UC-NRLF esfc JLx- nJCCT3tuu-tr.ci/P3orjag*r7yiracvfiVjr>cig.a?c> J . .V .) i, ' j' if ytlt/ tflfttftltttttltttiftt t^ t tnti m ^ M^w iww<.vf* o iipnf ri ii .' y . r ,' a^- e. m r j EU O if?t>ar: T j t3B 3t :. 3- i 5.v.v;.-Jjrr < JF:. .-;.. 7.-7.- " ."fr.TJ.Trr omc-i KjSMMliUKM^C I J it I T " ii|l^iM miliwii iiii^< ti >wiiBm n i^ ^. T ] n iifptyf'tm ij Being a refit mm i' a, it f ATI ON * U'APITAUZAT i . j>v 44 I, rflQH LINO a OlVl'SI'dil OF 11 9 1 FAU.C5 ? ^BB Eli VIA | 3 | T'fQN.S- A STENTS 'Niaia^ILAtS j] I Faulty . ; DicTioN ^ Lcrffifc j VV S ITLNfi - r OSTAiEl ' K 1 QUA h 1 1 1 J THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK OTHER BOOKS BY MR. ORCUTT Good Old Dorchester. A Narrative History Princess Kallisto, and other Tales of the Fairies Robert Cavelier. A Novel The Flower of Destiny. A Novel The Spell. A Novel The Lever. A Novel The Moth. A Novel The Writer's Desk Book Being a reference volume upon questions of Punctuation Capi talization spelling division of Words Indention Spacing Italics Abbreviations Accents Numerals Faulty Diction Letter Writing Postal Regulations Etc-Etc By WILLIAM DANA ORCUTT for many years Head of The University Press Cambridge ; Ntob associated zcith The Plimpton Press "-Norwood Mass > , '.,-. New York- FREDERICK- A STOKES COMPANY Publishers MCMXIII Copyright , 1912, by Frederick A. Stokes Co. SECOND EDITION September. 1912 THE* PLIMPTON' PRESS [ W D O] NORWOOD MASS U S A "P/Vi+ i CONTENTS PAGE I Punctuation Importance of correct punctuation punctu- ation marks and accents the comma the semicolon the colon the period the dash the exclamation the interrogation quo- tation-marks parentheses brackets the apostrophe the hyphen Capitalization 20 Of religious terms of proper names of titles of institutional terms of references of ordinals in general use of small capitals Spelling 31 Importance of adopting an authority basic rules for numbers and diphthongs simple rules of orthography accented words par- ticiples variable . endings list of variable spellings Compound Words 45 General theory changes in modern uses rules and examples Division of Words 52 Rules and examples Indention and Paragraphing .... 55 Various forms used in display en echelon irregular hanging reverse lozenge blocked definition of the paragraph its value kinds of paragraphs length of para- graph Spacing 59 General principles kerned letters examples of varying spaces v 197652 VI CONTENTS PAGE Italic 62 Its origin its uses when required and when not Abbreviations 6s Of dates of proper names of titles com- mercial of given names geographical miscellaneous scriptural monetary signs mathematical signs medical signs Numerals 93 History of their evolution lists Correct and Faulty Diction .... 99 Dr. Campbell's canons good usage list of words and phrases commonly misused Letter Writing 114 Its importance business, informal, formal the heading the address the salutation the text the complimentary close the signature the envelope postal cards in general examples Postal Information 129 Classes of mail parcel post wrapping of mail matter forwarding mail matter what cannot be mailed concealed mat- ter domestic rates foreign rates excep- tions foreign parcels post money order fees registered mail special delivery sys- tem postal distances and time from New York City Appendix 142 Standard time values of foreign coins com- parative thermometers weights and meas- ures British weights and measures Index 163 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK PUNCTUATION MARKS, ACCENTS, ETC. ? 1 [] KJ Comma Semicolon Colon Period Interrogation Exclamation Parentheses Brackets Apostrophe Hyphen Acute accent Grave accent Circumflex accent Circumflex or tilde Long or macron Short or breve Q A {} *** If * * * Dieresis Cedilla Caret Quotation-marks Brace Ellipsis Ellipsis, leaders Asterisk Dagger Double dagger Section Parallels Paragraph Index Asterisks The Section-mark is derived from the first letters of the words signum sectionis, meaning sign of the section, the old-fashioned J being used. The paragraph mark 1f is the roman letter P reversed, with black and white interchanged. > > 1 . PUNCTUATION i N early manuscripts the words followed one another without punctuation points, thus making it difficult for readers to separate the ideas into the same parts as originally intended by the authors. Later they were separated by dots or other marks, which method obtained in the earliest printed vol- umes. Aldus Manutius (Venice, 1490-15 15) and his family were the pioneers in estab- lishing a basis for systematic punctuation. From this chaotic condition definite rules have gradually been evolved for general guid- ance, but judgment and taste must always be the final guides to correct punctuation. Assistance may be obtained by observing a few simple rules which are based upon the idea that the purpose of every punctuation mark is to indicate to the eye the construc- tion of the sentence in which it occurs. No one of the various punctuation marks should ever be used exclusively or to excess, for each one has some specific duty which it can perform better than any other. It is always wise to question why, in a given case, a punctuation mark should be put in rather than why it should be left out, for of the two evils an over-punctuated book is the more objectionable. " Close punctuation, " char- 4 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK acterized by the use of many commas, pre- vailed in the English of the eighteenth century and is today the best French usage, but "open punctuation, " which avoids the use of any point not clearly required by the construction, is now favored by the best Eng- lish writers. THE COMMA Dean Alford once wrote, in disgust, " The great enemies to understanding anything in our language are the commas," and prided himself that in the course of editing the Greek text of the New Testament, he destroyed more than a thousand of these " enemies. " The chief use of this, the smallest degree of separation, is to define the particles and minor clauses of a sentence. It should always be placed inside the quotation-marks when used in connection with them. The comma is required : i. Before a conjunction when the pre- ceding word is qualified by an expression which is not intended to qualify the word following the conjunction: e.g., He suddenly started, and fell. 2. Between adjectives and adverbs when not connected by a conjunction: He possessed a calm, exasperating manner; but the comma may be omitted between two adjectives when the idea is close: e.g., A clear cold day. PUNCTUATION 3. After adjectives JEpd adverbs where three or more are used in succession: e.g., The man possessed a calm, cynical, exasperating manner. 4. In a succession of three or more words where the conjunctive and is used before the last one: e.g., He was tall, thin, and pale. 5. When the word after the conjunction is followed by an expression which qualifies that word alone: e.g., 'Twas certain he could write, and cipher too. 6. After inverted phrases and clauses: e.g., Discouraged by constant opposition, he resigned his position. Short phrases of similar nature do not require the comma: e.g., Of his inten- tions there could be no doubt. 7. To separate the adverbs however, now, then, too, perhaps, and indeed from the con- text when they are used as conjunctions: e.g., This idea, however, had not occurred to him. When these words are used as adverbs, the comma is not required: e.g., It must be done, however contrary it may be to our present advantage. 8. To separate parenthetical or inter- mediate expressions from the context: e.g., His intentions, though at first concealed, be- came obvious. 9. After the last word of a series com- posed of several words not connected by conjunctions: e.g., The men, the women, the children even, were up in arms. 6 T H E W R I IK ' S DESK BOOK 10. Between wMw or phrases in appo- sition with each offer: e.g., I refer to Mr. Taylor, the father of Scientific Management. But when used as a single phrase or a com- pound name, no comma is required: e.g., The poet Tennyson was born in i8oq. n. Between the name of a person and his title or degree: e.g., Charles W. Eliot, Presi- dent Emeritus ; Woodrow Wilson, LL.D. 12. Between two independent clauses con- nected by a conjunction: e.g., The door was barricaded, but we managed to open it. 13. Between relative clauses which are explanatory of an antecedent, or which pre- sent an additional thought: e.g., Her voice, which was charming in her own drawing-room, was not powerful enough for a public audi- torium. But relative clauses which limit the meaning of the antecedent (called restric- tive) do not require the comma: e.g., He did that which he was obliged to do. 14. Between two clauses, one of which depends on the other, and usually introduced by if, when, unless, though, where, wherever, etc.: e.g., 7/ we stand together, success is assured. If the clauses are closely connected both in sense and construction, the comma is not required: e.g., William was ten years old when his father moved to Boston. 15. In compound sentences, to separate the co-ordinate clause when closely related and simple in construction: e.g., He was PUN CTUAJION UAjT w Wid courteous, not cringinm J superiors;, affable, not familiar, to equals;^md kind, but not con- descending, to inferiors. 1 6. To indicate an ellipsis: e.g., Price, seventy-five cents. 17. To separate vocative words or expres- sions from the context: e.g., I leave it, gentle- men, to your sense of right and wrong. 18. Before not, when introducing an anti- thetical clause: e.g., He devoted his attention to the matter before him, not because he was in- terested, but because he could not avoid the issue. 19. To separate similar or identical words, even though not required by the sense or grammatical construction: e.g., / tell you, you are wrong. 20. To separate two numbers: e.g., March 1, 1912 ; In 191 1, 869 cases were reported. 21. To separate a quotation or similar brief expression from the preceding part of the sentence: e.g., To quote the proverb, "Look before you leap." 22. Before the word of, connecting a proper name with residence or position: e.g., Senator Lodge, of Massachusetts. 23. After the salutatory phrase at the beginning of a letter, when informal: e.g., My dear Mother, but, when formal, Gentlemen: The comma is not required: 1. Before or after conjunctions such as and, or, nor, but, and yet when employed to 8 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK connect two wordWbelonging to the same part of speech and in the same construction: e.g., Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish, I give my hand and my heart to this vote. When words are not in pairs, the comma must be used: e.g., Sink, die, or perish, I give my hand and my heart to this vote. 2. Before or after conjunctions when they are employed to connect two expressions in the same construction used as if belonging to the same part of speech: e.g., The new system of management guarantees accuracy in getting orders under way and promptness in completing them. 3. Before the conjunction too when placed at the end of a sentence: e.g., / hope that you will come too. 4. Where there are two or more words or phrases having a conjunction between each two: e.g., Lest he should be tempted and yield and thus be false. 5. After an adjective that describes or limits another adjective together with the noun following: e.g., He had on a pair of torn gray corduroy breeches. 6. When a pronoun is used with a noun for emphasis: e.g., Lafcadio Hearn himself could not have described the scene more vividly. THE SEMICOLON The semicolon is used to indicate a pause or a degree of separation next greater than PUNCTUATION 9 the comma. Caxton was the first to intro- duce into English printing the Roman points of punctuation as used in Italy. The comma replaced the unwieldly |, and the colon was an added refinement, but for some unexplained reason he steadfastly opposed the introduc- tion of the semicolon. This mark should always be placed outside the quotation-marks unless forming a part of the quotation itself. Use the semicolon: 1. When the members of a compound sentence are complex in construction or con- tain commas: e.g., He was courteous, not cringing, to superiors ; affable, but not familiar, to equals ; and kind, but not condescending, to inferiors. 2. To connect successive sentences: e.g., His face never showed an emotion other than that which he wished to have seen there ; the mouth was protected by his heavy mustache; his eyes pene- trated the object on which they fixed themselves. Shorter sentences should be divided by commas. 3. Between expressions in a series which have a common dependence upon words at the beginning or end of a sentence: e.g., The half-sick man is a nuisance to his entire house- hold: he is not ill enough to accept restraint; he is too ill to be reasonable. 4. To separate passages containing chap- ters in scriptural references: e.g., Matte 1 : 4-8, 12, 16 ; chap. 3; 8: 16. 10 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK THE COLON The colon is used between clauses of com- pound sentences, additional clauses without a conjunction, formal quotations, and par- ticulars in apposition with a general term, to mark the necessity of a pause greater than that indicated by the semicolon and less than that indicated by the period. The colon is much less used today than formerly, as modern writers employ shorter and less formal sentences than those of a century ago. It should always be placed outside the quota- tion-marks unless included as a part of the quotation itself. v Use the colon: i. Before as, viz., that is, namely, etc., when these words introduce a series of simple particular terms in apposition with a general term: e.g., There are three genders in Latin: namely, masculine, feminine, and neuter. 2. Between two members of a sentence when one or both are made up of two or more clauses divided by semicolons: e.g., Vallie was nervous in his temperment; the Captain was calm and self-contained: Vallie was the prod- uct of the city; the Captain was the product of the world. 3. Between a complete sentence and an additional clause enlarging upon the same idea without a conjunction: e.g., Imagination PUNCTUATION II is essential to business success: without imagi- nation, plans for future development cannot intelligently be made. 4. Before particulars definitely stated: e.g., These new duties of the management are grouped under four heads: first, they develop a science for each element of a man's work, etc. 5. Before formal quotations: e.g., In a recent speech attributed to you by the daily press, you are reported to have used these words: 11 Good principles follow good habits " 6. After the formal salutatory phrase at the beginning of a letter: e.g., Gentlemen: 1 When less formality is desired, the comma may be used: e.g., My dear Mother, 7. Between the hours and minutes in indicating time: e.g., 11 :jo a.m. 8. Between the chapter and verse in scriptural references: e.g., Matt. 1:4-8, 12,16; chap. 3; 8:16. 9. Between the city of publication and the name of publisher in literary references: e.g., "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer 11 {New York : Harpers) . THE PERIOD Always place the period inside the quota- tion-marks and inside the parentheses when parenthetical matter forms an independent sentence and is not a part of the preceding sentence. Seepage 117, 2, 3, 4. 12 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK Use the period : i. After every abbreviation. 2. To set off decimal numbers from whole numbers. 3. After every complete sentence unless the sentence is interrogative or exclamatory. 4. To indicate an ellipsis, repeating the mark three or more times separated by spaces: e.g., . . . Do not use the period : 1. After running-heads. 2. After cut-in side-notes. 3. After centered head-lines. 4. After box-heads in tables. 5. After legends beneath illustrations. 6. After subheads set in separate lines. 7. After date-lines at the top of letters. 8. After signatures at the end of letters. 9. At end of lines in display composition, such as titles, 1 blocked headings, etc. 10. After roman numerals, even though they possess the value of ordinals: e.g., Vol. VIII ; George V is king of England. THE DASH The dash is more misused and overused than any of the other punctuation marks. The following rules define its proper use: 1 First adopted by William Pickering, the London publisher, about 1850. PUNCTUATION 13 Use the dash: 1. Whenever the construction or the sense is suddenly changed or suspended: e.g., You cannot believe but I will not humiliate my- self by asking the question. 2. To connect extreme dates in specifying periods of time: e.g., iqi2-iqi8. 3. When the sentence is abruptly ter- minated: e.g., "// he is alive, I can make him one from this time; and if if " 4. To secure rhetorical emphasis: e.g., We are ready we are more than ready to meet the issue. 5. To define verse references in the Bible: e.g., Matt. 1:4-8; or to indicate page refer- ences in a book: e.g., See pp. 21-42. 6. Between short, snappy sentences to increase the speed of the discourse: e.g., Hullo! ho! the whole world 1 s asleep! bring out the horses, grease the wheels, tie on the mail! 7. Between the subject-matter and its authority. 8. To indicate the omission of letters: e.g., Mrs. B . 9. At the end of a series of phrases which depend upon a concluding clause: e.g., Courtesy and attention, patience and judg- ment, accuracy and carefulness these are but a few of the elements which constitute successful business relations. 14 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK 10. To precede expressions which are added to an apparently completed sentence, but which refer to some previous part of the sentence: e.g., The question of hearing was seriously troubling the minister they prob- ably had heard too much. IfDashes may be substituted for commas or marks of parenthesis before and after expressions having closer connection with the main sentence than could be indicated by marks of parenthesis: e.g., They might have been talking for a quarter of an hour or more, when Monks by which name the Jew had designated the strange man said, etc. TfUse the dash preceded by the colon before a long quotation forming a new paragraph. The dash is not otherwise used with other punctuation marks unless demanded by clear- ness. 1fln France, printers use the dash as a frequent substitute for quotation-marks in dialogue, placing quotation-marks only at the beginning and the end, even though extended over several pages. THE EXCLAMATION The proper use of the exclamation-point lends force and vigor to language in express- ing surprise or emotion, but when overused it cheapens intended pathos and thus defeats the writer's purpose. It should always be placed PUNCTUATION 15 outside the quotation-marks unless it is a part of the quotation itself. The mark is formed from the word Io, signifying joy, written verti- cally I. The exclamation-point is required : 1. At the end of a word or sentence to express strong emotion: e.g., God forbid! 11 Mind that, Fagin!" 2. To indicate sarcasm or doubt on the part of the writer regarding the authenticity of a statement: e.g., " For Brutus is an honorable man!" 3. After exclamatory words. If the same interjection is repeated use the comma to separate the words, placing the exclamation- point only at the end, unless the intention is to make each of the repeated words em- phatic: e.g., "Oh! dear, dear, dear!" he ex- claimed; "what an unfortunate memory you have! " ^fUse great care in distinguishing between Oh!, an interjection expressing pain or sur- prise, and the vocative 0, expressing a wish or an imprecation, which does not call for the exclamation-point: e.g., "Oh! what damned minutes tells he o'er!" and "0 that I had wings like a dove!" THE INTERROGATION The interrogation-point is formed from the first and last letters of the Latin word quaestio [a question) placed one over the other; as l6 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK Q. It should always be placed outside the quotation-marks unless it is a part of the quotation itself. i. Every sentence containing a direct * question should close with an interrogation- point: e.g., When can this order be shipped? We have received a letter which asks, u What date can you give us for shipping these goods ? " 2. The interrogation-point is used to ex- press doubt: e.g., This volume is said to be bound in real (?) morocco. 3. Indirect questions do not take the interrogation-point: e.g., He inquired when it would be ready, QUOTATION-MARKS 1. Enclose every direct quotation in double quotation-marks: e.g., u I insist upon it" he said; " there is no alternative." 2. When a quotation of a passage from an author in his own words is run into the text it should be placed between quotation-marks. 3. Selections from different works by the same author, or from different authors, fol- lowing each other without intervening origi- nal matter, or by reference to their sources, should be quoted. ' 4. When setting poetry the quotation- marks should overhang the beginning of the line. This should also be done when prose display matter is " blocked. " 5. Single quotes are used for quotations PUNCTUATION 17 within quotations; double quotes for quo- tations within single quotations. 6. Quotations should always include the phrase etc., and other ellipses whenever neces- sary to secure perfect clearness. 7. When a long quotation is made, in- cluding several paragraphs or verses, the quotation-mark should appear at the begin- ning of each paragraph, but at the end of the last one only. Quote : 1. A phrase or a word which is accom- panied by its definition: e.g., " Roman quote 11 means to place the matter indicated between quotations in roman type. 2. Words or phrases in the text which are intended by the writer to possess an unusual, technical, or ironical meaning: e.g., Her literary "salon" will long be remembered; This so-called " captain of industry." 3. Titles of poems, books, etc.: e.g., Longfellow's " Belfry of Bruges " 4. Serial titles: e.g., the u Oriental Series, " Stories of Nations." 5. Words to which the writer desires to attract attention: e.g., The name of u Florence" immediately causes one to think of humanism, 6. The names of ships, unless directed to italicize them. 7. The titles of works of art: e.g., Raphael's u Sistine Madonna" j? 18 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK PARENTHESES i. Marks of parenthesis are employed to separate from the rest of the sentence enclosed expressions having no essential connection: e.g., / am unable to take this action (why do you urge me ?) for reasons which I cannot now give. 2. Figures or letters used to mark divi- sions in enumerations should be placed be- tween parentheses: e.g., There is a double reason for doing this: (a) it is the simplest form; (b) it is clearer for the reader. BRACKETS Use brackets: i. To enclose explanations or notes which are entirely independent of the balance of the sentence. Ordinarily these are comments, queries, directions, corrections, or criticisms inserted by some person other than the original writer: e.g., Let them clamor to get them back again [cheers]. 2. Rather than parentheses, to enclose drop-folios (folios placed at foot of page). 3. For enclosing parenthetical statements within parentheses. THE APOSTROPHE Use the apostrophe (or the apostrophe and the letter s) : 1. To form the possessive case of com- mon and proper nouns: e.g., The nation's PUNCTUATION 19 hope; For Jesus' sake; James's apple; For appearance' sake; The boys' camp. 2. To form the plural of numerals, but the apostrophe alone for the plural of polysyllabic proper nouns ending in a sibi- lant: e.g., They passed by in two's and four's; She is one of those W.C.T.U.'s; That came from Perkins'. Add es or 5 for monosyllabic proper nouns: e.g., The Fosses. In general, the pronunciation may be taken as a guide: if it is necessary to add a sylla- ble to pronounce the possessive, use the double s: e.g., Sickles' corps, not Sickles' s. 3. Use the apostrophe to indicate the omission of one or more letters in a con- tracted word, or the omission of figures in a number: e.g., That's 'ow 'twas; The spirit of 'j6; High o'er our heads; I'll for / will; Don't for do not, sha'n't, etc. 4. The custom of substituting the apos- trophe for the letter e in poetry, at one time common, is now obsolete: e.g., At ev'ry word a reputation dies. This rule is disregarded when the letter is omitted for metrical reasons. THE HYPHEN The hyphen is employed to join words together which have not become single words through general usage, and where words are necessarily broken at the end of a line. It is also used to separate the syllables of words, in showing the correct pronunciation. (See Compound Words.) CAPITALIZATION T HE original use of capitals in early manu- scripts was for the purpose of variety and ornamentation, and their position was naturally subject to each writer's individual taste. Good form now prescribes certain definite rules of capitalization as follows: RELIGIOUS TERMS Capitalize : i. Titles of parables: e.g., the parable of the Prodigal Son, etc. 2. The books and divisions of the Bible and of other sacred books: e.g., Old Testament, Book of Job, etc. 3. Versions of the Bible: e.g., King James Version, Revised Version, etc. 4. The names of monastic orders and their members: e.g., the Jesuits, the Black Friars, etc. 5. The word Church when it stands for the Church universal, or when part of a name: e.g., the Church, the First Congregational Church, the Church of Rome; but use lower case when referring to church history. 6. The word Gospel when it refers to a book of the Bible, as the Gospel of John, or 20 CAPITALIZATION 21 the Gospels; but use lower case when refer- ring to the gospel message. 7. Pronouns referring to God or Christ when used in direct address, or whenever the reference might otherwise be mistaken. 8. General biblical terms: e.g., Priestly Code , Apostles 1 Creed, Lord's Prayer, Lord's Supper, The Prophets, and Major and Minor Prophets, when the collection of prophetical books is intended; but use lower case for the adjectives biblical and scriptural. 9. Names applied to the Evil One, except when used as an expletive, or as a general name for any demon: e.g., "When the Devil was sick, the Devil a monk would be; When the Devil was well, the devil a monk was he." 10. The word Holy in the Holy place and the Holy of holies. n. The title of a psalm: e.g., the Twenty- fourth Psalm. 12. Capitalize the following: Almighty Jesus Christ Revised Version Authorized Version King Sabbath Common Version Logos Saviour Creator Lord Scriptures Deity Messiahship Son of Man Father Messiah Son God Messianic Spirit Holy Bible Passover The Trinity Holy Spirit Pentecost The Virgin Mary Holy Writ Redeemer Word Jehovah 22 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK Do not capitalize: i. Words like epistle, book (as the book of Ruth), psalm, or psalms when not used dis- tinctively, or psalmist when the author of a single psalm is intended. 2. Words like heaven, heavenly, hell. 3. The words fatherhood and sonship, god when a pagan deity is referred to, temple. PROPER NAMES Capitalize : 1. Epithets employed as substitutes for or affixes to proper names: e.g., Peter the Great, the Pretender, etc. 2. The words Pilgrim Fathers and Early Fathers (referring to the Early Church), etc. 3. The word Revolutionary when refer- ring to the Revolution of 1776: e.g., a Revolu- tionary soldier. 4. The words river, creek, brook, mountain, mine, district, county, channel, when used as a part of a title: e.g., Hudson River, Clear Brook, Rocky Mountains; but use lower case when preceded by the: e.g., the Hudson river, etc. 5. Nouns designating definite geographi- cal portions of the country or divisions of the world: e.g., the North, the South, the West, the Old World; and in the division of the Jewish Commonwealth, the Northern King- dom, the Southern Kingdom. Also capitalize the adjectival nouns derived from them: e.g., Northerner, Southerner, Oriental, Occi- CAPITALIZATION 23 dental. Use lower case for adjectives: e.g., He is now in southern California, etc. 6. Abstract ideas or terms when personi- fied; e.g., Pride flaunts herself; Nature gives willingly of her abundance. 7. Names of streets, squares, parks, buildings, etc.: e.g., Beacon Street, Copley Square, Franklin Park, Tremont Building, etc. 8. Abbreviations of names of corporations and firms: e.g., N.Y.C. & H.R.R.R. 9. The abbreviation Co. (Company) in firm or corporation names. 10. The scientific names of divisions, orders, families, and genera in all botanical, geological, or zoological copy: e.g., Ich- neumon Fly (Thalessa lunator), Reptilia, Vertebrata, etc. 11. The days of the week and the months of the year, but use lower case for the seasons, unless personified or referred to specifically: e.g., It was a bright spring day; but, Spring, beautiful Spring; the Spring of igi 1, etc. 12. The popular names of the bodies of the solar system (except sun, moon, stars, earth): e.g., the Dipper, the Milky Way, Venus, etc. 13. In botanical and zoological copy, the names of species if derived from proper names or from generic names, but in geological and medical matter use lower case for the names of species, even though derived from proper names: e.g., Clover-root Borer, Hylesinus tri- folii, Pterygomatopus schmidti. 24 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK 14. Capitalize the following: Articles of Confederation Magna Charta Bill of Rights Middle Ages Commonwealth (Cromwell's) Reformation Commune Renaissance Constitution Restoration Crusades Revolution of July- Hundred Years' War Seven Years' War Inquisition Stone Age Do not capitalize : 1. Words derived from proper names and their derivatives when such words are so familiarly used as to lose the significance and personality of their origin: e.g.,fletcherize, macadamize, quixotic, italicize, etc. 2. Nouns and adjectives when they merely fix a point of the compass: e.g., He came from the north, western New York, upper Canada, etc. 3. The words father, mother, mamma, and all other family appellations, except when used with the proper name of the person or without a possessive pronoun: e.g., I expect to meet my mother, but, / have received a telegram from Mother; My aunt gave me this, but, It is a present from Aunt Mary. TITLES Capitalize : 1. The word State when it refers to a political division of the Union: e.g., the State CAPITALIZATION 25 of Massachusetts; but use lower case when the word is employed as an adjective. 2. The words Federal, Government, Con- stitution, Cabinet, Administration when they refer to United States Government, and President when referring to the President of the United States. 3. All titles of honor, nobility, and re- spect: e.g., His Excellency, Her Majesty, Father William, Mother Hubbard, Cousin John, Deacon Smith. 4. Civil and military titles when they are used specifically: e.g., President Taft, King George, the Governor, General Grant, etc.; but do not capitalize the titles of offices actually existing when following the name: e.g., William H. Taft, president of the United States. 5. The names of societies: e.g., Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, Boston Congregational Club, Second Church Parish. 6. Names of expositions, conventions, etc.: e.g., Brockton Fair, Congress of Physi- ology, etc. 7. Abbreviations of degrees: e.g., Ph.D., LL.D., Litt.D., omitting space between the letters. 8. Such titles as von, in German, le, la, du, de, or d', in French, da, della, di, or de\ etc., in Italian, when the forename is not given: e.g., Von Humboldt, Da Ponte; but when the article or preposition is preceded by 26 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK a forename the title should not be capitalized: e.g., Lorenzo de' Medici. Van in Dutch is always capitalized. 9. After Whereas and Resolved, followed by a comma, begin the first word with a capital; e.g., Whereas, It has pleased Almighty God . . . ; therefore be it Resolved, That . . . 10. After a colon, capitalize the first word only when followed by a complete independ- ent sentence or passage or where preceded by such introductory phrases as namely, as follows, for instance, the point is this, my con- clusion is this, etc. n. In titles of books or essays all words except unimportant adjectives, prepositions, and conjunctions: e.g., The Fall of the House of Usher. Do not capitalize : 1. Adjectives compounded with an in- separable prefix with proper names; e.g., transatlantic, unamerican. 2. The words apostle, pope, bishop, canon, rector, chaplain, minister, etc., when sepa- rated from names or used descriptively: e.g., the apostle Paul; but in direct address they should be capitalized : e.g., "0 Apostle Paul." INSTITUTIONAL TERMS Capitalize : 1. Thanksgiving Day, Lord's Day, New Year's Day, the Fourth (referring to the CAPITALIZATION 2J Fourth of July), Children's Day, Easter, Founder's Day, etc. 2. The word College or University only when part of the title: e.g., Amherst College, Harvard University. 3. Political alliances and terms which have acquired similar significance: e.g., the Dreibund, the Insurgents. 4. Titles of treaties, laws, and acts: e.g., the Treaty of Portsmouth, the Declaration of \ Independence, the Edict of Nantes. 5. Names of political parties: e.g., Re- publican, Democrat, etc.; but use lower case for republican form of government, a true democrat, etc., where reference is not made to members of political parties. 6. Names and epithets of races, tribes, and peoples: e.g., Hottentots, Celestials, etc.; but use lower case for negro, colored people, the blacks, the whites, poor whites, etc. 7. Generic parts of names of political divisions (a) when the term is an organic part of the name, directly following the proper name: e.g., the Russian Empire, Nor- folk County, etc.; (b) when it is used with the preposition of as an integral part of the name indicating administrative subdivisions m of the United States: e.g., Commonwealth of Massachusetts; (c) when it is used singly as designation for a specific division: e.g., the Dominion (of Canada), the Union; (d) when it is used as part of an appellation as though 28 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK a real geographical name: e.g., the Pine Tree State, the Promised Land; but use lower case for such terms when standing alone or pre- ceding the specific name: e.g., the empire of Germany, the county of Norfolk. 8. Numbered political divisions: e.g., Ward Eleven, Fifth Precinct, Eleventh Con- gressional District, etc. Do not capitalize : i. The words legislature, circuit court, dis- trict court, city council, supreme court, senate, and house of representatives except when specifically applied: e.g., the legislature of the State, the circuit court, etc.; but Congress, the Circuit Court of Suffolk County, the House of Representatives of the United States. 2. The words high school, grammar school, except as part of title: e.g., the Dorchester High School; but the high school of Dor- chester. REFERENCES Capitalize : i. Nouns followed by a capitalized roman numeral: e.g., Act I, Vol. VIII, etc. In references the nouns and the roman numerals are often lower-cased. Do not capitalize : i. Minor subdivisions and their abbre- viations of literary references:, e.g., line, verse, note, section, chapter, page, etc. CAPITALIZATION 20, ORDINALS Capitalize : i. Sessions of Congress, dynasties, names of regiments, etc.: e.g., the Fifty-fourth Con- gress, the Sixteenth Dynasty, the Forty-fourth Massachusetts. IN GENERAL Capitalize : i. The first word of a sentence and the first word of each line of poetry. 2. The words / and O. 3. The first word after a colon when in- troducing a sentence having an independent meaning: e.g., My explanation is: Com- petition forces each manufacturer to study economies. 4. Words having special meanings: e.g., the Referee's decision, a Bachelors degree. 5. The first word of every direct quotation. 6. In side-heads capitalize only the first word and proper names. 7. In a letter, the first word after the address. In the address, sir, friend, father, brother, sister, etc. Do not capitalize : 1. Words used in forming parts of hy- phenated compounds: e.g., The speed of the Twentieth- century Limited, West Twenty-third Street, etc. 2. Units of measurement and their ab- 30 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK breviations: e.g., second, minute, hour, ounce, pound, foot, yard, etc. 3. The first word of a quotation follow- ing a colon (a) if it is closely connected with what precedes it; (b) if the phrase is depend- ent upon the preceding clause; or (c) if the words following the colon contain comment: e.g., These explanations occur to me : either the manufacturers are unaware of the situation, or they have become indifferent. 4. The definite article as a part of the title in mentioning newspapers or magazines: e.g., the Boston Herald, the Review of Reviews. TJWhen a date is at the end of a letter or paper, it is to be placed at the left of page, using roman caps and lower case if above signature; caps, small caps, and italic if below signature. TfOn title-pages and in headings certain words may be capitalized which in para- graphed matter would be made lower case: e.g., Queen Maria Sophia, a Forgotten Heroine. If In MS., two lines drawn underneath a word or words indicate small capitals; three lines, CAPITALS. SMALL CAPITALS 1. B.C. and a.d., a.m. and p.m. should be set in small caps, with no spacing between the letters: e.g., B.C. 480. SPELLING T HE difficulties which a writer encounters who has not firmly anchored himself to some recognized authority are many, and for those who have found this refuge to remain consistent is almost an impossibility. To the complications occasioned by variations in spelling certain words given authority by the different recognized dictionaries, there has been added more recently the bewilder- ment of the " reformed" spelling. To lay down hard-and-fast rules, therefore, would be an act of folly, but a safe guide to follow is to note that when two or more forms exist in any good usage, including good minority usage, or recent usage among bibliographers, scien- tists, and other systematic writers, the follow- ing rules are observed: (a) Prefer the form most correct etymologically (b) Prefer the shortest and simplest (c) Prefer the more phonetic form (d) Prefer English spelling rather than foreign. With this as a basis, the following rules may be formulated: NUMBERS i. Percentage should always take figures: e.g., 1/2 of 1 per cent. 31 32 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK 2. Spell out references to specific decades: e.g., Back in the eighties. 3. Spell out years and months in stating ages: e.g., Edward is five years and four months 'old. 4. Spell out numbers of centuries, dynas- ties, military bodies, streets and thorough- fares, sessions of Congress. 5. In statistical or technical matter figures should be used: e.g., The paper to be used is 33 x 44 inches, and weighs 120 pounds to the ream. 6. Spell out, in ordinary reading matter, all numbers of less than three digits: e.g., We have twenty-five titles, amounting to 250,000 volumes in all. 7. If, in a group of numbers, some con- sist of three digits and others of less, use figures for all: e.g., The packages contain, respectively, 50, 85, and 128 sheets, not fifty, eighty -five, and 128. 8. Spell out round numbers, but use figures for specific, even though approximate statements: e.g., The population of the United States is about one hundred millions; but, The population of the United States is Q2, 000,000. 9. Always spell out a figure, whatever its size, when it begins a sentence. If for any reason this is impracticable the sentence must be reconstructed. 10. In ordinary reading matter spell out the time of day, but in enumerations, and SPELLING 33 always in connection with a.m. and p.m., use figures, omitting the word o'clock: e.g., The doors open at 7.-30 p.m. DIPHTHONGS 1. Avoid all diphthongs, especially ce and oz, but retain a and ce in Latin words and in nominal English forms like formulce and other plurals, arbor vita, etc. Established English words having now or formerly the ligature (B or ce are generally written with the simple e. SIMPLE RULES OF ORTHOGRAPHY 1. Monosyllablic words which end in /, /, or s, when preceded by a single vowel, double their final letter: e.g., muff, still, lass. Ex- ceptions: clef, of, if, bul, nul, sal, sol, as, gas, has, was, yes, gris, is, his, this, pus, us, thus. 2. Monosyllabic words which end in con- sonants other than /, I, or s do not double their final letter. Exceptions: abb, add, ebb, odd, mumm, inn, bunn, err, purr, burr, butt, mitt, fizz, fuzz, buzz. 3. Monosyllabic words ending in a con- sonant immediately following a diphthong or a double vowel do not double their final letter. Exception: guess. 4. In monosyllables and words accented on the final syllable ending with a single consonant (excepting h or x) preceded by a single vowel, or by qu and a vowel, the final consonant is doubled before an added termi- 34 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK nation beginning with a vowel, irrespective of the addition of another syllable: e.g., stop, stopped; regret, regretting. When, however, the place of the accent is changed by the added termination, the final consonant is not doubled: e.g., prefer', preferable. 5. In monosyllables and words not ac- cented on the last syllable, an added termi- nation does not double the final consonant when it is preceded by a diphthong or by two vowels: e.g., profit, profited; cancel, canceled; benefit, benefited; equal, equality, novel, novelist, and all the derivatives of parallel. 6. Words which end in any double letters retain the double with a termination not beginning with the same letter. This rule also holds for derivatives formed by means of prefixes: e.g., agreeing, calling, recall. Ex- ceptions: instalment, enrolment, skilful, wilful, enthralment, pontific, withal, until, and similar derivatives. 7. Words ending in -our, the u being un- sounded, are spelled -or, with the exception of Saviour and glamour. The English custom is to retain the -our in most words having this ending. 8. Words derived from words ending in si- lent e after a consonant retain the e when the added termination begins with a consonant: e.g., state, statement, stately; pale, paleness; move, movement. Exceptions: abridgment, SPELLING 35 acknowledgment, judgment, lodgment, nursling, wholly, wisdom. When another vowel (except e or i) imme- diately precedes the final e, the final e is usually dropped before a consonant: e.g., argue, argument; awe, awful; true, truly, etc. There are, however, many exceptions to this rule: e.g., eye, eyesight, etc. When the termination begins with a vowel, the final e is omitted: e.g., sale, salable; bride, bridal; force, forcible. Exceptions: mileage, etc. 9. When words end in ce or ge the final e is retained before added terminations begin- ning with a or o\ e.g., change, changeable; courage, courageous. 10. In participles the final e is sometimes retained for the purpose of distinguishing them from other words pronounced the same but having a different meaning: e.g., singe, singeing, to distinguish from singing; dye, dyeing, to distinguish from dying, etc. The e is also retained in hoeing, toeing, and shoeing. 1 11. Words ending in ie change their ter- mination to y upon adding ing: e.g., die, dying; vie, vying. 12. Words ending in y preceded by a con- sonant change the y to i before any added termination not beginning with i: e.g., 1 See list on page 37. 36 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK merry, merriment; happy, happiness. Excep- tions: adjectives of one syllable: e.g., dry, dryly; sly, slyness. Also except derivatives formed by adding ship and hood: e.g., surety- ship, babyhood; but hardihood. When the final y is preceded by a vowel, the y is usually changed to i: e.g., gay, gaiety; day, daily; pay, paid; lay, laid, etc. 13. The French ending -re in theater, center, meager, sepulcher, etc., is not now generally considered good usage. 14. The possessive of proper nouns end- ing in 5 or other sibilant is formed by adding the apostrophe and 5 if the word is of one syllable: e.g., James's apple; but add the apostrophe alone if the word is of more than one syllable: e.g., For Jesus 9 sake. 1 15. Words which in their shortest form end in -d, -de, -ge, -mit, -rt, -se, -ss take the ending -sion: e.g., abscind, abscission; se- clude, seclusion; emerge, emersion; admit, admission; revert, reversion; confuse, con- fusion ; impress, impression. Other words take the ending -tion. 2 ACCENTED WORDS The following is a partial list of words in common use in which accented letters occur: 1 See page 19. 2 See list of irregular forms, and departures from rule on page 39. SPELLING 37 attach6 entrepdt proces verbal charge d'affaires expose" protege" confrere facade regime coup d'etat faience resume" coup de grace habitue role creche lese majesty sefior dbris materiel soiree en arriere matinee tete-a-tete en 6chelon melee vis-a-vis en regie nee vis6 entree papier-mache* PARTICIPLES These participles should be spelled as follows: acknowledging gluing owing agreeing grudging shoeing awing hieing singeing bluing hoeing tingeing dyeing icing trudging encouraging judging truing VARIABLE ENDINGS i. The following words are spelled with the termination ize: aggrandize agonize analyze anatomize anglicize apologize apostrophize apprize {to value) authorize baptize brutalize canonize catechize catholicize cauterize centralize characterize christianize civilize colonize criticize crystallize demoralize dogmatize economize emphasize epitomize equalize eulogize evangelize extemporize familiarize fertilize 38 I THE WRITER S DESK BOOK fossilize nationalize soliloquize fraternize naturalize specialize galvanize neutralize spiritualize generalize organize standardize gormandize ostracize stigmatize harmonize paralyze subsidize immortalize particularize summarize italicize pasteurize syllogize jeopardize patronize symbolize legalize philosophize sympathize liberalize plagiarize tantalize localize pulverize temporize magnetize realize tranquilize memorialize recognize tyrannize mesmerize reorganize universalize metamorphize revolutionize utilize methodize satirize vaporize minimize scandalize vitalize modernize scrutinize vocalize monopolize signalize vulcanize moralize solemnize vulgarize 2. The following words are spelled with the termination ise: advertise devise incise advise disfranchise manuprise appraise disguise merchandise apprise (to inform) emprise premise arise enfranchise reprise chastise enterprise revise circumcise exercise rise comprise exorcise supervise compromise franchise surmise demise improvise surprise 3. The following words have the termina- tion -ible; words not included in this list SPELLING 39 end in -able 1 , except a few words pronounced similarly, but spelled differently. accessible discernible legible admissible distensible miscible appetible divisible negligible apprehensible docible partible audible edible passible 2 cessible effectible perceptible coercible eligible permissible compatible eludible persuasible competible enforcible pervertible comprehensible evincible plausible compressible expansible possible conceptible expressible productible contemptible extendible reducible contractible extensible reflexible controvertible fallible refrangible convertible feasible remissible convincible fencible reprehensible corrigible flexible resistible corrosible forcible responsible corruptible francible reversible credible fusible revertible decoctible gullible risible deducible horrible seductible defeasible illegible sensible defensible immiscible tangible descendible impassible 2 terrible destructible intelligible transmissible digestible irascible visible 4. These are the irregular forms of endings -sion and -lion. adhesion attention cohesion assertion coercion crucifixion 1 Rule : Derivations of the first conjugation in Latin take a\ those of the other conjugations, i. 2 See page 42. 40 THE WRITER S DESK BOOK declension impulsion ' repulsion dimension insertion revulsion dissension intention scansion distortion occasion suspicion divulsion propulsion tension expulsion recursion version 5. The following words are pronounced similarly, but the meaning changes with the spelling: Advice . counsel advise . . to counsel albumen . white of egg albumin . viscous substance alegar . . ale vinegar aleger . cheerful, sprightly ante . . preceding anti . . against apprise . to inform apprize . to value auger . tool augur . to predict by signs Base . bottom, vile bass . . lowest tone bask . to lie in warmth basque . apparel berth . place to sleep birth . coming into life breach . gap breech . hinder part of a gun Cannon . . gun canon . law or rule canyon . . gorge cannot . . denial of power can not affirmation of power canvas . . cloth SPELLING 41 canvass . to solicit capital . chief, money, stock capitol . building caster vial castor . rodent censer . incense-pan censor . critic cere . . to wax sear . . to burn the surface seer . . prophet sere . . dry, withered claimant . one who claims clamant . beseeching complement . fulness compliment . praise conveyer . one who conveys conveyor . contrivance for conveying objects coquet . . to trifle in love coquette . . flirt council . . deliberative body counsel . . to advise consular . pertaining to a counsel councilor . member of a council counselor . . adviser corespondent . one who answers jointly with another correspondent . one who corresponds by letter Depositary . . receiver depository . . place of deposit discreet . . prudent discrete . . distinct dyeing . . coloring dying . . . . expiring Emigrant . . one who moves out of a country immigrant . . one who moves into a country emigration . . moving out immigration . moving in empirical experimentative ' empyrica 1 . . . combustible principle of coal 42 THE WRITER S DESK BOOK Faker . cheat, swindler fakir Oriental religious ascetic farther . as applied to distance further . . signifying additional Galipot . . resin or pitch gallipot . . medicine pot gantlet . "running the gantlet" gauntlet . glove grisly . . horrible grizzly . . grayish Hoard . accumulate horde . troop Immanent inherent imminent impending impassible . incapable of emotion impassable not passable incipient commencing insipient stupid, foolish indict charge with crime indite compose, write indiscreet . imprudent indiscrete compact intension . stretching intention . determination Lessen . . to reduce lesson . something to be studied Maize . corn maze . labyrinth marten . animal martin . bird meat . flesh meet . . to join, proper mete . to measure miner . digger minor . under age mucous . .' slimy mucus . . viscid fluid SPELLING 43 . . . wish, imprecation oh! . . . . an exclamation Panel . sunken plane with raised margins pannel . . rustic saddle parol . oral declaration parole . word of honor passable . . admitting passage passible . . unfeeling pendant . ornament pendent . hanging premices . first-fruits premises . property principal . adjective principle . noun prophecy . prediction prophesy . to foretell Rabbet . . groove in edge of boards rabbit . small animal resin . semi-liquid exudation of the pine rosin . solid product of turpentine rigger . . . . a fitter of ships' rigging rigor . muscular rigidity riot . . tumult ryot . . tiller of the soil Saver . one who saves savor . flavor subtle . . sly, artful suttle . net weight sheath . . scabbard sheathe . . to cover sleight . . artful trick slight . small Theocracy . . government by direction of God theocrasy . . mixture of worship of different gods ton . . measure of weight tun . . large cask 44 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK Vertical . . . perpendicular verticle .... axis, hinge Wheal .... raised mark, a welt wheel .... rotating disk COMPOUND WORDS T; HE general theory of compounding is that when two words are used together with but a single meaning, the hyphen is em- ployed if the emphasis of pronunciation falls upon the first word, but omitted if it is the second word which requires the emphasis. Practice, however, has shown that this theory is not sufficiently specific in its expression to guide the student who is desirous of mak- ing consistent use of the hyphen, and re- course to the various dictionaries adds to his confusion because of the many variations. Good usage, therefore, becomes his only refuge, and the rules which are formulated and collated here are based wholly upon what appears to the present writer to come within this definition. Many words origi- nally compounded or written as two words are now written as one; on the other hand, modern usage now compounds or breaks into two words many words which were originally written as one. 1f In general, hyphens should always be omitted when the meaning can be equally well expressed by using the same words separately. 45 46 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK Use the hyphen: i. With the prefix mid, except in cases of words in common use: e.g., mid-channel , but midsummer, midday, etc. 2. When two or more words (except proper names which form a unity in them- selves) are combined, preceding a noun: e.g., the well-known financier, up-to-date equipment, go-as-you-please race; but a quaint old English tea-room. In applying this rule be careful not to hyphenate adjectives and participles with adverbs which end in ly, nor with combina- tions such as those referred to when following a noun or qualifying a predicate: e.g., pos- sessed of highly developed intelligence, a lawyer well thought of in his own city. 3. In such words as attorney- general, vice- president, rear-admiral, etc. ; but not in viceroy, vicegerent, etc. 4. Compounds of color: e.g., olive-green, silver-gray, lemon-yellow, red-hot, etc. But in simple cases of adjective and noun, as brown- ish yellow or yellowish white the words are not compounded. 5. In nouns which stand in objective rela- tion to each other, one of whose components is derived from a transitive verb: e.g., / am your well-wisher, He is a large property-holder, hero-worship, but not in bookkeeper, bookmaker, copyholder, dressmaker, lawgiver, proofreader, COMPOUND WORDS 47 taxpayer, and similar common short com- pounds. 1 6. In compounds of fellow: e.g., play- fellow, fellow-creatures, etc. ; but bedfellow. 7. In compounds of father, mother, brother, sister, daughter, parent, and foster: e.g., father -feeling, mother -country, brother-love, sister-empire, foster-father, great-grandfather, etc. ; but fatherland, fatherhead, grandfather. 8. In compounds of world and life: e.g., life-story, world-influence, etc. ; but lifetime. 9. In compounds of master : e.g., master- painter, etc.; but masterpiece. 10. In compounds of god: e.g., sun-god, rain-god, etc. ; but godson. 11. When half or quarter, etc., is combined with a noun: e.g., half-circle, half-title, quarter- mile, etc.; but quartermaster, headquarters, etc. 12. In compounds of self : e.g., self-esteem, self-respecting, etc., but not in selfhood, selfish, selfsame, or oneself. 13. In connecting x, vice, general, elect, etc., constituting parts of titles, with the chief noun: e.g., ex-Governor Draper, Gov- ernor-elect Wilson, etc. 14. In compounds of by: e.g., by-laws, by-products, etc. 15. In connection with prefixes co, pre, and re when followed by words beginning with the same vowel as that in which they termina te, but not when followed by a differ- 1 See page 50, Sec. 5. 48 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK ent vowel or a consonant: e.g., co-operation, but coeducation ; pre-empted, but prearranged; re-elected, but recast. Exceptions: combina- tions with proper names, long or unusual formations, and words where the hyphen defines the meaning: e.g., re-creation and recreation, re-form and reform, re-collect and recollect, pre-Raphaelite. 1 6. In writing ordinal numbers when com- pounded with such words as first-rate, second- hand, etc. 17. In connection with the word quasi prefixed to a noun or to an adjective: e.g., quasi-corporation, quasi-compliant, etc. 18. In connection with the Latin preposi- tions extra, infra, semi, supra, and ultra: e.g., extra-hazardous but extraordinary; ultra- conservative but Ultramontane. 19. In spelling out fractional numbers involving more than two words: e.g., The supply is three-quarters exhausted; but, This leaves twenty-five hundredths. 20. In compounding numerals of one syllable with self-explanatory words of various mean- ings: e.g., three-legged, four-footed, one-armed, etc. Also in combining numerals with nouns, to form an adjective: e.g. twelve-inch rule, hundred-yard dash, two-horse team, etc. 21. In compounding a noun in the posses- sive case with another noun: e.g., jews' -harp, crow's-nest, etc. COMPOUND WORDS 49 22. In some compounds with tree: e.g., apple-tree; but whippletree, crosstree, etc. 23. In compounding personal epithets: e.g., hard-headed, bow-legged, etc. 24. Use the hyphen in the following words: after-years bas-relief birth-rate blood-feud blood-relations common-sense cross-examine cross-reference cross-section death-rate feast-day folk-song food-stuff fountain-head guinea-pig horse-power page-proof pay-roll poor-law post-office sea-level sense-perception son-in-law subject-matter man-of-war object-lesson thought-process title-page wave-length well-being well-nigh will-power Do not use the hyphen : 1. When writing points of the compass: e.g., northeast, southwest; but north-northeast, etc. 2. In words ending in like, unless com- pounded with nouns containing more than one syllable (except when ending in/): e.g., childlike, lifelike; but business-like, bell-like, etc. 3. In compounds ending with man or woman: e.g., workman, needlewoman, etc. 4. In phrases such as by and by, by the bye, good morning, attorney at law, coat of arms, etc. 5. In words ending in boat, house, look, room, side, yard, shop, mill, field, work, chair, maker, holder, keeper, skin, store, book, fold, score, penny, pence when the prefixed noun 50 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK contains but a single syllable: e.g., twofold, schoolroom, handbook, windmill, bookkeeper, workshop, etc. Exceptions: Court-house and State House. When prefixed noun contains two syllables, use the hyphen: e.g., bucket-shop, twenty-fold, ante-room, mason-work, paper-mill, etc. 1 When prefixed noun contains three or more syllables write as two separate words: e.g., policy shop. 6. In compounds of bi, tri, semi, or demi: e.g., bimonthly, tricolor, semiannual, demijohn. Exceptions: long or unusual formations: e.g., bi-centennial, etc. 7. In today, 2 tonight, tomorrow, viewpoint, or standpoint. 8. In connection with the negative pre- fixes un, in, and a: e.g., unrepublican, inanimate, etc., but the prefix non requires the hyphen except in words which have become common: e.g., non-conductor, but nonsense. 9. In connection with the words over and under employed as prefixes: e.g., overestimate, undersecretary ; but over-soul, over -spiritual, under-man. 10. In connection with the Latin preposi- tions ante, anti, inter, intra, post, sub, and super: e.g., antedate, antidote, subtitle, etc.; but ante-room, anti-imperialistic, intra-atomic. 1 See page 47, Sec. 5. 2 Cf. the old English words to-morn, to-year, etc. COMPOUND WORDS 5 1 ii. In spelling out a series of fractions: e.g., / can secure you one, two, or three fifths, not one-, two-, or three-fifths. Nor in writing ordinary fractions: e.g., one half, five eighths, etc. But another class of fractions require the hyphen: e.g., twenty-fifth, twenty-two one- hundredths. 12. In compounds ending with holder or monger: e.g., stockholder, ironmonger. 13. In compounds beginning with eye: e.g., eyeglass, eyebrow, eyelash, eyewitness, etc. 14. In compounds with the word school: e.g., schoolmates, schoolmaster, etc. Excep- tions: when made with a participle: e.g., school- teaching; or in combinations where separate words are more clear: e.g., school committee, school children, etc. 15. In compounds with deutero, electro, pseudo, sulpho, thermo, etc., unless the com- pound is unusual: e.g., electrotype, pseudonym, etc. 16. In compound adverbs: e.g., meantime, moreover, forever, everywhere, etc. But in phrases like after a while, in the mean time, for ever and ever, the words should be sepa- rated. 17. In words like anybody, anyhow, anything, anyway, anywhere, somebody, somehow, something, sometime, somewhat, somewhere. But any one and some one are written as separate words. DIVISION OF WORDS T HE unnecessary division of a word should always be avoided. The whole word should be carried over whenever possible. 2. A word should be divided in accordance with its natural division in correct pronun- ciation, rather than according to derivation: e.g., knowl-edge, not know-ledge; but divide according to meaning and derivation as far as is compatible with good spacing and pro- nunciation: e.g., dis-pleasure, not displeas-ure. 3. A single consonant between two vowels should be joined with the first vowel if short, but with the latter if long: e.g., riv-er, ri-val; but avoid dividing words as short as these if possible. 4. When two consonants come together between two vowels the consonants should be divided: e.g., mil-lion, struc-ture. 5. When three consonants come together between two vowels the first of which is short, all which can be pronounced together go with the last syllable: e.g., han-dle, chil-dren, frus-trate, etc. 6. Whenever practicable, and always when the pronunciation of a word is peculiar, the division should come upon the vowel: e.g., pro-duct, colo-nel, sepa-rate, peo-ple, pro-gress. 52 DIVISION OF WORDS 53 Exceptions: words ending in -able and -ible y which should carry the vowel over into the next line. 7. The letters c and g must never be separated from the vowels e, i, and y upon which their soft sound depends: e.g., re-li- gion, ca-pa-ci-ty, etc. 8. X must never begin a syllable, j must never end one, and q must not be separated from u, which invariably follows it. 9. When used as terminations, ing, en, ed, er, est, and the plural es are considered as syllables, except when the preceding conso- nant is doubled, or when they follow c or g soft: e.g., speak-ing, tak-en, long-er; but lat- ter, for-cing, ran-ging. 10. Two-letter divisions should always be avoided. These words should never be divid- ed: eleven, heaven, power, faster, finer, houses, given, flower, prayer, soften, liken, verses, listen, often, voyage, nothing, even, etc. 11. When a derivative word ends in /, the / is carried over when the accent changes: e.g., instinc-tive (instinct); but not otherwise: e.g., construct-ive (construct). 12. More than two divisions in. successive lines should be avoided. 13. A division at the end of the last full line of a paragraph should be avoided. 14. A word of four letters is not divisible. Dividing words of five or six letters should be avoided if possible. 54 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK 15. An amount that is stated in figures should not be divided. 16. A word in the past tense, pronounced as one syllable, should not be divided: e.g., beamed. 17. The separation of two initials of a person's name, or such combination as B.C., a.m., should be avoided. 18. A divided word that will appear on the last line of one page and the top line of the next page is to be avoided. 19. Separating a divisional mark (a) or (b) from the matter to which it pertains should be avoided. 20. Adjectives ending in -ical should be divided upon the i: e.g., musi-cal, not music- al or musical. 21. Word endings -tion, -sion, -tial, -cial, -tive, etc., are treated as one syllable. 22. In compound words additional hyphens should be avoided: e.g., music-lesson, not music-les-son. Keep prefixes, roots, suffixes, etc., as distinct as possible. Note. Division of words in French, Italian, German, and Spanish, may be found in De Vinne's "Correct Composition," pp. 434-446. INDENTION AND PARAGRAPHING I N prose manuscript, each paragraph should be written with regular indention. 2. When paragraphs are numbered, the figure should be written where the capital letter of the first word would otherwise be placed. 3. In poetry, lines which overrun should be written with reverse indention. 4. When poetry is quoted in a prose com- position, it should begin on a new line. If the continuation of the prose writing does not call for a new paragraph, the next line of prose text begins without indention. 5. When a prose quotation, is introduced, it should be treated as in Rule 4 if it contains more than a single sentence; otherwise it is "run in," with the proper quotation-marks and punctuation. 6. There are different forms of indention in typography which are used for different pur- poses, viz.: Irregular indention. For this form of indention there are no specified rules, and it is used principally in certain styles of poetry and in display work. 55 i6 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK En echelon indention is largely used for display in posters and advertisements. It consists in the diagonal arrangement of words, thus: CARPETS CHAIRS TABLES STOVES Hanging indention, which makes the first line of full width and indents all the follow- ing lines one or more ems on the left, as shown in these four lines. Half-diamond indention was used largely by early printers, particularly by Aldus, not only for title-pages, but also for chap- ter endings. It consists in arranging all lines right and left thus Lozenge indention requires an arrange- ment of the lines in this manner: IT IS ALWAYS A TROUBLESOME THING TO ACCOMPLISH AS IT TAKES MUCH EXPERIMENTING TO GAIN RESULTS BLOCKED INDENTION CALLS FOR AN ARRANGEMENT OF THE WORDS IN SUCH A MANNER THAT THE LINES ARE ALL OF EQUAL LENGTH INDENTION 57 PARAGRAPHING Indention and Display are the methods employed in typography to secure clearness and to add distinction to the printed page, but clearness in the body of the text is de- pendent upon the skill of the writer in properly dividing his composition into para- graphs. Just as correct punctuation assists the reader in his understanding of a sentence, so does correct paragraphing add to the understanding of the composition as a whole. The following rules may be formulated, based upon the practice of the most careful writers: i. A sentence which continues the topic of the sentence which precedes it rather than introduces a new topic should never begin a paragraph. 2. Each paragraph should possess a single central topic, to which all the statements in the paragraph should relate. The introduc- tion of a single statement not so related to the central topic violates the unity. 3. A sentence or short passage may be detached from the paragraph to which it properly belongs if the writer wishes particu- larly to emphasize it. 4. For ease in reading, a passage which exceeds three hundred words in length may be broken into two paragraphs, even though no new topic has been developed. 5. Any digression from the central topic, or any change in the viewpoint in con- 58 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK sideririg the central topic, demands a new paragraph. 6. Coherence in a paragraph requires a natural and logical order of development. 7. Smoothness of diction in a paragraph calls for the intelligent use of proper con- nective words between closely related sen- tences. A common fault, however, is the incorrect use of such words as and or but between sentences which are not closely related. 8. In developing the paragraph, emphasis is secured by a careful consideration of the relative values of the ideas expressed, giving to each idea space proportionate to its im- portance to the whole. This secures the proper climax. 9. The paragraph, like the composition itself, should possess clearness, unity, co- herence, and emphasis. It is a group of related sentences, developing a central topic. Its length depends upon the length of the composition and upon the number of topics to be discussed. SPACING JLjACH line should be spaced evenly throughout. 2. The spaces in a line should never vary more than the difference between a three to em space and an en quad. 1 3. Uniformity in appearance shows excel- lence in printing. To have one line thin- spaced and the next wide-spaced is in bad taste. Even in narrow measure this inequal- ity can be avoided with proper care. 4. In fonts of type where ends of hyphens and dashes touch the adjoining letters, hair- spaces should be used. Also use hair-spaces before colons, semicolons, interrogation- points, exclamation-marks, and inside quo- tation-marks. 5. No space should be left between supe- rior letters, or letters indicating powers, and inferior figures or letters; or between letters forming products. 6. No space should be left between the abbreviations a.d. and B.C., a.m. and p.m., between titles, such as LL.D., Ph.D., etc., or between the abbreviations of States, such 1 See page 60. 59 60 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK as N.Y., R.I. y N.H., etc., except in a wide- spaced line. 7. Scripture references should be spaced as follows: II Sam. 1:2-6; 2:8-12. 8. No space should be left between the symbols $ and and the succeeding figures. 9. An indention of one or more ems should be allowed at the end of the last line of a paragraph. 10. The same space should be left on each side of short words, such as a, an, etc. 11. It is poor typography to thin-space or wide-space a line in order to avoid a turn- over. 12. Beginning and ending a line with the same word in wide measure should be avoided, but not at the expense of good spacing. 13. The kerned letters / and j require a hair-space before them when they begin a line. When kerned letters end a line a hair- space is necessary after them to prevent breaking off in printing. 14. Should wide spacing be necessary, it should occur where it will be least noticed; viz., between words ending or beginning with tall letters. 15. This is an en dash: - This is an em dash: This is a 2 em dash: This is a 3 em dash: SPACING 6l 16. This line is hair-spaced. This line is spaced with 5-em spaces. This line is spaced with 4-em spaces. This line is spaced with 3-em spaces. This line is spaced with en quads. This line is spaced with em quads. ITALIC T HE first italic types were designed and used by Aldus Manutius, the celebrated Italian printer, of the fifteenth century. It is said that the style was suggested by the handwriting of Petrarch. In the first fonts only the lower case letters were italic, the capitals being roman; but this irregularity soon gave way to the more regular style of italic capitals and lower case. i. Italic is not used for the text of a book, but it is permissible for the preface, extracts, etc. 2. For poetry and other matter of a literary character italic has a decorative effect. 3. Italic is used for emphasis in roman composition and vice versa. 4. Italic is used frequently for subheads, running-heads, and side-heads, as well as for important paragraphs or extracts. 5. Italic is often used instead of roman- quoted for the titles of books, magazines, newspapers, and names of ships. 6. Signatures or credits are often placed in italic at the end of an article. 7. Foreign words and phrases are . often required to be set in italic, but there are many which are now so familiar to English readers 62 ITALIC that they are kept in the ordinary text. r . following is a list of the most familiar wor a propos data ollapodrida ad valorem d6bris onus addenda d6but paterfamilias aide-de-camp depot patois alias diarrhoea per annum alibi diatum per capita alma mater dilettante per cent. anno domini dramatis personam per centum ante-bellum ennui per se beau ideal entrep6t post-mortem billet-doux erratum pro rata bon-ton et cetera proteg6 bona fide facsimile quondam bravo fete regime cafe finis rendezvous canto gratis r61e carte blanche hoi polloi savant chapeau imprimatur seraglio chaperon innuendo sobriquet charge" d'affaires literati ultimatum chiaroscuro mandamus verbatim cicerone manoeuvre vice contra mignonette vice versa corrigenda naive viva voce 63 The 8. The following expressions, which are not as a rule so well known, should be italicized: ab ovo ancien regime bete noire comme il faut de qnoi vivre de trop en passant fait accompli grand monde hors de combat inter alia jeu d' esprit locum tenens mise en scene noblesse oblige raison d'itre sans ceremonie tour de force 64 THE WRITER^S DESK BOOK 9. Italic is used in the following words, phrases, and abbreviations employed in liter- ary and legal references: e.g., ibid, idem, loc. cit.j op. ciL, ad loc, s.v., supra, infra, passim, vide, circa (ca.). Exceptions: cf., i.e., e.g., v. (versus), viz., etc., which are always roman. 10. Punctuation marks which are placed after italicized words should be italic. Italic is used : 1. For the names of plaintiff and de- fendant in the citation of legal causes. 2. In algebraic, geometric, and similar matter to designate unknown quantities, lines, etc. 3. For s. and d. {shilling and pence) fol- lowing the figures: e.g., is. 6d. 4. For specific names in Botany, Zoology, and Geology. 5. In medical matter roman is used in- stead of italic for scientific terms. 6. For names of stars or constellations in astronomical matter. 7. In resolutions for the word Resolved. In MS. one line drawn beneath a word or sentence signifies that it is to be put in italic. D ABBREVIATIONS DATES ATES are not usually abbreviated in writ- ing or in regular text matter; but when necessary the following rules may be followed: i. Do not use st, d, rd, or th after a date given in figures; e.g., June 3, not June 3d or 3rd. If a date is spelled out, the rule is as follows: e.g., June the third, not June three. 2. Do not use ult., inst., or prox., but always name the month: e.g., Oct. 25, not 25th ult., Nov. 10, not 10th inst. 3. Use generally accepted abbreviations for the names of months when the day of the month is also given, and prefer dates in order of day, month, and year: e.g., 7 Jan., igi2. When the name of the month is used alone or followed only by the year, do not abbre- viate: e.g., February, IQ12, not Feb., IQ12. 4. For ordinary purposes use these as the generally accepted abbreviations for the months and days of the week: Jan. May- Sept. Sun. Thurs. Feb. June Oct. Mon. Fri. Mar. July Nov. Tues. Sat. Apr. Aug. Dec. Wed. 5. In tables and wherever matter must be greatly condensed use the Dewey dates, 65 s 66 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK which are the briefest possible without ambiguity, in the order of (a) day of week, (b) day of month, (c) month, (d) year. These abbreviations are not desirable except in tabular matter. Ja. Ap. Ju. 0. Sn. Th. F. My. Ag. N. M. F. Mr. Je. S. D. Tu. W. St. PROPER NAMES i. Abbreviate company in firm names: e.g., John Brown & Co. 2. Spell out names of companies, rail- roads, etc., using the ampersand (&) only between proper names: e.g., Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Company; Norfolk 6 s West- ern Railroad; but American Smelting and Refining Company. If names of railroads are abbreviated, use no space between the letters: e.g., N.Y., N.H. & H.R.R. 3. Abbreviate United States when im- mediately associated with the name of an officer of the army or navy, as Lieut. John Doe, U.S.A.; when it is the name of an organization of the army or navy, as First Regiment U.S.V.; when preceding the name of a government vessel, as U.S.S. Brooklyn. 4. In referring to plays, specify act, scene, and line, also part if necessary: e.g., 2 Henry I V, I, ii, 1-7. 5. Christian names should be spelled in full, as John, George, Charles, except in an ABBREVIATIONS 67 original signature, or when following copy in a quotation. 6. When necessary to abbreviate Chris- tian names, use the forms Dan., Edw., Sam., Thos. y etc. Alex, Ben, Ed, and Sam are not always abbreviations, and copy should be followed as regards period. Use the follow- ing list: Alex . Alexander And Andrew Anth Anthony Ap Appius Arch Archibald Aug August, Augustus Benj Benjamin C Caesar Caes. Aug Caesar Augustus Cath Catherine Chas Charles Dan Daniel Eben Ebenezer Edm Edmund Edw Edward Eliz Elizabeth Esd Esdras Esth Esther Ez Ezra Ezek Ezekiel Ferd. . Ferdinand Fran Francis Fred Frederic, Frederick Geo George Herbt Herbert Hos Hosea 68 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK Jas James Jona Jonathan Jos Joseph Josh Joshua Matt Matthew Nath Nathaniel Pet Peter Phil Philip, Philander Philem Philemon Reg Reginald Richd Richard Robt Robert Sam Samuel Theo Theodore Thos Thomas Tim Timothy Wm William TITLES i. In ordinary body matter use generally accepted abbreviations of titles when they are immediately prefixed to names. 2. Do not abbreviate a title used as part of a name: e.g., Bishop Lawrence, not Bp. Lawrence. 3. Such titles as Mr., Mrs., Messrs., Gen., Dr., Hon., Rev., when prefixed to names, may be abbreviated; but Colonel, Major, Professor, President, ex- President, etc., are better spelled in full. Compound titles, such as Major -General, Lieutenant-Colonel, Rear- Admiral, etc., should also be spelled and both ABBREVIATIONS 69 words capitalized. Where a person has been mentioned by name and title, and is after- ward mentioned by title only, the title should be capitalized. Where initials of a name are used, abbreviate the title: e.g., Col. T. G. Benson, of the Second Illinois Regiment, has returned from Havana. The ColoneVs friends gave him a warm reception. 4. When the names of sovereigns of a country are mentioned only occasionally, such names may be given in full: e.g., George the Fifth, Charles the First. When such names occur frequently, they may be printed with roman numerals without a period: e.g., George V, Charles I 5. The following is a full list of the usual abbreviations: A.B. or B.A. . (Artium Baccalaureus) Bachelor of Arts Abp. . . . Archbishop A.C. . . . Archchancellor A.D. . . . Archduke A.D.C. . . Aide-de-camp Adjt. . . . Adjutant Adm. . . . Admiral] Admr. . . Administrator Admx., Admrx. Administratrix Adv. . . . Advocate Agt. . . . Agent Aldm. . . Alderman A.M. or M.A. {Artium M agister) Master of Arts Amb. . . . Ambassador A.PA. . ' . American Protective Association Asst. . . . Assistant A.T. . . . Arch treasurer Atty. . . . Attorney 70 THE WRITER S DESK BOOK B.A. or A.B. . Bachelor of Arts Bart. . . Baronet B.C.L. . Bachelor of Civil Law B.D. . (Baccalaureus Divinitatis) Bachelor of Divinity B.LL.. {Baccalaureus Legum) Bachelor of Laws B.M. . {Baccalaureus Medicinae) Bachelor of Medicine Bp. . . Bishop B.R. . . {Banco Regis or Reginae) the King's or Queen's Bench Brig.-Gen . Brigadier-General Bro(s). . Brother (s) B.S. . . Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Surgery B.V. . {Beata Virgo) Blessed Virgin Cantab. . {Cantabrigia) Cambridge Capt. Captain Capt.-Ger l. . Captain- General Cash. Cashier C.B. . . Companion of the Bath C.C.P. Court of Common Pleas C.E. . Civil Engineer C.J. . Chief Justice C.M.G. . Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George Col. . Colonel Com. . Commander, Commodore Cor. Sec. Corresponding Secretary Corp. Corporal C.S. . Court of Sessions C.S. . {Custos Sigilli) Keeper of the Seal D.C.L. Doctor of Civil Law D.D. . Doctor of Divinity D.D.S. . Doctor of Dental Surgery Dea. . Deacon Dep. . Deputy D.F. . Defender of the Faith D.M. , . Doctor of Music ABBREVIATIONS 71 Dr. . . . Doctor D.Sc. Doctor of Science D.T. . . {Doctor Theologiae) Doctor of Divinity D.V.M. o: r Doctor of Veterinary Medicine M.D.V. E. . . . {after titles) Edinburgh Esq. . . Esquire F.D. . . . {Fidei Defensor) Defender of the Faith F.G.S. . . Fellow of the Geological Society Fr. . . . Father F.R.G.S. . Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society F.R.S. . . Fellow of the Royal Society F.R.S.A. . . Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts F.S.A. . . Fellow of the Society of Arts G.C.B. . Knight of the Grand Cross of the Bath G.C.H. . . Knight of the Grand Cross of Hanover G.C.M.G. . Knight of the Grand Cross, Order of St. Michael and St. George Gen. . General Gov. . , Governor Govt. Government G.R. . , {Georgius Rex) King George H.B.M. . His or Her Britannic Majesty H.M. . . His or Her Majesty H.M.S. . His or Her Majesty's Service Hon. . . Honorable H.R. . . House of Representatives H.R.E. . Holy Roman Emperor H.R.H. . His or Her Royal Highness H.S.H. . His or Her Serene Highness I.N.R.I. . {Jesus Nazarenus Rex Judaeorum) Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews Insp. . Inspector Insp. Gen . . Inspector General I.O.O.F. . Independent Order of Odd Fellows 72 THE WRITERS DESK BOOK J.A. . J.P. . J. Prob. Jr. or Jun K. . K.A. . K.A.N. K.B. . K.B.A. K.B.E. K.C. . K.C.B. K.C.H. K.C.M.G K.C.S. K.E. . K.F. . K.F.M. K.G. . K.G.C. K.G.C.B K.G.F. K.G.H. K.G.V. K.H. . K.J. . K.L.H. K.M. . K. Mess. K.M.H. K.M.J. K.M.T. K.N.S. K.P. . Judge-Advocate Justice of the Peace Judge of the Probate Junior King Knight of St. Andrew, in Russia Knight of Alexander Newski, in Russia King's Bench; Knight of the Bath Knight of St. Bento d'Avis, in Portugal Knight of the Black Eagle, in Prussia King's Council; Knight of the Crescent, in Turkey Knight Commander of the Bath Knight Commander of Hanover Knight Commander of Order of St. Michael and St. George Knight of Charles III, in Spain Knight of the Elephant, in Denmark Knight of Ferdinand of Spain Knight of Ferdinand and Merit, in Sicily Knight of the Garter Knight of the Grand Cross Knight of the Grand Cross of the Bath Knight of the Golden Fleece Knight of the Guelph of Hanover Knight of Gustavus Vasa of Sweden Knight of Hanover Knight of St. Joachim Knight of the Legion of Honor Knight of Malta King's Messenger Knight of Merit, in Holstein Knight of Maximilian Joseph of Bavaria Knight of Maria Theresa of Austria Knight of the Royal North Star, in Sweden Knight of St. Patrick ABBREVIATIONS 73 K.R.E. K.S. . K.S.A. K.S.E. K.S.F. K.S.F.M. K.S.G. K.S.H. K.SJ. K.S.L. K.S.M.&S.G. K.S.P. K.S.S. K.S.W. Kt. . K.T. . K.T.S. K.W. . K.W.E. L. . L.C. . L.CJ. Leg. . Legis. Lieut. . Lieut.-Col. Lieut. -Gen. Litt.D. LL.B.. LL.D. M. . M.A. . Maj. . Maj.-Gen. Knight of the Red Eagle, in Prussia Knight of the Sword, in Sweden Knight of St. Anne of Russia Knight of St. Esprit, in France Knight of St. Fernando of Spain Knight of St. Ferdinand and Merit, in Naples Knight of St. George of Russia Knight of St. Hubert of Bavaria Knight of St. Janarius of Naples Knight of the Sun and Lion, in Persia Knight of St. Michael and St. George of the Ionian Isles Knight of St. Stanislaus of Poland Knight of the Southern Star of the Brazils; Knight of the Sword, in Sweden Knight of St. Wladimir of Russia Knight Knight of the Thistle Knight of the Tower and Sword, in Portugal Knight of William of the Netherlands Knight of the White Eagle, in Poland (after titles) London Lord Chancellor Lord Chief Justice Legate Legislature Lieutenant Li eutenant- Colonel Lieutenant-General (Litterarum Doctor) Doctor of Literature (Legum Baccalaureus) Bachelor of Laws (Legum Doctor) Doctor of Laws Monsieur Master of Arts Major Major-Genera! 74 THE WRITER S DESK BOOK M.B. . . . (Medicinae Baccalaureus) Bachelor of Medicine; (Musicae Baccalaureus) # Bachelor of Music M.C. . . . Member of Congress M.D. . . . (Medicinae Doctor) Doctor of Medicine Messrs. . . Messieurs Mgr. . . . Manager; Monsignor Min. Plen. . Minister Plenipotentiary Mile. . . . Mademoiselle Mme. . . Madame M.P. . . . Member of Parliament M.R. . . . Master of the Rolls Mr. . . . Mister or Master Mrs. . . . Mistress Mus. Doc. . Doctor of Music Oxon. . . (Qxonensis) Oxford P.C. . . . (Patres Conscripti) Conscript Fathers; Senators; Privy Counsellor Ph.D.. . . Doctor of Philosophy Ph.G. . . Graduate in Pharmacy P.M. . . . Postmaster P.M.G. . . Postmaster- General P.R.A. . . President of the Royal Academy Pres. . . . President Prof. . . . Professor Prov. . . . Provost P.R.S. . . President of the Royal Society Q. ... Queen Q.M. . . . Quartermaster R.A. . . . Royal Academician R.E. . . . Royal Engineers Reg. Prof. . Regius Professor Rev. . . . Reverend R.M. . . . Royal Marines R.N. . . . Royal Navy R.N.O. . . (Riddare af Nordstjerneorden) Knight of the Order of Polar Star ABBREVIATIONS 75 R.S.S. . (Regiae Societatis Socius) Fellow of the Royal Society Rt. Hon. . . Right Honorable Rt. Rev. . . Right Reverend Rt. Wpful . . Right Worshipful R.W. . . . Right Worthy R.W.O. . (Riddare af Wasa Orden) Knight of the Order of Wasa Sec. . . Secretary Sec. Leg. . Secretary of Legation Serg. . . Sergeant Serg.-Maj . . Sergeant-Major SJ. . . . Society of Jesus SJ.C. , . Supreme Judicial Court Sol. . . . Solicitor Sol.-Gen. . Solicitor-General Sr., Sen. . Senior S.R.S. . (Societatis Regiae Socius) Fellow of the Royal Society S.T.D. . (Sacrae Theologiae Doctor) Doctor of Di- vinity S.T.P. (Sacrae Theologiae Professor) Professor of Divinity St. . . . Saint, Street Supt. . . Superintendent Tr(s). . Trustee (s) Treas. . Treasurer U.J.C. . (Utriusque Juris Doctor) Doctor of both Laws v.c. . . Vice-Chancellor V.D.M. . (Verbi Dei Minister) Preacher of the Word Vice-Pres. . Vice-President Vise. . . Viscount w.s. Writer to the Signet 76 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK 6. COMMERCIAL ABBREVIATIONS A i .... Highest class or grade Acct Account Advt., Ad. . . Advertisement Agt Agent Amt Amount Anon .... Anonymous Ans Answer Art Article Av., Ave., . . Avenue Bal Balance Bd Bound Bdl Bundle Bds Boards Bldg Building B.O Buyer's Option Bro(s). . . . Brother; Brothers Chap. . . . Chapter C.I.F. . . . Cost, insurance, freight Co Company C.O.D. . . . Cash on Delivery Cr Creditor Dept. . . . Department Do Ditto, the same Dr Debtor E.E Errors excepted E.O.D. . . . Every other day E. & O.E. . . Errors and omissions excepted Etc. .... (Et cetera) and so forth Ex., Exch. . . Exchange Exp Express Fgt Freight F.O.B. . . . Free on board H Hour H.P Half pay, horse-power ABBREVIATIONS 77 Incor. . . . Incorporated Ins Insurance K.D Knock down (of furniture, etc.) L.P Large paper Memo. . . . Memorandum Mfg Manufacturing Mfr. . . . . Manufacturer Min Minute No (numero) number O.K All right Payt Payment Pd Paid Per an. . . . (Per annum) by the year Per cent. . . (Per centum) by the hundred Pkg Package PI Plate, plates Pref Preface Rd Road Rem Remarks Rep Reports R.R Railroad Ry Railway Ser Series Sq Square S.S Steamship, steamer T.F Till forbidden 7. GEOGRAPHICAL ABBREVIATIONS Ala. . . . Alabama Alaska Alaska Ark. . . Austral. . . Australasia 78 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK B.A British America Br. Col. . . . British Columbia Cal. .... California Can Canada C.B Cape Breton Colo Colorado Conn. . . . Connecticut C.W Canada West (Ontario) D.C District of Columbia Del Delaware Den Denmark E East (London Postal District) East Isl. . . . Eastern Islands E.C East Central (London Postal District) E.I East Indies Eng England, English Fin Finland Fla Florida Ga Georgia G.B Great Britain Glas Glasgow H.I Hawaiian Islands la Iowa Idaho . . . Idaho 111 Illinois Ind Indiana Ind. Ter. . . Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) Ire Ireland It Italy Jam Jamaica Jap Japan Kan. . Kansas Ky Kentucky La Louisiana L.C Lower Canada ABBREVIATIONS 79 Man. . . . . Mass. . . Md. . . Me. . . Mex. . . . . Mich. . . Minn. . . Miss. . , . Mo. . . Mont. N. . . N.A. . . N.B. . . N.C. . . N. Dak. . N.E. . . Neb. . . Neth. # . Nev. . N.F. . . # 9 N.H. . . 9 m NJ. . . N. Mex. . , . N.S. . . # # N.W. . . N.Y. . . m m N.Y.C. . m m N. Zeal. . 0. . . Okla. . . 9 9 Ont. . . Ore. . . Pa. . . Pal. . . P.D. . . Manitoba Massachusetts Maryland Maine Mexico Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana North (London Postal District) North America Nev/ Brunswick; North Britain (Scotland) North Carolina North Dakota New England; Northeast (London Postal District) Nebraska Netherlands Nevada Newfoundland New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico Nova Scotia Northwest (London Postal District) New York New York City New Zealand Ohio Oklahoma Ontario Oregon Pennsylvania Palestine Postal District (London) 8o THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK P.E.I. Per. Phila. P.I. Port. P.R. Prus. Que. R.A. R.I. Russ. S. . S.A. S.C. Scot. Sc. Pen S. Dak. S. E. . Sic. S. Isl. Soc. Isl S. lat. Sp. . Sw. . Switz. Syr. . Tenn. Tex. U.C. U.K. U.S. U.S.A Utah V. Va. Vt. Prince Edward Island Persia Philadelphia Philippine Islands Portugal Porto Rico Prussia Quebec Russian America (now Alaska) Rhode Island Russia South (London Postal District) South America South Carolina Scotland Scandinavian Peninsula South Dakota Southeast (London Postal District) Sicily Sandwich Islands Society Islands South latitude Spain Sweden Switzerland Syria Tennessee Texas Upper Canada (Ontario) United Kingdom United States United States of America Utah Victoria Virginia Vermont ABBREVIATIONS 8l District) Wash. . Washington W.C. . West Central (London Postal District) W.I. . West Indies W. Ion . . . . West longitude W.Va . West Virginia Wis. . Wisconsin Wyo. . Wyoming 8. MISCELLANEOUS ABBREVIATIONS A.C. (Ante Christum) before Christ A.D. (Anno Domini) in the year of our Lord Ad lib. (Ad libitum) at pleasure Adj. . Adjective Adv. . Adverb Aet. (Aetatis) of age, aged A.H. (Anno Hegirae) in the year of theHegira Alt. . . . Altitude A.M. (Anno Mundi) in the year of the world; (Ante Meridiem) before noon An. (Anno) in the year An. A. C. . . . (Anno ante Christum) in the year be- fore Christ Anat. . Anatomy Anc. . Ancient Ang.-S ax. . . Anglo-Saxon Anom. Anomalous Anon. . Anonymous Ap. . Apostle Apo. . . Apogee Apoc. . Apocalypse, Apocrypha A.R. . (Anno regni) in the year of the reign Arch. Architecture A.R.R (Anno regni regis) in the year of the reign of the king Arr. . . Arrival Art. . . Article 82 THE WRITER S DESK BOOK Assoc, Astrol. Astron. A.U.C. Auth. Ver Av. Ave. Assn. B. B.C. Boul. B.V. C. Caet. par Cap. . C. or Cent Cf. . Ck . C.H. . Chap. Circ. . Cit. . Col. . Coll. . Comp. Cong. C.Q.D. D.B. . D.C. . Dec. . Deg. . Del. . Dem. . D.G. . D.V. . orA.V. Association Astrology Astronomy {anno urbis conditae) in the year of the building of the city (Rome) Authorized Version (of the Bible) Average Avenue (Basso) Bass; bay; born Before Christ Boulevard (Bene Vale) Farewell Cape (Caeteris paribus) other things being equal (Caput) Chapter Centigrade (confer) compare Child or children Court House Chapter Circle (s) Citizen Column College Companion; comparative Congress Marconi distress signal Domesday Book (Da Capo) From the beginning; again Declination Degree (s) (Delineavit) he drew it Democrat (Dei gratia) by the grace of God; (Deo gratias) thanks to God (Deo volente) God willing ABBREVIATIONS 83 E. . . East; Eagle (s) Ea. . Each E.B. . . English Bible (common) Ed. . . . Editor, Edition E.E. . . Errors excepted E.g. . . {Exempli gratia) by way of example Elec. . Electricity E.N.E. . East-northeast Ent. . . . Entomology E.S.E. . . East-southeast Et al. {Et alibi) and elsewhere; {et alii) and others Etc. . . {Et caetera) and so forth Et seq. {Et sequentia) the following Ex. . . Example Exc. . . Exception F., Fahr. . Fahrenheit (thermometer) Fee. . {Fecit) he made it Fern, or f. Feminine Fig.(s) . . Figure (s) Finn. . . Finnish Fol. or f., ff. . . Folio(s) For. . . Foreign Ft. . . . . Fort Gent. . . . Gentleman Ger. . . German Goth. . . . Gothic Gr. . . . . Greek H. . . . Husband Hdkf. . . Handkerchief H.e. . . {Hoc est) that is, or, this is Hist. . . . . History, Historical H.J.S. . . {Hicjacet sepultus) here lies buried H.M.P. . . {Hoc monumenium posuit) erected this monument H.R.I.P. . . {Hie requiescit in pace) here lies in peace H.S. . . . {Hie situs) here lies 84 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK Ibid., lb Id. . I.e. . I.H.S. Illus. . Imp. . Incog. Indef. Indie. Infin. . In lim. In loc. Inst. . Int. . Inter j. In trans. Ion. . Ir. . Irreg. Isl. . Ital. . Itin. . J.H.S. Jour. . Lat. . L.c. . L.l. . Lon. or L.S. . LXX . M. . M. . Mem. Mgr. . Misc. . Mo.(s) Lon (Ibidem) in the same place (Idem) the same (Id est) that is First letters of IHSOTS, Greek for Jesus l Illustrated Imperative (mood) (Incognito) unknown Indefinite Indicative (mood) Infinitive (mood) (In limine) at the outset (In loco) in the place (Instante) the current month Interest Interjection (In transitu) on the passage Ionic Irish Irregular Island Italic Itinerary See I.H.S. Journal Latin, latitude (Loco citato) in the place cited (Loco laudato) in the place* quoted Longitude (Locus sigilli) place of the seal The Septuagint (Meridies) noon Married Memorandum, Memoranda Manager Miscellaneous Month, months Erroneously Jesus hominum Salvator. ABBREVIATIONS 05 M.S. . . (Memoriae sacrum) sacred to the memory MS. . . (Manuscriptum) manuscript MSS. . . . Manuscripts Mt. . . . . Mount, Mont Myth. . . Mythology N. . . . Noun; note(s) Nat. . . . National Naut. . Nautical N.B. . . (Nota Bene) note well Nem. con. or nem. (Nemine contradicente or nemine dis- diss. sentiente) none opposing N.l. . . (Non liquet) it does not appear N. lat. . . North latitude N.N.E. . . North-northeast N.N.W. . . North-northwest Nom. . Nominative Nol. pros. (Nolle prosequi) indicates in law that a complaint will not be prosecuted N.S. . . . New Style (after 1752) N.T. . . New Testament N.u. . . . name(s) unknown N.V.M. . . Nativity of the Virgin Mary N.W. . . . . Northwest Ob. . . (Obiit) he or she died Obj. . . . Objective (case) Obs. . . . . Obsolete O.F. . . . Odd Fellow(s) Olym. . . . Olympiad O.H.M.S. . On His Majesty's Service Op. . . Opposite O.S. . . . . Old Style (before 1752) o.t: . . . Old Testament P. or pp. . . Page or pages Par. or If . Paragraph Par. Pas. . . Parallel Passage (s) Pari. . . , Parliament Part. . . , . Participle 86 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK Partic. Pass. . Pen. . Pent. . Perf. . Pers. . Pers. pron Persp. Phil. . Pinx. . PL . Plur. . Plup. . Plff. . P.M. . P.O. . Pop. . Posit. P.p. . P.P.C. P. pr. Pro tern. P.R. . Pret. . Pron. . Pr. p. Pref. . P.S. . P.T.O. Pt. . Pub. . Pub. Doc Q. Q.B. . Q.C. . Q.d. . Q.E. . . Particle Passive (voice) Peninsula Pentecost Perfect (tense) Person Personal Pronoun Perspective Philosophy (Pinxii) he painted it Plate(s) Plural Pluperfect Plaintiff (Post meridiem) afternoon to midnight Post-office Population Positive Past participle (Pour prendre conge) to take leave Participle present (Pro tempore) for the time being (Populus Romanus) the Roman people Preterite tense Pronoun Present participle Preface Privy Seal Please turn over Point Publisher Public Document (s) Question Queen's Bench Queen's College; Queen's Council (Quasi dicat) as if he should say; (Quasi dictum) as if said; (Quasi dixisset) as if he had said (Quod est) which is ABBREVIATIONS 87 Q.E.F. . Q.1 Q. Mess. . . . Qm Q.p. orq.pl. Qr Q.s. . . . . Q.v. . . . . Q.v. . . . . Qy. R., Reaum # R. . . Rem. . , . R.A. . . R. E. . . Reed. , . Rect. . . , Ref. . . Ref. Ch. . # Ref. . . Regr. . . . Regt. . . . Rel. pron. . Rep. . . , Repub. . . R.M. . . . # R.N. . . Ro. . . Rom. Cath. # R.P. . . Ru. . . . S. . . . s. ss. . . # # (Quod erat demonstrandum) which was to be proved (Quod erat faciendum) which was to be done (Quantum libet) as much as you please Queen's Messenger (Quomodo) by what means, how (Quantum placet) as much as you please Quarter (Quantum sufficit) a sufficient quantity (Quantum vis) as much as you will (Quod vide) which see Query Reaumur (thermometer) (Regina) Queen; (Rex) King Remark (s) Royal Academy; Royal Academician; Royal Artillery Royal Engineers Received Rector Reformation; Reformed Reformed Church Reference Registrar Regiment Relative Pronoun Representative Republican Royal Marines Royal Navy (Recto) right-hand page Roman Catholic (Res Publico) Republic Runic Solo (in Italian music); South Section (s), Saint (s) (Secundum artem) according to art 88 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK Sax s.c s.c Sch Schol. Sci Sculp. S.E Sen Seq. or sq. Seqq. or sqq. Ser Shak. Sing SJ.C. . . . S. lat. . . . S.O.S. . . . S.P Sp.gr. . . . S.P.Q.R. . . . S.R.I. . . . S.R.S. . . . S.S S.S.E. . . . S.S.W. . . . St Stat Ster Subj Subst. Su.-Goth. . . Super. Superl. S.W Saxon (Senatus consultum) a decree of the Senate (in law) same case Schooner (s) (Scholium) a note Science (Sculpsit) he engraved Southeast Senate; Senator (Sequente) and in what follows (Sequentibus) and in the following (places) Series Shakspere Singular (number) Supreme Judicial Court South latitude Marconi distress signal (Sine prole) without issue Specific gravity (Senatus Populusque Romanus) the Senate and the Roman People (Sacrum Romanum Imperium) the Holy Roman Empire (Societatis Regiae Socius) Fellow of the Royal Society Sunday School South-southeast . South-southwest Saint; street Statute (s) Sterling Subjunctive Substantive Suio-Gothic Superfine Superlative Southwest ABBREVIATIONS 89 T Tenor (in music); (Tutti) the whole Ter. . Term. Theor. Tr. . Um. . Univ. U.S.A. U.S.M. U.S.N. u.s.s. U.s. . Vat. . V.a. . V. aux. V. def. V. dep. Ven. . V.g. . V. imp. V. in. . V. irr. V. n. . Vo. . Voc. . Vol. . V.r. . V. tr. . V. . W. . W. Ion. W.N.W. W.S.W. Xmas Zool. orchestra, after a solo Territory Termination Theorem Translator; transpose Unmarried University United States Army United States Mail United States Navy United States Ship (Ut supra) as above Vatican Verb active Verb auxiliary Verb defective Verb deponent Venerable (Verbi gratia) for example Verb impersonal Verb intransitive Verb irregular Verb neuter (Verso) left-hand page Vocative Volume Verb reflexive Verb transitive Vulgate (Version) West; wife West longitude West-northwest West-southwest Christmas Zoology 9 THE WRITER S DESK BOOK 9. SCRIPTURAL ABBREVIATIONS OLD TESTAMENT (O. T.) Gen. Esth. Hos. Exod. Job Joel Lev. Ps. (Pss.) Amos Num. Prov. Obad. Deut. Eccles. Jonah Josh. Song of Sol. (or Mic. Judg. Cant.) Nah. Ruth Isa. Hab. I and II Sam. Jer. Zeph. I and II Kings Lam. Hag. I and II Chron. Ezek. Zech. Ezra Dan. Mai. Neh. NEW TESTAMENT (n. t.) Matt. Gal. Philem. Mark Eph. Heb. Luke Phil. Jas. John Col. I and II Pet. Acts I and II Thess. I, II, and III John Rom. I and II Tim. Jude I and II Cor. Titus Rev. APOCRYPHA I and II Esd. Wisd. of Sol. Sus. Tob. = = Tobit Eccles. Bel and Dragon Jud. = Judith Bar. Pr. of Man. Rest of Esther Song of Three I, II, III, and IV Children Mace. 10. MONETARY SIGNS $ Dollar or dollars cts Cents gn Guinea (English) Pound or pounds ^/or s. . . . . . . Shilling or shillings ABBREVIATIONS 9 1 d. . . ... . . . {Denarius) penny or pence fr Franc or francs c. {French) Centime or centimes m Mark or marks pf Pfennig or pfennigs cr. {Austrian) .... Crown or crowns hr Heller or hellers rub Ruble or rubles kop . Kopec or kopecs kr. {Danish) .... Crown or crowns oro, ore Oro or ore {Italian) . . . . . Lira or lire . {Italian) Centesimo or centesimi 1 11. MATHEMATICAL SIGNS + Plus Minus db Plus or minus T Minus or plus X Multiplied by l -r- Divided by = Equal to 7^ Not equal to = Identical with ^ Not identical with = Congruent to > Greater than < Less than The difference between =C= Is equivalent to / Integration : and : : ..... Proportion OC Varies as = Approaches as a limit 00 Infinity .'. Therefore This is also indicated algebraically by a dot, as, a b 9 2 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK Because Continuation V The radical sign _L Perpendicular to [s_ Factorial sign II Parallel ^ Arc of circle Degree of circle Minute of circle Second of circle Z_ > Angle I Right angle D Square I 1 Rectangle O Parallelogram A Triangle 12. MEDICAL SIGNS aa (dvd) of each 1^ (Recipe) take 3 , O i Ounce, one ounce O ss Half an ounce O iss One ounce and a half Oij Two ounces 5 Drachm 3 Scruple O (Octavius) Pint O Fluid ounce O Fluid drachm m Minim or drop NUMERALS A. CCORDING to Astle, the combination of Greek numerical characters was not well known to the Latins before the thirteenth century, although Greek numerical charac- ters were frequently used in France and Ger- many in episcopal letters, and continued to the eleventh century. But of all the Greek ciphers the episemon fiav was most in use with the Latins; it gradually assumed the form of G with a tail, for so it appears in a Latin inscription of the year 296. It is found to have been used in the fifth century in Latin MSS. It was reckoned for 6, and this value has been evinced by such a number of monumental proofs, that there is no room to give it any other. Some of the learned, with even Mabillon, have been mistaken in esti- mating it as 5, but in a posthumous work he acknowledges his error. Those authors were led into this error by the medals of the Emperor Justinian having the episemon for 5; but it is a certain fact that the coiners had been mistaken and con- founded it with the tailed U, for the episemon was still in use in the fourth century, and among the Latins was estimated as 6, but 93 94 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK under a form somewhat different. When- ever it appears in other monuments of the western nations of Europe of that very cen- tury and the following, it is rarely used to express any number except 5. The Etruscans also used their letters for indicating numbers by writing them from right to left, and the ancient Danes copied the example in the application of their letters. The Romans, when they borrowed arts and sciences from the Greeks, learned also their method of using alphabetical numera- tion. This custom, however, was not very ancient among them. Before writing was yet current with them, they made use of nails for reckoning years, and the method of driving those nails became in process of time a ceremony of their religion. The first eight Roman numerals were composed of the I and the V. The Roman ten was composed of the V proper and the V inverted (A), which characters served to reckon as far as forty; but when writing became more gen- eral, I, V, X, L, C, D, and M were the only characters appropriated to the indication of numbers. The above seven letters, in their most extensive combination, produce six hundred and sixty-six thousand, ranged thus, DCLXVIM. Some, however, contend that the Romans were strangers to any higher number than 100,000. The want of ciphers obliged them to double, treble, and multiply NUMERALS 95 their numerical characters four-fold, accord- ing as they had occasion to make them ex- press units, tens, hundreds, etc. For the sake of brevity they had recourse to another expedient: by drawing a small line over any of their numeral characters they made them stand for as many thousands as they con- tained units. Thus_a small line over I made it iooo, and over X expressed 10,000, etc. When the Romans wrote several units together in succession, the first and last were longer than the rest mm; thus vir after those six units signified sex-vir. D stood for 500, and the perpendicular line of this letter was sometimes separated from the body thus (13,) without lessening its value. M, whether capital or uncial, expressed 1000. In the uncial form it sometimes assumed that of one of those figures, CI3, CD, 00 , cr> . The cumbent X was also used to signify a similar number. In ancient MSS. 4 is written MI and not IV, 9 thus Villi and not IX, etc. Instead of V five units, IIIII, were sometimes used in the eighth century. Half was expressed by an S at the end of the figures, CIIS was put 102J. This S sometimes appeared in the form of our 5. In some old MSS. those numerical figures LXL are used to express 90. The Roman numeral letters were generally used both in England, France, Italy, and Germany, from the earliest times to the middle of the fifteenth century. 96 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK The ancient people of Spain made use of the Roman ciphers. The X with the top of the right-hand stroke in form of a semi-circle reckoned for 40; it merits the more particu- lar notice as it has misled many of the learned. The Roman ciphers, however, were continued in use with the Spaniards until the fifteenth century. The Germans used the Roman ciphers for a long time, nearly in the same manner as the French. The points after the Roman ciphers were exceedingly various, and never rightly fixed. It is not known when the ancient custom was first introduced of placing an O at top immediately after the Roman characters, as A M L VI etc. NUMERAL LETTERS Roman Unus, a, urn I Duo, ae, II Tres, ia III Quatuor IV [IIII] Quinque V Sex VI Septem VII Octo VIII Novem IX Decern X Undecim XI Duodecim XII Tredecim XIII Quatuordecim XIV Quindecim XV Se(sex)decim XVI Septemdecim XVII Arabic 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 NUMERALS 97 Octodecim Duodeviginti Novemdecim Undeviginti Viginti Triginta Quadraginta Quinquaginta Sexaginta Septuaginta Octoginta Nonaginta Centum Ducenti-ae-a Trecenti-ae-a Quadringenti-ae-a Quingenti-ae-a Sexcenti-ae-a Septingenti-ae-a Octingenti-ae-a Nongenti-ae-a Mille Duo millia Bis mille Tria millia 1 Ter mille J Quatuor millia 1 Quater mille J Quinque millia 1 Quinquies mille j Decern millia ) Decies mille Quinquaginta millia ) Quinquaquies mille / Centum millia) Centies mille Quingenta millia 1 Quingenties mille J Decies centena millia Roman Arabic XVIII 18 XIX 19 XX 20 XXX 30 XL 40 L 50 LX 60 LXX 70 LXXX 80 xc QO c IOO cc 200 ccc 300 cccc 4OO I3orD 500 DC 60O DCC 700 DCCC 80O DCCCC or CM 9OO M or CI3 IOOO MM 2000 MMM 3000 MMMM 400O 133 or V SOOO CCI33 or X IO,000 1333 or L 50,000 CCCI333 or C 100,000 13333 or D 500,000 CCCCI3333 or M 1,000,000 98 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK If the lesser number is placed before the greater, the lesser is to be deducted from the greater; thus IV signifies one less than 5, i.e., 4; IX, 9; XC, 90. If the lesser number be placed after the greater, the lesser is to be added to the greater; thus VI signifies one more than 5, i.e., 6; XI, 11; CX, no. A horizontal stroke over a numeral de- notes a thousand; thus V signifies five thou- sand; L, fifty thousand; M, a thousand times a thousand, or a million. I, signifies one, because it is the smallest letter. V, five, because it is sometimes used for U, the fifth vowel. X, ten, because it represents two VS. L, fifty, from its resemblance to the lower half of C. C, a hundred, centum. 13 or D,five hundred, the half of CI3. M or CIO, a thousand, from mille. The latter figures joined at the top, cr> } formed the ancient M. CORRECT AND FAULTY DICTION C ORRECTNESS is the primary requisite of spoken or written discourse. Language must not be only understood, but it must convey all the meaning which the writer intends to express. As a guide to those who are bewildered by the many cases of divided usage, the following adaptation of certain canons, framed by Dr. Campbell over a cen- tury ago and used as a basis by every later writer on Rhetoric, are here given: Canon I. When, of two words or phrases in equally good use, one is susceptible of two significations and the other of but one, pref- erence should be given to the latter: e.g., admittance is better than admission, as the latter word also means "confession"; relative is to be preferred to relation, as the latter also means the telling of a story. Canon II. In doubtful cases regard should be given to the analogy of the lan- guage: might better should be preferred to had better, and would rather is better than had rather. Canon III. The simpler and briefer form should be preferred, other things being equal: 99 100 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK e.g., omit' the bracketed words in expressions such as, open[up], meet [together], follow [after], examine [into], trace [out], bridge [over], crave [for], etc. Canon IV. Between two forms of expres- sion in equally good use, prefer the one which is more euphonious: e.g., most beautiful is better than beautifullest, and more free is to be preferred to freer. Canon V. In cases not covered by the four preceding canons, prefer that which conforms to the older usage: e.g., begin is better than commence. Familiarity with the writings of those authors whose style is accepted as conforming to the standards of good usage is an essential to all those who seek accuracy in correct expression, and the following authors may be studied with this in mind: Addison, Matthew Arnold, Burke, DeQuincey, George Eliot, Emerson, Hawthorne, Holmes, Irving, Macau- lay, John Stuart Mill, Newman, Poe, Ruskin, Stevenson, and Thackeray. The various standard dictionaries may be consulted regarding words which are ques- tionable when measured by good usage. The function of the dictionary is to record all words in general use, but a careful record is made as to the classes to which the various words belong. Good usage, for instance, does not recognize the word vim, yet it will be found in the Century Dictionary; but at DICTION' T Ol the end of the definition an entry [Colloq.] is placed, showing that it is authorized only by colloquial use. The following list of words and phrases which are most commonly misused will be found useful. The correct words are added in brackets: Accept, see Except Admire, should not be used to express delight: e.g., I should admire [be delighted] to go to California Admit, see Confess Adverbs: should usually be placed next to the words they modify. (See also Infinitive) Affable, means " easy to speak to," and should not be used for agreeable Affect, should not be confused with effect: e.g., She was deeply affected by the news; or The news had a serious effect upon her; or The effect of the news was serious Aggravate, should not be used for annoy or vex. It means "to make worse": e.g., His cold was aggra- vated by the exposure Ain't, is a contraction of am not. It is inelegant though grammatically correct to say, / ain't, but it is abso- lutely wrong to say, He ain't, etc. All right, should never be written alright Alternative, should not be used in speaking of one of more than two things And, should not be placed before a relative pronoun in such a position as to interfere with the construc- tion: e.g., / acknowledge the receipt of your letter, {and) for which I send you my cordial thanks. Omit the conjunction Any place, should be written anywhere Apparently, is used of what seems to be real, but may not be so; evidently of that which both seems and is real /. 1&Z* *.$ H'K'W R l;T E*R ' S DESK BOOK " * : :.:. %.' Apt, means skilful and should not be used for likely. He is apt to be here soon should be He is likely to be here soon; He is an apt pupil is correct Articles: when superfluous, are misleading and should be omitted; but it is more frequently the case that necessary articles are omitted: e.g., The army and navy signifies a single organization. Insert a before navy As, should not be used as a causal conjunction: e.g., Do not expect me (as) I am too uncertain of my time. The word as stands here as a contraction of inasmuch as. Substitute a semicolon: e.g., Do not expect me; I am too uncertain of my time. As . . . as, see So ... as At, is often incorrectly used for in: e.g., They are living at [in] Florence At length, does not mean the same as at last. Say At length he showed signs of relenting, and At last he relented Aught, is frequently confused with naught. It means "anything," whereas the symbol means "nothing" Avail, should be used with of only with some form of be; otherwise to is the proper word: e.g., He called lustily, but of [to] no avail; or He called lustily, but [it was] of no avail Aware, is used in relation to things outside of ourselves; conscious in relation to sensations or things within ourselves Awful, should not be used loosely. It means "inspiring with awe." To say / had an awfully good time is as ridiculous as it is meaningless Badly, should not be used for very much or a great deal. The expression, // you don't care to do a thing very badly, do it very badly, shows the absurdity. Do not confuse the adjective with the adverb. He looks badly means "He makes a bad use of his eyes." He looks bad is correct Bank on, a slang expression not recognized by good usage. Say rely on or trust in DICTION 103 Beg, should never be used without the word leave, when asking permission. In correspondence one often sees the expressions, / beg to state, I beg to differ. One should say, / beg leave to state, I beg leave to differ Bring, see Take But, is sometimes used as a preposition, and when so used takes the objective case: e.g., The invitation included all but him is correct Can, denotes power, and should not be used for may, which denotes permission. The following sentence shows the correct use of both words: He may do it if he can Cannot but, should not be used interchangeably with can but, as the two expressions differ in meaning: e.g., / can but try means "All I can do is to try"; / cannot but try means "I cannot help trying" Can't seem, should not be used for seem unable: e.g., I can't seem [seem unable] to find it Case: the nominative is sometimes wrongly used for the objective case: e.g., Let He [Him] who made thee answer that Childlike, means that belonging to the child; childish, means the weakness of the child Come, see Go Common, see Mutual Confess, should not be used in the sense of admit, in cases in which no idea of confession enters Conscious, see Aware Continual, meaning " frequently repeated acts," should not be confused with continuous meaning "uninter- rupted action": e.g., Continual nagging spoils the disposition, and The continuous flowing of a stream Deadly, which means "that which inflicts death," should not be confused with deathly, which means "that which resembles death": e.g., A deadly poison, and A deathly pallor 104 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK Decided, means "strong," decisive means "final." A decided opinion does not mean the same as a decisive opinion Definite, means "well-defined"; definitive means "final" Demean, which signifies "to behave" oneself, should not be used for degrade or debase Different, should never be followed by the word than. Say, Different from Directly, should not be used for as soon as: e.g., Directly [as soon as] he arrived Discover, is to find something which previously existed; invent is to produce something for the first time Don't, is a contraction of do not. One may say, / don't, but not He don't. Say, He doesn y t Each other, should not be misused for one another. One may say, The two cousins were devoted to each other; or Many suggestions were made, following one another in rapid succession Effect, see Affect Egoists, are those who made the ego the basis of their philosophy; egotists are those who worship them- selves Either, should not be used to designate more than two persons or things. To designate one of three or more, say Any one Enormity, describes deeds of unusual horror; enormous- ness describes things of unusual size Enthuse (verb), is not recognized by good usage. I became enthused shoulcl be written / became enthusiastic Every place, should be written everywhere Excellent, should never be qualified as it is a super- lative: e.g., most excellent, very excellent, and the like are impossible. (See also Superlatives) Except (verb), signifies "to exclude": e.g., Present company excepted. As a preposition it means "with the exception." It should not be confused with accept, which signifies "to receive" DICTION 105 Exceptional, describes a case outside the operation of a rule; exceptionable is that which is open to criticism: e.g., Exceptionable conduct is that to which exception can be taken Expect, should not be used as a synonym for think or suppose Falseness (of a person) is the opposite of truthfulness ; falsity (of a thing) is the opposite of truth Fix, should not be used in the sense of repair. It means "to attach" Former, should not be used to designate one of more than two persons or things. If reference is made to one of three or more, say The first Gentleman, should be used to designate only a person of refinement, and never as a mere designation of sex. The use of the word man is never out of place Gentleman friend, is an expression which should be avoided, owing to the use which has been made of it. Say man friend or man friends, or gentleman of my acquaintance Go, should not be confused with come: e.g., / will come [go] to you when you need me Got, is said to be the most misused word in the language. / have got to go should be / am obliged to go. Have you got time? should be Have you time? etc. The verb means "to secure," so it must be used only with this meaning: e.g., J have got the contract Gotten, is an obsolete form. Say got Guess, is loosely used for suppose, expect, or intend, but is avoided by the best writers Hanged, see Hung Hardly, should never be preceded by the negative: e.g., That is not hardly enough. Omit not He, see Him Healthful, means "health-giving," as applied to articles of food; healthy is the condition of the person 106 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK Her, is often misused for she: e.g., It is her [she]; Such a woman as her [she] Him, is often misused for he: e.g., It is him [he]; Let He [Him] who made thee answer that; A style that belongs to no other than he [him] Hoi polloi, should not be written the hoi polloi. Hoi is Greek for "the" Honorable, should always be preceded by the: e.g., The Honorable James Brown Smith How, should not be used for what: e.g., How [what] did you say ? Hung, should be distinguished from hanged: e.g., The man was hanged, but The flag was hung across the street I, see Me If, should never be used in the sense of whether or that: e.g., He is not sure if he remembers should be He is not sure whether [or that] he remembers In, should not be used for into, when motion is implied: e.g., He stepped in [into] the boat. See also At Infinitive: the verb should never be separated from to, the sign of the infinitive word, by an adverb: e.g., 77 is not possible for me to absolutely promise should be to promise absolutely -ing: when using verbal nouns ending in -ing be care- ful to distinguish them from participles having the same ending. A verbal noun must never be pre- ceded by an adverb: e.g., That proved of as little use as his afterward trying to explain his presence there should be as his trying afterward to explain Inside of, is a vulgarism when used in the sense of within: e.g., The snow will be gone inside of [within] a week Invent, see Discover Kind, is singular. The common expression those kind is absolutely wrong. Say this kind or these kinds, that kind or those kinds Kind of, should not be followed by the article a or an. Say What kind of man is he ? not What kind of a man is he? DICTION 107 Lady, see Gentleman Lady friend, see Gentleman friend Last, should not be used for latest. "Have you read my last book?" asked the author. "I hope so," was the frank reply Latter, signifies one of two persons or things. In mak- ing reference to one of three or more, say The last Lay, should not be confused with lie. Hens lay, men lie Less, is a vulgarism when used for fewer: e.g., There were less [fewer] accidents in football this season Liable, should not be used for likely: e.g., It is liable [likely] to rain today. Its proper sense is shown in the sentence, He is liable to arrest Like, is a vulgarism when used for as or as if: e.g., / wish I could sing like [as] you do. See also Love Likely, means "any probability"; liable means an "unpleasant probability" Loan, is not in accord with good usage when used as a verb: Say, He lent me a dollar, and The loan was of real assistance Locate, is a vulgarism when used for settle. Say, He set- tled in Boston, and He located his business in Cambridge Love, describes that which appeals to our affections; like, that which appeals to our taste, appetite or fancy Luxuriant, means "superabundant"; luxurious means "consequent upon luxury" Mad, means "insane," and is not a synonym for angry Man, see Gentleman May, see Can Me, is often wrongly used for I: e.g., Between you and I [me]; It is me [I]; You know as well as me [I] Means, may be either singular or plural. Say, No other means was at hand, or Various means were suggested Most, should not be used for almost Must, should not be used for had to or was obliged: e.g., The hour arrived when he must [had to] decide. In its proper use it refers to the present or future: e.g., The hour will arrive when he must decide 108 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK Mutual, should not be used in the sense of "shared in common," as it means " reciprocal." It can refer to but two persons or things. Mutual friendship is that which exists between two friends; common friendship that which is shared by two friends for a third Negligence, implies failure to conform to an established custom; neglect means "a failure to act" Neither, signifies one of two. In designating one of three or more, say No one News, is singular in construction Nice, should not be used loosely; as, She was nice to us. It means keenness in discrimination; as, 77 was a fine point, nicely considered. The incorrect use of this word is an Americanism especially offensive to the English. Oscar Wilde, when in America, remarked, "I think nice is a nasty word," to which his hearer retorted, "I don't think nasty is a nice word" No place, should be written nowhere Nor, see Or Not . . . but, forms a double negative: e.g., / have not asked you but once should be / have asked you but once Notorious, is not a synonym for celebrated or famous. It means "of bad repute" Nowhere near, is a vulgarism for not nearly Number: pronouns are often used which differ in number from their antecedents: e.g., Nobody should feel that their [his] interests have been neglected; Each of the ladies, like two excellent actresses, were [was] perfect in their [her] parts [part]. Singular nouns are sometimes used with plural verbs, or the reverse: e.g., None but the brave deserve [deserves] the fair; There's [there are] the boys Of, is sometimes wrongly used for have: e.g., / shouldn't of [have] come if I had known Or, should not be used with neither. Use nor DICTION 109 Ought, should never be combined with had: e.g., You hadn't ought to do that should be You ought not to do that Out loud, should never be used for aloud Partake of, should not be used in the sense of eat. It means "to share with others" Party, should not be used for person Per, should not be used with English words. Say One dollar a year, or One dollar per annum Perception, means the inlet of all the materials of knowledge; apperception means the knowledge that one possesses these materials. A man with percep- tion knows; a man with apperception knows that he knows Plurals: of foreign words should be carefully ascer- tained: e.g., cherubim is the plural of cherub; memo- randa, of memorandum; data, of datum; donne, of donna; strata, of stratum; addenda, of addendum; rubaiyat, of rubai. Do not say, A memoranda Pretty, should not be used in a modifying sense, nor as a synonym for very: e.g., It is not as good as yours, but it is pretty [fairly] good; I didn't hit it, but I came pretty [very] close Propose, meaning " to offer," should not be confused with purpose, meaning "to intend." Say, He pro- posed an amendment, and / have told you what I purpose Quite, should not be used in a modifying sense as if meaning "rather." It is not what I expected, but it is quite good is wrong. The word means "wholly": e.g., Not quite = not wholly; quite satisfactory = wholly satisfactory Raise, should not be used as a noun Rarely ever, is a vulgarism for rarely or hardly ever Reference, should be used with with rather than in. Say, With reference to rather than In reference to 110 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK Regard, see Reference Respect, see Reference Reverend, should always be preceded by the: e.g., The Reverend James Brown Smith Same, should not be used as a pronoun: e.g., Your letter received, and in reply [to same] would say. Omit bracketed words Same as, should not be used for just as or in the same way: e.g., Treat him the same [just] as you would wish to be treated Scarcely, see Hardly Seldom ever, see Rarely ever Sensible of, means " having perception"; sensitive to means "affected by" Set, should not be confused with sit. To set means " to cause to sit": e.g., The bird sits upon the tree, and The waiter set two chairs for us Sewage, means the contents of sewers; sewerage means the system Shall, signifies simple expectancy in the first person, and will represents determination. This reverses with the second and third persons: e.g., Expectancy, I shall (should), thou wilt (wouldst), he will (would), we shall (should), you will (would), they will (would). Determination, I will (would), thou shalt (shouldst), he shall (should), we will (would), you shall (should), they shall (should). This time-honored illustration of the misuse of these words is easily remembered: / will drown, nobody shall save me. In interrogative sentences, the forms of the future are the same as in a declarative sentence, and their proper use may be easily remembered by noting that the same auxil- iary is used as is expected in the reply: e.g., Shall you go ? suggests merely /uture action, anticipating the reply, / shall or / shall not; Will you go? shows that the speaker expects a reply of determination, / will or / will not She, see Her DI CT ION III Should, ought not to be used for to: e.g., J want you' should [to] do this. (See also Want.) As between should and would, see Shall. The same usage ob- tains, except that sometimes should is used in the sense of ought: e.g., He should be here now; and would sometimes signifies habitual action: e.g., Whenever the name was mentioned he would speak slightingly of him Show, should not be used for play: e.g., / went to a show last evening; nor in the sense of chance: e.g., He has an excellent show of winning Show up, is a vulgarism when used for expose Since, should not be used for ago. Say, How long ago rather than How long since Size up, is a vulgarism when used for estimate So, should be used sparingly to modify an adjective: e.g., I feel so unhappy. It should not be used for so that: e.g., / wrote him so [that] he understood So . . . as, is required, rather than the correlatives as ... as in negative statements: e.g., James is not as [so] clever as John Some, should not be used for somewhat: e.g., The patient is so me [what] better Some place, should be written somewhere Sort, see Kind Sort of, should not be used for rather: e.g., / feel sort of tired is incorrect. See also Kind of Splendid, should not be used for fine or skilful. It implies "splendor" Start, should not be used for begin: e.g., He started [began] to speak Stop, should not be used for stay: e.g., / am stopping [staying] with my uncle while in San Francisco Take, is superfluous in connection with other verbs: e.g., Suppose we [take and] use the drawings we have. It should not be confused with bring: e.g., / will bring [take] it home with me; I will take [bring] the book to you tomorrow 112 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK Take stock in, is a slang expression not recognized by good usage. Say rely on or trust in Tense: errors are often made by neglecting the prin- ciple that the time of the recorded action in the sub- ordinate portion of a sentence is relative to the time of the principal clause. The tense of the dependent verb, therefore, is determined by its relation to the verb on which it depends: e.g., I meant to have done it should be / meant to do it; He expected to have told him should be He expected to tell him. A com- mon mistake is made in replying to formal invita- tions: e.g., Mr. Robert Gorham regrets that a previous engagement will prevent [prevents] him from accepting;. Mr. Gorham will be [is] happy to accept That, see Which Them, is often misused for they: e.g., It is them [they] They, see Them This, should not be used as an adverb. Say, Thus much is clear rather than This much is clear, and Having said thus much [or as much as this] . . . rather than Having said this much . . . Through, should not be used for finished. Say, He has finished speaking rather than He is through speaking Too, alone should not modify a past participle: e.g He was too [much] excited to reply Treat, should be followed by of rather than on: e.g This volume treats of conditions in China Try, should be followed by to rather than and: e.g / will try and [to] get the information you desire i > j Ugly, should not be used in the sense of vicious or malicious. It means " repulsive to the eye." A color may be ugly, but an ill-tempered dog is vicious Verbs: should not be omitted: e.g., He could do it if he wished to [do it] Very, should be used sparingly. Foreigners say that America is a country of superlatives, if anything is good, it is very good, and if bad, it is very bad. Too DICTION 113 much emphasis weakens conversation or writing and defeats its object Visitor, is a human caller; visitant, a supernatural one Vocation, means "calling" or "profession"; avocation, means an interest outside one's profession Want, should not be used in the sense of wish: e.g., J want it really means "I feel the want of it," or "/ lack it." An example of the correct use of both words is, China wishes the cooperation of the United States, a cooperation which is at present wanting Way, should not be used for away What, is often misused for that: e.g., He has no doubt but what [that] he will succeed Whence, means " from where." Do not say from whence Which, should not be used with a clause as its ante- cedent: e.g., He replied hotly, which was a mistake should be He replied hotly; this was a mistake. Do not use which (a neuter pronoun) to represent a mas- culine or feminine noun. Say whom. Between which and that, let euphony decide Who, is often misused for whom or whose: e.g., Who [whom] did you wish to see? Washington, than whom [whose] no greater name is recorded in American history. Impersonal objects should be referred to by which rather than who Whom, see Who and Which Will, see Shall Woman, see Gentleman Womanly, means "belonging to woman as woman"; womanish means "effeminate" Would, see Should LETTER WRITING A: LTHOUGH it is quite improbable that there will ever be a return to the painstaking, literary art of letter writing, of which we have so many admirable examples in the past, the value of the art as a medium of expressing personality must always be recog- nized. The force of business competition has introduced short-cuts in business cor- respondence which are regrettable from a literary standpoint; the universal use of the typewriter has altered conditions; the mul- tiplicity of social demands makes impossible the leisurely written and carefully considered letters between friends which used to be a valued expression of friendship itself. These changes in conditions have been inevitable, but they do not explain the carelessness and the evidences of ignorance of even simple rules of expression and arrangement which are too frequently apparent in the letters even of those whose position in life demands more, in this respect, than they seem able or willing to give. For this reason the present writer does not hesitate to resort to elemen- tary outlines in making clear the basis upon which the art of letter writing rests. 114 LETTER WRITING 115 THE HEADING 1. Business. 1. The stationery of a busi- ness house invariably contains in its printed heading the name of the house and the loca- tion of the business, with a space for filling in the date. The arrangement, therefore, is arbi- trarily and usually correctly fixed. The name of the city or town, with street address, if re- quired, comes first, occupying one or two lines, followed by the date, always at the right, either in the same line or in a line by itself: e.g., Boston, 12 March, 1912 or 189 State St., Boston 12 March, 191 2 2. If there is no punctuation at the ends of the printed lines, there should be no point used after the date. 3. The number of the day should not be followed by st, nd, rd, d, or th: e.g., 12 March, not 12th March. II. Informal. 1. There is considerable latitude in the heading in informal or friendly letters. The address of the writer may be placed at the beginning or the end of the letter, or omitted altogether if well-known to the addressee. 2. The date may be at the beginning or the end, but should never be omitted. III. Formal. 1. In formal letters the place and date should be written at the end, on the left. Il6 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK THE ADDRESS 1. Business. i. The name and address of the addressee should be placed at the begin- ning of every business letter, on the left, immediately preceding the salutation. It should be in two or three lines, the indention being either blocked 1 or en echelon 1 : e.g., Messrs. Smith, Robinson & Co. 713 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, Pa. {blocked) or Messrs. Smith, Robinson & Co. {en echelon) or Philadelphia, Pa. Messrs. Smith, Robinson & Co. 713 Chestnut Street {en echelon) Philadelphia, Pa. II. Informal. 1. The same latitude is allowed here as in the matter of the date. It is customary, however, to omit the address in informal or friendly correspondence. III. Formal. 1. The address is always placed at the end in formal letters, on the left, below the place and date. Its arrange- ment may be blocked 2 or en echelon, 2 but this should be the same arrangement as that adopted for the place and the address. 2. In making reply to formal invitations, the address of the addressee is omitted. THE SALUTATION I. Business. 1. The salutation should be so written as to line with the first line of the address, on the left. 1 See page 56. 2 See page 56. LETTER WRITING 117 2. Ordinarily it should occupy a line by itself, but when the address requires three lines, the salutation may be made a part of the body of the letter, being followed by a colon and a dash: e.g., Gentlemen: 3. When the salutation is in a line by itself it calls for a comma if the letter is informal, and for a colon if it is formal. 4. The proper form of the salutation is Gentlemen, Dear Sir{s), My dear Sir (if the letter is signed by an individual name), Dear Madam or My dear Madam (to a married or single woman), Ladies. 5. The proper capitalization is here shown. II. Informal. 1. The salutation Dear Sir is less formal than My dear Sir, although in England the opposite opinion prevails. 2. The capitalization is the same as in business letters; i.e., the first word and the word which stands in place of the person's name are capitalized: e.g., My own dear Sister, My dear Aunt Mary, or Dear John, My dear Friend. 3. In an informal letter the comma is usually used after the salutation. 4. Do not use abbreviations in the saluta- tion: e.g., write Dear Doctor Smith, not Dear Dr. Smith. 5. Do not omit the salutatory phrase: Friend James, or Mr. James Smith is too abrupt. III. Formal. 1. A letter to the President of the United States or to King George Il8 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK should have the salutation Sir; to the Pope, Your Holiness; to the Vice-President, Mr. Vice-President, Sir; to a duke, My Lord Duke; to a baron, My Lord; to a cardinal, Your Eminence; to an archbishop in England, My Lord Archbishop, in the United States, The Most Reverend , Sir; to a bishop in England, My Lord Bishop, in the United States, Most Reverend Sir; to a dean or to an archdeacon, Reverend Sir; to a senator, con- gressman, mayor, or judge, Sir or Dear Sir; to an ambassador, To the Ambassador, Sir. 2. A colon should follow the salutation in formal letters. THE TEXT OF THE LETTER I. Business. 1 i. The idea that curtness and brevity are essential characteristics of a business letter exists now only in the minds of the inexperienced, the ignorant, or the careless. One still finds stock phrases and omitted articles to a surprising extent, so much so that a well-written business letter carries with it more weight because of the contrast which it offers. The writers of the best business letters today lose no time in getting to the point, but they extend to their correspondent the courtesy of correct diction. Arrangement, punctuation, spelling, and grammar reflect favorably or otherwise upon the reputation of the house. 1 See example i on page 126. LETTER WRITING 119 2. Avoid such monotonous expressions as the following: (a) Yours, your favor, your esteemed favor; write letter, (b) 12th inst., 12th, recent date; write 12 March, (c) I will say, I would say, I can say; write Allow me to say, or omit it altogether, (d) In reply would say; write In reply I would say, or In reply allow me to say. (e) Same, the same; write it or they. (/) Please find enclosed; write / enclose, (g) Hoping to hear soon, thanking you in advance, awaiting your response, and oblige have all become hackneyed. Omit them unless bearing specifically upon the text of the letter. 3. Do not omit / or We in such expressions as, Beg x to acknowledge, Have been awaiting your advice. 4. Do not use the first person singular when the letter is signed by the firm name. 5. Do not say the writer in one portion of the letter and / in another. 6. In arrangement, the first line of the text should begin on the line below the salutation, indented about one inch, and each paragraph should be similarly indented. 2 Another style, particularly useful when the letter covers several distinct subjects, is to use the reverse indention, with subheads in capitals at the extreme left. 3 1 This should be Beg leave to acknowledge. 2 See example 1 on page 1 26. 3 See example 2 on page 126. 120 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK II. Informal. 1 i. However informal or friendly, a letter should tell what it has to say in a straightforward, coherent manner. Apologies for delay in writing, or for anything else except illness, absence from town, or other cause which demands explanation, are wasteful of paper, ink, and the time of two persons. 2. A general fault in informal letters is the paragraphing and punctuation. The writer should remember that he is trying to express to another mental ideas which have no oppor- tunity to become crystallized by the sound of the voice. He should take especial pains to assist his correspondent in assimilating the thoughts which he expresses, by not run- ning different topics together, and by sepa- rating phrases and sentences with their proper marks. III. Formal. i. The expedient of writing in the third person is adopted in formal social correspondence. 2 Notes of this kind should have no heading, address, complimentary close, or signature. The date alone, omitting the year, is used, being placed at the end on the left. No abbreviations other than Mr., Mrs., Messrs., and Dr. should be used. The date should be spelled out in full. 2. Notes written to tradespeople 3 convey- 1 See example 3 on page 127. 2 See example 4 on page 127. 3 See example 5 on page 1 28. LETTER WRITING 121 ing orders or instructions are also frequently written in the third person. In this case, however, the address is always given at the end on the left, and the date, using figures, is also employed. There is no signature. THE COMPLIMENTARY CLOSE 1. Business. i. The accepted forms of complimentary closes of business letters are Yours truly, and Yours very truly. The forms Respectfully yours, Your obedient ser- vant, and Faithfully yours are now regarded as too obsequious. 2. The complimentary close should begin in the middle of a line by itself, below the concluding words of the text. 3. The first word alone should be capi- talized. 4. A comma should be placed at end of the line. 5. Do not abbreviate any of the words in the complimentary close. Avoid such con- tractions as Y J rs for Yours. 6. Expressions used to introduce the com- plimentary close, such as With kind regards, I am, Believe me, Good-bye, etc., should be treated as part of the concluding line of the text only when closely related to the final sentence; otherwise they occupy a separate line. II. Informal. 1. The nature of the com- plimentary close of informal or friendly 122 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK letters depends upon the degree of intimacy which exists between the correspondents. The usual forms are, Yours sincerely, or Yours very truly, but they may properly be used as expressions of affection, as Your devoted husband, or Your loving daughter. III. Formal. i. There is no complimen- tary close to formal notes written in the third person. 2. The complimentary closes to formal letters addressed to persons in high positions are as follows: to the President of the United States, / have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient servant; to King George, I have the honor to be, Sir, Your Majesty } s most obedient servant. This form is modified as the rank of the person addressed becomes less impor- tant. To a congressman, for instance, one would say no more than, J have the honor to be. THE SIGNATURE i. The signature should be written on a line by itself, a little to the right of the com- plimentary close. 2. Women should always sign their full names or indicate in brackets how they should be addressed. Any one of the follow- ing forms is proper: a. (Miss) M. L. Brown b. (Mrs.) Ellen M. Brown c. Ellen M. Brown (Mrs. J. H. Brown) LETTER WRITING 123 3. In letters to all except the family or intimate friends the Christian name and the surname should be signed in full. THE ENVELOPE 1. The arrangement of the address upon the envelope is largely a matter of taste. It usually occupies three or four lines, written en echelon, 1 but some writers prefer the blocked 2 formation. 2. In business letters the word street and the name of the state may be abbreviated, but in formal and informal letters it is better form to spell out in full. 3. Legibility is even more essential in the address than in the letter itself. 4. It is good form to write the street and number or the postoffice box in the lower left-hand corner. 5. The abbreviations No. and $ before the figures in the street address should be omitted. 6. In care of should be written out in full. 7. The stamp should always be placed in the upper right-hand corner, as a convenience to the postoffice officials. Care should be taken to affix the stamp neatly, as careless- ness in this respect reflects upon the sender. 8. Punctuation may be omitted at the ends of the lines; otherwise use a comma, except at the end of the last line. 1 See page 56. 2 See page 56. 124 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK 9. The title Esq. is more complimentary than Mr., and the former should always be used when addressing men holding a college degree or of social standing. In formal social addresses Mr. (or Dr., etc.) is always used. 10. In addressing envelopes to persons in high positions the following forms should be used: To the President of the United States, The President. Executive Mansion, Washing- ton, D. C; to King George, His Majesty, the King, London (omit England, as this is con- sidered a provincialism); to the Pope, His Holiness, Pope Pius X., Rome (omit Italy)', to a member of the Cabinet, To the Honorable the Secretary of State; to a duke, His Grace, the Duke of ; to a baron, The Right Honorable, the Lord ; to a cardinal, To His Eminence, William Cardinal O'Connell; to an archbishop in England, The Most Reverend His Grace the Lord Arch- bishop of ; to a bishop in England, The Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of , in the United States, The Right Reverend (Christian and surname), adding honorary titles; to a dean in England, The Very Reverend the Dean of ; to an archdeacon in England, The Venerable the Archdeacon (surname); to a senator, congressman, mayor, or judge, Honorable (Christian and surname); to a governor, His Excellency, the Governor of ; to an ambassador, His Excellency the British Ambassador. LETTER WRITING 11$ POSTAL CARDS i. Postal cards have become much more common during the past few years, the pic- torial variety being particularly popular. The prejudice against their use has largely disappeared. 2. Postal cards do not require salutation or complimentary close. IN GENERAL i . Use black ink and never use a pencil, even in friendly letters, except in an emergency. 2. Do not practise economy of paper by writing in the margin. 3. Fold the letter so that when taken from the envelope it will open right-side up. 4. Never omit the date from any note or letter, however unimportant. 5. In brief letters the first and fourth or first and third pages may be written upon, leaving the others blank. 6. Avoid postscripts except in an emer- gency. 7. Unruled paper should be used for all correspondence. 8. Typewritten letters are permissible only in business correspondence, and even in these the signature should be written by hand. 9. Any evidence of haste is a discourtesy. Never sign a letter, Yours in haste. 10. Underscoring is permissible only in informal letters and should be used sparingly. 126 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK EXAMPLES OF CORRECT LETTER WRITING i. Business Letter I NORWOOD, MASS., 12 March, 191 2 MESSRS. FREDERICK A. STOKES CO. 443 Fourth Ave. New York, N.Y. Gentlemen : Your letter of 1 1 March is at hand, and we acknowledge receipt of the MS. of "The Writer's Desk Book," together with your detailed instructions. The MS. shall be put into type without delay, and galley proofs shall be sent to the author in accord with your advice. We expect to complete the typesetting within two weeks' time. Thanking you for the order, we are Yours very truly, The Plimpton Press 2. Business Letter II (reverse indention) 443 Fourth Ave., NEW YORK, N. Y. 25 March, 191 2 THE PLIMPTON PRESS Norwood, Mass. Gentlemen : We beg leave to take up with you the various details of manufacture relating to the various books in your hands, as follows: Writer's Desk Book: In addition to the proofs which you are now sending to the author, please send two additional sets of galley and page proof to us. Meissonier: The sample page which you submit is accepted. We shall require two sets of page-proof only. Maxims of Methuselah: Please print an edition of 5000 copies, using paper which you have in stock for us. Yours very truly, Frederick A. Stokes Co. LETTER WRITING 127 3. Informal or Friendly Letter Nice, August 28, 1857 My dear Enthusiast, Again I request your kind offices by the enclosed note, in giving it or forwarding it to my brother. Charles and I have been much gratified in reading aloud he reading to me while I work the life of Shakespeare by Thomas Campbell. It is put together in a most pleasant spirit, which all the biographies are not. But a poet is sure to write well on a poet. Everything that Coleridge, for instance, says of our Idol is in charming taste; and also Barry Cornwall's Memoir and Essay on Shakespeare and his Writings has the same delightful poetic charm. After reading the heap of inappreciative discussions on the sub- ject, it is truly refreshing to go through the dissertations of such authors as these upon our poet of poets. They can best feel his merits, and can therefore most vener- atingly and modestly treat the theme of his genius and greatness. With united kindest regards from Charles and myself to you and Mrs. Balmanno, believe me to be Gratefully, Mary Cowden Clarke Robert Balmanno, Esq. New York, N. Y. 4. Formal Social Notes Mr. and Mrs. Charles Winslow request the pleasure of Mr. James Gorham's company at dinner on Thursday evening, January the twelfth, at half after seven o'clock. 487 Beacon Street January the fourth 1 1 While this form is commonly used, it is not grammatically correct. One may say George the Fourth, because three Georges have preceded him. Strictly speaking, one should write The fourth of January. 128 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK Mr. James Gorham regrets that an engagement previously made prevents x him from accepting the kind invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Winslow for dinner on Thursday evening, January the twelfth. 289 Commonwealth Avenue January the fifth 5. Formal Note to Tradesman Mrs. Gorham desires Messrs. Smith & Robinson to send for her exami- nation the electric ironing apparatus advertised in this morning's "Herald." 312 Sigourney Street 12 January, 191 2 04 note of this kind should always have the address.) 1 See under Tense on page 112. POSTAL REGULATIONS CLASSES OF MAIL D OMESTIC matter is divided into four classes, governed as follows: First Class embraces letters, postal cards, post cards, all matter wholly or partly in writing or sealed against inspection. Rate, 2 cents for each ounce and fraction. Limit of weight, 4 pounds. Second Class applies to newspapers and periodicals in their entirety bearing the printed statement " Entered at the post- office as second-class matter," etc., when they are mailed by the public. Parts of publications are third-class matter. Addi- tions may be made on the wrapper or the matter itself; there may be written or printed the name and address of the sender, preceded by the word "from"; the name and address of the person to whom sent; the words "sample copy" or "marked copy," or both, as the case may be. On the matter itself the sender may place all that is permitted on the wrapper; correct typographical errors in the text; designate by marks, not by words, 129 130 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK a word or passage in the text to which it is desired to call attention. Other writing will subject the package to the first-class rate. Rate i cent for each 4 ounces or fraction, Full prepayment required. No limit of weight. Third Class includes unsealed books, news- papers and periodicals not admitted to the second class, circulars, miscellaneous printed matter on paper not having the nature of personal correspondence, and proof sheets, corrected proof sheets, and manuscript copy accompanying the same, engravings, litho- graphs, seeds, scions, cuttings, bulbs, roots, and plants. Also facsimile copies made by a mechanical process such as the printing press, electric pen, mimeograph, hektograph, copygraph, etc., provided that they are mailed at the post-office window in the minimum number of twenty identical copies separately addressed. If mailed elsewhere or in less number, first-class postage is required. A circular may have in writing therein the name of the addressee or sender or date. Corrections in proof sheets include the alteration of the text and insertion of new matter, as well as the correction of typograph- ical and other errors. They include also mar- ginal instructions to the printer necessary to the correction of the matter or its proper appearance in print. Part of an article may be entirely rewritten if that be necessary for POSTAL REGULATIONS 131 correction. Corrections must be upon the margin of or attached to the proof sheets. Manuscript of one article cannot be inclosed with proof or corrected proof sheets of another except at the first-class rate. Written designation of contents, such as "book," 'printed matter," "photo," is permissible upon the wrapper of mail matter of the third class. A single card bearing the written name and address of the sender, or an envelope bearing a written or printed name and address of the sender, may be inclosed with a circular, catalogue, or other third-class matter with- out affecting the classification thereof. Pub- lic library books, otherwise mailable at the third-class rate, may bear any printed or written mark which may reasonably be con- strued as a necessary inscription for the pur- pose of a permanent library record. Rate 1 cent each 2 ounces or fraction. Limit of weight, 4 pounds, except single books. Postage must be fully prepaid and great care exercised not to add any written words or figures except such as are permissible. Parcel Post includes all (unsealed) matter not embraced in the three classes already enu- merated, except seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots, scions, and plants, on which the rate is one-half cent per ounce. Important changes are certain to be made from time to time during the experi- mental period, so readers are urged to secure the 132 THE WRITER S DESK BOOK latest information from their own post-office. The basic regulations at present are as follows: SPECIAL STAMPS REQUIRED. Denominations i, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50 and 75c. $1. WEIGHT LIMIT: Eleven (11) pounds. SIZE LIMIT: 72 inches, length and girth combined. PARCELS MAY BE INSURED up to $50.00 by paying a fee of 10 cents. RATES PER POUND: Depend on distance parcel is to be carried. See Table of Rates on page 162. MARKING: Parcels must bear name and address of sender, preceded by word " From." MAILING: Parcels exceeding 4 ounces in weight must be mailed at post-office. WRAPPING OF MAIL MATTER All mail matter should be so wrapped as safely to bear transmission without breaking, or injuring mail bags or the contents of mail bags or the persons of those handling them. Second, third, and fourth-class matter must be so wrapped or enveloped that the contents may be examined easily by postal officials. When not so wrapped, or when bearing or containing writing not authorized by law, the matter will be treated as of the first class. FORWARDING MAIL MATTER Matter of the first class may be forwarded until it reaches the addressee. All other classes require prepayment of the original postage before forwarding. WHAT CANNOT BE MAILED All transient second-class matter and all matter of the third or fourth class not wholly POSTAL REGULATIONS 133 prepaid, and letters and other first-class matter not prepaid are full rate 2 cents. All matter weighing over 4 pounds, except second-class matter, single books, and docu- ments printed and circulated by authority of Congress. Postal, post, or other cards mailed without wrappers and all matter bearing upon the outside cover or wrapper any delineations, epithets, terms, or language of an indecent, lewd, lascivious, obscene, libelous, scurrilous, defamatory or threatening character, or cal- culated by the terms of manner or style of display, and obviously intended to reflect injuriously upon the character or conduct of another. Post cards bearing particles of glass, metal, mica, sand, tinsel, etc., are unmailable. All matter concerning any lottery, so-called gift concert, or other enterprise of chance, or concerning schemes devised for the pur- pose of obtaining money or property under false pretenses. CONCEALED MATTER For knowingly concealing or inclosing any matter of a higher class in that of a lower class, and depositing or causing the same to be deposited for conveyance by mail at a less rate than would be charged for both such higher and lower class, the offender will be liable for every such offense to a fine of $10. 134 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK DOMESTIC RATES The domestic rates apply to the United States, Porto Rico, Guam, Philippine Islands, Shanghai (China), Tutuila, Cuba, Canada, 1 Mexico, 1 Hawaii, Republic of Panama and the Panama Canal Zone. FOREIGN RATES Mail matter addressed to countries in the Universal Postal Union is subject to the fol- lowing rates: Letters and sealed packages, 5 cents for one ounce or fraction thereof, and 3 cents for each additional ounce or fraction thereof, if prepaid, and double that rate if not prepaid, except Great Britain, and Germany (if sent by steamers sailing for Germany direct), which is 2 cents per ounce. Postal and private mail cards, 2 cents each. Printed matter of every kind, commercial papers, samples of merchandise, 1 cent each 2 ounces or fraction thereof, but at least 5 cents must be paid on each packet of com- mercial papers and 2 cents on each packet of samples of merchandise. Mail schedules showing the name of steamer, hour of closing of the mail at the General Post-Office, etc., may be found in the corridors of the General Post-Office or any of its stations. See exceptions which follow. POSTAL REGULATIONS 135 Exceptions for Cuba, Mexico, Canada, and Republic of Panama Matter mailed in United States addressed to Mexico is subject to the same postage rates and conditions as that addressed in the United States, except that articles of mis- cellaneous merchandise (fourth-class matter) in unsealed packages not sent as bona fide trade samples are required to be sent by " Parcels Post," and that the following articles are absolutely excluded from the mails: All sealed packages other than letters in the usual form; all packages (including packages of second-class matter which weigh more than 4 pounds 6 ounces), except such as are sent by parcels post; publications which violate any copyright law of Mexico. Samples of merchandise: Packages not in excess of 4 ounces, 2 cents. Packages in excess of 4 ounces, for each 2 ounces or frac- tion thereof, 1 cent. Limit of weight, 12 ounces. Mail matter in United States addressed to Canada and Cuba is subject to same postage rates and conditions as addressed for delivery in United States, except that the following articles are absolutely excluded from the mails: All packages closed against inspection and not in usual form of a letter; all packages, except single volumes of printed books, 136 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK which weigh more than 4 pounds 6 ounces; publications which violate any copyright law of Canada, Cuba, or Republic of Panama. Unsealed packages of " commercial papers" are admitted to the mails dispatched from this country to Mexico and Canada at the same rate and subject to the same conditions as to weight and dimensions as apply to com- mercial papers in mails dispatched to other countries of Universal Postal Union. FOREIGN PARCELS POST Parcels Post conventions are in effect with the following countries, the rate of postage being 12 cents a pound or fraction: Aus- tralia, 1 Austria, 1 Bahamas, Barbadoes, 1 Bel- gium, 1 Bermuda, Bolivia, British Guiana, British Honduras, Chili, certain places in China; Costa Rica, Denmark. 1 Dutch Guiana Parcels cannot be registered. Ecua- dor Parcels must not exceed $50 in value. France Parcels cannot be registered and must, not weigh over 4 pounds 6 ounces or exceed $50 in value. Germany. Great Britain and Ireland Parcels cannot be registered. Guatemala, Honduras, Hongkong, 1 Hun- gary, 1 Jamaica, Japan. 1 Mexico Limit of size, 2 feet in length, 4 feet in girth. Netherlands 1 Parcels cannot be registered. Newfoundland, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, 1 Peru, Salvador, Sweden, 1 Trinidad. 1 Parcels not to exceed $8p in value. POSTAL REGULATIONS 137 Uruguay Parcels cannot be registered. Venezuela, Windward Islands. Parcels Post packages may be mailed only at the main post-office or at branch carrier stations after each package has been examined and is attached to a parcels post declaration. MONEY ORDER FEES Fees for money orders payable in the United States (which includes Hawaii and Porto Rico) and its possessions comprising the Canal Zone (Isthmus of Panama), Guam, the Philippines, and Tutuila, Samoa; also for orders payable in Bahamas, Bermuda, British Guiana, British Honduras, Canada, Cuba, Newfoundland, at the United States postal agency at Shanghai (China), and in certain islands in the West Indies: Not exceeding $2.50 3c Over $30 to $40 15c Over $2.50 to $5 5c Over $40 to $50 18c Over $5 to $10 8c Over $50 to $60 20c Over $10 to $20 ioc Over $60 to $75 25c Over $20 to $30 12c Over $75 to $100 30c Fees for International Money Orders When payable in Apia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Chili, Costa Rica, Denmark, Egypt, Germany, Hongkong, Japan, Liberia, Lux- emburg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zea- land, Norway, Orange River Colony, Peru, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, and Trans- vaal: 138 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK Not exceeding $10 8c Over $50 to $60 30c Over $10 to $20 ioc Over $60 to $70 35c Over $20 to $30 15c Over $70 to $80 40c Over $30 to $40 20c Over $80 to $90 45c Over $40 to $50 25c Over $90 to $100 50c When payable in Cape Colony, France, Great Britain, Greece, Republic of Honduras, Italy, New South Wales, Queensland, Russia, Salvador, South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria: Not exceeding $10 ioc Over $50 to $60 60c Over $10 to $20 20c Over $60 to $70 70c Over $20 to $30 30c Over $70 to $80 80c Over $30 to $40 40c Over $80 to $90 90c Over $40 to $50 50c Over $90 to $100 $1 REGISTERED MAIL Domestic Any article of the first, second, third, or fourth class mail matter may be registered at any post-office in the United States. The fee on registered matter, domestic or foreign, is 10 cents for each letter or parcel, to be affixed in stamps, in addition to the post- age. Full prepayment of postage and fee is required. Two or more letters or parcels addressed to, or intended for, the same per- son cannot be tied or otherwise fastened together and registered as one. A return receipt signed by the recipient and showing delivery is returned to the sender of each domestic registered letter or parcel if requested at the time of mailing. POSTAL REGULATIONS 139 If it is desired that registered matter be delivered to the addressee only, it should be endorsed " To be delivered to the addressee only." The postal authorities give an indemnity for domestic first-class registered mail lost in transit up to $50. Foreign 1. Any article of mail matter, except par- cels post packages for France, The Nether- lands, Uruguay, Great Britain, Barbadoes, Dutch Guiana, may be registered, provided that when presented for registration the postage thereon be fully prepaid by postage stamps affixed, also the registration fee, which is uniformly 10 cents. 2. Name and address of sender in full must be indorsed on or written across the end of the letter or article before it can be registered. 3. The senders of registered articles may obtain assurance of their receipt by persons addressed by indorsing them with the words, " Return receipt requested. " SPECIAL DELIVERY SYSTEM A special 10 cent stamp, when attached to a letter or package (in addition to the lawful postage), will entitle such to immediate de- livery at destination within the carrier limit of a free delivery office between the hours of 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., and from 7 a.m. to 140 THE WRITER S DESK BOOK 7 p.m. at all other offices, or until after the arrival of the last mail at night, provided that be not later than 9 p.m. Special delivery mail must be delivered on Sunday, as well as on other days, if post-office is open on Sundays. If special delivery matter fails of delivery because there is no person at the place of address to receive it, the matter is returned to the post-office and delivered in the ordinary mail. Ten cents worth of ordinary stamps with special delivery " written on envelope serves the same purpose. Short-paid second, third, and fourth class matter, to which is attached a special delivery stamp, cannot be for- warded. POSTAL DISTANCES AND TIME FROM NEW YORK CITY Shortest Routes and Time in Transit by Fastest Trains Subject to alterations occasioned by changes in time tables and connections u Cities in U. S. Mis. Hrs. Cities in U. S. Mis. Hrs. Albany, N. Y. 142 3f Cleveland, 0. 568 19J Atlanta, Ga. 882 24! Columbus, 0. 624 20 Baltimore, Md. 138 6 Concord, N. H. 292 9i Bismarck, N. Dak. 1738 60* Deadwood, S. Dak. 1957 65* Boise, Idaho 2736 922 Denver, Col. 1930 6ij Boston, Mass. 217 6 Des Moines, la. 1257 37 Buffalo, N. Y. 410 9* Detroit, Mich. 743 21 Cape May, N. J. 172 5 Galveston, Tex. 1789 5&i Carson City, Nev. 3036 109} Harrisburg, Pa. 182 6 Charleston, S. C. 804 21I Hartford, Ct. 112 4 Chattanooga, Ten. 853 32 Helena, Mont. 2423 89 Cheyenne, Wyo. 1 899 54 Hot Springs, Ark. 1367 55 Chicago, 111. 900 23 Indianapolis, Ind. 808 23 Cincinnati, 0. 744 23 Jacksonville, Fla. 1077 30 POSTAL REGULATIONS 141 Postal Distances and Time from New York City (Continued) Cities in U. S. Mis. Hrs. Cities in U. S. Mis. Hrs. Kansas City, Mo. 1302 38i St. Louis, Mo. 1048 29 Louisville, Ky. 854 30 St. Paul, Minn. 1300 37 Memphis, Tenn. 1 163 40 Salt Lake City, U. 2452 7i* Milwaukee, Wis. 98s 29i San Francisco, Cal. 3250 105 Montgomery, Ala. 1057 26 Santa Fe, N. Mex. 2173 82 Montpelier, Vt. 327 10I Savannah, Ga. 90S 26I New Orleans, La. 1344 32 Tacoma, Wash. 3209 102 Omaha, Neb. 1383 43 Topeka, Kan. 1370 48 Philadelphia, Pa. 90 3 Trenton, N. J. 57 2 Pittsburgh, Pa. 43i 13 Vicksburgh, Miss. 1288 5o Portland, Me. 325 12 Vinita, Ind. Ter. 1412 42 Portland, Ore. 3181 141$ Washington, D. C. 228 6 Prescott, Ariz. 2724 94 Wheeling, W. Va. 496 14I Providence, R. 1. 189 5 Wilmington, Del. 117 5 Richmond, Va. 344 "* Wilmington, N. C. 593 20 Foreign Cities from New York City By Postal Route to Mis. D's 34 By Postal Route to Mis. D's Adelaide, v. Frisco 12845 Havana 1366 3 Alexandria, v. Lon. 6150 13 Hongkong, v. Fris. 10590 25 Amsterdam, v. Lon. 3985 9 Honolulu, v. Frisco 5645 13 Antwerp, v. London 4000 9 Liverpool 3540 8 Athens, v. Lon. 5655 12 London 3740 8 Bahia, Brazil 5870 21 Madrid, v. London 4925 9 Bangkok, S. v. Frisco 12990 43 Melbourne, v. Fris. 12265 26 Batavia, J. v. Lon. 12800 34 Mexico City (R.R.) 375o 5 Berlin 4385 9 Panama 2355 6 Bombay, v. London. 9765 24 Paris 4020 8 Bremen 4235 8 Rio de Janeiro t 6204 23 Buenos Ayres 8045 29 Rome, v. London 5030 9 Calcutta, v. London 11120 26 Rotterdam, v. Lon. 3935 9 Cape Town, v. Lon. 1 1 245 27 St. Ptrsburg, v. Lon. 5370 10 Const'ople, v. Lon. 5810 11 Shanghai, v. Fris. 9920 25 Florence, v. London 4800 10 Stockholm, v. Lon. 4975 10 Glasgow 337o 10 Sydney, v. Frisco 11570 21 Grey town, v. N. 0. 2815 7 Valparaiso, v. Pan. 4808 21 Halifax, N. S. 64S 2 Vienna 4740 10 Hamburg, direct 4820 9 Yokohama, v. Fris. 7348 20 APPENDIX STANDARD TIME B Y Standard Time is meant that the hour of each 15 of longitude becomes the local mean time for the zone or belt extending 7^ on each side of the central meridian; though in practise the zone has to be adapted to local circumstances, and so cannot conform to the exact line or meridian, but is arranged to suit boundaries of States or Provinces as may be most convenient. By way of illustration, it may be noted that in the Province of Ontario, Canada, by Act of the Legislature, the hour of 75 W. is Standard Time for the Province as far as 87 W., and that the S.W. point, 83 W., extends westerly beyond the eastern part of the State of Michigan, where the time of oo W. is used; so at Windsor, Ontario, it is noon while in Michigan more to the east it is n a.m. The Standard Time as used in the chief cities of Canada and the United States may be noted: at Quebec, Montreal, and Toronto, at Boston, New York, and Washington, the time of 75 W., five hours earlier than Greenwich, is used; at Winnipeg in Manitoba, and at Detroit, Chicago, and New Orleans, the time of 90 , 142 APPENDIX 143 six hours earlier than Greenwich, is used; at Regina and Denver it is the time of 105 , seven hours earlier than Greenwich; and in British Columbia and at San Francisco the time of 120 W., eight hours earlier than Greenwich, is used; and when 180 is reached another day begins in Eastern Siberia, at the Fiji Islands, and a little to the east of New Zealand. The same rule applies to places east of Greenwich, where, of course, noon is earlier than at Greenwich according to the longitude. Spain adopted Standard that is, Green- wich Time early in the century. When noon at Greenwich it is 2 p.m. in Egypt and South Africa; it is 5:30 P.M. in India, 82^ E.; in Japan and Corea, 135 E., it is 9 p.m.; and in Eastern Australia, 150 E., it is 10 p.m. The question is often asked, " Where does a day begin? " that is, any special day, New Year's Day or Easter Day and the answer is that for all peoples, nations, and languages, using maps with longitude East and West from Greenwich, each day begins at the meridian of 180 , slightly east of New Zealand in the South, and intersecting Eastern Siberia in the North, and so the last day of the nineteenth century and the first day of the twentieth were on the Earth together, not running concurrently or side by side, north and south of the Equator, as has been sup- 144 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK posed, erroneously, but the latter following the former from 180 westerly to Greenwich, and on again to 180 , where it gave place" to January 2. Twelve O'clock Noon Greenwich Mean Time As Compared with the Clock in the following Places H. M. H. M. Adelaide 914 p.m. Melbourne, Aus. . . 9 40 p.m. Auckland (N.Z.) . . 11 39 p.m. Moscow 2 30 p.m. Berlin o 54 p.m. Newfndland,S.Jns. 8 29 a.m. Berne o 30 p.m. New York 7 4 a.m. Bombay 4 51 p.m. Paris o 9 p.m. Boston, U.S 716 a.m. Pekin 7 46 p.m. Brisbane, Qnsland 10 12 p.m. Penzance 1137 a.m. Brussels 017 p.m. Perth, W. Aus ... . 743 P.M. Calcutta 553 p.m. Philadelphia 6 59 a.m. Cape of Good Hope 1 14 p.m. Port Moresby ...10 4 P.M. Chicago 6 10 A m. Prague o 58 p.m. Constantinople.. . . 1 56 p.m. Quebec 715 a.m. Dublin n 35 a.m. Rome o 50 p.m. Edinburgh 1147 a.m. Rotterdam o 18 p.m. Florence o 45 p.m. San Francisco, Port 3 52 a.m. Glasgow 11 43 a.m. St. Petersburg. . ..21 p.m. Hobart, Tasmania. 9 49 p.m. Stockholm 112 p.m. Jerusalem 2 21 p.m. Suez 2 10 p.m. Lisbon 11 23 a.m. Sydney 10 5 p.m. Madras 521 p.m. Toronto 6 42 a.m. Madrid 11 45 a.m. Vancouver 3 38 a.m. Malta 058 p.m. Vienna 15 p.m. APPENDIX 145 >* (4 t> < w S M s h O Pi < H W a o w M B Q w 9 H u o M * o CO O 3 <* O O l-H o o @ .9 '0 u * 3 > IS O 9 M * ID > d q C/3 a s <* (A ei G 00 * O 4 tfl Uj C u (i) .2 G t cs --> > -a C O ^ S t ra T3 0> T3 o a O o o J5 > .2 o > .2 i_ . ra "*< *o a o 5 a o ro (A) a .S 28 - o to 10 I * *o " a > a a o a a o SO vi a ^ 5 o 2 o a T3 . tO M 00 j> o a T3 O O <0 to OO O O O00 "t 5 N M CO *0 O NO o CO IO 5 ia uu u .9 u 146 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK ^5 CO o o w o to o u > 'a o -o a o V a ^ 1-1 T3 .2 O M O c/1 '"-" t-l 00 .2 4 a o 0) v c 3 2 H S o to in en O O c3 rt > B x) pj -. J ^ 1 h! 1 o O _j w *<" I 60 S > cs ~ -C CO *" c_> , -1-1 ' o-S *-" /^\ L. O 5. 6 2" 5 ^ O O 60 '53 w 1^ J) O * J> M N Q ~ > CO e 5 a C3 >> tU O I * o CO H h. 8^ - o -3.2 3 o / *0 ^ ^ CD - w3 ?3 o CO LO IN a> w <_> > "33 M 8.5 -T3 O C cT o en ^ *T3 ^3 *"0 T3 ^7h ""O *0^ *"U 'o'o'o'o co 'o'o'o 0000 000 > -3 1 T3 "O 73 "C "d C "o *o "o "o rt 0000 2 2 00 o i tfl C en o ^5 O 53 O M q-O 13 "O 13 "o "0 "o " o S t> Tt OOO N tO O APPENDIX 147 a i o >- o O 3 i-iif> C > x X 3 > X 3 C3 "o X 4- o ?3 > CO o3 j ; co i-; . c/5 ^ cJ 3 2 8 X . 3 o Oj o 4- ^ lo o" CN 6 o" en m cu . a 10 a 1) Xl Xl 10 X X X "o "o N "o "o *o 13 O O OOO X X X X o "o "o "o 0000 cc FH|N 00 4 o o O 00 uo O t-t(N CO vO 00 0> \0 SO M OO Ol ^O rj- tJ- co rf cO O O O M o < w u. rt m urn U4 2 'cu - J3 -O J2 CIS H r3 cu tin -^ D ra > 0) rt 2.2So PL, Ph U fe Ph PL, PQ X X ^ "3 "3 -5 X X X X "o *o *o *o 0000 X X X X X X X "0 "o "o "o "o "o *o 0000000 ei g s I s PhPm a> c . ^S c C 2 .S-x CD !U Hi 3 N d g J t l 3 c PhPmPhP^ CA!cnc^CA)HM>> co "S vO o bfi c ccj I/) 04 X VO it *? o o ^3 W3 10 ^3 9 ^ bX3 #H # fc L_^ .52 ^ ; = to o -S Jl-O coPm^ VO i."' M vO ecj - M ** O* O 0) a> O *cj oj a* J J3 bjo to m '7! ^^ uj -) ^ 5 aj >^ 1 ^ B > C3 4) (U U *-> d c 3 -c O ^ s^ 4> B ^ C ^ c pS M O 1^ U -, ^ > ^^ 60 "7. *> a W ^ ^ O "o X Im T3 . a> cu 3 ~ X - en O en ^ J 43 s h o X CO o 0^3 X ^ 60 ti S9, J X c/2 ", 5 Q. p 43 a c I l-l -4-> 3 u 3 CO 10 .5 0) J3 ti S^ cu cu W 4-1 H > XI cu c > J: 148 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK COMPARATIVE THERMOMETERS Reaumur Centigrade Fahrenheit 80 IOO 212 Water boils at sea-level 76 95 203 72 90 194 68 85 185 63.1 78.9 174 Alcohol boils 60 75 167 56 70 158 52 65 149 White of egg c oagulates 48 60 140 44 55 131 42.2 52.8 127 40 5o 122 36 45 113 Tallow melts 33-8 42.2 IOS 32 40 IO4 29.3 36-7 98 Blood heat 28 35 95 25.8 32.2 90 24 30 86 21.3 26.7 80 20 25 77 16 20 68 Temperate 12.4 15.3 60 10.2 12.8 55 8 10 50 5.8 7.2 45 4 5 4i 1.3 1.7 35 32 Water freezes 0.9 1.1 30 4 - 9 23 5.3 - 6.7 20 8 10 14 9.8 12.2 10 12 -15 5 14.2 -17.8 Zero Fahr. APPENDIX 149 Reaumur Centigrade Fahrenheit 16 20 - 4 20 -25 -13 24 -30 22 28 -35 -31 32 -40 -40 Mercury freezes To change from centigrade to Fahrenheit multiply by p, divide by 5, and add 32. To change from Reaumur to Fahren- heit, multiply by p, divide by 4, and add 32. (Courtesy The World Almanac) WEIGHTS AND MEASURES The Metric System Multiples, Divisions, which are used equally with all the principal units Kinds of Quantities Measured Principal Units Definitions which are used equally with all the princi- pal units Length m (meter) M (rnyria d (deci = .1) = 10000) ( sq. m (square K (kilo Area < meter) a(Ar) > 1 sq. Dm. c (centi =.01) = 1000) m (milli = .ooi) H (hekto = 100) /cubic \ cu m Vmeter/ (Note 4. These are Latin D (deka = 10) Volume s (ster) J 1 cu. m. numerals) (Note 2. 1 (liter) | 1 cu. d m These are Greek nu- Weight of 1 cu. merals) Weight g (gram) cm. of pure wa- ter at 4 centi- grade Note 3. 1000 kg. is called t. (a metric ton.) 150 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK Linear Measure 12 in. = i foot 320 rds. = 1 mile 3 ft. = 1 yd. 5280 ft. = 1 mile 5J yds. = 1 rod 3 miles = 1 league The hand (4 in.) is used to measure the height of horses. The nautical mile is 6086.44 ft. 1 knot is 1.1528 statute miles. 1 degree is 67.168 statute miles. Square Measure 144 sq. in. = 1 sq. ft. 160 sq. rods = 1 acre 9 sq. ft. = 1 sq. yd. 640 acres = 1 sq. mile 30J sq. yds. = 1 sq. rod The side of a square having an area of an acre is approxi- mately 208 1 feet. Dry Measure 2 pints = 1 quart 8 quarts = 1 peck 4 pecks = 1 bushel Liquid Measure 4 gills = 1 pt. 31 J gall. = 1 barrel 2 pts. = 1 qt. 2 barrels = 1 hogshead 4 qts. = 1 gall. Apothecaries' Weight 20 grains = 1 scruple 8 drams = 1 ounce 3 scruples = 1 dram 12 ounces = 1 pound Avoirdupois Weight 16 drams = 1 ounce 100 pounds = 1 hundredweight 16 ounces = 1 pound 20 hundredweights = 1 ton Long ton = 2240 pounds, used mostly in Great Britain. Troy Weight 24 grains = 1 pennyweight 20 pennyweights = 1 ounce 12 ounces = 1 pound 1 carat in diamond, measure = 3.2 Troy grains. APPENDIX 151 Paper Measure 24 sheets = 1 quire 2 reams = 1 bundle 20 quires = 1 ream 5 bundles = 1 bale Time Measure 60 seconds = 1 minute 24 hours = 1 day 60 minutes = 1 hour 7 days = 1 week 28, 29, 30, or 31 days = 1 calendar month (30 days = 1 month in computing interest) 365 days = 1 year 366 days = 1 leap year Circular Measure 60 seconds = 1 minute 30 degrees = 1 sign 60 minutes = 1 degree 90 degrees = 1 quadrant 4 quadrants = 12 signs, or 360 degrees = 1 circle Cloth Measure 2} inches = 1 nail 4 quarters = 1 yard 4 nails = 1 quarter Mariners' Measure 6 feet = 1 fathom 5280 feet = 1 stat. mile 120 fathoms = 1 cab. le'th. 6085 feet = 1 naut. mile 7 J cable lengths = 1 mile Miscellaneous 3 inches = 1 palm 18 inches = 1 cubit 4 inches = 1 hand 21.8 in. = 1 Bible cubit 6 inches = 1 span 2\ ft. = 1 military pace Surveyors' Measure 7.92 inches = 1 link 4 rods = 1 chain 25 links = 1 rod 10 square chains or 160 square rods = 1 acre 640 acres = 1 sq. mile 36 sq. miles (6 miles sq.) = 1 township. 152 THE WRITER S DESK BOOK Cubic Measure 1728 cubic in. = 1 cub. ft. 128 c. ft. = 1 cord (wood) 27 cubic ft. = 1 cubic yd. 40 cub. ft. = 1 ton (shpg.) 2150.42 cubic inches = 1 standard bushel 268.8 cubic inches = 1 standard gallon 1 cubic foot = about four-fifths of a bushel Metric Equivalents Linear Measure 1 centimeter = 0.3937 in. 1 decimeter = 3-937 in. = 0.328 feet 1 meter = 39.37 in. = 1.0936 yards 1 dekameter = 1.9884 rods 1 kilometer = 0.62137 mile 1 in. = 2.54 centimeters 1 ft. = 3.048 decimeters 1 yard = 0.9144 meter 1 rod = 0.5029 dekameter 1 mile = 1.6093 kilometers Square Measure sq. centimeter = 0.1550 \ 1 sq. inch = 6452 square sq. in. 1 sq. decimeter = 0.1076 sq. ft. 1 sq. meter = 1.196 sq. yd. 1 are = 3.954 sq. rd. 1 hektar =2.47 acres 1 sq. kilometer = 0.386 sq.m. centimeters 1 sq. foot = 9.2903 square decimeters 1 sq. yd. = 0.8361 sq. m'r. 1 sq. rd. = 0.2529 are 1 acre = 0.4047 hektar 1 sq. m. = 2.59 sq. kilo- meters Measure of Volume 1 cu. centimeter = 0.061 cu. ] 1 cu. in. = 16.39 cu - centi- meters 1 cu. ft. = 28.317 cu. deci- meters 1 cu. yd. = 0.7646 cu. mr. 1 cord = 3.624 steres 1 qt. dry = 1.101 liters 1 qt. liq. = 0.9463 liter 1 gal. = 0.3785 dekaliter 1 peck = 0.881 dekaliter 1 bus. = 0.3524 hektoliter in. 1 cu. decimeter = 0.0353 cu - ft. 1 cu. mr. 1 J 1.308 cu. yd. 1 stere J " {0.2759 cd. 1 lite = I 0.908 qt. dry J 1.0567 qt. liq. 1 dekaliter = 2 ' 64I 7 gaL [.135 pks. 1 hektoliter = 2.8375 bush. APPENDIX 153 Weights 1 gram. = 0.03527 ounce 1 ounce = 28.85 grams. 1 kilogram = 2.2046 lbs. 1 lb. = 0.4536 kilogram 1 metric ton = 1.1023 Eng- j 1 English ton = 0.9072 lish ton J metric ton British Weights and Measures The British Weights and Measures Act of 1878, which superseded all previous laws upon the subject, enacts the measures which may legally be used in the United Kingdom. These are based upon the Standard Yard and the Standard Pound. Further Acts of Parliament were passed in 1889 and 1904 dealing with the question of verification of weights and measures, and regulations were issued by the Board of Trade in 1907 respecting the inspection and stamping of weights and measures. The Yard and the Pound are the only two independent standards for weights and meas- ures, as the Gallon, the standard of capacity, both for dry and liquid measure, is not independent, but is based upon the Pound. The Gallon is defined in the Act of 1878 as the volume of ten Imperial Standard Pounds weight of distilled water weighed in air against brass weights, with the water and air at the temperature of 62 Fahrenheit and the barometer at 30 inches. The multiples and subdivisions of the Standard Yard, Pound, and Gallon, as laid 154 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK down in the Act of 1878, are as follows; the legal abbreviations are given in brackets: 1. Measures of Length 12 inches (in.) =1 foot (//.) 3 feet = 1 yard (yd.) Si yards =1 rod, pole, or perch 4 poles = 1 chain or 100 links 10 chains =1 furlong 8 furlongs = 1 mile 2. Measures of Weight 7000 grains (gr.) =1 pound (lb.) Also 16 drams (dr.) =1 ounce (oz.) 16 ounces =1 pound (lb.) 14 pounds =1 stone 8 stone =1 hundredweight (cwt.) 20 hundredweights .... =1 ton 3. Measures of Capacity 4 gills = 1 pint 2 pints = 1 quart 4 quarts =1 gallon 2 gallons = 1 peck 4 pecks =1 bushel 8 bushels = 1 quarter 36 bushels = 1 chaldron 4. Measures of Land 40 square perches =1 rood 4 roods = 1 acre For certain special purposes, the following are also authorized by the Act of 1878 or by Order in Council under the Act: 1. For weighing gold and silver and pre- cious stones: APPENDIX 155 The Troy ounce, equal in weight to 480 grains. In dealing with quantities less than an ounce, the ounce is divided decimally, not into grains. Larger quantities than an ounce are stated in ounces. There is no Troy pound. 2. For the use of apothecaries and for selling drugs retail: (a) Measures of Weight 20 grains =1 scruple ( 3) 3 scruples =1 drachm (^) 8 drachms .... =1 Apothecaries' ounce (oz. Apoth.) (b) Measures of Capacity 60 minims (min.) =1 fluid drachm (fl. dr.) 8 fluid drachms =1 fluid ounce (fl. oz.) Of the Apothecaries' measure of weight, the grain is the same as the Imperial grain; and the Apothecaries' ounce contains 480 grains, like the Troy ounce. But, of the measures of capacity, the Apothecaries , drachm is not the same as the Imperial dram, and the two words are spelt differently. A fluid ounce of distilled water at a tempera- ture of 6 2 Fahrenheit is equal in weight to the Imperial ounce (437.5 grains), and the fluid drachm (54.6875 grains) is equal in w T eight to two Imperial drams. Electrical Measures It is customary to express electrical meas- ures in terms of the centimeter, the gramme, and the second, and the value of the units 156 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK has been fixed by international agreement. The principal units, as described in the Order in Council of January 10, 1910, are as follows: The Ohm, the unit of resistance, is the resistance offered to an unvarying electric cur- rent by a column of mercury, at the tempera- ture of melting ice, 14.4521 grammes in mass, of a constant cross-sectional area, and of a length of 106.3 centimeters. The Ampere, the unit of current, is the un- varying electric current which, when passed through a solution of nitrate of silver in water, deposits silver at the rate of 0.001118 of a gramme per second. The Volt, the unit of pressure, is the pressure which, when steadily applied to a conductor whose resistance is one ohm, will produce a current of one ampere. The Watt, the unit of power, is j\q of one horse-power, the horse-power being 33,000 lb. raised one foot in one minute. The Board of Trade unit is 1000 Watt-hours. ' In carbon lamps of 16-candle power (nomi- nal) about four watts are required per candle power to give good economical results for domestic purposes. One Board of Trade unit will keep a 16-candle carbon lamp alight for about 16 hours; metallic filament lamps require considerably less. APPENDIX 157 Measures for Special Purposes Builders 1 Measurements Stock or kiln bricks. . . . 8f inches X 4? X 2j Welsh fire-bricks 9 inches X 4i X 2? Paving bricks 9 inches X 4-i X 1 J Square tiles .9$ inches X 9I X 1 Square tiles 6 inches X 6 X 1 Dutch clinker bricks . . g\ inches X 3 X 1? A Rod of Brickwork 16^ feet X 16^ feet X 1^ brick thick = 306 cubic feet, or n^ cubic yards, and contains about 4500 bricks with about 75 cubic feet of mortar. Ordinary bricks weigh about 7 lb. each; a load of 500 weighs about 1 ton n cwt. 1 qr. A Piece of Wall Paper is 12 yd. long X 21 in. wide (English), and 9 yd. X 18 in. (French). Timber and Wood 40 cubic feet rough, 50 cubic feet squared = 1 load 50 cubic feet of planks = 1 load 100 superficial feet = 1 square of flooring 120 Deals = 100 Width of Battens, 7 inches; Deals, 9 inches; Planks are 2 to 4 inches thick, and 10 or n inches wide. A Cord of Wood is 2 tons, or 128 cubic feet. Corn Wheat and other cereals are commonly sold by weight, the bushel being thus reckoned: Wheat, English, 60 lb. Foreign, 62 lb. Barley, English, 50 lb. French, 52 J lb. Mediterranean, 50 lb. 158 THE WRITER^ DESK BOOK Oats, English, 39 lb. Foreign, 38 and 40 lb. Rye and Maize, 60 lb. Buckwheat, 52 lb. Hay and Straw Truss of Straw, 36 lb. Truss of Old Hay, 56 1b. Truss of New Hay (to September 1), 60 lb. Load, 36 Trusses Straw, 11 cwt. 2 qr. 8 lb.; Old Hay, 18 cwt.; New Hay, 19 cwt. 1 qr. 4 lb. Yard Measures Cotton and Spun Silk Count. Thread = 1^ yards; Lea, or Skein, skn. = 120 yards; Hank, hk = 7 Skeins, or Leas = 840 yards; Spindle, spdl. = 18 Hanks; counts = the number of Hanks in 1 lb.; Bundle Hanks, either of 5 lb. or 10 lb.; Reels of Cotton vary from 30 to 1760 yards; they must be marked correctly. Bundles of Cotton are chiefly made up for export. Worsted Count. Wrap, 80 yards; Hank = 560 yards = 7 Wraps- Counts or Numbers are the number of hanks in a lb. Linen Count. The Hank or Lea is 300 yards, and the number of these in 1 lb. is the count of the yarn. A Spindle is 48 hanks; a Bundle is 200 hanks. West of England Count. The Hank is 320 yards, and the number of hanks in 1 lb. is the count of the yarn. APPENDIX 159 Size of Barrel Gals. Firkin or Quarter Barrel 9 Anker (10 gallons) 10 Kilderkin, Rundlet, or Barrel 18 Barrel 36 Tierce (42 gallons) 42 Hogshead of Ale (ij barrels) 54 Puncheon 72 Butt of Ale 108 In the British Dependencies The Imperial weights and measures are the legal standards in the British Dominions and in India. In some Colonies the Metric sys- tem may also be used. In certain Colonies and in India, the old local measures are still employed to a considerable extent. Among these are the following: Indian Weights (Bengal) Tola, unit of postage = 180 grains Chittak = 5 Tolas; Seer (16 Chittaks) = 2^ lb. Imperial or Indian Maund = 82f lb. = 40 seer Madras Viss = 3.09 lbs., Maund = 25 lb., Candy = 500 lb. South African Land Measures Cape Morgen = 2.1 1654 English Acres Cape Feet = J '033 English Feet Cape Rood = 12.396 English Feet 160 THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK European Countries The metric system of weights and measures has been adopted in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Ger- many, Italy, Portugal, Norway, Rumania, Servia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. In Russia the standard of length is the Sachine, which is equal to seven British feet; the standard of weight is the Pound, equal to nine-tenths of the British pound. The other measures are: i. Measures of Length 16 vershok = i archine 3 archine = i sachine 500 sachine = 1 verst 2. Measures of Weight 3 zolotnik = 1 loth 32 loth = 1 pound 40 pounds = 1 pood 10 poods = 1 berkovatz In Turkey the weights and measures differ considerably in different parts of the Empire, but the following are those used at Constan- tinople and the neighborhood: 1. Measures of Length 2 jeras = 1 rup 8 rups = 1 pek = 26.77 British inches 2. Measures of Weight 16 kirats = 1 dram 400 drams = 1 oke = 2.828 British pounds 44 okes = 1 kantar APPENDIX l6l The usual measure of capacity in Turkey is the Kileh, which is slightly larger than the British bushel. TIME AND WATCH ON BOARD SHIP Time. Time is kept by means of " Bells, " although there is but one bell on the ship; and to strike the clapper properly against the bell requires some skill. First, two strokes of the clapper at the in- terval of a second, then an interval of two seconds; then two more strokes with a sec- ond's interval apart, then a rest of two seconds, thus: Bell, one second; B., two sees.; B. s.; B. ss. B. s.; B. ss.; B. Watch. For purposes of discipline, and to divide the work fairly, the crew is mustered in two divisions: the Starboard (right side, looking forward) and the Port (left). The day commences at noon, and is thus divided: Afternoon Watch noon to 4 p.m. First Dog Watch 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Second Dog Watch .... 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. First Watch 8 p.m. to midnight Middle Watch 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. Morning Watch 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. Forenoon Watch 8 a.m. to noon This makes seven Watches, which enables the crew to keep them alternately, as the Watch which is on duty in the forenoon one 162 THE WRITERS DESK BOOK day has the afternoon the next day, and the men who have only four hours' rest one night have eight hours the next. This is the reason for having Dog Watches, which are made by dividing the hours between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. into two Watches. PARCEL POST TABLE OF RATES WEIGHT Local Rate 1st zone 2d zone 3d zone 4th zone OF up to 50 50 to 150 150 to 300 300 to 600 PARCEL miles miles miles miles 1 lb o.o"5 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 2 lbs ... . 0.06 .08 .10 .12 14 3 lbs.... 0.07 .11 .14 .17 .20 4 lbs ... . .08 .14 .18 .22 .26 5 lbs.... .09 17 .22 27 32 6 lbs ... . .10 .20 .26 32 .38 7 lbs.... .11 23 30 37 .44 8 lbs ... . .12 .26 34 .42 50 9 lbs ... . 13 .29 .38 47 .56 10 lbs. . . . .14 32 .42 52 .62 11 lbs ... . IS 35 .46 57 .68 WEIGHT 5th zone 6th zone 7th zone 8th zone OF 600 to IOOO 1000 to 1400 1400 to 1800 all over PARCEL miles miles miles 1800 miles ilb 0.09 0.10 O.II 0.12 2 lbs ... . .16 .19 .21 .24 3 lbs 23 .28 31 .36 4 lbs.... 30 37 .41 .48 5 lbs.... 37 .46 51 .60 6 lbs.... 44 55 .61 72 7 lbs ... . 5i .64 71 .84 8 lbs.... .58 73 .81 .96 9 lbs ... . 65 .82 .91 1.08 .72 .91 1. 01 1.20 79 1. 00 1. 11 1.32 INDEX "A" and "an," spacing of, 60. "a" (negative prefix), com- pounds of, 50. Abbreviations, use of period with, 12; of firms and cor- porations; capitalization of, 23; of degrees, capitaliza- tion of, 25; of titles and States, spacing of, 59-60; of italicized words in liter- ary and legal references, 64; of dates and usages thereto, 65; of proper names, 66; of Christian* names, .66-68; of titles, 68-75; of com- mercial terms, 76-77; of geographical terms, 77-81; miscellaneous, 81-89; scrip- tural, 90; of monetary signs, 90-91; of mathematical signs, 91-92; of medical signs, 92; not used in salu- tation of letters, 117. -able and -ible, spelling of words terminating in, 38- 39; in division of words, 53- Abstract ideas: capitalization of personified, 23. Accents: list of symbols, 2; list of accented words, 36- 37; retention of, in foreign words used in English, 36- 37. "Accept," correct use of, 101. Acts, juridical, capitalization of, 27. a.d. {anno Domini) : set in small caps, 30; spacing of, 59- "Addenda," plural of adden- dum, 109. Address (of letters) the: busi- ness, formal, and informal, 116. Adjectival nouns, capitaliza- tion of, 24. Adjectives: use of comma with, 4, 5, 8; capitalization of, in titles of books and essays, 26; capitalization, with proper names, 26; compound, 46; ending in -ical, how to divide, 54. ad loc, italicized, 64. " Administration," capitaliza- tion of, 25. "Admire," correct use of, 101. "Admit," correct use of, 101. "Admittance," correct use of, 99. Adverbs: use of comma with, 4, 5; ending in "-ly" not to be hyphenated with ad- jectives and participles, 46; compound, treatment of, 51; position of, 101. cb, rules for use of, 33. "Affable," correct use of, 101. "Affect," correct use of, 101. Ages, to be spelled out, 32. 63 164 INDEX "Aggravate," correct use of, 101. "Ain't," correct use of, 101. Alford, Dean: on use of the comma, 4. Algebraic, unknown quanti- ties italicized, 64. Alignment, of quotation marks, 16. Alliances, political, capitaliza- tion of names of, 27. "All right," correct use of, 101. Alternative," correct use of, 101. A.m. (ante meridiem): set in small capitals, 30; spacing of, 59- Ampere. See Electrical meas- ures. Ampersand (&), the use of, 66. Analogy of language, influ- ence in diction, 99. "And," correct use of, 101; when to use comma before, 5- "Ante," compounds with, 50. "Anti," compounds with, 50. Antithetical clauses. See Clauses. "Any place," use of, 101. Apocrypha, list of abbrevia- tions for, 90. Apostrophe: rules for use of, 18-19; in designating the possessive case, 18; in form- ing plurals of numerals, 19; in forming plurals of polysyl- labic proper nouns ending in a sibilant, 19; in indicat- ing omission of letters or figures, 19; in indicating omission of letters in con- tracted words, 19; omis- sion of, in words contracted in poetry, 19. Apothecaries' weight, table of, 150. "Apparently," correct use of, 101. "Apt," correct use of, 102. Art, titles of works of, to be quoted, 17. Articles: definite, not to be treated as part of title of magazines and newspapers, 30; correct use of, 102. "As," correct use of, 102. Astronomical terms: capi- talization of, 23; names of stars and constellations, italicized, 64. "At," correct use of, 102. "At length," correct use of, 102. "Aught," correct use of, 102. "Avail," correct use of, 102. Avoirdupois weight, table of, 150. "Aware," correct use of, 102. "Awful," correct use of, 102. "Badly," correct use of, 102. "Bank on," use of, 102. Barrels, measures of, in gal- lons, 159. B.C. (before Christ): set in small caps, 30; spacing of, 59- "Beg," correct use of, 103. Bells, use of on board ship, 161. "Bi-," compounds with, 50. Bible: capitalization of names of books, divisions and ver- sions of, 20; abbreviations for books of, 90. INDEX 165 Biblical: parables, capitaliza- tion of, 20; general terms, capitalization of, 21; capi- talization of names and terms of, 20-21; books, abbreviations for, 90. Blocked indention: in gen- eral, 56; of address of let- ters, 116. Books: capitalization of ti- tles, 26; italicizing of titles, 62; biblical abbreviations of, 90. Botanical terms: capitaliza- tion of, 23; names of genera and species, italicized, 64. Box-heads, omission of period after, 12. Brackets, rules for use of, 18. Break, or sudden change in sentence, indicated by dash, * 3 ' Briefness of form preferred, 99. "Bring," use of, 103. British Dependencies, weights and measures of, 159. British weights and measures, 153- "Brother," compounds with, 47- Builders' measures, table of, 157; Buildings, capitalization of names of, 23. Business letter. See Letter. "But," correct use of, 103. "By," compounds with, 48. C, soft, do not divide on, 53. "Cabinet," capitalization of, 25- Campbell, Dr. Thomas, can- ons of, 99-100. "Can," distinguished from may, 103. Canada, postal rates to, 135. "Cannot but," correct use of, 103. "Can't seem," correct use of, 103. Capitalization: of religious terms, 20-22; of proper names, 22-24; oi titles, 24-26; of institutional terms, 26-28; of references, 28; of ordinals, 29; in gen- eral, 29-30; of abbrevia- tion of academic degrees, 25; of abstract ideas per- sonified, 23; of acts jurid- ical, 27; of adjectives de- rived from proper nouns, 22; of adjectives and nouns designating definite geo- graphical regions, 22; of astronomical terms, 23; of political alliances, 27; of books of the Bible, 20; of titles of books, 26; of bo- tanical terms, 23; of build- ings, 23; of "church," 20; of civic titles, 25; of word following a colon, 26; of compound titles, 21; of hyphenated compounds, 29; of sessions of Congress, ,29; of conventions, 25; of corporations names and abbreviations, 23; of names of dynasties, 29; of eccle- siastical appellations, 26; of epithets used as proper names, 22; of titles of essays, 26; of "father," 22; of "Fathers" early church, 22; of foreign ti- tles, as prefixes, 25-26; of 1 66 INDEX Capitalization {Continued) geographical terms, 22-23; of geological terms, 23; of "gospel," 20-21; of "gov- ernment," 25; of historical epochs, 22; of holidays, 26-27; of judiciary bodies, 28; of names of laws, 27; of names of legislative bodies, 28; of letters (cor- respondence), 29; of units of measurement, 29-30; of medical terms, 23; of military terms, 25; of monastic orders, 20; of "mother," 24; of months of year, 23; of names for the Evil One, 21; names of political parties, 27; names of races, tribes, etc., 27; names of regiments, 29; of names of societies, 25; of popular names for the solar system, 23; of streets, parks, etc., 23; of titles of parables (biblical), 20; of titles of periodicals, 30; of "Pilgrim Fathers," 22; of poetry, 29; of polit- ical alliances, 27; of polit- ical divisions, 28; of pro- nouns referring to the Deity, 21; of quotations, 29-30; of "revolutionary," 22; of scientific terms, 23; of social organizations, 25; of side-heads, 29; of "State," 24-25; of words on title-pages, 30; of names of treaties, 27; of "van" and "von" as prefixes, 25-26; of words with special meanings, 29; of zoological terms, 23; rules for, 20-30. Capitalized words, list of: religious, 21; proper, 24. Capitals: original use of, 20; rules for use of, 20-30; and small capitals, rules for use of, 28-30; how indi- cated in MS., 30. Cases: confusion of, 103. Caxton: his influence on punctuation, 9. Centered head-lines, omission of period after, 12. Centigrade. See Thermom- eters. Centuries, numbers of, to be spelled out, 32. cf., to be set in roman, 64. "Cherubim," plural of cherub, 109. "Childlike," correct use of, 103. Christ, pronouns referring to, how capitalized, 21. Christian names, abbrevia- tion of, 66-68. " Church," when capitalized, 20. Circa (ca.), italicized, 64. Circular measure, table of, 151- Circulars, postal rates and regulations for, 130. Citation of legal causes: names of, italicized, 64; of author's own words, quo- tation marks used, 16; of different works by same author or by different authors without interven- ing original matter, to be quoted, 16. Civil titles, capitalization of, 25- INDEX 167 Classes of mail, rates, etc., I2g-i32. Clauses, use of comma with: inverted, 5; independent, 6; relative, 6; dependent, 6; parenthetical, 5; co- ordinate, 6; antithetical, 7. Use of dash before con- cluding clause, 13. Cloth measure, table of, 151. "Co-," compounds with, 47- 48. Coins, foreign: list of, show- ing comparative values, 145-147- "College," capitalization of, 27. Colon: definition and use of, io-ii; capitalization, fol- lowing use of, 26, 29, 30; use of in formal salutatory phrases beginning letters, 11, 117; in titles of literary references, 11; of names of publishers, 11; first word following, in quotation, cap- italized, 11; use of, with quotation-marks, 11; be- fore formal quotations, 11; separating chapter and verse in scriptural refer- ences, 11; in separating divisions of time, 11; use of hair-space before, 59; sepa- rating city of publication and publisher's name, 11. "Colonel," when spelled in full, and when abbreviated, 68-69. " Color," hyphenization of compounds of, 46. "Come," correct use of, 103. Comma: definition and use of, 4; when omitted, 7-8; omitted between two ad- jectives, 4; use of, with ad- verbs, 4, 5; with adjectives, 4, 5; before "but," 6. With clauses: antithetical, 7; co-ordinate, 6, 7; depend- ent, 6; parenthetical, 5; and relative, 6. Use of: with conjunctions, 4-7; separat- ing degrees from names of persons, 7; indicating ellip- ses, 7; separating numbers, 7; with quotation-marks, 4; with phrases, inverted and in opposition, 5-6; before "of" in connection with residence, 7; in salutatory phrase, 7, 117; in inverted sentences, 5; separating ti- tles from names, 6; sepa- rating vocative words, 7; substitution of dashes for, 14; use of with exclama- tion point, 15; rules for use of, 4-8; omitted with pronouns used with nouns for emphasis, 8. Comments, notes of, indeed in brackets, 18. Commercial terms, abbrevia- tion of, 76-77. "Common," correct use of, 103. "Company": capitalization of, 23; abbreviation of, 66; use of (&) with, 66. Compass: capitalization of points of, 22, 23, 24; hyphenization of points of, 49. Complimentary close, of let- ters, 121. Compound: adjectives, 46; adverbs, 51. 1 68 INDEX Compound titles, spelling, abbreviation, and capitali- zation of, 68-96. Compound words: general theory of and rules for, 45-51; list of, 49; division of, to be avoided, 54. Compounds, hyphenated: cap- italization of, 29. Compounds, with: "a-" (neg- ative prefix), 50; "ante," 50; "anti," 50; "bi," 50; "brother," 47; "by," 48; "co," 47-48; "daughter," 47; "demi," 50; "deu- tero," 51; "elect," 47; "electro," 51; "ex," 47; "extra," 48; "eye," 51; "father," 47; "fellow," 47; "foster," 47; "gen- eral," 47; "god," 47; "half," 47; "holder," 51; "in," "infra," 48; "in- ter," 50; "intra," 50; (nega- tive prefix), 50; "life," 47 "like," 49; "man," 49 "master," 47; "mid," 46 "monger," 51; "mother,' 47; "non-,"5o; "over," 50 "parent," 47; "post," 50 "pre," 47-48; "pseudo,' 51; "quarter," 47; "quasi,' 48; "re," 47-48; "school,' 51; "self,' 47; "semi," 48, 50 "sister," 47; "sub," 50 "sulpho," 51; "super," 50 "supra," 48; "thermo," 51 "to," 50; "tree," 49 "tri," 50; "ultra," 48 "un" (negative prefix), 50 "under." 50; "vice," 46 "woman," 49; "world," 47. Concealed mail matter, law concerning, 133. "Confess," use of, 103. Congress: sessions of, capital- ization, 29; numbers of, spelled out, 32. Conjunctions: use of comma with, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8; capital- ization of, in titles of books and essays, 26. "Conscious," correct use of, 103. Consonants, construction of, rules for division of words, 52-53. Constellations, names of, ital- icized, 64. "Constitution," capitaliza- tion of, 25. "Continual," correct use of, 103. Contraction of word, use of apostrophe, 19. Conventions, capitalization of names of, 25. Co-ordinate clauses. See Clauses. Corporations, capitalization of names, of abbreviations, and of "Co.," 23. Corrections, indicated by use of brackets, 18. Correctness, a requisite of discourse, 99. Credits, italicizing of, 62. Criticisms, indicated by use of brackets, 18. Cuba, postal rates to, 135. Cubic measure, table of, 152. Cut-in side notes, omission of period after, 12. Dashes: use of, with changed construction, dates, abrupt terminations, rhetorical em- phasis, verse and page INDEX 169 Dashes (Continued) references, short, snappy sentences, omitted letters, concluding clauses, 13; for separating subject-matter from its authority, 13; to precede addition to com- pleted sentence, 14; sub- stitution of, for commas or parenthesis, 14; with colon, to mark long quotation, 14; substitution of, for quota- tion-marks, 14; misuse of, 12; rules for, 13-14; use in France, 14; use of hair- space with, 59; examples of, 60; use of in salutatory phrases of letters, 117. "Data," plural of datum, 109. Date-lines, omission of period after, 12. Dates: use of dash to con- nect, 13; abbreviation of, 65-66; st, d, rd, and th, to be omitted, 65; of letters, where placed, when cap- italized and italicized, 30; ult., inst., and prox., not used, 65; the Dewey, 66; of letters, 115. "Daughter," compounds with, 47- Days of week: capitalization of, 23; abbreviation of, 65-66. "Deadly," correct use of, 103. Decades, specific references to, spelled out, 32. "Decided," correct use of, 104. "Definite," correct use of, 104. Degrees: capitalization and abbreviations of, 25; use of comma separating, from name of person, 6. "Demean," correct use of, 104. "Demi," compounds with, 50. Dependent clauses, use of comma, 6. Derivation, influence of, in division, 52, 53. "Deutero," compounds with, Si- Devil. See Evil One. Dewey abbreviations of dates, the, 66. Diction, correct and faulty, 99-113; Dr. Campbell's canons, 99; use of standard authors, 100; list of words and phrases, 101-113. Dictionary, the function of, 100. "Different," correct use of, 104. Diphthongs, general rules for, 33- Directions, use of brackets in indicating, 18. "Directly," use of, 104. Disbelief, in statement, indi- cated by use of exclama- tion-point, 15. "Discover," correct use of, 104. Display composition, use of period after, 12. Division of words: rules for, 52-54; avoid unnecessary, 52; on two letters to be avoided, 53. Divisional mark, avoid sep- arating from matter it pertains to, 54. Dollars ($), no space between symbol and following fig- 170 INDEX Dollars {Continued) ures, 60; table of monetary signs, 90-91. Domestic postal rates, 134. "Donne," plural of donna, 109. "Don't," correct use of, 104. Drop-folios, enclosed by brackets, 18. Dry measure, table of, 150. Dynasties: capitalization of names, 29; numbers of, to be spelled out, 32. "Each other," correct use of, 104. Ecclesiastical appellations, capitalization of, 26. "Effect," correct use of, 104. e.g., set in roman, 64. "Egoists," correct use of, 104. "Either," correct use of, 104. "Elect," compounds with, 47. Electrical measures, 155-156. "Electro," compounds with, Si- Ellipses: comma indicating, 7; period indicating, 12; to be treated as part of quotation, 17. Emphasis, rhetorical: use of dash to secure, 13; of ex- clamation-point, 15; of 'par- agraph, 57-58; of italics, 62. En echelon indention: de- scribed, 56; use of in ad- dressing letters, 116; "Enormity," correct use of, 104. "Enthuse," (verb) correct use of, 104. Enumerations, use of paren- theses in connection with letters or figures used to express subdivisions in, 18. Envelopes, rules for address- ing, 123-124. Epithets: capitalized when used as proper names, 22; hyphenization of compound personal, 49. Essays, capitalization of titles, 26. etc., quotation-marks to in- clude, 17. Euphony, authority of, 100. European countries, weights and measures of, 159-160. "Every place," written every- where, 104. Evil One, the capitalization of names for, 21. "ex-," prefixed to titles, 47. "Excellent," never qualified, 104. "Except" (verb), correct use of, 104. "Exceptional," correct use of, 105. Exclamation-point: proper use of, 14-15; with quo- tation-marks, 14-15; ori- . gin, 15; expressing strong emotion, 15; sarcasm or doubt, 15; use of, with comma, 15; as distinguished from vocative, 15; use of hair-space preceding, 59. "Expect," correct use of, 105. Expositions, capitalization of names of, 25. "Extra," compounds with, 48. "Eye," compounds with, 51. Fahrenheit. See Thermom- eters. INDEX 171 "Falseness," correct use of, 105. Family names, capitalization of, 24. "Fathers": capitalization of, 24; use of compounds with, 47. "Federal," capitalization of, 25- "Fellow," compounds of, 47. Figures: rules for use of, 31- 33; use of apostrophe to indicate omission of, 19; used to mark divisions in enumerations, to be placed in parentheses, 18; per- centage, figures always to be used, 31; use of, in statistics, 32; spacing of, 59; spacing between, and $, , 60. "Fix," correct use of, 105. Foreign languages: capitaliza- tion of titles, as von, le, da, etc., 25-26; spelling of words ending in re (French), 36; words and phrases, when italicized, 62-63; list of italicized and not ital- icized words, 63; use of accents, 36-37. Foreign titles, capitalization of, 25-26. Foreign words, plurals of. See Plurals. Formal letter. See Letter. "Former," correct use of, 105. Forwarding of mail matter, 132. "Foster," compounds with, 47- Fraction's, use of hyphens in spelling, 48. France, use of dash in, 14. French endings in re, not to be used, 36. G, soft, do not divide on, 53. "General," compounds with, 47. "Gentleman," correct use of, 105. "Gentleman friend," to be avoided, 105. Geographical terms: capi- talization of, 22; abbrevia- tions of, 77-81. Geological terms: capitaliza- tion of, 23; italicized, 64. Geometric symbols, as un- known quantities, italics, 64. "Go," correct use of, 105. God: pronouns referring to, capitalization of, 21; com- pounds with, 47. "Gospel," when capitalized, 20-21. "Got," correct use of, 105. "Gotten": obsolete, 105; im- proper use of, 105. "Government," capitaliza- tion of, 25. Governmental terms, capital- ization of, 25. Grain and Hay, measures of, 157-158. "Guess," correct use of, 105. Hair-space, use of, 59-61. "Half," compounds with, 47. Half-diamond indention, 56. "Hanged," distinguished from hung, 105. Hanging indention, described, 56. 172 INDEX "Hardly," never preceded by not, 105. "He," correct use of, 105. Headings: capitalization of certain words, 30; of letters (correspondence), 115. Head-lines, omission of period after, 12. "Healthful," correct use of, 105. "Her," correct use of, 106. "Him," correct use of, 106. Historical epochs, capitaliza- tion of appellation for, 24. "Hoi polloi," never preceded by the, 106. "Holder,'' compounds with, 5i. Holidays, capitalization of names of, 26-27. "Holy," capitalization of, 21. "Honorable," correct use of, 106. Honorary titles, capitaliza- tion of, 25. "Hung," distinguished from hanged, 106. Hyphenated compounds: cap- italization of, 29; avoid division of, 54. Hyphenization, rules for, 45- 5i. Hyphens: list of hyphenated words, 49; rules for use of, 45-5i; purpose of, 19; use of hair-space with, 59. See Compounds. U I": capitalization of word, 29. See under Me. Ibid., italicized, 64. -ible and -able. See -able, -ical, in divisions, 54. Idem, italicized, 64. i.e., set in roman, 64. "If," correct use of, 106. Illustrations, legends beneath, omission of period, 12. "In," correct use of, 106. "In-" (negative prefix), com- pounds with, 50. Indention: rules for, 55-56; prose, each paragraph in- dented, 55; numbered par- agraphs, treatment of, 55; of poetry, reverse inden- tion, 55; of quotations, 55; different forms of, viz.: En echelon, Hanging, Half- diamond, Lozenge, Blocked, and Irregular, 55-56; use of in addressing letters, 116. Independent sentences, first word capitalized after colon, Infinitive, the, never sepa- rated from to, 106. Informal letter. See Letter. "Infra," compounds with, 48; italicization of, 64. -ing: verbal nouns (ending in) distinguished from par- ticiples, 106. Initials, not to be divided, 54. "Inside of," distinguished from within, 106. Inst., not used, 65. Institutional terms, capitali- zation of, 26-28. "Inter," compounds with, 50. International money orders, fees for, 137. Interrogation-point: origin of , 15; use of, with quotations, 16; after direct questions, 16; to express doubt, 16; omission in indirect ques- INDEX 173 Interrogation (Continued) tions, 16; use of hair- space preceding, 59. " Intra," compounds with, 50. "Invent," distinguished from discover, 106. Ironical word or phrase, use of quotation marks for, 17. Irregular indention, described, 55- -ise and -ize, spelling of words terminating in, 37-38. Italicizing: of abbreviations in literary and legal refer- ences, 64; of ad loc, 64; of algebraic unknown quan- tities, 64; of astronomical names, 64; of titles of books, 62; of names of botanical genera and species, 64; of names in citations of legal causes, 64; of circa (ca.), 64; of names of constella- tions, 64; of credits, at end of article, 62; for purpose of emphasis, 62; of names of geological subjects, 64; of geometric unknown quan- tities, 64; of ibid., 64; of idem, 64; of infra, 64; of loc. cit.j 64; of literary ref- erences, 64; of names of scientific genera and spe- cies, 64; of stars, 64; of titles of newspapers and periodicals, 64; of op. cit., 64; of passim, 64; of poetry, 62; in prefaces, 62; of word "Resolved," 64; in running heads, 62; of abbreviations of "shil- lings," "pence," 64; of names of ships, 62; of side-heads, 62; of signa- tures, 62; of supra, 64; of s. v., 64; of vide, 64; of zoological genera, 64; rules for, 62-64; lists of foreign words, italicized and not, 62-64; of dates in letters, 30. Italics: origin of, 62; rules for, 62-64; list of foreign words and phrases not italicized, 63; list of ital- icized words, 63; how to indicate in MS., 64; italic punctuation marks, following, 64. J, do not divide on, 53. Journals. See Periodicals. Judiciary bodies, capitaliza- tion of names of, 28. Juridical acts, treaties, etc., capitalization of names of, 27. Kerned letters, spacing of, 60. "Kind," correct use of, 106. "Kind of," not followed by a or an, 106. "Lady." See under Gentle- man. "Lady friend." See under Gentleman friend. Language, must convey writer's meaning, 99. "Last," distinguished from latest, 107. "Latter," correct use of, 107. Laws, capitalization of names of, 27. "Lay," distinguished from lie, 107. 174 INDEX Legal references, words, phrases, and abbreviations italicized, 64. Legends, omission of period after, 12. Legislative bodies, capitaliza- tion of names of, 28. "Less," distinguished from fewer, 107. Letter, Business: heading, 115; address, 116; saluta- tion, 116; text of, 118; complimentary close, 121; signature, 122; envelope, 123; correct example of , 126. Letter, Formal: heading, 115; address, 116; salutation, 117-118; text of, 120; complimentary close, 122; signature, 122; envelope, 123; correct examples of, 126-128. Letter, Informal: heading, 115; address, 116; salu- tation, 117; text of, 120; complimentary close, 121- 122; signature, 122; en- velope, 123; correct ex- amples of, 126-128. Letter writing: introductory remarks on, 114; rules for, 1 1 5-1 25; examples of cor- rect, 126-128; the signa- ture, 122-123; envelope, 123-124; postal cards, 125; in general, 125; business, formal, informal, treatment of, 115-122. Letters (correspondence) : capitalization, punctuation, etc., rules for, n, 12, 29; dates, where placed and when capitalized, 30; postal regulations, 1 29-141. Letters: use of dash to indi- cate omission of, 13; use of apostrophe to indicate omis- sion of, 19; used to mark divisions in enumerations, to be set in parentheses, 18; spacing of superior and inferior, 59. "Liable," distinguished from likely, 107. "Life," compounds with, 47. "Like," compounds with, 49. "Likely," correct use of, 107. Linear measure, table of, 150. Liquid measure, table of, 150. Literary references: minor subdivisions, not capital- ized, 28. "Loan," not used as a verb, 107. "Locate," distinguished from settle, 107. hoc. cit., italicized, 64. "Love," distinguished from like, 107. Lozenge indention, described, 56. "Luxuriant," distinguished from luxurious, 107. "Mad," distinguished from angry, 107. Magazines. See Periodicals. Mail matter: first class, de- fined, 129; second class, 129; third class, 130; fourth class, 131; wrapping of, 132; forwarding of, 132; what cannot be mailed, 132; concealed matter, 133; do- mestic rates, 134; foreign rates, 134; rates for Cuba, Mexico, Canada, and Pan- ama, 135; foreign parcels INDEX 175 Mail (Continued) post, 136; money orders, 137; international money orders, 137; registered, do- mestic, and foreign, 138; special delivery, 139; pos- tal distances and time from New York, 140. "Major," when spelled in full, 68. "Man," compounds with, 49. See under Gentleman. Manuscript: how to indicate capitals in, 30; italics in, 64. Manutius, Aldus: relation to punctuation of, 3; designer of italic types, 62. Mariners' measure, table of, 151- "Master," compounds with, 47- Mathematical signs, list of, 91-92. "May." See under Can. "Me," correct use of, 107. "Means," either singular or plural, 107. Measures: tables of, and gen- eral rules for, 149-160; linear, 150; square, 150; dry, 150; liquid, 150; paper, 151; time, 151; cir- cular, 151; cloth, 151; mariners', 151; surveyors', 151; cubic, 152; British, 152; ilectrical, 155; build- ers', 157; of timber and wood, 157; grain, 157; hay, 158; yard, 158; of barrels, 159; in the British Dependencies, 159; in European countries, 159- 160. Medical: signs, list of, 92; capitalization of, terms, 23. "Memoranda," plural of memorandum, 109. Metric system: of weights and measures, 149; of equiva- lents, 152. Mexico, postal rates to, 135. "Mid," compounds with, 46. Military bodies, numbers of, spelled out, 32. Miscellaneous measures, table of, 151. Miscellaneous terms, abbre- viations of, 81-89. Monastic orders, capitaliza- tion of, 20. Monetary signs, abbrevia- tions of, 90-91; spacing of, 60. Money order fees, 137. "Monger," compounds with, 5i. Months of year: capitaliza- tion of, 23; numbers pre- ceding spelled out, 32; abbreviations of, 65-66. "Most," avoid using for almost, 107. "Mother": capitalization of, 24; compounds with, 47. "Must," correct use of, 107. "Mutual," distinguished from common, 108. Names: capitalization of proper, 22-24; of publish- ers, in literary references, use of colon, n; of socie- ties, expositions, and con- ventions, capitalization of, 25; of races, tribes, etc., capitalization of, 27; ab- breviation of proper, 66; 176 INDEX Names (Continued) Christian, 66-68; of scien- tific genera and species, italicized, 64; of stars, italicized, 64. "Negligence," distinguished from neglect, 108. "Neither," correct use of, 108. "News," is singular, 108. Newspapers: titles of, article not treated as part of, 30; titles of, italicized, 62; postal rates and regulations for, 129. New Testament, list of abbre- viations for, 90. "Nice," correct use of, 108. Nobility, capitalization of titles of, 25. "No place," written nowhere, 108. "Non-," compounds with, 50. "Nor." See under Or. "Not . . . but," double neg- ative, 108. Notes, use of brackets in enclosing, 18. "Notorious," correct use of, 108. Nouns: capitalization of geo- graphical, simple and com- pounded, 22; capitaliza- tion of, followed by capi- talized roman numeral, 28; hyphenization of, standing in objective relation to each other, 46-47; forma- tion of possessive case of common and proper, 18-19; plural of polysyllabic proper ending in sibilant, how formed, 19; verbal, ending in -ing, distinguished from participles, 106. "Nowhere near," vulgarism for not nearly, 108. Number: pronouns must agree with their antece- dents, 108; of nouns and verbs must agree, 108. Numbers: use of comma with, 7; when to spell out, 31-33; use of apostrophe to in- dicate omission of, 19; percentage, figures always used, 31; in statistics, fig- ures used, 32; in ordinary matter, of less than three digits, to be spelled out, 32; in groups, varying in digits use figures, 32; round, treatment of, 32; commencing a sentence, spelled out, 32; expressed in figures, not to be divided, 54- Numerals: use of period, fol- lowing roman, 12; of apos- trophe in forming plural, 19; roman, origin and early use of, 93-96; list of roman and arabic, 96-97; rules for use of roman, 98. "O, " capitalization of word, 29. 03, rules for use of 33. "Of": correct use of, 108; use of comma before, in connection with proper name, 7. Ohm. See Electrical meas- ures. Op. cit., italicized, 64. "Open punctuation," favored by best usage, 3-4; and "close punctuation," 3-4. "Or," correct use of, 108. INDEX 177 Orders, monastic, capitaliza- tion of, 20. Ordinals, capitalization of, 29. Orthography: rules of, 33- 36; final /, /, or s, 33; final consonant following diph- thong, 33; added termina- tions after final accented syllable, 33-34; after diph- thong or two vowels, 34; after final syllable ending in two consonants, 34; after final silent e, 34-35; after ce or ge, 35; after final e in participles, 35; after final ie, 35; after final y, 35-36; of French endings in -re, 36; of possessives of proper nouns, 36; of -sioh and -Hon, 36; of -or and -our, 34. " Ought," never combined with had, 109 -our, words ending in, 34. "Out loud," never used for aloud, 109. " Over " compounds with, 50. Panama, postal rates to, 135. Paper measure, table of, 151. Parables, biblical, capitaliza- tion of titles, 20. Paragraphs, explanation of, 57; rules for, 55-58; unity, 57; emphasis, 57, 58; length, 57; coherence, 57; connective words between related sentences, 58; space used proportional to im- portance, 58; length, 58; indention of, 55, 57, 58, 60. Parcel post, domestic, 131, 162; foreign, 136. " Parent," compounds of, 47. Parentheses: substitution of dashes for, 14; use of, with interrogation-point, 16; pla- cing of period with, 11; defined, 18; use of, in fig- ures or letters to mark divisions in enumerations, 18; subdivided by brack- ets, 18. Parenthetical clauses. See Clauses. Parks, capitalization of names of, 23. "Partake of," never used for eat, 109. Participles: list of, how spelled, 37; not to be hyphenated with adverbs ending in "-ly," 46; ending in -ing, distinguished from verbal nouns, 106. Particles, in French, German, Italian, and Dutch, capi- talization of, 25-26. Parties, political, capitaliza- tion of names of, 27. "Party," never used for Person, 109. Passim, italicized, 64. Pence. See Shillings. Peoples, capitalization of names or epithets of, 27. "Per," correct use of, 109. Percentage, use of figures in, 31. "Perception," correct use of, 109. Periodicals: titles of, definite article not to be treated as part of, 30; use of italics for, 62; postal rates, etc., 129. Periods: placing of, in con- nection with quotation- i y8 INDEX Periods {Continued) marks, n; rules for use of, n-12; omitted after run- ning-heads, 12; after box- heads in tables, 12; after cut-in side notes, 12; after centered head-lines, 12; after legends, 12; after sub- heads, 12; after date-lines, 12; after signatures, 12; after titles, blocked head- ings, etc., 12; after roman numerals, 12; use of, after abbreviations, 12; after a complete sentence, 12; to indicate an ellipsis, 12. Personifications: abstract ideas, capitalization of, 23. Phrases: inverted, use of comma, 5; in apposition, use of comma, 6; salutatory, use of comma, 7; foreign, italicization of, 62-63. "Pilgrim Fathers," capitali- zation of, 22. Plays, rule for references to, 66. Plurals, of foreign words: cherub, memorandum, da- tum, donna, stratum, ad- dendum, and rubai, 109. p.m. (post meridiem) : set in small capitals, 30; spacing of, 59- Poetry: rules for quotation alignment, in setting, 17; titles of poems, to be quoted, 17; omission of apostrophe in poems when word is contracted for me- ter, 19; capitalization of first word of each line, 29; indention of, 55; italicizing of, 62. Points of compass: capitaliza- tion of, 22, 23, 24; hyphen- ization, 49. Political alliances, parties, divisions, capitalization of names of, 27, 28. Political divisions, capitaliza- tion of, 28. Possessive case, how desig- nated, 19. Possessives of proper nouns ending in s, how formed, 36 ' "Post," compounds with, 50. Postal cards, use of, 125. Postal regulations, 1 29-141. Pounds (), no space between symbol and preceding fig- ures, 60. "Pre-," compounds with, 47- 48. Preface, use of italic in, 62. Prefixes, "co-," "pre-," and "re-," hyphenization of, 47-48. Prepositions, capitalization of, in titles of books and essays, 26. ' ' President, ' ' capitalization of, 25; when spelled in full, 68. "Pretty," correct use of, 109. "Professor," when spelled in full, 68. Pronouns: used with noun for emphasis, comma omit- ted, 8; referring to Deity, capitalization of, 21. Pronunciation, correct, in- fluence of, in division of words, 52-54- Proper names: capitalization, of, 22-24; abbreviation of, 66; derivatives from, famil- INDEX 179 Proper names {Continued) iarly used, not capitalized, 24. Proper nouns: formation of possessive, 36. "Propose," distinguished from purpose, 109. Prox., not used, 65. Psalms: capitalization of ti- tles of, 21; capitalization of, 22. "Pseudo," compounds with, 51- Publications: use of colon in titles of literary referen- ces, 11; use of italics for, 62. Publishers: use of colon sep- arating city of publication and name of, in literary references, 11. Punctuation: origin and pur- pose of, 3; rules for, 3-19; of headings of letters, 115; "open" and "close," 3-4. Punctuation marks: list of, 2; after italics to be italic, 64. Q, inseparable from u, 53. "Quarter," compounds with 47- "Quasi," compounds with, 48. Queries, when bracketed, 18. Question-mark. See Interro- gation-point. "Quite," correct use of, 109. Quotation-marks: use of, 16- 17; double and single, 16- 17; in poetry, 16; in ellipses, 17; repetition in paragraph beginnings, 17; in titles of poems, books, etc., 17; serial titles, 17; names of ships, 17; titles of works of art, 17; words and phrases accompanied by definitions and specially emphasized, or intended to possess unusual, technical, or ironical meanings, 17; use of colon with, 10; sub- stitution of dash for, 14; use of comma with, 7; use of colon and dash before, 14; use of exclamation- point with, 15; capitaliza- tion of first word in, 29; following colon, 30; use of hair-space inside, 59. Quotations: indention of, 55- Races, capitalization of names of, 27. "Railroad," to be spelled out, 66. "Raise," never used as noun, 109. "Rarely ever," vulgarism for rarely, 109. Rates, postal, 129-132. "Re-," compounds with, 47- 48. -re, French ending not used, 36. Reaumur. See Thermom- eters. "Reference," used with with not in, 109. References, capitalization of, nouns, 28; literary refer- ences, 28; use of colon in scriptural, 11; italics used in words, phrases, and abbreviations of literary and legal, 64. i8o INDEX "Regard." See under Refer- ence. Regiments, capitalization of names of, 29. Regions, or parts of the world, proper capitalization of, 22-23. Registered mail, domestic and foreign, regulations for, 138. " Relative," use of the word,oo. Relative clauses, use of com- ma with, 6. Religious terms, capitaliza- tion of, 20-22, 26. Residence, use of comma be- fore "of" in connection with, 7. Resolutions: word "Re- solved" in, italicized, 64; word "Whereas," 26. "Resolved," in resolutions, word following, to be capi- talized, 26; italicization of, 64. Respect, capitalization of ti- tles of, 25. "Respect." See under Refer- ence. "Reverend," always preceded by the, no. Reverse indention, 55. "Revolutionary," capitaliza- tion of, 22. Roman: used in medical terms, 64; in certain words and phrases, literary and legal, 64. Roman numerals: use of period after, 12. See Nu- merals. "Rubaiyat," plural of rubai, 109. Running-heads, period not used following, 12. Salutatory phrase: of letters, business, formal and in- formal, 116-118; use of comma, 7. See Phrase. "Same," not used as pro- noun, no. "Same as," distinguished from just as, no. Sarcasm, indicated by use of exclamation-point, 15. "Scarcely." See under Hardly. "School," compounds with, 51. Scientific terms, capitaliza- tion of, 23; italicizing of, 64. Scriptural terms, abbrevia- tions of, 90. Scripture, punctuation of: comma, 9; colon, 11; dash, 13; spacing of, references, 60. Seasons, capitalization of, 23. "Seldom ever." See under Rarely ever. "Self," compounds with, 47. "Semi," compounds with, 48, 50. Semicolon: defined, 8, 9; compared with comma, 9; placing of, in connection with quotation-marks, 9; rules for use of, 9; dividing compound sentences, 9; separating passages in Scripture references con- taining chapters, 9; use of hair-space preceding, 59. "Sensible of," distinguished from sensitive to, no. Sentences: first word of, cap- italized, 29; first word after colon capitalized in independent, 29; connec- tion of, in paragraph, 58. INDEX 181 Serial titles, to be quoted, 17. " Set," distinguished from sit, no. " Sewage," correct use of, no. " Shall," correct use of, no. "She." See under Her. Shillings and pence, abbre- viations, s. and d., italics, 64. Ships: names of, quoted, 17; names of, italicized, 62; time and watch on board, 161. "Should," correct use of, in. "Show," correct use of, 111. "Show up," vulgarism for expose, in. Side-heads: capitalization of, 29; italicizing of, 62. Signatures, omission of period after, 12; italicizing of, 62; general rules for, 122. "Since," correct use of, hi. -sion and -Hon, spelling of words terminating in, 39- 40. "Sister," compounds with, 47- "Size up," vulgarism for esti- mate, in. Small capitals: how indi- cated in MS., 30; rules for, 30. "So," correct use of, in. Social organizations, capital- ization of, 25. Solar system, capitalization of popular names of, 23. "Some," correct use of, in. "Some one," not a compound word, 51 "Some place," written some- where, in. "Sort." See under Kind. "Sort of," correct use of, in. Sovereigns, abbreviation of names of, 69. Spaces, examples of, 61. Spacing: rules for, 59-61; uniformity of, 59; hair- spaces in connection with punctuation marks, 59; of abbreviated titles, 25, 59- 60; of Scripture references, 60; of a.m., p.m., etc., 59; symbols and figures, 60; at end of paragraph, 60; in regard to turn-overs, 60; kerned letters, / and j re- quire hair-spaces, 60; wide spacing, 60; examples, dashes and spaces, 60-61; of abbreviations of rail- roads, 66. Special delivery, mail system, 139. Species, scientific names of: use of capitals, 23; italiciz- ing of, 64. Spelling: rules for, 31-34; difficulties and choice of usages, 31; of decades, ages, centuries, dynasties, 32; of numbers of military bodies, streets, sessions of Congress, 32; of numbers, 31-32; of time of day, 32- 33; use of diphthongs, 33; rules of orthography, 33- 36, see Orthography; lists of words, accented words, 37; participles, 37; vari- able endings, -ize, 37-38; ending in -ise, 38; ending in -ible and -able, 39; ending in -sion and -Hon, 39-40; pronounced alike, but vary- 1 82 INDEX Spelling (Continued) ing in meaning according to spelling, 40-44. "Splendid," correct use of, in. Square measure, table of, 150. Squares, capitalization of names of, 23. Standard time: meaning and explanation of, 142-144; table of, 144. Stars, names of, italicized, 64. " Start," distinguished from begin, in. "State," capitalization of, 24-25. States: spacing of abbrevia- tions of, 60-61; list of abbreviations of, 77-81. Statistics, treatment of num- bers in, 32. "Stop," distinguished from stay, in. "Strata," plural of stratum, 109. Streets: capitalization of names of, 23; numbers of, spelled out, 32. "Sub," compounds with, 50. Subdivisions: in literary ref- erences, not capitalized, 28. Subheads, omission of period after, 12; italicizing of, 62. Subject-matter: separation of, by dash, from its author- ity, 13. "Sulpho," compounds with, Si- "Super," compounds with, 50. "Supra," compounds with, 48; italicized, 64. Surveyors' measure, table of, 151. s.v., italicized, 64. Symbols: monetary, 90-91; mathematical, 91-92; med- ical, 93; spacing of mone- tary, 60. Tables: box-heads in, omis- sion of period, 12. "Take," correct use of, in. "Take stock in," slang ex- pression, 112. Technical: use of figures in, matter, 32; words or phrases, use of quotation- marks for, 17. Tense, common errors of , 112. Text of letters: business, formal, and informal, 118- 120. "That." See under Which. "The," not part of title of magazines and papers, 30. "Them," distinguished from they, 112. "Thermo," compounds with, 5i- Thermometers, comparative table: Reaumur, Centi- grade, Fahrenheit, 148. "They." See under Them. "This," not used as adverb, 112. Thoroughfares: capitalization of names of, 23; numbers of, spelled out, 32. "Through," distinguished from finished, 112. Timber and wood, measures of, 157. Time: use of colon between hours and minutes, 11; of day, when spelled out, 32; standard, explanation of, 142-144; on board ship, 161. INDEX 183 Time measure, table of, 151. -Hon and -sion. See -sion. Title-pages, capitalization of certain words, 30. Titles: capitalization of, 24- 26; of poems, series, and works of art, to be quoted, 17; of parables (biblical), capitalization of, 20; of psalms, capitalization of, 20; use of colon in literary references, 10-11; capital- ization of compounded, 22; use of comma separating, from names, 6; of honor, nobility, and respect, capi- talization of, 25; civil and military, capitalization of, 25; foreign, capitalization of, 25-26; of books or essays, capitalization of, 26; of treaties, laws, and acts, capitalization of, 27; definite article not treated as part of, in newspapers or magazines, 30; "ex," "vice," "general," "elect," etc., use of hyphen in con- necting, 47; italicizing of books, newspapers, and periodicals, 62; abbrevia- tions of, with lists, 68-75; capitalize when used alone 68-69; of sovereigns, 69. "To," compounds with, 50. "Too," correct use of, 112. "Treat," followed by of, 112. Treaties, capitalization of names of, 27. "Tree," compounds with, 49. "Tri-," compounds with, 50. Tribes, capitalization of names of, 27. Troy ounce, uses of the, 154- 155- Troy weight, table of, 150. "Try," followed by to, 112. Two-letter syllables, avoid division of, 53. "Ugly," correct use of, 112. Ult., not used, 65. "Ultra," compounds with, 48. "Un- " (negative prefix), com- pounds with, 50. "Under," compounds with, So. "United States," when abbre- viated, 66. Units of measure, not capi- talized, 29-30. Unity of paragraphs, 57. 1 ' University, ' ' capitalization of, 27. Unknown quantities: alge- braic, geometric, etc., ital- icized, 64. v. {versus), set in roman, 64. "Van," capitalization of, 25- 26. Verbal nouns, ending in -ing, distinguished from parti- ciples, 106. Verbs, not to be omitted from sentence, 112. Versions of Bible, capitaliza- tion of, 20. "Very," correct use of, 112. "Vice," compounds with, 46. Vide, italicized, 64. "Visitor," distinguished from visitant, 113. "viz.," set in roman, 64. "Vocation," distinguished from avocation, 113. 1 84 INDEX Vocative words, comma sep- arating, 7; "O" as distin- guished from exclamatory "oh," 15. Volt. See Electrical measures. "Von," capitalization of, 25- 26. Vowels, rules for division of words based upon, 52-53. "Want," correct use of, 113. Watch on board ship, the, 161. Watt. See Electrical meas- ures. "Way," not to be used for away, 113. Week, days of: capitaliza- tion of, 23; abbreviation of, 65-66. Weights: metric system, table 149; apothecaries', 150; avoirdupois, 150; British, 153; the Troy ounce, 155; Indian, 159; foreign, 160; and measures, tables and rules for, 149-160. "What," distinguished from that, 113. "Whereas," in resolutions, use of capital, 26. "Which," correct use of, 113. "Who," correct use of, 113. "Will." See under Shall. "Woman," compounds with, 49; correct use of. See Gentleman. "Womanly," distinguished from womanish, 113. Words: accompanied by defi- nition, to be quoted, 17; of unusual, technical, or ironical meanings, to be quoted, 17; specially de- sired to attract attention, to be quoted, 17; contrac- tion of, omission indicated by apostrophe, 19; derived from proper names, capital- ization of, 24; with special meaning, capitalization of, 29; accented, 37; pro- nounced alike, but varying in meaning, according to spelling, list of 40-44; for- eign, italicizing of, 62-63. "World," compounds with, 47. "Would." See under Should. Wrapping, of mail matter, 132. X, do not divide on, 53. Yard measures, table of, 158. Years, numbers preceding, spelled out, 32. Zoological terms: capitaliza- tion of, 23; italicizing of, 64. THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW AN INITIAL FINE OP 25 CENTS WILL BE ASSESSED FOR FAILURE TO RETURN THIS BOOK ON THE DATE DUE. THE PENALTY WILL INCREASE TO 50 CENTS ON THE FOURTH DAY AND TO $1.00 ON THE SEVENTH DAY OVERDUE. 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