). She has a sister of ten years old. Leap in with
+me into this angry flood.
+
+The older writers employed the useless for in such expressions as,
+What went ye out for to see? The apostles and elders came together for
+to consider of this matter.
+
+                                All of
+
+A very common error is the unnecessary use of the preposition of after
+all; as, "during all of this period," "in all of these cases," "for
+all of the conditions," etc.
+
+                               Up above
+
+In most cases one of these prepositions will be found useless. "The
+ladder reached up above the chimney."
+
+                              From hence
+
+The adverbs hence, thence, whence, include the idea of from. The
+preposition should, therefore, be omitted.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+181
+
+  CHAPTER XIII
+
+ The Article
+
+A, which is a shortened form of an, signifies one, or any. An was
+formerly used before nouns beginning with either a consonant or a
+vowel sound, but now an is used before a vowel sound and a before a
+consonant sound; as, a book, a hat, an apple, an eagle.
+
+It will be observed that an heiress, an herb, an honest man, an
+honorable career, an hourly visit, a euchre party, a euphemism, a
+eulogy, a union, etc., are not exceptions to the foregoing rule, for
+the h being silent in heiress, herb, etc., the article an precedes a
+vowel sound, and in euphemism, eulogy, union, the article a precedes
+the consonant sound of y. Compare u-nit with you knit.
+
+In like manner some persons have felt disposed to say many an one
+instead of many a one because of the presence of the vowel o. But the
+sound is the consonant sound of w as in won, and the article should be
+a and not an.
+
+There is a difference of opinion among writers concerning the use of a
+and an, before words beginning
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+182
+
+with h, when not silent, especially when the accent falls on the
+second syllable; as, a harpoon, a hegira, a herbarium, a herculean
+effort, a hiatus, a hidalgo, a hydraulic engine, a hyena, a historian.
+The absence of the accent weakens the h sound, and makes it seem as if
+the article a was made to precede a vowel. The use of an is certainly
+more euphonious and is supported by Webster's Dictionary and other
+high authority.
+
+                     The Honorable, The Reverend
+
+Such titles as Honorable and Reverend require the article the; as,
+"The Honorable William R. Gladstone is often styled 'The Grand Old
+Man,'" "The Reverend Henry Ward Beecher was an eloquent orator," not
+Honorable William, E. Gladstone, or Reverend Henry Ward Beecher.
+
+                           Article omitted
+
+"A clergyman and philosopher entered the hall together." "A clergyman
+and philosopher" means one person who is both clergyman and
+philosopher. The article should be repeated. "A clergyman and a
+philosopher entered the hall together."
+
+"A red and white flag" means one flag of two colors. "A red and a
+white flag" means two flags, a red flag and a white flag. "A great and
+a good man has departed." The verb has implies that only
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+183
+
+one man has departed, hence the sentence should be, "A great and good
+man has departed."
+
+"They sang the first and second verse," should be, "They sang the
+first and the second verse." "The literal and figurative meaning of
+words" should be, "The literal and the figurative meaning of words."
+
+"In framing of his sentences he was very exact," should be, "In the
+framing," etc., or, "In framing his sentences he was very exact." "The
+masculine and feminine gender," should be, "The masculine and the
+feminine gender."
+
+"After singing a hymn, Miss Willard made a stirring address." If Miss
+Willard alone sang the hymn the sentence is correct. If the
+congregation sang the hymn the sentence should be, "After the singing
+of a hymn, Miss Willard made a stirring address."
+
+"He is but a poor writer at best." Say, "at the best." "He received
+but a thousand votes at most." Say, "at the most."
+
+"John came day before yesterday." Say, "the day before yesterday."
+
+                          Article redundant
+
+"Shakespeare was a greater writer than an actor," should be,
+"Shakespeare was a greater writer than actor."
+
+"This is the kind of a tree of which he was speaking,"
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+184
+
+should be, "This is the kind of tree," etc. "What kind of a bird is
+this?" should be, "What kind of bird."
+
+"The one styled the Provost is the head of the University," should be,
+"The one styled Provost."
+
+"The nominative and the objective cases," should be "The nominative
+and objective cases."
+
+"He made a mistake in the giving out the text." Say "in giving out the
+text," or, "in the giving out of the text." In the latter instance,
+the participle becomes a noun and may take the article before it.
+
+                        Articles interchanged
+
+"An elephant is the emblem of Siam," should be, "The elephant is the
+emblem," etc. "A digraph is the union of two letters to represent one
+sound." Should be, "A digraph is a union," etc.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+185
+
+  CHAPTER XIV
+
+ Redundancy
+
+We are all creatures of habit. Our sayings, as well as our doings, are
+largely a series of habits. In some instances we are unconscious of
+our peculiarities and find it almost impossible to shake them off.
+
+The following are verbatim expressions as they dropped from the lips
+of a young clergyman in the pulpit. They show a deeply-seated habit of
+repetition of thought. As he was a graduate of one of the first
+colleges in the land, we are the more surprised that the habit was not
+checked before he passed through his college and seminary courses. The
+expressions are here given as a caution to others to be on their
+guard: "Supremest and highest," "separate and sever us," "derision,
+sarcasm, and contempt," "disobedient and disloyal and sinful," "hold
+aloof from iniquity, from sin," "necessity of being reclaimed and
+brought back," "their beautiful and their elegant city," "so abandoned
+and given up to evil and iniquity," "soaked and stained with human
+gore and blood," "beautiful and resplendent," "hardened and solidified
+into stone and adamant," "this
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+186
+
+arctic splendor and brilliancy," "were being slaughtered and cut
+down," "in the rapidity and the swiftness of the train," "with all the
+mightiness and the splendor of his genius," "the force and the
+pressure it brings to bear," "has and possesses the power," "lights
+flashed and gleamed."
+
+The above were all taken from a single discourse. Another peculiarity
+of the same speaker was his use of the preposition between. Instead of
+saying, "Between him and his father there was a perfect understanding
+of the matter," he would say, "Between him and between his father
+there was a perfect understanding of the matter."
+
+Young writers will find it a valuable exercise to go through a letter,
+essay, or other composition which they have written, with the view of
+ascertaining how many words they can eliminate without diminishing the
+force of what has been written. An article or two from the daily
+paper, and an occasional page from some recent work of fiction will
+afford further opportunity for profitable practice in pruning.
+
+                             Widow woman
+
+"And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's
+servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted
+up his hand against the king."-- I Kings xi, 26.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+187
+
+The expression is now regarded as an archaism, and not to be used in
+modern speech or writing. Omit woman.
+
+                                 Why
+
+Many persons have a foolish habit of beginning their answer to a
+question with the word why. In some cases it doubtless has its origin
+in the desire to gain time while the mind is preparing the answer, but
+in most instances it is merely a habit.
+
+Some persons prefix the word why to the statement of a fact or to the
+asking of a question. This is even worse than to employ it to
+introduce the answer. Restrict it to its legitimate use.
+
+                             Look at here
+
+This is one of the numerous expressions designed to call the attention
+of the person addressed to the speaker. It is both ungrammatical and
+vulgar. The omission of at will render it grammatical. "See here" is
+still better.
+
+                             Look and see
+
+"Look and see if the teacher is coming." The words "look and" are
+superfluous. "See whether the teacher is coming" is a better
+expression.
+
+                             Recollect of
+
+The word of is superfluous in such expressions; as, "I recollect of
+crossing Lake Champlain on the ice," "Do you recollect of his paying
+you a compliment?"
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+188
+
+                           Settle up, down
+
+"He has settled up his father's affairs." "He has settled down upon
+the old farm." Up and down may be omitted.
+
+"He has settled down to business" is a colloquial expression which may
+be improved by recasting the sentence.
+
+                              In so far
+
+"He is not to blame in so far as I understand the circumstances." "In
+so far as I know he is a thoroughly honest man." "In so far as I have
+influence it shall be exerted in your favor." Omit in.
+
+                         Pocket-handkerchief
+
+The word handkerchief conveys the full meaning. Pocket is therefore
+superfluous and should be omitted. If a cloth or tie for the neck is
+meant, call it a neck tie or a neckerchief, but not a
+neck-handkerchief.
+
+                               Have got
+
+"I have got a fine farm." "He has got four sons and three daughters."
+"James has got a rare collection of butterflies." In such expressions
+got is superfluous. But, if the idea of gaining or acquiring is to be
+conveyed, the word got may be retained; as, "I have got my license,"
+"I have got my degree," "I have got my reward."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+189
+
+                                Off of
+
+"Can I borrow a pencil off of you?" "I bought a knife off of him
+yesterday." Such faulty expressions are very common among school
+children, and should be promptly checked by the teacher. The off is
+superfluous.
+
+"He jumped off of the boat." Say, "He jumped off the boat."
+
+The young lady appointed to sell articles at a church fair entreated
+her friends to "buy something off of me." She should say, "Please buy
+something from me," or "Make your purchases at my table."
+
+                              For to see
+
+"But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment?"
+Matt. xi, 8. "I will try for to do what you wish." This form of
+expression, once very common, is now obsolete. Omit for.
+
+                          Appreciate highly
+
+To appreciate is to set a full value upon a thing. We may value
+highly, or prize highly, or esteem highly, but the word highly when
+used with appreciate is superfluous.
+
+                              Ascend up
+
+"With great difficulty they ascended up the hill." As they could not
+ascend down the hill it is evident that the word up is superfluous.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+190
+
+                               Been to
+
+"Where has he been to?" The sentence is not only more concise, but
+more elegant without the terminal to.
+
+                                 Both
+
+The sentence, "The two children both resembled each other," will be
+greatly improved by omitting the word both. So also in "These baskets
+are both alike," "William and I both went to Cuba."
+
+                               But that
+
+"I do not doubt but that my uncle will come." The sentence is shorter
+and more clear without the word but. "I have no idea but that the crew
+was drowned." Here but is necessary. Without it the opposite meaning
+would be conveyed.
+
+                           Equally as well
+
+"James did it well, but Henry did it equally as well." As well or
+equally well should be used instead of equally as well. "This method
+will be equally as efficacious." Omit as.
+
+                             Everywheres
+
+"I have looked everywheres for the book, and I cannot find it." This
+is a vulgarism that should be avoided. Say everywhere.
+
+                              Feel like
+
+"I feel like as if I should be sick." The word like is unnecessary.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+191
+
+                                 Few
+
+"There are a few persons who read well." This sentence will be
+improved by saying, "Few persons read well."
+
+                             Help but be
+
+This is an awkward expression which is improved by being reduced to
+the two words help being; as, "I could not help being moved by his
+appeal."
+
+                              Kind of a
+
+"He jumped into a kind of a chaise, and hurried off to the station." A
+kind of chaise would be better.
+
+                             New beginner
+
+"Mary plays on the piano very well for a new beginner." If she is a
+beginner she must of necessity be new to it.
+
+                               Opens up
+
+"This story opens up beautifully." The up is superfluous.
+
+                           Seeming paradox
+
+The word paradox alone implies all that the word seeming is intended
+to convey, hence seeming is superfluous. "This was once a paradox but
+time now gives it proof."
+
+                              Different
+
+"There were ten different men ready to accept the offer." As no
+reference to the appearance or characteristics of the men is intended,
+the word different is unnecessary.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+192
+
+                               Rise up
+
+"They rose up early and started on their journey." Up is superfluous
+and should be omitted.
+
+                              Sink down
+
+"The multitude sank down upon the ground." As they could not sink up
+or in any other direction than down, the latter word should be
+omitted.
+
+                               Smell of
+
+"Did you smell of the roses?" "No; but I smelled them and found them
+very fragrant." "The gardener smelt of them for he has been culling
+them all morning and his clothing is perfumed with them." The of is
+superfluous in such expressions as taste of, feel of, and usually in
+smell of.
+
+                              Think for
+
+"He is taller than you think for." For is unnecessary. "He is taller
+than you think" is the contracted form of "He is taller than you think
+he is."
+
+                       Differ among themselves
+
+"The authorities differed among themselves." The words among
+themselves may be omitted.
+
+                                End up
+
+"That ends up the business." Say "that ends (or closes) the business."
+
+                               Had have
+
+"Had I have known that he was a lawyer I should have consulted him."
+Omit have.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+193
+
+                             Had ought to
+
+"I had ought to have gone to school to-day; I hadn't ought to have
+gone fishing." Incorrect. Say, "I ought to have gone (or I should have
+gone) to school to-day; I ought not to have gone fishing." If the
+second clause is not an after-thought the sentence can be still
+further improved by condensing it; as, "I should have gone to school
+to-day, and not to have gone fishing."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+194
+
+  CHAPTER XV
+
+ Two Negatives
+
+The use of two negatives in a sentence is much more common than is
+generally supposed. To assume that only those who are grossly ignorant
+of grammatical rules and constructions employ them, is an error.
+Writers whose names are as bright stars in the constellation of
+literature have slipped on this treacherous ground.
+
+A negation, in English, admits of only one negative word. The use of a
+single negative carries the meaning halfway around the circle. The
+meaning is therefore diametrically opposed to that which would be
+expressed without the negative. The use of a second negative would
+carry the meaning the remaining distance around the circle, thus
+bringing it to the starting point, and making it equivalent to the
+affirmative. The second negative destroys the effect of the first. The
+two negatives are equivalent to an affirmative.
+
+                           Double Negatives
+
+While two negatives in the same sentence destroy each other, a double
+negative has the effect of a more
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+195
+
+exact and guarded affirmative; as, "It is not improbable that Congress
+will convene in special session before the end of the summer." "It is
+not unimportant that, he attend to the matter at once." "His story was
+not incredible." "The fund was not inexhaustible."
+
+                         Redundant Negatives
+
+"No one else but the workmen had any business at the meeting." Omit
+else.
+
+"Let us see whether or not there was not a mistake in the record."
+Omit either or not or the second not.
+
+"The boat will not stop only when the signal flag is raised." Omit not
+or change only to except.
+
+"He will never return, I don't believe." Say, "He will never return,"
+or, if that statement is two emphatic, say, "I don't believe he will
+ever return."
+
+                           Don't want none
+
+"I don't want none," "I ain't got nothing," "He can't do no more," are
+inelegant expressions that convey a meaning opposed to that intended.
+
+"I don't want any," or, "I do not want any," or, "I want none," are
+correct equivalents for the first sentence; "I haven't anything," or,
+"I have nothing," should take the place of the second; and, "He can't
+do any more," or, "He can do no more," or "He cannot do more," will
+serve for the third.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+196
+
+                             Not--Hardly
+
+"I cannot stop to tell you hardly any of the adventures that befell
+Theseus." Change cannot to can. "I have not had a moment's time to
+read hardly since I left school." Say, "I have hardly a moment's
+time," etc.
+
+                                No--no
+
+"The faculties are called into no exercise by doing a thing merely
+because others do it, no more than by believing a thing only because
+others believe it," says George P. Marsh. He should have used any
+instead of the second no.
+
+                             Nothing--nor
+
+"There was nothing at the Columbian Exposition more beautiful, nor
+more suggestive of the progress of American art, than Tiffany's
+display." Change nor to or.
+
+                           Can't do nothing
+
+"He says he can't do nothing for me." Use "He can do nothing," or "He
+can't do anything for me."
+
+                          Cannot by no means
+
+This double negative should be avoided. "I cannot by no means permit
+you to go." Say, "I cannot possibly," or "I cannot, under any
+consideration, permit you to go."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+197
+
+                               Nor--no
+
+"Give not me counsel, nor let no comforter delight mine ear," says
+Shakespeare.
+
+"There can be no rules laid down, nor no manner recommended," says
+Sheridan.
+
+"No skill could obviate, nor no remedy dispel the terrible infection."
+
+The foregoing sentences may be corrected by changing nor to and.
+
+                               Not--no
+
+"I pray you bear with me; I cannot go no further," says Shakespeare.
+"I can go no further," or "I cannot go any further," will make the
+sentence correct.
+
+                               Nor--not
+
+"I never did repent for doing good, nor shall not now."
+
+"We need not, nor do not, confine the purposes of God."
+
+"Which do not continue, nor are not binding."
+
+"For my part I love him not, nor hate him not."
+
+In these sentences, change nor to and.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+198
+
+  CHAPTER XVI
+
+ Accordance of Verb with Subject
+
+No rule of grammar is more familiar to the schoolboy than that which
+relates to the agreement of the verb with its subject, or nominative,
+and none that is more frequently violated. It would be a mistake,
+however, to assume that the schoolboy is the only transgressor. Ladies
+and gentlemen of culture and refinement, writers and speakers of
+experience and renown, have alike been caught in the quicksands of
+verb constructions.
+
+"This painting is one of the finest masterpieces that ever was given
+to the world." A transposition of the sentence will show that the verb
+should be were, and not was. "Of the finest masterpieces that ever
+were given to the world, this painting is one."
+
+"His essay on 'Capital and Labor' is one of the best that has ever
+been written on the subject." The verb should be have.
+
+"The steamer, with all her passengers and crew, were lost." The
+subject is steamer, and the verb should be was.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+199
+
+                       Interrogative sentences
+
+"What signifies his good resolutions, when he does not possess
+strength of purpose sufficient to put them into practice?" Resolutions
+is the subject, and the verb should be signify.
+
+"Of what profit is his prayers, while his practices are the
+abomination of the neighborhood?" Prayers being plural, the verb
+should be are.
+
+"What avails good sentiments with a bad life?" Use avail.
+
+                        Subject after the Verb
+
+"In virtue and piety consist the happiness of man." Happiness, the
+subject, being singular, the verb should be consists, to agree with
+its nominative.
+
+"To these recommendations were appended a copy of the minority
+report." A transposition of the sentence will show that the verb
+should be was, and not were. "A copy of the minority report was
+appended to these recommendations."
+
+Whenever the sentence is introduced by a phrase consisting in part of
+a noun in the plural, or several nouns in the singular or plural, and,
+especially, where the subject follows the verb; care must be taken to
+keep the nominative well in mind, so that the verb may be in strict
+accord with it.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+200
+
+                          Compound Subjects
+
+When a verb has two or more nominatives it must be plural. These
+nominatives may or may not be connected by and or other connecting
+particle. The nominatives may consist of nouns or pronouns, either
+singular or plural, or they may be phrases.
+
+"Washington and Lincoln were chosen instruments of government."
+
+"Judges and senates have been bought for gold,
+
+Esteem and love were never to be sold."-- Pope.
+
+"Art, empire, earth itself, to change are doomed."-- Beattie.
+
+"You and he resemble each other."
+
+"To read and to sing are desirable accomplishments."
+
+"To be wise in our own eyes, to be wise in the opinion of the world,
+and to be wise in the sight of our Creator, are three things so very
+different as rarely to coincide."-- Blair.
+
+                         Singular in Meaning
+
+Nominatives are sometimes plural in form but singular in meaning. Such
+nominatives require a verb in the singular.
+
+"The philosopher and poet was banished from his country." Was is
+correct, because philosopher and poet are the same person.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+201
+
+"Ambition, and not the safety of the state, was concerned." Was is
+correct, because ambition is the subject. The words, "and not the
+safety of the state," simply emphasize the subject, but do not give it
+a plural meaning.
+
+"Truth, and truth only, is worth seeking for its own sake." Another
+case of emphasis.
+
+                         Each, Every, No, Not
+
+When two or more nominatives are qualified by one of the foregoing
+words the verb must be singular.
+
+"Every limb and feature appears with its respective grace."-- Steele.
+
+"Not a bird, not a beast, not a tree, not a shrub were to be seen."
+Use was instead of were.
+
+                        Poetical Construction
+
+When the verb separates its nominatives, it agrees with that which
+precedes it.
+
+"Forth in the pleasing spring, Thy beauty walks, thy tenderness, and
+love."-- Thomson.
+
+                    Or, Nor, As well as, But, Save
+
+When two or more nominatives in the singular are separated by such
+words as the preceding, the verb must be singular.
+
+"Veracity, as well as justice, is to be our rule of life."-- Butler.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+202
+
+"Not a weed nor a blade of grass were to be seen." Change were to was.
+
+"Nothing but wailings were heard." Transpose. "Nothing was heard but
+wailings." The verb should be was.
+
+"Either one or the other of them are in the wrong." The verb should be
+is.
+
+If, however, one or more of the nominatives are plural, the verb must
+be plural.
+
+"It is not his wealth, or gifts, or culture that gives him this
+distinction." Gifts being plural, the verb should be give.
+
+Some authorities say that the verb should agree in number with the
+subject which is placed next before it, and be understood (or silent)
+to the rest; as, "Neither he nor his brothers were there," "Neither
+his brothers nor he was there," "Neither you nor I am concerned."
+
+Prof. Genung, author of Outlines of Rhetoric, says: "When a clash of
+concord arises, either choose subjects that have the same number, or
+choose a verb that has the same form for both numbers." He gives this
+sentence to show the change of verb: "Fame or the emoluments of valor
+were (was) never to be his." "Fame or the emoluments of valor could
+never be his." And this sentence to show the change of one of the
+subjects: "Neither the halter nor bayonets
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+203
+
+are (is) sufficient to prevent us from obtaining our rights." "Neither
+the halter nor the bayonet is sufficient to prevent us from obtaining
+our rights."
+
+                           Collective Nouns
+
+Collective nouns, like army, committee, class, peasantry, nobility,
+are, grammatically, singular, but they are often so modified by their
+surroundings as to convey a plural idea, and when so modified the verb
+must be plural. When the collective noun conveys the idea of unity,
+the verb must be singular.
+
+"The army was disbanded."
+
+"The council were divided."
+
+"A number of men and women were present."
+
+"The people rejoice in their freedom."
+
+"The peasantry go barefoot, and the middle sort make use of wooden
+shoes."
+
+"The world stands in awe of your majesty."
+
+"All the world are spectators of your conduct."
+
+                    Weights, Measures, and Values
+
+The names of weights, measures, and values, when considered as wholes,
+require singular verbs, and when considered as units require verbs in
+the plural.
+
+"There is twenty shillings in my purse," meaning one pound in value.
+"There are twenty shillings in my purse," meaning twenty separate
+coins, each being a shilling. "Sixty-three gallons equals a hogshead."
+"Ten tons of coal are consumed daily."
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+204
+
+                           Titles of Books
+
+Whether the form be singular or plural, the title is considered a
+unit, and requires a verb in the singular; as, "'The Merry Wives of
+Windsor' was written by Shakespeare." "Dr. Holmes's American Annals
+was published in 1805."
+
+                             Whereabouts
+
+"The whereabouts of his cousins were not known to him." The plural
+form of this word is misleading. The verb should be was.
+
+                         Phenomena, Effluvia
+
+"A strange phenomena," "A disagreeable effluvia" are incorrect forms
+not infrequently met with. Both words are plural, and require plural
+verbs and also the omission of the article a.
+
+                               You was
+
+This very incorrect form is often employed by those who know better,
+and who use it, seemingly, out of courtesy to the uneducated people
+with whom they are brought in contact. If it be a courtesy, it is one
+that is "more honored in the breach than in the observance."
+
+Those who use the expression ignorantly are not likely to read this
+book, or any other of a similar character, and need scarcely be told
+that was should be were.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+                                INDEX
+                               _______
+
+  A, An, 181.
+  Aberration of intellect, 87.
+  A 1,83.
+  A hundred others' woes-- Pronouns, 126.
+  Ability, Capacity, 27.
+  About, Almost, 28.
+  About, Around, 95.
+  Above, More than, Preceding, 111.
+  Above, Foregoing, 87.
+  Above up, 180.
+  Acceptance, Acceptation, 28.
+  Access, Accession, 28.
+  Accident, Injury, 28.
+  Accord, Give, 86.
+  Accordance of Verb with Subject, 198.
+         Collective Nouns, 203.
+         Compound Subjects, 200.
+         Each, Every, No, Not, 201.
+         Interrogative sentences, 199.
+         Or, Nor, As well as, But, Save, 201.
+         Phenomena, Effluvia, 204.
+         Poetical Construction, 201.
+         Singular in Meaning, 200.
+         Subject after the Verb, 199.
+         Titles of Books, 204.
+         Weights, Measures, and Values, 203.
+         Whereabouts, 204.
+         You was, 204.
+  Acoustics, Ethics, Politics, 143.
+  Act, Action, 86.
+  Adherence, Adhesion, 36.
+  Adjective or Adverb, 150.
+  Adopt, Take, 37.
+  Adverbs, 150.
+  Adverbs for Relative Pronouns, 140.
+  Advise, Persuade, 52.
+  Affect, Effect, 37.
+  After of-- Possessive case, 127.
+  After than and as-- Pronouns, 132.
+  After that, 159.
+  After the Imperative-- Pronouns, 132.
+  After verbs-- Participles, 171.
+  After the verb To be-- Pronouns, 131.
+  After verbs and prepositions-- Pronouns, 130.
+  Again, Against, 115.
+  Aggravate, Exasperate, 37.
+  Agreeably disappointed, 77.
+  Agreement with Antecedent-- Pronouns, 133.
+  Ain't, 119.
+  Alex. Melville Bell, 24.
+  Alienate, Antagonize, Oppose, 32.
+  Alighted, Lit, Lighted, 88.
+  All, Is that all? 108.
+  All of, 180.
+  All, Whole, 41, 51.
+  Alleviate, Relieve, 37.
+  Allow, Guess, Reckon, Calculate, 56.
+  Allowed, Said, 87.
+  Allude to, Refer to, 77.
+  Almost, About, 28.
+  Almost, Most, Very, 30.
+  Alms, Odds, Riches, 145.
+  Alone, Only, 113.
+  Alternative, 87.
+  Alternation, 87.
+  Alumna, Formula, 144,
+  Alumnus, Terminus, Cactus, 143.
+  Ambiguity-- Pronouns, 135.
+  Among the rest, 78.
+  Among, Between, 175.
+  Amount, Number, 32.
+  Analysis, Crises, 143.
+  And, To-- Try and, 117.
+  Anglicized Words, 20.
+  Angry, Mad, 30.
+  Animalcules, not Animalculae, 148.
+  Anniversary, 87.
+  Answer, Reply, 32.
+  Antagonize, Alienate, Oppose, 32.
+  Anticipate, Expect, 32.
+  Any, At all, 32.
+  Anyhow, 81.
+  Anyways, Somewheres, Thereabouts, 78.
+  Apart, Aside, 78.
+  Apparent, Evident, 33.
+  Appendix, Index, 148.
+  Appointed you and I-- after verbs and prepositions, 130.
+  Appreciate highly, 189.
+  Apprehend, Comprehend, 105.
+  Archimedes' Screw, 125.
+  Argue, Augur, 98.
+  Around, About, 95.
+  Articles, 181.
+          A, An, 181.
+          Interchanged, 184.
+          Omitted, 182.
+          Redundant, 183.
+          Titles-- The Reverend, 182.
+  As after Equally, 190.
+  As... as, 162.
+  As, Like, 88.
+  As... so, 163.
+  As soon as, Directly, Immediately, 77.
+  As, That, 70.
+  As though, As if, 160.
+  As well as, Or, Nor, But, Save, 201.
+  Ascend up, 189.
+  Aside, Apart, 78.
+  Asparagus, Sparrowgrass, 34.
+  Assets, Alms, Scissors, 145.
+  Assure, Promise, 34.
+  At all, Any, 32.
+  At, To, 176.
+  At you, 114.
+  Attacked, Burst, Drowned, 108.
+  Aware, Conscious, 39.
+  Away, Way, 41.
+  Awful, 81.
+  Awkward construction-- Participles, 172.
+
+  Back up, Support, 82.
+  Badly, Greatly, 114.
+  Bad toothache, 70.
+  Balance, Remainder, 60.
+  Bandits, Banditti, 148.
+  Barbaric, Barbarous, 98.
+  Barbarisms, 20.
+  Beaus, Tableaux, Chateaux, 147.
+  Beautifully, Beautiful, 70.
+  Because, Reason, 156.
+  Been to, 190.
+  Beg, Beg leave, 71.
+  Beg pardon, Which? 26.
+  Begin, Commence, 38.
+  Behave, 60.
+  Bell, Alex. Melville, 24.
+  Besides, 49.
+  Beside, Besides, 108.
+  Better, Best, 61.
+  Between, Among, 175.
+  Between you and I-- After verbs and prepositions, 130.
+  Black Oxide of Manganese, 36.
+  Bombastic Language, 18.
+  Both, 190.
+  Both, Both of, 72.
+  Both, Each, 72.
+  Bound, 61.
+  Bountiful, Plentiful, 108.
+  Brace, Pair, Couple, 147.
+  Bravery, Courage, 116.
+  Bring, Fetch, Carry, 44.
+  Brooks's Arithmetics, 125.
+  Brothers, Brethren, 149.
+  Bryant's list, 16.
+  Bulk, 82.
+  Burglarize, 82.
+  Burst, Attacked, Drowned, 108.
+  But, Except, 157.
+  But, If, 157.
+  But, Only, Except, 157.
+  But, Or, Nor, Save-- As well as, 201.
+  But superfluous, 158.
+  But that, 158, 190.
+  But that, But what, 82, 157.
+  But that, 157.
+  But that, Than that, 158.
+  But what, 160.
+  But what, But that, 82, 157.
+  By, In, 175.
+  By, With, 177.
+
+  Calculate, 83.
+  Calculate, Guess, Reckon, Allow, 56.
+  Calculated, Liable, 83.
+  Calligraphy, 68.
+  Came across, Met with, 109.
+  Campbell's law, 20.
+  Can, Could, Will, 115.
+  Can but, Cannot but, 68.
+  Cannot by no means, 196.
+  Can't and Couldn't, 120.
+  Can't do nothing, 196.
+  Cantos, Heroes, 145.
+  Capacity, Ability, 27.
+  Carry, Bring, Fetch, 44.
+  Case forms-- Pronouns, 129.
+  Casualty, Casuality, 68.
+  Character, Reputation, 44.
+  Chauncey Depew and Eli Perkins, 65.
+  Cheap, Low-priced, 30.
+  Cherubim, Seraphim, 142.
+  Choice of prepositions, 175.
+  Choice of relatives-- Pronouns, 138.
+  Choice of words, 15.
+  Chrysalis, Analysis, 143.
+  Chuck-full, 74.
+  Clearness-- Participles, 172.
+  Clever, Smart, 85.
+  Climax, 112.
+  Climb down, 103.
+  Collective nouns, 203.
+  Collective nouns-- Pronouns, 135.
+  Commence, Begin, 38.
+  Commenced to write, 107.
+  Commercial slang, 23.
+  Commodious, Convenient, 26.
+  Common, Mutual, 28.
+  Common slang, 23.
+  Complected, 69.
+  Complete, Finished, Through, 39, 99.
+  Compound subject, 200.
+  Comprehend, Apprehend, 105.
+  Conclusion, End, 39.
+  Conjunctions, 156.
+  Conscious, Aware, 39.
+  Contemplate, Propose, 75.
+  Contemptible, Contemptuous, 52.
+  Continual, Continuous, 39.
+  Continually, Perpetually, 52.
+  Contractions, 118.
+  Convenient, Commodious, 26.
+  Convict, Convince, 40.
+  Correlatives, 162.
+  Could, Can, Will, 115.
+  Couldn't, Can't, 120.
+  Couple, Pair, Brace, 147.
+  Couple, Several, 76.
+  Courage, Bravery, 116.
+  Criterion, Datum, 144.
+  Crowd, 74.
+  Cunning, 59.
+  Cupfuls-- Plural compounds, 147.
+  Curious, 59.
+  Custom, Habit, 40.
+  Customer, Patron, 93.
+  Cute, 59.
+  Cut in half, 98.
+
+  Daren't, Dursen't, 123.
+  Data, Strata, 144.
+  Datum, Phenomenon, 144, 204.
+  Deface, Disfigure, 43.
+  Defect, Fault, 45.
+  Degrade, Demean, 43.
+  Depot, Station, 43.
+  Description, Kind, 44.
+  Didn't, Don't, 120.
+  Dies, Dice, 149.
+  Differ among themselves, 192.
+  Different, 191.
+  Differ with, From, 175.
+  Different from, to, than, 75, 176.
+  Directly, Immediately, As soon as, 77.
+  Disfigure, Deface, 43.
+  Disremember, 69.
+  Dispense, Dispense with, 75.
+  Dock, Wharf, 52.
+  Don't and Didn't, 120.
+  Don't want none, 195.
+  Double negatives, 194.
+  Double possessives, 126.
+  Doubt not but, 160.
+  Dreadful solemn-- Adjective or adverb? 152.
+  Drive, Ride, 76.
+  Drowned, Attacked, Burst, 108.
+  Dry, Thirsty, 75.
+  Due, Owing, 71.
+  Dursent, Daren't, 123.
+  Dutch, German, 75.
+
+  Each, Both, 72.
+  Each, Every, 71.
+  Each, Every, No, Not, 201.
+  Each other, One another, 46.
+  Each other's eyes-- Pronouns, 126.
+  Each... their-- Agreement with antecedent, 134.
+  Effect, Affect, 37.
+  Effluvia, Phenomena, 144, 204.
+  Either, Neither, 47, 163.
+  Either the... or the, 159.
+  Elder, Older, 91.
+  Eli Perkins and Chauncey Depew, 65.
+  Ellipsis, Analysis, 143.
+  Else ...besides, 49.
+  Else than, Other than, 159.
+  Emigrants, Immigrants, 78.
+  Empty, 86.
+  End, Conclusion, 39.
+  Endorse, Indorse, 84.
+  End up, 192.
+  Enjoy, 86.
+  Enjoyed poor health, 36.
+  Equally as well, 190.
+  Evacuate, Vacate, 75.
+  Ever, Never, 72.
+  Every confidence, 67.
+  Every, Each, 71.
+  Every, Each, No, Not, 201.
+  Everybody else's, 128.
+  Everybody... they-- Agreement with antecedent, 134.
+  Every once in awhile, 73.
+  Everywheres, 190.
+  Evident, Apparent, 33.
+  Exasperate, Aggravate, 37.
+  Except, But, 157.
+  Except, But, Only, 157.
+  Except, Unless, Besides, 161.
+  Exceptionable, Exceptional, 73.
+  Excuse me-- Which? 26.
+  Expect, Anticipate, 32.
+  Expect, Suspect, Suppose, 110.
+
+  Factor, 112.
+  Farther, Further, 45.
+  Fathers-in-law-- Plural compounds, 147.
+  Fault, Defect, 45.
+  Favor, Resemble, 59.
+  Feel like, 190.
+  Feels badly-- Adjective or adverb? 151.
+  Female, Woman, 73.
+  Fetch, Bring, Carry, 44.
+  Few, 191.
+  Few, Little, 46.
+  Fewer, Less, 73.
+  Fictitious writer, 62.
+  Fine writing, 8.
+  Finished, Complete, Through, 39, 99.
+  Fire, Throw, 78.
+  First, Firstly, 62.
+  First, Former, 61.
+  First-rate, 62.
+  First two, 79.
+  Fish, Fly, 148.
+  Fix, In a, 53.
+  Fix, Mend, Repair, 62.
+  Fly, Flee, 53.
+  Flys, Fishes, 148.
+  Foregoing, Above, 87.
+  Foreign words, 9.
+  Former, First, 61.
+  Formulas, Larvas, Stigmas, 144.
+  For to see, 189.
+  Frederick the Great's Kindness-- Nouns in apposition, 127.
+  From hence, thence, whence, 180.
+  From, Of, 104, 176.
+  Funny, 56.
+  Further, Farther, 45.
+  Future, Subsequent, 79.
+
+  Gent's pants, 79.
+  German, Dutch, 75.
+  Get, Got, 54.
+  Give, Accord, 36.
+  Good deal, Great deal, 57.
+  Good piece, Long distance, 110.
+  Good usage, 19.
+  Good, Well, 158.
+  Got to, Must, 115.
+  Governor, the old man, 97.
+  Great big, 98.
+  Great deal, Good deal, 57.
+  Greatly, Badly, 114.
+  Grouse, Quail, Snipe, 149.
+  Grow, Raise, Rear, 113.
+  Guess, Reckon, Calculate, Allow, 56.
+  Gums, Overshoes, 56.
+
+  Habit, Custom, 40.
+  Had better, Would better, 57.
+  Had have, 192.
+  Had ought to, 193.
+  Hadn't, Haven't, Hasn't, 121.
+  Haint, Taint, 121.
+  Hangs on, Continues, 115.
+  Have got, 188.
+  Have saw, Has went, 114.
+  Haven't, Hasn't, Hadn't, 121.
+  Haply, Happily, 114.
+  Happen, Transpire, 65.
+  Has went, Have saw, 114.
+  Hate, Dislike, 116.
+  Healthy, Wholesome, 52.
+  Healthy, Healthful, 112.
+  Hearty meal, 98.
+  He is no better than me-- After than and as, 133.
+  Help but be, 191.
+  Heroes, Cantos, Stuccoes, 145.
+  Herrings, Trout, Pike, 149.
+  He's, She's, It's, 123.
+  Hey? Which? 25.
+  Hire, Lease, Let, Rent, 88.
+  His, One's, 50.
+  His or her-- Needless pronouns, 136.
+  Hope, Wish, 99.
+  House, Residence, 43.
+  How for by which-- Adverbs for relative pronouns, 140
+  How, That, 154.
+  Hung, Hanged, 112.
+
+  I am him-Case forms, 129.
+  Idea, Opinion, 113.
+  If, But, 157.
+  If, Whether, 58.
+  Ill, Sick, 107.
+  Illy, Ill, 58.
+  Immediately, Directly, As soon as, 77.
+  Immigrants, Emigrants, 78.
+  Implicit, 58.
+  I'm, You're, He's, She's, It's, We're, They're, 123.
+  In a fix, 53.
+  In, By, 175.
+  In, Into, 85, 176.
+  In, Of, 177.
+  In, On, 177.
+  In our midst, 84.
+  In respect of, To, 176.
+  In so far, 188.
+  Inaugurate, 109.
+  Incomplete Infinitive, 168.
+  Index, Appendix, 148.
+  Individual, 58.
+  Indorse, Endorse, 84.
+  Infinitive, 166.
+  Infinitive, Incomplete, 168.
+  Infinitive needed-- Supply To, 166.
+  Infinitive unnecessary-- Omit "To," 167.
+  Informed, Posted, 86.
+  Injury, Accident, 28.
+  Interchanged Articles, 184.
+  Interrogatives-- Pronouns, 130.
+  Interrogative sentences, 199.
+  Into, In, 85, 176.
+  Introduce, Present, 105.
+  "Is building," 173.
+  Isn't, 121.
+  It's, He's, She's, 123.
+  It is me-- Case forms, 129.
+
+  John and Mary's sled-- Double possessives, 126.
+  Journal, 68.
+  Junius's letters, 125.
+  Juntos, Heroes, Virtuosos, 145.
+  Just going to, 85.
+
+  Kind, Description, 44.
+  Kind of, 85.
+  Kind of a, 191.
+  Knights Templars, 147.
+  Know as, Know that, 58.
+  Knowing, 85.
+
+  Last, Latest, 59.
+  Lay, Lie, 69.
+  Lead a dance, 117.
+  Learn, Teach, 88.
+  Lease, Let, Rent, Hire, 88.
+  Leave, Quit, 83.
+  Lend, Loan, 88.
+  Less, Fewer, 73.
+  Lest, That, 159.
+  Let it alone, Leave it alone, 83.
+  Let, Lease, Rent, Hire, 88.
+  Let you and I try it-- After the Imperative, 132.
+  Let's, 123.
+  Liable, Calculated, 83.
+  Lie, Lay, 69.
+  Lighted, Lit, Alighted, 88.
+  Like, As, 88.
+  Like, Love, 29.
+  List of Principal Correlatives, 162.
+  Lit, Lighted, 88.
+  Little, Few, 46.
+  Little piece, Short distance, 67.
+  Little bit, 74.
+  Loan, Lend, 88.
+  Look and see, 187.
+  Look at here, 187.
+  Lot, Number, 116. Love, Like, 29.
+  Low-priced, Cheap, 30.
+  Luck, 84.
+
+  Mad, Angry, 30.
+  Make, Manufacture, 65.
+  Make way with, 84.
+  Mayn't, Mustn't, Mightn't, Oughtn't, 122.
+  Mayst, Mightest, 123.
+  Means, Alms, Headquarters, 146.
+  Measures, Weights, Values, 203.
+  Memorandum, Datum, 144.
+  Mend, Fix, Repair, 62.
+  Mention, Allude to, Refer to, 77.
+  Men's and boys' shoes, 124.
+  Men, women, and children's shoes-- Double possessives, 126.
+  Met with, Came across, 109.
+  Mightn't, Mustn't, Mayn't, Oughtn't, 122.
+  Mightst, Mayst, 123.
+  Mighty, Very, 104.
+  Misplaced relatives-- Pronouns, 141.
+  Mixed pronouns, 136.
+  More than, Above, Preceding, 111.
+  More than, Over, 155.
+  More, Worse, 42.
+  Mosquitoes, Heroes, Halos, 145.
+  Most, Almost, Very, 30.
+  Musselmans, Dragomans, 145.
+  Mustn't, Mayn't, Mightn't, and Oughtn't, 122.
+  Mutual, Common, 28.
+  Myself, 29.
+
+  Nasty, Nice, 89.
+  Near, Nearly, 89.
+  Need, Want, 40.
+  Needless Articles, 183.
+  Needless Prepositions, 180.
+  Needless Pronouns, 136.
+  Negatives, 194.
+  Negligence, Neglect, 29.
+  Neighborhood, Region, 42.
+  Neither, Either, 47, 163.
+  Neither... nor, Either, 163.
+  Never, Ever, 72.
+  Never... nor (or or), Either, 163.
+  Never, Not, 29.
+  News, 142.
+  New beginner, 191.
+  New Words, 21.
+  Nice, Nasty, 89.
+  Nicely, 89.
+  No, Each, Every, Not, 201.
+  No... no, 154, 196.
+  No, Not, 154.
+  No good, No use, 89.
+  No more than I could help, 111.
+  No use, No good, 89.
+  Nor... no, 197.
+  Nor, Or-- Pronouns, 135.
+  Nor, Or, As well as, But, Save, 201.
+  Nor... not, 197.
+  None, Singular or plural, 51.
+  Not... hardly, 196.
+  Not impossible but, 160.
+  Not... neither, Either, 163.
+  Not, Never, 29.
+  Not... or (or nor), Either, 163.
+  Not... no, 197.
+  Noted, Notorious, 94.
+  Nothing like, 94.
+  Nothing... nor, 196.
+  Notorious, Noted, 94.
+  Nouns in Apposition-- Possessive Case 126.
+  Nouns, Plural-Possessive Case, 125.
+  Nouns, Singular-- Possessive Case, 125.
+  Nowhere near so, 94.
+  Nucleus, Terminus, Fungus, 143.
+  Number, 142.
+  Number, Amount, 32.
+  Number, Lot, 116.
+  Number, Quantity, 38.
+
+  O, Oh, 90.
+  Observe, Say, 90.
+  Obsolete Words, 20.
+  Odds, Alms, Riches, 145.
+  Of any, Of all, 90.
+  Of, From, 104,176.
+  Of, In, 177.
+  "Of" redundant, 169.
+  Of, With, 176.
+  Off of, 189.
+  Older, Elder, 91.
+  Omission of Article, 182.
+  Omit the Possessive, 170.
+  Omission of Preposition, 179.
+  Omit "Of," 169.
+  Omit "To," 167.
+  Omitted Relatives-- Pronouns, 141.
+  On, Over, Upon, 104.
+  One another, Each other, 46.
+  One... they-- Agreement with Antecedent, 134.
+  One's, His, 50.
+  Only, 91.
+  Only, Alone, 113.
+  Only, Except, But, 157.
+  Onto, Upon, 92.
+  Opens up, 191.
+  Opinion, Idea, 113.
+  Oppose, antagonize, Alienate, 32.
+  Or. Nor, As well as, But, Save, 201.
+  Or, Nor-- Pronouns, 135.
+  Other, 49.
+  Other... besides, 49.
+  Other than, 159.
+  Other than, Otherwise than, 48.
+  Otherwise than, Otherwise but, 159.
+  Ottomans, Mussulmans, 145.
+  Ought, Should, Would, 102.
+  Oughtn't, Mustn't, Mayn't, Mightn't, 122.
+  Outstart, 92.
+  Over and Above, More than, 92.
+  Over, More than, 155.
+  Over, On, Upon, 104.
+  Over with, 110.
+  Overflown, Overflowed, 110.
+  Overlook, Oversee, 95.
+  Overshoes, Gums, 56.
+  Overworked Expressions, 13.
+  Owing, Due, 71.
+  Oxide of Manganese, Black, 36.
+
+  Pair, Couple, Brace, 147.
+  Pants, Gent's, 79.
+  Pappy, the Old Man, 97.
+  Parenthetical Expressions-- Pronouns, 133.
+  Part, Portion, 30.
+  Partake, Ate, 105.
+  Participles, 169,
+          After Verbs, 171.
+          Awkward Construction, 172.
+          Clearness, 172.
+          "Is building," 173.
+          "Of" redundant, 169.
+          Omit the Possessive, 170.
+          Place of, 171.
+  Party, Person, 93.
+  Patron, Customer, 93.
+  Peas, Pease, 149.
+  Pell-mell, 155.
+  Pennies, Pence, 149.
+  Per, 93.
+  Peradventure, Perchance, 93.
+  Performers, 93.
+  Period, Point, 94.
+  Perpetually, Continually, 52.
+  Person, Party, 93.
+  Perspire, Sweat, 86.
+  Persuade, Advise, 52.
+  Peruse, 78.
+  Pet Words, 12.
+  Phenomena, Data, Effluvia, 144, 204.
+  Place of Participles, 171.
+  Plead, Pleaded, 94.
+  Plenty, Plentiful, 95.
+  Plural Compounds, 147.
+  Plural Nouns, 125.
+  Pocket-handkerchief, 188.
+  Poet, Poetess, 73.
+  Poetic Terms, 9.
+  Poetical Construction, 201.
+  Point, Period, 94.
+  Politics, Acoustics, Ethics, 143.
+  Portion, Part, 30.
+  Position of Correlatives, 164.
+  Position of Preposition, 178.
+  Possessive Case, 124.
+          After of, 127.
+          Double possessives, 126.
+          Nouns, Singular, 125.
+               "       Plural, 125.
+               "       in apposition, 126.
+          Pronouns, 126.
+          Somebody else's, 127.
+  Postal, 31.
+  Posted, Informed, 86.
+  Powerful sight, 105.
+  Practical, Practicable, 31.
+  Preceding, Above, More than, 111.
+  Predicate, 31.
+  Prefer than, 31.
+  Preferred before, to, 176.
+  Prejudice, 33.
+  Prepositions, 174.
+          All of, 180.
+          At, To, 176.
+          Between, Among, 175.
+          By, In, 175.
+          Choice, 175.
+          Differ with, from, 175.
+          Different from, to, than, 176.
+          From hence, 180.
+          In, Into, 176.
+          In, On, 177.
+          In respect of, to, 176.
+          Needless prepositions, 180.
+          Of, In, 177.
+          Of, From, 176.
+          Omission of prepositions, 179.
+          Position, 178.
+          Preferred before, to, 176.
+          To, With, 177.
+          Up above, 180.
+          With, By, 177.
+          With, Of, 176.
+          With, To, 178.
+  Present, Introduce, 105.
+  Presume, Think, Believe, 33.
+  Pretend, Profess, 33.
+  Pretty, Very, 116.
+  Preventative, Preventive, 33.
+  Previous, Previously, 33.
+  Profess, Pretend, 33.
+  Promise, Assure, 34.
+  Pronouns, 129.
+          Adverbs for Relative Pronouns, 140.
+          After than and as, 132.
+              "    the Imperative, 132.
+              "    To be, 131.
+              "    Verbs and Prepositions, 130.
+          Agreement with Antecedent, 133.
+          Ambiguity, 135.
+          Case Forms, 129.
+          Choice of Relatives, 138.
+          Collective Nouns, 135.
+          Interrogatives, 130.
+          Misplaced Relatives, 141.
+          Mixed, 136.
+          Needless, 136.
+          Omitted Relatives, 141.
+          Or, Nor, 135.
+          Parenthetical expressions, 133.
+          Silent Predicate, 132.
+          The one, the other, 141.
+          Uniform Relatives, 137.
+          Which and who after and, 140.
+  Pronouns-- Possessive Case, 126.
+  Pronouns-- Personal and Relative, 129.
+  Proper Names-- Plurals, 146.
+  Propose, Purpose, 34.
+  Proposal, Proposition, 37.
+  Propose, Contemplate, 75.
+  Prospectus, Terminus, Apparatus, 148.
+  Proved, Proven, 38.
+  Providing, Provided, 37.
+  Provincialisms, 24.
+  Pupil, Scholar, 107.
+  Purity of Diction, 19.
+  Purpose, Propose, 34.
+
+  Quail, Grouse, Woodcock, 149.
+  Quantity, Number, 38.
+  Quite, Very, Rather, 153.
+  Quite a few, 38.
+  Quit, Leave, 83.
+
+  Raise, Grow, Rear, 113.
+  Rarely, Rare, 42.
+  Rather than, Other than, 159.
+  Real, Really, 42.
+  Real good, 155.
+  Rear, Raise, Grow, 113.
+  Reason, Because, 156.
+  Receipt, Recipe, 42.
+  Reckon, Guess, Calculate, Allow, 56.
+  Recollect of, 187.
+  Redundancy, 185.
+  Redundant Article, 183.
+  Redundant Negatives, 195.
+  Refer to, Allude to, 77.
+  Region, Neighborhood, 42.
+  Relieve, Alleviate, 37.
+  Remainder, Balance, 60.
+  Remit, Send, 43.
+  Rent, Lease, Let, Hire, 88.
+  Repair, Fix, Mend, 62.
+  Reply, Answer, 32.
+  Reputation, Character, 44.
+  Requisite, Requisition, Requirement, 106.
+  Resemble, Favor, 59.
+  Residence, House, 43.
+  Restaurant French, 10.
+  Revolting, 96.
+  Reverend, 182.
+  Riches, Alms, Odds, 145.
+  Ride, Drive, 76.
+  Right, Right here, Just here, 99.
+  Right smart, 73.
+  Rise up, 192.
+  Round, Square, 63.
+
+  Said, Allowed, 87.
+  Same as, Same that, 105.
+  Save, But, Or, Nor, As well as, 201.
+  Say, Observe, 90.
+  Says, States, 63.
+  Scholar, Pupil, 107.
+  Section, Region, 106.
+  Seeming Paradox, 191.
+  Seldom or ever, 106.
+  Send, Remit, 43.
+  Seraphim, Cherubim, 142.
+  Set, Sit, 80.
+  Settle up, down, 188.
+  Several, Couple, 76.
+  Sewage, Sewerage, 106.
+  Shall, Will, Should, Would, 100.
+  Shall you? Will you? 102.
+  She's, He's, It's, 123.
+  Should, Would, Ought, 102.
+  Should, Would, Shall, Will, 100.
+  Shouldn't and Wouldn't, 122.
+  Sick, Ill, 107.
+  Sight, Many, 74.
+  Silent Predicate-- Pronouns, 132.
+  Single, The first, 79.
+  Singular Nouns, 125.
+  Singular in Meaning, 201.
+  Sink down, 192.
+  Sit, Set, 80.
+  Slang, 22.
+  Slang, Commercial, Common, and Society, 23.
+  Smart, Clever, 85.
+  Smell of, 192.
+  Smells sweetly-- Adjective or Adverb? 151.
+  Sociable, Social, 106.
+  Society Slang, 23.
+  So... as, 163.
+  So far, That far, 154.
+  So nice, 155.
+  So, Such, 152.
+  Solos, Heroes, Octavos, 145.
+  Some better, 98.
+  Some means or another, 48.
+  Somebody else's, 127.
+  Somewheres, Anyways, Thereabouts, 78.
+  Sparrowgrass, Asparagus, 34.
+  Specialty, Speciality, 106.
+  Square, Round, 63.
+  Stand a chance, 110.
+  States, Says, 63.
+  Station, Depot, 43.
+  Stay, Stop, 63.
+  Stilts, 18.
+  Stop, Stay, 63.
+  Strata, Data, 144.
+  Subject after the verb, 199.
+  Subsequent, Future, 79.
+  Subtile, Subtle, 63.
+  Such as you and me-- After than and as, 133.
+  Such, So, 152.
+  Summerish, Winterish, 99.
+  Summons, 64.
+  Supply "To," 166.
+  Support, Back up, 82.
+  Sweat, Perspire, 86.
+
+  Tableaux, Beaus, Plateaus, 147.
+  Tactics, Acoustics, 143.
+  Taint, Haint, 121.
+  Take, Adopt, 37.
+  Talented, 103.
+  Taste, 7.
+  Tasty, Tasteful, 64.
+  Team, 64.
+  Teach, Learn, 88.
+  Terminus, Radius, Focus, 143.
+  Than, 48.
+  Than ambiguous, 158.
+  Thanks, I thank you, 115.
+  That, As, 70.
+  That, But, 157.
+  That far, Thus far, 154.
+  That, Lest, 159.
+  That omitted, 158.
+  That, that, 157.
+  The father he died-- Needless pronouns, 136.
+  The first, Single, 79.
+  The Honorable, the Reverend, 182.
+  The Infinitive, 166.
+  The Miss Browns-- Titles, 146.
+  The Old Man, 97.
+  The one, the other-- Pronouns, 141.
+  Them books, 137.
+  Thereabouts, Somewheres, Any ways, 78.
+  These kind, Those kind, 47.
+  These sort, Those kind, 64.
+  These, Those, 62.
+  They're, We're, You're, 123.
+  Think for, 192.
+  Thirsty, Dry, 75.
+  This much, 154.
+  This twenty years, These kind, 47.
+  Those kind, These sort, 64.
+  Through, Finished, Complete, 39, 99.
+  Throw, Fire, 78.
+  Titles of Books, 204.
+  Titles-- The Reverend, the Honorable, 182.
+  Titles with Proper Names, 146.
+  To always find-- The Infinitive, 166.
+  To, With, 177, 178.
+  To, At, 176.
+  Transpire, Happen, 65.
+  Trite Expressions, 12.
+  Truth, Veracity, 67.
+  Try and, Try to, 117.
+  Try the experiment, 67.
+  Two foot, These kind, 48.
+  Two Negatives, 194.
+
+  Ugly, 67.
+  Unbeknown, 68.
+  Underhanded, 68.
+  Under the weather, Ill, 115.
+  Unexampled, 96.
+  Uniform Relatives-- Pronouns, 137.
+  Unless, Without, 41.
+  Up above, 180.
+  Upon, On, Over, 104.
+  Utter, Express, 96.
+
+  Vacate, Evacuate, 75.
+  Valuable, Valued, 97.
+  Values, Weights, Measures, 203.
+  Veracity, Truth, 67.
+  Very, Most, Almost, 30.
+  Very much of, 153.
+  Very pleased, 97.
+  Very, Pretty, 116.
+  Very Vulgar Vulgarisms, 13.
+  Vicinity, Neighborhood, 97.
+  Vulgarisms, 13.
+
+  Want, Need, 40.
+  Wasn't, 122.
+  Way, Away, 41.
+  Ways, way, 41.
+  Weights, Measures, and Values, 203.
+  Well, Good, 153.
+  Weren't, 122.
+  We're, They're, You're, 123.
+  Wharf, Dock, 52.
+  Wharf, Wharves, 149.
+  What for that, 137.
+  What? Which? Hey? 25.
+  Whereabouts, 204.
+  Where for in which-- Adverbs for Relative Pronouns, 140.
+  Whether, If, 58.
+  Whether... Whether, 160.
+  Which? 25.
+  Which? Beg pardon, 25.
+  Which for who, 137.
+  Which? What? 25.
+  Which and who after and-- Pronouns, 140.
+  Who should I see-- Interrogatives, 131.
+  Whole, All, 41, 51.
+  Wholesome, Healthy, 52.
+  Whom do you think he is-- Interrogatives, 131.
+  Why, 187.
+  Widow woman, 186.
+  Will, Could, Can, 115.
+  Will, Shall, Should, Would, 100.
+  Will you? Shall you? 102.
+  Winterish, Summerish, 99.
+  Wish, Hope, 99.
+  With, By, 177.
+  With, Of, 176.
+  With, To, 177, 178.
+  Without, Unless, 41.
+  Woman, Female, 73.
+  Words, Anglicized, 20.
+  Words Improperly Used, 26.
+  Words, New, 21.
+  Words, Obsolete. 20.
+  Words to be avoided, 18.
+  Worse, More, 42.
+  Would better, Had better, 57.
+  Would Should, Ought, 102.
+  Would, Should, Shall, Will, 100.
+  Wouldn't, Shouldn't, 122.
+
+  You are him-- Case Forms, 129.
+  You're, We're, They're, 123.
+  You was, 204.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
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+complete and reliable, it is compact and readable. In this busy,
+bustling age it is required that the information which books contain
+shall be ready to hand and presented in the clearest and briefest
+manner possible. These volumes are replete with valuable information,
+compact in form and unequalled in point of merit and cheapness. They
+are the latest as well as the best books on the subjects of which they
+treat. No one wishing to have a fund of general information or who has
+the desire for self-improvement can afford to be without them.
+
+                        Cloth, each, 50 Cents
+                          _________________
+
+The Penn Publishing Company
+
+923 ARCH STREET                     PHILADELPHIA
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+                              ETIQUETTE
+
+                          By Agnes H. Morton
+
+There is no passport to good society like good manners. Even though a
+person possess wealth and intelligence, his success in life may be
+marred by ignorance of social customs. A perusal of this book will
+prevent such blunders. It is a book for everybody, for the select sets
+as well as for the less ambitious. The subject is presented in a
+bright and interesting manner, and represents the latest vogue.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+                            LETTER WRITING
+
+                          By Agnes H. Morton
+
+Why do most persons dislike letter writing? Is it not because they
+cannot say the right thing in the right place? This admirable book not
+only shows by numerous examples just what kind of letters to write,
+but by directions and suggestions enables the reader to become an
+accomplished original letter writer. There are forms for all kinds of
+business and social letters, including invitations, acceptances,
+letters of sympathy, congratulations, and love letters.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+                              QUOTATIONS
+
+                          By Agnes H. Morton
+
+A clever compilation of pithy quotations, selected from a great
+variety of sources, and alphabetically arranged according to the
+sentiment. In addition to all the popular quotations in current use,
+it contains many rare bits of prose and verse not generally found in
+similar collections. An important feature of the book is the
+characteristic lines from well known authors, in which the familiar
+sayings are credited to their original sources.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+                         THINGS WORTH KNOWING
+
+                          By John H. Bechtel
+
+It is a comparatively easy task to fill a book with a mass of
+uninteresting statistical matter. It is quite another thing to get
+together a vast accumulation of valuable material on all conceivable
+subjects. This book is thoroughly up to date, and embraces many
+subjects not usually found in works of this kind. It contains
+information for everybody, whether it pertains to health, household,
+business, affairs of state, foreign countries, or the planets, and all
+most conveniently indexed.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+                      A DICTIONARY OF MYTHOLOGY
+
+                          By John H. Bechtel
+
+The average person dislikes to look up a mythological subject because
+of the time occupied. This book remedies that difficulty because in it
+can be found at a glance just what is wanted. It is comprehensive,
+convenient, condensed, and the information is presented in such an
+interesting manner as when once read to be always remembered. A
+distinctive feature of the book is the pronunciation of the proper
+names, something found in few other works.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+                           SLIPS OF SPEECH
+
+                          By John H. Bechtel
+
+Who does not make them? The best of us do. Why not avoid them? Any one
+inspired with the spirit of self-improvement can readily do so. No
+necessity for studying rules of grammar or rhetoric when this book can
+be had. It teaches both without the study of either. It is a
+counsellor, a critic, a companion, and a guide, and is written in a
+most entertaining and chatty style.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+                      HANDBOOK OF PRONUNCIATION
+
+                          By John H. Bechtel
+
+What is more disagreeable than a faulty pronunciation? No other defect
+so clearly shows a lack of culture. This book contains over 5,000
+words on which most of us are apt to trip. They are here pronounced in
+the clearest and simplest manner, and according to the best authority.
+It is more readily consulted than a dictionary, and is just as
+reliable.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+                          PRACTICAL SYNONYMS
+
+                          By John H. Bechtel
+
+Any one with the least desire to add to his vocabulary or to improve
+his choice of words should have a copy of this book. It is designed
+mainly to meet the wants of busy merchants or lawyers, thoughtful
+clergymen or teachers, and wide-awake school-boys or girls who are
+ambitious to express the thoughts of the mind in more fitting phrases
+than they are at present capable of doing.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+                                TOASTS
+
+                         By William Pittenger
+
+Most men dread being called upon to respond to a toast or to make an
+address. What would you not give for the ability to be rid of this
+embarrassment? No need to give much when you can learn the art from
+this little book. It will tell you how to do it; not only that, but by
+example it will show the way. It is valuable not alone to the novice,
+but the experienced speaker will gather from it many suggestions.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+                        THE DEBATER'S TREASURY
+
+                         By William Pittenger
+
+There is no greater ability than the power of skillful and forcible
+debate, and no accomplishment more readily acquired if the person is
+properly directed. In this little volume are directions for organizing
+and conducting debating societies and practical suggestions for all
+who desire to discuss questions in public. There is also a list of
+over 200 questions for debate, with arguments both affirmative and
+negative.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+                             PUNCTUATION
+
+                          By Paul Allardyce
+
+Few persons can punctuate properly; to avoid mistakes, many do not
+punctuate at all. A perusal of this book will remove all difficulties
+and make all points clear. The rules are clearly stated and freely
+illustrated, thus furnishing a most useful volume. The author is
+everywhere recognized as the leading authority upon the subject, and
+what he has to say is practical, concise, and comprehensive.
+  _________________________________________________________________
+
+                               ORATORY
+
+                        By Henry Ward Beecher
+
+It must be conceded that few men ever enjoyed a wider experience or
+achieved a higher reputation in the realm of public oratory than Mr.
+Beecher. What he had to say on this subject was born of experience,
+and his own inimitable style was at once both statement and
+illustration of his theme. This volume is a unique and masterly
+treatise on the fundamental principles of true oratory.
+
+
+
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, SLIPS OF SPEECH ***
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