CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING AND BUSINESS ENGLISH JOSEPHINE TURCK BAKER SB 2flO MflM CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING AND BUSINESS ENGLISH BT JOSEPHINE TUKCK BAKER AUTHOR OF Correct English: A Complete Grammar; The Correct Word: How Use It; Correct English in the School; Correct English in the Home; Ten Thousand Words: How to Pronounce Them> How Can I Increase My Vocabulary; Art of Con- versation: Art of Social Letter Writing, etc., and Editor of the Magazine COR- ENGLISH: How to Use it. PUBLISHED BY CORRECT ENGLISH PUBLISHING COMPANY CHICAGO, ILLINOIS NEW EDITION, 1917 Copyright 1911 JOSEPHINE TURCK BAKES CONTENTS CORRECT FORMS IN BUSINESS LETTERS. Models of Headings, Introductions, Conclusions, and Superscrip- tions for Business Letters to both men and women (married and unmarried), Individuals, Firms, and Corporations 5-18 TITLES USED IN SECULAR PROFESSIONS 19 To the President of a College, To a Professor, To a Doctor, To a Lawyer 20-21 MODELS FOR THE INTRODUCTION AND THE SUPERSCRIPTION OF LETTERS TO THE CLERGY. To a Cardinal, To an Archbishop. To a Bishop, To a Rector, To a Priest, To a Clergyman, To a Female Superior of a Religious Order, To a Female Member of a Religious Order 22-25 MODELS FOR THE INTRODUCTION AND THE SUPERSCRIPTION OF LETTERS TO GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. To the President, To the Vice President, To the Speaker of the House of Representatives, To the Chief Justice of the United States, To the Justice of the Supreme Court, To the Cabinet Officers, To Members of Congress 26-28 THE BODY OF THE LETTER. The Form. The Initial Word. The Paragraph. The Structure. The Connective. The Tabulated List 28-32 The Writing of Amounts in Business Letters (Contracts, advertise- ments, etc.)- When written in full followed by figure in paren- thesis; when written in full without figures; when written with figures alone 33-35 LETTERS AND ADVERTISEMENTS EXEMPLIFYING THE WRIT- ING OF NUMBERS 36,37 THE CONCLUSION OF A LETTER. The Complimentary Close, the Signature 37, 38 MODELS FOR THE COMPLIMENTARY CLOSE 38,39 Models for the Signature. Of an Individual. Of a Firm. Of an Unmarried Woman. Of a Married Woman 40-42 THE SUPERSCRIPTION. The Contents. The Position. Punctuation 42-44 THE IDEAL BUSINESS LETTER WHAT IT SHOULD BE ... 41-54 CAPITALIZATION. Rules and Illustrations 55-57 GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES, HOW TO CAPITALIZE THEM . . . 58-60 PUNCTUATION. Rules and Illustrations 61-67 BUSINESS ENGLISH FOR THE BUSINESS MAN. Comprehensive Alphabetic List of Business Words and Expressions 68-100 ABBREVIATIONS, COMPLETE ALPHABETIC LIST .... .101-164 ABBREVIATIONS OF MONTHS AND STATES 165-170 THE HYPHEN .167,168 BUSINESS COMPOUND WORDS; HOW TO WRITE THEM. Complete Alphabetic List 171-209 384597 FOREWORD. The business man and the commercial student are vitally interested in the subject of Correct Letter- Writ- ing, not only because one's business success is facilitated by the ability to write correctly, but because the written word bears the impress of the education and culture of the writer. Every progressive, intelligent person is con- cerned about his English, for just as his deportment evi- dences his breeding, in a like manner, his letter betokens either his illiteracy or his culture. ' The first essential in the writing of business letters is an understanding of correct usage as applied to both form and construction. In this text, the author has aimed to set forth the requisites of correct business letter-writing by covering, in the main, the following subjects : Correct models of the Heading, the Introduction, and the Conclusion of letters; Paragraphing; Capitalization; Abbreviations (a complete alphabetic list) ; Business Usage as applied to special forms of diction. That this text may serve its purpose as a desk-book of ready reference on correct business letter-writing and business English, for both the business man and the commercial student, is the earnest wish of the author, J. T. B. CORRECT FORMS FOR BUSINESS LETTERS ESSENTIAL PARTS OF A LETTER. The essential parts of a letter are as follows: 1. The HEADING. 2. The INTRODUCTION. 3. The BODY of the letter, 4. The CONCLUSION. 5. The SUPERSCRIPTION. Definition of Terms. The HEADING of a letter consists of the name of the place at which the letter is written, and the date when it is written. The INTRODUCTION of a letter consists of the address of the person to whom the letter is written, and the salu- tation. The BODY of a letter is that which contains the written communication. The CONCLUSION of a letter consists of the compli- mentary close and the signature. The SUPERSCRIPTION of a letter is the address on the envelope. MODEL. Milwaukee, Wis., October 15, 19 Messrs. Gould & Lincoln, Madison, Wis. Gentlemen : Your letter of the 12th inst., inclosing check of $25.00 in full payment of your account, is received. 6 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING Thanking you for your promptness in remitting, and hoping to receive further orders from you, we are Very truly yours, A. L. Johnson & Co. By Sec. The Heading. The name of the town is not abbreviated, and is fol- lowed by a comma. The name of the state is abbreviated, and is followed by a period and a comma. The name of the month may or may not be abbrevi- ated. When it is abbreviated, it is followed by a period ; otherwise, it is not punctuated. The day of the month is followed by a comma. The date of the year is followed by a period. The Introduction. Note that Messrs, is followed by a period, it being an abbreviation of Messieurs (gentlemen). Note that the name of the firm "Messrs. Gould & Lincoln " is followed by a comma. Note that Madison is followed by a comma. Note that Wisconsin is abbreviated and followed by a period. Compare this with the marks of punctuation in the address above. Note that Gentlemen is followed by a colon ; note also its position. The Body of the Letter. Note that the form th is used in the body of the let- ter, but not in the heading. It is not necessary to use the forms 1st, 2d, 3d, 10th, 15th, 22d when the name of the month is given, the present tendency being to omit them. When employed without the name of the month, AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 7 they should not be followed by a period, as they are not abbreviations. Note that we write 2d, 3d, and not 2nd, 3rd. Note that inst. is followed by a period, as it is an abbreviation. Note the comma after you. The comma is omitted after am, are, oblige and re- main. The Conclusion. Note that neither truly nor yours is capitalized. Note the comma after yours. MODELS FOR THE HEADING OF BUSINESS LETTERS. The HEADING should contain the full postal address of the writer. When long, it should be written on three lines ; if not very long, it may be written either on two or three lines ; when short, on one or two lines. MODEL 1. 1201 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, Mass., October 15,19.. MODEL 2. 201 Summit Ave., Boston, Mass., October 15, 1908. OK 201 Summit Avenue, Boston, Mass., October 15, 19.. 8 COBBECT BUSINESS LETTEB WBITING MODEL 3. Kewanee, 111., October 15, 19.. OB Kewanee, 111., Oct. 15, 19.. Note. If the number of the post-office box is neces- sary, the following is used : Box 554, Avondale, Mass., Oct. 15, 19.. OB Box 554, Avondale, Mass., October 15, 19.. If the name of the county is necessary, the following is used: Monroe, Green Co., Wis., October 15, 19. . NOTES. 1. The number of a street is indicated in figures; the street itself when expressed in numbers is written in figures if the number is large; if small (less than one hundred), the number is written in full; as, 1210 151st Street (or St.); 1201 Fifty-first Street (or St.). 2. A part of the heading should not be used at the beginning of the letter, and the rest at the close. The following is objectionable : Boston, Mass. # * # * Yours very truly, John Brown, 1201 Summit Ay^e. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 9 3. The name of the town should never be abbrevi- ated. The name of the state is generally abbreviated unless short; Maine and Ohio should be written in full. 4. The date should be represented by words, not by figures; thus: October (or Oct.) 15, 1910, not 101510. 5. When the heading consists of more than one line, the date should be placed on a separate line, as in the headings above ; the following is incorrect : 201 Summit Ave., Boston, Mass., Oct. 15, 19. .. MODELS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF BUSINESS LETTERS TO MEN. To an Individual. MODEL. Mr. John B. Brown, 1221 Michigan Ave., Chicago, 111. Dear Sir: Your letter, etc. OB Mr. John B. Brown, Chicago, 111. Dear Sir: Your letter, etc. To Firms. MODEL 1. Messrs. Lyon & Healy, 245 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111. Gentlemen : Your letter, etc. OB 10 COEBECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING Messrs. Lyon & Healy, Chicago, 111. Gentlemen : Your letter, etc. MODEL 2. / Messrs. A. C. McClurg & Co., 218 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111. Gentlemen : Your letter, etc. OB Messrs. A. C. McClurg & Co., Chicago, 111. Gentlemen : Your letter, etc. MODEL 3. Messrs. Brown, Grey & Co., 2205 Dearborn St., Chicago, 111. Gentlemen : Your letter, etc. OB Messrs. Brown, Grey & Co., Chicago, 111. Gentlemen : Your letter, etc. When the introduction consists of four lines, the body of the letter frequently begins on the same line as the salutation; a dash then follows the colon. Sometimes the dash is used when the body of the letter is not on AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 11 the same line as the salutation, but the present tendency is to omit it. Thus : Mr. John Brown, 220 Dearborn St., Chicago, 111. Dear Sir : Your letter, etc. OB Mr. John Brown, 220 Dearborn St., Chicago, 111. Gentlemen : Your letter, etc. The following are correct salutations for business letters to men : Singular. Plural. Dear Sir: (formal) My dear Sir : (more formal) Gentlemen : Sir: (most formal) Note. Gentlemen is preferred to Dear Sirs, when ad- dressing either a firm or a corporation. Sirs is always objectionable. In business letters, where a cordial rela- tion exists, it is correct to use the salutation, ' * My dear Mr. Blank/' "My dear Friend, " or "Dear Friend " is objectionable. My is necessarily omitted from all saluta- tions, whether formal or informal, when the letter is written in the plural and signed by a company or a firm. To Corporations. The Correct English Publishing Company, Evanston, 111. Gentlemen : Your letter, etc. 12 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING Note 1. The title Messrs, is used before firm names ending with "& Co." Messrs, is not used when & is omitted. Compare the foregoing model with those which precede it. Note 2. When addressing a corporation, the article the must be used, if employed by the company ; the word company is written in full. When & precedes company, the latter may be abbreviated. Note 3. While the number and the name of the street are often omitted from the address, the name of the town and of the state is generally employed; thus: the foregoing models are preferable to the following : Mr. John Brown, Dear Sir: Note 4. The salutation is sometimes followed by a comma and a dash, or simply by a comma. The use of the comma is regarded as less formal than that of the colon, and so is more especially adapted to letters of a friendly or an informal nature. In letters of a strictly business nature, the colon is preferable. Again, there is a growing tendency to use the colon in all letters for- mal and informal, whether of a business or a social nature. When the comma is used, or the comma and the dash, the address is then placed at the bottom of the let- ter and at the left side of the page ; thus : My dear Mr. Brown, Your letter, etc. # * * Very sincerely yours, Mr. John Brown, Chicago, 111. OB AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 13 My dear Mr. Brown, Your letter, etc. # * * Very sincerely yours, Mr. John Brown, 2020 Michigan Ave., Chicago, 111. The following model is suggested as in accordance with the present tendency; namely, to use the colon even when the letter is informal : My dear Mr. Brown : Your letter, etc. * Very sincerely yours, Mr. John Brown, Chicago, 111. MODELS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF BUSINESS LETTERS TO MARRIED WOMEN. To an Individual. Mrs. John J. Brown, 330 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111. Dear Madam : Your letter, etc. OB Mrs. John J. Brown, Chicago, 111. Dear Madam: Your letter, etc. 14 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING To a Firm. Mesdames Brown & Gray, 330 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111. Ladies : Your letter, etc. OB Mesdames Brown & Gray, Chicago, 111. Ladies : Your letter, etc. MODELS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF BUSINESS LETTERS TO UNMARRIED WOMEN. MODEL 1. Miss Mary Brown, 330 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111. Dear Madam: OR Miss Mary Brown, Chicago, 111. Dear Madam : MODEL 2. Miss Mary Brown, 330 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111. Dear Miss Brown : Your letter, etc. OR Miss Mary Brown, Chicago, 111. Dear Miss Brown : Your letter, etc. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 15 MODEL 3. Miss Mary Brown 3305 Wabash Ave. Chicago, 111. My dear Miss Brown : Your letter, etc. OB Miss Mary Brown, Chicago, 111. My dear Miss Brown: Your letter, etc. Salutations for Married Women. SINGULAE. Dear Madam: (formal) My dear Madam: (more formal) Madam: (most formal) PLURAL. Ladies : Salutations for Unmarried Women. SINGULAR. Dear Miss Blank: (formal) My dear Miss Blank: (more formal) Dear Madam: (most formal) PLURAL. Ladies : The title Madam is now generally used when address- ing unmarried as well as married women, especially when the woman occupies a dignified position or is elderly. Be- cause of the association of this title with dignity and age, many writers use it only when addressing a woman 16 CORRECT BUSTNESS LETTER WRITING known to hold a position of importance, using instead "My dear Miss Blank." MODELS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF LETTERS IN WHICH BUSINESS TITLES ARE REQUIRED. Business Titles. MODEL 1. Mr. James B. Blank, President, U. S. Mfg. Co. Chicago, 111. Dear Sir: Your letter, etc. MODEL 2. Mr. B. H. Brown, Department Manager, 111. Mfg. Co. Dear Sir: Your letter, etc. Although many persons write the title immediately after the person 's name, the forms given above are preferable, for the reason that the title of President or Manager, for example, is not separated from the name of that which is presided over or managed. The titles may be abbreviated to read, respectively, Pres. and Dept. Mgr. The comma after the title (President, Manager) in- dicates the omission of of and the. SPECIAL FORMS OF INTRODUCTIONS. 1. Brown & Green, Inc. 1. Messrs. Brown & Green, Inc., Chicago, 111. Gentlemen : AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 17 2. Firm Composed of a Man (or Men) and Married Woman (or Women). 2. Mr. John Gray & Mrs. Jane Brown, Chicago, 111. Dear Sir and Madam: Messrs. Gray & Black and Mesdames Brown & White, Chicago, 111. Gentlemen and Ladies : 3. Firm Composed of a Man (or Men) and Unmarried Woman (or Women). 3. Use Miss and Misses in the place of Messrs, and Mesdames. 4. Firm Composed of a Married Woman (or Women) and a Single Woman (or Women). 4. Mrs. John Brown & Miss Jane Green, Chicago, 111. Ladies : Mesdames Brown & White & Miss Green, Chicago, 111. Ladies : Mrs. John Brown & Misses Green & White, Chicago, 111. Ladies : 5. Firm Composed of Two or More Unmarried Women. 5. Misses Green & White, Chicago, 111. Ladies : . Firm Composed of Two or More Married Women. 6. Mesdames Brown, White & Green, Chicago, 111. Ladies : 18 COREECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING 7. The Toggery. 7. The Toggery, Chicago, 111. No salutation. 8. A Clergyman and His Wife, 8. Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Gray, Chicago, 111. Dear Sir and Madam: OR Dear Rev. and Mrs. Gray (or My dear, etc.). 9. A Doctor and His Wife. 9. Dr. John and Mrs. Blank, Chicago, 111. Dear Sir and Madam : OR Dear Dr. and Mrs. Blank: 10. Moore & Moore Iron Works. 10. Moore & Moore Iron Works, Chicago, 111. No salutation. 11. H. R. Edland's Electrical Works. 11. H. R. Edland's Electrical Works, Chicago, 111. No salutation. 12. San Pedro Meat Market 12. San Pedro Meat Market, Chicago, 111. No salutation. 13. Thompson's (Business Firm). 13. Thompson's, Chicago, 111. No salutation, store being understood. Note. By prefacing 10, 11, 12 and 13 with Manager, a salutation [Dear Sir] may be used. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 1& 14. John Wanamaker. 14. Mr. John Wanamaker, New York City. Dear Sir: TITLES USED IN SECULAR PROFESSIONS. To the President of a College. President John L. Blank, LL. D., Northwestern University, Evanston, 111. Dear Sir: Note. If the president of the college is a clergyman, the first line of the address should read : Eeverend John L. Blank, LL. D., President, Northwestern University, Evanston, 111. Dear Sir: Note. Other forms of the salutation are " Eeverend and Dear Sir" and " Reverend Doctor." To a Professor. Professor John Blank, Ph. D., Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, 111. Dear Sir: In the case of intimacy, the salutation may read : "My dear Professor," or "My dear Professor Blank." (Pro- fessor must be written in full in both instances.) OR Dr. John Blank, Professor of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, 111. Dear Sir: 20 COEEECT BUSINESS LETTEE WEITING In case of intimacy, the salutation may read: "My dear Doctor (or Dr.) Blank," or "My dear Doctor." If the name is omitted, Doctor must be written in full. Note. The title of Doctor is used only if the holder is properly entitled to it. The title of Professor is properly employed only when the teacher holds a scholastic degree. To a Physician. Dr. John Blank, Chicago, 111. Dear Sir: OB John Blank, M. D., Chicago, 111. Dear Sir: In case of intimacy, the salutation may read: "My dear Doctor (or Dr.) Blank." If the name is omitted, Doctor must be written in full. Note 2. It is not correct to use the title Mr. or Dr. when the degree M. D. is used ; thus : * ' Mr. Hiram Smith, M. D.," or "Dr. Hiram Smith, M. D.," must never be used. To a Lawyer. Mr. John Blank, Attorney at Law, Chicago, 111. Dear Sir: OB John Blank, Esq., Attorney at Law, Chicago, 111. Dear Sir: AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 21 Note. The title may immediately follow the name; as, "John Blank, Esq." The double title " Mr. John Brown, Esq.," is incorrect. In the case of women holding official positions or possessing titles, the same rules obtain as in the case of men. Thus, a woman is addressed as Doctor or Pro- fessor, etc., the same as if she were a man. Esq. applies especially to members of the legal pro- fession. It is often used, however, interchangeably with Mr. MODELS. Miss Mary Gray, A. M., President, Wayland College, Wayland, Ohio. Dear Madam: Note. When there is sufficient acquaintance, the form "Dear Miss Blank," or "My dear Miss Blank," may be used. Mrs. Mary Blank, Ph. D., Professor of English Literature, Wayland College, Wayland, Ohio. Dear Madam: Dr. Mary Blank, Chicago, 111. Dear Madam: Note. In the models that follow (pp.22-28) the parts may be margined up as in letters to business firms. Many writers, however, prefer to use the older style. 22 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING MODELS FOR THE INTRODUCTION AND THE SUPERSCRIPTION OF LETTERS TO THE CLERGY. To a Cardinal. (Introduction.) To His Eminence, Cardinal Blank, Cathedral, New Orleans, La. Most Eminent Sir: Note. Another form of the salutation may read, "Most Eminent and Eeverend Sir." (Conclusion.) I have the honor to remain, Most Eminent Sir, Your obedient servant, JAMES BROWN. Note. Sometimes the complimentary close is ampli- fied as follows : I have the honor to remain, Most Eminent Sir, With profound respect, Your obedient and humble servant, JOHN BKOWN. To an Archbishop. (Introduction.) Most Eeverend Archbishop Blank, Archbishop of Chicago, Cathedral of the Holy Name. Most Reverend Sir : Note. Sometimes the Christian name is used thus Most Eeverend Archbishop John Blank. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 23 Other forms of the salutation may be: Most "Rev- erend and Respected Sir/' or Most Eeverend and Dear Sir; the latter form, however, is used only by a clergy- man or a friend. (Conclusion.) I have the honor to be, Most Eeverend Sir, Your obedient servant, JAMES BROWN. Note. Instead of "Most Eeverend Sir," the form may be "Most Eeverend and Dear Sir," or "Most Eev- erend Archbishop." To a Bishop. (Introduction.) Eight Eeverend Bishop Blank, Bishop of Chicago, Cathedral, Chicago, 111. Eight Eeverend Sir: Note. Other forms of the salutation are: Eight Eeverend and Dear Sir, or Eight Eeverend and Dear Bishop. (Conclusion.) I have the honor to remain, Eight Eeverend Sir, Your obedient servant, JOHN BROWN. Note. Instead of "Eight Eeverend Sir," "Eight Eeverend and Dear Sir," or "Eight Eeverend and Dear Bishop," may be used. 24 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING To a Rector of a Religious House, (Introduction.) Very Reverend John Blank, 0. S. B., Eector, Brothers of St. Francis, Elgin, 111. Very Eeverend Sir: Note. The Provincial of an order or a Prior is ad- dressed in the same way, the words Provincial of Order or Prior being substituted for the word Rector. To a Priest. (Introduction.) Eeverend John Blank, St. Michael's Church, Chicago, 111. Eeverend Sir: OB Eeverend Father John Blank, St. Michael's Church, Chicago, 111. Eeverend Sir: OB Eeverend Father Blank, St. Michael's Church, Chicago, 111. Eeverend Sir: In addressing a minister, the same style is used as in addressing a priest, except that, instead of Father the title Mr. is used. The salutation may be placed at the beginning and the rest of the introduction at the close of the letter ; thus : Eeverend Sir: (Body of the letter.) AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 25 The Eeverend James Long, Chicago, 111. While the article the is used at the close of the letter and in the superscription (address on the envelope), it is not generally employed in the salutation. The title Mr. with the Christian name as well, is not necessary with Rev. Thus: one writes either: "Bev. Mr. Long," or "Bev. James Long." "Bev. Long," or "The Bev. Long" is always incorrect. Again while Reverend is often abbreviated in the first line of the introduction, it should always be written in full in the salutation. In fact, as has been stated, all professional titles, other than Dr., should be written in full in the salutation; as: My dear Professor James; Dear Colonel Clark; My dear Captain Maxon. To a Female Superior of a Religious Order. (Introduction.) Mother Mary, Superior, Convent of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind. Beverend Mother : Note. Some authorities give the form Dear Madam as the correct salutation, this being in conformity with the salutation used in addressing a male superior of a religious order. To a Female Member of a Religious Order. Sister (or Sr.) Hilda, Sacred Heart v Academy. Dear Sister: 26 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING MODELS FOR THE INTRODUCTION AND THE SUPERSCRIPTION OF LETTERS TO GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. President. To the President, White House, Washington, D. C. Sir: Vice President. To the Vice President of the United States, Senate Chamber, Washington, D. C. Sir: Speaker of the House of Representatives. To the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. Sir: Chief Justice of the United States. The Chief Justice of the United States, Washington, D. C. Sir: Note. The superscriptions used in addressing all the foregoing individuals are the same as the addresses in the letter, the only difference being that to is omitted. In all the introductions, with the exception of the last, observe that the preposition to is the introductory word. Note also that the name of the individual holding the office is not used in the models given, as it is customary to address the office rather than the individual holding it. With the exception of the President, however, some writers prefer to use the name of the individual in the address. Thus : AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 27 To the Honorable John J. Blank, Vice President of the United States, Senate Chamber, Washington, D. C. In the following address, the name of the individual is always used: Justice of Supreme Court. Hon. John J. Blank, Justice, Supreme Court of the United States, Washington, D. C. Sir: Cabinet Officers. Note. In addressing Cabinet Officers, the name of the individual may be omitted. The Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, D. C. . Sir: Note. In the superscription, the following models are used : The Honorable The Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, D. C. The Honorable The Attorney-General, Washington, D. C. The Honorable The Postmaster-General, Washington, D. C. Officers of the Army. Major-General John J. Blank, Washington, D. C. Sir: 28 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING Officers of the Navy. Admiral John J. Blank, Washington, D. d Sir: Members of Congress. Hon. John J. Blank, Washington, D. C. Sir: Note. "Dear Sir" may also be used. Note. The superscription should read: Hon. John J. Blank, M. C., Washington, D. C. Governors. His Excellency John J. Blank, Springfield, 111. Sir: THE BODY OF THE LETTER. The BODY of the letter is that which contains the writ- ten communication. 1. The Date. In business letters, the writer should mention the date on which the letter that he is answering, was written. This is necessary in order that the recipient may have no difficulty in understanding to what letter the writer refers. Expressions like the following are used : (a) "I have your letter of the 15th inst.," or "I have received your letter of the 15th inst." (b) "Your letter of the 15th inst. is received" (or has been received). (When the month is named, tJi (or st, d, etc.) is now generally omitted.) (c) "In accordance with your letter of the 15th inst., AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 29 we are sending you," etc. (Some writers prefer to be- gin a letter somewhat as in the last model, in order to avoid the set form in the first two.) (d) "Replying to your letter of the 15th inst., we quote you a price," etc. Instead of beginning a letter with such expressions as, " Replying to your letter," etc., "Acknowledging your letter," etc., some writers prefer to come directly to the subject as follows: "The price of the books to which you refer in your letter of the 15th inst. is," etc. 2. The Form. An inch of space should be left on each side of the body, if the letter is long ; if short, a very wide margin can be left. 3. The Initial Word. The initial word is placed an inch to the right of the margin of the introduction below the salutation. Some writers place it just under the colon. If the introduction consists of more than three lines, the initial word may be placed on the same line with the salutation. The dash is then sometimes followed by a colon. THE PARAGRAPH. A letter, when long, is divided into parts called para- graphs. The paragraph deals with a single subject, a change of subject requiring a change of paragraph. The sentence expresses an idea or a fact ; the paragraph ex- pands the idea or the fact, bringing out such essentials as are necessary to express it comprehensively. Just as in a sentence only related ideas or facts are introduced, so in a paragraph, the same unity of expression must be secured. 30 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING 1. The Structure. (a) The paragraph may be composed of a single sentence, as: "Under the circumstances, I have no hesitation in advising you to come at once, for you can undoubtedly secure a position here immediately upon your arrival." (b) The paragraph may be composed of two or more sentences ; and, when this is the case, care must be taken to see that the sentences are logically and closely related to one another; as: "I believe that a conference of representatives of all forest schools and universities and colleges in which for- estry is taught, might be made of great value to the gen- eral progress of forestry in the United States, as well as to the institutions which teach forestry, and to the Forest Service, which employs so many of their grad- uates, and which is vitally interested in the best training of foresters. Such a conference might well consider the objects and methods of forest instruction, the organiza- tion and standards of educational work in the field of forestry, the co-ordination of the work of different insti- tutions, and the needs of the Forest Service and other employers of forest graduates." 2. The Connectives. Connectives are words used to join the parts of a paragraph. The most important are: and, but, or, nor, either, neither, however, therefore, consequently. As a rule, connectives, or conjunctions, as they are also called, are used to join clauses, and not independent sentences (clauses are separated by commas, semicolons, colons, while sentences are separated by periods) ; but, occasion- ally, they are used to introduce sentences, and even new paragraphs. Conjunctions, used otherwise than as con- AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 31 nectives of clauses, should be sparingly employed. Ad- verbs like again, now, doubtless, undoubtedly, certainly, surely, are frequently used to introduce a new paragraph. 3. The Form. The paragraph is indented; that is, the initial word begins a little to the right of the margin. The space be- tween the last line and the paragraph that follows is generally a little wider than between that of the lines of the paragraph itself. (Letter exemplifying the paragraph.) Dear Madam: Our semi-annual clearance sale of black and colored dress goods remnants commences next Monday, January 10. The fame of this event has traveled so far, and its opportunities are so widely realized, that there is little or nothing we can say to further increase the suprising interest which always greets its announcement. In two tremendous lots at 50c and 65c are to be found remaining cut lengths of all the best-selling dress goods we have had in stock during the past six months. Eegardless of elegance of quality, exclusiveness, or beauty of design and color, and the fact that all are $1.50, $2, $3, and $4, grades, the entire range in the above two lots will be sold at 50c and 65c. Dress patterns, imported from Paris, and sold during this sale at the very low price of $5 each, are also an important attraction. They are all $15 values, and com- prise both black and colors. Others, at $7.50 and $10, are reduced from $17.50 and $25. The above will all be found in the Wabash building, first floor. 36 to 50-inch dress goods, black and colors, will be 32 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING found in the basement at 35c values up to $1 ; at 25c values up to 75c. The time set for the sale is 8 o'clock. A sales force, and floor space, both in excess of those in any previous sale, insure better service and greater convenience and comfort than ever. Trusting that we may be favored with your attention, we are Eespectfully yours, MANDEL BROTHERS. A TABULATED LIST. A tabulated list, or a statement of particulars, is de- tached from the body of the subject matter, and each particular is indented, the initial words being at equal distance from the margin. Any word or words that are carried over the line are themselves indented ; thus : We are sending you by U. S. express, the following books : The Art of Conversation The Art of Social Letter-Writing How Can I Increase My Vocabulary? Punctuation marks are now rarely used in a tabulated list, except where the items follow one another on the line; as: We are sending you by U. S. express the following books: THE ART OF CONVERSATION, THE ART OF SOCIAL LETTER- WRITING, and How CAN I INCREASE MY VOCABU- LARY? Matter to be featured is set off as follows : 1. There are two ways of conducting business by messenger service and by mail ; thus : 1. A sends an offer by his office boy to B* B delivers his acceptance to the boy. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 33 2. A makes an offer by mail, requesting a reply by mail, etc. THE WRITING OF AMOUNTS IN BUSINESS LETTERS. 2. Amounts are written in three ways: (a) in full followed by figures in parenthesis; (b) in full without figures; (c) with figures alone. (a) Amounts are written in full and followed by figures in parenthesis in important business letters and in legal documents. The part that is written in full is capitalized in legal documents and frequently in business letters as well. (Letter.) "I enclose my check of Two Hundred and Fifty Dol- lars ($250). " (Contract.) 6 ' The first payment shall be One Hundred and Twen- ty-five Dollars ($125)." (b) Amounts are ^written in full without figures as follows : 1. When the amount is the only one mentioned in the letter or occurs but rarely: "I inclose ten dollars in payment of my account." 2. When the amount is small and does not occur in connection with several other amounts : "I inclose ten cents for a sample copy of COKKECT ENGLISH. I understand that the subscription price is one dollar a year." Or, "I inclose ten cents for a sample copy of COKKECT ENGLISH. I understand that the sub- scription price is $1.00 a year." Note. When the amount is small and occurs in con- nection with other amounts, it is frequently written in figures, although some writers indicate no amount smaller than one dollar by figures. 34 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING In advertising, small amounts like 8 cents, 2 cents, 1 cent, are written in figures (sometimes, 8c., 2c., lc.). (c) Amounts are written in figures alone as follows: 1. In an enumeration of amounts (except in letters of great importance and in legal documents) : ' ' The typwriter was $100, the desk, $50, and the chair $10. " 2. The amount is written in figures when it would require several words to express it: 1 i During the last year he has paid $1,575.85 for office expenses/' Note that it would he tiresome to write out in full "one thousand," etc. (This rule does not apply to the instructions in paragraph a.) This rule also applies to small numbers that would be tiresome to write out in full ; as, * * He gave me $5.21. ' ' This rule is also applicable to isolated amounts; thus: while the isolated amount is expressed by words when the amount can be expressed by round numbers, it is written in figures in cases like that just mentioned. (See Par. b, 1.) Fractions are written in full if they occur alone; otherwise, they are expressed by figures; thus: three- fourths, but 5%. Ciphers are almost invariably omitted when the amount is ten dollars or more; many firms avoid their use, even when the amount is less than ten dollars; as, "I inclose $1 in payment of my subscription. " This is a matter of style and inclination; usage varies, but the tendency is to do away with ciphers altogether, except, of course, where one cipher is required, as in the amount $1.50. In connection with the sign $, note that it should be omitted before a number of cents; thus: fifty cents or 50 cents, not $.50; but $3.50. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 35 Amounts That Do Not Express Sums of Money. Amounts other than those of money are governed by the same general rules; thus: 1. Figures are used in an enumeration of amounts as in paragraph c, 1: ' ' The manuscript that I inclose contains 3,000 words ; the one that I sent you last month contained only 2,500 words. " 2. If the amounts occur but rarely, spell them out unless it would be tiresome to do so: "Statistics show that ten thousand persons have been, ? ' etc., but ' ' Statistics show that 10,500 persons have been," etc. 3. In an enumeration of particulars, only figures are used to indicate the numbers: Send me : 10 doz. American Family Soap 5 boxes Oswego Starch 1 bbl. Sugar The punctuation at the end of each line is now usually omitted. 4. The age of a person is written in full : "I am twenty-one years of age." 5. Numbers, such as "I have written to you three times, ' ' are written in full. 6. The number of a street is indicated in figures; the street itself, if represented by a number less than one hundred, is written in full; more than one hundred, in figures; thus: ' "He lives at 517 Fifty-first Street" (or 151st Street). 7. The date in the heading of a business letter is always represented by figures ; in the body (a) by figures, (b) either by figures or by full numbers: (a) "Your letter of the 15th inst. is received." 36 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING (b) "The 5th of July was a holiday. " Or, "The fifth of July was a holiday. " 8. Catalogue numbers and the pages of a book (or document) with the parts, such as chapters, paragraphs, sections, rules, are represented by figures : P. 50, Chap. V. par. 3, Eule 1. LETTERS AND FORMS EXEMPLIFYING THE WRITING OF NUMBERS.* (Letter inclosing check.) Chicago, 111., March 8, 1911. Messrs. Mason & Berry, Boston, Mass. Gentlemen : Inclosed find my check of Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($250) in payment of the accompanying bill. Kindly return bill receipted, and oblige Yours truly, John M. Blank. (Letter ordering books.) Buffalo, N. Y., Jan. 11, 1911. Correct English Publishing Co., Evanston, 111. Gentlemen : Please send us by express, C. 0. D., fifty (50) copies of "The Art of Conversation. " We need the books at once, as we have just discovered that our supply is exhausted. Very truly yours, Success Publishing Company, By J. M. Blank, Mgr. *See also, letter exemplifying the division of a letter into Para- graphs. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 37 (2 inclosures.) (Advertisement. ) 500 BEST STORAGE BOOMS in the city, $1.50 to $6.00 a month, at Union Storage Warehouse, 74 Eastern Avenue. Down-town office, 75 Berkeley Street. Esti- mates for moving and storage. TO LET. Large, old-fashioned house; modern plumb- ing; paint, paper, and everything new; 15 rooms; will be let for $800, to private family only. J. F. F. Brigham, 42 King Street. Tel. 2907. (Statistics.) "Taking the city and county of New York as an ex- ample, we find that more than $20,000,000 was spent dur- ing 1899 in the repressing and correcting of crime, out of a total expenditure of about $90,000,000. This means a crime taxation of $6 per capita. An analysis of San Francisco's budget shows an average of $5 per capita. In smaller cities, the average is about $3.50 per capita. With these averages as a basis, Mr. Smith calculates that $1 an inhabitant in the 'open country' is a conservative estimate. ' ' THE CONCLUSION OF THE LETTER. The CONCLUSION of a letter consists of the compli- mentary close and the signature. The Complimentary Close. The COMPLIMENTAKY close consists of expressions of civility, respect, or love, depending upon the relation that exists between the writer of the letter and the person to whom the letter is written. It should begin on a separate line and should be followed by a comma. The initial word should begin with a capital, and it should be placed near the middle of the body of the letter. Expressions 38 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING that introduce the complimentary close, such as, "I am," "I remain," "and oblige," etc., should not be placed on the same line, but should form the closing words of the body of the letter. The following are correct forms to use in the com- plimentary close: Yours truly, Yours very truly, Truly yours, Very truly yours ; Yours respectfully, Yours very respectfully, Kespect- fully yours, Very respectfully yours; Yours sincerely, Yours very sincerely, Sincerely yours, Very sincerely yours ; Affectionately yours, Lovingly yours, Faithfully yours, Devotedly yours. The forms in the first line are interchangeably used, and are appropriate for business letters where there is no special intimacy existing between the writer and the recipient of the letter ; the forms in the second line are interchangeably used, but are appropriate only when the writer wishes to express respect; the forms in the third line are interchangeably used, and are correct when the relation between the writer and the recipient of the let- ter is somewhat intimate, less formality being conveyed by these expressions than by those in the first line. The form "Yours truly," while frequently used, seems less courteous than the longer form ' ' Yours very truly. ' ' The forms in the last line are used in letters of love and friendship. Models for the Complimentary Close of Business Letters. Note. The closing words of the body of the letter are given in order to show the relative position of the com- plimentary close to the body of the letter. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 39 Assuring you that we can fill your order promptly, and awaiting your early communication, we are Very truly yours, We will send the books at once. Yours very truly, Hoping that you have not been inconvenienced by our delay, we are Yours very truly, Assuring you that if you decide to engage me, I will give you my best efforts, I am Very respectfully yours, I thank you for your kindness in the past, and hope for a continuance of your interest. Very sincerely yours, The form of the complimentary close should always harmonize with that of the salutation, the degree of in- timacy expressed in the salutation corresponding with that in the complimentary close ; thus : a letter beginning, Dear Sir, Gentlemen, Dear Madam, requires for its com- plimentary close, " Yours truly, " " Yours very truly, " or "Very truly yours, " unless the writer wishes to ex- press respect; he should then use, "Yours respectfully," "Yours very respectfully," or "Very respectfully yours." A business letter beginning, "My dear Mr. Black," "My dear Mrs. Black," requires for its com- plimentary close, "Yours sincerely," "Yours very sin- cerely," or "Sincerely yours." These three forms are often interchangeably used when the salutation is formal ; as, Dear Sir, Dear Madam, etc., but it is better to restrict these expressions to letters in which the salutation ex- presses some degree of intimacy. Again, these forms are also used in friendly letters where there is not suffi- cient intimacy between the writer and the recipient of the 40 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING letter to admit of such expressions as, "Affectionately yours, " "Lovingly yours," etc. The Signature of a Letter. The SIGNATUKE of a letter consists of the name of the writer. It should begin on a separate line, should be fol- lowed by a period, and should be placed below the com- plimentary close and to the right, so that the terminal word may be about on a line with the margin of the letter. MODELS FOR THE SIGNATURE OF BUSINESS LETTERS. Signature of a Company. Note. The last paragraph of the body of the letter is given, in order to show the relative position of the signature to the rest of the letter. Kindly see that our order is filled at once, as we are entirely out of these books. Very truly yours, The School-Text Publishing Company, By John J. Gray, Manager. Signature of an Individual. Assuring you of my willingness to comply with your request, I am Very truly yours, Frederick J. Huntington. Signature of a Firm. If you can give this matter your prompt attention, it will greatly oblige Yours very truly, Hamilton & Hamilton, By Edward P. Black, Secretary. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 41 Signature of an Unmarried Woman. Thanking you for your kind interest, and assuring you that I shall be glad to receive an early reply, I am Very truly yours, (Miss) Alice M. Freeman. Note. If, for special reasons, the writer uses only her initials with her surname, then the full name must be written in parenthesis; thus: (Miss Alice M. Freeman.) A. M. Freeman. (Ordinarily the first style is preferable.) Signature of a Married Woman. I thank you for the assistance that you have given me. Very sincerely, (Mrs. George J. Humphrey.) Mary L. Humphrey: Signature of a Widow. Kindly send me a sample of the goods, and oblige Yours very truly, (Mrs.) Margaret E. James. Note. A widow generally uses her Christian name. If, however, her husband has been prominent in busi- ness, social, literary, political circles, or the like, and she wishes, for special reasons, to identify herself with her deceased husband's name, she may write her signa- ture as follows : (Mrs. John Henry James.) Margaret E. James. A woman must never use her husband's title. The wife of a general, a doctor, or a minister, for example, uses the name of her husband without his title. For ex- ample, the wife of Dr. John Brown signs her name as follows : (Mrs. John Brown.) Mary E. Brown. 42 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING (In all the foregoing models, the period may be omitted at the close of the name within the parentheses.) Note. Some authorities indicate that when writing to strangers with whom one has no especial business relations, and when writing to servants, a woman may then use her husband's name and her title in her signa- ture; but, generally speaking, it is better for a woman to avoid doing so. The difficulty can be overcome by writing the letter in the third person. Thus: "Mrs. James Gray, 2120 High Street, would like to have Miss Mary White come on Monday, instead of on Tuesday/' "Mrs. James Gray, 2120 High Street, would be glad to have Mrs. Black return the curtains that she has been mending, as soon as possible." SIGNATURES OF SOCIAL LETTERS. In case of women, where the relation is intimate, only the Christian and the middle name (or initial) with the surname are permissible, it being taken for granted that the recipient of the letter knows the full title of the writer. In cases where the relation is not intimate, and where it is necessary that the recipient should know the name of the husband and the title of the writer, it is correct to follow the same style as in business letters. Again, in cases of extreme intimacy, where the Christian name is properly used in the salutation, the Christian name with- out the surname is used in the signature. THE SUPERSCRIPTION. The SUPEBSCKIPTION of a letter is the address on the envelope. 1. The Contents. The contents include the name, the title, and the post-office address. The post-office address gives the name AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 43 of the city or town ; the state ; the county, when the town is small ; the street address, when the town is large ; the rural route or the post-office box, when required. 2. The Position. The first line, which consists of the name, should be- gin at about an inch from the left-hand edge of the en- velope, and should occupy a position about midway be- tween the upper and the lower edge. Each line that fol- lows is placed a little farther to the right than the pre- ceding line. When a title is used in connection with the name of that which it is associated, it should follow the name on the line below; as: Mr. James Blank, President, Malleable Iron Company, Toledo, Ohio. (Or Toledo, Ohio.) The following style is also used: Mr. John Blank President, Malleable Iron Co. Toledo Ohio (or Toledo, Ohio) The name of the state is usually placed on a line be- low that of the city. When the name of the county, the rural route num- ber or the post-office box is given, it is usually placed at the left-hand corner of the envelope. 3. Punctuation. Usage differs as to the punctuation of an envelope, there being a growing tendency to omit the marks, except 44 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING when required to indicate the absence of words or to close abbreviations; as: Mr. John Blank President, Malleable Iron Co. Toledo Ohio (or Toledo, Ohio) The comma after President indicates the omission of of the; the period closes the abbreviation Co. The name of the county, the rural route, or the post- office box, when placed at the left-hand corner, is followed by a comma, if punctuation marks are used ; this part of the address being regarded as included in the super- scription the same as if it preceded the name of the state. County, if abbreviated, is followed by both a period and a comma. That punctuation marks are still in general favor will be seen by the following model issued by the Post- office Department of Washington : After days return to JOHN C SMITH, 143 State St., WILKESVILLE, N. Y. STAMP MB. FRANK B. JONES, 2416 Front Street, OSWEGO, OHIO. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 45 THE IDEAL BUSINESS LETTER. What should the ideal letter be? It should be grammatical. It should be correctly punctuated. It should be correctly spelled. It should be free from tiresome, worn-out business expressions. It should be brief, only those words being employed that are re- quired to express the thought fully. It should be courteous and tactful. It is impossible for one to acquire a complete mastery over correct forms of diction without a thorough knowl- edge of the grammar of the language. It is not sufficient that a construction shall sound correct ; the writer or the speaker who would be correct in his diction must abso- lutely know whether the form is correct and the reason why it is, or is not, as the case may be. That which one is accustomed to hear sounds correct to the unthinking person. The incorrect sentences, "I meant to have writ- ten/ 9 "I hoped to have come/' "I intended to have gone/ 9 are as musical to the ear of the cultured, as are "He ain't/ 9 "It don't" and "He done it," to the ears of the illiterate. The writer or the speaker, unfamiliar with grammati- cal rules, will be apt to make errors like the following : "I should have been sorry to have missed you; 99 "I should have been glad to have seen him;" "I meant to have written;" "I intended to have gone;" "Your statement can be easily proven;" "I shall go providing I can leave some one in charge of my business ;" "He is very well posted on this subject ;" "I loaned him five hundred dollars;" "I wrote him relative to the mat- ter;" "I know a party who will make you the loan;" "I am through with my work for the day;" "This is not to be compared to that;" "I do not propose to be im- posed on;" "What transpired in my absence?" "He 46 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING worked good to-day ;" "I am afraid that I cannot go;" "I expect that you had better go East." The foregoing expressions sound grammatical to the ear accustomed to hear them, and yet each contains an error, the correct forms being: "I should have been sorry to miss you;" "I should have been glad to see him;" "I meant to write;" "I intended to go;" "Your statement can be easily proved;" "I shall go provided I can leave some one in charge of my office;" "He is well informed on this subject;" "I lent him five hundred dollars;" "I wrote him relatively to the mat- ter;" "I know a person who will make the loan;" "I have finished my work for the day ; " " This is not to be compared with that;" "I do not intend to be imposed on;" "What happened in my absence!" "He worked well to-day;" "I fear that I cannot go;" "I presume that you had better go East." Learning to speak by ear is like learning music by ear or like learning any other branch that can be scientifically taught; the knowledge that one acquires is superficial, and cannot be compared advantageously with that systematic study of rules and principles which serves as a criterion of examination by which all data may be measured. The business man who feels deficient in his under- standing of grammatical rules and their application to the requirements of business usage, should become familiar with the essentials of grammar.* Take, for example, the participial construction, in which the participle must refer to a subject pronoun. An understanding of the grammar of the language enables the pupil to bear in mind that the participle must refer to a subject noun or pronoun. Thus, in the sen- *CORRECT ENGLISH; A COMPLETE GKAMMAB covers tne essentials. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 47 tence, " Replying to your letter of the 15th inst., the, price, etc./' the construction is incorrect, for the reason that replying properly refers to a pronoun / or we, where- as it is made to refer to the noun price. Note. A style, however, which has rapidly grown into favor, and which has the advantage of making it un- necessary to supply a subject pronoun, is one in which the participle is left without a subject pronoun, the ellipses of both subject and predicate verb being regarded for practical purposes as being understood. Where the ellipses occur, however, the participial construction is properly followed by a colon, and not by a period, thus : Chicago, 111., Jan. 1, 19.. The B. & S. Boiler Co., Pittsburgh, Pa. Gentlemen : Referring to your letters of the 6th inst. : Upon further investigation, etc. A Letter Should Be Correctly Punctuated. The study of Grammar teaches the pupil the relation that the parts of a sentence bears to one another. The study of Punctuation teaches the pupil to show to the eye the relation that exists. The fact can not be emphasized too strongly that it is only by an understanding of the Grammar of the lan- guage that one is able to determine what punctuation mark is required. Occasionally we see in a text on this subject the instruction to feel the punctuation marks so as to determine where they should be placed ; so the pupil 48 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING often feels dashes, when he should feel commas ; commas, when he should feel semicolons. It is of vital importance that the stenographer should understand this subject thoroughly, for his employer in dictating letters can not call off the marks of punctuation as does the proof-reader or copy-holder in a printing es- tablishment ; although some employees are so deficient in their knowledge, that their employers are obliged to dic- tate important letters somewhat as follows : Mr. John Gray, Chicago, 111. Dear Sir : Some time ago (comma) about the first of March (comma) we sent you an order for books (comma) but as yet have not received a reply (period) . As we are great- ly in need of these volumes (comma) we should like to hear from you at once as to when we shall be likely to re- ceive them (period). (New paragraph) In the future (comma) when receiving orders from us (comma) please acknowledge their receipt at once. Very truly yours, In connection with the use of the comma there exists a general tendency on the part of stenographers and printers invariably to omit the comma before and in a series of three or more words ; whereas, the comma should be used unless the connection in thought between the last two words is closer than between the last word before and and the preceding words. The following letter is illustra- tive of the incorrect omission of the comma before and. My dear Mrs. Baker: The following is the body of a memorandum that was written a few days since to one of the officers of this Company: AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 49 "Will you please furnish me with separate Pullman trip transportation for one berth each, Pittsburg to Co- lumbus and return, in favor of John Blank, Chief Clerk to the Chief Engineer, Mrs. John Blank and Miss Mary Blank, wife and daughter of Mr. Blank ?" The intention was to ask for a pass for each of the three parties (should read persons) named, but only two passes were received, which prompted me to ask for the opin- ions of others as to the construction of the request. Most of the opinions are to the effect that, because of the ab- sence of a comma after "Mrs. John Blank/' the meaning of the request is not sufficiently clear, notwithstanding the presence of the word each in the second line and the absence of and between "Chief Engineer" and "Mrs." in the fourth line. Will you please be good enough to advise (should read inform) me if (should read whether) the request for the passes is correct? Yours truly, A Eeader. A Letter Should Be Correctly Spelled. An understanding of a few simple rules in spelling will prove helpful to the letter-writer. It is true that the rules of Orthography are far from being absolute, there being scarcely one that has not its exception. Because of these variations, we often feel as did the school-boy who did not want to learn how to spell : "What's the use of spelling anyhow," he exclaimed; "folks know what you mean, and that's enough." But, as has been said, a knowledge of the rules of Orthog- raphy is one of the steps towards the mastery of the art of knowing how to spell. Eules are helpful ; but far more beneficial to the writer 50 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING is the daily habit of looking up every word about which he is in doubt. It is well to have a little hand- book of ready reference, a dictionary of words in every- day use is the best for this purpose, for the reason that it gives not only the spelling, but also the proper syllabi- cation of words, the general rule governing the latter being that words should be divided, when necessary to divide them, according to their pronunciation.* A Letter Should Be Free from Tiresome, Worn-out Expressions Phraseologies that May be grammatical, but that Have Come to be Regarded with Disfavor by Their Having Been Overused. Such expressions, as: "I beg to acknowledge your favor of the 16th inst., and in reply to same would state/' etc., are now regarded by the up-to-date letter writer al- most as objectionable as the old-time expression, "I take my pen in hand, ' ' etc. The following is a partial list of expressions that have fallen into disfavor because of their too frequent use in business letter writing : Favor for Letter. Say: "We have your letter/' not "We have your favor." Same for It or They. Say: "It shall receive prompt attention," not "We have your letter and same shall re- ceive prompt attention." I Confess. Say: "I admit." Beg to State. Say : i l We inform you, ' ' not ' ' We beg to state." We beg to inclose herewith. Say: "We inclose." Your valued favor or order. Say: "Your letter or order." We hereby agree. Say: "We agree." As good luck would have it. Say: "Fortunately." Hoping that we may be favored with an early reply. Say : i ' Hoping that we may receive an early reply. ' ' *See TEN THOUSAND WOBPS; How TO PRONOUNCE THEM. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH . 51 A LETTER SHOULD BE BRIEF. 'This Is My Busy Day. Make It Short." This is the commandatory notice that greets the eye **f the business caller, and if he is wise, he will say what be has to say briefly and to the point, and then depart. This notice placed conspicuously so that he who sits can read, has a tendency to curtail the verbose tendencies of the caller; and, in consequence, the business man is in a way protected from interviews unnecessarily pro- longed. Not so, however, with the recipient of the busi- ness letter. Whether he will or not, he is frequently obliged to wade through pages of subject matter when a half dozen lines would suffice to tell the story. Brevity is one of the chief requisites in letter writing. A letter should be brief, except where a previous corre- spondence has invited a more extensive elucidation of the facts of interest to both the writer and the recipient of the letter. A letter should not, however, be so con- densed that its meaning becomes obscure. The writer of the business letter should say specifically what he has to say, in order that no possible confusion can arise. Some very well meaning persons who have learned that a business communication should be brief, mistake undue condensation for brevity; and, as a result, the recipients of their letters fail to understand the meaning to be con- veyed. A letter like the following, for example, is so brief as to be obscure in meaning : Common-Sense Publishing Co., Boston, Mass. Gentlemen : Saw your ad. in March number of your magazine. Kindly give full particulars. Yours truly, JOHN E. BRIEF. 52 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING Now, this advertisement may be one of several about which " particulars " might be sent; and, in consequence, the recipient of the letter would be unable to determine whether to send particulars pertaining to the * ' Offers to Agents ;" " Announcements to the Advertisers;" or ' ' Bates for Clubs of Ten;" etc. The writer of this business letter has certainly been brief ; he has borne in mind that it is the recipient 's busy day; and has "made it short;" but he has not lightened the labors of his reader, for his letter is so ambiguous that the company to whom it is addressed must write for information as to which ad. the inquirer refers, an un- necessary task had the writer of the brief letter ex- pressed his meaning specifically, So we see while, gen- erally speaking, a business letter should be brief, it should, at the same time, be so explicit that but little time need be consumed in reading it. One of the faults made by the writer who aims to be brief is the omission of the subject pronoun. The writer of the business letter has read somewhere that he should not use the pronoun 7 unnecessarily, and so he omits it entirely; in consequence, his decapitated letter is utterly lacking in that personal element which is so important in correspondence that impress on the letter which makes the recipient feel that he is having a personal interview with its writer. The business man who prides himself on the brevity of his letters, and especially upon the omis- sion of the personal pronoun I, dictates to his stenog- rapher as follows : Messrs. Black & Grey, New Haven, Conn. Gentlemen : Received your letter of the 21st inst., and in reply AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 53 would state that the books came to hand in fine shape. Would ask as a special favor that you deliver all goods, in the future, to me via U. S. express, as have a frank with that company. Will write again relatively to my order of last week. Yours truly, JOHN J. BRIEF. This unnecessary omission of the I is about as sense- less as would be that of the second person you or your. No business man would dictate a letter as follows : 11 Favor of 21st inst. received, and if will enter order now, we can give discount of three per cent. Will see by our list price that our offer is exceptional."* In other words the personal pronoun I should not be omitted any more than should the pronoun you; it is only its unnecessary and tiresome repetition that must be avoided. A LETTER SHOULD BE PERSONAL. A letter should be personal; that is, it should read as the writer would talk were he present. Naturalness of expression is as vitally necessary in letter writing as in speech. The nearer the writer can approach a conversational style, the more effective will be his letter. The present tendency is to avoid circum- locutions, and complimentary phrases, and to begin one's letter as one would a conversation, observing throughout a cordial and personal tone, as if talking directly to the person addressed, as if he were actually present in per- son. A LETTER SHOULD BE COURTEOUS AND TACTFUL. A good rule to observe is the old-time mandate, Never write a letter when out of humor. The business man has his patience severely tried by letters received from irate 54 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING correspondents who for some cause, fancied or real, write disagreeable letters. The truth of the Biblical saying, " A soft answer turn- eth away wrath," can, in the majority of instances, be demonstrated ; for a prompt response, written in a kindly vein, is, as a rule, all that is necessary to appease the wrath of the person who feels that he has been treated unfairly. When receiving letters, written in an angry spirit, the recipient must try to understand the situation from the writer's point of view in order that he may respond cour- teously and tactfully. Every business house has its Complaint Bureau ; human nature is not perfect, neither are business tactics ; in consequence, there is always cause for complaint, more or less. Letters of complaint should receive all the attention and consideration possible, so that the good will of the customer or client can be con- served. CAPITALIZATION Use capitals in an enumeration of particulars ; thus : 3 bbls. Granulated sugar 1 case Early June peas 1 bu. Potatoes 2 sacks Java coffee 2 boxes Ivory soap The words indicating the amount ordered (bbls., case, bu., etc.) are not capitalized. In connection with the use of a comma after each enumeration, and of the period at the close, note that they are now generally omitted in business usage. Use a capital to begin an important statement or to ask a question. "Eesolved, That in order to succeed, we must per- severe. " "I wish to make this statement: // we do not per- severe, we shall not succeed." Use capitals to begin the important words in the title of a book or in the subject of any other composition. I have just finished reading "Bomola," by George Eliot. Note. Headings of essays and chapters should be in capitals ; as, Chapter I, Article 11, Letter Writing and Punctuation. When the titles of books and essays are quoted, the nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, and adverbs should begin with capitals, while the prepositions and conjunc- tions should begin with small letters. The article (the, 66 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING a, an) begins with a capital only when it is used as the initial word in the title. Locke's " Essay on the Human Understanding. " I will lend you my book, "How to Enjoy Pictures. ", His essay was entitled, "How to Speak and Write Correctly." I have just finished reading "The Game," by Jack London. (The is capitalized.) I saw the article in the New York Sun. (The is not capitalized.) Use capitals for the names of the points of compass when they denote sections of country; when they denote mere direction, use small letters. We are going to visit friends in the East (section of country). I have never traveled farther south (direction) than Chicago, but I have made the acquaintance of some very charming Southerners here in the North. I like the North as well as the South. I shall go South next winter. Use capitals for words that denote an important event in history. The Civil War lasted four years. The Battle of Lex- ington marks the beginning of the Revolutionary War. TITLES. President, Secretary, Treasurer, etc., should be cap- italized when used specifically as a title or in connection with a proper name ; when used merely as an explanatory element, it should not be capitalized; thus: Honorary President Meighton, etc. John Blank, President of the Luther Paper Company; John Blank, the president of the Luther Paper Company. Mr. Charles Smith, Presi- AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 57 dent of the E. I. Trust Company; Mr. Charles Smith, the president of the E. I. Trust Company. In such con- structions as, "The Treasurer submitted the following report," "The President then arose and addressed the members," it is correct to capitalize the word in ques- tion, because it is used, for the time being, in place of the name itself. The present tendency, however, is to use capitals sparingly, and in consequence, the small let- ter in the last two constructions would be permissible. Use capitals for the titles in a salutation. My dear Father; My dear Mother; Dear Cousin Jane. The rule applies equally to written conversation; thus: "Where are you going, Mother?" What did you say, Cousin Emma?" When the title is used merely to express relationship, it is not capitalized. Thus, in the conclusion of a letter one writes: "Your sincere friend;" "Your affectionate brother;" so in conversation, "I told my mother that I should not go;" "I am younger than my brother." When, however, the word expressing the relationship is used in place of the name, it should be capitalized ; as, "I told Father that I should not go." Universities, Schools, Churches. University, College, School, Church should be capi- talized when used as a part of the name ; as : Yale Uni- versity ; Vassar College ; Sheffield Scientific School ; Chi- cago Theological Seminary; The Methodist Church. Party. Party is usually written with small letter; as, "The Democratic party." 58 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING A. M. and P. M.; a. m. and p. m. A. M., the abbreviation of ante meridian, and P. M., of post meridian, are written with either capital or small letters, although capitals are preferred by many. GEOGRAPHICAL NAMESHOW TO CAPITALIZE THEM.* Geographical names are capitalized when used specifically to form proper names; but when used gen- erally^ they are not capitalized. The Bed River; The Susquehanna river; The rivers of Asia; The Green Mountains; The Eocky Mountains; The mountains of Colorado; Michigan City; New York City. (a) River forms a part of the proper name "Bed Biver," but it is not necessarily a part of the name "Sus- quehanna," for example; in the first construction, the word river cannot be omitted, while in the second, it can be omitted; thus: "The Bed" would not make sense, whereas, a river, especially when large, may be referred to as "The Susquehanna," "The Missouri," etc. (b) Mountain is usually capitalized, as the proper name can hardly be regarded as complete without the use of the descriptive name; thus, while we may refer to the Rockies, we can not say "The Bocky." In the proper name, "The Green Mountains," both words are necessary to express the meaning. (c) City is capitalized in Michigan City," as it is a part of the name. While some writers would not capi- talize city in "New York City," the word should be capitalized, for the reason that it is used, for the time being, as a part of the name in order to distinguish the name of the city from that of the state. *From CORRECT ENGLISH: A COMPLETE GRAMMAR. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 59 GEOGRAPHICAL, NAMES USED GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES USED SPECIFICALLY. GENERALLY. (Both names are re- The western coast of Eng- quired to form the proper land name.) The Mediterranean Sea* The Pacific Coast The Hudson river The Bed Sea* The city of Chicago The Bed River The village of Wilmette Michigan City The town of Lake Cook County Lake Michigan is one of a Dobbs Ferry chain of lakes. Long Island Sound The Great Lakes Lake Michigan (d) Some authorities would use small letters in such names as, "Grover's Lane," "York Place," "Davis Street," "Cook County;" but these variations from the rule confuse the writer who wishes to adopt a uniform style of capitalization; in consequence, it would seem better to employ capitals in each instance, for the rea- son that the name is not complete until both words are used. (e) Again, when one of the names is not restrictive in its use, the name that follows it should be capitalized ; thus: "The Pacific" means the Pacific Ocean; "The Mississippi" means the Mississippi river; hence in the names, "The Pacific Coast," "The Mississippi Valley," the words coast and valley should be capitalized, for the reason that they are required to complete the meaning. (/) Usage varies as to the capitalization of river, *We may refer to "The Mediterranean," but not to "The Red;" hence, sea is a part of the name in the Red Sea, and, in consequence, should be capitalized. 60 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING ocean, mountain, for the reason that two rules are in opposition to each other. Eule 1 requires the capital, because the name is used specifically, while Eule 2 re- quires small letters, because the omission of the de- scriptive name does not affect the meaning. (g) Because of the non-restrictive use of such words as state, territory, government, these words are capital- ized in such constructions as, "The State of Illinois, " or "Illinois is a State ;" "The Territory of Alaska," or "Alaska is a Territory;" "The French Government" or "The Government of France." State and govern- ment are also capitalized when used in place of the proper names; as, "The State has made a new law;" "The Gov- ernment has decided to enlarge its navy." (Note that state, territory, and government have other uses ; thus : "state" may mean condition; "territory," a tract of land; "government," control.) (h) In the following constructions, the words in italics should not be capitalized : The tropic of Cancer; the tropic of Capricorn; the arctic and the antarctic circle; the polar circle; the equator; the torrid zone; the north and the south tem- perate zone; the eastern and the western "hemisphere; the northern and the southern hemisphere. The foregoing constructions are used merely to in- dicate geographical lines of position, and not real places ; hence, they need not be capitalized. (i) Valley and Stream should be capitalized in the expressions, "The Mississippi Valley," "The Gulf Stream," because used specifically. The Great Basin, meaning the Cordilleran region, is capitalized; but basin in the "Kongo basin" is not capitalized. PUNCTUATION.* The following rules of Punctuation are especially applicable to business usage : The chief marks of punctuation are: the comma, the semicolon, the period, the interrogation point, the marks of quotation, the apostrophe, and the parenthesis. The Comma. The following rules govern the use of the comma: 1. Use a comma before and in a series, unless the connection in thought between the words that it imme- diately connects is closer than between the last word and the preceding words. We wish berths reserved for James Black, John Gray, and Thomas White. (Three berths for three persons.) We wish berths reserved for James Black, John Gray, Thomas White and brother. (Three berths for four per- sons.) 2. Use a comma after a long subject. The fact that many of the leading publishers arb making great efforts to secure the passage of this bill, is evidence of the general interest that has been created. 3. Use a comma (a) after a noun clause when long, and (b) after a short noun clause ending with a verb. (a) That the work of carrying on an extensive busi- ness and attending to all the details is difficult, no one will dispute. (b) That he has failed, does not concern you. 4. Use a comma before a clause beginning with who *An exhaustive exposition of all the rules is given in CORREC* ENGLISK: A COMPLETE GRAMMAR. 62 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING or which only when the meaning is "and he" (she, it, etc.). Your employer, who is a man of strict integrity, would agree to these terms. "Who is a man," etc., is equivalent to saying "and he is a man," etc. "The goods, which were in perfect condition when purchased, were entirely ruined in transit." 4. Omit the comma before that, who, or which, when "and he" (she, it, etc.) cannot be substituted. This is the man that called yesterday. This is the man who called yesterday. These are the goods which were ruined in transit. Note. That is generally regarded as preferable to who or which when "and he" (she, it, etc.) cannot be substituted. 5. A transposed participial phrase is set off by a comma. Eeplying to your letter of July 5, we quote you the following prices. Note. It is incorrect to use any punctuation mark Other than a comma in constructions like the foregoing. The use of the period (or the colon), as in the following, is incorrect; thus: Referring to your letter of July 5. We, etc. [See p. 47. 1 6. An intervening participial phrase is set off by commas except where it is not strictly parenthetical. The manager, depending on his subordinates to carry out his plans, left all the correspondence in charge of his secretary. " (Parenthetical.) A manager depending solely on his subordinates to carry out his plans can not succeed. (Not strictly paren- thetical.) Note. In the first sentence, the participial phrase is equivalent to <( who depends;" in the second, to (t that AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 63 depends." (Compare with the illustrations under Eules 3,4.) 7. Use a comma after the following adverbs intro- ducing a sentence: Again, besides, first, secondly, thirdly, lastly, finally, hence, therefore, consequently, moreover, nay, now, indeed, thus, nevertheless. Note. The adverb introducing the sentence modifies the entire construction. 8. Adverbs parenthetically used are set off by commas. Nothing, however, can mend this defect. 9. Adverbs that modify some other part of speech are not set off by commas. "However necessary it may be, I shall not decide now. ' ' Note. In the foregoing sentence, however modifies necessary, and so is not set off by a comma. In the fol- lowing sentence, however modifies the entire construc- tion, and so is set off by a comma. "However, it is not necessary to decide this ques- tion now." The rules that apply to adverbs apply also to ad- verbial phrases and clauses ; thus : On the last day of April, we mailed you a statement. (Transposed adverbial phrase.) In looking over our accounts, we find that we mailed you, on the last day of April, a statement. ( [a] Trans- posed adverbial phrase; [b] intervening adverbial phrase.) Before we can send you a full statement, we shall be obliged to go over the accounts. (Transposed adverbial clause.) "We are sorry to say that, before we can send you 64 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING a statement, it will be necessary, " etc. (Intervening ad- verbial clause.) 10. Use a comma to separate the parts of a com- pound sentence where the connection in thought is close. "The books were mailed on the day that the order was received, and the bill was sent at the same time." (Connection in thought is close.) The Semicolon. The semicolon is used to separate parts that are not closely connected in thought. "The books were mailed on the day that the order was received; the bill was not sent until several days later. (Connection in thought is sufficiently remote to admit of a semicolon.) The Period. Eule. Use a period after every abbreviation. Jas. B. Blank. Jas. B. Blank, M. D. Some writers use periods after Eoman letters ; others omit them; as: Chapter X., or Chap. X; Eule VII. Note. Periods are used after titles, headings, and side heads, except in advertising matter and in the title pages of books and magazines. The Interrogation Point. Eule. Use an interrogation point after every direct question. When shall our representative call, in the morning or in the evening? Note. When several questions have a common de- pendence, usage varies as to the repetition of the inter- rogation point. The following styles are both used : AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 65 "What is the meaning of all this delay? of all this neglect of our interests ? of all this disregard for our wishes I ' ' "What is the meaning of all this delay; of all this neglect of our interests; of all this disregard for our wishes ? ' ' Quotation Marks. BULES. 1. Use quotation marks for all direct quotations; omit them when the quotation is indirect. He writes as follows: "I will come on Thursday. " (Direct quotation.) He writes us that he will come on Thursday. (In- direct quotation.) 2. A quotation within a quotation is set off by single marks. Our client writes as follows: "I am in receipt of a letter from my partner, who says: 'I shall do nothing in this matter until I hear from you ' " Note. The number of marks at the close must rep- resent the marks used. Position of the Quotation Marks. Eule. Quotation marks properly follow the comma, the semicolon, and the period. "We cannot overcome these difficulties;" our client writes. I take "Harper's Monthly," "The Century Maga- zine," and "The Fortnightly Keview." They offer to close the deal, as they put it, "without another day's delay;" but we are hardly in a position to take advantage of their offer. Our client writes : "It is impossible for me to come." 66 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING The Interrogation Point with Quotation Marks. Eule. If the interrogation point refers only to the words quoted, it must be placed within the quotation marks ; but if it refers to the rest of the construction, it must be placed outside the quotation marks. Our client writes, "May I have an immediate an- swer ? ' ' Did your client write, "May I have an immediate answer"? Note. The same rule applies to the exclamation point. The Parenthesis. Eule. Marks of parenthesis are used to separate ex- pressions that have no vital connection with the rest of the sentence. The words within the parentheses are punctuated the same as in an independent construction, with the exception of the last word, which is subject to a special rule; thus: When the word preceding the parenthesis requires a punctuation mark, the mark is placed before the paren- thesis if the last word within the parentheses is punctu- ated; if not, the punctuation mark is placed after the parenthesis. While we, as publishers, desire to increase our sub- scription list, (and what publisher does not?) we do not wish to increase it at a loss. (Comma properly precedes the parenthesis, for the reason that the last word within the parentheses is punctuated.) While we, as publishers, desire to increase our sub- scription list (and all publishers desire to do so), we do not wish to increase it at a loss. (Comma properly fol- lows the parenthesis, for the reason that the last word within the parentheses is not punctuated.) AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 67 The Independent Parenthesis. Rule. A parenthesis is independent when it is pre- ceded by a period. The last word within the parentheses must then be followed by a period. He inquired whether we had shipped the goods. (By way of explanation, we could not answer this question at that time.) The Apostrophe. Eule. The apostrophe is used to indicate the omis- sions of letters, and in special cases, to indicate plurals and possessives. He doesn't care to go. (Does not.) We have no more 6's and 7's (6es and 7es). 9 11 (instead of 1911). Dot your i's and cross your t's. (Plural.) How many m's are there in this page? (Plural.) Note. The apostrophe is not used when the figures are written in full; as: "There are four threes in this line ; " ' ' There are two thousand ems in this page. ' ' Note. For use of apostrophe in names used by busi- ness firms, see the department entitled, " Business English," The Apostrophe. BUSINESS ENGLISH FOR THE BUSINESS MAN. Note. The following rulings on the use of business terms are from THE CORRECT WORD: How TO USE IT. A full and comprehensive list of almost every conceiv- able form of correct diction is contained in THE CORRECT WORD : How TO USE IT. In this text there is space for only a comparatively few words. Above. The use of above as an adjective in such constructions as, "the above address, " is censured by some authorities; but it conforms to the business employment of the lan- guage. Careful speakers prefer such constructions as "The address given above;" or "The above mentioned address," for the reason that above can then be properly construed as an adverb. Addressed. The wording addressed, formerly used in the super- scription of a letter to be delivered by hand, is now omitted. Accede and Concede. Accede is specifically used in the sense of to yield; as, "to accede to one's request;" Concede is used in the sense of to admit as true, to grant privileges; thus: in nice usage, we accede to one's terms, or one's requests, and concede to the truth of a statement ; to a franchise. Accept and Accept Of. Of is always superfluously used with .accept, thus: "We accept your terms," not "we accept of your terms." AND BUSINESS ENGLISH *9 Acknowledgment. The spelling acknowledgment is preferable to acknowledgement. After Having. After is superfluous in the sentence, "After having seen him, I returned nome." After, Afterward and Afterwards. After, afterward, and afterwards, meaning later in time, are interchangeable in meaning. We say with equal propriety: "He came three hours after, or afterward or afterwards. Ago and Since. Since is preferable to ago when referring to events that are recent ; ago is preferable to since when referring to events that are not recent; as, "a few days since," but "a year ago." Agreeably With. The adverb 'agreeably, and not the adjective agree- able, is required in such constructions as, "Agreeably with your request, we send," etc., because it is the verb that is modified. Note, too, that the preposition with seems more close- ly to express the meaning than does to, agreeably with meaning conformably ivith. All Of. Of is not required in such constructions as t( all of our assets ;" "all our assets " fully expressing the mean- ing. The same rule applies to " almost all." All Ready and Already. All ready means quite prepared; as, "I am all ready to go." Already means by this or that time; previously to, or at some specified time, or the time present, thus 70 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING early; even then, or even now; as, "He has already per- formed the task." All Right and Alright. All right is correctly written only as two words. All-Round Man or An Ail-Around Man. "An all-round man" is the correct form. Alternative. Other is superfluous in such constructions as, "There is no other alternative." Again, alternative is used only of two things; in consequence, such expressions as, "There are three alternatives/' are incorrect. Although, Though. Although and though, meaning in spite of the fact that, are interchangeably used ; as, "I shall go, although (or though) I am hardly able to do so." Amounts. The plural amounts is correct in such constructions as, "We donate the amounts set opposite our names." Annual and Yearly. Annual and yearly are interchangeable in meaning; as, "His annual (or yearly) income is two thousand dollars;" "This is our yearly (or annual) clearing sale." Answer and Reply. An answer is a response or rejoinder, spoken or written to a question (expressed or implied), request, appeal, prayer, call, petition, demand, challenge, objec- tion, argument, address, letter, or to anything said or written. A reply is a response, written or spoken, in return for something that seems to call for it, as to give the information sought in a question, or to defend oneself or some one else against an attack. The following slight AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 71 distinction is made between the uses of these words: An answer is a response to a question or a charge, a re- ply is a response to an assertion ; the latter implies more thought and intelligence than the former. Apostrophe in Names of Business Firms. There is a general tendency to omit the apostrophe in the titles employed by business firms and corpora- tions; thus: "The Studebaker Bros. Manufacturing Company," instead of "The Studebaker Bros.' Manu- facturing Company." Appertain and Pertain. Appertain and pertain are interchangeably used, and are equally correct. Appreciate. Note. Appreciate, opposed to depreciate, means to increase in value; hence, such expressions as, "The property appreciates from year to year," although cen- sured by some critics, are correct. Appreciate Highly. Highly is superfluous in such constructions as, "We appreciate your services highly/' for the reason that appreciate means to place a sufficiently high estimate on. Apprehend and Comprehend. Apprehend means to perceive; as, "I apprehend danger. ' ' Comprehend means to understand; as, "I com- prehend your meaning." Balance. The use of balance in the sense of remainder or rest is incorrect in such constructions as, "The balance of the evening was spent in looking over the accounts." Bal- ance is an accountant's term, and properly is used of that which must be added 1 to the less or subtracted from 72 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING the greater of two amounts, as receipts or expenses, in order to make them equal; and as it does not properly denote what is left after a part has been taken away, as indicated it should not be used in the sense of remainder or rest. Been To. Been to is colloquial; been in or been at being re- garded as correct, according as the case may require; thus: "I have been in the city;" "I have been at my office." It is difficult to avoid the use of been to, for the reason that been at or in does not seem wholly to convey the meaning. In business usage, such expressions as, "We have been to a good deal of trouble on this account " are com- mon; been at, however, seems preferable. Beg. The use of beg in such constructions as, "I beg to state," is censured, (a) as being an overworked term, and (b) as hardly expressing the truth. Bill, Invoice, Statement. A bill is a statement of an account or of money due ; a paper setting forth the amount of a debt, as for goods delivered, or for services rendered. An invoice is a list sent to a purchaser or a consignee, containing the items of merchandise purchased, with the prices and the charges. A statement is a bill for money due. Black and White's Contract. "Black and White's contract" is correct, for the rea- son that single possession is indicated. If, however, a pronoun is substituted, the possessive form is used; as, "Your and White's contract. * See Possessives. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 73 Bookkeeper, Bookkeeping. Bookkeeper and bookkeeping are properly written without a hyphen. Boughten Suit or Dress. Boughten is colloquially used in the United States for purchased. It is, therefore, not in accordance with the best usage of the language. But Him. Used as a preposition, in the sense of except, but must always be followed by the objective case ; as, " There was no one at home but Mm and me (not he and 7). But That and But What. But that means except the thing referred to; but what means except that which; as, "I do not know but that I shall go." "I have nothing but what (but that which) you gave me." Collective Nouns.* A collective noun may be either singular or plural; as, committee, committees; company, companies. When plural, it always requires a plural verb. When singular, it requires a singular verb, unless special reference is made to the individuals represented by the noun, when it requires a plural verb, thus : The committee has adjourned. The committee are all of the same opinion. See Company. Company Is or Are. Company should be treated as singular unless it be- comes necessary to refer to the individuals represented by this- collective noun. Thus we write, * ' The company is erecting a new building." "The company disagree *A full exposition of collective nouns is given in THE CORRECT WORD; How TO USE IT. 74 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING among themselves as to," etc.; or, again, "The company have accepted our proposition, and write that they," etc. (The use of the plural verb have in this sentence is made in order to avoid a shift of number. To say "and write that it," etc., suggests an inanimate body, and, hence, the plural form they is preferable.) Company (or the Firm) That, Who, or Which. If the company (or the firm) is thought of collectively, use either that or ivhich. If thought of as individuals, use that or who, as the case may require. Thus: (col- lectively) "The company (or the firm) that (or which) pays the highest salaries to its employees, does not al- ways receive the best service." (The clause introduced by that is restrictive, and, in consequence, that is prefer- able to which.) Our company (or firm), which, by the way, has always had unlimited credit, has gone into bankruptcy. (Clause introduced by which is non-restrictive, adds a new fact. and so is introduced by which, that always being in- correct when a new fact is added. Note that a comma precedes ivhich and that it does not precede that.) (Individuals are referred to.) The company (or firm), who have offered me several inducements to co- operate with them, are now divided in their opinions as to the possible outcome of their latest transaction. Compare With and Compare To. Use "compare with" when representing the relative merits of the things compared; "compare to" when likening one thing to another ; thus : "Compare this cloth with that, and tell me which you prefer. ' ' "He compared his stenographer to a machine." The wording, "This is not to be compared with that," AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 75 or " We cannot compare this with that," is properly used to convey the meaning of inferiority of one of the things compared. Compensation and Remuneration. Compensation means that which is given or received as an equivalent, as for services, debt, loss, etc. Remun- eration is a compensation for personal services; as, "The pleasure compensates for the pain," "He was remuner- ated for his work by an increase in his salary." Confess and Admit. In its chief use, confess means to make an admission of wrongdoing; and, as it is a stronger word than admit, the latter is preferable when used merely to acknowl- edge the truth of a statement, or to acknowledge a mis- take. One admits a mistake, acknowledges a fault, and confesses a sin or a wrong. Instead of saying, "I con- fess that I am entirely ignorant of the facts," one prefer- ably says, "I admit/' etc. Contents. Contents is plural in form and plural in meaning ; as, "The contents of your letter surprise me." Occasion- ally, however, where the context favors a singular con- struction, the singular verb is used; as, "The contents of the jug is vinegar." Correspond To and With. Correspond to means answer or conform to; as, "Does this description correspond to your idea of what the place is like?" Correspond with means to communi- cate with by written word; as, "They correspond with each other." Cos. The plural of Co. (abbreviation of company) is Cos. 76 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING The possessive singular is Co.'s; the possessive plural is Cos.' Dally Journal. Journal means daily; in consequence, such wordings as daily, weekly, and monthly journals, are incorrect, daily being superfluous, and weekly and monthly not ex- pressing the meaning. One properly says, for example, "A daily (or weekly) newspaper;" "A monthly (or quarterly) magazine." Damage. Damage should not be used in the sense of cost or charge; as, "What is the damage ?" "I'll pay the dam- age," instead of "What is the cost?" "I'll pay the cost." Damage is correctly used in the sense of hurt or injury; as, "No human being can arbitrarily dominate over another without grievous damage to his own nature." The plural form damages, of which the incorrect use of damage is a per- version, is correctly used as a law term, meaning money that is recoverable as amends for a wrong and injury sustained; as, "The plaintiff was awarded merely nom- inal damages." Data. Data, pronounced either day'ta or data (a as in ask), but not dah'ta (a as in father), is a plural noun; in con- sequence, constructions like "What is the data in the case?" are incorrect, the plural verb are being required instead. Deal. Deal, in the sense of transaction, agreement, or ar- rangement, is incorrect. Instead of saying, "I have a deal on hand," one should say, "I have a transaction on hand." AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 77 Deal With. Deal, in the sense of discuss, is properly followed by with, and not by on or of; as, "The subject deals with the necessity for taxation on personal incomes." Dear and My Dear. Dear is regarded as less formal than my dear in the salutation of a letter. Decreases. Decrease is properly pluralized in such constructions as, "These are the decreases," the word meaning "amounts that have become lessened." Depositary and Depository. A depositary is a person with whom anything is left or lodged in trust; a depository is a place where any- thing is lodged for safe-keeping ; as, "He made his banker his depositary;" "He placed his important papers in the depository of the First National Bank." Different Than or To. Different than, or to, is always incorrect, from being required instead; as, "This is different from that." Differently is likewise followed by from; as, "This books is bound differently from that." Differ From and Differ With. "Differ from" is used in the sense of "different from" to express a difference; as: "Character differs from reputation;" "I differ from him in my political views." "Differ with" is used to express disagreement ly word of mouth; dispute; as, "They differ with each other every time they meet." Direct and Address. Direct, in the sense of address, as to direct a letter, is criticised by some writers, but this use is recorded as 78 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING correct. Possibly the tendency to employ address to the exclusion of direct, is one that should be encouraged. Direct and Directly. Direct is an adverb, as well as an adjective. As an adverb, it is used interchangeably with the adverb directly to indicate in a straight line or course; as: "He went direct to the point/' "He went directly to the point;" "Ship the goods direct from St. Louis," or "Ship the goods directly from St. Louis." Direct is con- strued as an adjective in such sentences as, "Make the shipment direct (shipment [to be] direct; that is, a direct shipment) ; and, as an adverb would not conform to the requirements of grammar in constructions of this kind, directly would be incorrect. When the idea to be con- veyed is without the intervention of any medium, directly more closely expresses the meaning, direct not being used in this sense; as: "He voted directly, and not through a representative;" "Please correspond with me directly in this matter." Directly and Immediately. Directly, in the sense of immediately, as, "I will come directly/' is correct. When used in the sense of as soon as, both, directly and immediately are objectionable. In- stead of "Directly he arrived, he called on his employer," as soon as should be used. Dispatch and Despatch. Dispatch takes precedence over despatch. Else and But. Else is properly followed by than, and not by but. One correctly says: "It was no one else (or no other) than he;" or, "It was no one but him." (Observe that the nominative he follows than, and that the objective him follows but.) AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 79 En and In. An an affix, when en and in are both recorded, prece- dence is given to in in the spelling of inquire, inquirer, inquiry, by both Century and Standard. In the spelling of inclose, Century prefers "wclose;" Standard, "en- close. " In "endorse" and "wdorse," Century favors "wdorse;" Standard records that the affix in is prefer- able in legal and commercial use; en, in literary use." To simplify the matter, it might be well to use the affix in in all these words and follow this style invariably; as, inquire, inquirer, inquiry; inclose, indorse. Enclose and Inclose. See En and In. Enclosed (Inclosed) please find. Please is criticised by some writers as superfluous in the expression, "Enclosed (inclosed) please find my check." Inasmuch as please softens the imperative form it should hardly be criticised. The difficulty can be over- come by substituting the shorter wording^ "I (or we) inclose," etc. Enclose (Inclose) Herewith. Herewith is superfluous in the wording, "I inclose herewith." It might be well to eliminate it and write simply, "I inclose." Endorse and Indorse. See En and In. Endorse (Indorse) and Approve. Endorse (indorse) should not be used in the sense of approve. Instead of saying, "I indorse his conduct in this matter," one should say, "I approve of his conduct in this matter." Equally as. As is superfluous when preceded by equally, for the reason that as itself expresses equality. One properly 80 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING says, "I like this equally well as that," or, "I like this as well as that," but not "I like this equally as well as that." Every Confidence. Every should not be used in the sense of entire or implicit, or without the adjective kind, or some modify- ing word; as, "I have every confidence in him;" "He gave me every attention." "Entire (or implicit) con- fidence" and i( Every kind of attention" are the correct forms. Every is distributive, and in consequence can not modify a noun incapable of being separated into parts. Every Once in a While. Instead of using such expressions as, "I go there every once in a while," one properly says, "I go there once in a while," or "I go there now and then," or "I go there every little while." "Once in a while" is a mean- ingless phrase. Except and Excepting. Except and excepting (preposition) are interchange- ably used; as, "I have finished all except (or excepting) this." Final. Final is used of that which is ended or completed ; in consequence, such expressions as "The final end," or "The final completion," are incorrect, final being super- fluous. Financial, Monetary, Pecuniary. Financial applies to public funds, to the revenues of a government, or to large private transactions. Mone- tary and pecuniary apply to transactions between in- dividuals. Monetary relates more especially to actual money, a monetary transaction being one in which money AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 81 is involved. Pecuniary relates to that in which money is indirectly involved; as, one's pecuniary affairs, diffi- culties, etc. We speak properly of the financial affairs of the government ; of the monetary transactions between individuals ; of giving pecuniary aid to an individual. Fill Out or Fill in the Blank. Either "Fill out the blank," or "Fill in the blank" may be used. Financial and Fiscal. The fiscal year, referring to the financial accounting done in a year's time, in the affairs of a nation or of a private business, is preferable to the financial year. (In the United States, the fiscal year ends June 30.) Firstly. Firstly is always incorrect, first being the form of both the adjective and the adverb. First, Second, Etc.; First, Secondly, Etc. The adjectives first, second, third, etc., are required when the noun is modified; the adverbs first, secondly, thirdly, etc., when the verb is modified; as: "The fol- lowing are my reasons : first, I have no time to give to the matter ; second, I know of no one whom I can recom- mend; third,'' etc. (First reason, second reason, third reason.) "The disturbance was caused, first, by the ex- plosion of the boiler; secondly, etc. ; thirdly," etc. (Was caused first, secondly, etc.) Forty Million or Forty Millions. Among the forty million people," etc., is the cor- rect form ; the rule being that when such words as, hun- dred, thousand, million, etc., are preceded by a numeral, sufficient plurality is expressed to admit of the omission of the letter "s." See Pair and Pairs. 82 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING Hand a Statement and Inclose a Statement. One properly says, "I inclose a statement of your account," not "I hand you a statement," etc., hand be- ing properly used when the transmission is made by hand. In or On Behalf of. In and on are interchangeably used in the expressions "in behalf of" and "on behalf of." Instalment and Installment. The spelling in instalment takes precedence over in- stallment. Indorse and Endorse. See En and In. Indorse (Endorse) on the Back. "On the back" is superfluous in the wording, "In- dorse the check on the back/' the phrase being implied in the word indorse, which means to write upon the back of. Informed and Posted. Informed, and not posted, is required in such sen- tences as, "He is well-informed on such matters." Again, post should not be used in the sense of inform; as, "I wish you would post me before I go. ' ' Inquire and Enquire. See In and En. Invoice and Inventory. An invoice is a list of goods and their prices sent by the seller to the purchaser. An inventory is a list of the goods owned by an individual, a firm, or a corpora- tion. See Bill. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 83 Jr. and Sr. A title is used with Jr. or Sr.; as, "Mr. John Smith, Jr.;" "Mr. John Smith, Sr." Jr. or Sr. must be set off by comma. Kindly and Please. Kindly and please are interchangeably used in such constructions as, "Kindly send me particulars of your course in English," or "Please send me," etc. Kindnesses. Kindness may be pluralized; as, "We thank you for your many kindnesses." Is Received, Has Been Received, Was Received. "Is received" denotes present time; "lias been re- ceived," time up to the present; as, "Your letter is received" (just received); "Your letter lias been re- ceived" (at any time up to the present) ; "was received" denotes a specific time in the past; as, "Your letter was received yesterday." Its, It's, and 'Tis. Its, written without an apostrophe, is the possessive form of it; as, "A pronoun agrees with its antecedent in number." It's, written with an apostrophe, is a col- loquial contraction for it is; as, "It's better to wear out than to rust out." 'Tis, with the apostrophe preceding t, is chiefly restricted to poetic uses; as, " 'Tis the glad Christmas tide." Join Issue and Take Issue. In nice usage, "join issue" means to admit the right of the denial of a statement. "Take merely to deny. 84 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING Limited. Limited is often faultily used for small, slight, and other words of like meaning; as, "He had a limited (slight) acquaintance with the business;" "The book was, previously sold at the limited (low or reduced) price of one dollar ;" "His pecuniary means are likely to re- main quite limited." Limited is admissible when sug- gesting the reverse of unlimited wealth ; as, * * His income is not limited to the extent that you suppose." Line. Line, used in the sense of kind, or business, or again in other senses where specific words may be used to ex- press the meaning, is not in accordance with the best employment of the language. Instead of saying, "In what line of business are you engaged," one properly says, "In what business are you engaged," or "What kind of work are you doing?" Again, such expressions as, "He talked for several minutes along that line," should be avoided. One should use specific language ; as, "He talked for several minutes on that subject," or "in connection with that subject." Loaned and Lent. Lent and lend, not loaned and loan, are the correct forms. Loan is properly used only as a noun; thus, "I lent him (or I will lend him) the money;" "He asked me for a loan." The expression "Money to loan" is correct, to loan being properly a noun (verbal) with the preposition for understood but not expressed. Memorandum. Memorandum has two plurals, memorandums and memoranda. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 85 Messrs. Before the Name of a Club or a Corporation. The title Messrs, being required only before firm names ending with "& Co.," should not be used in ad- dresses like the following: Messrs. Mid-Day Club, Messrs. Midland Elevator Co., Messrs. Superior Consolidated Gas Co. Nothing Like. Nothing like is incorrectly used in the sense of not nearly. Instead of "This is nothing like so good as the last stock," say "This is not nearly so good," etc. Noth- ing like is properly used in such constructions as, "There is nothing like being good." O. K. The origin of 0. K. is obscure, but it is said to have originated with Andrew Jackson, who used it as an abbreviation of l i All Korrect. ' ' Usage varies in the writing of the past and participle forms of 0. K. Thus, 0. K.d or 0. K'd.; 0. K.ing; or 0. K'ing. Of course, grammatically considered, there is really no past or perfect tense form of 0. K., except as usage has established it. As to whether 0. Kd. and 0. King, could be regarded as correct, there is no like abbreviation upon which one may base a decision. It would seem that either O.K.d or O.K'd.; O.K.ing or 0. K'ing would be correct abbreviations. The plural forms 0. K.s and 0. K's would likewise be equally permissible, the apostrophe being used in special instances to indicate the plural number. One or Two Days' Notice. "We thank you for giving us one or two days' notice on this shipment," is correct. Although preceded by the singular modifier one t as 86 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING well as by the plural modifier two, the noun days is plural in order to conform to its plural modifier. The singular verb would be required in such construc- tions as, "One or two days' notice is all that I wish," for the reason that notice is the subject. Over and More Than. Instead of saying, "We have written him over ten letters," say "We have written him more than ten let- ters." Part. We say properly: "An important part of the new plan has been the demonstrations;" "The important part of the various plans are/' etc. The singular verb has is required in the first sen- tence, for the reason that part is construed as singular, the context "of the new plan" showing that the mean- ing is singular ; the plural verb is required in the second construction for the reason that the context indicates plurality. Party. Party should not be used in the sense of person. In- stead of saying, "I know a party who will lend you the money," one properly says, "I know a person who will lend you the money." Party is properly used as a legal term or to indicate a number of persons; as, for example, in the wording, "The party of the first part;" "Our party will sail next week." Per cent. Per cent, is singular or plural, according to the con- / / m i * 1*1 ** O j_ 7 CJ text; as, "Twenty per cent, is a high commission; "Twenty per cent, of the immigrants were Germans. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 87 Per cent, being an abbreviation of per centum, is fol- lowed by a period. Per Secretary and By Secretary. One properly writes "By Secretary," not Per Sec- retary. Per Year. Per is a Latin preposition, and is properly joined only with Latin words ; as, per annum, per diem, not per year, or per day. The forms per invoice, per letter, how- ever, have the sanction of commercial employment. In- stead of saying, "The magazine is one dollar per year, or ten cents per copy/ 9 one properly says, "The maga- zine is one dollar a year, or ten cents a copy." The Period or the Interrogation Point at the Close of the Letter. When it is impossible to use an interrogation point, as in the conclusion of a letter, then the interrogative form should be changed to the declarative ; thus : instead of saying, "Will you kindly be present, and oblige?" etc., one should say, "Kindly be present, and oblige," etc., or "Will you kindly oblige me by being present?" Such constructions as the following require revision: Will you kindly correct the inclosed article and re- turn it at your earliest convenience, and greatly oblige. Yours very truly, JOHN BLANK. It is impossible to punctuate the sentence correctly, for the reason that an interrogation point is required; and, as it properly belongs at the close of the construc- tion, which would be after the name, John Blank, the request must be re-written. Besides, a rhetorical rule is violated, in that too many ideas are crowded together. The construction should read : 88 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING Will you kindly correct the inclosed article and re- turn it to me at your earliest convenience? If you will do so (or ly doing so), you will greatly oblige Yours very truly, JOHN BLANK. PLURAL CONSTRUCTIONS. 40 Foot Clause or 40 Feet Clause. The singular form foot is required in such construc- tions; as, "This is subject to a 40-foot detached risk clause. " Pair, Dozen.* Some words have both a singular and a plural form ; thus : pair, dozen. When preceded by a numeral, these words, whether singular or plural in meaning, take the singular form ; but when not preceded by a numeral, they take the plural form. Of is frequently omitted; thus, "a dozen eggs," in- stead of "a dozen of eggs;" "two dozen eggs," instead of "two dozen of eggs;" but not "there are several dozen eggs," instead of "there are several dozens of eggs." SINGULAR IN FORM AND SINGULAB IN MEANING. This is a new pair of gloves. There is a dozen of eggs in the basket. SINGULAE IN FORM AND PLURAL IN MEANING. There are two pair of gloves in the box. There are two dozen of eggs in the basket. PLURAL IN FORM AND MEANING. There are several pairs of gloves in the box. There are several dozens of eggs in the basket. *A full exposition of the concord of subject and verb in special constructions is given in THE CORRECT WORD: How TO USE IT. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 89 Plural and Singular Nouns. The following nouns, although plural in form, are regarded as singular, and so are followed by singular verbs: amends, news, summons, gallows, politics, physics, optics, mathematics. Summons has a plural form, summonses. The following nouns may be used either in the sin- gular or in the plural : means, odds, pains, wages. This means (or these means) was (or were) used to influence him. No pains is (or are) taken to make it pleasant. The odds is (or are) in his favor. The wages of sin is death. His wages are small. Some nouns have the same form for both the singular and the plural; as, deer, sheep, trout, salmon. When the noun is plural in form and plural in mean- ing it takes a plural verb. The following nouns are plural in both form and meaning, and so are followed by plural verbs: alms, archives, ashes, bellows, billiards, bitters, breeches, cat- tle, clothes, compasses, contents, goods, manners, matins, measles, morals, nuptials, nippers, pincers, pantaloons, riches, scissors, tidings* tongs, tweezers, trousers, shears, scales. Point of View, Viewpoint, and Standpoint. Point of view is regarded as preferable to viewpoint by some authorities. As to standpoint, Standard gives the following: "Standpoint. Irregularly formed probably in imita- tion of the German standpunki and sometimes incon- * Tidings, is occasionally found in literature in the singular. The present usage, however, is in favor of the plural; as, "These tidings are alarming." 90 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING siderately censured as being a superfluous substitute for point of view. That standpoint and point of view are not always interchangeable will be evident when the fact is recalled that in literary usage, point of view has two different senses: (1) the point from which one views; (2) the point or relative place at which something is viewed, giving rise to the two phrases, 'From this point of view' and 'In this point of view.' Furthermore, there is in standpoint, as commonly employed, an implication of some permanence of position, as regards the view taken or the opinion held; it is especially applicable to principle, convictions, etc." Politics. Politics is properly followed by a singular verb. Post or Mail. Post and mail are interchangeably used in the word- ing, "Post (or mail) a letter." Posted. Although posted is frequently used in colloquial speech, in the sense of informed, it is an undesirable form of expression. Instead of saying, "He is very well posted on such matters," one properly says, "He is very well informed," etc. Possessives.* When two or more nouns are used so that joint pos- session is indicated, the sign of the possessive is added to the last word only; thus, "A. C. McClurg & Co.'s Book Store;" "Marshall Field & Co.'s Dry Goods Store." In the case of nouns in apposition, possession may be indicated in various ways; thus, it is correct to say, "I bought the book at Thompson the bookseller 's," or "I *A full exposition of double possessives is given in THE CORRECT WORD: How TO USE IT. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 91 bought the book at Thompson's, the bookseller, ' ' or "I bought the book at Thompson's, the bookseller's." The question arises whether one shall write, "Mr. Blank's, one of our salesmen's, home," or "Mr. Blank one of our salesmen's home," or "Mr. Blank's, one of our salesmen, home." Such constructions as, "As Mr. Brown one of our salesmen's home is in New York, we shall instruct him to call on you, ' ' are awkward. It is pref erable f to rewrite the sentence; as, "As Mr. Brown, one of our salesmen, lives in New York," etc. Practice and Practise. The spelling practice is used for the noun; practise, for the verb; as, (noun) "He made a practice of rising early;" (verb) "He practised strict economy." The Simplified Spelling Board recommends the spell- ing practise for both noun and verb. Preferred Attention. Such expressions as, "Your matters shall have our preferred attention," are correct, preferred attention being used to express priority in attention. Previous and Previously. One properly says, "I saw him previously to my go- ing," and not "I saw him previous to my going." The adverb, and not the adjective, is required, for the reason that reference is made to the action of the verb, and not to the condition of the subject. "I saw him before going," as the simpler construc- tion, is preferred by many. Propose. Instead of saying, "I don't propose to be imposed on,' 5 one properly says, "I don't intend to be imposed on," propose beinff incorrectly used in the sense of in- 92 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING tend. One may propose a bill to a legislative body, pro- pose as in an offer of marriage, or propose one as a mem- ber of a club. Proved and Proven. Proved, not proven, is the correct wording, except in the Scottish verdict "not proven." Instead of saying, "This can be easily proven;" "They have proven him guilty, " one properly says, "This can be easily proved;" "They have proved him guilty." Century gives the following: "Prove: pret. proved; pp., proved, sometimes incorrectly proven, ppr., prov- ing. Again : proven, pp. an improper form, lately grow- ing in frequency by imitation of the Scotch use in 'Not proven.' " "Not proven. In Scots law a verdict rendered by a jury in a criminal case where the evidence is insufficient to justify a conviction, yet strong enough to warrant a grave suspicion of guilt." In other words, proved, and not proven, conforms to the literary and the conversa- tional employment of the language. Providing and Provided. Providing is incorrectly used in such constructions as, "I shall go East, providing I can leave my business," provided or provided that being the required word. Received Payment. The initial letter of each word is capitalized in Re- ceived Payment. Relative and Relatively. Instead of saying, "I shall write (or speak) to him relative to the matter," one properly says, "I shall write (or speak) to him relatively to the matter," the adverb being required to modify the verb. In the sentence, "I have received your letter relative to the matter," rela- AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 93 tive is correct, for the reason that the noun letter is modi- fied, and hence, the adjective is correctly employed. Again, in such constructions as, "Relatively to your agreement to pay twenty-five dollars a month on your account, we respectfully call your attention," etc., the adverb is required, for the reason that the word modifies the verb call. Respecting and Regarding. Respecting and regarding are interchangeably used with each other, and also with the phrase "in (or with) respect to," and "in (or with) regard to." Respect to and Regard to. Respect to and regard to are properly preceded either by in or with; as, "I have written to him in (or with) respect (or regard) to the matter." Sale on Linens or Sale of Linens. Either "A sale on linens," or "a sale of linens" may be used. In the wording, "on linens," on is used to note the object to which the operation is directed; "of linens" is genitive, the meaning conveyed by the con- struction being "a linen sale." Same. The use of same in the sense of it; as, " We have your letter of the 5th inst., and in reply to same/' etc., is not in accordance with the best business usage. Same is properly used when a noun is understood as following it; as, "My vocation is the same as yours," vocation be- ing understood after same. In brief, same is properly used as an adjective, but not as a pronoun. Second and Secondly. See First, Second, etc. 94 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING Shall and Will.* Eule. Shall in the first person and will in the sec- ond and the third, express simple futurity, or a condi- tion beyond the control of the will. Will in the first per- son and shall in the second and the third, express prom- ise, willingness, or determination. I shall go East on Friday. (Simple futurity.) I shall be delighted to meet her. (Condition beyond the control of the will.) I shall be glad to go. (Condition, etc.) I know that I shall like her. (Condition, etc.) I shall be obliged to go. (Condition, etc.) I shall regret your absence. (Condition, etc.) I will surely go without fail. (Promise, etc.) I will go for you if you wish. (Willingness.) I will not stir one step. (Determination.) Should and Would. General Bule. Should and would follow, in the main, the rules of shall and will, with some special uses of their own : When there is no controlling influence from with- out, should in the first person and would in the second and the third express simple contingent futurity, condi- tion beyond the control of the will. Should in the first person expresses plan, and in all three persons, propriety or subjunctive futurity. Would in the first person expresses resolution, and in all three persons, willingness or custom. Contingent futurity (when there is no controlling in- fluence from without). Plan: If he were to invite me, I should go. (Contingent futurity and plan.) *A full exposition of the uses of shall and will, should and would is given in THE CORRECT WORIK How TO USE IT. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 95 If he were to invite you, I suppose that you would go. (Contingent futurity.) If she were to invite him, I suppose that he would go. (Contingent futurity.) If I were to hear from her this afternoon, I should go. (Contingent futurity and plan.) I should call if I were you. (Contingent futurity and plan.) I should not hesitate to say so, if I were in your place. (Contingent futurity.) I should object to her going, if I were you. (Con- tingent futurity.) I should go to New York next week, if I had the money. (Contingent futurity and plan.) If I were to eat this, I should be ill. (Condition be- yond the control of the will.) If you were to eat this you would be ill. (Condition beyond the control of the will.) If he were to eat this, he would be ill. (Condition be- yond the control of the will.) I should like to see you. (Condition beyond the con- trol of the will.) You would like her and so would he. (Condition be- yond the control of the will.) Should and Ought. The specific use of should is to express propriety or expediency, but it is often used in a stronger sense to express duty. Thus, in strict usage, we should say, "Children ought to obey their parents. " (Moral obliga- tion.) "Children should be seen and not heard." (Pro- priety.) I know that I should not do so. (Propriety.) Children ought to obey their parents. (Duty.) 96 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING You should always arrange your papers in that way. (Propriety.) You ought not to treat your employees so unkindly. (Duty.) You should call on your friends more frequently. (Propriety.) You ought to assist your parents. (Duty.) I would never consent. (Determination.) I would not do that under any circumstances. (De- termination.) I would not give him one cent. (Determination.) When I was a child, I would sit and dream for hours at a time. (Custom.) I would do this for you, certainly. (Willingness.) You would do this for me, I know, and so would he. (Willingness.) If he should come, we should go. (Subjunctive fu- turity.) If you should come, I should go. (Subjunctive fu- turity.) If I should do that, you would not forgive me. (Sub- junctive futurity.) Should Seem, Would Seem. Should and were to are interchangeably used in the subjunctive future; thus: "It should seem" and "It would seem" are often used for "It seems," or "I think," as being more modest forms of expression. It would seem that he ought to go under the circum- stances. It seems (or I think) he ought to go under the cir- cumstances. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 97 -'It should seem" conveys a slightly different mean- ing from "it would seem." The former means, "It seems that it should be so," while the latter means merely "It seems." The expression "It would seem" is more commonly employed than is, "It should seem." There is a growing tendency, however, to use "It would seem" when "It should seem" is required. Would Say or Should Say; Will Say or Shall Say. "Would say" expresses contingent willingness or a wish to say; "should say" expresses contingent futurity, propriety, plan; "will say" expresses willingness, or de- termination, or promise in the immediate future to say ; "shall say" expresses simple futurity. Even if he should (or were to) fail, he would not be- come discouraged. Society Has. Use the singular verb with society, unless the in- dividuals represented by the word are especially referred to; as, "The society has adjourned for the summer;" "The society have quarreled among themselves." Terms. Terms is plural in form, and is construed as plural in meaning ; hence, the plural verb is required ; as, " Our terms are cash." Therefor and Therefore. Therefor means for this or that; as, "We wi^ sell the building and so much land as is needed therefor."" Therefore means for this or that reason; as, "He dis- obeyed our instructions; therefore, we discharged him. 7 ' hfrty-Day Note or Thirty Days' Note. In commercial English, the wording, "a thirty-day note," is used instead of "a thirty days' note;" just as 98 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING one says, "a thirty-pound note." On the other hand, one says, ' t a two months ' note. ' ' Three Several Times. Such expressions as, "We have written you three several times/' are permissible, several being used in the sense of different or various. To-day or Today; To-night or Tonight; To-morrow or Tomorrow. To-day, to-night, or to-morrow may be written either with or without the hyphen. To-morrow Is or To-morrow Will Be. "To-morrow will be Tuesday" is the correct form. Compare with "Yesterday was Monday." Toward, Towards. Toward and towards are variant forms and are equally correct ; but towards is more frequently used than toward. Transfer, Transferal, Transference. Transfer, transferal, transference, are interchange- able in meaning. Transpire and Happen. Instead of saying, "What has transpired in my absence?" one properly says, "What has occurred in my absence?" Transpire properly means to make known; as, "Presently it transpired that she had taken all her belongings with her." Traveling Salesman. Traveling, traveled, traveler, are preferably written with one I. Two-by-Four-lnch Scantling. Combinations like "a two-by-four-inch scantling" are hyphenated, the hyphen being omitted, however, before the noun. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 99 Two Latter Companies. "The last two companies," not "the two latter com- panies," is the correct form. We say, "the first two months in the year;" "the first three books;" "the last two months;" "the last three books," etc. While latter may be used of more than two things when it refers to that which is nearer to the close or to the present time ; as, "in these latter days," it is applicable to two persons or things only when used in the sense of that which is in order of existence or of mention. In other words, latter is opposed to former. Two Years' Course. One properly writes, "A two years 9 course" (apos- trophe after the letter s) ; "A year's course;" "One year'c course" (the apostrophe before the letter s). Two Weeks' Vacation. One writes, "a two weeks' vacation;" "a week's vacation;" "one week's vacation." Under His Signature or Over His Signature. Although criticised by some authorities, "Under his signature" is correct, the meaning being, "under sanc- tion of his signature." Very Pleased. Very cannot directly modify a verb, and, hence, not its past participle. One properly says, "I was pleased (or delighted) to receive your letter," or "I am very much pleased (or delighted)," etc., but not "I am very pleased (or very delighted)," etc. View to and View of. One properly says, "With a view to finding out," or "With the view of finding out." Valuable or Valued Letter. "Valued letter" is the correct form, valued being used in the sense of much esteemed or prized. 100 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING Whereabouts. Whereabouts, meaning location, takes a singular verb; as, "His whereabouts is unknown to us.'* Years of Experience Have Taught Us. The plural verb have is required in the wording, "Years of experience have taught us," etc. You Are One of Those Who Always Disagrees (or Disagree) with Others. Disagree is the correct form, the antecedent of who being the plural pronoun those. Eule. The verb that has for its subject a relative pronoun is singular or plural, according as the ante- cedent of the relative pronoun is singular or Dlural. ABBREVIATIONS. Complete Alphabetic List. A. A. Academician, Academy, America, American, Augustus, Aulus. A. A. G. Assistant Adjutant-general. A. A. A. G. Acting Assistant Adjutant-general. A. A. Q. M. Acting Assistant Quartermaster. A. A. Q. M. G. Acting Assistant Quartermaster-gen- eral. A. A. S. Academiae Americanae Socius (Fellow of the American Academy), American Academy of Sciences and Arts. A. A. S. S. Americanae Antiquarianae Societatis Socius (Fellow of the American Antiquarian Society). A. B. Artium Baccalureus (Bachelor of Arts), More commonly written B. A. Abb. Abbess, abbey, abbot. abbr., abbrev. Abbreviated, abbreviation. Note. The name of a city should never be abbrevi- ated; thus: New York City, not N. Y. City; Sacramento, not Sacra.; Cincinnati f not Cin. Philadelphia is sometimes abbreviated Phila., but it is preferable to write it in full. These instructions apply to all parts of a letter. The name of the state is usually abbreviated in the heading, in the introduction, and in the superscription; also in the body of the letter, except when unaccompanied with the name of the city, when it is more properly writ- ten in full. (See pp. 165, 166.) 102 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING A. B. C. F. M., or A. B. F. M. American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. A. B. H. M. S. American Baptist Home Mission So- ciety. A. B. I. S. W. Associated Brotherhood of Iron and Steel Workers. A. B. M. U. American Baptist Missionary Union. Abp. Archbishop. A. B. P. S. American Baptist Publication Society. abr. Abridged, Abridgement. A. B. S. American Bible Society. abs. re. Absente reo (defendant being absent). abst., abstr. Abstract. A. C. Ante Christum (before Christ), Arch-chan- cellor, Army Corps. A. C. A. American Congregational Association. ace. or acct. Account, accountant. A. C. G-. S. Acting Commissary General of Subsist- ence. A. C. S. Acting Commissary of Subsistence, Ameri- can Colonization Society. A. C. U. American Congregational Union. A. D. Anno Domini (in the year of our Lord). Arch- duke. a. d. After date, ante diem (before the day). ad., adv. or advt. Advertisement. adv. Adverb, adverbial, adverbially. adv., adverb. Adverbial, adversus (against; op- posite) ; adverbially. adv., ad val. Ad valorem (according to the value). adag., adgo. Adagio. A. D. B. Bachelor of Domestic Arts. (Course for women.) A. D. C. Aide-de-camp. ad fin. Ad finem (at the end, to the end.) ad inf. Ad infinitum (to infinity). ad init. Ad initium (at the beginning). AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 103 ad. int. Ad. interim (in the meantime). adj. or adject. Adjectival, adjective. Adj. or Adjt. Adjutant. Adjt. Gen. or A. G. Adjutant-general. ad lib. Ad libitum (at pleasure). ad loc. Ad locum (at the place). Adm. Admiral, admiralty. adm. or admr. Administrator. adm., admrx., or admx. Administratrix. ads. Ad sectam (at the suit), advertisements. A.-F. or A.-Fr. Anglo-French. A. F. A. M. or A. F. & A. M. Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons. A. F. B. S. or A. & F. B. S. American and Foreign Bible Society. A. F. C. TJ. American and Foreign Christian Union. A.-Fr. Anglo-French. A. G. Accountant-general, Adjutant-general. agr., agri., agric., or agricult. Agricultural, agricul- ture. A. G. S. S. American Geographical and Statistical Society. Agt. Agent. A. H. E. S. American Humane Educational Society. A. H. M. S. American Home Missionary Society. A. I. G. Assistant Inspector-general, A. I. M. E. American Institute of Mining Engineers. A. K. C. Associate of King's College, London. Al. or Alb. Albert. al., alia, alii Other things; other persons.. Ala. Alabama. Alas. Alaska. Aid. Alderman. Alex. Alexander. Alf. Alfred. Alg. Algiers. alg. Algebra. 104 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING Alum. Alumni. A. M. Anno Mundi (in the year of the world), ante meridian (before noon), Ave Maria (Hail Mary). A. M., M. A. Artium magister (Master of Arts). A., Am., Amer. America, American. A. M. A. American Missionary Association. Amb. Ambassador. A. M. G. Assistant Major-general. amt. Amount. A.-N. Anglo-Norman. anat. Anatomical, anatomist, anatomy. anc. Ancient. And. Andrew. Angl. Anglican. Anon. Anonymous. Ans. Answer. A. N. S. S. Associate of the Normal School of Science. Anth. Anthony. Anthrop. Anthropological, anthropology. Antiq. Antiquarian, antiquities, antiquity. A. 0. F. Ancient Order of Foresters. A. 0. H. Ancient Order of Hibernians. A. 0. U. W. Ancient Order of United Workmen. Ap., Apl., Apr. April.* A. P. A. American Protestant Association. A pri. A priori (beforehand). A. P. S. American Peace Society, American Protest- ant Society, Associate of the Pharmaceutical Society. A. Q. M. Assistant Quartermaster. A. Q. M. G. Assistant Quartermaster-general. Ar. Arab. Ar., Arab. Arabia, Arabian, Arabic. A. E. A. Associate of the Eoyal Academy. Arch. Archibald. Archd. Archdeacon, Archduke. *April is preferably written in full. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 105 Arg. Eep. Argentine Republic. A. E. H. A. Associate of the Eoyal Hibernian Academy. ArL, Ariz, (official). Arizona. arith. Arithmetic, arithmetical. Ark. Arkansas. Arm. Armoric. Arm. or Armen. Armenian. A. E. P. Associate Eeformed Presbyterian. A. E. E. Anno Regni Regis (or Reginae), in the year of the king's (or queen's) reign. A. E. S. A. Associate of the Eoyal Society of Arts. A. E. S. L. Associate of the Eoyal Society of Liter- ature. A. E. S. M. Associate of the Eoyal School of Mines. A. E. S. S. Antiquariorum Regiae Societatis Socius (Fellow of the Eoyal Society of Antiquaries). art. Article, artillery. A. E. U. American Eailway Union. A. S. Academy of Science; Assistant Secretary. A. S., Ang.-Sax. Anglo-Saxon. A. S. C. E. American Society of Civil Engineers. A. S. M. E. American Society of Mechanical Engi- neers. A. S. P. Astronomical Society of the Pacific. A. S. P. C. A. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Ass., Assn., Asso., Assoc. Association. Asst., Assist. Assistant. A. S. S. U. American Sunday-School Union. Assyr. Assyrian. astr., astron. Astronomer. A. T. Arch-treasurer. a t. A tempo (in time). At., Atty. Attorney. Atl. Atlantic. 106 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING A. T. S. American Temperance Society, American Tract Society. Atty.-Gen. Attorney-general. Ans., Aust., Austr. Austria, Austrian. Austral. Australasia, Australia. auth. Author. auth. Authority ; authorized. Auth. Ver., A. V. Authorized version. Aux. or Auxil. Auxiliary. Av., Ave. Avenue. av., avdp., avoir. Avoirdupois. A. Y. M. Ancient York Mason (or Masonry). B. B. A. Bachelor of Arts. See A. B. B. A. British America, British Association (for the Advancement of Science). B. Acct. Bachelor of Account. Course (usually less than a year) in the business department of some col- leges. B. . A.'., B. . B. . (Freemasonry) Buisson Ardent, (Burning Bush). B. Agr., Agr. B., B. Ag., B. A. S., B. S. A. Bachelor of Agriculture. (Four years' course.) B. Ar. Bachelor of Architecture. (Four years' course.) Bah. Bahamas. bal. Balance. Bait, or Balto. Baltimore. B. & F. B. S. British and Foreign Bible Society. Bap. or Bapt. Baptist. bap. or bapt. Baptized. Bar. Barrister. bar. Barley corn, barometer. bar., bbl., bL, or brl. Barrel. bbls., bis., brls. Barrels. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 107 Barb. Barbadoes. Bart., Bt. Baronet. B. A. S. Bachelor of Applied Science. Course in civil, mechanical, or mining engineering, or practical chemistry. B. A. S. See B. Agr. bas. Basso. bat., batt. Battalion, battery. Bav. Bavaria, Bavarian. B. B. Bill book. B. B. C. Baseball Club. B. B. S. Bachelor of Business Science. (Two years' college course, and two years' business course.) B. C. Before Christ, Board of Control, British Columbia. B. C. Bachelor of Chemistry. (Four years' course.) Bachelor of Commerce. (Commercial department of some colleges.) B. C., B. S., C. B., Chir. B. Bachelor of Surgery (Chirurgiae) . At the end of third year of four years' course for M. D. B. C. E. Bachelor of Civil Engineering. (Four years' course.) B. C. L. Bachelor of Civil Law. See B. L. and LL. B. B. C. S. Bachelor of Chemical Science. (Four years' course.) B. C. S. Bachelor of Commercial Science. B. D. Bachelor of Divinity. (Three years' course in theology.) bdl., bdls., bl. Bundle. bds. Boards. B. E. Bachelor of Elements. (Two years' normal- school course.) B. E. Bachelor of Engineering. b. e. Bill of exchange. 108 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING B. E. D. Bachelor of Elementary Didactics. (Three years' normal course.) B. E. L. Bachelor of English Literature. (See B. Lit.) Bel. or Belg. Belgian, Belgic, Belgium. Ben. or Benj. Benjamin. bet. Between. B. F. A. Bachelor of Fine Arts. (Four years' course in fine arts.) b. f., b. fir. Beer-firkin. B. Hy. Bachelor in Hygiene. For registered medi- cal practitioner. (One year's study and examination.) B. in Agr. Same as B. Agr. B. I. British India. Bib. Bible, Biblical. bibliog. Bibliographer, bibliographic, bibliograph- ical, bibliography. biog. Biographer, biographic, biographical, biog- raphy. biol. Biologic, biological, biology. bk. Bank, bark, book. bkg. B anking. bkt. (BKTS., pi.) Basket. b. 1. Bill of lading. bldg., build. (BLDGS., pi.) Building. B. L. Same as LL. B. Bachelor of Laws. (See LL. B. and B. C. L.) B. L. Same as B. Lit., or Lit. B. Bachelor of Litera- ture. (Four years' course in English Literature and allied branches.) B. L. A. Bachelor of Liberal Arts, essentially the same as B. A. B. L. E. Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. B. Lit. Bachelor of Literature. (See B. L., Lit. B., or Litt. B.) B. LL. Bachelor of Laws. (See LL. B.) B. L. S. Bachelor of Literary Science. (For col- AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 109 lege graduates or students of two years' standing. Two years' course, examination, thesis, and bibliography.) B. M. Beatae memoriae (of blessed memory) ; bene merenti (to the well-deserving) ; board measure. B. M. Bachelor of Medicine. (Conferred by some medical institutions on the completion of a required course.) B. M., B. Mus. Bachelor of Music. (Four years' course.) B. M., Brit. Mus. British Museum. B. M. E. Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering. (Four years' course.) bn. Battalion. B. 0. Bachelor of Oratory. b. o. Branch office, buyer's option. Boh. or Bohem. Bohemia, Bohemian. B. 0. L. Bachelor of Oriental Literature. (Banks with B. Lit.) Bol. Bolivia. B. P. Bachelor of Painting. (Four years' course.) B. Ph. Bachelor of Philosophy. (Four years' course, largely scientific in some institutions, but in others the same as the course for B. A., except that the modern languages are substituted for Greek.) bor. Borough. bot. Botanical, botanist, botany, bought. B. 0. TL British Ornithologists' Union. boul. Boulevard. b. p. Bill of parcels, bills payable, bonum publicum (the public good). Bp. Bishop. b. p. b. Bank post-bills. B. P. 0. Elks. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. b. q. Bene quiescat (may he [or she] repose well). bque. Barque. 110 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING B. E. Bancus Regis or Reginae (The King's [or Queen's] Bench). Br. Breton, bromine. Br., Brit. British. br. Brig. Br. Am. British America. Braz. Brazil, Brazilian. b. rec. Bills receivable. Bret. Breton. brev. Brevet, brevetted. Brig. Brigade, brigadier. Brit. Britannic, Britannica. Brt. Britannicus (British). b. s. Bill of sale. B. S. Bachelor of Surgery. (For Bachelors of Medicine who attend a course of instruction and pass a written and a practical examination in surgery.) B. S., B. Sc., B. N. S. Bachelor of Science. (Four years ' college course in which the natural sciences largely take the place of Latin and Greek.) B. S. A. Bachelor of Scientific Agriculture. (See B. Agr.) B. S. D. Bachelor of Scientific Didactics. (Four years' normal-course.) B. S. L. Botanical Society, London. Bt. Baronet. bu., bush. Bushel. bu., bush., bus. Bushels. bul. Bulletin. Bulg. Bulgaria, Bulgarian. burg. Burgess, burgomaster. burl. Burlesque. but. Butter. B. Y. Beata Virgo (Blessed Virgin), Bene vale (farewell). B. V. M. Blessed Virgin Mary. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 111 B. W. T. A. British Women's Temperance Associa- tion. bx. (BXS., pi.) Box. C. C. Cassar, Caius, carbon, chancery, Charlotte. C., Oath. Catholic. C., Chas. Charles. C., Chf. Chief. C., Ch. Church. C., Chan., Chanc. Chancellor. C., Con., Cs. Consul. C., Cong. Congress. C., Ct. Court. C. (Naut. log-book) Cloudy. C., cent., ct. (GTS., pi.) Centum, c., ch., chap. Chapter. C. A. Chartered accountant, chief accountant, com- mercial agent, Confederate Army, controller of accounts. Cal. (official), Calif. California. Cal. Calcium, calendar, calomel. Cam., Carnb. Cambridge. Can. Canada. Cap., Capt. Captain. cap. Capiat (let him or her take), capital, capital letter, capitalum (head, section), caput (chapter). APS. Capitals. car. Carat. Card. Cardinal. ca. resp. Capias ad respondendum. (A writ issued at the beginning of a suit to take and bring the defendant before the court to answer.) carp. Carpentry. Carth. Carthaginian. C. A. S. Connecticutensis Academiae Socius (Fel- low of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences). 112 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING co. sa. Capias ad satis faciendum. (A writ issued judgment to take and hold the person named for satis- faction of judgment.) Cash. Cashier. Cat. Catechism. cat., catal. Catalogue. Cath. Catherine, Cathedral. caus. Causative. Cav. Cavalry. C. B. Cape Breton, Chief Baron, Common Bench, Companion of the Bath. C. B. Bachelor of Surgery (Chirurgiae) . (See B. C.) C. B. S. Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament. C. C. Caius College, Circuit Court, Civil Court, Con- sular Clerk, County Clerk, County Commissioner, County Court, Cricket Club, Crown Clerk. C. . C.. (Freemasonry) Celestial Canopy. c. c. Chapters. c. c. Compte courante (account current), cubic cen- timeter. C. C. A. Chief Clerk of the Admiralty. C. C. C. Christ's College, Cambridge; Corpus Christi College. C. C. P. Code of Civil Procedure, Court of Common Pleas. C. Cr. P. Code of Criminal Procedure. C. D. S. 0. Companion of the Distinguished Service Order. c. d. v. Carte de visite. C. E. Civil Engineer (four years* course). eel. Celebrated. CeltCeltic. cen., cent. Central, century. Cen. Am. Central America. ceram. Ceramics. cert., certif. Certificate, certify. C. F. I. Cost, freight, insurance. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 113 C. G. Captain-general, Captain of the Guard, Coast Guard, Commissary-general, Consul-general. C. G. H., C. of G. H. Cape of Good Hope. C. G. S. Commissary General of Subsistence. C. H. Captain of the Host, Court House, Custom House. Ch., Chin. China, Chinese. ch., chal., chald. Chaldron. ch. Child, children. Chal., Chald. Chaldaic, Chaldean, Chaldee. Chamb. Chamberlain. Chap. Chaplain. Ch. C., Ch. Ch. Christ Church. Ch. Clk. Chief Clerk. Ch. D. Doctor of Chemistry. Chem. Chemical, chemist, chemistry. Ch. hist. Church history. Chir. Doct. Doctor of Surgery (Chirurgiae)? Ch. J., C. J. Chief Justice. ck., csk. (CKS., CSKS., pi.) Cask. Cl., clerg. Clergyman. cl. Cloth. cl., elk. Clerk. class. Classic, classical, classification. eld. Cleared. C. L. P. A. Common Law Procedure Act. C. L. S. C. Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle. C. M. Caius Marim, Certificated Master, common meter, Corresponding Member. c. m. Causa mortis (by reason of death). C. M., M. S. Master of Surgery (Chirurgiae) . C. M. D. Common meter double. C. M. G. Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. cml. Commercial. cml., com. Commercial. 114 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING C. M. S. Church Missionary Society. C. M. Z. S. Corresponding Member of the Zoological Society. C. O. Colonial Office, Commanding Officer, Criminal Office, Crown Office. c. o. Care of. Co. Cobalt, Company, County. Coad. Coadjutor. C. 0. D. Cash (or collect) on delivery. cog. Cognate, cognate with. Col. Colonel. Col., Colo, (official) Colorado. col. Collegiate, colonial, color, colored, column. col., Coll. College. col., coll., colloq. Colloquial, colloquialism, col- loquially. Col.-Corp. Color-corporal. Coll. Collector. coll. Colleague, collection, Colleg (colleague). Col.-Serg. Color-sergeant. Com. Commander, Commission, Committee, Com- modore, Commoner, Commonwealth. Com., Comr. Commissioner. com. Comedy, comic, commercial, common, com- monly, commune, communicated, communication, com- munity. Com., comm. Commentary. com., comm. Commerce. comb. Combined, combining. comdg. Commanding. Comdt. Commandant. commentt. Commentators. com. off. Commissioned officer. comp. Compare, compiled, compiler, composer, com- positor, compound, compounded. comp., compar. Comparative, comparison. comp., compo. Composition, compost. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 115 Complt. Complainant. Com.-Sergt. Commissary-sergeant. Com. Ver., C. V. Common Version (of the Bible). con. Conclusion, conjux (consort), contra (against, in opposition to), conversation. con. cr. Contra credit. Conf. Conference. Cong. Congregation, Congregational, Congregation- alist, Congressional. Cong. Eec. Congressional Eecord. conj. Conjugation, conjunction, conjunctive. Conn, (official), Ct. Connecticut. con. sect. Conic section. Cons., Consol. Consolidated. Cons., Const. Constable, constitution. cons. Consonant. Const. Constantine, constitutional. constr. Construction, construed. Cont., Contr. Contracts. Cont. Continent, continental. cont., contr. Contracted, contraction. cont. Containing, contents, continued. Contr. Contracts. contr. Contrary. Conv. Convent, convention, conversation. Cop., Copt. Coptic. Cop. Copernican. cop. Copper. Cor. Corinthians, Cornelia, Cornelius, coroner. cor. Corner, cornet, corpus, correction, correlative, correspondent. cor., corresp. Correspondence, corresponding. cor., corr., corrup. Corrupted, corruption. Cor. Mem. Corresponding member. Corn. Cornish, Cornwall. corol., coroll. Corollary. Cors. Corsica. 116 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING Cor. Sec. Corresponding Secretary. C. 0. S. Charity Organization Society. C. P. Chief Patriarch, civil power, Clerk of the Peace, Code of Procedure, Common Pleas, Court of Pro- bate. C. P. C. Clerk of the Privy Council. C. P. M. Common particular meter. C. P. S. Congregational Publishing Society. C. E. Carrier's Eisk. cr. Credit, creditor, crown. cres. Crescendo. crim. Criminal. crit. Critical, criticized. cs. Cases, communis (common). C. S. Civil service, Clerk of Session, Clerk to the Signet, Commissary of Subsistence, Court of Sessions. C. S. A. Confederate States Army, Confederate States of America. C. S. N. Confederate States Navy. C. S. 0. Chief Signal Officer. C. T. Certificated Teacher. C. T. A. U. Catholic Total Abstinence Union. cu., cub. Cubic. cur. Currency. cur., curt. Current. c. w. o. Cash with order. cwt. Hundredweight or hundred weights, (Centum- weight.) eye., cyclo. Cyclopedia, cyclopedic. Cym. Cymric. D. D., Dem. Democrat, Democratic. D., Dep., Dept. Deputy. D. Deserter, Deus (God), Dominus (Lord). D., Dub., Dubl. Dublin. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 117 D. Decimus, Deems, deserter, Deus (God), Dominus (Lord), dowager, duchess, duke, dux (duke, leader, or prince). D., Dav. David. D., Dem. Democrat, Democratic D., Dep., Dept. Deputy. D., Dub., Dubl. Dublin. D., Du., Dut. Dutch. d. Da (give), day, dead, decretum (decree), died, dime, (Naut. log-book) drizzling rain. d., dau. Daughter. d., deg. Degree. d., dot., doll. (DOLS. DOLLS., pi.) Dollar. Dak. Dakota (official). Dan. Daniel, Danish. d & wtf., dwtf. Daily and weekly till forbidden. dat. Dative. D. B. Bachelor of Didactics. (Two years' post- graduate normal course.) Domesday Book. dbk. Drawback. D. C. Da capo (from the beginning), Deputy Coun- sel, District Court, District of Columbia, Divus Caesar (the divine Caesar). D. C. L. Doctor of Civil Law. (Banking nearly with LL. D.) D. Can L. Doctor of Canon Law. D. C. S. Deputy Clerk of Sessions. D. D. Doctor of Divinity. (Honorary.) d. d. Days after date, days' date, dono dedit (pre- sented as a gift). D. D. D. Dat, dicat, dedicat (he gives, devotes, and dedicates), dono dedit dedicavit (he gave and consecrated as a gift). D. D. S. Doctor of Dental Surgery. (Three years' course.) D. E. Dynamical Engineer. (Two years' graduate course.) 118 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING Dea. Deacon. Dec. Decani, December. dec. Declaration, decoration. dec., decl. Declension, declination. decim., dm. Decimeter. decoct. Decoctum (decoction). def. Defined, definitive, definition. def., deft., dft. Defendant. D. Hy. Doctor in Hygiene. (Two years' practice as medical officer of health.) dekam. Dekameter. Del. Delaware (official), delegate. del. Delineavit (he [or she] drew). demon., demonstr. Demonstrative. Den. Denmark. Dent. Dental, dentist, dentistry, Dep., Dept., Dpt. Department, deponent. dep. Deposed. der., deriv. Derivation, derivative, derived. det. Detur (let it be given). Dent. Deuteronomy. D. F. Dean of the Faculty, Defender of the Faith. dft. Draft. D. G. Dei gratia (by the grace of God), Deo gratias (thanks to God), Dragoon Guards. D. H. Deadhead. dial. Dialect, dialectic, dialectical. diam. Diameter. Diet. Dictator, dictionary. diff. Difference, different, differs. dim. Diminuendo, diminutive. dio., dioc. Diocesan, diocese. dipl. Diplomat, diplomatist. dis. Discipline, distanced. dis., disc., disct. Discount. dis., dist. Distance, distant. disc. Discovered, discoverer. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 119 Disp. Dispensatory. diss. Dissertation. dist. District. dist., disting. Distinguish, distinguished. distr., distrib. Distributed, distributive. div. Divide, divided, dividend, divine, division, divisor. D. L. Doctor of Law (nearly same as D. C. L.), Dep- uty Lieutenant. D. L. or D. Lit. Doctor of Literature or Letters. D. L. 0. Dead Letter Office. D. L. S. Doctor of Library Science. D. M. Same as M. D. and D. Mus. D. M. Doctor of Mathematics. D. M. D. Doctor of Dental Medicine. (See D. D. S.) D. Mus. Doctor of Music. (Four years' graduate course.) D. N. P. P.Dominus nosier Papa Pontitex (Our Lord the Pope). do. Ditto. E. eq., equiv. Equivalent, erm. Ermine. E. S. Ells Scotch. Esd. Esdras. E. S. E. East-southeast, esp., espec. Especially. Esq., Esqr. (ESQES., ESQS., pi.) Esquire, est., estab. Established. Esth. Esther. E. T. Electric telegraph, English translation, et al. et alibi (and elsewhere), et alii or aliae (and others). etc., &c. et cetera. ethnog. Ethnographical, ethnography. 120 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING ethnol. Ethnological, ethnology. et seq., sq., sqq. et sequentes, et sequentia (and the following). etym., etymol. Etymological, etymologically, etymol- ogy. Eur. Europe, European. Evang. Evangelical, evangelist. Ex., Exod. Exodus. ex. Example, excursus, executed. ex., exc. Except, excepted, exception. ex., exd. Examined. ex., exp. Export, exportation, exported, express. Exc. Excellency. Exch. Exchange, exchequer. excl., exclam. Exclamation, exclamatory. Ex. Com., Exec. Com. Executive Committee. ex., cp. Extra (without coupon). ex. div. Extra dividendum (without dividend). Ex. Doc. Executive Document. Exec., Exe. Executive. Execx., Exex., Exx. Executrix. ext. External, externally, extra, extract. Ez., Ezr. Ezra. Ezek. Ezekiel. F F. Fabius, Felix, Fellow, Flourine, Fortuna. F., Fah., Fahr. Fahrenheit. F., Fl. Flamen. F. France, French. F., Fr., Fri.~ Friday. f. (Naut. log-book) fog, forte. f., Far. Farthing. f., fath., fth., fthm. Fathom. f ., fern. Feminine. f., ft. Fiat (let it be made), foot AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 121 f., fl. Florin. f., fo., fol. (FF., pi.) Folio. f., fr. (FES., pi.) Franc. f . a. a. Free of all average. F. A. M. Free and Accepted Masons. fam. Familiar, family. Fl A. S. Fellow of the Antiquarian Society. Fel- low of the Society of Arts. F. A. S. L. Fellow of the Anthropological Society of London. F. B. Fenian Brotherhood, Free Baptist. F. B. S. Fellow of the Botanical Society. F. C. (Freemasonry.) Fellow-craft. f. c. Fedei commissum (bequeathed in trust). fcp., fcap. Foolscap. F. C., P. S. Fellow of the Cambridge Philosophical Society. F. D. (See D. F.) Fe. Ferrum (iron). F. E., Fl. E. Flemish ells. Feb. February. fee. Fecit (did it, or made it), Ferd. Ferdinand. feud. Feudal. F. F. Felicissimus fratres (most fortunate broth- ers). ff. Fecerunt (they did it, or made it). ff., fol., foil. Following. ff., if or. Fortissimo. F. F. P. S. Fellow of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons. F. F. V. First Families of Virginia. F. G. Fine grain. f. g. a. Free of general average. fict. Fiction. fi. fa. Fieri facias (that you cause to be made: a writ of execution). 122 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING fig. Figurative, figuratively, figure. Fin. Finland. Fin., Finn. Finnish. fin. ad finem (at the end). Fin. Sec. Financial Secretary. fir. Firkin. Fl. Flaminius, Flanders, Flavius. Fla. Florida (official). F. 0. Field Officer, Foreign Office, full organ. f . o. b. Free on board. For. Foreign. fort. Fortification, fortified. F. P. Fire plug. f . p. a. Free of particular average. Fr. Francis, friar. fr. From. fr., frgm., fragm. Fragment, fragmentary. fr., freq. Frequent, frequently. Fred., Fredk. Frederick. F. E. G. S. Fellow of the Eoyal Geographical So- ciety. Fries, Frs. Friesian, Friesic. F. E. S. Fraternitatis Eegiae Socius (Fellow of the Eoyal Society). Ft. Fort. ft. Feet. ft., fort. Fortified. fur. Furlong. fut. Future. F. W. B. Free Will Baptist. G. G. Gaius, Gallia, Gellius, grand gulf. G., Ger., Germ. German, Germany. g. Gauche (left), (naut. log-book) gloomy, guide. g., gen., genit. Genitive. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 123 g., gm., gr. Grain. g., gu., guin. (GS., pi.) Guinea. G. A. General Assembly. Ga. Gallium, Georgia (official). Ga., Gael. Gaelic. Gal. Galatians, Galen. gal., gall. (GALS., pi.) Gallon. galv. Galvanic, galvanism. G. A. E. Grand Army of the Eepublic. Gaz. Gazette, gazetter. G. B., Gt. Br., Gt. Brit. Great Britain. G. B. & I. Great Britain and Ireland. G. C. Grand Chancellor, Grand Chapter, Grand Conductor. g. c. m. Greatest common measure. G. D. Grand Duchess, Grand Duke. G. E. Grand Encampment. Gen. Genesis, Geneva, Genevan. Gen., Genl. General. gen. Genera, general, generic, genus. gen., gend. Gender. geneal. Genealogist, genealogy. gent. (GENTN., GENTS., pi.) Gentleman. Geo. George, Georgia. geog. Geographer, geographical, geography. geol. Geological, geologist, geology. geom. Geometer, geometrical, geometry. ger. Gerund. g. gr. Great gross. gi. Gills. G. L. Grand Lodge. gl. Gloria (glory). gloss. Glossary. G. 0. General Order, great organ. Go., Goth. Gothic. G. 0. M. - Grand Old Man (Et. Hon. W. E. Glad- stone). 1*4 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING G. 0. P. Grand Old Party (Bepublican Party, U. S.). Gov. Governor. Gov., govt. Government. Gov. Ptg. Off. Government Printing Office. G. P. Graduate in Pharmacy. (Two years' course.) G. P. Gloria Patri (Glory to the Father). G. P. M. Grand Past Master. G. P. O. General post-office. Gr. Greece, Greek, gr. Grain, great, groschen. gr., gram. Grammar, gr., gro. Gross. gram. Grammatical, grammarian. G. S. Grand Scribe, Grand Secretary, Grand Sen- tinel, Grand Sentry. G. T. Good Templars, Grand Tiler. Guate. Guatemala, gun. Gunnery, H. H. Hydrogen. h. Harbor, hardness, hence, high, husband. h., ht. Height. h., hr. (HKS., pi.) Hour. h., hund. Hundred. Hab. Habakkuk. hab. Habitat. hab. corp. Habeas corpus. Hag. Haggai. H. B. M. His (or Her) Brittannic Majesty. H. C. M. His (or Her) Catholic Majesty. hdkf. Handkerchief. H. E. His Eminence, His Excellency, Hydraulic _ineer. h. e. Hie est (this is), hoc est (that is). Heb., Hebr. Hebrew, Hebrews. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 125 Hen., Hy. Henry. her. Heraldic, heraldy, heres (heirs). hf. Half. hf. bd. Half bound, hf. cf. Half calf. H. G. His Grace, Horse Guards. H. H. His (or Her) Highness, His Holiness (the Pope). hhd. Hogshead. H. I. Hawaiian Islands. hibr., hybr. Hibrida, hybrida (hybrid). Hier. Hierosolyma (Jerusalem), H. I. H. His (or Her) Imperial Highness. H. I. M. His (or Her) Imperial Majesty. Hind. Hindu, Hindustan, Hindustani. Hipp. Hippocrates. hist. Historian, historical, history. H. J. Hie jacet (here lies). H. J. S. Hie jacet sepultus (here lies buried). H. L. House of Lords. H. M. Hallelujah meter, His (or Her) Majesty, Home Mission, Home Missionary. H. M. P. Hoc monumentum posuit (erected at this monument). ho. House. Hon. Honorable, honorary. Hond. Honduras. hon M. Honored. hor. Horizon. hor., horol. Horology. hort., hortic. Horticultural, horticulture. Hos. Hosea. Hosp. Segt. Hospital Sergeant. ; Hosp. Stew. Hospital Steward. H. P. Half pay, High Priest. h. p. Horse power. H. E. Home Eule, House of Eepresentatives. H. E. E. Holy Eoman Emperor or Empire. H. E. H. His (or Her) Eoyal Highness. 126 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING H. E. I. P. Hie requiescat in pace (here rests in peace). H. S. Hie situs (here lies). H. S. E. Hie sepultus or situs est (here is buried or laid). H. S. H. His (or Her) Serene Highness. h. t. Hoc titulo (in, or under, this title). Hun., Hung. Hungarian, Hungary. H. Y. M. A. Hebrew Young Men's Association. I. Iodine. I., Ida. Idaho. I., Imp.Imperator (Emperor). L, Is., Isl. (IsLs., pi.) Island. i. Immortalis (undying). i., intr., intrans. Intransitive. la., lo. Iowa. ib., ibid Ibidem (in the same place). I. C., I. X. lesus Christus (Jesus Christ). Ice., Icel. Iceland, Icelandic. id. Idem (the same). I. D. N. In Dei nomine (in the name of God). j. e. Id est (that is). i. h. Jacet hie (lies here). I. H. N. In his name. I. H., J. H. S. lesus or Jesus Hominum Salvalor (Jesus the Savior of Men). 111., Ills, (official) Illinois. ill., illus., illust. Illustrated, illustration. imag. Imaginary, imagination. Imp. Imperium ( empire) . Imp., Impx. Imperatrix (empress). imp. Imperial, imported, importer, imprimatur (let it be printed). imp., imper. Imperative. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 127 imp., imperf., impf. Imperfect. imp., impers. Impersonal. in. (INS., pi.) Inch. inc., incorp., incor. Incorporated, incept. Inceptive. incl. Including. incog. Incognito. incr. Increased, increasing. I. N. D. In Nomine Dei (in the name of God). Ind. India, Indian, Indiana (official), Index. indef. Indefinite. Indo-Eur. Indo-European. Ind. T. Indian Territory (official). inf. Infantry. inf., infin. Infinitive. in. f. In fine (at the end). init. Initio (in the beginning). in lim. In limine (on the threshold). in loc. cit. In loco citato (in the place cited). in pr. In principio (in the beginning). I. N. E. I. lesus (Jesus) Nazarenus, Rex ludaeorum (Judaeorum), (Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews). Ins. Inspector. Ins., insur. Insurance. inscrs. Inscriptions. insep. Inseparable. Ins. Gen. Inspector General. inst. Instant, institute, institution. instr. Instrument, instrumental. Int. Interior, interpreter. int. Interest. int., interj. Interjection. internat. International. interrog. Interrogation, interrogative, interrog- atively. in trans. In transits (in course of transit). Int. Eev. Internal Kevenue. 128 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING Inv. Invented, inventor, invoice. I. 0. F. Independent Order of Foresters. I. 0. G. T. Independent Order of Good Templars. Ion. Ionic. I. 0. O. F. Independent Order of Odd Fellows. I. 0. E. M. Improved Order of Bed Men. I. 0. U. I owe you. i. q. Idem quod (the same as). Ir. Irish. Ir., Ire. Ireland. Iran. Iranian, Iranic. I. E. 0. Inland (or Internal Eevenue Office), irreg. Irregular, irregularly. I. S. Inside Sentinel, Irish Society. Is., Isa. Isaiah. I. S. M. lesus (Jesus) Salvator Mundi (Jesus, Savior of the World). I. T. Inner Temple. Itin. Itinerant, itinerary. I. W. Isle of Wight. J. J. Judge, Jupiter, judex (judge). J., Jul. Julius. J., Jun. Junius. J., Jus., Just. ( JJ., pi.) Justice. J. A. Judge Advocate. Jac. Jacob, Jacobus (James). J. A. G. Judge Advocate General. Jam. Jamaica. Jan. January. Jap. Japan, Japanese. Jas. James. Jav. Javanese. J. C. Jesus Christ, Julius Caesar, Jurisconsultus (jurisconsult), Justice Clerk. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 129 j. C. D. Doctor of Civil Law. Jer. Jeremiah. J. H. S. (Seel. H. S.) Jn., June. Junction. Jno. John. Jo. Joel. Jon., Jona. Jonathan. Jos. Joseph. Josh. Joshua. jour. Journal, journey, journeyman. J. P., Jus. P. Justice of the Peace. J. Prob. Judge of the Probate. J. E. Jacobus Rex (King James), jr., jun., junr., Jun., Junr. Junior. J. U. D. Doctor of both Laws (the canon and civil laws). Jud. Judicial, Judith. Judg. Judges. Jul. Julian, July. Jul. Per. Julian Period. Jun. June. jurisp. Jurisprudence. Just. Justinian. J. W. Junior Warden. K. K. Kalium (potassium), King. K., Kal., Kl. Kalendse (Kalends). K., KL Kings. K., Knt., Kt. Knight. K. A. Knight of St. Andrew (Russia). Kan., Kans. (official), Kas. Kansas. K. B. King's Bench, Knight Bachelor, Knight of the Bath. K. B. A. Knight of St. Bento d'Avis (Portugal). K. B. E. Knight of the Black Eagle (Prussia). 130 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING K. C. King's College, King's Counsel, Knight of the Crescent (Turkey). K. C. H. - Knight Commander of (the Order of) Han- over. K. C. I. E. Knight Commander of (the Order of) the Indian Empire. K. C. M. G. Knight Commander of St. Michael and St. George (Ionian Islands). K. C. S. Knight of Charles III. of Spain. K. C. S. I. Knight Commander of (the Order of) the Star of India. K. E. Knight of the Elephant (Denmark). Ken., Ky. (official) Kentucky. K. F. Knight of Ferdinand (Spain). K. F. M. Knight of St. Ferdinand and Merit (Sicily). kg. (KGS., pi) Keg. ^ Kg., Kilo., Kilog. Kilogram. K. G. Knights of the Garter. K. G. C. Knight of the Golden Circle (U. S.), Knight of the Grand Cross (Great Britain). K. G. F. Knight of the Golden Fleece (Austria and Spain). K. G. H. Knight of the Guelphs of Hanover. K. G. V. Knight of Gustavus Vasa (Sweden). K. H. Knight of (the Order of) Hanover, kilo., kilom., km. Kilometer. Kingd., Km. Kingdom. K. J. Krfght of St. Joachim. KK. Karissimus (very dear). K. K. Kaiserlich, Koniglich (Imperial, Eoyal). K. K. K. Ku Klux Klan. K. L., K. L. A. Knight of Leopold of Austria. K. L. B. Knight of Leopold of Belgium. K. L. H. Knight of the Legion of Honor (France). K. M. Knight of Malta. K. Mess. King's Messenger. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 131 K. M. H. Knight of Merit of Holstein. K. M. J. Knight of Maximilian Joseph (Bavaria). K. M. T. Knight of Maria Theresa (Austria). K. N. Know-nothing. Knick Knickerbocker. K. N. S. Knight of the North Star (Sweden). K. of H. Knights of Honor. K. of L. Knights of Labor. K. of P. Knights of Pythias. K. P. Knights of St. Patrick. kr. Kreutzer. K. E. C. Knight of the Eed Cross. K. E. E. Knight of the Eed Eagle (Prussia). K. S. Knight of the Sword (Sweden). K. S. A. Knight of St. Anne (Eussia). K. S. E. Knight of St. Esprit (France). K. S. F. Knight of St. Fernando (Spain). K. S. F. M. Knight of St. Ferdinand and Merit (Naples). K. S. G, Knight of St. George (Eussia). K. S. H. Knight of St. Hubert (Bavaria). K. S. I. Knight of the Star of India. K. S. J. Knight of St. Januarius (Naples). K. S. L. Knight of the Son and Lion (Persia). K. S. M. & S. G-. Knights of St. Michael and St. George (Ionian Island). K. S. P. Knights of St. Stanislaus of Poland. K. S. S. Knight of the Southern Star (Brazil), Knight of the Sword of Sweden. K. S. W. Knight of St. Wladimir (Eussia). K. T. Knight of the Thistle, Knights Templars. K. 1. 1. Kai ta leipomona, or lopia (and the rest, and so forth). K. T. S. Knight of the Tower and Sword (Portu- gal). K. W. Knight of William (Netherlands). K. W. E. Knight of the White Eagle (Poland). 132 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING L. L. Lady, Laelius, lake, lane, Liberal, Lord, Lucius. L., Lat. Latin. L., Ib. (LBS., pi.) Libra (pound). L., Lon., Lond. London. 1. Length (Naut. log-book), lightning, line, link, long. L, lat. Latitude. 1., lea. League, leave. L, lit. Liter. L. A. Law Agent, Literate in Arts. (See L. L. A.) La. (official), Lou. Louisiana. Lab. Laborador. Lad'p, Ldp., Lp. Ladyship. Lam. Lamentations. Lang. Languedoc. lang. Language. Lap. Lapland. Lapp. Lappish. L. A. W. League of American Wheelmen. L. B. (Same as B. Lit.) L. C. Lord Chamberlain, Lord Chancellor, Lower Canada. 1. c. Left center, letter of credit, lower case. 1. c., loc. cit. Loco citato (in the place cited). L. C. J. Lord Chief Justice. 1. c. m. Least common multiple. L. D. Lady day, Light Dragoons, Low Dutch, Doctor of Letters. Id. Litera dominicalis (dominical letter). Ldp., Lp. Lordship. L. D. S. Latter Day Saints, Licentiate of Dental Surgery. (Same as D. D. S., D. M. D., M. D. S.) lect. Lecture. 1. f. e., 1. s. e., etc. Left first entrance, left second entrance, etc. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 133 Leg. Legal, legate, legato, legite (he read), legunt (they read). Leg., Legis. Legislative, legislature. Leip. Leipsic. L. E. L. (Same as B. Lit.) Let., Lett. Lettish. Lev., Levit. Leviticus. Lex. Lexicon. lexicog. Lexicographer, lexicography. Leyd. Leyden. L. G. Large grain, Life Guards, Low German. L. Gr. Low Greek. 1. h. Left hand. L. H. A. Lord High Admiral. L. H. C. Lord High Chancellor. L. H. T. Lord High Treasurer. L. I. Light Infantry, Long Island, Licenciate of In- struction. Lib. Librarian, library. lib. Liber (book). lib. cat. Library catalogue. Lieut., Lt. Lieutenant. lin. Lineal, linear. Liq. Liquid, liquor. lit. Liter, literal, literally, literary, literature. Lit. B., Litt. B. (Same as B. Lit.) Lit. D., Litt. D. (Same as D. L.) Lit. M., Litt. M. (Same as M. Lit.) lith., lithog. Lithograph, lithography. Lithol. Lithology. litt. Litterateur. liturg. Liturgies. liv. Livre (book), pound (weight or coin). L. J. (L. JJ., pi.) Lord Justice. L. L. Late Latin, Law Latin, Low Latin. 1. 1. Loco laudato (in the place quoted). 134 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING L. L. A. Form of L, A. when the degree is given to a woman. LL. B. Bachelor of Laws. LL. D. Doctor of Laws. LL. L. Licenciate in Law. Banks with M. L., M. C. L., and LL. M. LL. M., M. L. Master of Laws. L. M. Licenciate in Medicine. Banks between B. M. and M. D. log. Logarithm. Ion., long. Longitude. loq. Loquitur (speaks). L. P. Lord Provost. 1. p. Large paper. Lp., Ldp. Lordship. L. P. S. Lord Privy Seal. L. S. Linnean Society, Locus sigilli (the place of the seal). 1. s. Left side. L. (or 1.) s. d. Librae, solidi, denarii (pounds, shillings, pence). L. T. Lira Turca (Turkish pound). 1. t. Long ton. It. batt. Light battery. It. inf. Light infantry. L. U. Liberal-Union. 1. u. e. Left upper entrance. Luth. Lutheran. Iv. Livres. lyr. Lyric. M. M. Marcus, Marius, Mitte (one thousand), Mucius. M., Marq. Marquis. M., Matt. Matthew. M., Mem. Member* AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 135 M., mid. Middle. M., Mo., Mon. Monday. M., Mons. Monsieur. m. Manipulus (a handful), Mensura (measure, by measure), Meridian, meridies (noon), meter, minim (naut. log-book), mist, moon. m., mas., masc. Masculine. m., mi. Mile, mill. m., min. Minute. m., mo., mth., (MOS., pi.) Month. M. A. Military Academy, Master of Arts. (See A. M.) Mac., Mace. Maccabees. Maced. Macedonian. mach., machin. Machinery, machinist. Mad., Madm. Madam. Ma. E. Master of Engineering. Mag. Magazine. M. Agr., Agr. M. Master of Agriculture. Maj. Major. Mai. Malachi, Malayan. mam. Mammalogy. Manit. Manitoba. manuf. Manufactory. manufr. (MFS., pi.) Manufacture. manuf. (MFRS., pi.) Manufacturers. manuf., mfg. Manufacturing. M. Ap. Sc. (See M. A. S.) Mar., Mch. March.* mar. Maritime. March. Marchioness. marg. Margin, marginal. M. A. S. Master of Applied Science. Mass. Massachusetts (official). ^ math. Mathematical, mathematician, mathematics. *March is preferably written in full. 136 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING Max. Maxim, Maximilian. M. B. (See B. M.) M. B. Sc. Master of Business Science. M. C., M. Ch. Master of Surgery (Chirurgiae) . M. C. Master Commandant, Master of Ceremonies, Member of Congress, Member of Council. M. C. D. Doctor of Comparative Medicine. M. C. E. Master of Civil Engineering. M. D. Middle Dutch, Doctor of Medicine. Md. Maryland (official). m. d. Main droite (right hand), months (after) date. Mdlle., Mile. Mademoiselle. M. D. S. Master of Dental Surgery. mdse. Merchandise. M. D. V. (Same as D. V. M.) M. E. Mechanical Engineer, Methodist Episcopal, Middle English, Military Engineer, Mining Engineer, Most Excellent. Me. Maine (official). meas. Measure. mech. Mechanical, mechanics. M. E. C. L. Mistress of English and Classical Lit- erature. M. E. D. Master of Elementary Didactics. Med. Medical, medicine, medieval. Med. Dir. Medical Director. Medit. Mediterranean. M. E. G. II. P. Most Excellent Grand High Priest. M. E. L. Master (or Mistress) of English Litera- ture. (Same as M. Lit.) Mem. Memento (remember), memoir, memorandum. mensur. Mensuration. mer. Meridian. Merc. Mercurial, mercury. M. E. S. Methodist Episcopal South. Messrs., MM. Messieurs (gentlemen; sirs). AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 137 met., metaph. Metaphysical, metaphysically, meta- physics, metaphor, metaphorical, metaphorically. Met., Metrop. Metropolitan. metal., metall. Metallurgy. meteor. Meteorological, meteorology. Meth. Methodist. Mex. Mexican, Mexico. m. f. Mezzo forte (mus., rather loud). mfd. Manufactured. M. ft. Mistura fiat (let a mixture be made). M. G. Medical Gymnast (a Swedish degree), Grad- uate in Music, Major-General, Mesogothic. m. g. Main gauche (Mus., left hand). M. Gr. Middle Greek. Mgr., Monsig. Monsignor. M. H. Master of Horticulture. M. H., M. Hon. Most Honorable. M. H. G. Middle High German. M. H. S. Massachusetts Historical Society, Mem- ber of the Historical Society. Mic. Micah. Mich. Michaelmas, Michigan (official). mid. Midshipman. mil., milit. Military. min. Mining. min., mineral. Mineralogical, mineralogy. Minn. Minnesota ( official ) . Min. Plen. Minister Plenipotentiary. Min. Ees. Minister Resident. Mis., Mo. (official) Missouri. misc. Miscellaneous, miscellany. Miss. Missouri, Missionary, Mississippi. M. L. Master of Law, Master of Literature, Medie- val Latin, Middle Latin. ml. Milliliter. M. L. A. Master (or Mistress) of Liberal Arts. M. L. G. Middle Low German. 138 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING M. L. S. Master of Library Science. (See B. L. S., D. L. S.) MM. (Their) Majesties, martyrs. Also plural for Latin words commonly abbreviated M. mm. Millimeter. M. M. E. Master of Mechanical Engineering. Mme. (MMES., pi.) Madame. M. Mus. Master of Music. M. N. A. S. Member of the National Academy of Sciences. M. N. S. Member of the Numismatical Society. M. 0. Master of Oratory. mod. Moderate, modern. Moham. Mohammedan. mol. wt. Molecular weight. Mon. Monastery. mon. Monetary. Mont. Montana (official). Mor. Morocco. morn. Morning. M. P. Master of Painting, Member of Parliament, Methodist Protestant, Metropolitan Police, millia passium (a thousand paces: the Eoman mile), Municipal Police. M. P. C. Member of Parliament in Canada. M. Ph. Master of Philosophy. M. P. L. Master (or Mistress) of Polite Literature. Indicates same as M. Lit. M. P. P. Member of Provincial Parliament. Mr. Mister (Master). M. E. Master of the Eolls. M. E. A. S. Member of the Eoyal Academy of Science. Mrs. Misses (Mistress). MS. (MSS., pi.) Manuscript. M. S. Master of Surgery, memoriae sacrum (sacred to the memory). M. S., M. Sc. Master of Science. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 139 m. s. Months (after) sight. ]VL g, A. Master of Scientific Agriculture, Mistress of Science and Arts. M. S. D. Master of Scientific Didactics. m. s. 1. Mean sea level. Mt. (MTS., pi.) Mount, mountains. M. T. CL Marcus Tullus Cicero. Mus. Museum, music, musical. Mus. B. (Same as B. Mus.) Mus. D. (Same as D. Mus.) M. V. (Medicus Veterinarius) Veterinary Physician. Course of four or five years. m. v. Mezza voce (music with half the power of the voice). M. V. D. (Same as D. V. M.) M. W. Most Worshipful, Most Worthy. M. W. G. C. P. Most Worthy Grand Chief Patri- arch. M. W. G. M. Most Worshipful (or Worthy) Grand Master. M. W. V. Mexican War Veterans. Myst. Mysteries. myth. Mythological, mythology. N. N. Nero, nitrogen, Norse. N., Nep. Neptune. N., No., Nor. North. N., North. Northern. n . Name, natus (born), new, nomen, noon, note, noun. n., na. Nail. n., neut. Neuter. n., nom., nomin. Nominative. n., No. (Nos., pi.) Number. N. A. National Academician. 140 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING N. A., N. Am. North America, North American. N. A. D. National Academy of Design. Nah. Nahum. Nap. Napoleon. narr. Narratio (in law, a formal statement). N. A. S. National Academy of Sciences Nat. Natal, National. nat. Natural, naturalist. Nath. Nathaniel. Nat. Hist. Natural History. nat. ord. Natural order. Nat. Sc. Doc. Doctor of Natural Science. Eanks with Ph. D. naut. Nautical. nav. Naval. nav., navig. Navigation. Nav. Const. Naval constructor. navig. Navigator. N. B. New Brunswick, North Britain, North British, nota bene (note well). N. C New Church, North Carolina (official). n. d. No date. N. Dak. North Dakota (official). N. E. Northeast, Northeastern. N. E., N. Eng. New England. Neb., Nebr. (official) Nebraska. neg. Negative, negatively. Neh. Nehemiah. n. e. i. Non est inventus (is not found). nem. con. Nemine dissentient e (no one contradict- ing, unanimously). Neo-Plat. Neo-Platonic. Neth. Netherlands . Nev. Nevada (official). New M., N. M., N. Mex. (official) New Mexico. New Test., N. T. New Testament. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 141 N. F. New Foundland, New French, Norman French. N. G. National Guard, New Grenada, Noble Guard. n. g. No good. Ng., Norw. Norwegian. N. Gr. New Greek. N. H. New Hampshire (official). N. H. D. (Same as Doc. Nat. Hist.) N. Heb. New Hebrew. N. H. G. New High German. N. H. H. S. New Hampshire Historical Society. Nicar. Nicaragua. No. Pri., N. P. Nisi Prius (unless before) N. L. New Latin. N. J. New Jersey (official). n. 1. Non licet (it is not permitted), non liquet (it is not clear), non longe (not far). N. L. North Latitude. N. N. E. North-northeast. N. N. W. North-northwest. N. 0. Natural order, New Orleans. nol. pros. Nolle Prosequi (to be unwilling to prose- cute). Non-com. Non-commissioned, non-commissioned of- ficer. non con. Non-content, i. e., dissentient. non cul. Non culpabilis (not guilty). non obs., non obst. Non obstante (notwithstanding). non pros. Non prosequitur (he does not prosecute). non seq. Non sequitur (it does not follow). n. o. p. Not otherwise provided for. Nor. Norman. Northum., Northumb. Northumberland. Norw. Norway. Nov. November. N. P. New Providence, Notary Public. N. P. D. North polar distance. 142 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING N. S. New School, New Series, New Side, New Style, Notre Seigneur (Our Lord), Nova Scotia, Numismatic Society. n. s. Not specified. N. S. J. C. Noster Salvator Jesus Christus (Our Savior Jesus Christ), Notre Seigneur Jesus Christ (Our Lord Jesus Christ). N. S. W. New South Wales. N. T. New translation. n. u. Name unknown. Num., Numb. Numbers. num. Numeral. numis. Numismatic, Numismatics, Numismatology. nux vom. Nux vomica. N. V. New Version. N. V. M. Nativity of the Virgin Mary. N. W. Northwest, northwestern. N. W. S. A. National Woman's Suffrage Associa- tion. N. W. T. Northwest Territory. , N. T. New York (official). N. Y. H. S. New York Historical Society. N. Z., N. Zeal. New Zealand. 0. 0. Ohio, Ossa, Oxygen. o. Octarius (a pint), old (naut. log-book), over- cast. O. B. (Same as B. 0.) Ob., Obad. Obadiah. ob. Obiit (died), obiter (incidentally, by the way), oboe. obdt., Obt., obt. Obedient. obj. Object, objection, objective, objectively. obi. Oblique, oblong. obs. Observation, observatory, obsolete. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 142 obstet. Obstetrics. 0. Bulg. Old Bulgarian. oc. Ocean. O. Gel., O. Celt. Old Celtic. Oct. October. O. D._01d Dutch. O. Dan. Old Danish. O. E. Old English. O. F. Odd Fellow, Old French. off. Official, officinal. offg. Officiating. O. Fris. Old Frisian. O. G. Outside Guard or Guardian. 0. Gael. Old Gaelic. O. H. G. Old High German. 0. Ice., O. Icel. Old Icelandic. 0. Ir. Old Irish. 0. It. Old Italian. O. K. (0. K.s, pi.) All correct. (Humorous spell- ing, oil korrect.) 0. Kd All corrected. 0. K.ing Correcting. Okla. Oklahoma (official). O. L. Old Latin. 01. Oleum (oil). 01., Olym. Olympiad. Old Test., 0. T. Old Testament. 0. L. G. Old Low German. 0. M. Old measurement. omn. hor. Omni hora (every hour). O. M. V. Master of Obstetrics of Vienna. O. N. Old Norse. O. N. F. Old Northern French . Ont. Ontario. 0. P. Old Price, Ordinis Praedicatorum (of the order of Preachers or Dominicans). Op. Opera. 144 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING op. Opus. op., opp. Opposite. o. p. Opposite prompt (side), out of print. opp. Opposed. opt. Optative, optical, optician, optics. Or. Oriental. Or., Ore., Oreg. Oregon. orat. Orator. O. E. C. Order of the Eed Cross. ord. Ordained, order, ordinance, ordinary. ord., ordn. Ordnance. org. Organic, organized. org. chem. Organic chemistry. orient. Orientalist. orig. Origin, original, originally. ornith. Ornithological, ornithology. O. S. Old Saxon, Old School, Old Series, Old Side, Old Style, Outside Sentinel. 0. S. A. Ordinis Sancti Augustini (of the Order of St. Agness). 0. S. B. Ordinis Sancti Benedicti (of the Order of St. Benedict.) 0. S. F. Ordinis Sancti Francisci (of the Order of St. Francis). O. SI. Old Slavonic. O. U. A. Order of United Americans. O. U. A. M. Order of United American Mechanics. Oxf. Oxford. oz. (oz., ozs., pi.) Ounce. P. P. Parnellite, Phosphorous, Publius. p. (Naut. log-book) passing showers, past, pater (father) penny, pere (father), piano (soft), pipe, pole, poudere (by weight). p. (PP., pi) Page. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 145 p., pop. Population. p., pt. (PTS., pi.) Part, pint. p., part., adj. Participal adjective. Pa. (official), Penn. Pennsylvania. P. A. Post Adjutant. Pac. Oc. Pacific Ocean. p. ac. Paries^ aequales (equal parts). paint. Painting. Pal. Palestine. pal., paleon., paleont. Paleontology. pam., pamph. Pamphlet. Pan. Panama. par. Paragraph, parallel, parish. Para. Paraguay. Parl. Parliament, parliamentary. par. pas. Parallel passage. part. Participle. pass. Passive. Pata. Patagonia. path., pathol. Pathology. Patk. Patrick. Pat. Off. Patent Office. paym't, payt., pay't, pt. (PTS., pi.) Payment. P. C. Pharmaceutical Chemist, Patres Conscripti (Conscript Fathers, Senators), Police Constable, Post Commander, Principal Conductor, Privy Council, Privy Councillor. p. D. (Same as Ph. D.) p. c. Postal card, post consulatum (after the coun- cilship). Pd. Palladium. pd. Paid. Pd. D. Doctor of Pedagogy. Pd. M. Master of Pedagogy. P. E. Presiding Elder, Protestant Episcopal. Pe. B. Bachelor of Pedagogics. P. E. L Prince Edward Island. 146 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING pen. Peninsula. Pent. Pentecost. peo. People. per. Period. per., pers. Person. Per., Pers. Persia, Persian. per an. Per annum (annually). per ct. Per cent. perf., pf. Perfect. pers. Personal, personally. persp. Perspective. pert. Pertaining. Peruv. Peruvian. Pet. Peter. pf., pref. Preferred. p. f. Pui forte (a little louder). P. G. German Pharmacopoeia. Past Grand. Pg., Port., Ptg. Portugal, Portuguese. P. G. M. Past Grand Master. Phar. Pharmaceutical, pharmacopoeia, phartfiacy. Phar. D., Pharm. D. Doctor of Pharmacy. Pharm. M. Master of Pharmacy. Ph. B. (Same as B. Ph.) Ph. D. Doctor of Philosophy, also same a*s Phar. D. Ph. M. (Same as M. Ph.) Phen., Phenic. Phenician. Phil. Philip, Philippians. Phil., Phila. Philadelphia. Phil., Philem. Philemon. phil., philos. Philosopher, philosophical, philosophy. Phil. Soc., Ph. S. American Philological Society. phon., phonet. Phonetics. phonog. Phonography. phonol. Phonology. phot., photog. Photographic, photography. phr. Phrase. phren., phrenol, Phrenological, phrenology. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 147 P. H. S. Pennsylvania Historical Society. phys. Physical, physician, physics. phys., physiol. Physiological, physiology. Phys. Sci. Physical Science. P. I. Phonographic Institute, Philippine Islands. 'pinx., pnxt., pxt. Pinxit (painted it). P. J. Justice of the Peace, Police Justice, Presiding Judge, Probate Judge. pk. (PKS., pi.) Peck. pkg. (PKGS., pi.) Package. P. L. Paradise Lost, Poet Laureate. pi. Place, plate. pi., plur. Plural. plup., plupf. Pluperfect. Plur. Plurality. P. M. Past Master, Past Midshipman, paymaster, postmaster, post meridian (afternoon). P. M., Pon. Max. Pontifex Maximus (Supreme Pontiff). pm. Premium. P. M. Gr. Paymaster-general, Postmaster-general. p. n. Promissory note. pneum. Pneumatic, pneumatics. po. Pole : a measure. P. 0. Post Office, Province of Ontario. P. 0. D. Pay on Delivery, Post-Office Department. poet. Poetic, poetical, poetry. Pol. Poland, Polish. pol., polit. Political, politics. polit. econ. Political economy. P. 0. 0. Post-office order. pop. Popular, popularity. pos., posit. Positive. pos., poss. Possession, possessive. pot. Potential. P. P. Parens (or Pater) Patriae (Father of his Country), Parish priest. 148 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING p. p. Past participle, play or pay. p. p., per proc. A proxy. p. p., prop., propr. Proprietor. pp., ppp., pppp. Pianissimo. P. P. C. Pour prendre conge (to take leave). pph. Pamphlet. p. p. i. Policy proof of interest. p. pr., ppr. Participle present. ppr. Proper. P. Prog. Pilgrim's Progress. P. Q. Previous questions, Province of Quebec. pr. Per, pretor, price. pr. (PES., pi.) Pair. pr., prep. Preposition. pr., pres. Present. pr., pron. Pronominal, pronoun. P. E. Paradise Regained, Populus Romanus (the Roman People), Prize-ring. P. R., P. Rico. Puerto Rico. Pr. Praseodymium, priest, prince. Pr. (PBS., pi.) Printer. Pr., Prov. Provencal. P. R. C. Post Roman conditam (after the building of Rome). Preb. Prebend, prebendary. Prec. Preceding. pref. Preface, preference, prefix, prefixed Pres. President. Pres., Presb. Presbyterian. pret. Preterit. prim. Primary, primate, primitive. prin. Principal, principally, principles. print. Printing. priv. Privative. p. r. n. Pro re nata (as the occasion arises). prob. Probable, probably, problem. Proc. Proceedings. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 149 Prof. Professor. Prom. Promontory, pron. Pronounced, pronunciation, prop. Properly, proposition, pros. Prosody. Prot. Protestant. pro tern. Pro tempore (for the time being). Prov. Provence, Proverbs, Province, Provost. Prov., prov. Provincial, prov. Proverbially, prox. Proximo (next month). Prus. Prussia, Prussian. P. S. Permanent Secretary, post scriptum (PSS., pL) (post script), Principal Sojourner, Privy Seal, ps. Pieces. Ps., Psa. Psalm, Psalms, pseud. Pseudonym, psych. Psychic, psychical, psych., psychol. Psychology, Pt. Platinum, point, port, p. t. Post-town. P. T. Pupil teacher. P. T. 0. Please turn over, pub. Public, published, publisher, publishing, pub., pubn. Publication, pulv. Pulvis (powder), p. v. Post-village, pwt. Pennyweight. P. X. Please exchange. Q. Q. Quintius, Quintus, Quirites. Q., Qu. Queen. Q., Que. Quebec. q. Quasi, (Naut. log-book) squalls. q., qr. (QRS., pi.) Quadrane (farthing). 150 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING q., qu., qy. Query. ^ q., qu., ques. Question. q., ql. Quintal. Q. A. B. Queen Anne's Bounty. Q. B. Queen's Bench. Q. C. Queen's College, Queen's Counsel q. d. Quasi dicat (as if he should say), quasi dictum (as if said), quasi dixisset (as if he had said). q. e. Quod est (which is). q. e. d. Quod erat demonstrandum (which was to be demonstrated). q. e. f. Quod erat faciendum (which was to be done). q. e. i. Quod erat inveniendum (which was to be found out). q. 1. Quantum libet (as much as is agreeable). Q. M. Quartermaster. qm. Quomodo (in what manner, by what means, how). Q. Mess. Queen's Messenger. Q. M. G. Quartermaster-general. q. p., q. pi. Quantum placet (as much as seems good). qr. (QBS., pi.) Quarter (weight or measure), quire. q. s. Quantum sufficit (as much as suffices), quarter section. Q. S. Quarter-sessions. qt. (QTS., pi.) Quart. qu. Quantity. qu., quar., quart. Quarter, quarterly. quad. Quadrant, quadrate. q. v. Quantum vis (as much as you will), Quod vide (which see). E. R. Regina (Queen), response, Respublica (the Re- public), retired, Rex (King), Roma (Eome), Eufus (Naut. log-book) run (deserted). AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 151 E., Bad. Badical. E., E. W., Ew., Ey. Eailway. E., Eeam. Eeamur. E., Eec. Eecipe. E., Eect. Eector. E., Eep., Eepub., Ep. Bepublic, Eepublican. E., Eiv. Eiver. E., Eobt. Eobert. r. (Naut. log-book) rainy, rare, residence, resides, right, rises, rod. r. (BS., pi.) Eupee. r., ro. Eood. E. A. Eear-admiral, right ascension, Eoyal Acad- emy, Eoyal Arcanum, Eoyal Artillery, Eussian America. Eabb. Eabbinical. E. A. C. Eoyal Arch Chapter. rad. Radix (root). rail. Eallentando (gradually slower). E. A. M. Eoyal Academy of Music, Eoyal Arch Mason. E. C. Eed Cross. E. C., Eom. Cath. Eoman Catholic. r. c. Eight center. E. C. A. Eeformed Church in America. E. C. Ch. Eoman Catholic Church. rcpt., rec't, rect. Beceipt. E. E. Eeformed Episcopal, Eight Excellent, Eoyal Engineers, Eoyal Exchange. r. 1. e., r. 2. e. Eight first entrance, right second entrance, etc. rec'd, reed. Eeceived. Eec. Sec. Eecording Secretary. Eef. Eeformation. Eef. Ch. Eeformed Church. refl. Eeflection, reflective, reflex, reflexive, reflex- ively. Beg. Eegister, Eegistrar. 152 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING reg. Eegistry, regular. Beg., Eegt. Begent, Begiment. rel. Belative, relatively, religion, religious, reliquae (remains, relics). rel. pron. Eelative pronoun. rem. Eemark. Eep. Eeporter, Eepresentative. Eep., rpt. Eeport. rep., repr. Eepresenting. retd. Beturned. Eev. Eevelation, revenue, review, revolution. Eev., Bev'd (EEVS., pi.) Eeverend. rev. Eevise, revised, revision. Eev. Stat., Eev. Stats., E. S. Eevised Statutes. Eev. Ver., E. V. Eevised Version. E. F. Eepublique Francaise (French Eepublic). r. h. Eight hand. E. H. Eoyal Highness. rhet. Ehetoric, rhetorical. E. L Ehode Island (official). Eich., Bich'd. Eichard. E. I. P. Requiescat in pace (may he [or she] rest in peace). rit., ritard. Eitardando (Mus., gradually slackening the speed). riten. Eitenuto (same as ritardando). rm. Eeam. E. 1ST. Eoyal Navy. E. O. Eeceiving Office. Eom. Eoman, Eomance, Eomans. Eoum. Eoumanian. E. P. E. Eeformed Protestant Episcopal. E. S. Eecording Secretary. r. s. Eight side. E. S. V. P. Repondez, s'il vous plait (answer, if you please). Et. Hon. Eight Honorable. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 153 Et. Kev. Bight Eeverend. Et. Wpful., E. W. Eight Worshipful. r. u. e. Eight upper entrance. Eus., Euss. Eussian. E. W. Eight Worthy. S. S. Scribe, segno, Sextus, Sign, Signer, sun. S., Sab. Sabbath. S., St. (STE., fern.; SS., pi.} Saint. S., Sa., Sat. Saturday. S., Sax. Saxon. S., s. Scalar. S., Serv. Servius. S., Soc. Society. S., So. South. S., Sou. Southern. S., Su., Sun., Sund. Sunday. s. See, set, sinister (Naut. log-book), snow, solo, son, stem, succeeded. s. sec. Second. sec., sect, (ss., pi.) Section. ser. Series. sh. Shilling. sin., sing. Singular. sop. Soprano. s., subst. Substantive. S. A. South Africa, South Australia. S. A., S. Am. South America, South American. s. a. Secundum artem (according to art), sine anno (without date). Sam., SamL Samuel. Sam., Samar. Samaritan. San., Sans., Sansc., Sansk., Skr., Skt. Sanskrit. Sar. Sardinia, Sardinian. Sax. Saxony. 154 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING S. B. South Britain, Spartan Brotherhood, steam- boat. S. B., Sc. B. (Same as B. Sc.) S. C. South Carolina, Staff Corps, Supreme Court s. c., s. caps., sm. caps. Small capitals. Sc., Scot. Scotch. Sc. Scene. sc., scil., SS. Scilicet (namely, to wit). sc., sculp., sculpt. Sculpsit (engraved it). Scan., Scand. Scandinavian. Sc. D., S. D. (Same as D. S.) sch., schol. Scholium (a note). sch., schr. Schooner. sci. Science, scientific. sci. fa. Scire facias (that you cause to know: a judicial writ). Sclav. Sclavonic. Sc. M., S. M. (Same as M. S.) Scot. Scotland, Scottish. scr. Scruple. v Script. Scriptural, scripture. sculp., sculpt. Sculptor, sculptural, sculpture. S. D. Salutem dicit (sends greeting), Senior Deacon. s. d. Sine die (without day). S. Dak. South Dakota (official). S. E. Southeast, Southeastern. Sec. Secretary. sec. Secant. Sec. Leg. Secretary of Legation. sec. leg. Secundum legem (according to law). sec. reg. Secundum regem. sel. Selected, selection. Sem. Seminary, Semitic. sem. Semble (it seems). Sen. Senate, Senator. sen., senr., Sr. Senior. Sen. Doc. Senate Document. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 155 * sep. Separate. Sep., Sept. September, Septuagint. seq., sq. Sequentes, sequentia (the following). seqq., sqq. Sequentibus (in the following places). ser. Sermon. serg., sergt. Sergeant. serj., serjt. Serjeant. Serv. Servia, Servian. serv. Servant. sess. Session. sfz. Sforando (Mus., accented forcibly). S. G. Solicitor-general. s. g., sp. gr. Specific gravity. S. H. School-house. Shak., Shaks. Shakespeare. s. h. v. Sub Jiac verbo or v oce (under this word). S. I. Sandwich Islands, Staten Island. Sib. Siberia, Siberian. Sic. Sicilian, Sicily. Sim. Simeon. sin. Sine. S. J. Society of Jesus. S. J. C. Supreme Judicial Court. S. L. Sergeant at Law, Solicitor at Law. S. L, S. lat. South latitude. Slav. Slavic, Slavonian, Slavonic. sld. Sailed. s. 1. p. Sine legitima prole (without lawful issue). S. M. Senior Magistrate, sewing machine, State Militia. S. M. E. Sancta Mater Ecclesia (Holy Mother Church). Smith. Inst. Smithsonian Institution. S. M. M. Sancta Mater Maria (Holy Mother Mary). s. m. p. Sine mascula prole (without male issue). s. n. Secundum naturam (according to nature). S. 0. Sub Office. 156 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING s. o. Sellers' option. Soc. Socrates. sociol. Sociology. Soc. Isl. Society Islands. S. of Sol. Song of Solomon. S. of T. Sons of Temperance. Sol., Solr. Solicitor. sol., solut. Solution. Soph. Sophist, Sophocles, sophomore. sov. Sovereign. Sp. Spain, Spanish, Spirit. s. p. Sine prole (without issue). sp. Spelling. S. P. C. Society for the Prevention of Crime. S. P. C. A. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. S. P. C. C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. spec. Special, specially. spec., specif. Specific, specifically. sport. Sporting. S. P. Q. ~R.Senatus Populusque Eomanus (The Eoman Senate and People). s. p. r. Sine prole superstite (without surviving issue). spt. Seaport. sq. Square. sq. ft., sq. in., etc. Square foot (or feet), square inch, etc. Sr. Sir. (See Senior.) S. E. I. Sacrum Romanum Imperium (Holy Eoman Empire). SS. Semis (half). S. S. Sabbath-school, Sunday-school. s. s. Screw steamer, steamship. SS. D. Sanctissimus Dominus (Most Holy Lord [the Pope]). AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 157 S. S. E. South-southeast. S. S. W. South-southwest. St. Strait. St. (Sis., pi.) Street. st. Stanza, stet, stone, strophe. s. t. Senza tempo (without marked time), short ton. S. T. B. (Sacrae Theologiae Baccalaurous) Bach- elor of Theology. Indicates same as B. D. Stat. Statim (immediately), statuary, statute. S. T. D. (Sacrae Theologiae Doctor) Doctor of Divinity. Indicates same as D. D. ster., stereo. Stereotype, stereotyper, stereotyping, ster., stg. Sterling. str. Steamer. sub. Suburb, suburban. sub., subj. Subject, subjective, subjunctive. sub., subst. Substitute. subsect. Subsection. suf., suff. Suffix. Suit. Sultan. sup. Supine, supra. Sup. Ct. Superior Court, Supreme Court. sup., super. Superior, superfine. sup., superl. Superlative. sup., Supp. Supplement. sup., Supr. Supreme. Supt. Superintendent. Surg. Surgeon. surg. Surgery, surgical. Surv. Surveying, surveyor. s. v. Sub verbo or voce (under the word). S. V. Sancta Virgo (Holy Virgin), Sanctitas Vestra (Your Holiness), Sons of Veterans. S. W. Senior Warden, southwest, southwestern. Sw. Sweden, Swedish. Swit, Switz. Switzerland. sym. Symbol, symbolic. 158 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING syn. Synonym, synonymous. synop. Synopsis. Syr. Syria, Syriac, Syrian. syr. Sirup. syst. System. T. T. Tensor. T., Ter., Terr. Territory. T., Test. Testament. T., Tit. Titus. T., Tu., Tues. Tuesday. T., Tul., Tvl. Tullius. t. (Naut. log-book) thunder, ton, town, tun, tutti (all together). t., temp. Tempore (in the time [of]). t., ten. Tenor. t., torn. Tome. t., tp. Township. t., trans., tr. Transitive. T. A. B. Total Abstinence Brotherhood tal. qual. Tails quails (of average quality). tan. Tangent. tart. Tartaric. Tb., Ti., Tib. Tiberius. tc., tier. (TCS., TBCS., pi.) Tierce. T. E. Typographical Engineer. (Four years' course.) tech. Technical, technically. tech., technol. Technology. tel., teleg. Telegram, telegraph, telegraphic. temp. Temporal, temporary. Tenn. Tennessee (official). term. Termination. Teut. Teuton, Teutonic. Tex. Texan, Texas (official). AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 159 Text. Eec. Textus receptus (received text). tf._ Till forbidden. t. g. Type genus. Th. Theophilus, Thomas. Th., Thu., Thur., Thurs. Thursday. theat. Theatrical. Theo. Theodore. theol Theologian, theological, theology. theor. Theorem. Theos. Theosophical, theosophist, theosophy. therap. Therapeutic, therapeutics. Thess. Thessalonians. thlr. Thaler. Tho., Thos. Thomas. t. i. d. Ter in die (three times a day). Tim. Timothy. tinct. Tincture. T. 0. Turn over. Tob. Tobit. tonn. Tonnage. topog. Topographical, topography. Tr. Trustee. Tr., Trb. Tribunus (tribune). Tr., Trans. Transactions, translator. Tr., Treas. Treasurer tr. Transpose, trill. tr., trans. Translated, translation. trag. Tragedy, tragic. transf. Transferred. Trav. Travels. Treas. Treasury. trig., trigon. Trigonometrical, trigonometry. Trin. Trinity. trop. Tropic, tropical, tropically. ts. Till sale. 160 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING T. L. L. To take leave. Tur., Turk. Turkey, Turkish. typ., typo., typog. Typographer, typographic, typog- raphy. U. II. Uranium. u. (Naut. log-book). Ugly, threatening weather; you. U. B. United Brethren. U. C. Upper Canada, urbe condita (the city being built: year of Eome). U. Gr. E. E. Underground railroad. U. J. D. Doctor of Both Laws (the canon and civil laws). U. K. United Kingdom. ult., ulto. Ultimo (last [month]). um., unm. Unmarried. ung. Unguentum ( ointment ) . Unit. Unitarian. Univ. Universalist, University. univ. Universal. U. P. United Presbyterians. up. Upper. Uru. Uruguay. U. S. Uncle Sam, United Service, United States. u. s., ut. sup. Ut. supra (as above). U. S. A, United States Army, United States of America. U. S. C. C. or Ct. United States Circuit Court. U. S. L. United States Legation. U. S. M. United States Mail, United States Marines. U. S. M. A.- United States Military Academy. U. S. N. United States Navy. U. S. N. A. United States Naval Academy. U. S. P., U. S. Pharm. United States Pharmacopoeia. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 161 U. S. S. United States Senate, United States Ship, United States Steamer. U. S. S. C. or Ct. United States Supreme Court. U. S. Sig. Serv. United States Signal Service. U. S. S. S. United States Steamship. usu. Usual, usually. u. s. w. Und so welter (and so forth). U. T. or Ter. Utah Territory. ut diet. Ut dictum (as directed). ux. Uxor (wife). V. V. Vice, Victoria. V., Ven. Venerable. V., Vis., Vise., Visct. Viscount, V. (VV., pi.) Violin. V., vol. (VOLS., pi.) Volunteer. v., vb. Verb. v., ver. Verse. v., vs. Versus (against). v., vid. Vide (see). v., vil. Village. v., voc. Vocative. v., vol. (VOLS., pi.) Volume. V. A. Vice-admiral, (Order of) Victoria (and) Al- bert. V. A., Vic. Ap. Vicar Apostolic. v. a. Verbactive, vixit annos (lived [so many] years). V. a., vb. a. Verbal adjective. Va. Virginia (official). val. Value. var. Variant, variety. var. lect. Varia lectio (varying reading). Vat. Vatican. v. aux. Verb auxiliary. 162 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING vb. n. Verbal noun. V. C. Vice-chairman, vice-chancellor, Victoria Cross. v. d. Various dates. v. def. Verb defective. v. dep. Verb deponent. V. D. L. Van Dieman's Land. V. D. M. Verbi Dei Minister (Minister of the Word of God). Venet. Venetian. Venez. Venezuela. Verm., Vt. (official) Vermont. Vert. Vetebrata, vertebrate. ves. Vessel. vet., veter. Veterinary. Vet. Surg., V. S. Veterinary Surgeon. V. G. Vice-grand. V. G., Vic. Gen. Vicar-general. v. g. Verbi gratia (for example). v. i. Verb intransitive. Vice Pres., V. P. Vice-president. v. imp. Verb impersonal. v. irr. Verb irregular. viz. Videlicet (to wit, namely). y. M. (Same as M. V.) V. M. D. (Same as D. V. M.) v. n. Verb neuter. vocab. Vocabulary. vole. Volcano. V. E. Victoria Regina (Queen Victoria). V. E., V. Eev. Very Eeverend. v. r. Verb reflexive. V. E. P. Vestra Eeverendissima Paternitas (Your Very Eeverend Paternity). v. s. Volte subito (turn over quickly). v. t. Verb transitive. vul., vulg. Vulgar, vulgarly. Vul., Vulg. Vulgate. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 163 w. 11. Variae lectiones (various readings). V. W. Very Worshipful, v. y. Various years. W. W. Warden, Welsh, West, Western, Wolfram. W., We., Wed. Wednesday. W., Wm. William. w. (Naut. log-book) wet dew, wife. w., wk. Week. W. A. West Africa, West Australia. Wash. Washington (State: official). W. B. Water Board, way-bill. W. B. M. Women's Board of Missions. W. C. Wesley an Chapel, without charge. W. C. A. Women's Christian Association. W. C. T. U. Women's Christian Temperance Union. Westm. Westminster. w. f ., wf. Wrong font. W. G. Worthy Grand. W. Ger. West Germanic. whf. Wharf. W. I. West India, West Indies. Wis. (official), Wise. Wisconsin. Wisd. Wisdom (book of). W. L. Wave-length. W. Ion. West longitude. W. M. Worshipful Master. W. & M. William and Mary (King and Queen). W. N. W. West-northwest. Wp. Worship. W. P. Worthy Patriarch. Wpful. Worshipful. W. R., W. Rex. King William. W. S. West Saxon, Writer to the Signet. W. S. W. West-southwest. 164 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING wt. Weight. W. Va. West Virginia (official). Wyo. Wyoming (official). X., Xt. (Gr. form of Ch., Christos) Christ. X. Xavier. xcp. Without coupon. xd., xdiv. Without dividend. Xdr. Crusader. Xen. Xenophon. Xn., Xmas. Christmas. Xn., Xtian. Christian. Xnty., Xty. Christianity. Xper., Xr. Christopher. Y. y., yd. (YDS., pi.) Yard. y., yr. (YES., pL) Year. Y. B., Yr. B. Year-book. Y. M. C. A. Young Men's Christian Association. Y. M. Cath. A. Young Men's Catholic Association. Y. P. S. C. E. Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor. yr. Younger, your. Y. W. C. A. Young Women's Christian Association. Y. W. C. T. U. Young Women's Christian Temper- ance Union. Z. Z. G. Zoological Garden. Zn. Zinc. zoogeog. Zoogeography, zool. Zoology, zoological. AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 165 ABBREVIATIONS OF THE MONTHS. January Jan. February Feb. March Mar.* April Apr.* May None. June None. July None. August Aug. September Sep. or Sept. October Oct. November Nov. December Dec. ABBREVIATIONS OF THE STATES. The following are the correct abbreviations of the names of the states : Alabama Ala. /Arizona Ariz. Arkansas Ark. California Gal. or Calif. /Colorado Col. or Colo. (Colo, is preferable). Connecticut Conn, or Ct. Delaware Del. /District of Columbia D. C. Florida Fla. Georgia Ga. Illinois 111. or Ills. Indiana Ind. J Indian Territory Ind. T. Kansas Kan., Kans., or Kas. / Kentucky Ky . Louisiana La. 4 Maine Me. * It is better form to write March and April in full. 166 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING Maryland Md. Massachusetts Mass. Michigan Mich. Minnesota Minn. ^Mississippi Miss. ^Missouri Mo. yMontana Mont. i/Nebraska Neb. or Nebr. Nevada Nev. New Hampshire N. H. New Jersey N. J. New Mexico N. M. New York N. Y. North Carolina N. C. North Dakota N. Dak. Oklahoma Okla. Oregon Ore. Pennsylvania Pa. Ehode Island R. I. South Carolina S. C. South Dakota S. Dak. Tennessee Tenn. Texas Tex. Vermont Vt. Virginia Va. Washington "Wash. West Virginia W. Va. Wisconsin Wis. Wyoming Wyo. British Columbia B. C. New Brunswick N. B. Nova Scotia N. S. Ontario Ont. Quebec Q., Que. Idaho, Iowa, Ohio and Utah should not be abbreviated. THE HYPHEN The hyphen is a short dash used to join words that do not sufficiently coalesce to form one word, but that are too closely connected in meaning to form two separate words; thus: Door-knob, dancing-master, twenty-one, three-fifths, 3-inch board, 2^-inch pole, to-day, to-night, to-morrow, Anglo-Saxon, Sadler-Rowe Publishing Company, com- mander -in-chief. Note. In many instances, usage varies as to the em- ployment of the hyphen, and, in consequence, it is difficult to give specific rules for the compounding of words; thus : school-house is written with the hyphen or as one word, schoolhouse. The following rules, however, are universally observed by careful writers: Eule 1. Temporary compounds are hyphenated; thus: (a) An adjective modifier consisting of an adjective and a noun, an adjective and a participle, two adjectives, or an adverb and a participle; as: "The took an eight- mile drive in the evening" (an adjective and a noun); "His far-seeing eyes rested on her face" (an adjective and a participle) ; "He had the half-barbaric superiority of the aristocrat" (two adjectives); "The stranger bowed with well-bred deference" (an adverb and a parti- ciple). Note. Half when used with either another adjective, a participle, or an adverb, is connected with-it by a hy- phen; thus: half-barbaric superiority (two adjectives); *From CORRECT ENGLISH: A COMPLETE GRAMMAR. 168 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING half-frightened voice (adjective and participle) ; half- hourly intervals (adjective and adverb) ; half -inch space (adjective and noun). Well and ill when used with a participle to form an adjective modifier, are always joined to the participle by a hyphen; but when used merely to modify a participle in the predicate, the hyphen is not employed; thus: "A w ell-mannered young man;" "An ill-behaved child," but "The young man was well mannered;" "The child was ill behaved." Self when used with an adverb, a noun, or another adjective, is always connected with it by a hyphen; thus: self-confident, or self-assertive (two adjectives) ; self-asserting (adjective and participle) ; self-confidently (adjective and adverb) ; self-command (adjective and noun). (b) A phrase forming a temporary compound is hyphenated; thus: "A never-to-be-forgotten event;" "An I-told-you-so expression;" "An unlooked-for visitor. ' ' Eule 2. The hyphen is used when, by its omission, an entirely different meaning would be conveyed; thus: Bird's-eye (plant); dog's-tooth (grass). Note that bird's eye or dog's tooth written without the hyphen would convey a different meaning. Eule 3. The hyphen is used to divide words into the syllables of which they are composed, as when giving the pronunciation of a word, or when carrying a syllable to the next line. This division of words in syllables is known as syllabication. The following are the most important principles to be observed: (a) Words should be divided, when possible, accord- ing to their pronunciation, all letters necessary to the AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 169 pronunciation of each syllable being given ; thus : sis-ter; brotk-er; moth-er; cous-in; ~hap-py; an-gel-ic. (b) Words should be divided according to their derivation, so as to separate the prefix, the suffix, or the grammatical ending from the rest of the word; thus: re-mem-ber; re-solve; wid-ow; win-dow; sin-ful; soul-ful. (c) When the derivation and the pronunciation con- flict, then precedence should be given to the latter ; thus : rep-re-sent (not re-pre-sent) ; ho-me-op-a-thy (not Tio- me-o-path-y) . Note that the syllables are divided in accordance with the pronunciation, but contrary to the derivation of the words ; thus, according to the derivation of represent, the prefix re should be separated from the word present f whereas the word is divided in conformity with its pro- nunciation, which makes the vowel short in the syllable rep. (d) When two or more vowels are placed together to form a diphthong or a triphthong, as the case may be, they must not be separated; as, loy-al; joy-ous; but when two or more vowels placed together do not form a diph- thong or a triphthong, the vowels may be divided; thus: a-e-ri-form; co-or-di-nate. (e) Two consonants or two aspirates or a consonant and an aspirate are usually separated, unless kept to- gether by the operation of some other rule, as, for ex- ample, in paragraph b; thus: col-lect; col-lar; hat-ter; en-ter, but (b) post-age; west-ern. Note. There are several specific rules given by gram- marians relatively to the placing of consonants, but they are, in the main, embodied in the foregoing rules ; thus : the rule that a single consonant coming between two vowel sounds, must be placed with the first vowel if the 170 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING sound of the vowel is to be shortened, is embodied in the paragraph a, words should be divided according to their pronunciation; for example, in the word study (or studies) the consonant d is placed with the first vowel, stud-y (stud-ies), while in the word student, the con- sonant d is placed with the second vowel, stu-dent. BUSINESS COMPOUND WORDS: HOW TO HYPHENATE THEM Note. The following list of compound words, alpha- betically arranged, shows when the hyphen is required, and when it is not.* The words in italics are not hyphenated: able-bodied adjutant-general adjutants-general advance-guard afterthought afterward or afterwards aide-de-camp aides-de-camp air-brake air-castle air-cell air-chamber air-cushion air-cylinder air-duct air-gage air-gun air-pump a la carte Written as three distinct words; din- ner a la carte, mean- ing "by the card." alamode In the fashion. alarm-clock all right Written as words. Anglo-American Anglo-Catholic Anglo-Danish Anglo-French Anglo-Indian Anglo-Irish Anglo-Norman Anglo-Saxon ankle-deep antechamber antedate antemeridian ante-mortem anybody anyhow any one Usually written i two words. anything anyway anywhere archbishop archchamberlain arm's-length two arm's-reach army-corps audit-house audit-office backward or backwards backwood backwoods backwoodsman baggage-car balance-sheet Term used in book- keeping. balance-wheel ball-bearing ball-lever ballot-box balustrade bank-book bank-credit banquet-hall banquet-house barefaced "Compiled from the Century Dictionary by the author. 172 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING barrel-bayonet base-ball base-board basement-story basket-wood basketwork basso-rilievo bass-relief or bas-relief basswood bath-tub bath-room battering-gun battering-ram battering-train battle-ax battle-cry battle-field bay-leaf bay-rum bay-window beam-board beam-line beam-sheller bearing-rein bearskin' beau-ideal beau monde (Two words.) bed-linen bed-lounge bedpost bedridden bed-rock bedroom bedside bed-spring bedstone beechnut bee-culture beef-cattle beef-herd beefsteak beehive bee-line beeswax beet-press beforehand bel esprit (Two words.) A fine genius or man of wit. beaux esprit s (pi) Pronounced boz es- pre. bellelettrist Same as belletrist. belles-lettres Polite or elegant litera t u r e. P r o - nounced bel let'r. belletrist One devoted to bel- les-lettres. bellettristic Pertaining to belles- lettres. bell-buoy bell-hanger bell-metal bell-mouthed bell-shaped bell-tower belt-coupling belt-lacing belt-pipe belt- screw belt-shifter belt-tightener bench-clamp bench-drill bench-level bench-plane bench- screw bench-shears bench-show bench-warrant berth-deck bevel-angle bevel-gear beveling-board beveling-machine bevel- jack bevel-square bilge-water bill-board bill-book billet-doux billet-head billets-doux bill-head billiard-ball billiard-cloth billiard-cue billiard-table bill-poster bio-bibliographi- cal Treating of or deal- ing with both the life and the writ- ings of an author. birch-broom bird-cage AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 173 bird-catcher bird-fancier bird-seed bird's-eye bird's-nest birthday birth-mark birthplace birth-rate birthright bishophood bishop-sleeve bit-pincers bit-stock bit- strap blackball blackberry blackboard black-lead (noun) blacklead (verb) To cover with black- lead. black-letter Name of Gothic or Old English letter. black-list (noun) blacklist (verb) blackmail (noun or verb.) black-pigment blacksmith blade-metal blameworthy blanc-mange or blanc-manger blank-book blanket-clause A general clause framed so as to pro- vide for a number of contingencies. blanket-deposit A kind of ore de- posit. blanket-mortgage blast-engine blast-furnace blasting-cartridge blasting-fuse $ blasting-gelatin blasting-needle blasting-oil blasting-tube blast-lamp blast-pipe The exhaust pipe of a steam-engine. bleaching-liquid bleaehin'g-powder blear-eyed blendcorn Wheat and rye sown together. bleu-de-roi In ceramics, the name given to the cobalt-blue color in European porcelain. blindfold blind-ink A writing ink for the use of blind per- sons. On being ap- plied to paper it swells, forming raised characters which can be read by the touch. blindstitch blockade-runner block-bond Term used in brick- laying. block-coal A kind of coal. blockhouse A detached fort. block-tin blood-cell A blood corpuscle, blood-heat bloodhound blood-poisoning blood-red blood-relation bloodshed blood-stain bloodstone bloodthirsty blood-vessel blood-warm blotting-pad blowpipe bluecoat blue-eyed blue-grass A kind of grass. blue-grass region blue-jacket In the naval serv- ice, a sailor as dis- tinguished from a marine; so called from the color of his jacket. blue-laws (The blue-laws of Connecticut.) CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING blue-mass A drug. blue-stocking A literary woman. blunderbuss A short gun. boa-constrictor boarding-house boarding-school board-wages boat-builder boat-hook boat-house boatman boat-racing boatswain boatwright A boat-builder. bob-sled bob-sleigh bobstay bock-beer body-guard body-servant bog-earth bogie-engine bog-land bog-oak bog-wood Same as bog-oak, boiler-iron boiler-plate boiler-shop boiling-point bolting-cloth bomb-proof Strong enough to re- sist the explosive force of shells. bombshell Same as bomb. bon accord (Two words.) Agree- ment or good will. bona fide (Two words.) Good faith. bonbon A s -gar plum. bondholder bond-paper A kind of paper used for printing bonds. bondsman One man who by bond becomes surety for another. bondsman (pi.) boneless bone-phosphate bone-yard bon jour (Two words.) Good- day; good-morning. bon mot (Two words.) A witticism. bonne bouche A dainty morsel. bon soir (Two words.) Good- evening; good-night. bon-ton Good tone ; polite or fashionable society. book-account bookbinder bookbinder^ book-binding bookcase A case with shelves for books. book-case In law, a recorded case. book-holder bookkeeper bookkeeping book-learning book-lore book-mark book-notice book-rack bookseller book-store book-worm boot-black bootjack boot-lace boot-last bootmaker boot-pattern boot-stretcher border-land boring-machine bowie-knife bow-knot A kind of slip-knot. bowling-alley bowling-green bowstring box-car boxing-glove boxing-match box-money box-office AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 175 box-plait A double fold or plait. A seat in a theater- box or on the box of a coach. boyhood brain-cavity One of the venticles of the brain, the in- terior of the cra- nium or skull con- taining the brain. brain-fag Mental fatigue, as from overwork. brain-fever brainless brain-work brakeman brake-wheel branding-iron brand-new or bran-new brass-band brass-bars brass-founder brass-furnace brazen-faced bread-basket bread-knife breadwinner breakdown breakfast breakwater breast-bone breastpin breastplate breastwork breathing-place breathing-space breathless breeches-buoy Apparatus used in the life-saving serv- ice. breech-loader bric-a-brac brick-dust brick-kiln bricklayer brick-mason brick-press Same as brick-ma- chine. brick-yard bridegroom bridesmaid or bridemaid bridewell bridle-path bridle-rein brigadier-general brimstone broadbrimmed broadcast broadcloth broad-gage broad-shouldered broadside The whole side of a ship. broad- speaking broad-spoken broadsword broken-hearted broken-winded Having short breath. bronze-gold broom-corn broom-grass broomstick brotherhood brother-in-law brownstone A kind of sand- stone. brush-wheel brushwood buckboard bucket-shop buck- saw buck-shot buckskin buckwheat buffalo-gnat buffalo-robe buffer-bar bugbear buggy-plow bugle-call building-block Block used in ship- building. building-lease A lease of land for a term of years. bulldog bulletin-board bullet-machine bullet-mold 176 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING bullet-probe bullet-proof bull's-eye buoy-rope The rope which fastens a buoy to an anchor. burial-ground burial-place butt-end or but-end The blunt end of anything. butter-and-eggs Name of a plant. butter-box A box or vessel for butter. butter-knife butterman buttermilk butter-mold A mold in which pats of butter are shaped and stamped. butter-tub button-fastener buttonhole button-hook buzz-saw bygone Past. by-play bystander cablegram Colloquial term for telegram. cabman calfskin call-button call-loan A loan of money re- payable on demand. camp-stool cannel-coal cannon-ball can-opener cap-a-pie captain-general carbon-paper carbon-print car-brake car-coupling card-basket cardboard card-case card-index card-rack card-table cardtaker carpet-sweeper carriage-piece carriageway car- spring cart-load carving-fork carving-knife case-knife case-lock cash-account cash-book cash-boy cash-credit cash-day cast-gate casting-net cast-iron castle-builder cast-off castor-oil casus belli (Two words.) catch-basin catch- drain catchword cats-paw or catspaw cattle-pen cattle-range cattle-show causeway cavalryman cave-dweller censorship center-board centerpiece center-table century-plant cesspool chafing-dish chain-gang chairman chalk-line chalkstone chamber-council chambermaid chancellorship chancel-rail chancel-table changing-house chaplainship chapter-house AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 177 charcoal-drawing chimney-top clock-case charcoal-pit chimneypiece clock-maker charewoman chimney-sweep clockwork chariot-race or clodhopper charity-school chimney-sweeper clothes-basket charnel-house Chinaman clothes-brush charwoman chinaware clothes-horse chatterbox chin-strap clothes-line checker-board chisel-point clothes-pin checkerwork chit-chat clothes-press checkmate church-goer clothes- sprinkler check-rein church-going cloud-burst check-valve churchman cloud-capped cheek-bone church-member or cheese-cloth cigar-case cloud-capt cheese-knife clamp-iron cloudless cheese-maker clam-shell club-house cheesemonger clansman clubman chef-d'oeuvre clasp-hook club-room chemico-electric clasp-knife coach-fox chemico galvanic clasp-lock coach-dog chess-board class-fellow coachmaker chessman class-leader coachman chess-player classman coal-bed chest-measure classmate coal-bin chest-tone clay-colored coal-car or claymore coal-carrier chest-voice clear-cut coal-field cheval-glass clear-headed coal-gas chewing-gum clearing-house coal-hod chicken-pox clear-sighted coal-oil chief -justiceship clergyman coal-pit chieftainship clerkship coal-tar childhood clientship cobblestone childless clingstone cocoanut child-wife clinkstone or chimney-corner cloak-room coconut 178 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING codfish coffee-cup coffee-mill coffee-pot commander-in- chief commissary- agent commi s s ary-gen- eral commissary-ser- geant commission-mer- chant committeeman congressman construction-way consulate-general contrary-minded cool-headed copperplate coppersmith copy-book copyhold copyholder copying-ink copying-machine copying-paper copying-pencil copying-ribbon copyright corkscrew corn-bread corn-cake corn-cob corn-field corn-fritter corn-law cotton-mill cotton-picker council-board council-chamber councilman counting-house counting-room country-bred countryman countrywoman country-seat county- seat coupling-valve court-yard court-plaster cowhide cow-killer cowpox crab-apple cubbyhole cup- and- saucer cupboard darning-needle daughter-in-law daybreak day-labor day-laborer daylight deadhead dead-line dead-lock or deadlock death-agony death-bell death-dance death-mask death-point death-rate death-trap death-warrant death-wound deck-hand deck-passenger deed-box deep-seated Deo volente (God willing.) deposit-receipt dessert-spoon diamond-cutter dinner-table downtrodden draft-book draftsman drainage-tube draining-machine draining-pump drain-pipe drawback drawbridge drawing-board drawing-master drawing-materi- als drawing-room drayman dreamland dr e dging-machine dress-circle dress-coat dress-goods dressing-gown AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 179 dressmaker dress-parade dress-uniform drift-ice driftweed driftwood drilling-machine drill-master drill-plow drill-press drill-sergeant dripstone driveway drop-curtain drop-light drum-call drumhead drum-major drumstick dry-as-dust dry-cure dry-dock dry-goods drying-house due-bill dugout dumb-bell dumb-waiter dump-cart dunghill dust-storm Dutchman duty-free D-valve dwelling-house dwelling-place dye-house dyestuff dynamite-gun eagle-eyed ear-drum earmark earnest-money ear-ring ear-shot earth-born earthenware earthly-minded earthquake earthwork ear-trumpet ear-witness East-Indiaman easy-chair eating-house eavesdropper ebb-anchor ebb-tide eccentric-gear edge-rail edging-machine eduction-pipe egg-beater egg-shell egg-tester eider-down eider-duck elbow-room elf-fire elf-land elsewhere embossing-ma- chine embossing-press emery-paper emery-powder emery-wheel empty-handed enamel-painting engine-house engine-room Englishman Englishwoman ensign-bearer entrance-hall epoch-making equalizing-bar equilibrium- s cale equilibrium- valve escape-valve etching-needle evaporating-pan even fall evergreen everlasting ever-living everybody every-day every one (Two words.) everything examination- paper exclamation- mark exclamation-point exhaust-chamber exhaust-fan exhaust-nozzle exhaust-valve expansion-valve 180 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING express-bullet express-car expressman express-train express-wagon extension table eyeball eyebrow eye-glass eyehole eyelash eyelet-hole eyelid eyesight eye-tooth eye-witness face-card face-guard face-plate face-valve fag-end faint-heart faint-hearted fair-gronnd fair-weather fairy-land faith-cure faith-healer falcon-eyed falling-star fallow deer false-faced falsehood fancy store fancy work fan- jet fanning-mill farewell far-fetched farm-building farm-hand farm-house farmstead farm-yard fashion-piece fashion-plate fast-day father-in-law fatherland fathom-line fatigue-call fatigue-dress fatigue-duty feast-day feather-bed feeble-minded feed-motion feed-pipe feed-pump felling- axe felling-machine fellow-being fellow-citizen fellow-country- man fellow-creature fellow-man felt-cloth femme-de- chambre fencing- school ferry-boat ferryman fete-day fever-blister fever-heat field-artillery field-battery field-colors field-day field-glass field-gun field-marshal field-telegraph fiend-like figurehead file-mark filigree-work fine-cut finger-bowl finger-mark finger-tip finishing-press finishing-tool finnan-haddock fire-alarm firearm fire-bell fire-boat fire-box firebrand fire-brick fire-brigade fire-bucket fire-clay fire-company fire-cracker fire-damp fire-department fire-engine fire-escape AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 181 fire-extinguisher firefly fire-insurance firelight fireman fireplace fire-plug fire-proof fireside fire-trap fire-wood fireworks fire-worship first-begotten first-class first-fruit first-rate fish-bait fish-culture fisher-boat fisher folk fisherman fishing-banks fishing-ground fishing-net fishing-rod fishing-smack fishing-tackle fish-market fishmonger fish-pond fish-roe fish- scale fish-torpedo fishwife five-fingered five- spot flag-bearer flag-captain flag-lieutenant flagman flag-officer flag- ship flagstaff flag-station flagstone flash-light flatboat Flathead flat-iron flaxseed fleet-footed flesh-color flesh-tint fleur-de-lis flint-glass flint-lock flintstone flintware floating-lever flood-cock flood-gate flood-mark flood-tide flour-barrel flour-mill flour- sifter flower-pot flow-ice flue-boiler fluting-machine flying- shot fly-blister flying-machine fly-leaf flyman fly-net fly-rail fly-tent fly-wheel fob-chain focusing-glass foeman fog-bank fog-bell fog-bound fog-horn fog- signal folding-machine foliage-plant folk-lore folk-song foolhardy foolscap football foot-board foot-bridge footfall foot-gear foot-hill foothold footlights foot-line footman foot-note foot-path foot-press footprint foot-race foot-rule foot-screw 182 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING foot-sore footstep footstool foot-worn forcemeat force-pump fore-and-aft forearm fore-deck forefather foreground forehead foreman foremast forenoon forepart foresail fore-sheet foresight forestall forest-tree forethought foretop foretopman foretopmast for ever forthcoming fortnight forty-five forty-knot forty-niner foster-child foster-land foster-nurse foster-parent foundation-stoke foundryman fountainhead fountain-pen fourfold four-poster fourscore fourth-class fowling-piece foxhound fox-hunt frame-house framework free-born freedman free-lance freeman Freemason freethinker free-trade free-will freezing-point freight-car freight-house freight-train Frenchman Frenchwoman fresco-painting fresh-blown freshman fresh-water fretwork friction-balls friction-gearing friction-match friction-wheel frigate-bird frock-coat frontiersman frost-line frostwork frou-frou fruit-culture fuel-gas full- armed full-back full-blood full-dress furrowing-ma- chine fuse-gage fusel-oil fusil-mortar fusing-point gable-end gable -window gala-day gala-dress galley-fire galley-proof galley-slave galley-work gallows-frame gall-stone gambrelroof game-bag game-fowl gamekeeper game-law gang-drill gang-plank gangway garden-party garden-plot garden-stuff garrison -artillery AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 183 gas-burner gas-company gas-compressor gas-condenser gas-engine gas-field gas-fixture gas-lamp gas-light gas-main gas-meter gas-plant gas-range gas-retort gas-tank gas-water gas-works gate-keeper gateman gate-money gate-post gateway gathering-board gearing-chain gear-wheel gem-cutting gemel-window gentlefolk gentleman gentlewoman germ-disease ghost- story giant-powder gift-horse gig-saddle gig-saw gilt-edged ginger-ale gingerbread gin-house glass-blower glass-metal glassware, glass-works glee-club gleeman glow-lamp glue-pot gluten-bread goatskin go-cart godchild godfather God-fearing God-forsaken godlike godmother God 'a-acre gold-bearing gold-dust (properly golddust) goldenrod goldfish gold-foil gold-leaf gold-mine gold-note goldsmith golf-club good-by good-evening good-morning good-night goodwife good-will gooseberry goose-flesh goose-quill gouge-bit governor-general grain-car grain-mill grain- scale grain-tin grain-weevil grammar-school grandchild grand-duke grandfather grandmother granite-ware granulating- machine grape-shot grass-green grass-grown grass-linen gravel-pit gravestone graveyard great-grand- father greenback greengrocer greenhouse greenroom grill-room grinding-machine grinding-mill grindstone 184 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING gripman gun-wad gripsack gutta-percha grist-mill hackman groomsman hail-fellow grotto-work hailstone ground floor hail- storm ground-hog hairbreadth ground-line haircloth ground-rent hair-line ground- swell hair-spring groundwork hair-work grub-saw half-and-half guard-boat half-breed guard-duty half-brother guard-house half-dime guard-irons half-dollar guard-mounting half-hour guard-rail half-length guesswork half-mast guest-chamber half-measure guide-bar half -mo on guide-book half-pay guide-post half-price guide-ropes half-shell guildhall half-sister guinea-fowl half-sole gunboat half-way gun-carriage half-year guncotton hallway gunny-bags halyard-rack gunny-cloth hand-bag gunpowder handbill gun-reach handbook gunshot hand-car gunsmith handcuff gun-stock hand-glass hand-grenade handkerchief hand-made handmaid hand-organ hand-press hand-rail hand-saw handscrew handspring hand-to-mouth hand-work handwriting hardware headquarters headstrong headway health-officer hearsay heavy-weight henceforth hereafter hereby hereof hereupon herewith herself hiding-place high-born high-bred highway himself hind-foremost hindsight hinge- joint hogshead AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 185 'holdback holystone home-coming homelike home rule homesick homespun homestead homeward-bound honey-cell honeycomb honeymoon hoop-iron hoop-skirt horror-stricken horse-artillery horseback horse-car horse-guards horsehair horse- jockey horseman horse-race horseshoe horsewhip horsewoman hose-cart hose-company hose-coupling hose-reel hotbed hothouse hour-glass hour-hand hour-line house-boat household housekeeper housemaid house-physician house-surgeon housetop housewife humankind hundredweight hunting-box hunting-ground hunting-watch huntsman hurricane-deck husbandman husking-bee hymn-book iceberg ice-boat ice-cap ice-chest ice-cold ice-cream ice-field ice-house ice-tongs ice-wagon ice-water ideal-realism idle-wheel idol-worship ill-advised ill-treat inasmuch incense-burner income index-finger index-gage india-rubber indwelling infant-class infantryman ingot-iron ingrowing inkstand inland innkeeper insect-powder inside inspector-general invalid-chair invoice-book Irish-American . Irishman iron-bound iron-clad ironclad iron-foundry iron-gray ironing-board iron-mould iron-rust ironsides ironwork iron-worker iron-works ivory-black ivory-paper ivory-white ivory-yellow jack-knife jack-plane 186 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING jack-rabbit jackstone jail- delivery jamb-post jaw-bone jet-black jockey-club j ointing-machine journal-book journal-box journeyman judge-advocate judgment-day judgment-note junk-dealer junkman junk- shop jury-box juryman keen-witted keepsake kettledrum keyboard key-file keyhole key-note keystone kindergarten kindling-wood kingship kinsman kinswoman kitchen-garden kitchen-maid knapsack knee-breeches knee-deep knickknack knife-blade knight-errant knighthood knitting-machine labeling-machine laboratory-forge labor-market labor-saving labor-union lace-making lacquer-ware ladylike lake-dweller lambskin lamb's wool lampblack lamp-chimney lamplight lamplighter lamp-wick land-breeze land-compass landholder landlady landlocked landlord landmark land-office landscape landscape-gar- dening landscape-painter landslide lap-board latch-key latch-string lath-brick latter-day lattice- window latticework laughing-gas laundry-maid laundryman law-abiding lawbreaker lawmaker lawn-mower lawn-tennis law-officer lawsuit lay-figure layman lead-colored lead-line lead-pencil leaf-gold leaf-lard leaf-mold lean-to leasehold leave-taking lecture-room ledger-blade leeward leeway left-handed legal-tender lese-majesty letter-box letter-carrier letter-file letter-head letter-paper AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 187 letter-perfect letter-press level-headed lever-engine lever- jack lieutenant-colonel lieutenant-com- mander lieutenant-gov- ernor life-belt life-boat life-car life-estate life-giving life-history life-interest lifelong life-preserver life-saving life-size lifetime light-horse lighthouse lightning-proof lime-kiln lime-light limestone lime-wash lime-water lineman linseed linseed-oil lion-hearted lip-language lip-reading livelong liveryman livery-stable living-room load-line loan-office lock-box lockjaw lockout locksmith lock- step lodestone lodging-house logging-camp .log house log-roller longhand long-lived long-primer long-range longshoreman long-suffering loophole love-token loving-cup Low-German lowland low-pressure lubricating-oil lumberman lumber-room lumber-yard lump- sugar lynx-eyed machine-made machine-shop madhouse madman madstone magnifying-glass mail-bag mail-car mail-carrier mail-catcher mailing-machine mail-matter mail-pouch mail-train main-deck mainland mainmast main-rigging mainsail maintopmast maintop sail-yard major-general make-believe makeshift malt-house manhole mankind man-of-war manor-house man-servant mansion-house manslaughter mantelpiece mantel- shelf manway Manxman Manxwoman market-garden market-place marking-machine marksman 188 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING marshland mass-meeting master-at-arms masterpiece master-stroke masthead match-box match- shooting mayloe May-pole May-queen meantime meanwhile measuring-chain measuring-tape measuring- wheel meat-chopper meat-saw medicine-chest meeting-house melting- furnace melting-pan memorandum- book memorial-stone merry-go-round merrymaking mess-deck mess-table metal-casting metal-work midday middle-aged middleman midland Mid-Lent midnight midshipman midstream midsummer midway mile-post mile-stone milk-can milking- stool milkmaid milkman milk-tester milk-warm mill-dam mill-driver mill-pond mill-race mill-wheel millwright mince-meat mind-reader mind-transfer- ence mining-camp mining district minute-book minute-hand minute-man miracle-play mission-school miter-box miter- joint miter-plane miter- square mizzenmast mock-heroic modelling-clay modelling-tools moderator-lamp moleskin money-broker money-lender money-market money-matter money-order monkey-engine monkey-hammer monkey-wrench moonbeam moonlight moonstone moor-grass mooring-block mooring-post moorland moreover mortar-bed mortar-board mortar-boat mortise-bolt mortise-chisel mortise-lock mortising-ma- chine mosquito-netting moss-agate mother-country mother-in-law mother-lye mother-of-pearl mother-tongue motor-car molding-machine mound-builder mountain-chain AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 189 house-trap needle-gun moustache-cup needlewoman mouth-organ needlework mouthpiece nerve-cell mowing-machine nerve-center mud-bath nerve-force mud-scow nerve-tissue muley-axle nest-egg muley-saw nevermore multiplying-len s nevertheless multiplying-wheel new-born mummy-case New-Englander mummy-cloth New-Mexican music-box news-agent music-hall newsboy music-stand newspaper music-stool New-year musket-proof New-Yorker musket- shot nickel-plated musk-ox nickname muskrat night-bell mussel-shell nightfall mustard-poultice night-lamp muster-roll nightmare muzzle-loader night-time muzzle-strap night-watch namesake night-watchman narrow-gage ninepins native-born nobleman nature-worship noble-minded navy-bill nobody navy-register nonesuch navy-yard noonday neck-bearing Norseman neck-chain North- American necklace North- C ar olinian neckwear north-northeast north-northwest northwest nosegay note-book notion-counter notwithstanding nowadays nowhere numbering-ma- chine nurse-maid nutcracker nutmeg-grater nut-oil nutshell oar-lock oarsman oatmeal oat-mill object-lesson object-object oblique-angled observation-car obtuse-angled Odd-fellow odd-looking offhand office-holder office-seeker offset offshoot offspring oftentimes oil-can oil-cloth oil-factory oil-gage 190 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING oil-gland outbalance oilman outbid oil-mill outbreak oil-painting outbuilding oil-press outcast oil-refining outcome oilskin outcry oil-stove outdistance oil-tank outdoors oil-well outfit olive-branch outgeneral olive-oil outgrow on-coming outlast one-eyed outlay oneself outlook onlooker outnumber open-air out-of-doors openwork outpost opera-glass outpouring opera-house outrun opera-singer outspoken operating-table outvote opium-eater outward-bound opium-habit outwit orange-blossom overalls Orangeman over- anxious orange-peel overawe order-book overboard ordnance-office overcast ordnance-officer overcharge ore-deposit overcome organ-grinder over-confident organ-loft overestimate organ-pipe overflow orphan-asylum overgrown ostrich-farm overhead ostrich-feather overpower over-righteous overripe overseer overshadow overstep overtake overthrow overtime overvalue over-violent overweight ox-gall ox-hide oxidizing-furnace ox-team oyster-bank oyster-boat oyster-culture oyster man oyster-rock ozone-paper packet-ship packhorse packing-case pack-load paddle-box paddle-wheel painstaking paint-brush palace-car pall-bearer palm-oil pampas-grass panel-picture panic-stricken paper-hanger paper-mill AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 191 paper- shell paper-weight papier-mache parade-ground paraffin-oil parcel-post parchment-skin paring-machine parlor-car parlor-organ parole-arrest part-owner party-color party-man party-wall passage-money passageway passenger-car passenger-ship passenger-train passe-partout passer-by passion-play passport password pasteboard paste-pot past-perfect pastry-cook pasture-land patchwork patent-right patrolman pattern-wheel paving-stone paving-tile pawnbroker pawnshop pawn-ticket pay-inspector paymaster pay-roll peace-offering peace-officer pea-jacket pearl-fishery peat-bog pebble-stone pebbleware pell-mell pencil-compass pencil-drawing pencil- sketch penholder pennyweight penny-wise pepper-box peppercorn pepper-mill peppermint percussion-bullet percussion-cap percussion-gun percussion- powder perfecting-press perforating-ma- chine petroleum-car petroleum-still pewholder pew-rent phonograph piano-stool pickaxe picket-fence picket-guard picket-line pickpocket picture-gallery piecemeal piece-work pier-glass pigeon-fancier pigeonhole pigeon-house pig-iron pig-lead pig-metal pigskin pile-dam pile-driver pilework pilot-boat pilot-engine pilot-house pilot-light pince-nez pincushion pineapple pine-cone pine-knot pine-oil pin-head pin-point pipe-clay pipe-coupling pipe-covering pipe-cutter pipe-line pipe-organ 192 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING pipe-stem pistachio-nut pistol-shot piston-head piston-pump piston-rod piston-valve piston-whistle pitch-black pitchfork pitfall pivot-gearing pivot-gun pivot-man plague-spot plain-dealer plainsman plaiting-machine plane-guide planer-vise planing-machine planing-mill plate-armor plate-glass plate-iron playbill playfellow playground playing-card plaything playwright play-writer pleasure-ground pleasure-trip plowing-machine plowshare plumb-level plumb-line plumb-rule plummet-level plunger-piston pocket-book pocketbooJc pocket-edition pocket-handker- chief pocket-knife pocket-pistol point-blank pointing-machine point-lace polarization- microscope pole-chain policeman policy-holder polishing-ma- chine polishing-powder polka-dot polling-booth poll-tax pontoon-bridge poor-farm poorhouse porcelain-cement porcelain-clay porte-bonheur porte-cochere portrait-painter postage-stamp postal-card post-card post-free post-haste postman postmark postmaster postmaster-gen- eral postmeridian post-mortem post-nuptial post-office post-paid post-trader pottery-ware poultry-farm poultry-yard pound-foolish pound-keeper pound-weight pourparler pousse-cafe poverty-stricken powder-flask powder-horn powder-magazine powder-mill powder-mine powder-puff power-house power-machine power-press praiseworthy prayer-book prayer-meeting present-perfect press-agent pressman press-mark AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 193 press-proof pressroom pressure-bar pressure-gage presswork price-list price-tag prie-dieu priestcraft priming-machine priming-powder printing-house printing-ink printing-machine printing-office printing-press printing-tele- graph prison-bars prison-ship prison-van prize-court prize-fight prize-money produce-exchange produce-merchant profit-sharing proof-reader proof-sheet propeller-engine propeller-shaft propeller-wheel property-tax prose-writer proving-ground provision-mer- chant pruning-knife psalm-book pulley-block pulley-wheel pulp-engine pulp-mill pumice-stone pump-gear pump-handle pump-room pump-well punching-bag purse-proud pur sing-block pursing-gear push-button putty-knife quadrant-com- pass quarry-faced quarrying-ma- chine quarryman quarry- slave quarter-back quarter-boat quarter-deck quartermaster quartermaster- general quarter-rail quarter-section quicklime quick-march quicksand quicksilver quickstep quilting-bee quilting-frame Quitclaim quotation-mark race-course race-horse race-track raceway rack-saw radius-saw raftsman ragman rag- shop rail-guard railroad rail- saw rail-splitter railway r ail way-cr o s sing rail way- switch railway-tie rainbow rain-drop rainfall rain-gage rain-maker rain-storm rain-water ramrod ramshackle range-lights rarebit rawhide razor-strop reading-desk ready-made reaming-iron 194 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING reaping-machine rear-admiral receipt-book receiving-vault reception-room reclining-chair recreation- ground recruiting-party red-letter reed-instrument reed-organ reel-cotton refrigerating- chamber refrigerating- machine refrigerator-car register-office rendering-tank rent-free repair-shop request pro- gramme requiem-mass rest-cure resting-place retort-house return-cargo return-ticket revenue-officer reversing-gear rib-bone rice-field rice-flour rice-mill rice-paper rice-plantation ridge-roof riding-habit riffraff rifle-ball rifleman rifle-range rifle-shot rigging-loft right-angled rinderpest ringleader ring-master rip-saw river-bottom river-craft riverside river-water f riveting-machine riving-machine road-bed road-machine roadman road- survey or roadway robe-de-chambre rock-bound rock-crowned rock-crystal rock-drill rocking-chair rock-oil rock-salt rod-iron rodman roller-mill roller-skate roller-towel rolling-mill rolling-pin roll-top roof-guard roof-tree room-mate root-beer rope-walker rose-bush rose-cut rose-water rosewood rouge-et-noir rough-dry rough-rider roughshod Roundhead roundhouse round-robin or roundrobin roivboat rowlock rubbish-heap rubble- stone rubble-work rudder-chain ruling-machine runabout runagate runaway rush-bottomed rush-candle rushlight rust-proof Sabbath-breaker AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 195 Sabbath-school sachet-powder sackcloth sack-coat saddle-bag saddle-girth saddle-horse sad-iron safe-conduct safeguard safe-keeping safety-lamp safety-pin safety-razor safety-valve sage-green sago-palm sailboat sail-cloth sailing-master sailing-orders sailmaker saintlike salesman salesroom saleswoman salmon-fishing salt-box salt-cellar salt-rheum salt-water sample-card sandalwood sand-bank sand-bed sand-brake sand-drift sand-hill sandpaper sand-pump sandstone sand-storm sang-de-boeuf sang-froid sash-fastener sash-frame satin-finish satinwood saucepan savoir-faire savoir-vivre sawdust sawhorse sawmill saw-vise S-brake scalework scalping-knife scalp-lock scapegoat scapegrace scarecrow scarf-pin scene-painter scene-shifter scent-bottle school-board school-book school-boy schoolcraft school-days school-house schoolmaster schoolmate school-time scissors-grinder scoop-net scouring-machine scrap-book scrap-heap scrap-iron scrap-metal screech-owl screening-ma- chine screw-driver screw-wrench scroll-saw scrollwork scrubbing-board scrubbing-bru sh scrub- oak scytheman sea-biscuit seaboard sea-breeze sea-captain sea-coast seafarer sea-foam sea-going sea-green sea-level sealing-wax seal-press seaman seaming-machine sea-monster seaport seascape sea-shore 196 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING seasick seaside sea-wall second-class second-hand section-beam section-plane sedan-chair seed-crusher seed-drill seeding-machine seeding-plow seedsman seed-time see-saw self-absorbed self-command self-confidence self -contempt self-control self-culture self-deceit self-defense self-destruction self-esteem self-evident self-possession self-preservation self-protection self-reproach self-respect self-restraint self-sacrifice selfsame senate-chamber senate-house sense-perception sentry-box serpent-like servant-girl sevenfold seven-thirty sewer-basin sewer-gas sewer man sewing-circle sewing-machine sewing-materials shadow-figure shadow-test shamefaced sharp-shooter shaving-brush shaving-cup shawl- strap sheaf-binder sheathing-paper sheath-knife sheep-cote sheepfold sheep-market sheep-pen sheep-shears sheepskin sheet-anchor sheet-iron sheet-lightning sheet-metal shell-fish shell-ice shellman shell-room shepherd-dog shingle-machine shingle-mill shingle-roofed ship-biscuit ship-builder shipmaster ship-owner shipping-bill shipping-clerk ship-railway shipwreck shipwright shipyard shirt-sleeve shirt-waist shoeblack smoke-stack smoking-car snail-pace snap-shooter sneak-thief snow-bound snow-drift snowfall snowflake snow-plow snow-shed snow-shoe snow- shovel snow-storm snuff-box so-and-so soap-bubble soap-fat soapstone soap-suds social-democratic socket-bayonet AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 197 socket-wrench soda-biscuit soda-cracker soda-fountain . soda-water sofa-pillow soft-shell soldering-furnace soldering-iron soldier-like solicitor-general somebody somehow somewhere son-in-law soothsayer sounding-board sounding-lead sounding-line sound-wave South-African South-American South-Carolinian southeast southwest sowing-machine space-line spalding-machine span-piece span-roof spar-deck spare-built sparerib spark-arrester spark-consumer speaking-machin e speaking-trumpet speaking-tube speaking-voice spearman speechmaker speed-gage speed-indicator speed-pulley spellblind spellbound spelling-book spelling-match spendthrift sperm-oil spider-web spill-trough spillway spinning- jenny spinning-machine spinning-wheel spirit-lamp spirit-level spirit-world splint-bandage splitting-saw spokesman spool-cotton sportsman spraying-machine spray-nozzle spread-eagle spring-balance spring-bar spring-bed spring-board spring-flood shoe-blacking shoe-horn shoe-leather shoemaker shoe-string shooting-box shooting-gallery shooting- jacket shooting-star shop-girl shopkeeper shoplifter shore-line shoreman shortcake short-circuit short-coming shorthand shot-cartridge shot-gun shot-tower shoulder-blade shoulder-brace shoulder-strap show-bill show-case shower-bath showman shrimp-net shuttlecock sick-leave side-arms side-comb side-dish side-light sidelong side-saddle side-show side-table 198 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING side-track side-view side-wheel siege-gun sight-bar sight-draft sight-reader sight-seeing signal-box signal-flag signal-gun signal-light signalman signal-officer signal-rocket signal-service signal-tower sign-board sign-post sign- symbol silk-culture silk-mill silk-weaver silkworm silvering-machine silver-plated silversmith silverware singing-school single-bar single-fire single-handed singsong sinking-fund siphon-pump sister-in-law six-shooter sixty-fourth skating-rink sketch-book skim-milk skin-deep skin-tight skipping-rope skirmish-line skullcap sky-blue sky-high skylight sky-line slabstone slate-pencil slaughter-house slave-born slaveholder slave-ship slave-trade sleeping-car sleeping-draught sleigh-bell sleigh-ride sling-stone slip-knot slippery-elm slip-shakle slipshod slip-stitch sluice-gate sluiceway small arms smelling-salts smelting- furnace smelting-works smoke-condenser smoke-consumer smoke-jack spring-lock spring-mattress springtime spring-wagon spy-glass square-built stable-boy staff-captain staff-duty staff-officer stage-coach stage-direction stage-door stage-manager stage-whisper staircase stair-rod stake-boat stamp-collecting- stamping-ma- chine stamp-office stand-by standing-room stand-pipe standpoint standstill starboard star-chamber starlight starting-point starting-wheel statecraft state-house state-room AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 199 states-general statesman station-house station-master statute-book staylace steadfast steamboat steam-boiler steam-cock steam-engine steam-gage steam-generator steam-governor steam-heat steam-launch steamship steam-yacht steel-engraving steel-ore steelware steelwork steel-works steeplechase steerageway steersman stem-winder stepbrother stepchild stepfather step-ladder stepmother step-parent stepping-stone stepsister stereotype-metal stern-board stern-port stern-sheets stern-wheeler sticking-plaster sticking-point still-hunt stirrup-leather stock-account stock-book stock-breeder stock-car stock-exchange stock-farm stock-holder stock-list stock-market stock-still stock-taking stock-yard stomach-pump stomach-tooth stone-crusher stone-cutter stone-dresser stone-engraving stone-hammer stone-mason stone-saw stone-shot stoneware stonework stone-works stone-yard stop-cock stop-over storehouse storekeeper store-ship storm-belt storm-door storm-sail storm-signal storm-zone story-book story-teller story-writer stovepipe stove-polish straightforward strait -jacket strawberry straw-color street-car street-door street-sprinkler string-band string-orchestra stronghold strong-minded stud-book stud-farm stumbling-block stump-puller subject-matter subject-object suction-pipe suction-pump suction-valve sugar-beet sugar-cane sugar-house sugar-kettle sugar-mill sugar-planter 200 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING sugar-refinery sulky-cultivator sulky-plow sulphur-spring summer day summer-house sun-bath sunbeam sunbonnet sunburn Sunday-school sun-dial sundown sunlight sun-ray sunrise sunset sun-worship supply-train sure-footed surface-car surface-water surf-boat surf man surgeon-general swan Vdown sweetmeat sweet- oil swimming-school switchboard switching-engine switchman switch- signal sword-belt sword-hilt swordman S-wrench sylph-like tabby-cat table-board table-land table-linen table-spoon tableware tack-hammer tailor-made talking-machine tallow candle tallow-chandler tally-ho tallyman tank-engine tank-iron tape-line tape-measure target-firing tariff-ridden tar-oil taskmaster task-work tavern-keeper tax-gatherer taxpayer tax-sale T-bar T-cart tea-caddy tea-canister teacup tea-drinker tea-gown tea-house tea-party tea-pot tear-drop tear-duct tea-room tea-set teaspoon telegraph-cable telegraph-key telegraph-pole tennis-court tenpins tension-bar tension-rod tension-spring terra-cotta text-book thank-offering thanksgiving T-head theater-party themselves thereabouts thereby therefore T-hinge third-class thorough-bass thoroughbred thoroughfare thought-transfer ence thought-wave threshing-ma- threadbare threefold three-ply three-quarters threescore AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 201 chine thumb-mark thumb-piece thumb- screw thunderbolt thunderclap thunder-cloud thunder- shower thunder-storm thunderstruck ticket-holder tide-gage tide-gate tide-mark tide-table tide-water tide-wave tile-drain tile-kiln tile-machine tile-ore tilestone tile-works timber-line timberman timber-yard time-book time-card time-fuse time-honored timekeeper timepiece time-table tinder-box tin-foil tinman tin-shop tinsmith tintype tinware tin-works tiptoe T-iron tissue-paper titbit title-deed title-page T- joint toadstool to-and-fro toast-master tobacco-pipe tobacco-plant to-day or today toilet-set toilet-soap toll-bridge toll-gate toll-gatherer to-morrow or tomorrow tombstone tongue-tied to-night or tonight tool-chest toothache toothpick tooth-powder topaz-rock top-drain topgallant topgallant- shrouds top-heavy topknot topmast topmast-shrouds topsail topsail-yard topsyturvy torch-light torpedo-boat torpedo-net torpedo-school tortoise-shell touchstone tower-clock tow-line townfolk town-meeting town-talk toy-shop T-panel T-plate tracing-lines tracing-machine tracing-wheel trackmaster traction-engine traction-wheel trade-mark trade-name tradesfolk tradesman trade-union trade-unionism 202 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING trade- wind traffic-manager T-rail training-school training-ship trainman tram-car tramway transfer-book transfer-resist- ance transf erring-ma- chine transfer-work transformation- scene transom- window transport- ship trap-door travelingbag treadmill treadwheel treasure-house treasure-trove trial-trip tribesman tribute-money trip-hammer troop-horse troop-ship truck-farm truckman trump-card trumpet-call trumpet-major trunk-line trustworthy T-square tuning-fork tunnel-shaft turfman turning-point turn-table turret-ship twelve-score twenty- second twin-pair twofold two-ply type-foundry type-gage ^ type-matrix type-metal type-mold typesetter typewrite typewriter typewriting typo-etching U-bolt umbrella-stand underbid underbrush under-clerkship underclothing undercurrent underestimate underfoot undergo under-grade undergraduate underground underhand underlie underpay underproduction underrate underscore under- secretary under- sheriff undersized understand understratum understudy under-tenant undertow up-country uphold uplift upright uproar uproot^ up-stairs upstream up-stream up-street up-town upturn urn- shaped utility-man U-tube vaccine-point vacuum-brake vacuum-pan vacuum-tube vacuum-valve vainglory valve-cock valve-gear vanguard vanilla-bean AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 203 vantage-ground vapor-bath vapor-engine vapor-lamp variety- show V-bob ventilating heater vent-pipe vertigris-green verse-maker vestry board vestryman V-hook vice-admiral vice-chairman vice-chancellor vice-consul vicegerent vice-president viceregal vice-regent viceroyalty vine-culture vinegar-cruet vineyard vis-a-vis visiting-card volley-gun volute-compass vortex-motion V-point wage-earner wagon-load wagon-tongue wagonwright wainscot-panel wainwright waiting-room wall-paper walnut-oil warcraft war-cry wardrobe ward-room warehouseman wareroom warfare war-flame war-horse warm-blooded war-office war-paint war-path war-ship war-song war-tax wash-board wash-boiler washerwoman washing-machine washing-powder washout waste-basket waste-pipe waste-preventer watch-dog watch-fire watch-guard watchmaker watch-tower watchword water-back water-barometer water-bound water-carrier water-color water-cooler watercourse water-cress water-cure waterfall water-gage watering-can watering-trough water-line watermelon water-mill water-proof or waterproof water-route watershed water-tax waterway water-wheel waterworks wave-line wax-doll waxwork way-bill wayfarer waylay way-passenger way-post wayside way-station wearing-apparel weather-bound weathercock weather-gage weather-report 204 CORRECT BUSINESS LETTER WRITING weather- service weather-sign weather-strip weather-vane weather-worn wedding-cake wedding-cards wedding-ring wedge-shaped wedlock week-day weighing-machine well-being well-drill well-house well-water Welshman whale-boat whalebone whale-oil whaling- station wharf-boat wharf man wheat-field wheat-rust wheelbarrow wheel-house wheelman wheel-race wheelwright whencesoever whenever whereas whereby whereof wheresoever whereupon whetstone whip-cord whipping-post whip-saw whip-socket whirlpool whirlwind whist-player whitewash wholesale whooping-cough wickerwork wicket-gate wide-awake wide-spread wild-fire willy-nilly windbound windfall winding-sheet winding-tackle wind-instrument windmill window-pane window- seat windpipe wind-storm windward wine-glass wineglassful wine-merchant wireman wirework wiseacre wishing-rod ivitchcraft witch-hazel witness-box witness-stand womankind womanlike wood-alcohol wood-anemone wood-awl wood-hewer woodland woodman wood-paper woodpile wood-sawyer wood-shed woodsman woodwork word-painter word-picture work-basket workhouse working-class working-man workman workroom workshop work-table world-old world-wide worm-eaten wormwood worn-out wrecking-car wrecking-pump wristband wrist-bone writing-desk writing-machine AND BUSINESS ENGLISH 205 writing-paper yard-tackle Y-track wrong-doer Y-cross Yule-tide wrought-iron year-book Z-crank yacht-club yeast-powder zebra-wood yachtsman yellow- jack zenith-distance yardman Y-level zenith-telescope yard-measure yokefellow Zouave-jacket yard-rope yoke-mate CORRECT ENGLISH PUBLICATIONS By Josephine Turck Baker The Correct Word How to Use it. PRICE $1.25 Correct English Grammar PRICE $1 25 Correct Business Letter Writing and Business English PRICE $1.25 The Correct Preposition How to Use it. PRICE $1.25 The Literary Workshop Helps for the Writer. PRICE $1.25 Your Every Day Vocabulary How to Enlarge it 2 Vols., A-D, E-H. PRICE $1.25 EACH Correct English Drill Book PRICE $1.25 Correct English in the School PRICE 75 CENTS Correct English in the Home PRICE $1.00 Art of Social Letter Writing PRICE $1.00 The Art of Conversation PRICE 75 CENTS How Can I Increase My Vocabulary PRICE 75 CENTS COMPLETE SET OF 13 BOOKS $8.50 A Year's Subscription to Correct English Magazine, $2.00 With any one of our $1.25 books $2.75 CORRECT ENGLISH PUBLISHING CO. Evanston, Illinois BOOKS BY JOSEPHINE TURCK BAKER The Art of Conversation Price 75 Cents The Art of Social Letter-Writing Price One Dollar How Can I Increase My Vocabulary Price 75 Cents These "Companion" Books are each handsomely bound in light blue silk cloth with gold lettering. The Special Combination Price for the Three Books is $2.00 or any Two of these Books for . $1.25 The Correct English Drill Book By JOSEPHINE TURCK BAKER Drill Upon Drill on the CORRECT USE OF WORDS As Required in Every-Day CONVERSATION AND IN LETTER-WRITING THE ONLY BOOK OF THE KIND Price $1.25 CORRECT ENGLISH PUBLISHING CO. Evanston, Illinois. Correct English: A Complete Grammar By JOSEPHINE TURCK BAKER INDISPENSABLE To any one who wishes to master the rules and principles of Grammar, together with their APPLICATION in CONVERSATION and in WRITING This book is not only for the student and the teacher of Grammar, but also for everybody who wishes to use Correct English : the mother in the home, the club-woman, the business man or woman, the stenographer, the author, the lawyer, the minister, the doctor, etc. In addition to its being a Complete Grammar, it also contains a complete exposition of following : Punctuation and Capitalization The Grammar of the English Language Parts oi Speech The Sentence The Noun The Pronoun The Adjective Reference Department Formation ol the Plural of Proper Nouns Irregular Plurals Collective Nouns TABLE OF CONTENTS The Verb The Gerund or Verbal Noun The Infinitive The Complement Concord of Subject and Verb Geographical Names Verbs Shall and Will; How to Use them The Infinitive Mode Concord of Tenses Concord of Auxiliary and Verb The Adverb The Preposition The Conjunction The Interjection Should and Would. May and Might: How to Use Them "As" and Its Uses Exercises Department Bound in Cloth; size 5^x7M, 363 paves. Postpaid, $1.25 What an Educator Says of Our New Text Book, Correct English: A Complete Grammar "In my judgment it is UNEXCELLED. It should find a place in every school in the United States as well as in EVERY HOME. Thankfully yours JOHN W. FLESHER, PH. D., D. C L CORRECT ENGLISH PUBLISHING CO. Evanston, Illinois. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY BERKELEY Return to desk from which borrowed. This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. MAY id 88*5 19530 25Feb'57JG REC'D LC FEBI1 LD 21-100m-9,'47(A5702sl6)476 REC'D LD 3 i 1C57 REC'D LD i : * 9 1978 18492 384597 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY