MISTAKES

WRITING
AND

ENGLISH,
HOW TO AVOID
THEM.

FOR

THE

TJS"

OF

ALL THE

WHO

TEACH,

WRITE,

OR

SPEAK

LAKOUAGR

BY

MARSHALL
AUTHOR
OP

T.

BIGELOW,
AND OTHBB

"punctuation,

TTPOOKAPHICAL

MATTERS."

THIRD

EDITION.

BOSTON:
LEE AND

SHEPARD,
NEW YORK: T.

PUBLISHERS.

CHARLES

DILLINGHAM.

1891.

Copyright,
Bt Marshall T.

1886,
Bioelow.

Uniyebsitt

Pbbss:

John

Wilson

and

Son,

Cambbidoe.

PREFACE.

A
pages
in

WRITER
the

in

Blackwood
of

once

said there has

that, *'with
is not written
one

exception
author
of

Wordsworth,

celebrated

this
without

day
some

who

two

consecutively
the

ety flagrant improprihave been

an aggerated ex-

grammar."
statement,

This

may

nevertheless the

it is very

near

the

truth

in

reference
mere

to

present time.
of the rules of mar gram-

While
does
and
own,

slavish

following

not

necessarily
writers admitted be

constitute have that for

elegant English,
their

while it

all great
must

of peculiarities
no

be

writer, however
errors

brilliant, should
that
It

excused

grammatical

might
may work

be be
on

avoided.
a

sufficient
a

reason

for
so

publishing
much has

other an-

subject
that
the
most

on

which

been

written,
from within

to

say that

object of
works
seem

it is

ent entirely differhave

of
years,

which
to

appeared
written

recent

which

have

been

iv

PREFACE,

mainly for

the purpose

of

picking every
be

flaw

possible

in the author It is teacher

criticised. that this work may of

an use

hoped
or

to

the

by pointing out, in scholar,

the
errors

rangement, arorderly

to

which
so

the

best writers any is

so

of

Englishare

liable. It is

that arranged

ular particbrief may

on

subjectmay
that be
mere a

be found, and readily

all the

full

knowledge of
No

pointstreated
has been wasted

easily acquired.
which vulgarisms is
my

space
every
one

with and

any

claim to

education
errors as

supposed to

know

avoid,but such
to be
common

has experience

shown

to

all authors A

have received
of
in

attention. particular

large number
observed

the

ungrammaticalsentences
were rected cor-

given were by they

and proof-reading, the works Others

their writers before

were

in have

which been served

occurred

published.
any
source

from appropriated
my purpose.

whenever borne
in

they

It must
erroneous

be

mind, that,in

the correction of ia
to show clearly

sentences,the main
; and

object

the

error

in

merelycorrecting

the grammar,

the sentence
cases

may

often be left inelegant,

and

in

many

should

undoubtedlybe entirely

reconstructed. In the all examples cited, either the words

printedin

Italicsare

or tautological, ungrammatical, super-

PREFACE.

fluous.
the

The

words the

inserted in brackets

are are

to

take

placeof
added

Italic words, or preceding

the sentence
name

sarily neces-

to make

correct.
an

Where

an

author's

is

given for
of

erroneous

sentence,it is done
the best writers who
are are

for the purpose

not
"

showing
even

that

no" infallible,

those

considered grammar.

standard

authorities in matters

to relating

The and of that

errors grammatical are Shakespeare

in the

of language with

the Bible any idea that in

not

pointedout

they ought to

be

but corrected,
are

to show to

writingmodem
forms.
The
"

Englishwe

not

follow archaic

short

chapter entitled
lead
one

"Construction
more

of Sentences" is there it

might given;
of the but
as

to

expect

than

that is
so

the precisely

matter

to which

it is relates,

entitled, though a thoroughtreatment

of itself require volume. a
are

would subject

In the of the

Appendix

given rules
I have

for the formation

to

in plural,

which

ventured
matter

propose

change which
which
as

this simplifies
no

very

much, and

I have

doubt

will be

generally approved,
I have

in the

line of true rules

on as

reform. spelling

also

given some
remarks
authors

to

with compound words,together with which

some

matters typographical

ought to

be

acquainted.

vi

PREFACR

Besides

the

Grammars

of

Murray,
and

Goold

Brown,
I have

Professors
^

Whitney frequent
use

and

Tweed,
Prof. A. S.

others,
Hill's

made

of

"Principles

of

Rhetoric,"
Faults and

Prof.

A.

P.

Peabody's
the various

"Conversation,

its

its

Graces,"
White,
and

publications
Mathews's

of

Mr.

Richard

Grant

and

Professor

"Words,
works I

their

Use

Abuse,"

and

to

all

these

am

greatly

indebted.

M.

T.

BIGELOW.

Cambridge,

October

5,

1886.

CONTENTS.

CHATTIB

PAOI

I.

Use

of

ths

Abticlb
"

II.

The

Nominative

Case

akd

the

Verb
. .

13

III.

The

Possessite

Case

21

IV.

The

Objective

Case

24

y.

'

Pronoun

and

Antecedent

25

VI.

"

The

Subjunctive

Mood

30

VII:

The

Infinitive

Mood

31

VIII.

Tense,
Shall

or

Time

34

IX.

and

Will,
Lay.

Should

and

Would
. .

.36

X.

Lie

and

"

Set

and

Sit
....

42

XI.

Use

Op

the

Participle

45

XII.

Adjectives

and

Adjective

Pronouns
. .

48

XIII.

Adverbs

55

XIV.

Relative

Pronouns

60

XV^

Double

Negatives

64

XVI.

Correlatives

'66

VIU

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

PAGI

XVII.

CONJtTNCTIONS

69

XYIII.

Prepositions

72

XIX.

Construction

of

Sentences
.....

76

XX.

Tautological

and

Superfluous

W(irds
.

78
"

XXI.

Miscellaneous

Words

and

Phrases
.

.81
"

APPENDIX.

I.

Formation

of

the

Plural

89

n.

Compound

Words

93
.....""

III.

Some

Ttpographical

Matters
.

.100
.
. "

INDEX

1""7

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

CHAPTER
USES
OF THE

I.

ARTICLE.

"
used

1.

ov a noun a

an

ia the

indefinite It

and article,
can
"

cannot

be

with
a
"

plural noun.
of multitude
; and
"

be
an

used, however,
"

before

etc. fleet,"

in

"many

phrases like many a flower,"etc.

^ is used
or a a

dred,'* huna army," also with a pluralsignification " a man," a gem," many
; as,

"

2.

before

all words

beginning with
an,

consonant,

consonant

sound;
or a

before

all words

beginning with "a woman,"

"such
a

true vowel

silent h; as, "a

man,"

honest."

youth," "a European," "a unit," one," "a harpoon," "a harangue," "a hypocritical "an Indian," "an angel," "an hour," "an The words unit, European, really begin with
"a

the consonant of w; often

sound

of y, and

one

begins with
not an,

the sound which is

they therefore require a, and erroneously used before these

similar

and

other

words

beginning with
There before
a

combinations.
the
rule

is

an

exception to
as

for the

use

of

consonant

to

words

"beginningwith

h, of

10

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

more or case a

which have either a primary syllables, the second syllable, in which accent on secondary is used; as, "an "an historian," an rapher," historiog"an "an harpooner," hypothesis."^ than two definite articlethe may be used before any whether singular or plural, except abstract terms, The of The sciences. or vices, virtues, omission
common

" 3.
noun,
or names

" 4.
**The

of the articlewhere
; as,

it should

be

used is very
be

and [the] literal meaning of words should metaphorical distinguished." from both the Greek and [the] **But the French pilfered

Latin."
of

[a]blue star may produce photographic images equalintensity." elected." **The president and [the] were secretary "The indebtedness of the English to the French,[the] Latin,
'*

A red and

and

Greek [the] "These

"

is disclosed in almost every sentence." uttered by the artist, the mechanic,and terms are in the native, ; the nomi-

husbandman." [the]
Nouns

have three cases language English and [the] objective." possessive, [the] treasurer

"

*The holds
means

who

means

one
'

dog
1

means

one means secretary' person *the treasurer and the secretwo tary' offices; two officers. *A black and white dog' animal ; a black and a white parti-colored black and one white. two dogs, The one
*
*

and

Worcester's rule for the

use

of

an

before h is
own

as well defective,

as^Webster's ; and each of them violates his

says that an are accented

rule.

Worcester
h which be used

should be used before all words

on

with beginning the second syllable; Webster,that it should

before all words and

to according

banning
both

with h which

are

accented
"

but the first. Yet

Worcester

write, very properly, a which even gives **a hxirpooner"

syllable poon," hotel," a haron

any

"

is wrong

either rule.

USES

OF

THE

ARTICLE.

11

honest and
and
two

the

those who are both honest are intelligent 'the honest and the intelligent' are intelligent; classes : one, composed of those who are honest ; The following other,of those who are intelligent. is therefore defective that the
:
*

'

sentence

The

council and

synod maintained [the]

impliednot
context

any

unity in the
tha council

the person consciousness.' The

was one

unity of

shows

that

body, the

synod another."^
is followed " 5. Wlienever the present participle immediatelyby o/, it should be preceded by the definite article; as,
'*It is [the] drawingof
or
"

conclusion which

was

before

known un-

dark."
extreme

Prompted by
In

he persisted in [the] vanity, writing

of bad verses."
** "

of his sentences he was very exact." [the] framing From of names he proceeded to blows." [the] calling

But

and if the article will be

the

these of are both omitted,

sentences

correct. equally

" 6.
in the
" **

Articles

are

also often inserted

"

as erroneously,

: following examples

That What What

is the kind of
sort of
a

man

of whom
"

we
"

are

speaking."

charm
a

**

of species
to whom

theypossess ? is this? reptile

an
"

do

has been given oi^nization have active minds." Ayres,Verbalist, p. 192. generally of a gentleman." He is entitled to the appellation the Mufti is the head of the ministers of law The one styled and religion." than a linguist" He was a better mathematician
"

Men

this kind of

"

"

**

The

article should not and

1

be used between which it governs;

104.

the possessive
as,

case

the

noun

of Hill's Principles

Rhetoric, p.

12

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

**Prescott*s
of
*'

Th6

Conquest

of

Mexico/
"

and

his

The

quest Con-

Peru.'

"

Howells's

*A *A

Chance
Year in

Acquaintance.' Spain.'
"

"Cushing's
This* is

equivalent
be

to

saying
all in

"his

the and

book." the

The

foregoing examples
articles section. should

are

wrong, all the

Italicized
in this

omitted

examples

" 7.

The

definite

and

the

indefinite
:

article

are

times some-

improperly
**An
**

used
the

together
emblem

as, United of
two

[the] eagle is diphthong

of the

States." vowels in
one

is the

[a] combination

syllable."

"
noun,
noun

8.

Where the is

two

or

more

adjectives qualify
precede
each

the

same

article
in

must

adjective
the

if the

put

the

singular, but
as,

only

first if the

noun

is made
"The
"The

plural;
and and

nominative nominative
a

the

objective case."
sases."

objective
must

But
noun

plural
be

verb

be

used

in either

case,
as, the
and the

as

the

is to
**In
a

understood

after each

adjective ;
fifth,and

sonnet,

the'firat,the
;
so

fourth, the

eighth
seventh

line

usually rhyme
and

do

the
and

second, third, sixth,

thirteenth

lines, the

ninth, eleventh,
fourteenth and

lines, and
both

tenth,

twelfth,
"The Christians

lines." New
be

Old

the

Testament

are

believed

by

generally to

inspired.'

THE

NOMINATIVE

CASE

AND

THE

VERB.

13

CHAPTER
THE NOMINATIVE CASE

II.

AND

THE

VERB.

of a subject alwaysgoverns the verb, sentence, or the nominative, and person. both in number violations Very common of this rule in conversation are the use of You 2^a"," He donX' for for You were,"and of He does n't." The rule is often carelessly violated in writing, although
noun or

" 9.

The

pronoun

which

is the

"

"

"

"

in

many

cases

it is difficult to

determine the actual

incorrect

nominative.
usage
lost." "What is bad ?
" "

The

are following examplesof

"

"The

steamer, with the

crew

and

passengers,

were

[was]
practice

when [signify] good opinions, signifies

our

In

and piety

the happiness of man." virtue consist [consists]

"A
us

and qualities of opinions conformity prepare

[prepares]

"

friendship." away." Day after day pass [passes] how with the Governor, decide [decides] **Tlie Legislature,
shall he

for

expended." what the show [shows] "The whole scope of these provisions was." of the Legislature object and conflagrations ploy emNothing less than murders,rapine, their thoughts." [employs] economist after another have [has] "One against protested
the State taxes
"

some

other of the articlesof the old Ricardian creed." " pieces masterThe second book of the ^neid is one of the greatest executed by any hand." that ever was [were] been written of the best that has [have] "This letter is one
one or

about Lord

Byron."

H
"To
**

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.
"

these

are precepts

selection of a copious [is] subjoiued

of grammar, of Bentley, his study, of Bolingbroke,
"

rules and The

never

maxims."
of Addison in matters authority

who

made

Pope, and
"The and attacked."

English grammar are The English others, [is] nothing." Harrison,

of

the

Langiiage,
conduct the Administration
at

towards

the

nies, Colo-

of the Commissioners

Boston,were

[was]wamily

"The conduct of the Administration Better, toperhaps, wai*ds the Colonies, well as that of the Commissioners as at Boston, was warmly attacked." nies, Or, "The conduct of the Administration towards the Coloand that of the Commissioners at Boston, were warmly attacked." "That recedes and Con'ect
moment

the

world,and its falsestandards and prizes,

moment

into falls
as

its place."

follows: "That recedes prizes,

or more

the

world,with its false^

in the singular
two
or more necting con-

standards and

into its place." and falls

or

" 10.

Two

nouns

pronouns
case,
or or

number, in the nominative whether connected by and clauses,

without any

verb. As, a plural require particle,

"

to change earth itself, are doomed." "Art, empire, one answer Reason,virtue, greataim." to recommend conspire "Virtue, honor, even self-interest,

the measure."
"

and private consideration, Patriotism, morality, every public

our

demand

submission to lawful

government."
therefore
erroneous
:
"

The

are following examples

and "Tranquillity "By whose power

"

there." peace dvoells [dwell] distributed." all good and evil is [are]

For woman's

fear and love holds

"

Man,
The

woman

too,craves

quantity." Hamlet, [hold] ing, feeland lifeis action, life, [crave]

"

variety."
purpose and the onlydirect effect of the evidence is to show that the witness is not to be believed." [are]
"

"The

letterand the

of spirit

the statute is

defeated." [are]

THE

NOMINATIVE

CASE

AND

THE

VERB.

15

" 11.
same

When
or

two

or

more

nominatives verb

stand for the be in

person

the subject,

governedmust

the
'*

singular; as,
This
-

was

**

of leamiDg, and antiquary, this scholar, critic, prodigy and civility." destitute of breeding entirely and jioet banished from his country." "The philosopher was for us." Such a Saviour and Redeemer is actually provided Whose course icycurrent and compulsive Ne'er feelsretiring ebb, but keepsdue on." recorded in the regis**The said deed and conveyance is now try
"

of
**

and deeds,
etc.

at

the time said deed and conveyance

was

corded," re-

for its own is worth seeking Truth,and truth only,

In this mutual
we

sake." wonderful

"

**

influence there is fathom."

wisdom,a

wisdom, which
"This

cannot

in the midst of this exertion of reason self-command, both to please and to persuade." has a wonderful effect, passion, is evident in everything." "A purpose, a design, an intention, ** You for the ideal, create a fastidiousness, a which craving

compelsmany
wanderera

of the

sons

of rank and

fortune to become

weary

in

lands." foreign

whether nominatives, are by a7id or unconnected, qualified by each,no, or not, the verb must be singular ; as,

" 12.

Where

two

or

more

nected con-

every,

**

Every man,
Each
No

woman,

and child knows

this to be so."

"

"

and ofScer receives his allottedshare." soldier, seaman, no grim sandstone, no rugged chalk, glaring flint, outface

it." [outfaces]
"

Not

bird and not

not beast,

tree and not

was shrub,

to be seen,"

nominatives are " 13. WTiere two or more singular separated by or, nor, as well as, or other disjunctive, "bein the singular; the verb must as,
"The
"

**

Celeste of Laplace, M^canique of any thoughtwhatever. not the outcome were [was] Not a weed nor a blade of grass loere [was] to be seen. Prescott as well as Ticknor make [makes] this statement.
or
"

of Newton, Principia

the

f*

16
**

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

**

* *

**

^wd [finds]." listening ear, an object Neither character nor dialogue were [was] yet understood." No monstrous or length or breadth, height, appear [appears]. the i n other of them are [is] the wrong." Either one or
Nor eye,
nor
"

" 14. But where either of two or more nominatives in the foregoing as section, separated by a disjunctive, the verb should also be plural. The followis plural, ing
sentences "Neither
"It is not
are

incorrect :
nor

"

riches
his

a man*s [affect] poverty affects

ness." happi-

that or or gifts, culture, exceptional beauty,

him this distinction." gives [give] the shai*e or death of any such children, to be divided among shares of such deceased children is [are]
**

In

case

of the

his

or

her brothers and sistei-s."

"They
rupts or
sentence

fawn upon every one whose faults inter' or negligence retards their lessons." (Change and the faultsto fault,
is correct.)

"An

example or
entire
mass

two

is

sufficientto [are]

illustratethe general

observation." "The
remains hand
or the earthquakes,

undisturbed exceptwhere erosion, of man, lias [have] mutilated it."^

" 15.
many
1

word
or

in

persons
Some

number singular indicating called a collective noun or things,

where
and singular must

the

in grammarians say, that, pluralnominative are separatedby

cases a

the verb disjunctive,

the servants agree with the nominative nearest to it; as, "Neither is the master "Neither the writings the author nor nor respected;"
is in existence."

Goold is the the verb

Brown

says,

" farther,

But

where is

the remoter

nominative

expressedparenthetically, only by implication with the latter," and cites the following examples: "One example ten says nothingagainst it" (LeighHunt) ; "A or or parenthesis, consists of two angularstrokes, or or brackets, one hooks,enclosing words." I think,however, that all such sentences are un'^ore
nearer

word, and the principal

with the former, and agrees literally

immatical.

THE

NOMINATIVE

CASE

AND

THE

VERB.

17

word indicating of or a a portion multitude, verb or pronoun such a noun, requires where a plural is conveyed. As, the idea of plurality
noun

of

"The
''Dana

troopwhich followed Crastinus were volunteers." believes that a part of the Achsean rocks are fossilhave acknowledged the greaterpart of philosophers

iferous."
**The

excellemje of this
**

government."
men

A number

of

and

women

were

present."
"

The
"The "A

sentences following
was assembly

are

therefore incorrect :
in Us

portion of

divided [were] the assembly was

sentiments." [their] [were]opposed to the

measure."
to **By not attending
a

number

this rule many have been comerrors mitted, of which is [are] further as a subjoined,
"

caution and Rule

"

direction to the learner."

s Murray* Chraminarf

XX. Yet
a

potent fraction of the noblesse

was

also [were]

of the

new

faith." mentions "Butler, in his History, the fact that there

name wa^

number a large [were]

of persons of that

in the town."

But where
a

the idea of the collective noun

must

is singular,

verb singular
**

be used.

As,
was

The

troopwhich

followed Crastinus

made

up

of vol-

luiteers."
"

The court of Rome House

were

"The
reasons."
"

of Lords

not without solicitude." [was] much influenced by these were [was]

An

army

of many

thousands

were

assembled." [was]
to he

native having the nomiafter the verb as well as before it, where case nominative is singular, and the other is plural, one or consists of two or more or more or two singular nouns, the nominative preceding the verb clauses, or following natural meaning, to the more according may govern it,

" 16.

The

intransitiveverb

18
to

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

or

the
:
"

more

immediate

proximityof

the

verb, as

follows
**

The

**

wages of sin is death." Whatever we have,and whatever

matter

we

are, above the level of in temperately proceed

is a barbarism,
"To

of
in

growth."
and views,
to

be moderate

our

the

the best way to insure success." of them, are [is] pursuit To do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God, of universal obligation." is a duty [are duties] is but one offence." An offerto selland actually selling the cross to the presenthalls is [are] *'The only objection of the wall cases." which fallupon some lights
** '*

"This

and dwelling-house

the land under

it is the

property

soughtto be divided."
**

His illness was

and pleurisy

rheumatism."

" 17.
followed

sum a

by

of money, in the verb ; as, singular

plural form,is usually

"Twenty dollars was subscribed by him." thousand pounds was lost in this speculation." Fifty ''Three hundred thousand dollars is to constitute the capital
"

of the

company."
title of
a

The

book

in the

number plural

should be

followed
"Dr.

by

verb. singular
'American 'Memoirs

As,
was

Holmes's
in 1805."

Annals' of the

at published

bridge, Cam-

EarlyItalian Painters* upwardsof thirty biographies." comprises which are plural in " 18. Several words in English
"Mrs.

Jameson's

form

are

used in the

number, and singular

the
names

with

gular sin-

endingin as mathematics, ethics^ ics^ hydraulics, optics, etc.;also instrument or object an as by which to news, means attain an end or purpose, and pains in the sense of
are

verb.

Such

of sciences

toilsome effort or

severe

labor.^

See

infra, page

49.

THE

NOMINATIVE

CASE

AND

THE

VERB.

19

The

word

whereabouts with

as a

noun

is often
; as,

erroneously
to him."

used in newspapers
"The whereabouts

verb plural
were

of the child

unknown [was]

is a better form Acquaintance acquaintances ; and folk is better

''And
"

for the than

than plural folks. As,

theysought him
Luke
u.

among

their kinsfolk and safe at

ance." acquaint-

44,

'

**

Behold two thirds of

our

company

their home, telling

strangeadventures

to relativesand

acquaintance."

"As

the words

cherubim and

the terms

cherubims

seraphimare plurals, the as seraphims, expressing

as

and

are plural, quiteimproper."^ The plural is often used effluvia "a disagreeable ejluvia.'*

if

singular; as,
Musplural

Mussulmen

is often used for the proper in the

sulmans,^
The titles Mr., Mrs.,and Miss
are plural

spectively re-

sieurs Messieurs, Mesdames, and Misses ; as. MesMesdames Barrett and Thompson, Eothschild, Misses Smith. The
surname

should

never

be made

after a title. plural " 19. A very common number .025 is to

use

error

in

.38 as miles, any decimal it number, no matter of how many or how few figures is less than the whole number fore consists, one, and therecannot be plural. The above expressions mean 48 ten-thousandths of a grain; 25 thousandths of a mile ; 38 hundredths of a yard; and consequently the number should be used in all three cases, singular mile, yard. grain,
"

after plural yards. This is wrong, the

writinga decimal it; as, .0048 grains,

1 3

Dr.

Campbell'sPhilosophyof

Rhetoric.

For the formation of the

see Appendix L plural,

20

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

"

20.
use

The

words
must

alternative iu
a

aud

dilemma
as

iu

their of
two

correct these

be

the

singular number,
in which
or
one

each of

words and

indicates of
two

position
can

things,
The

only,

be the

done
use

can

happen.
are

following examples
to
a now

of

of

alternative

contrary
**

the

true

signification.
of food
was

Not

mouthful before
us

left,and
a

the

alternatives

native] [alteror no

were

[was]

twelve-mile

paddle
with
the

supper."
**

Unless

the

reference
we are

is credited

as

inconsistent

ceding pre-

statement,
**An
more ever

driven

to

the
an

only

other

alternative."
with
two
or
'

argument

which
is

presents

antagonist

alternatives^ but
alternative
he

equally
"

conclusive Webster's

against him, Dictionary,

which-

chooses."

under

Dilemma. *'Mr.
to

Gladstone's
that

manifesto
is the

does

not

offer

single argument
to

prove

coercion
Mr. Mr.

only alternative
gave
one

policy
alteniative

home
other

rule

for

Ireland.

Chamberlain John
to

than

coercion, and
that it
was

Morley
govern

suggested
Ireland
as

fourth, by admitting
Crown

possible
made

colony.

It must
to

be

clear

that

there

is another

alternative, namely,
affairs."
"

give

Ireland June

local
1886
"

control

of

her

local

London

Times, The

14,

(cable despatch).
either
the

expression
seen,

horn
true

of

the

dilemma

"

is frequently word.

showing

significationof
the
correct
case.
"

the
;
"

The

following example
*'

shows
in
or a

usage

A To

strong
act

dilemma

desperate

with

infamy

quit

the

place."

Swift.

THE

POSSESSIVE

CASE.

21

CHAPTER
THE

III.
CASE.

POSSESSIVE

" 21.
nouns

All

nouns

in the

number, singular
any

and

all

in the

",

form the and

plural endingwith case by the possessive

the letter s;
as,

other letter than

addition of the apostrophe

When the

dren's, chilman's, men's,child's, duchess's. Felix's, witness's, Charles's, Hastings's, the singular ends in ", sh,ch soft, noun ce, se, or x,

and s makes apostrophe possessive another syllable countess's, Mackintosh's, ; as, James's, fox's. It is therefore just church's, horse's, justice's, to omit the plural as proper es in Charleses, countesses, or churches, as to omit the '" in the jttstices, boxes, horses, in any proper name above given, cases or posses^ve ending either with s or any other of the letters or mentioned. digraphs The only exceptions to this rule are that in poetry the additional and that
a s

addition of the

may

be elided for the sake of the meter

"

like for righteousness' sake," phrases, " "for conscience' sake," for goodness' sake," "for Jehave become from longusage established as ^^^fius^-eake," idioms. The following examples are consequently and require the addition of s after the erroneous, apostrophe.
"Moses' "Festus "These minister."
into Felix' room."
were

few

"Phinehas'wife."
came answers

made

to

the witness' questions."

22
"

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

large company
Poems."

attended the countess*

party."

"The
**

administratrix' sale."

Burns'

**

Mr. James' novel of

Philip Augustus."

"

" 22.

the 8; churches'.

ending in s form the possessive the addition simplyof an apostrophe after by horses*, Jameses', countesses', foxes', as, boys*,
plural nouns
in the

All

never case possessive written kera, its^ ours, yours, theirs. The indefinite pronouns 07ie and other, however, form the possessive in the same ; as, way with nouns
**

" 23* .Personal pronouns take the apostrophe, but are

One is apt to lose one's self."

**

Your

little hands

were

never

made

To tear each other's eyes."

''Shine with such lustre as the tear that flows

Down

Virtue's two

manly cheek
or more

for others' woes."

" 24.
case are

Where

nouns

in the refer to

possessive
the
to
same

connected

by and,

and

noun,

the
one

last

is sign of the possessive only; as,

annexed

the

"John "This
"

and Eliza'sbooks."
was

my

father, mother, and uncle's advice.**

and children's shoes for sale here." and Mechanics' Bank."
man

Men,

women,

"The

Farmers

''Henryand
James's
or

William's teacher is a

of

more

than leaniiiig

Andrew's."
a

But

where

word disjunctive

or

words
; as,

are

used,the

signmust
" * '

be annexed
John's
or

to each word Eliza'shooks."

They are

the She had thiephysician's,

as well surgeon's,

as

the

ecary's apoth-

assistance."

"They

relieve neither the

any

Tior boy's

"Without

but impediment

his

distress." girl's or own, his parents',

the

his

will." guardian's

THE

POSSESSIVE

CASE.

23 constitute

"Where

two

nouns

are

in

or apposition,

the possessive title, signis annexed

"For
"Give
**

to the last ; as,

David
me

my

servant's sake." the head." Baptist's prerogative.'" England's

John

It is the

Queen of

"The

Mayor

of Boston's address."

" 25. In some signification cases, having a peculiar the possessive case signmay be used after the objective and the possessive of; as,
of Dr. Franklin's." discovery This picture of my friend's." of the emperor's." "A subject
"

It

was

"

"A

fiiend of General

Grant's."

Meaning,
"

It

was

one

of Dr.

Franklin's discoveries."
my

"This
"
"
~

to picture belonging

friend."

One One

of the

emperor's subjects."
is signof the possessive : following
"

of General Grant's friends."

" 26.
cases

The

often omitted

in

like the

*'A
seven
"

lens photographic
mckcs

of

seven

vMihes

aperture and thirty-

focus

was

procured."
and after a twenty 'milts walk." fatigued

They
the

arrived weary

Either the
or

words

should apostrophe varied so as expression in the objective case.

be used
to

put

in these cases, the Italicized

" 27. Anybody else^sis often seen in print ; it should be "anybody'selse." We might as well say, "any bird else's nest,""any boy else's hat," etc.
For

the incorrect
case,
see

use

of the article before the

sessive pos"

ante, pages

11,

12.

The shown

use

of the

before possessive

the

is participle

infra, pages 45, 46.

24

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

CHAPTER
THE

IV.
CASE.

OBJECTIVE

" 28.
made and

Errors in the
cannot

case

which

occur

often are pronoun in the noun, the nominative

of the

cases objective E.g.:

"

in pronouns

havingdifferent forms.
no

"Through whom or spoke,

Dickens. "Let the
**

the

those two, ensuingdialogue, looked addressed, the fulness

"

matter

who
"

[who]was
roar, and

at each other."

sea

thereof;the world,and
xcviii.7. Bums.
him

that they[them] And "It whom

"

dwell therein."

Psalm

This lifehas
not the work

you and / [me], joysthat riches ne'er could buy."

joys for
of
so

"

was

eminent

an

author

as

[he]to
his

it was
For

imputed." [who]he thoughtwere

old friend !
"

the benefit of those whom

friends."
"

Who

[whom] should

see

but my

**Thou
"

"

"

"

"

"

**

"

"
,

Nature,partial Nature,I arraign."Burns. [Thee], Between you and /[me]." "^^'*' He can read better than me [I]."ceuvi. It was him [he]." Whom [who]do you think I am ? W?u) [whom] do you take me for ? I saw a ladywhom I supposed to be she [lier]." It might have been him [he] who did it." Let ?ie [him]who made thee answer that." Byron. Let they[them] who raise the spell beware the fiend."
"

"

"

"

It must
same
case

be remembered after
as

that the neuter verb has the

mood

it,and that the imperative the objective after it. case requires
before

PRONOUN

AND

ANTECEDENT.

25

CHAPTER
PRONOUN
AND

V.
ANTECEDENT.

" 29. A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in a plural number, and person. gender, Consequently cannot nor antecedent, agree with a singular pronoun antecedent. The with a plural a singular pronoun incorrect : following examplesare accordingly
"

"No

one

will answer,

as

if I

were

their

friend [his]

or

panion." com-

inemoirs;everybodyhas "Everybody nowadays publishes recollectionswhich theythink [hethinks] worthy of recording." of their [its] that own "Every Colony has snch pecaliarities if we had numbers and wealth theyare [itis]so fond of,that,
the Colonies would sufficient,
"

never

unite." the narrative of the

There is flatcontradiction here between

those of

Jesuit and

contemporary Englishwriters." (Put the narratives for those.) Council suggest that the action of the New "The York of Boston and Society be iipitated by those [the Societies]
"

Baltimore."
But

if

customer
are

to

it,you disfigure
"She
each

wishes you to Injure their [his] or foot, to refuse tlieir [his] pleasure." Rnskin.
"

studied his countenance

like

an

and Inscription,

ciphere de-

that crossed it, and stored them, [it] raptexpression

in her

memory."

"30. "There should not be a mixture of *thou' and 'you' in the same Thus Thackeray: passage. round So, as thy sun rises over the'humble house-tops about your home, shall you wake many a day to duty and labor.* So Cooper: *Tkou hast both master and
'

26 mistress: would

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGMSH.

you

have

told

us

of the

the

but latter,

we

know

something of

former.

Who

is

thy

miasterr"^

" 31.
nouns

Where

the antecedent

consists of two whether

or

more

in the
or
**

number, singular
must

connected

by

and

not,the pronoun
Did
ever

be in the

plural.As,
"

Merlin, Proteus, any witch,

themselves
so

as the rich ? strangely heaven itself, now Faith, justice, quittheir hold." **Both minister and magistrate to choose be^ are compelled tween his [their] duty and his [their] reputation." Such unconunon and goodness in iJts was generosity [were] nature liable to misconstruction, and we accordingly find [their] U has [they have]been misconstrued."
**
'*

Transform

But where antecedent pronoun

"This "The

the two refer to be

or

more same

nouns

the

person
statesman

the constituting the or subject,

must

As, singular.
continued
in

and great philosopher

public try regis-

lifetillhis eightieth year." said deed and conveyance and at the time it was of deeds,
is
now

recorded in the

etc. recorded,"

of two one or antecedent, consisting " 32. A plural or more by each^every^ noy or not^ nouns, if qualified in the singular. a requires pronoun
"

Each

of

them, in

their

turn, received [his]

othera produces

the reward

to

which
"

theywere

[hewas]entitled."
every tree after their

and Every plant sisters were

[its]

kind." "Both and of "No their "Not each felt for the other, uncomfortable; for (AewweZfe*

course

no policeman,

[herself]." and no citizen employee,

dared to lift

hand." [his]
and not a camp-follower not a soldier, caped esofficer, health." to their [his] permanent injury
an

Bain^s

Grammar. Composition

PRONOUN

AND

ANTECEDENT.

27
or

" 33.
nouns

Where

an

antecedent consists of two

vxiVy
as

more

by or, separated the pronoun disjunctive,

*'

must

well as, or any other be singular. As,

When

you

press
nor

watch,or pulla clock, they answer

[it

answers] your
"Neither
once

with question

precision."
retain

Venice
is

Genoa

the [retains]

rank

they[it]

held." "There
no

evidence that either Charles I.

their

or

Charles II.
of happiness

deemed
their
"

while [his] subjects." [his]

it worth

to consult the

When

do

we

ever

find a well-educated
an

or Englishman

man French-

embarrassed

by

of ignorance

the grammar

of their

[his]
erringly un-

languages? They respective

; and then at the idea

first learn it

and practically

knowing one
any rule at

to look back and smile theychose [choose] of havingproceeded without by a number of rules, of them by heart,or beingconscious that theyhad

if

this is a philosophical amusement all, of their

own [his]

; but who

ever

thinks of

the grammar learning

tongue before
"
"

they are

? [he is a] very good grammarians [grammarian]

Sydney Smith.

" 34.
noun

Where

an

antecedent

is

the pronoun multitude, intended to be conveyed. to the sense according In many be or plural cases, either the singular may but both cannot properly be used together. employed, A report of a committee is hardly made without ever violation of this rule.
"A

of

collective noun, or must be plural singular or

a

E. g. :
are

"

to keeprecords, not required [is] and their [its] if theyappoint[itappoints] clerk, one, is not a officer." certifying

board of selectmen

Council desire^ in the name of the Institute, to express its [their] to the individual subscribers for their gengratitude erous

"

The

gifts.'*
**

If the

of the

in violation committee leaves to an officer, investing the authority vestment into make duty imposed upon them [it],
etc.

28

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

" 35. The use of antecedent expressed

**

pronoun

without
common

any

properly
; as,

is a very

error

of a resignation till postponethe formality I should return to America then,and has been ever ; which was I should return," to take place since, expected very soon." For
I desired him
to
**

read my return. "Nor will anythingfurther than mentioned

now

the

I have preparations is }ohich meets,"

be resolved upon before Parliament meets, fixed for the 4th of January." For "Parliament

read the

meeting of Parliament.
man

"The
"Be
"

opposed me,
fallof

which which
snow

was

anticipated."
will learn

attentive,without
tremendous than ten

you

A
more

rendered his

days. When the roads received littlepracticable, they successively

for of the Chevalier into
etc. frontiers,"

nothing." departure impossible began to become a

news

of the retreat

then that he had abandoned Scotland,

the

from Scott's Waverley," the his quotation refers to Waverley in the in the firstsentence correctly sentence ; the he in the last clause stands preceding for the Chevalier ; but thephas no antecedent correctly Read news was successively whatever. for they received, received news." successively In this
" "

"When
many,

Germanicus
was no

he

and right,

tjlerproposedto Tiberius to subjugate the Emperor was wrong in opposing it,'*

Here it has

antecedent ;

change

"

to

subjugateto

"

stcbju-

gationof.
"The
to the
a

filled the blank in the certificate, and sent it purchaser corporation, demandingthat the transfer be recorded and
whicJi issued,
was

new

be certificate

refused."

For "demanding," and

read vrith a demxi7id.

"

Governor

Winthrop tellsus
with t?iem

the Sabbath minister."

visiting Agawam, [whom?],as they were

of

ing spenda

without

" 36. Sentences

antecedent of
a

are

often
is

so

constructed that the

so

pronoun

or doubtful,

that the

PRONOUN

AND

ANTECEDENT.

29

pronoun intended
"He

grammatically

refers

to

an

antecedent

not

by

the

writer.

As,

that to distinguished philosopher e. Philip] wrote [i. in terms [i. e. Aristotle] polite and flattering, begging of him and his [Alexander's] undertake to come education, and bestow
on

hirn. those
man

useful
to

lessons possess, rendered

of

magnanimity
which
his

and

virtue

which

every
merous

ought
associations

and

[i.e. Philip's]nuhim

impossible for
troubled while the
one

[Philip]."
"

Goldsmith,
"Montcalm the
that

History of
had

Chreece,
a

passed
till

night.
Genei-al in the and
was

Troops
the

lined field

intrenchments

day,

walked

adjoined by
the
says
rest etc.

his

till head-qua]:;ters Johnstone

morning,

panied accom-

Chevalier that
lie

Colonel

Poulariez.

Johnstone
took
no

[Montcalm]
At

in

great agitation,and
heard the
sound of

all

night.

daybreak

he

cannon,"
Here

he

grammatically refers
to stand
the the

to

Johnstone, though it

is

evidently intended
"Mr. Smith that he consulted
must he

for Montcalm.

and spirits, best

they rapped
he

out

the with

answer

make

settlement

could
"

Mr.

Ingalls,or
which had

would

only that

Mr.

lose all his fine estate, infallibly Ingalls had originally held, and which

not

he

[Mr. Smith]
Benjamin
he had

obtained
"

for almost
also

nothing

from

the

heirs which

of

Pai'sons,
its full

but

the

adjoining parcel, for

refers

paid
the

value.*'

Here

Italicized would
sentence

he be
so

grammatically
understood

to

Mr.

Ingalls, and taking

article that the in

by
from it

the the is

reader

by
refer

itself; but
to

whole evident

which

the
to

sentence

appears, Mr.

he

is meant

Smith.

30

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

CHAPTER
THE

VI.
MOOD.

SUBJUNCTIVE

doubt or indecisio or future contingency, the verb should be in or a wish,is expressed, the subjunctive mood; as,

" 37.

Where

**

"*

**

I will consent to stay." [come], small." are [be] We may live happily, thoughour possessions he." And so would I, if I was [were] if it vxls [were] whom I could name A certain lady necessary." unless he reperUs He will not be pardoned, [repent]." Od

condition that he

comes

**The
as
**

word

heirs* appears to have

were

been used

by the

tor testa-

if it was

word." a general [were] here."

so

I wish that he

"

Would

that it might be
a

"

But

where

conditional circumstance which

is not

future is
as,

the expressed,

verb should be in the indicative;

the way, he does not need a guide." [knows] If art become [becomes] it disgusts the reader." apx)arent, Whether the translation loere [was] I am ever published, whollyignorant" If a man have [has] built a house,the house is his."
**

If he know

"

**

**

" 38. put in

**

The

verb in connected

clauses should not be

dififerent moods; as,

one

it is [will be] no body of legislators, better than a tyranny; if there are [be]only two, there will want a casting voice." " But \f^i|.climb, hands, wijh your assisting The Tt^^i^I^ staiids" ind in the city "*" """ Dryden's TiT^.
"*

If there be but

THE

INFINITIVE

MOOD.

31

CHAPTER
THE INFINITIVE

VII.
MOOD.

to, as the sign of the " 39. The particle omitted ; as, mood^ is often improperly
**
"

infinitive

eration, It is necessary to act with more or with greatermodvigor subdae them to conciliate them or [to] completely,
as

altogether." insert points Please [to] so

'*

to make

sense.'*

*'

But it would

tend to

elucidate the obscure,rather than [to] weaken nor^[to] the sentence."

subject."
"So
**

as was

neither to embarrass made

believe that neither the king's death nor [to] would helphim." imprisonment of It is necessary for the lawyerto have a clear conception the governing rules of law, and [to] be able to presentdecisive the for establishing or reasons [to] authority give satisfactory He
"

rules."

The like
*'

omitted however,is properly sign, the following : ^

"

in sentences

Of

me

the Roman
utmost

have people

many

which pledges,

I must

strive with my and redeem."

endeavors to preserve,

defend,confirm,

and digest to point, ''Many authors expectthe printer spell, their copy, so that it may be intelligible to the reader." "To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield." "The most accomplished way of using books at presentis, to serve them as some do lords, le^m their titles, and then brag of their acquaintance."
"

The

active verbs

hidfdare, feel, see, and

how depart, darest thou

some

otheis,

take usually

the infinitive after them without the to; as,

"If he bade thee

stay?"

32 The
to

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

is erroneously used in the it is Italicized :

"

following examples

wherever
'*

**I dare not to

"

'*

I dare to say I felta chilling sensation to creep over me." It cannot but be a delightful to spectacle,

lest I should giveoffence." so hastily, proceed he has not got home yet."
'

see

sieged person be-

and

himself gloriously, on by temptations every side to acquit to hold out against the most violent assaults." resolutely
**

Who

bade the mud

from Dives' wheel

To spurn the rays of Lazarus ? "

" 40.
the verb

The

to particle

should

not be

by : examples
"

any

intervening word, as
not

from separated in the following

"

The student must sufficientnumber

to find] expectto alvmysfind[always

studyagreeable."
"A and

of variety

cases

to

fullyillustrate

to illustrate] the rule." [fully "It seems that this portionwas filledwith some probable substance to better adapt [the better to adapt] it to the hand." "A rightto exclusively [exclusively to]make and sell an

articlerests," etc.
"

To

to]cleanse [Thoroughly thoroughly

etc. injury,"

and

purify garments
this

without

"But

to

point out only one

example of
taken

dog-

to illlately compact verb by ramming an adverb into its midst. They will say, *to appreciatively walk drink bottled stout'; *to energetically to Paddington'; *to think'; *to ably incessantly this dog-English reason.' Where was whelped1 You *to reason should say, *to think incessantly'; ably.'
some of our English, using our neat and

writers have

Let
you

us

suppose that hear your ever

bow-wow

'

means
"

to

drink.

Do my

dog

say, *Bovv

wagging

tail
1

"

wow?"'i
Jean 212. John Jerome,(Boston, Ingelow, 1886,) pp. 211,

THE

INFINITIVE

MOOD.

33

This order,however, is sometimes

for the sake
**

changed in poetry
Barns.

of
dared

rhythm
to

; as,
stem

Who

nobly

tyrannicpride."
"

"

41.

The

infinitive cannot
at

properly be understood
a

by the sign to foregoingverb

**

the

end

of

to sentence, referring

in the sentence.
done

E. g.
has intend

"

He Can

has
a

not

it,nor

is he

to [do it]." likely

no

'*

man

arrive at excellence who

desire to
to

**

I have

not
an

written, and I do

not

[do so]?" [write]."

"

When instead
as

or

of

is used with an efo, or auxiliary, should be taken the verb, care

used

ellipsis,
that it is

such

can

elsewhere
"

properlybe given."^
say,
as some

with

the form

of the verb

I did
am

not

have he

done should

'*I done
**

surprised that thtm]." [left

relations cannot
rest

[said]." leave things

as

he

has

These

be

pictured. All attempts to

do

so

[soto picturethem]
"The the reduction
do
to inability
so

upon a false foundation." of unrelated phenomena to order is

[aoto

reduce

pleasing; them] is displeasing."

" "

expressionsas Try and think," Try and make," Try and do it,"etc. are erroneous. Say, Try to think,'* Try to make," etc. Try to do it,"
" " " "

"

42.

Such

L. R.

Manual Williston, 1865,)p. 17.

for prepai*ed

Private

School^ (Cambridge,

34

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

CHAPTER TENSE,
OR

VIII.
TIME.

" 43.
"

Errors

are

very
"

common

in the tense, or

time,

of the verb.
I drunk
**

E. g. :

his health." [drank] to feel sleepy." I begun [began] did well," "You done well." Say,"You or done welL"
**

"You

have

saw

him when

"

I intended to

"I feared that the

" **

it." [did] have written [write] to him on the subject." it before I arrived at I should have lost [lose] he done

city."
that you mig?U [may]fail." be asked." if I shvuld [shall] I will not speakof it, even their the proper ^''^ohave prevented [prevent] depreciation, Remember would affirmed,
have been
to have

course, it is
**

made

[make]a

valuation of all the confiscated property."

an annuityupon By charging an

the

shown
"

intent that the annuitant it amid

sooner

he has specific property, should [shall] receive it

whenever No the than

"

Roses,and
a

be realized therefrom." [can] had the nobility met their doom in the Wars of the hands of royalty were [hadbeen]untied,

determined been

effort was

made

to

uproot every national

Uberty."
for the English would give we public, writing and from have given] it but a paragraph the quotation [should ; the Macaulaygiven below would constitute [haveconstituted] substance of what we said [should have said]." The witness testifiedthat he vjos [hadbeen] chairman of
we
"

Had

the selectmen since 1880."

"The

conclusions general

of the

judgeare correct,and

the

TENSE,

OR

TIME.

35

only
tenn

error
*

therein

consisted
**

[consists]

in

the

improper

use

of

the

trade-mark.' who
should

'*One

make

[had

made]
a

study
not to

of

him

at

that

time "It them."

would
would

^crfic^
have

Qiave
been

predicted]
worth your

steady,
while

swift
heard

growth." [hear]

have

"The
after

act

granting
was

the
over

pension
and the

was

not

passed
rendered

until

long
been

the

war

service

[had

rendered]."

"

44. is

The
ollben

imperfect

tense

or

preterite,
for the

in

irregular
ticiple. par-

verbs,

erroneously

used

perfect

As,
"When middle."
"

an

interesting

story

is

hroke

[broken]

off

in

tlie

He

hath

bore

[borne]
have

witness
often

to

his

faithful

servants." the
source

"

Philosophers

mistook

[mistaken]

of

true
"

happiness."
I have chose
were

[chosen]
verses

to

follow

the
on

common

arrangement."

"

They
He
is have

torote

[written] by

glass."
one."

"

uovf

forsook

[forsaken]
off

every

"I

shook

[shaken]

the

regal

thoughts

wherewith

reigned."
"And I

it would
u?rote

become
on

necessary the other."

to

contradict

one

day

what

had

[written]

36

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

CHAPTER
SHALL
AND

IX.
SHOULD
AND

WILL,

WOULD.

" 45.

The fundamental distinction between indicates what what is

shall and
pulsory, com-

will is that shaU

is involuntary^ or

and wiU
the will.
^'

the result of or volwitaryy

'owe, be under obligation'; originally determine.* The phrases and toill means wish,resolve, then, I owe, am bound or obligated to, really signify, determined on, I intend, the act of giving; and am giving.' Out of this difference in the original meaning
Shall
means
* *
'

between the form of the words has grown a diflference in the firstperson on the one of the future expression

hand, and the second and third persons on the other hand. To denote simply somethingthat is going to take place, shall in the firstperson, we use ordinarily
and
"

wiU

in the others."*

between should and "w"mZ^ is in eral The diflference genthe same as that between shall and mil, and they
in like manner

are

confused

by

inaccurate

^ speakers." or

Will in the firstperson expresses assent

or a
"

promise,

determination ; as,
I will go I will go
^
"'

it is asked of me). (if

"

"

(whatever may oppose).

119.

Essentials of English Whitney's Grammar, page

Ibid., page

121.

SHALL

AND

WILL,

SHOULD

AND

WOULD.

37

Will in the second person foretells ; as, " at twelve o'clock, If you come you will find
"

me

at

home."
"

You

will

soon

be

twenty."
a

Sometimes
"

it expresses

command

; as,

You On

will learn the next lesson to-morrow." of this, receipt you will

"

immediately reportat
a

head-quarters."
In in questions
or

wish
"

desire you

on

the second person, mil expresses the part of the speaker ; as,
to-morrow

Will

go

r* =

"

I wish you to go tomorrow. 1" is

"

WiU

you let me

know

if you

can

come

Will in the third person simply foretellswhat known or thoughtby the speaker;as,
"

He will be at home I think it will rain

to-morrow."
"We

to-day." i.e. "We will have dinner at six o'clock," order it to be readyat six o'clock."
"

will

In

in questions
the

the third person, tvillinquires concerning the pui'pose of another, or asks what
as,

of knowing; speakerhas no means Will they be willing to receive us

" "

?"

When

will

our

troubles be at

an

endl"

or

Shall in the firstperson expresses a future action ; as, merelyannounces

"

determination,

"

I shall go to town We shall set out

to-morrow."
and shall try to early,
arrive

by

noon."
"

We

shall have dinner at six

at ready

i.e. o'clock,"

"

Dinner

is to be

six o'clock."

38

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

sentences interrogative asks permission, or as inquires opinionof another;as,

"

Shall in

in the first person to the intention or

Shall I go with you T"

"

"

Do
"

you

wish

me

to go

with you 1
"

When

shall shall

we we

see

"

When

you again? " get there %

or

ShaU
a
"

in the second

third person expresses

or
a

ise, prom-

a command, determination,

threat ; as,

You
He

shaU have these hooks to-morrow." shall go," = shaU

"

"

that he promise

shall

go.'*
or

"

He

go/*i. e. whether

he wishes to go this."

not

"

Thou You

Shalt not steal." shall he

"

punishedfor

In the third person it is sometimes

as,
"

also used conditionally;

If he shall

obey,it will be

well for him." should and

which tooidd, the pastforms of sliaU and tvill, is mainly the same are forms ; would referring to an exercise as in the present of wiU, and should implyingcontingent, tion, dependentacE. g. : or obligation.
"

" 46.

The differencebetween

^'

I would

as

do readily

it myself as

another persuade if I

to do it."

"I

should like to go to town, and would

go

could."
"

hoped that

I should not be leftalone."

"

I know

I should dislike the

are

country."
a

Shotdd and would

both

often used to express

conditional assertion ; as,

" "

I should go, if I could get away." He would give, if he had the means."

SHALL

AND

WILL,

SHOULD

AND

WOULD.

39

"

**

"

If he should come, you would see him." in your place." I should not do so, if I were in your place." I would not do so, if I were

"Should todol" Would

"

they not

agree to* the

what proposals,

am

is often used to express I were home again !" Would

wish; as,

"

I would

"Would
"

have you think of these things." God I had died for thee,0 Absalom !" thou hadst hearkened to my
a

Would

words 1 "

Also to express
"

custom

; as,

He

would often talk about these

weep all day."

things."

"

She would

Would
"

also sometimes would

expresses determination ; as^ of spite

He

"He could

go, I could not stop him." would in his course, in persist

all I

say."
often has the
and meaning of ought, expresses

Should

duty; as,
" "

should go by all means, but he will not." You should not allow such conduct in school."
He

" 47.
**

The

are following :
"

examplesof

the correct

use

of these words

They
"

that fear the Lord will seek that which

is well

ing pleas-

unto

him ; and

they that

love him

shall be filledwith the

law."
"

Ecclus, ii. 16.

He that honoreth

his father shall have the Lord shall be

a

longlife;

and he

that is obedient unto

He vice unto

comfort to his mother.

ser-

that feareth the Lord

will honor

his father and will do

"

his parents,as to his mastera." *Mf I might see you at my honse,it should go hard but I would have a bottle of wine and a pipe of tobacco for you." Ecclus, iii.6, 7.
"

Beaumont

and Fletcher.

40
"

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

If she love I will die

me,

then believe she shall grieve."

"

ere

George"Wither.

"If she hate me, then believe She shall die ere I will grieve." B^n Jonson.
"

"This

child I to

myselfwill take :

She shall be mine, and I will make A ladyof my own. be darling Both law and impulse ; and with me The girl, in rock and plain. In earth and heaven,in gladeand bower, Shall feel an overseeing power
my

Myselfwill to

To kindle

or

restrain."

Wordsworth,Toems of hnagiMdwa^
"And
at the end
or

X.

determination of this lease shall and will

the lessor," etc.
"

deliver up the

unto premises

Modem

Lease.

" 48.
are
"

The

words
:
"

in the Italicized

following examples

erroneous

toill issue this paper as occasion demands. The next in the spring. The size of the sheet edition will be issued early

We

and we vrUl circulate between fifteen will be very much enlai^d, tising and twenty thousand copies. We will have considerable adverof this business men space, which will be allotted to i;he on Newspaper Prospectus. vicinity very reasonable terms." ** If we found such a system of writing would prowe history nounce
"

the division of labor in it unnatural." "We

"

wUl

soon

be able to

answer

this

pertinent question."

theycan intervene to preserve the credit of the mark, shall soon be destroyed." all faith in its integrity
mails to all European supplemental from the main office to the steamer steamers vnll be despatched mail." after the close of the regular would give it Were we writing for the English we public, but a paragraph." and I shall be fallen indeed ; I would "Compel me to retire, feel myself in the eyes of all my acquaintance blighted ; I would in the liftui" my face in society ''vermore ; I would burymyself "An

Unless

order

was

made

that

"

SHALL

AND

WILL,

SHOULD

AND

WOULD.

41

oblivion
I would

of
be of

shame

and

solitude

I would

hide
of my

me

fix"m
own

the

world
;

overpowered
self-reflection
I
1.
sooner

by

the
would

feelings
pursue
as

disgrace
Chalmers.'

the

torments
**

me.*'
"

Perchance iv.
tDill shall if
we

will

be

there

soon

as

you."

"

Com,

oj

Errors,
'*

I he

have
one on

beard cheek."

grow
"

on

the

palm
IV,,
above

of
i.

my 2.

hand

than

get
look

his
the

.2

Henry

'*But
we

into think

English
were

comedies formed
upon

mentioned,
a

would

[should]
Addison.
"

they

quite

contrary

maxim."
**

If

this

passion
care

were

simply
all persons

painful,
and

we

would

[should]
could

shun excite

with such

the
a

greatest
"

places

that

passion."
us,

Burke.

'^

Let
in

then,

should
and
not

we

make

slip,

possess that
we

our

souls

patience,
lost
to

bewail

ourselves
For he
must

are

utterly

English

idiom. critic
of

be

an

sufficient inwho

informed does
not

English
most not

literature

know

that

even

the have

thorough-bred always
skotild them."
been

lish Engable
to

writers

themselves and

use

shall

tmU,

and

particularly
between

and
*

would^

without

some

shilly-shallying

Richai-d

Grant

White,

Every-Day

English,

pp.

357,

358.

42

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

CHAPTER
LIE
AND LAY." SET

X.
AND SIT.

" 49. In order to understand the proper use of these the form of their principal verbs, partsshould firstof learned. all be thoroughly viz. : In lie and /ay these are as follows,
"

The
every

main
sense or

thingto
in which

be borne be

in mind

is that

lay (in
sitive tran-

it can

is a misunderstood)
an

active What

verb,and lie is
lieis

intransitive or neuter between the words

verb.

adds to the confusion

is that the

of imperfect

lay.

Present "I lie down

table.'* "Guilt lies between

"

sle^p." "A book lies lies heavy on his mind."

to

upon

the
sea

"The

the two

countries."
"

the

laymyselfdown to sleep." I laya book upon table." The rain lays We laya foundation."
I
" "

the dust."

Imperfect,
"

lay down
"Guilt

to

sleep."

"

book

lay

table."

lay heavy on

his mind."

upon "The

the
sea

y between

the two

countries."

LIE

AND

LAY.

"

SET

AND

SIT.
.

43

**

down I laid myself table."

"

the

We

I laid a book upon " laid the foundation." Tlie rain

to

sleep."

"

laid the dust." Present

"

Participle,
the table."
"

A book

is lyingupon

Guilt is

lying

heavy on his mind." We are layingthe foundation."

**

"

The

rain is laying

the dust."

"

Perfect Participle,
"I upon

had

lain down

to

sleep." "A
sea

book

had

lain

the table." countries." laid

upon

"The

had

once

lain between

the two
"

I had

myself down
the table."

to

sleep."

"

I had

laid

the book
"

we our lay down yesterday, to-night, but we lay a studies have lain in certain directions; laid it down book down we we io-night, yesterday, have laid aside our studies. A shipliesto,not laysto. distinction applies to compounds ; as, to unThe same derlie, y ^ to overlay

We

lie down

" 50.
:
"

The

principal partsof
PRES.

set

and

sit

are

as

lows fol-

PART.

PERF.

PART.

Setting

Set Sat
we

Sitting
Set is in most
" "

active verb; but an sigiiifications The sun sets," and The tide sets." say, set aside, We set about,set apart, anything. We set out on a journey, in writing. set down
1 Hill's

of Rhetoric, Principles pp. 54, 55.

44
.

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

Sit

is

in
in

most

senses

neuter
"

verb. sits late welL

It

is

active,

however,
We
We

the

expression,
in
a

man

horse."
at

sit sit

down for

chair,
A sits.

we

sit
coat

up sits

night.

portrait.
a

Congress
We
set

or

court

hen,
"

but

hen

sits
not

on

eggs.
"

We

should hen."

say, We

therefore,
sit in
"

sitting

hen,"

setting
in
"

sitting-room,"

and

not

setting-

room."

USE

OF

THE

PARTICIPLE.

45

CHAPTER
USE OF THE

XI.
PARTICIPLE.

" 51.
many

Where the

the article is used before

necessary

present ticiple, par-

cases or

after it ; but in either the omission of both articleand preposition,

preposition of is

the

substitution of E. g.
:
"

noun

of

equivalent
chusetts." in Massa-

is better. signification,
"

An

act for the better

act for better act for the

[of] regulating government

'*

An

"

An

regulating government in Massachusetts." of government," better regulation etc.

**

To the To To

**

**

such an order of things." introducing [of] such an order of things." introducing the introduction of such an order of things."

**

"

'*

By th" establishing good laws,we secure our peace." [of] By estabUshing good laws,we secure our peace." By the establishment of good laws,"etc.
But

" 52.
where

o/ should

not be used after the

participle,

the articleis not used before it. It should therefore

be omitted in the
"

examples: following

"

**

**

to blows." ^ names theyproceeded calling "In forming his sentences he was very exact." q/* In breaking of bread from house to house." "They set about repairing o/thewalls." Teaching o/ children is a pleasant employment."

From

" 53.
if the
not

The

the possessive case participle requires the is

a noun

fore be-

it where
noun

itselfis the active agent; but the possessive should subject, peissive
"

be used.

E. g. :

40

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

"Lady
"Much
"

Macbeth

walkingin [Macbeth's]
the

her

is sleep

an

dent inci-

full of

horror." tragic will depend on

of Maria

pupil [pupil's] composing fi'e-

quently."
her brother." [Maria's] loving The fact of Jaines [James's] himself on his side." placing **The paper then discusses the probable result of England the policy indicated by Mr. Chamberlain's [England's] following speeches." When s [monosyllable syllable or monotheyspeakof a monosyllable* as]havingthe grave or the acute accent." The daily instances of men*s [men]dyingaround us."
** **
**

event T^ie

" 54. The sense passive

use

of the active, participle in English in

"

and cannot be quesestablished, tioned, in the following The house is as : examples "Wheat is selling," "The work is now building,"
etc. publishing,"

is well

Many

writers have

contended

that

this form is erroneous, and that the passive form should while others have as strenuously always be used instead; maintained that the form passive
is the

should

never

be

used, and that the activeform

But there is form
no

that in many is decidedly better than the

"

doubt

only correct one. the passive cases active;as in the

our

: following examples

**For

those who

are

beingeducated
"

in

seminaries."

"

Southey.
uttered." Coleridge. being It signifies one though in uncouth English, properly, being beaten." Whately. The foundation was being laid."
**

It

wfis

"

wlio

is

"

*'

In the the

following passage it must be admitted form would be infinitely : passive preferable

"

that

'*I

saw

one
.

into light, as dragging [being dragged]

. .

by

the ruins.

'^count

by

some

passed Whether she was taking [being taken]to to disappointed votary, I will not pretend

AVer."

USE

OF

THE

PARTICIPLE.

47

In form
"The

the
is

following certainly
law

example,
better
:
"

on

the

contrary,

the

active

is

annulled

in

the

very

act

of

its

being

made

[making]."

"
and form.
**

55.

The

passive
used

participle
instead
of

is the

sometimes active
or

imprbperly impersonal

awkwardly
As,
But
gs
soon

as

the

whole its

body

is

attempted results,

to

he

carved^
is
most

disproportion disagreeable
Correct
carve so

between
to
as

various

parts

which

the
to

eye." read,
^*

But

as

soon

as

an

attempt

is made

to

the
'*

whole offence
section

body,"

etc. to

The

attempted
of

be

charged

should

be

alleged

under

another

the

statute." which
it

Correct,
"

**The seeds
of

offence the
to

is

attempted
which

to

charge,"
to

etc.

The

umbrella be

pine,
he

previous
in

his

visit

had

been Correct
"

difficult
to storm

obtained^
been

procured
to

great

quantities."

"it
was

had

difficult
in

obtain."
a

The

unfortunate

selecting
lost the

district

poorly
of

resented rep-

by
carefully Correct,

observers,

and

thus

opportunity

being

observed." "The
storm

unfortunately
observers,
was

occurred thus the

in

district for

poorly
its

represented
observation

by

and

opportunity

careful

lost."

48

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

CHAPTER
ADJECTIVES
AND ADJECTIVE

XII.
PRONOUNS.

must implyingunity or plurality " 56. Adjectives which they qualify. with the nouns agree in number The following : examplesare therefore erroneous
-***

Tfiese sort of fellows are This

very numerous."

**

twenty years have I been with thee."

to

was

kind of excesses indicativeof greatness." thoughttJiese than two footabove it." The standard beingmore Three pound of goldwent to one shekel." Most of the churches had one or more elder [elders]." ruling '*The nature of that [those] riches and [that] is long-suifeiiug lead to repentance." that which is myself on By reflecting now, and that which myselftwenty yeai-s ago, I discern that they are not two,
**

He

"

**

**

**

but

one

and
after

the

same

self."
"

Butler's

Analogy,

(Insert

"selves"

two.)

the contract was other reasons **For this among executed." ** etc.) (Correct, For this reason, among others," ** In this and most of our large cities." (Insert "city" after

this.)
"Between

the fourth and ninth

day [days]." Or,

"

Between

the fourth and the ninth

day."
to

"From

the

fifteenth up

the nineteenth

centuries

tury]." [cen-

in the plural, however, may adjective pronoun sometimes be properly associated with a singular noun ; our desire,"your intention,"their resignation,' as,
" " "

An

etc.
1

See ante, page 12.

ADJECTIVES

AND

ADJECTIVE

PRONOUNS.

49
two

As

meam

may

be either

the or plural, singular

"

following examplesare
*'He

correct:

lived

and temperately,
were

by

this

means

preservedhis
to

health." **The scholars their teachers, and and obedient attentive, industrious,
means

by these

acquired knowledge."
"

For
or

or another" By some means put By ^ or "By some means or other." another,"

"

one

means

each other must be used if only " 57. The expression two subjects are spoken of,one another ifmore than two. The following are use : examplesof erroneous
"

"

Two
to
an

in English 07ie another j iie"::atives destroy

or

are

lent equiva-

affirmative.

"

"

Murray

Rule XVI, ChramrruvTy

**Both orators take greatliberties with mie another,'* "Teachers like to see their pupils to each other** polite
"In of the classification

words,almost all writera differfrom

up of scales which overlie each followed each other with

each other.**
* *

A strobileis a

made pericarp

otJier" and confessions "Prayers, masses, edifying regularity."

an

in or otherwise, else, " 58. After other^ any adjective than is usually the comparative degree, required.As,
* *

The mind other

no

sooner

entertains any

but [than] it ])roposition

hastens presently
**No

to

some

resource

to bottom it upon." hyi"othesis this was allowed him." but [than]

no

**

been the death of a man who had has,I fear, too much." that of loving other fault hit [than] me A metaphor is nothingelse but [than] a shoit comparison."

"My

behavior

"

Architecture and but

mind

cannot otherwise entertain the gardening emotions or feelings." certain agreeable by raising [than]

contained no other -jwlicy the following." except[than]

"The
1

reference to

an

assignment

See ante, page 18. 4

50
"

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

He

was

tickets for selling

before mentioned."
none

two

other railroads in addUicni to house of

those [than]
"This is

other hiU

the [than]

God, and this is

the

gateof

heaven."

After elseand other the

"
. . .

besides is preposition
"

times some-

other used ; than mentioned,whereas "other

. .

is exclusive of those

besides" is inclusive of

those mentioned.
**

E. g.

"

Other words besides the Pain must here

with capitals." preceding may begin

are

"Other
**

materials besides lead

used

in the house service."

else besides warning." signify something

" 59.

Where

are comparisons

made,
or

care

must

be
cisely pre-

taken to exclude from what

or
an
**

and

include in both
use

terms

is intended, by the

omission of

otiier,

word. equivalent
Iron is more fondness

As,
metals." [other] lous." ridicu-

useful than all the

"A

for show is of all other follies the most

mated whatever so abound with bold and ani[other] writings the sacred books." as figures man's that ever wrote." This was less his case than any [other] "The holy than any temple of Cholula was deemed more in New Sxmin." [other] has certainly the greatest "Of all other beings, man reason for gratitude." us." that which most moves It Is of all others [things] work of that nature we to any [other] "I think it superior
**

No

**

"

have yet had." "No was sovereign [other]

ever

so

much

beloved

by

the

people." me delights Nothing [else]

"

so

much

as

the works of nature." the nearest

"He

celebrates the Church

of

England as
These

tion perfecmerly for-

of all otliers[churches]."

" 60.
r

Either and

neither,

"

words

were

considered to

thingstaken

only to two persons applyproperly the and to signify one or separately,

ADJECTIVES

AND

ADJECTIVE

PRONOUNS.

51

their trae usage. But good and that is strictly other, has established the use of both words in relation authority to any indefinite number. As,
**

Either of several provinces."

Our

"

has alphabet sounds."

no

letter to

either of five simple represent

consonant
"

heads." preceding have not scrupled to laya **Dryden, Pope,and Wordsworth hand upon Chaucer, a mightier geniusthan either." profane GeorgeP. Marsh.
Wonis
" "

not reducible to either of the three

"Neither "Neither

of these fiveverbs

can

be neuter."

of the ten
as

was

there."
:

ought to mind." It has been contended by many know his own that this construction is wrong, and contraryto English both logiIt seems to me, however, to be right, idiom. cally and grammatically; it is more than euphonious using one^s for Aw, is sanctioned by good usage, and is correct according to the principle line by which the mascu" 61.
One
"

the antecedent of his

"One

pronoun
as

is used where
as,
"

the antecedent
never

is indefinite

to

gender;

variance with
others

A person can his own nature." be

do

anythingat
"

This

sentence,and
if One
*'

would like it,

substituted for "A

correct equally person."

were

meaning no one, may " 62. NonCy althoughliterally be used with a plural of verb,having the signification of multitude. a noun As,
"

In at this gatenone Terms of peace

were

**

here pass the vigilance vouchsafed." none

"

Milton. placed.""
Ibi"l. Prov. ii. 19.

"None "None
"

that go unto her return of their productions are

of them
are

again."
"

extant."

"

Blair.

None

varied to express the

gender."

" 63.
in

whole and less are properly adjectives applied relation to quantity; all q.u^fewer, in relation

The

52

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

to

number.
:
"

The

are following examplesof

erroneous

usage

"Almost "The Red

the whole
cross

inhahltants were present." [all the] tliewhole [all Knightruns through the] steps
less

of the Christian life."

"There
are no

than twenty diphthongs in [fewer]

the

English language."
"There
were

not

less

than fifty or [fewer] sixtypersons

present."
All is sometimes sometimes
"

used incorrectly
all the all the

for the

and whole,

for onlt/ ; as,

The

"

over spread and Mary were Cynthia

disease

[the whole]country."
children [the only]
of their

parents."
three last, for first first, etc., is incorrect. As, two," last three," etc., "The two last [last will not be found deficient two]chapters
use
" "

" 64.

The

of two

in this respect."
"The "The

books of the ^Eneid six first

nine

are

of the Book first chapters the First and

beautiful." exceedingly of Proverbs are highly

TTiree Last of the Minor

poetical." Notes on "Analytical Prophets.By the Rev.

It has been

\Vm.

Randolph,M.

A.

Cambridge."
"

two to defend the usage of attempted But every error in grammar first," etc., by authority. might be established if frequent usage or the occasional ity. of good authors are to be accepted as final authorslips Goold Brown says, "The ordinal adjectives ^r"^, the cardinal numbers,but sjecond, next, last, may qualify and be qualified by them,'* they cannot very properly in support is overwhelmingly the weight of authority

of this statement.
etc. should not be used The ordinals second,third,
~''

for secondly, as etc.;and first, adverbs, thirdly, is preferable to firstly. ^erb,

an

ADJECTIVES

AND

ADJECTIVE

PRONOUNS.

53

are " 65. Adjectives Tequired; as,

**

often used

where

adverbs

are

I now to my promise, write." Agreeable [Agreeably] "He acted in this businessbolder [more boldly] than

was

expected."
of him." [meanly] How remarkable [remarkably] heavy it is ! He was exceeding kind to me." [exceedingly] I called on his lordship to my leaving previous^ England." "Endeavor to live hereafter suitable [suitably] to your
can never so
**

think

very

mean

**

"

*"

**

station in life."

In like manner,
as, "The "This "The all in."
arrows

adverbs

are

sometimes

used for adjective

of
.

at calumny fall hamdessly [harmless]

the

feet of virtue." construction sounds rather

returns of the

harshly[harsh]."
otherwimy are
now

officialor election,

" ^Q,
use an

"

There

is sometimes

whether question

to

adverb after certain verbs. The or an adjective the limiting word exto be, that when seems presses principle the object, state of the subject or or a quality of the action, rather than the manner is an adjective with the verbs This construction takes place proper. if the he, look, feel, Briefly, taste,smell, seem, etc."^ the adverb should be verb is intended to be qualified, the used ; if the noun is intended to be qualified, Kg.: adjective.
"

"

The The

berrytastes
man woman

sour."

"

The flower smells sweet."

"

felt bad about it."

"The
"

looked beautiful."
"

She looks cold."

He

feelswarm."

is objectedto by Although this use of previousiov previously grammarians,yet it has been used by many good writers. 2 Tweed's for Common Grammar Schools, page 111.

54 In the

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

the following examples

adverb

is

correctly

used ; as,
**

She

**He

him." on coldly to feels warmly the liisult yffered looks

him." to

Then
serve as

and

now

are

sometimes

made improperly

adjectives; as,
in the then

tions ciimate and other hard condirigorous of Europe." (Omit then, and insert at that time after "Europe.") The then King of France was engaged in waging war with England." of the original The now text are or present] copies [existing **Even
**

"

entire."

" 67.

Where

the

only two must adjective

included

are pared, compersons or subjects be in the comparative degree,

not, as is often the case, in the

than two
must "This "Her "Of
are

in the
"

superlative ; but if more the superlacomparison, tive

be used.

E. g. :

is the best [better] of the two." mother

two

seemed

the younrfcd

evils choose the

of [younger] lecist [lesser]."

the two."

" 68.
after a
or

Former

and latter, of the beingadjectives

be
or

parative com-

should not degree, of three specitication

tvx) latter

used for
more

and last, first different subjects

older than

persons ; as,
"The

[last two] localitiesare

much

the

of Cholula." pueblos "The is forme"l hy two decayed mounds, the court-yard of worship, mound of which and a hill, the latter [last] is a terrace." regular "Our road lay by Lou vain,Thirlemont,Liege, Aix-la-Chaand Juliers, The former [first] of these to the Rhine. pelle, J. Fenimore Cooper. towns," etc.
"

" 69.
these and

When

the

adjective pronouns

this and

or that,

refer to contrasted antecedent terms,this those,

ADJECTIVES

AND

ADJECTIVE

PRONOUNS.

55

or

these

should
term

represent
;
as,
mise o'er

the

latter, and

that

or

those

the

former
**

And
In

reason

instinct
in

as

you

can,
"

this

't is God

directs,
!

that

*t is man." foes
! !
"
"

Pope.

**

Farewell

my

friends

farewell my love

my

My
The
to

peace

with

these,

with

those

Bums.

pronoun show

that reference

is often
to
an

omitted antecedent
its

where
term

it
;

is

sary neces-

as,
under be the
clusive." con-

**

If the
of

corporation
1792,
or

was

carrying
of

on

operations
would

charter

[that]

1794,

the

argument

**

Notice

the
of
a

difference

between acid the well when

the

effect both
of
are

of

this

volatile

acid

and
"

[that]
He

strong

fixed

equally
tribes the that

dilute." formed tribes of

certainly

preceded
as

coming
as

the of

the

valley

confederacy,

[that]

later

Tlascala."

"

70.

Other also

errors

are

the

vulgar
of

use

of of

them

for

tJiose; and
to

the

application
are

degrees
in

son compari-

adjectives
as

which

superlative
perfectf
to

primary

nificati sig-

cJiief, extreine,
It
is

riglU,
""o

universal,
""o

supreme,

etc.

incorrect
we can

say

perfect,"

universal,"
a

etc.;

but **less

say,

"nearer

perfection,"
etc.

nearer

right,"

extreme,"

"less

perfect,"

56

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

CHAPTER
ADVERBS.

XIII.

" 71.

Adverbs

are

frequentl}^ givena
absolute rule
can

in the sentence.

No

wrong position be laid down

for their proper position. be They should generally ever, howplacedbefore the words theyqualify ; sometimes, after verbs,
or

between
to

the

and auxiliary

the

verb, but
adverb

never

between

and
to

the infinitive.^ The be

only is especially apt

are following
**

examples of
not

wrong

misplaced. The position:

"

We

must

expectto

find

always [always studyagreeable

agreeable]."
**

Instead of
on

the

dozen [down contemptucmiteinpttwusly looking ously] fully crooked in mind or body,we should look up thank-

to
**

God,

who

has made

us

better." *

favored by goml usage is not on that accoimt to Everything of the sentence. ) be retained." (Place not at the beginning shall acquirecertainly we [certAinly By hastycomposition bad a very style." acquire] The comparisons one pointonly [only on are short, touching of resemblance." one on point] had fore set beonce object [oncehad] some prominent Having
**
*' '*

lis."
**

The

seems positive

called be improperly] to 6e [to improperly

de"rree."
'*In
some

the genitive is only [only the genitive is] phrases

"

used."
1 *
"

See

ante, " 40.

to "thankfully look Jiorrects "look tip thankfully" " but I think the of order the first clause as corrected, looking ; up down second the should be followed in one. contemptuously,"

Murray

ADVERBS.

57
curred." oc[tohave actually]

**

to have This blunder is said actually

*'

But every
Most
men

man

is not called James, nor

every

woman

Mary.'*

7Mrf after (Place

**

"But.")
dream, but all do
not

[notall]."

"We have often [often have]occasion to speakof time." be generally from "The words must [generally be]separated
**

the context."

"But
"

it is only so

into the For

when [so only] foim." regular

the

can expression

be

verted con-

sinners also lend to sinners to receive

a^

much

again

as much]." [again

from her quiverabout to go on, when he perceived ing less c heek that than and nothing imposturewas pallid eye ** less intended intended." Old Mortality. (Say, nothing was Scott,
"

He

was

"

than "Meister

imposture.") is brought to realize

social and moral he is also a

thai he is not

only [notonly

that he
as

a is]

of capable being,^and

development

such,but that

being." religious
not

duced introunnecessarily in the middle of a clause at the beginning of a sentence,thus multiplying pauses, but should be placed
at

" 72.

The

adverb should

be

the end of the clause ; as,

"It remains, whether the then,undecided,[undecided, then,] effectof heredity is to transmit these characteristics."
of a phenomenon to be the cause define, therefore, the antecedent, which it is invariably on consequent."(Put may

"We

"therefore"

after

"phenomenon.")
of the adverb between placing see infinitivey ante, " 40. the

For the

erroneous

to and particle

the

" 73.
the
"

Misuse
common

more

of adverbs is very frequent.Some the following. cases are

gross Western
*

of

^Like I for
1
*

is a did,'
as

and

Southern

garism vul-

I did.'"

Mathews*8

"Words, their Use and Abuse."

58

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

of peculiarity I have known the South and West. Englishmenwho used the expression, and the following examples, constantly which are might be multiplied indefinitely, taken from recent Englishworks:
use uo lueane a
"

This

of like for as is

by

**

It must

be very jolly to travel like he does." Living and Dead,

are

"

Hagh

way, Con-

**

So few

placedlike I
enter
"

was,

that my

audience who
be too

would
to

understand

and

trouble about."

into ray feelings must and so^mm.. Ibid.,

to

limited

*'It is like it was

themselves who should be

'*

And

he would

struggled among a king." Anthony TroUope. sometimes, passing through the ground-floor passage, /iX;ethat firsttime." her ironing, Vernon Lee, see
a

be

king when
"

men

"

Miss Brown,

Such E. g.:
*'
"

is often

used improperly

for the adverb

so,

In such With

mild [so]

and fruitful [a] region."

a

**

all due deference to such

on

siicti a

[so] very
a

important[a]matter."
**

high[so highan]authority Moon, Dean's

"

English,
**Such

woman," [a] lovely [so]

Sucli

beautiful [a] [so]

etc. flower,"
^^

never
**

Quite should be used in the for rather or very.'}

* '

sense

of

entirely,'

"

Wounded
Mr. John

severely." quite[very]
Redman flatteredhimself he
was

**

the gentleman." quite

Say, "a perfect gentleman."

''The

conclusions drawn
of the acquisition occurrence."

from
a

casual view

are

frequently

quitedifferentfrom the results of

**

The

power

investifi^tion." complete of speechis in all probability

for
"

recent quite

Equallyas
"

tffell is often used

well,"or equally

a.s

well."
1

of Rhetoric, Hill's Principles p. 58.

ADVERBS.

59

How
it ;
nor

should for
said
see
"

not

be E.

used
g.
:
"

before

"

that,"

or

instead

of

lest."

"He "Ye

how

[that]
that
not

he

would
many

go."
wise
men are

hoyr

called."

(Omit

that.)
"Be cautious
how

[lest]you

offend

him."
"

No
"

is often
1 do
not

used

improperly
they
or are

for
out

not
or

"

;
"

as,

know

whether
be
men
a

no."

Byron.
"

"

Whether
I make
"

he

sinner

no,

I know

not."
will
or

John

ix.

25.

"Can

live, whethej
not

they

mo?"

I shall

ask

Jean

Jaques
or

Rousseau
"

If birds

confabulate
are

no"

Cowper.
;
ever

Ever
"

and
some

never

very

often

confused
or

as,

In

parts
or

of the
ever

country,

it seldom
see

[never]
who

rains."
in

"We

seldom

[never]
"seldom

those

forsaken

trust

God."

(Or

correct

to

if

ever."]

Many
so

grammarians
"never
so

consider

expressions
"never
so

like

**

never

good,"

well,"
should

wisely,"
in such
so

as

roneous, er-

and But
some

that

never

be
of
"

ever

pbmses.
and

Professor other

Hill, speaking

"never

good,"
to

expressions,
are

says,

Whether and

easy
are

parse'
in

or

not, they

easy

to

understand,

facts

language."
Most for is
most

almost

is

common

barbarism

"

as,

The

work

done."

GO

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

CHAPTER
RELATIVE

XIV.
PRONOUNS.

" 74. Who, whose, and whom apply only to persons mals to irrationalanior to things personified ; which applies to either or to inanimate objects ; and that applies or things. persons, animals, of its applicability to both That, either by reason after same or because it is required persons and things, in the superlative, should be used in an or adjective sentences in placeof who or which, the following
**Ke him."
*'

instructed

and

fed the crowds

are [that]

w?u)

surrounded [that] rude

Among

nations wJio

in the first and

periods
veiy
derly." or-

of

society."
**

The crowd

who

was [that] going up

the street

was

**An

only child

is

one

w?io

has [that] and

neither hrother

nor

sister."
"

He

of the spokelargely

men

which [that] he things

had

seen." The second person denotes the person is spokento."

** **

or

thingwhich [that]

are

men possess." [that] ''The same in a model lohich [that] are agreeahle proportions not agreeahle in a large building."

This is the most

useful art which

and whom Who, whose,

as

are

often misused
"

for

whichy
taught

also which for whom,

E. g. :

nature "Frequentedby every fowl wTiovi [which] Johnson. iipthe wing in water."
"

has

KELATIVE

PRONOUNS.

61
moved

"

like Exactly
are

so

many

who [which] are puppets,

by
of

wires."

"They

my

servants,which

forth out [whom] 1 brought

which

the laud of intrusted."

Egypt." [whom] this thing was

''They being the agents to

"

whose flaps of [theflaps away under a knotted veil, round throat" which]fallon either side of her bright Hidden
'*

The

method

is to transfer each

to ingredient

some

new

bination com-

and whose compost' which can be formed without loss, of which] is kiiowu." tion [the composition ** of sulphuric acid whose specific Weigh in a vial a quantity
has gravity
"

been

ascertained." previously

and dignity wh"ose weight were His character, onlypartially the church lustre." (Correct by his modest motto, gave expressed
to
"

the

of which.") weightand dignity

Whose is
our

of which in both of givenas the possessive and its use as such has beAmerican Dictionaries, come the common; yet the best authorities condemn deem it an
error.

usage, and

" 75.
which
or or

The

word

and cannot
there has

who, unless
same
"

be used before properly been a preceding which

in the
same

who

in the E. g. :

sentence

and

tion. construc-

"The
and

more are

and observations, importantrules,definitions, therefore the most

a
"

which
are

proper
"

to be

committed
**

to

larger type." MurraxfsOraminar. Bad English as follows : Corrected in Moon's The rules, and observations which are the more and definitions, important,
memory,
"

wUh printed

which
are

are

therefore the most

proper to be committed

to memoiy,

in larger type." printed of each, agreeing have duplicates in movement "But we in measure, atid which make differentimpresthough differing sions to the ear: and an on our opulencepeculiar language, of a boundless variety." Murray's which may be the source Orammar. (Omit the and before which in both places.) consists of small cellswhose exposed "This layer outer walls
"

62
are

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

rounded,arid which contain the pigmentscharacteristic of the group.'.' (Correctto "cells the exposed outer walls of which," etc.)
**

We

think

of the roadside life seen of which Mr.

by
Borrow

Parson

Adams

or

Humphry in glimpsewhile dwelling

aiid.)
**

and Clinker,

caught the

last

the tents

of the

Romany." (Omit

of a party, sent for the purpose of compelling approach the countrypeople to bury their dead,and who had already sembled asseveral peasantsfor that purpose, now Edward obliged to rejoin his guide." (Insert **who had been" immediately after and the sentence is connect) party," The
"

For

the

use

of which

without

an

see antecedent,

ante, " 35.

For the misuse of who and

whom,

see

arUe, " 28.

where
a

" 76. Adverbs

and the
**

are

used frequently would much

tion preposi-

relative pronoun
; as,
a

better express

sense

They framed

w?iere [in which]theyrepeated protestation, whence [fromwhich] language they

their claim."
"

They are
derived."

not such in the

are

we why or the manner By prepositions express the cause is done." ?iow [inwhich] a thing "And the battle where [inwhich]their fathers fell." curse truth may be found There is no rule given?iow [bywhich]
**

*'

out."
as to prevent " 77. The relative should be so placed to the antecedent. and as near as possible ambiguity,

E. g.:
"It
"

"

gives a meaning
not

to ioords

[towords

meaning] which
knew
no

theywould
(Put
"

have." who him to be sin for \is,

"

For he hath made

sin."

who

knew

no

sin

after

**

Take that of me, my To seal the accuser's lips."

him.") who have the power friend,

**

tftkethat of me." Correct, "My friend,

RELATIVE

PRONOUNS.

63

" 78.
should
**

The be

relative

pronoun E. g.
:
"

is often

omitted

where

it

expressed.
error

The

next

[that] I

shall

mention

is

capital one."

of the divine perfections." [that]we know is the worat "This thing [that] could happen." me." "I'here were several thiugs [which] brought it upon that [which] We speak that [which] we do know, and testify
*'

It is little

**

we

have
**

seen."

"

John

iii. 11. the construction

some

Almost have

all the arisen

in irregularities from in the the

of any

guage lanwere

of ellipsis and

words

which

inserted originally
lai'."
"

sentence

[which]

made

it regu-

Murray*
That

Graminar,

78a,

restrictive.
**

Bain, in
That
is the

his

"Higher
But

lish EngProf. mar," Gram-

Grammar,"

says

proper

restrictive,

explicative, limiting, or
W. D.

defining relative."
"

Whitney,
says:
"

in

his

Essentials

of

English

**

Some

authorities
or

hold

that

wJw

and

which

are

to

be

used
as

as

co-ordinating
or

simply descriptive relatives,

;

but

that

limiting
wounded*;

restrictive

thus,
are were

this

soldier, wh^
of

was

recently
*the
near means

'clouds,
were

which

bodies left' ; *a

vapor';
th"at

but

diers sol-

thrtt

wounded
so
a

cloud

lay by

the

horizon

'

; and

on.

But

the

best

English

usage

no

requires such
Neither

distinction."
nor

Worcester of real

Webster

gives

any

such

clusive ex-

definition where
as on no

that, and
limitation book the

it is

certainly inapplicable
or

is intended
:
**

desired,
of all

who

of this title-page teach, write, or speak the

For

the

Use

Language."

64

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

CHAPTER
DOUBLE

XV.
NEGATIVES.

in Englishdestroy one other/ annegatives to an affirmative." Such comor are equivalent mon I don't want barbarisms as and I nothing,** be used by a respecthave n't got none,"would never able violate the foregoing writer. But authors frequently rule, althoughthe mistake is not so apparent. E.g.:

" 79.

"

Two

"

"

"

''Give mine

not
"

me

let no Nor [and] counsel,

I canrwt

comforter

delight
"

ear."

Mvdih Ado, go
no

pray you bear with me; You, Like It, "I

**

further."

As

never

did

shall not now." nor [and] repentfor doinggood,

'

"

Merchant
"*

of Venice,
can
"

There

be

no

rules laid down, tellyou

nor

na [and]

manner

ommended." rec-

Sheridan.

''

I cannot

stop to [can]
on

hardlyany
"

of the adventures

that befellTheseus
*'

The facultiesare

the way to Athens." Hawthorne. called into no exercise by doinga

more no it, [any]
"

because others do merely

than

thing a by believing

thing onlybecause
"

others believe it."

Geo. P. Marsh. ter." any interestin the mat-

No Now

one

elsebut the examine

a

had petitioners the

case

(Omit else,)
**

let
was

us

not

there
*'

not

and decide whether or cited, mistake made in the name." (Omit the

second not,) do not,confine the purposes of God." [and] allow him what his argument "I cannot by no [any] means must prove." (Or, I can by no means etc. ) allow," We need not,nor
"

See

anUf

page 49.

DOUBLE

NEGATIVES.

65

"There
**

is skill

nothing
could

more

admirable,
nor

nor

[or] remedy

more

useful."

No

obviate,

[and]

no

dispel

the

rible ter-

infection."
'*

Which

do

not

continue,
not to
**

nor

[and]
when

are

not

binding/' rings."

"The
710^
"

train

will

stop

only

the

bell

(Omit

or

change
For I ray

only part
not

except.")
him moment's

love
a

not,

nor

[and]

hate

him since

not," I received

"

have

had

time

hardly

your

letter."

(Omit

not.)

66

MISTAKES

IN

WBITINQ

"NQUSH.

CHAPTER
COBBELATIYES.

XVI.

" 80. Certain adverbs and conjunctions tain cerrequire others to correspond with thera, in comparison or which are called correlatives. The princiantithesis, pal words of this sort are the following:
"

as

ctSyso,
. .

so, such

"is, ilicU,

both

ajid,

though
.

yet.
there,

if

then,
, , .

when

tlien,
.

either

or, nor,

wliere

f neiUter not onlyor

. .

whether

or, even.

n^t

merely
as

....

hid but,hut also,

*'

As

so thy days,
as

he." shall thy strength

driven snow."

**Lawn
**

white

am

dehtor hoth to the Greeks and to the then speakfalse, father

both harbarians,

to the wise and to the unwise.*'

"

**

"

**

perish.*' Either he must leave, or I shall go." his parents." Neither this man nor sinned, but These are questions, not of prudence merely,
may my

If I

of morals

also."
*'

but
** "

and piracy were Smuggling honorable." even absolutely No lamb No

man was was

deemed he."

not

onlynot infamous,

e*er so mild
so

as

'*

poor that he could not make restitution." The difference is of such a nature that it is easily seen."
me, yet will I Though he slay trust in him."

"

"When
"

the heart beats

no

more,

then the lifeends."

Where

**

the bee sucks, there suck I." nature." Whether of a public or of a private

CORRELATIVES.

67

" 81. Mistakes

and
nor as

the

made in the use of or frequently and of either and neither, correspondents

are or

of not

onlywithout its proper correlative but

with
occur.
"

but also.

They are not so common though they sometimes

of
*'

the other

correlatives, The following are amples ex-

erroneous

usage:

**

sold ice at Worcester." or [nor] He ueither cut, stored, Mary, Upon the decease of either said Cynthiaaiid [or]
instraraent should
can

etc. children," leaving

"The
any

be

bar,both

in law. or
to

to equity,
or

claim that "Neither

be made." the [nor]

(Changeboth
other has

or either,

to

one,

or

the least chance in this

of

success."
"

It shall not be Not

has

him, neither forgiven

world,neither

in [nor]
**

the world to come."

his reputation too [but also Ids reputation] onlyhis estate, suffered by his misconduct." accurate and yet as [so]
as

**

His work is not

as

much simpli[so] fied

it may
so

be." much of it is retained

as

"Still the

it] injures greatly [that

book is well written." took

of the work." uniformity far as I am the able to judge, **A8 [So]

Chancer "i)^
was

accustomed

to say that he

possession

of whatever he found directed to hesitate over

no great him, so [then] poet need

any material at hand."

must be taken care " 82. As in comparisons ("59), these correlativesso as to exclude and include to place what is intended. The following are examples precisely of wrong position :
"

"I "He
"

remember
or

that I
either

am
"

not

here

as

censor

either

of [of

manners either] comes

morals."

from

R, G. White, Every-Day English, Ohio or Indiana."^ [from either]

Verbalist. Ayres,

Oswald

copy of from the

not only] a only communicated [communicated and a lethis commission, but a partof his instructions, ter not

of Secretary

State."

"

GeorgeBancroft.

68

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

"

neither

estimated after

myself
)

highly

nor

lowly."

J.
"

S.

Mill.

(Put
"He

neither

myself,
neither

would

give

[give

neitlier]

wiue,

nor

oil,

nor

money."
**

"

Thackei-ay. attempted "attempted

only
to

He

neither

excite
to

anger, excite

nor

ridicule, auger.")
put
to

nor

miration.*' ad-

(Say,
"He of
of would
Twt

neither be

[not
but

only

would]
be

to

the

expense
the
use

I'epixxlucing
them "I until
will
not
new

them,
ones

would

obliged

postpone

were

made." what
can

dispute

about

neither

be

[be

neither]

proved
"

nor

disproved."
a

It of

is

good
nor

which
on

neither

depends
of

[depends
external

neither]
fortune."

on

the

will

others,
division

the

affluence
not

"The

affected
of

only
but the

[not
entered whole

only
the
structure

affected]
household,
of

tions institufied modi-

and the

the

forms

society,
off

beliefs,

and

marked

society."

CONJUNCTIONS.

69

CHAPTER
CONJUNCTIONS.

XVII.

or " 83. Beginning paragraphs

sentences

with

junctions con-

nor,

and, conjunctions often needlessly are connective, or, and others strictly thus made to begin a sentence, more especially

should be avoided.

The

and.

In many be cases, the and is useless and may omitted, and where it is necessary the sentence can with the preceding often be joined A disjunctive, one. like hut,may sometimes of the sentence, and in be necessary at the beginning animated or easy,style it is an

It is to begin one with and. perhaps unobjectionable without takingup too much not easy to giveexamples, to show space, as whole sentences would be required the connection. Any one can find plentyof examples in his every-day and can judge for himself as reading, to their propriety or impropriety. and becavse should 'not be " 84. The words reason used together, the word because meaning for that reason," and thus beingredundant ; as,
"
**

Because

was picture
**

beautiful [That]Rousseau had giren an equally it." no reason why Goethe should not repeat
not for any apparent reason fail,

The The

other will
one

but because

the [except that]

'*

loves the child from the

were appeal

beginning."
of the

reasons

of

the consent becatcse [that]

had parents "The do it

60

not been

obtained."

reason

much

I ask you to do this is because better than I."

[that] you

can

70

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

" 85.
are

other the

common

errors

in the

use

of

tions conjunc-

following.
unless, btU/or; as,

WithotU for
"WUhotU

form of .a word can the grammatical be [Unless] littleprogress can be made in readingthe at a glance, recognized language." in You will never live to my age wUhotU you keep yourself
**

breath with exercise.

"

"

This veteran

enemy's hands legion."

forty campaignswould have fallen into the effort of the first without [but for]a vigorous
of

or but for except Onli/

E. g. :
form

"

"It has the well-known this difference."

**

with of the cube, only [but] in

was photograph number a greater that]

The

taken

similar manner, of exposures were made."

a

only [except

"

First of white

men

biU

the [except]
sea

beheld plain

the fresh-water

Friar Le Caron, Chamof the Hurons."

"

"iU what for but that,

"

E. g. :
whcU 1

Tliink
not

no

man

so

hut perfect

**

He would

not believe btU what

he may err." [butthat] was joking." (Say, that

**

was

joking.")
used after words unnecessarily for that ot if, E. g. :
"

But

is often

ing express-

doubt,or
"There
to be
"

is no

doubt but that the settlement there had ceased the

before occupied
He
never

Conquest."
their intention." the case."
but

doubts but that he knows that [if] will

was

"

I should not wonder

**

I have

no

doubt but

he [that]

cx"rae

to-night."
the
parative com-

For the

use

of hut for than after other and

see degree, ante, " 58.

an

tha"t is often repeated, after " 86. The conjunction before the clause with which clause, intervening
was

^;he first that

intended

to

connect.

In

each

of

CONJUNCTIONS.

71 be

the

sentences following

one

Italicized that should

omitted.
**To
us

it

seems as

clear that if the the of God feeling

of parable towards

the

son prodigal

"is to 136 taken

every

thaJt sinner,

every sinner must at least be of His redeeminglove."

**

broughtback by the mighty power

It does

not

seem

damages may
ascertainment of
a

dated easy to say, that if cases of unliquibe treated as debts l)ecause theyend in the
to
me

fixed

sum

of money,

that

we

are

at

to liberty

say that the doctrine

**

to applicable equally damages." Judge Story.

is not
"

all

cases

of

liquidated un-

I have

noted tliatwhen
you

that details,

ent differyou wish to touch on many fare better if you adoptrapid interrogation."

"The colora the

were

Master
so

held that if,in dyeing, the effected that whiteness could not be predicated of of the Rolls had that the twisted thread
of law the
was

and selvage,
as

mottled, red and

white,that

trade-mark was not particular had no remedy.'^ and that therefore the plaintiff infringed, counsel contended, that, if the jury found "The that the and amounted claimed by the plaintiff, to a warfacts were ranty, as
matter

thcU such
"

warranty

was

partof the

contract.

"

Uiai so far were show, by your own writings, you fix"m being competent to teach others Englishcomposition, to study its firstprinciples." that you had need yourself Moon, DearCs English. I wished
to
"

" 87.
"

That is also often omitted

sense.

in

cases

where

it is

essentialto the
After years
contrast

E. g. :

"

of labor

there he felt [that]

between

the

of his insignificance

very strong and the performance

was a

greatness of his project."

"

Is there not

fixed classes in
"

there an prevalent [that] opinion ? society

too
"

must

be

Though
told

the instances

are

numerous,

it is

they hoped [that]

will not be found too

**Hb
me

many."
such

he would proceed [that] immediately." **It is manifestly to to apply the principle impos-sible than B." A is greater as [that] judgments

72

MlSTAKJiS

IN

WKITING

ENGUSH.*

CHAPTER
PREPOSITIONS.

XVIII.

is " 88. The endingof a sentence with a preposition considered at the present day to be a perfectly generally accordant with Englishidiom, and entirely legitimate the usages of the language, though it was formerly writers. Hence the to by many originated objected the grammarian who gave as familiar jestconcerning "A is a very bad word to end a a rule, preposition This usage of the preposition, ever, howsentence with." in a free and flowing is indispensable style. often misused,and there is are " 89. Prepositions difference of opinionamong writers as to the some to be used with certain words ; but proper preposition few specimenexamples, the following if not of a are ^ at least of inelegant E g. : erroneous, usage.
"

**

The trust refeiTed to

the by [in]

letter is not used in the

few."

will."
"

that is given To rise beyond[above] to Alike

How

**

"

"This
"

another." on [of] independent differentto [from] this is the lifeof Fulvia ! is very different to [from] what was expected."
"

or

need not think it any diminution to [from] their sufficiency." derogation

"

The wisest powers

to

to

[of]

In pursuance
For

the provisions of their charter." [of]

the
of

completesynopsisof
ones

the proper

to be used with
"

and a list giving prepositions, certain words, see Mr. Loomis D.

^bell's exceUent

Handbook

Synonyms and Prepositions.'*

PREPOSITIONS.

73
his office"m of the

'*His

residence is Street.
a

"m

and Street, Berkeley [in]

for

State [in]
*'He company, ''But

conceived
a

plan

the enlivening

courage

little dashed

of late wiih

and [by] misgivings Lent [in] tufted

forebodings."
codfish must there stillbe'had
for the faithful on

and

fast days." [on]

"And
**

on

dry sands

half hidden wi"k that has

[by]the

etc. wire-grass,"

The indolent child is one

aversion /rom [to] strong in

action of auy sort." ** thus circumstanced Nouns

to
"

are

said to be

apposition

each other." Murrmfs Orammar, [with] '*The goods were delivered on to [upon]railroad generally cars, but sometimes upon wagons sent by purchasers." friend of the king, whom he had the A personal from [with] misfortune to differin religious opinion." He estimated the value of wheat compared to [with] silver
**

'*

to have

been enhanced."
a

*'She assumed dissimilar/rom

"

tone

in their intercourse most

flatteringly
in

that of the other [to]

pupils." [as to]

In general there is a

differenceof [in] great persons

to this influence." sensibility

**

When Out

Israel of the Lord beloved the o/[from] land of

bondagecame."

used onlyin relation " 90. Betiveen can be properly either of which,however,may be pluto two subjects, ral than two are spoken of,among must ; where more be used,and should be substituted for beltffeefi in the ; examples following
"

' '

The courts will not

its members
or

the association, either recognize

as

tween be-

third parties." against "The the general rule of law, that the court fully recognized contract between the members of a corporation cannot be altered by the majority." "We regardtheir interaction as takingplace between a series of psychical rather than between logical ceptions," confunctions,

74
But
we

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

use

the
"

and the fanner

*' read between the lines," expression between the rows of corn." ploughs

often omitted which are are " 91. Prepositions to the correct grammatical construction of
sentence. "This "It
"

cessary ne-

the

E. g.

"

would have been less worthy [of] notice."

of about

was

feet [in] diameter forty

at the

base,and

of

altitude." about twelve feet [in] the way of the gateof the broughtme back [by] outward sanctuary." The army must of necessity be the school, not of honor,but effeminacy." [of] I might be excused [from] notice of it." taking any more
" "

Then

he

for "Watch, therefore, Lord doth come." laws of the

act

ye

know have

not

[at]what
him

hour

your

"The forum."
"

censors

banished

the [from]

The

settlements military creating

"

was

the passed[in]

same
"

in force. year,and it is still

President [on] 30,1789, Washingtonwas inaugurated April life[on] March 4, 1797." and retired to private both of the mollusk and "They stimulate the oiganization the [of]
creatures

which
or

form its food."

Where
the
same

three

more

words

in the

the same require if repeated at all, must preposition,

case;
*'

construction

in case objective the preposition, be used in every

as,

in quality, Simplesensations are said to be distinguished and in time." [in] intensity, of innocence or of guilt, of merit or We may have a feeling demerit." [of] "She has been assisted by Miss Smitli, Miss Brown, and by Miss Robinson, as well as by Messrs. Jones and Thompson."
"

(Omit the Italicizedby.)

often inserted needlessly, are pecially es" 92. Prepositions writers. In the following by the older English

PREPOSITIONS.

75

examples
:
**

the
"

Italicized

prepositions

are

erroneously

terposed in-

And

the

apostles and

elders

came

together/or
awakened

to

consider

of

this
**

matter." This
first emotion
comes

at

last to be

by
the

the

dental, acci-

instead
**

of

by the

necessary
numerous

antecedent."

Notwithstanding o/"the
I will
encounter

panegyrics

on

ancient

English liberty."
"

loith

Andronicus."
a

Inserting of by another
"

after

a//, before

word

already governed
; as,
were

preposition, is especiallycommon
all

During
He
In
was

of this period,
of all
cases,

the

same

forces

at

work."

**

informed

of the
mind

conditions
works

of the

agreement."
of its
own

**

all

0/ these

the

by

methods

invention."

"
a

93.

Double
one

prepositions
is necessary;

are

often

used
on

where

but

single
E.

as,

of

of,

to, up

above,

etc. "The of the

**

g.
wall

"

with

the

fence

on

top extended up,)

and

up

above

the

tops
that

windows." first-story
Its stock
at
a

(Omit
at

then

sold

par,

occasionally,at
a/.) flood."

about

time,

small
in

premium."
me

(Omit
this angry

"Leap
The
are

with

into

expressions /rom
used
;

hence, from
as

thence,from
adverbs

whence,

frequently
whence

but

the of

hence, thence,
the

and
are

include

the

idea

from,

expressions

tautologous.

76

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

CHAPTER
CONSTRUCTION
OF

XIX.
.

SENTENCES.
more

" 94.
or

In
or

a more

sentence

two containing

or

words,
ferent dif-

two

each of which clauses,

a requires

sion
must

to connect it with the conchiproperly particle of the sentence,the appropriate connecting particle

he used after each word of the most

or

clause.

The
one

violation of the

of this rule is one

common,

and

sins against ing In the followEnglish grossest, grammar. the words inserted in brackets are necessary examples, to make the sense complete. E. g. : and perhapsmore "So he, as much than, any of his [asj,
"

townsmen, it is not
a

feels the burden

few, but

heavy taxes. Thus we all,[of]the peoplewho must

of

see

tliat

bear the

burden." **Beak about the

and -or a littlelonger length[of], [than], twice as broad as the cuspidate scale." Botany. structed Those shares were purchased by a person who had been inbut no higher dollai*3 to bid as high[as], than,forty per
"

**

share."
**

He has made

alterations [in] and additions to the work." and different [from] essentially the four
are Gospels as

**The firstproposal was

to the second."
**

rior infe-

Will it be

that urged
"

old

or [as]

even

older than tradition?

**He
was more

beloved

but [than],

not

so

much

admired

as

Cynthia."
**Ho
times someguidedby interests alwaysdifferent [from], contraryto, those of the community." So far as these are private the State has the same property, and no greaterthan,over other private property." [as], was

**

ower

CONSTRUCTION

OF

SENTENCES.

77

an arrangement that "Elegance prohibits throws the emphasis a suspension on, and thus causes other unimportant of the sense word or at, a particle (as in this sentence)."^ is This,whether in the familiar or the solemn style, be avoided. In and should generally alwaysinelegant, where fulness and exactness forms of law, and the like, ation, take placeof every other considermust of expression

"

95.

"

it may

be admitted." with this

In accordance from follows

'*

the foregoing sentence principle, Hill's Ehetorio should be transposed as

"

an Elegance prohibits arrangement of the sentence that throws the emphasis on a particle, other unor important of the word, and there causes a suspension

sense.** section would examples in the preceding if likewise transposed improved, therefore, :
"

The

all be

"

So he

as

much

as

any

of his townsmen

feelsthe bnrden

of

heavytaxes, and perhapsmore so. Thus we see that it is not a few of the ])eople who must hear this burden, but all of them." about the lengthof the cuspidate "Beak little or a scale, and twice as broad." longer, structed Those shares were by a person who had been inpurchased dollars per share, but no higher." to bid as highas forty
'* " "

alterations in the work, and additions to it." Will it be urgedthat the four Gospels older than tradition, are
or

He

has made

even
was

as

old?" beloved than but Cynthia,

not
so

''He
"

more

much

mired." ad-

the

guidedby interests always different from community, and sometimes contrary to them."
He
was 1 2

those of

of Rhetoric,page 139. Principles Grammar, under Rule XVII. Mun*ay's

Hiirs

78

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

CHAPTER
TAUTOLOGICAL
AND

XX.
SUPERFLUOUS WORDS.

words, or of words superfluous which are either implied in another word already used is very general "There in the sentence or itself, is especially ginning at the becommon are,"or "There is,'*

" 96.

The

use

of

of

sentence

where

it is useless

or

worse

than

useless;stillthere are cases wh^re it givesa special The Italicized emphasisto a statement or a remark. all tautological sentences words in the following are or and should be omitted : redundant,
"

**

We

walked usually
to

ahead
the

of the canoes,

side of the stream

and other,

wading from one either as back, according

and, the badlytattered,

shore offered the better

**

footing."
had become had cut them both off at the knee." and
both took

One

other
**

legof his trousers he better, beinglittle

me

"Give

both

0/ those books."
on

Mv

brother called

me,

we

walk."

"Our
very

actual life compels us

me

to connect

these ideas

togetker

often."

"They invited
"He

to enter in."

combined

these facts

together"

higherup, in a recess, there were remains of similar line with the lower ones." but not in a straight step",
"Still
"There
are are on

it now
now

there places
"

many rabbits and fieldsof maize ; and

and in some snakes, the top there is on

nor

small,ancient temple."
and no other bones layalone by themselves, with them." were aloiig any other objects set apartby themaelves" "The discriminated objects are
The

skulls

TAUTOLOGICAL

AND

SUPERFLUOUS

WORDS.

79
Jie

'*

He

had the candor to abandon

was

at once

his

when position aloft the

was

convinced that he
''At the extreme

in error."

northern

there point

towers

peak

of Mt. Athos."
**

Tfiere are

certain features of monastic lifewhich of considerable it." the had proportions

are

common

to all the monasteries.**

"A

settlement
around

grown

up

about and
"

The

of the fraud government could show the entire history

from perpetrated,

of the scheme to its^Tta^ first conception consummation. It is apparent from these lettersthat the accused had combined together to carry out the fraud."
...

"

I shall have finished by the laUer end of the week."

"

the whole country." "They soughthim throughout Greenhouse to sow m%u^ prefer seeds in Januaryrather men
"

than in December."
"

words indicates re of itselfin many " 97. The prefix and such words are often reor dundantly iteration, repetition the same used with another word signifying thing. Kg.:
"

"There
**

is not

the

it ever ground for supposing slightest

appears re-

again"
ing of dividagain the old folly dangerof repeating into two hostile camps." our people of our discussion." again to the subject Returning "They returned inick again to the cityfrom whence they
We
are

in

**

came
**

forth."
Whether he
can recover

back the

sum

thus

paidis not

the

before us." question "Return

"

again,and take
The

an

oath with thee."

He

restored it back to the owner."

" 98.
"

fUl fvU and fiJd expressions up

; as,

are

wise like-

redundant
Fi]l a basin
a

**FiU

water." /mZZ o/[with] half /uW of wine." (Say,"Half glass

filla

glass
'

with
"

wine.")
Fill up the

pitwith

stones."

80

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGUSH.

"

The

l"rn

was was

filled full of filled up

hay.
the

"

*'The surface/*

canal

to

level

of

the

sarroimdiog

"
as

99.
in
:

So the
"

the

expression

have

got is frequently used

where

following examples^,
cold."

got

is

fluous super-

**

I have

got
have

''They
"

got

an

excellent

assortment

'of

silks

at

their

establishment."
1 have

got

to

leave

for

Washington

this

evening.*'
the
"

In

the

following examples, however,

"

have

got

"

is correct:
"

I have

got

better

education

than

yoa

have, because

I have

worked
*'

harder Who
can

for it.**
'

say, work

I have is done
'

got through learning my

?
"

mother

tongue, and

my

"
common

100.

A
use, ; in

great many
the

tautological expressions
of
some

are

in

absurdity

of
not
:
"

which
so

is very

evident from

others, however, it is

quite

obvious,

their

great familiarity. E.
and

g.

"Rules
"usual

regulations/* "prominent
"bold of truth and

and

leading citizens,**
audacious
bery,** rob-

and
"a
man

ordinary occurrence,'*

aud

veracity,** "sylvan forest,**"false

matter,**

misrepresentations,** "subject
"

"trifling minutise,'*
unbounded,** "very

meet

together,** "follow

after,*'"most

incessant."

For For

the

use

of

reason

with

see hecatise,

ante^

"

84.

double

prepositions, etc.,see

ante^ " 93.

MISCELLANEOUS

WORDS

AND

PHRASES,

81

CHAPTER
MISCELLANEOUS WORDS

XXI.
AND

PHRASES.

contains chapter which have not phrases

This

remarks been

on

some

words

and
of
are

mentioned

going in the foreaccount

notice on pages, but which require their misuse or abuse, or for other reasons.

They

given without regardto

Employ^

order
"

or

subject.

The absurd use of the for Employee. French employe for the clear and coiTect Englishemr of the most wonderful perversities is one of the ployee American in the edition press. Webster's Dictionary, of 1864, under the word emvphye^ says: "The word conformable to analogy, and employee^ thoughperfectly is not sanctioned by good thereforeperfectly legitimate, writers." Mr. Bryant, however,long ago, when editor of the New York EveningPost,disallowed the use of the French emphyS,and of the whole class of French so etc.,* words, rdUy dSbut^ artiMe, cort^gej constantly Englishequivalents. used, for which we have perfect writers did not use employee The reason why English is that employees were alwaystermed serundoubtedly
1

the

of newspaper proclivity meaning of which they have

This

writers to
a

use

words of French, idea is shown

in
a

very

vague

not which said, England cities, iclat all of the l"cee last evening, very longago, "At the Mayor's elite. Another paper the. were city meaning present, undoubtedly paper in published
one

of

our

New

"

"

short time since

a

spoke of

strike among 6

the

''

female

employes

**

in

certain establishment.

82
vants

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISE.

time there is an present for the word, which would justify absolute necessity its
or

laborers.

But

at the

exist. It is the proper already and necessary correlative of employer and is just as correct and other words of as are dssignee, payee^ indorsee, tlie same class. It is givenin the Supplementto Worcester's five years ago, is used by Dictionary, published the judgesof our Supreme Court in the Massachusetts and is in constant is found in many law books, Keports, use by many of our best newspapers, like the New York Nation and the Boston Evening Transcript. There is which does not apply whatever to employee no objection when without the to employe(especially printed equally finale). One wiseacre proposes to substitute worhmmi. But the word employeeis far more can comprehensive, from the agent be used for every gradeof employment, of a corporation to persons of any down, and applies The antipathy which some age or of either sex. ple peoThere is no have had to the word is astonishing. at least should not reason, however, why Americans if coinage,
^

it did not

use

it.
jyibriB.
"

This is one

of the few French

words which

and it should be adopted English equivalent, In that case it might into the language as a necessity. be written debris, without the accent, like properly depotSLudfete, have
no

Allude.

"

the most This is perhaps

misused

word

in

the

at language

the presentday. Its only proper significa without actually is to refer to a person or thing
"

often

mentioningthe name, read of a speechin

to

hint

at.

Yet

we

which

it is said that the in fact

oeaker alluded to several

when subjects,

they

MISCELLANEOUS

WORDS

AND

PHRASES.

83

constituted its whole branch of

a

substance.

In

reportfrom

the writer states of institution, collegiate certain mattera that they have been alluded to in former when in fact they had been elaborately cussed. disreports, A
to allude to recent
a

here it is proper writer says, "And been adopted'' method which has recently ;

and then goes on to givea full and elaborate account of without similar it. There is hardly a newspaper printed misuse
Drive
or

of this word.

lUde.

"

custom The. English

of

usingride

and drive for riding for riding on horseback, exclusively in a carriage, is the fashion in England,and undoubtedly correct enough because the fashion there. and is not This is not New England usage, however, does Dictionaries. Where warranted by our a person it is proper to say that he takes a drive ; drive^ actually but but a person who goes with him does not drive^ rides.
car or a

No

he rides in a street says he drives when railroad car, and neither does he drive when
one
a

A farmer may say, " I will closed carriage. he intends actually drive you to the railroad station," as he rides in
to drive ; but if he should overtake you

walkingon

tlie

road,he would ask

Oh!

you

to

and ride,

not to drive.

inteqection onlyof grief, pain, surprise, sorrow, or anxiety.It was formerly of a wish,and is so employedalso for the expression
"

and O.

Oh! is properly an

used
em

in

our

versions of the Bible

but the best mod-

this last usage of the word, generally reject and employ only 0 for that purpose. This distinction is made by Professors Crosby and Goodwin, by Goold mars, Brown, and by Prof. W. D. Whitney, in their Gramand by most of the best authors.

writers

84 0

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

the vocative or sign of address, for the expression of a wish; to introduce an case; meaning unas an phrase;and also,colloquially, exclamatory introduction
it
or

is used

for the

addition to

sentence,where
sense.

might be omitted the Oh I requires

never

without

the at all affecting

exclamation

after pointimmediately of both

but 0 it, The words

"

should have it.

correct

are following : -^

of the examples

use

But oh ! as to embrace
**

me

she

I waked." inclined,
"

"

Miltmi,

But she is in her grave, and oh ! The difference to me ! Wordsioorth.

"

**Oli! I
"

am

undone spoiled,
"

by villains."
"

Othello,

Oh ! I die,Horatio."
How

Hamlet.

**

amiable thou art, 0 virtue ! "'*

0 for

in lodge

some

vast

wilderness,
shade."
"

Some
**

boundless

of contiguity

Covoptr,

O for the voice of that wild On

horn,
"

Fontarabian

echos borne ! "

ScotL

**

0 that this too, too solid flesh would

melt,
"
"

Thaw, and
"I

resolve itself into

dew !

Hamlet,
us.

reform

with hope we have reformed that iQdiiferently it altogether." Hamlet,

"

-^0,

"Remuneration!
"

O, that's the Latin word

Lost,

for three farthings.

Love's Labor

"Catch, then,0, catch the transient hour. Johnstm, as it flies." Improve each moment
"

Although the use of this verb in phrases is like "You are mistaken,"**I was mistaken," etc., Webster, and given in the Dictionaries of Worcester, as havingtwo meanings; Richardson, precisely opposite it is better should alwaysbe preferred, yet,as precision and say, to limit words to their primary signification, when that is what is "You and **I mistook," mistake,"
Mistake.
"

tended.

MISCELLANEOUS

WORDS

AND

PHRASES.

85

is unobjectionhowever,as an adjective, able, We and the authority find for it is abundant. like mistaken ideas,''mistaken reports," expressions and the hymn beginetc.,used by standard writers; ning,

Mistaken,

*'

'*

"Mistaken

who dream of heaven," souls,

is well known.
No

mistake,

used phrase,
Farther

is a slang fail^ certainly^ but not often seen in print colloquially,

Further.
"

for without

and

Although these

words

are

is by many writers, indiscriminately yet farther to distance only; while more appropriately applicable of something to come, furtheris used in the sense used
moreover; as, "I
"

will say This is

a

etc. further,"

Jeopardize.
old for hazard.
Almost
no

useless

neologismfor
well
use

the \

English jeopard. We
or

might as
"
"

hazardize*

nothing.

*The Duke

of Sutherland

got almoist no rent for his salmon fisheries for the last four years.'The writer should have said soarcdy ^ His wages for that periodwere almost any rent^ anything." 7iothinyJ'* Say scarcely
has
" "**

Elder

and Older.

^^
"

Elder and

eldestare

to the best usage, persons, and, according thus: *An of the same members family,

to applied paring onlyin com-

elder
ai-e

brother

the eldest sister.' But

older and

oldest

and also to appliedto persons of different families, older than things. Hence we say, Franklin was in the Washington*; 'Harvard is the oldest college
*

United

"" States.'

1 "

Peabody*sConversatioD, p. 138. Ibid., p. 112.

86

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

"

^*Had

as

had better, had best, had like, liefy sometimes

been

had

as

are good,liad rather,

criticised ; but
use

they are

idioms
are

which

have

in

from

early

times, and

by abundantlysupported and would rather Would as lief

admitted It is generally this

the best
are

thorities. au-

also used

^ by good writers."

Than

whom.

"

at the present
as expression

that usage has sanctioned and it has been used good English, time writers besides Milton.

by

many

standard

happen, both in America and Engto pass, is very common come land, The but is condemned by all good authority. to Websfer, is: true meaning of the word, according 1. To exhale ; to pass off in insensible perspiration ; Fluids transpire from the human body.* 2. To as, public ; as, The proceedings escape from secrecy ; to become of the council have not yet transpired.'
Transpire.
"

This word

in the

sense

of to

"

"

Quantity /br Number.

or

mass,

we

should

use

of a collection speaking but in speaking of quantity;

"

In

individual

must use the yvord number, "A we objects, of wheat,"or of wood," is correct, a quantity quantity of books,'* but of birds," is a quantity or a quantity
" " "

wrong.

Peas, Pease.
the pea, seeds in
Taste

"

Peas

is used

for seeds

or

plantsof
for the

spoken of by number; bulk, or by quantity.

of, Smell
of.
"

when

pease,

is of in these expressions and should not be used. We taste a thing, redundant, but do not taste or smell ofit. or smell a thing,
1

The

Tweed's Grammar, p. 106.

MISCELLANEOUS

WORDS

AND
"

PHRASES.

87

Differ
a

from

or

with.

"

Worcester

says,
or

"

Diflfertdth

; from a person person in opinion " quality ; and this distinction is made

best writers. from

"

But

there is its use

thing;n some by many of the for differ good authority

"

in

and opinion,

must

be left to individual

taste.

is very often used nowa* days for different from ; but it is a decided vulgarism, and should not be tolerated.
Different
to.
"

This

form

Different

than.

"

This is another the

from, as bad
has become who
once

as

for difexpression ferent E. g. : The paper foregoing.

"

the organ of different men determined its policy."

or was

than

those [from]

fashion is very of using the latter of these two forms in prevalent

Gradtiated

graduated.

"

or speakingof a graduateof a university college. intransitive as an Why, it is hard to say, as gradiiate verb is given in all the Dictionaries. He graduated
"

at

Oxford."
Brothers,

"

Todd.
Brethren.
same a
"

Brothers

is used

for male

children of the for members

Zieam

of

used only parent ; brethren is now or charitable body. religious

"

among instruct4 to

is very common children and iinlettered people.To teach is to

for

Teach.

This

error

glad to

to receive instruction. learriy learn,if you will teach me."

"

"I shall be

Relative.

This word

is much

better than relation used.

to express
Meter
come

and is now kindred,

"

commonly

and Gram.

within

called to the

does not Although orthography the province of this work, attention is in spelling discrepancy metre, millimetre,

88

MISTAKES

IN

WRITING

ENGLISH.

and

other

measures

of diameter
,

the

metric

system,
barometer

in

close
or
,

nection con-

with

thermometer^
etc.,
all derived better

with
same

hexameter,
Greek

dimeter,
It and accordance words made is all

from
to

the the the of the

word.

altogether
the with from

spell
of number have

itive primmetric other nation termi-

word,
system,
in

French
the it

terms

great
which

compound
er.

The

same

reasoning
monogram,

applies

to

^ram,

from

which and

we

have metric

anagram,

diagram,
which The

telegram,
be word

the gram, milli-

system

weights,
etc. not

should

spelled

kilogram,
to

only
is which and

other

belonging
and old this

this

class be

so

spelled

programme, is
an

should

written since

program,

English by
many

word,
writers.

long

introduced,

now

used

APPENDIX
FORMATION
OF THE

I.
PLURAL.

1. The
of
8

of nouns regular plural to the singular ; as,

;

is formed

by

the addition

book, books
eye, eyes ;

straw, straws ;
pen, pens ;

Nero, Neix)s ; halo,halos ; hero,heros ; folios; folio,

motto, mottos

; ;

handful,handfuls alkalis ; alkali, Miami, Miamis ;

rabbis ; rabbi, muff,muffs ;

proof, proofs ;
strifes. strife,

ends with ", shych soft, or singular a?, the pluralis formed by the addition of es, and makes an additional syllable; as, 2. If the

omnibus, omnibuses
mass,
masses

lashes ; lash, church, churches

fox,foxes ; James, Jameses.

ending in o also form the plural Monosyllables by adding es, except when the o is precededby another vowel, when 8 alone is added; as,
3.
no,
noes

wo,

woes

two,

twos.
or

4. Nouns
q^i form

the

ending in y precededby a consonant by changing plural y into ies;as,

body,bodies
a

by

ladies ; lady,

mercy, mercies ;

colloquy, colloquies.

But if the y is precededby the plural ; as,

vowel, a only is added for

hut ay, ayes.
s

boy,boys ;

day,days;

valley, valleys ;
y

Proper names
as,

ending in

simplyadd

for the

ral; plu-

Henry, Henrys ;

Tully,Tullys ;

Willoughby, Willoughbys; Ptolemy, Ptolemys.

90 5. The

APPENDIX.

third person

the first person rules. E. g. :

rides 5 ride, make, makes ; break,breaks ; echo,echoB ;

of verbs singular in accordance singular,

"

is formed

from

with the foregoing

push,pushes ;
march, marches
annex,
annexes

woo, ; ;

woos

comply,complies ;
pray, prays ;

do, does ;
go, goes ;

professes ; profess,

buy,buys ; buoy,buoys.

Compounds of
word ; as,

do and go follow the ritlefor the

tive primi-

forego, foregoes ; undergoes; undergo,

6. The
reasons

overdo,overdoes undo, undoes.

in the rules foregoing changes for the formation of the plural as they have heretofore in the following been laid down, are explained nication commuto the Boston Evening Transcript :
"

for the

"To
"

THE

Editor
are

of

the

Transcript:

"

reforms which can stillbe practical made in Englishby the droppingof useless silent letters. been made within Many such reforms have already of the useless silent the past fifty years, as the dropping in words ending in ouTy and the e after dg in words u and jttdgmerU, like abridgment both of which reforms in America. Both for are now universally accepted and uniformity I propose that the useless e simplicity in formingthe plural of nouns enHing in i and 0, and of verbs of like ending, also the third person singular Words be droppedin all words except monosyllables.
some

There

if writlike no, wo, go, and do would look very awkward ten without the es as b, termination. But the omission of
e

in all such words

hardlybe
to respect

would syllable and I will venture to say that, with noticed, than half of th6 words ciiding in 0, no more
more one

of

than

FORMATION

OF

THE

PLURAL.

91

into the say without looking should be written. plural

one
can
"

how the dictionary

are mainly endingin ^, the more common of Indian Oriental, Arabic,or else the names chiefly tribes or nations, like Abnakis, Miamis, Mississippis, the plurals of which are now almost always written without the e. The most common noun endingin i is Arabic word. Other such words are cadiy an alkali, all of which are as often maravedi,and rabbi, mufti, nouns

Of

written
"

without

the

in the

still ending in o, more Thus, memento, canto, grotto, perplexing. piano, and many take simply an s for the plural others, ; while and many volcano, motto, mosquito, more, without any I respectfully apparent reason, take es in the plural. Now submit that the useless and
e be perplexing

As to words

with it. as plural the discrepancies are

of the whole list of dropped in forming the plural w^ords ending with i and o, except in monosyllables. and It can make no difference with the pronunciation, from all doubt as to will relieve the writer and printer the correct spelling, by simply extendingthe regular rule for the formation of the plural to all this large

class of words.

"Cambridge,March 15, 1886."

This

A. P. W.

changehas Peabody and

received the commendation Prof. F. W.

of Rev. versity, UniMr.

Child of Harvard
of Yale

of Prof. W. D.

Whitney

of College,

and of other the editor of Shakespeare, J. Rolfe, scholars. Prof. J. P. Cooke has also adopted the spelling of alkalis in his
"

scriptiv text-book, Derecently published List of Chemical Experiments." 7. The following nouns ending in / or fe form the plural by changingthe forfe into ves, viz. beef, calf.

92

APPENDIX

leaf life, knife, half, loafselfsheafshelf wharf elf^ SLudioolf; as, wife,
calves ; cilf, knives knife,
;

wolves wolf,

written staves \^ usually Staff nouns /e,or ^ form endingin/, 8. The of plural vowel the

wharf,wharves. in the plural.All other

;

the

plural regularly. by

changingthe
man,
men

.words is made following sound of the singular; as,

women

teeth, feet; tooth, foot, lice; mouse, mice. brethren ^ ; goose, geese ; louse, brother, in the same Compounds of these words form the plural
; woman, ;

way;

as,

foeman,foemen ; Northman, Northmen.

But the
man syllable

needlewoman,needlewomen. dormouse,dormicf. at the end of a word doos not

always follow

this

rule; as,
;

German, Germans;

Norman, Normans
The 9. of plural
ox

Mussulman, Mussulmans; talismans. talisman,

;

is oxen

of

children. child,

Many words derived from the classicalor other retain the plural form of the language foreign languages But many of them from which theyare taken. have also the regular Englishplural; as,
foci; focus, radii; radius,
genus, genera;

larvae; larva,
-

h3rpotheses hypothesis, ;

crises; criteria crisis, criterion, ; matrix,matrices; phenomenon, -nomena;

or stigmas stigma, stigmata ;

formulse or formulas ; formula, memorandum, -da (yr -dnms ; bean,beaux or beans ; cherubim' cr cherubs ; cherub,

-dices or appendix,

-dixes;
;

banditti or bandits bandit,

or eeraphs. seraph, seraphim

of capacity, measures abbreviating weight, or time,it is unnecessary to add an s for the distance, for gallon or plural gallons ; as, gal, ; Ih, for pound or pounds ; yd,for yard or yards ; yr, for year or years.
1

10. In

See anteypage 87.

APPENDIX
COMPOUND
WORDS.

II.

1. Words words

should not be

will convey the separatesimplewords

compounded where separate signification justas well ; and should always be united when
when the words selves themwords. single

they

are are

in

common as

use, and

accented number

2. The written
as

one,

formerlycompounded, or written two words, which are now as generally and constantly is large increasing; as,

of words

slaveholder, railroad, steamboat, byword,anything, anybody,

roughhew,heartache, raindrop, teardrop, everybody,^ everything, forevermore. nowadays,forever,

seen frequently compounded,or written as two words, may be found written as one Milton, or by Spenser,Shakespeare, be so written ; as, and should now other old authors,

3. So, many

words

which

are

now

spellbound, erelong, bygone, alehouse,schoolboy, wellnigh,

awestrnck,downtrodden, selfsame.
4. Where
a noun

is used
not

as

an

compound
mountain

word

should

be

a useless adjective, made; as,

slave trade,coffee top,Sunday school, supper table, table,journeyman printer, trade,minute hand, multiplication sister cit}^ brother minister,apple cabbageleaf, peasantwoman, tree, fellow student.
1
one

Many peopleeven words. as single

as

and every to write any one as go so far now But these are justas distinctly pronounced and
as

accented

two

words

any

man

and every

man.

94
5. The

APPENDIX.

many

and nouns, as well following adjectives sometimes needlessly are others, compounded:

as
"

law,law merchant,common sense, ill health, good f ree American North York New will, will, grandjury, (Review), South Boston Street (omnibus). (Directory), (Biidge), Washington
common

Also

like the following : phrases

"

well ever to be remembered good by,good morning, (event), laid out (grounds), inside out, uncalled longlooked for (retuni), for (remarks), by and by, attorneyat law,the pulHngdown, the carrying out, etc. away, the blotting

rules are givenfor various classes of following in accordance with these general words, principles. 7. Titles like the following are compounded :
"

6. The

vicevice-president, ex-president, ex-governor, rear-admiml, etc. ; but viceroy, words. are single chancellor, vicegei'ent,

Titles like the

are
as

but often compounded, are following and better, written as two words : frequently,
"

solicitor justice, geneitd, attorneygeneral, governor lieutenant colonel, second lieutenant, etc. general,

chief

8. Words

kindred expressing

are

compounded ;

as,

etc., greatgrandfather, greatstep-daughter, step-mother, etc. etc. o r grand-aunt great-aunt, grandson, grand-uncle,
,

But

the

hyphen

is needless in

others,which

are

compounded;as, frequently
cousin german, father in law, brother in law,son in law,etc., foster son, etc. foster brother, second cousin, etc.,

9. The

written
But the

as

following pointsof words: single

"

the compass

should be

southwest. southeast, northeast, northwest,

are followhig compounded :
"

etc. north-northeast, west-southwest,

10. Fractions like the

"'ihould not be
one

when following, compounded :

"

written out,

two thirds, ten five eighths, half,

thousandths.

COMPOUND

WORDS.

95

"

Another class are

one

compounded as

follows

"

'

fiftieths, hundredths, ninety-uine twenty-fifth, forty-nine

like the
are following

thirteen ten-thousandths, etc.

Numbers

also

compounded :

"

etc. twenty-fifth, forty-second, forty-nine, twenty-five,

a fraction halfor qimrter (whether like the following are or from quarters) usually printed with a hyphen :

11.

Compounds
"

of

witted, halfhalf-crown, half-barrel, half-dollar, half-way, half-past,

half-yearly, quarter-day, half-price, quarter-barrel, ter-face, quaretc.; hut quartermaster. quarter-deck,

12. The with

words of

/oW,
one

scctrey penny
are syllable,

numbers

and pence^ united written as single than

one
:
"

words; but with numbers of more they are compounded or written as

syllable

two

words

two hundred-fold ; hundred-fold, twofold, tenfold, twenty-fold, fourscore, twenty score, a hundred score ; halfpenny, twopenny, fifteen fourpence, fifteen-penny, tenpence, tenpenny,halfpence,

pence.

13. Ordinal numbers

or

hand

are

compounded with the word written with a hyphen ; as, usually compounded with themselves : explain
are
"

rate

etc. first-rate, second-hand, fifth-rate; fouith-hand,

14. Numerals

words of various

meaning,which

one-eyed, one-armed,two-handed, two-headed,three-legged, etc. four-footed, four-story,

Numerals
as adjective are

also combined
:
"

with

noun

to form

an

follows

two-foot rule,ten-mile

run,

one-horse

chaise, twenty-foot
man or

pole,etc.
15.

Compound
as one

nouns

endingwith

woman

are

written

word ; as,
market woman,
etc.

Eiiorlishman, workman, oysterman,goodman; needlewoman,

Frencliwoman,

96 16.

APPENDIX.

Compounds endingwith
as one

holder , monger,

are

ally usu-

written

word ; as,

landholder, stockholder, bondholder, slaveholder; horoughironmonger. cheesemonger, monger,

hook,drop,light Compounds ending with hoot, words if or house, room, side, yard are made single the first part of the compound is of onlyone syllable, than one, but are joinedby a hyphen if it is of more written as two words; as, or
17.
,

canal-boat ; handbook, daybook, place-book commonsailboat, longboat, water-drop sunlight, ; daylight, ; dewdrop,raindrop, ing-house, meetalehouse, boathouse, warehouse, candle-light greenhouse,* ;

anteroom,) dwelling-house ; bedroom, greenroom, (a^so bedside, fireside, hillside, river-side, dressing-room; dining-room, mountain-side ; churchyard, farmyard, timber-yard, courtyard, marble-yard.

18.
as

written Compounds endingwith work are usually words,unless the combination is unusual ; as, single

network, framework, needlework,brickwork, groundwork, stonework ; biU mason-work,carpeut"r-work. ironwork,

19.

Compounds of

and bush tree, leaf,

are

frequently
words
are

made; but this seems unnecessary. in the Oxford alwaysprinted se|)arately

20. with Compounds ending like are

Such

Bibles.
written
as one

word, unless derived from a proper name, or unusual when combinations, they take the hyphen; as,
childlike, lifelike, womanlike,workmanlike,fishlike; Arguslike, Bedouin-like, business-like, miniatu^-like.
21.
one

with Compounds beginning word; as, with Compounds beginning made with

eye

are

written

as

eyelash, eyebrow, eyewitness. eyeglass,

22.
one

school are
a

written

as

word, except when

participle (school-

bred, school-teaching); as,

COMPOUND

WORDS.

97

schoolfellow, schooldame, schoolhouse, schoolmate, schoolboy,

schoolmistress. schoolmaster,
^

But the
school school

are following

better

as

words separate

"

school district, school committee, school teacher, days,

etc. children,

23. The another

word
as

noun,

is frequently fellow compounded with fellow-citizen^ felloiv-traveUer, etc.;but

no

there

seems

to be

better

reason

for this than

for

compoundingany
4, above.
24.

of the

of pairs

words

givenin

graph para-

with case Compounds of a noun in the possessive another noun, and having a peculiar are signification, not infrequent; as,
etc. bear's-foot, crow's-nest, bird's-eye, king's-evil, jew's-harp,

But many 25.

or

like words

have become

consolidated; as,

etc. beeswax,ratsbane, townspeople,

with a noun Compounds of a presentparticiple connected by the hyphen; as, are adjective generally

dining-table, printing-office, composing-room; good-looking, etc. cloud-compelling,

In
occur a

few

the

Comedy Shakespeare's following compounds of this class:

"

pages of

of Errors

"always wind-obeying deep,""well-dealing countrymen," dark- working sorceress," witches," "fool-begged soul-killing winter." "sap-consuming patience,"
" "

like brownish color, Compoundsof words expressing need not be written with a or yellowish white, yellow is used with an adjective hyphen; but where a noun the hyphen should be used ; as, color, expressing 26.

iron-red, emerald-green iron-gray, lemon-yellow, silver-gray, j

red-hot. also,

27. The
of

words is united with numerous self of speech, variousparts formingcompounds which

word
7

98

APPENDIX.

The hyphen is used in all words self-explaining. and selfhood, selfsame, beginningwith ulf^excepting with its derivatives. Selfis also compounded selfish and the compound with pronouns as a termination, etc. written as one word; as, himself, myself,itself, for on^s self, but its use is Some writers use oneself
are

not

well established. in conare stant compound personal epithets written with a hyphen usually use, which are themselves; explain as,

28.

Many

and

broad-shouldered, sharp-uosed, blue-eyed, longlight-haired, etc. legged,

29.

Compounds
of adverbs

of adverbs

endingin sometimes to form an epithet, are adjective, participial the noun written with a hyphenwhen theyprecede they but it is quiteas well to make them separate qualify, (butnot
words
"the
"

well,so, above, ill, with a participle or ly,)

like

in all cases
well known

; as,

reform," author," ^*theso called sjielling

**

this illadvised

proceeding," the
adverbs

above

named

parties."
as

Compound words; as,

should

be

written

single

meanwhile,awhile, meantime,everywhere, anywhere, forever, forevermore, hereinbefore. howsoever, moreover, wheresoever,

30.

Compounds

of all with and

are

an

or adjective a

are

very common,

written with

participle hyphen ;
a

as, allall-conscious, all-wise, all-commanding, all-knowing,

to seeing,all-honored, all-informing, all-mighty {contracted

almighty).
31.
as

Compounds made
to the
use

Dictionaries and

are ing prefixes very perplexof the hyphen,and are given in the used by authors both with and with-

with

COMPOUND out

WORDS.

99

it.

Those made

from

or adverbs,like prepositions

under, after, out, cross, or counter, with words of made one word,and sometimes one are generally syllable, than one with words of more But the pracsyllable. tice and the difference of the Dictionaries is so variable, that the matter must be left to the taste and so great,
ovevy

discretion of the writer.

All words

should

be consolidated

to consolidate. that it is possible

Many of these compounds given in the Dictionaries, better written as separate however, would be much words; as,
over over anxious, burdensome,after cunning, counter cross cross section, reference, revolution, age, after part, over lip,

under

counter

influence.

like demi,semi, Compounds made from prefixes intro, intra, or like deutero, extra, etc., non, sub,inter, often made and are electro, sutpho, ikermo, etc., pseudo, written as single words,althoughusage is -unsettled.
32.

before a prefix co-, re-, or pre- occurs word which beginswith the vowel of the prefix, or makes a word similar where before a consonant the prefix in form with another of different signification, a ; as, hyphen should be used after the prefix
33. Where the

re-examine, re-creation, co-ordinate, pre-exist, co-operate,

re-formation. re-collect,

34. It is not

claimed

that the

rules foregoing

are

and usage is so variant that it cannot be expected perfect, is as the matter adopted, theywill be universally But the main dependenton taste as well as custom. is to make compound words only where theywill point

helpthe

reader to understand the writer^smeaning.

u
.

-5
,

"*

APPENDIX
SOME TYPOGRAPHICAL

III.
MATTERS.

correcting proofs, especially where by mail or they are sent to a distance, authors should not use a lead pencil, the as otherwise, to become marks are very likely Either ink illegible. should be used. or a crayon pencil the proof-sheet, if the 2. When a query is made on author desires the correction to be made, he should the ? or Qy, If he does not wish the change erase tinctly made, the correction and query should both be disshould never he rubbed marked through. Queries This practice otU vntk an eraser. givesmuch trouble who are at a loss what to do, as the to proof-readers, in the manuscript, queriesoften relate to discrepancies to other matters which or they cannot readily When sent to an decide. are author, duplicate proofs should invariably be the one marked by the proof-reader marked otherwise errors as returned^ by him may pass without being discovered.
1. Correcting Proofs.
"

In

3. Dates
two

and

Numbers. to

"

tween A short dash is used bea

numbers

that they are represent

series,
secutive, con-

the including
ones.

numbers

given and
that
a a

all the
two
or

intervening
more

Also to show

part of

years isvincluded in wher^tSitea':^'' #xen between the 25th' of March from

certain term.

Also,

the 1st of of

the time

January and the adoptionof

SOME

TYPOGRAPHICAL

MATTERS.

101

Styleby the Catholic Church in 1582 to the time of its adoptionby the English Parliament in to Old Style it is in 1752,*to show that according to New one Style in the other; year, and according 18, 1724-5.^ as, January 10, 1641-2; March should 4. In quoting pages or numbers the full figures be used; as, pp. 245-253, Nos. 124-129; not 245-53, dates the figures the 1 24-9. But in giving representing century may be dropped; as, 1634-35, not 1634-5; wise, 1713-15, not 1713-5; 1875-79, not 1875-9; otherit might sometimes appear to stand for a date in Old and New Style. better in figures than printed 5. Dates are much documents in full, althoughin legal they are written out to preventmistake, or ^ud by tbe alteration of a figure.It is better to write out the month, either in narrative matter or in the date of a letter, instead of cember abbreviating; as, the 24th of December, 1880; or, De24, 1880 ; instead of Dec. 24, 1880. But where in statistical dates are frequent, or other matter, they may be abbreviated to save space. Write 2d, 3d, not 2nd, 3rd.
the New

6. Parentheses.

"

Parentheses

are

used to enclose

an

'defii^tion, explanation, authority, reference, translation, not belonging or other matter to the sentence. They
are

now

seldom used except for this purpose.

read the first a bill was March, 27 Eiiz. 1584-5, " time,in the House of Lords,entitled An Act givingher Majesty to alter and new make dar to the Calena Calendar, authority according used in other countries." Sir Harris Nicolas. But the change till the The Old Style is stillretained not made was year 1752. in Russia and Greece,and is now twelve days behind the regular
"

On the 16th of

calendar.
2

Sometimes

Written

or 1724/5. 172|,

102

APPENDIX.

7. Brackets. that of

"

The

use

of brackets is the same

as

but is restricted to interpolations parentheses, made by authors in corrections, notes, or explanations from others, works. or by editors in editing quotations

8. Quotations.
to

"

Marks

of

quotation (" ") are

from another
it is

used

indicate is said

passage
a

taken

author, or
his
own

what

by

when speaker,
are

given in

words.

But the marks

a

not used when

the substance

or when a passage is given, Double marks in the first person.

onlyof
for
a

quotation ; but marks single another,

9. In

where
are

one

is not given speech used are generally within occurs quotation

used.

from books or letters, if the quoquotations tation is long," it is usual to begin it with a paragraph. If the quotation does not begina paragraph, should none be made 10.

before its close.

Every paragraphshould have the commencing marks, but no close should be used except quotation at the end of the last-quoted paragraph. If there is a break in the quotation, three or four periods are ally generused to indicate the omission.
or books, pictures, etc., newspapers, when are formally given, usually quoted; but where the title of a book is well known, the Iliad, the as ated, Odyssey,the ^Eneid, or Paradise Lost, or is abbreviis unnecessary. or is frequently repeated, quoting
"

11. Titles of

"

quotingstanzas of poetry, the commencing mark should stand outside of the stanza,so quotation that the lines themselves will appear precisely as in the The mistake should not be made of allowing original. the quotation marks belonging to the stanza itself to
stand outside of the lines.

12. In

SOME

TYPOGRAPHICAL

MATTERS.

103

13. The this

seems

names

of vessels are

sometimes

quiteas unnecessary of streets, else ; churches,or anything ing the names in any work where constant repetition of the especially
names

to be

quoted. But as quofcj generally

of vessels occurs.
"

14. Italics.

All words

from

with

our

which alphabet But the

as

should be Italicizedwhenever
sentence.
common

written foreign languages have not been Anglicized they occur in an English
e.

Latin abbreviations

g.,

i. e., etc., are viz., In such

as phrases

in Eoman. or better, well, printed in loco parentis, in statu quo, etc.,

the in should not be in Roman

as phraseis Italic,

when

the rest of the

the in is Latin, not

"

English.
very few allowed are

15. Abbreviations. abbreviations

are

In narrative matter

English. Those orary titleslike Mr., Messrs., Mrs.,Dr.,Hon.,Eev.,and honinitial letters indicating or degreesand titles, Kt., membership of a society ; as, LL. D., D. D., Esq., K. C. B., M. P., S. J.,A. A. S., etc. The Latin e. g.,
i.e., viz., and etc. 16.
are

used in

also very

common.

when titles, frequently occurring, Military may and also the title Professor. be properly abbreviated, short Nothing is gained,however, by abbreviating titles like Captain or Colonel,although in lists of names they should be so written. A long title like should not be written in Professor or Major-General full when are only initialsof the name given. 17. Where of a country designated sovereigns by numbers mentioned the number is are incidentally, written in full; Louis usually as, Henry the Eighth,

the Sixteenth.

But

in works

where

such

names

occur

often, they may be written with Roman Henry VIIL, Louis XVI.

numerals ; as,

104 18. In

APPENDIX.

numbers, roand printing

numbers statistics are

sums
one

are

out, and spelled

but where however
are also,

smaller than

usually hundred;
be used,

should given, figures may be.

small the numbers better where

as

Sums

where given in figures dollars and much

cents
more are

of money, odd numbers

pressed, ex-

occur,

or

b^th to be

easily apprehended. has The English 19. Accented Letters. language accentual or diacritical no marks, recognized universally which are never and short (^), used exceptthe long(-) in general works,and the diaeresis ( ). Even this last they are
"

..

is used in

and dictionaries for a spelling-books fixed

purpose

meaning; end it is useless for writers to undertake to show by the of a foreign word use of such letters the pronunciation reader. to a mere English 20. Foreign Names. In using French titlesbefore in English, the barbarism of using an English names with a French preposition should be avoided; noun either make both French or both English. Write Due of Orleans ; Due de la Kochefoucauld, or Duke d'Orleans, of La Rochefoucauld ; Comte Duke or or d'Artois, Duchess Count of Artois;Duchesse de Perpignan, or Duke de la Rocheof Perpignan. Not Duke d'0rl6ans, foucauld, Duchess de Perpignan. Count d'Artois, 21. Names from foreign languages, precededby a without a title or Christian name, as preposition Van in Dutch, Von in German, De or D' in French, or Da, Bella,or Di in Italian, when given in English, for the preposition should be written with a capital ; as. Van Tromp, Von Humboldt, Von Moltke,De Thou, Di Cesnola, etc. D*Alembert,Da Ponte, Delia Crusca,
no
" "
"

differentfrom its proper use. totally have therefore vowels in English on

All other accents

SOME

TYPOGRAPHICAL

MATTERS.
.

105

of writing the preposition in such practice to some tent. exas these with a small letter prevails names established This is not only an innovation on it as Englishcustom, but is as much of an absurdity If any change would be to write Mr. with a small m. is made, the name should be written as a single word, as Vantromp, Dethou. 22. The 23. Indexes. instruction
"

The

number

of books

written

for

^ with a poor without an index, or published with a good index a book ; in fact, one, is very large is an exception. Some indexes are a mere catalogue of the proper names in the book, whether anythingis

told about

the persons named in a list of merelyoccurring whatever. of of

or names

not, and
of
no

even

when

Sometimes
a

an

index
a

headingsin
occurrences

book, or in

importance is merelya transcript list biographya mere

in the order of the pages ; in either case the table of contents would answer the same purpose.

Again,indexes are sometimes made by firstgiving the items and then arranging a name or a subject, without reference to order of under it alphabetically, than this is worse or to chronology.If possible, subject the exact order of the book. following
24. 25. An
1

index
instance may be

should be made
of

for the
"Grammar
over one

purpose
of

of

As

an

Grammars"
of valuable

Groold Brown's this, mentioned, a work of

"

English
tavo oc-

thousand

in small pages printed

"

type
which
an

and

an containing

immense

amount

for reference

information, by its lack of

is rendered almost index.

I have

useless totally hunted

in the-

sometimes

for hours for and

somethingI
Bain's
**

was

certain of

havingseen
"

book,

hunted

in

vain,till by

accident I stumbled

searched for.
of contents.

the although

Grammar Composition fault is partially remedied by

upon the passage likewise has no index,

an

elaborate table

106

APPENDIX.

informing
book consult

those
to

who the In
a

consult

it

what

there

is

in

the
to

relating
it

subjects biography,
be

which

they

may the
a

wish

for.

therefore,
where mention

logical chrono-

order

should the

followed;
with
a

biography
the
account

begins,
of his the birth

as

is often

case,

of
an

death
of if

subject,
and in

immediately early

followed

by
somewhat

life, it appears
in the which
a

absurd

arranged
26.
to

that

order

index. there in the is aiiy

Every
given
mentioned

subject
should

on

information
and it be every
occurs;

be

have where

place

index,

page
so

anything
for book be that in

concerning subject
relation and
to

that all

any there

one

looking
is
in

may it.

able

to

find

the

sary Unnecesorder

inversion of words 27.

on

should
as

avoided,
as

the

regular

followed It is

closely
to

possible. anything
author make it
is
or

impossible
af is indexes.

give
An and that

more

definite

the know
;

subject
what but
an

editor index worth

ought
ingly accordwhile and

to

important,
in mind useless index is

his
not to

keeping
index with of
an

to

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references
no

nothing,
value.

that

bulk

test

of

its

INDEX.

or

an,

9-12,

both

Accented

Abbreviations, 19, 103, 104. Letters,104.

For

acquaintancey19. Adjectives,48"55.
53, 54.

and, 66, 67. Brackets, 102. brothers,brethren, 87, 92. but,66, 67, 69, 70.
. . .

./

Adverbs, cherubims, 19,

92.

Collective Noun, 16, 17, 27, 51. Adjective Pronouns, 48-55. less UseFor Adjectives, Compound Words, 93-4^. Adverbs, 56-59. Position 57. 54. of, 32, 56, Compounds, 93, 94, 96, 97. 53, of Sentences, 14, 23, Construction For Relative Pronouns, 62. att 52. 75. alf,51, 28, 29, 32, 45, 50, 56, 57, 67, 69, of, 72, 76, 77. allude,82.
almost no, 85.

20. alternative,

CorrectingProofs, 100. 66-68. Correlatives,

dare, 31, 32.
sentence, 69.
67. 62.

among,
an, 9-12.

73.

and, beginning and both, 66,

. . .

DateA, 100,
debris^ 82.
Decimal

101.

and any^ any

which
64.
one,

or

who, 61,

Numbers

not

12. plural, 87.

93. "^

23. anybody else's, for is,14, 16, 18, are Uses of, 9-12. Article,

27.

differ from, or with. than^ 87. different to, 72, 87. different dilemma, 20.
33.

Indefinite, do^ done,

Omission
ously, errone-

9, 10.

Definite, 10.
11.

Double Double

of, 10,
as, so,

Inserted

11.

drive

or

Negatives, 64, 65. 75. Prepositions, 83. ride,

66, 67.

each, 15, 26.

because after reason,
69. each other
^

49.

being,46, 47. 50. besides, between, 73, 74.

bid, 31, 32.

19. effluvia,

either^ pron.,
either
. . .

50, 51. 66, 67.

or,

elder,85.

108 49,50. thatij or employee^ 81,82. employe 58. as wellj equally

the
. . .

INDEX.

85. \jeopardize, 54. last, 52. last three, 54. latter, and ^ie, 42, 43. /aj^ learn for 87. feacA,

eceVy never, 59. every, 15, 26. every one, 93.

85. farther,

51,52. less,
/ie and

81,32,53,54. /ee/, compounds of,97. Jtllow, fewer,51, 52.

or up, 79, 80. Jillf'aXl 52,54. firstly, Jirat,

lay, 42,43.

/i^e for as, 57, 58.

96. 2iA;e, compounds of,

means,

18, 49.

^r""two, 52. 19. folks, folk,

ForeignNames, 104,105.
54. former,

meter, 87.

Military Titles, 94,103. 19. Miss,Misses,

84. mistake,

94,95. compomided, Fractions,

French
104.

words

in

85. mistaken, 81,82, Money, sum of,in plural, "nglish, requires 18. v erb, singular
most

from, 72,73. thence from hence, 85. further,

got,80.
or graduated smu

for

59. almost,

75.

Mr.,pi.Messieurs,19. Mrs.,pi. Mesdames, 19.

Mtusulmen, 19.

87. graduated,

^am, AoJ
a"

88.

104, 105. Names, Foreign, 64, 65. Double, Negatives,

neither, pron., 49.

/"^ compounds of,95. Aa{/*,

have got, 80. Aoto ^to, 59.

AcK? better, etc.,86.

neither

Neuter Verb
as

nor, 66-68. has same Case after

before it, 17,18, 24.

never, ever, 59. 101. New Style,

if, so, 67. no, 15,26, 58, 64,65, 85. then, no mistake^ 85. 66, 67. (/*... Mood Nominative Case and the Verb, Imperative requires tive Objec,
,

Case,24. Imperfect Tense,35.

in, 73.

13-19. none, 51.

Indexes,105. Infinitive Mood,

of to,31.

64-66, 68, 69. not, 15, 26,64, 65.

nor,

31-33. Misuse

sion Omis-

not

only

but, 66, 68. 17, 27,

of to,32. is for are, 14,16,17, 18, 22. 103. ~^lic8,

after almost^85. nothing

Nouns 51.

of Multitude, 16,

INDEX.
54. noWf as adj., number for quantity 86. ^
35. Participle, 53. prttAouSy previously
y

109

Preterite for

Numbers,

88. written, 92,94,95, programme^ Pronoun and 24-29. 100,101, 103,104. Antecedent, how

95. Numerals, compounded, 0 and oh ! 83, S4.

Pronouns,Possessive Case of,22. Case of, 24. AdjecObjective tive,

60-63. Rehitive, 100. Proofs, correcting,

48-55.

Case, 24. Objective ""/; 19,45, 72-75. oh I and 0, 83, 84.

Old and New 101. Style,

for number^86. quantity for very, 58. quite

o^er, 86.
on

Quotations, 102,103. Prefix, 79, 99. 69. reason because^

re-.
. .
.

iGt

73. in, 49.

one,
one

51. one*8f another

y

onlyfor excq"t^70. or, 65, 66, 67,69.

49,50. othery other 50. bendeSf otAer 50. than, 49. otherwise,
"
" .

Redundant relative lot Relative ride

or

Words, 69, 75, 78-80.

relation^ 19, 87.

Pronouns,60-63.

83. drive,

18. names of,Singular, Sciences, 52. secondj secondly, "ee,

/"a"n", 18.
101. Parentheses,

31, 32.

Preterite Participle,

36. used for, Use of the,44-47. Possessive Case with, 45, 46. Active for Awkward 47. use 46,Passive, of 47. Passive,

Sentences, Construction of, 14, 23,28,29, 32, 45,50, 56, 57,67,

69,72, 76, 77. seraphimSf 19,92.
43, 44. sit, shall and will, 36-41. should and would,86-41. sitand set, 43,44.
set and

peas

and pease,, 86. Plural,of Nouns,

13-20, 89-92.

19. 19. Of Decimals, Of Titles, Of Verbs, Of Pronouns, 25-27.

hen, 44. sitting 44. sitting-room,

53. smell,

13-20, 25-27, 89-92.

Of

eign For-

Words, 92.
92.

tions, Of Abbrevia89-92. of, 21-24.

smeU
so,

of,86.
, . .

Formation

Possessive

Case,

With

66, 67. as, that, matter^ 80. subject

such,

45, 46. Participle,

Prefix re-, 79, 99.

Mood, Subjunctive
such for so, 58.

30.

Prefixes,compounds with, 98, 99.

72-76. Prepositions,

Superfluous Words, 69,75,78-80.

80. sylvan forest,

At end of

Misuse of, 72, sentence, 72. 73. Omission of,74. Needless toMe, 53.
use

of,74,75.

Double,76.

taste

86. of,

110

INDEX.

Taatological Words,69,7b,78-80. Verb,Nominative 19. teach and learn, 87.

Tense, or Time, 34,35.

Case and, 13after

whom, 86. that, adj. pron., 48,54,55.

than

Verb,Neater,has same Case as before it, 17, 18, 24.

very, 58. very 80. incessant, Vessels, quotingnames for were, 13, 26, 30. 87. graduated,

rel. pron., 60, 63. that, that, conj., 66, 70, 71. them for
55. those,

of,103.

54. as adj., then, then when,66. there where,66. these, 54,55. those, 52. third, thirdly^
.

was
was

were

for was, 14,16,17, 26, 30.

.

when where

66. then,
.

fAu,that, 48, 54,55.

Mote and yo", 25, 26.

66. there, 19. whereahouts,

. .

whether

...

or, 66.

though
.

yet,66.

which,28,60-63.
51, 52. whole,

52. last, Time, or Tense,34, 35. of Individuals, 19, 103. Titles, 94, 103. Of Books, Military, 104,105. etc.,102. Foreign, 31-33. of Infinitive), to (sign

Oiree

toAo, whose,whom, 24,60-68f'^ and shall, 36-41. tot7/

but for,70. loithout for unless,

tt^ottM and would

as

36-41. should,

86. would rather, Uef,

66. though,

86. transpire, 80. minuiics, trifling

yet

"

try and, 33.

two

52. first,

you was, 13. 25, 26. yotfand thou,

Presi*. Cambridge TTniverslty

John

WUsoii

nnd

Son.

HandbooK

of

Punctuation.

Mctnation anilder
For
Authors Printers, MABSMAIilt T. BIGEJLOW, By BrettSs versity Camhridge. the
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