■ A A o ~^—^— o 5 1 'T ^^^=o 6 6 2 •J 9 - 4 - iQ &S; ^■;:>;v'c" Su2/69Q8tSK 6^ *v^""; :;^; .•» • .... ... SCHOOL COMMITTEES!!! TEACHEES I 1 I LOOK AT TOWER'S GRADUAL SERIES OF READERS. This Series was made as all School-Books should he, hy . Fractioal Teacliers, conversant with the wants of the school-room ; hence its adaptedness to supply those wants, its great popularity and its complete success. So valuable are its exercises in Articulation, and in the elements of Expression, that imi- tators are appropriating them aud claiming great merit for their books on account of these Exercises ; boasting of them as something new of their own. The Beading Lbssons are pure, moral and elevating, adapted to the gradual progress of the pupil. All flat translations from foreign languages, full of mawkish sen- timent, and all improbable and false stories abounding in the wonderful and impossible, with which many late Readers are spiced, have been carefully excluded from the "GRADUAL SERIES," as unwholesome food, especially for American Youth. The Vermont Christian Messenger closes a long and very able review of these Readers tbust " The reading lessons are models for the formation of a clear, pure, forcible stylo of English composition. But — what is of the utmost value and importance — the bearing of all the reading matter which makes up these volumes upon the moral and social character of the child, is just what we would wish to have it. The authors seem to have striven to make a series of Reading Books in which there should be ' no line that, dying, they would wish to blot.' " The superiority of these books is acknowledged wherever they have been brought to a practical test. The more intelligent school committees and teachers readily appre- ciate these Readers. So decided is the preference for them among the educated, over every other Bcries, that they are gradually but surely superseding all other Readers and going into general use in all the best schools in our country. In order to secure an extensive examination of TOW- ER'S READERS, wo have concluded to furnish them to Teachers and Committees ; the entire set, including Speller, will be sent, post-paid, on the receipt of $1 00. Or one book of the series will be Bent singly as follows : TOWER'S FIRST READER 06 TOWER'S SECOND READER 08 TOWER'S THIRD READER 12 TOWER'S FOURTH READER 15 TOWER'S FIFTH READER 16 TOWER'S SIXTH READER 20 TOWER'S INTERMEDIATE READER 15 GRADUAL SPELLER 06 Address DANIEL BURGESS & CO., Publishers, 60 John Street, N. Y. - "... . i\f2C\S)QG*y\(K>/ ■ •- JUST PUBLISHED, TOWER'S GRAMMAR OF COMPOSITION; OR, GRADUAL EXERCISES In Writing the English language. By D. B. Tower, A. M., and B. P. Tweed, A. M.. Professor of Rhetoric, Logic and English Literature in Tuft's College. sPfijfli This takes hitherto unoccupied ground, and consists mostly of Exercises in grammatical forms, being a practi- cal application of the principles of grammar on a new plan, to establish the habit of writing correctly. After this habit is fixed, the next important step in Composition is Jlnangemtnt This is taught in a manner entirely new, giving bat one process at a time, so simplifying the work as to render essential aid to the teacher in imparting a cor- rect and systematic method of thinking and writing. Writing a language correctly is an art, and can be attain- ed only b j practice. The Exercises in this book are prac- tical, not profound ; adapted to form the habit of writing grammatically. It is prepared in a manner so attractive, that it invaria- bly delights and entertains whilo it is instructing the learner. Its unprecedented success has already been established beyond a doubt. The whole work is entirely new in plan and execution, and puts the subject in a clear light and on a proper foot- ing. Lot every one interested in Education examine it. Frem the Ifew-York Observer. The plan and execution of this little book are admirable. It is designed for the young learner, as an introduction into the art of " writing compositions." and does not deal in rules — which generally serve only to burden the memory with a useless weight — but begins at once with entertain- ing examples and exercises. There is a better way of learning than " by heart, - ' — it is learning by practice^ and this is the mode of teaching which the experiencedautbors of this volume propose. We give no new book a warmer welcome than one which is fitted for the use of children, and designed to lessen their early difficulties in the way of acquiring knowledge. ' Going to school ' is often an irk- some thought, even to the intelligent scholar j and any successful attempt to lighten the load of littlo learners, is worthy of a word of commendation. This is a well aimed and well executed book, and wo doubt not will be highly useful in the sphere for which it is adapted." Price, 62% Cents. Single Copies sent by mail, postage paid, on receipt of price, to the Publishers, DANIEL BURGESS & CO., GO Jolm Street, !VcwY< .: 'v. "NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN!" FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES OF DAILY OCCURRENCE IN SPEAKING, PRONOUNCING, AND WRITING i THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, CORRECTED. " Which — if you but open — You will be unwilling, For many a shilling, To part with the profit Which you shall have of it." [1'he Key to Unknown Knowledge. — London, 1569. " It is highly important, that whatever we learn or know, we should know cokrkctly ; for unless our knowledge be correct, we lose half'ita value and use- fulness." — Conversations on Botany. NEW-YORK: DANIEL BURGESS & CO., 60 JOHN STREET. 1856. Entered according to Act of Congress, In the year 1855, oy WALTON BURGESS,. in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. . PREFACE. This book is offered to the public, not to be classed with elaborate or learned works, nor ex- pected, like some of its more pretending compan- ions among the offspring of the press, to run the gauntlet of literary criticism. It was prepared to meet the wants of persons — numbered by multitudes in even the most intelligent and refined communi- ties — who from deficiency of education, or from carelessness of manner, are in the habit of misusing many of the most common words of the English lan- guage, distorting its grammatical forms, destroying its beauty, and corrupting its purity. The most thorough mode that could be adopted to correct such errors, would doubtless be to impart to the ignorant a practical knowledge of the principles of language, as embodied in treatises on grammar ; ] V PREFACE. but such a good work, however desirable its results, has, in time past, been too difficult for the promoters of education to complete, and is still too great to give promise of speedy accomplishment. A bet- ter expedient, bearing immediate fruits, has been adopted in the present volume, which, while it does not aim to produce a radical reform, cannot fail to render great service to those who need to improve their usual modes of expression, and to be more dis- criminating in their choice of words. The more frequent and less excusable mistakes that may be noticed in ordinary conversation or cor- respondence, are here taken up, one by one — ex- posed, explained, and corrected: They consist va- riously of abuses of grammar, misapplications of words and phrases, improprieties of metaphor and comparison, misstatements of meaning, and faults of pronunciation. They are grouped miscellaneously, ivitlwut classification, not so much because of the difficulty of devising an arrangement that would be systematic and intelligible, as from the evident fact that a division of subjects would render no assist- ance to those for whom the book is specially de- signed ; for an appropriate classification would ne- cessarily derive its features from the forms of gram- PREFACE. V mar, and with these the readers of this book are supposed to be to a great extent unfamiliar. The volume is put forth with no flourish of trum- pets, and makes no extravagant pretensions ; yet the publishers believe it will be regarded as a timely and useful work. If the race of critics should not like it — and while books have their "faults," critics have their u failings' 1 — they are reminded that he who corrects an old error, may render no less ser- vice to his brethren, than he who discovers a new truth. If the work shall be the means of saving one sensitive man from *a confusion of blushes, in the presence of a company before which he desired to preserve his equanimity, it will not have gone forth without a mission of benefit, which will merit at least one acknowledgment. INTRODUCTION. The aim of this book, by correcting a multitude of com- mon errors in the use of language, is mainly to offer assist- ance to such persons as need greater facilities for accurate expression in ordinary conversation. It is not designed to suggest topics of talk, nor to give rules or examples point- ing out the proper modes of arranging them ; but simply to insure persons who often have a good thing to say, from the confusion and mortification of improperly saying it. This chapter of introduction will not, therefore, be expected to present an essay on the general subject of conversation. It may be remarked, however, by way of admonitory hint to some, that the most prominent error in the conver- sation of those who commit the most blunders, does not con- sist in saying too little that amounts to much, but too much that amounts to little ; talkativeness is a characteristic more commonly of the ignorant, than of the wise. Shenstone says, "The common fluency of speech in many men, and most women, is owing to a scarcity of matter and a scarcity of words ; for whoever is master of a language, and moreover b INTRODUCTION. has a mind full of ideas, will be apt, in speaking, to hesi tate upon the choice of both ; but common speakers have only one set of ideas and one set of words to clothe them in, — and these are always ready at the mouth. Just so, people can come faster out of a church when it is almost ' m jPtyi than when a crowd is at the door /" But although, according to the old proverb, " a still tongue denotes a wise head," the faculty of speech should not be neglected, merely because it may be misused. Conversation is not a gift bestowed only upon those whom genius favors ; on the contrary, many men eminent for their fluency of style in writing, have been noted for habitual taciturnity in their intercourse with society. Iiazlitt remarked, that " authors should be read, not heard !" Charles II. of England, not only the wittiest of monarchs, but one of the liveliest of men, is said to have been so charmed in reading the humor of Butler's " Iiudi- bras," that he disguised himself as a private gentleman, and was introduced to the author, whom, to his astonish- ment, he found to be one of the dullest of companions. On the other hand, some of the humblest men with whom one falls into company, possessed of but little variety, and less extent of information, are highly entertaining talkers. The particular topic of remark does not form so essential a part of an interesting conversation, as the words and manner of those who engage in it. Robert Burns, sitting down on one occasion to write a poem, said : INTRODUCTION. 9 " Which way the subject theme may gang, Let time or chance determine ; Perhaps it may turn out a sang, — Or probably a sermon." In the same manner, the subject of a conversation need not be made a matter of study, or special preparation. Men may talk of things momentous or trivial, and in either strain be alike attractive and agreeable. But quitting the consideration of the thought, to refer to the mode of its expression, it must be remarked and insisted, that to " murder the king's English" is hardly less a crime, than to design against one of the king's subjects. If committed from ignorance, the fault is at least deplo- rable ; but if from carelessness, it is inexcusable. The greatest of sciences is that of language ; the greatest of human arts is that of using words. No " cunning hand" of the artificer -can contrive a work of mechanism that is to be compared, for a moment, with those wonderful mas- terpieces of ingenuity, which may be wrought by him who can skilfully mould a beautiful thought into a form that shall preserve, yet radiate its beauty. A mosaic of words may be made more fair, than of inlaid precious stones. The scholar who comes forth from his study, a master of the English language, is a workman who has at his command hardly less than a hundred thousand finely-temj^ered in- struments, with which he may fashion the most cunning device. This is a trade which all should learn, for it is one that every individual is called to practise. The I* 10 INTRODUCTION. greatest support of virtue in a community is intelligence; intelligence is the outgrowth of knowledge ; and the almo- ner of all knowledge is language. The possession, there- fore, of the resources, and a command over the appliances of language, is of the utmost importance to every indi- vidual. Words are current coins of the realm, and they who do not have them in their treasury, suffer a more pitiable poverty than others who have not a penny of baser specie in their pocket ; and the multitude of those who have an unfailing supply, but which is of the wrong stamp, are possessed only of counterfeit cash, that will not pass in circles of respectability. The present work therefore is, in some respects, not unlike the "Detector" issued for the merchants, to indicate the great amount of worthless money that is in general circulation with the good. It is not to be supposed that all the mistakes of daily occurrence in the use of language, are to be numbered by "five hundred" — possibly not by five thousand; but it is evident that he who is instructed against five hun- dred of his habitual blunders, and enabled to steer clear of ever}'- one of them, has in no slight degree improved his conversation, and thereby increased his importance. As a prefix, or accompaniment, to this catalogue of cor- rected mistakes, the presentation of a few rules or princi- ples of language, which, strictly observed, might guard against numerous general classes of errors, would not be thought misplaced, or undesirable. Some suggestions on INTRODUCTION. 11 points most prominent are accordingly given among these introductory remarks — not in formal statements of gram- matical rules, but in examples in which the spirit of such rules is revealed. Not the least glaring among the many misuses of words and forms of expression in conversation, occur by incor- rectly employing the pronouns — who, which, what, and that. It may be remarked, that who should be applied exclusively to persons. Which usually refers to ani- mals and inanimate objects, except in such an expression as, "Tell me which of the two men was chosen?" What, means that which : thus, " This is the book what I want- ed," should read, " This is the book that (or which) 1 wanted." Among intcrrogatives, who f inquires for the name ; vjJiich? for the individual; what? for the character, or occupation. Thus, " Who built the bridge ?" " Mr. Blake." " Which of the Blakes ?" " Charles Blake." « What was he ?" " A distinguished civil engineer." The title of a small book for young people, recently published, was — " The Way that Little Children enter Heaven :" the word that is here incorrectly used as a substitute for in which, or hy which. When this and that, and their plurals, are used in the sense of tatter and former, this and these signify the' lat- ter, and that and those theformer. Thus, in the following couplet from Burns : 12 INTRODUCTION. "Farewell my friends, farewell my foes, My peace with these, my love with those." these refers to "foes," and those to " friends." In the possessive case of nouns, some instances occur in which a wise choice may be made, but in respect to which usage is divided. Thus, we may say, "They called at Walton's the bookseller 's," or, with equal propriety, as far as custom is concerned, " at Walton the bookseller s" The iirst form, however, is preferable. The use of the hyphen [-] is frequently disregarded in epistolary correspondence, occasioning not only a blemish but a blunder. Its importance may be seen by comparing the meaning of " glass house" with "glass-house;" the former may mean the Crystal Palace, while the latter is a manufactory of glass-ware. Adjectives are often improperly used for adverbs: as, " extreme bad weather," for "extremely bad weather." It is sometimes difficult to choose between such phrases as " the first three" and " the three first." To say first three when there is no second three is inelegant, because superfluous ; and three first is absurd, because impossible. The most successful pupil in each of two classes at school would not improperly be called "the tioo first boys;" while propriety would require that the first and second boys of the same class should be called " the^?'^ two boys." As a general rule, and easy to be recollected, let "first'' be first. The use of some for about is by many writers thought INTRODUCTION. 13 to be awkward : as, " Some fifty years ago," instead of " About fifty years." An ambiguity occasionally arises in employing the ad- jective no. Thus, " No money is better than gold," may mean either that gold is the best kind of money, or that gold is not so good as no money at all ! After numerals, the words couple, pair, dozen, score, hundred, thousand, and a few others, need not take the plural form : thus, custom first, and finally grammar, have sanctioned such uses as, " three pair of shoes," " nine dozen bushels," " four couple of students ;" also, "forty sail of vessels," " seventy head of cattle." The article {a or an) renders an important service in such expressions as, "A few followed their leader through- out the long struggle." To say, " Few followed him," would • imply, unlike the former phrase, that he was almost deserted. "A black and a white horse," suggests the idea of two horses ; while " a black and white horse," refers to but one — as if written " a black-and-white horse." "The red and white dahlias were most admired," properly means the dahlias in which both these colors were blended. " The red and the white dahlias," implies two species. The grammatical number of a verb should agree with that of its subject, and not of its predicate. "Thus, the sentences, " Death is the wages of sin," and " The wages of sin are death," are properly written. 14: mTRODTTCTION. In changing from a past tense to the present, when the same nominative remains, the form of the verb should continue unaltered. Thus, instead of saving " He was traveling and travels" say " lie was traveling and is traveling. ," "When a verb lias both a singular and a plural nomina- tive, separated by or, its number agrees with that of the nearer: as, "the cup or his billiards were his ruin;" or, " his billiards or the cup was his ruin," Custom — which, when crystallized, becomes grammar — allows expressions like "The linen tears" and "The meadow plows well," although they should net be frequently employed, and should be more seldom coined. A fruitful source of mistakes in language, is in the link- ing together of two or more inappropriate tenses, or in the misuse of one. Many among the learned and refined com- mit blunders of these kinds. A few corrected examples of such are here given: "His text w r as, that God was love ;" the sentence should be written, " His text was, that God is love." " The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken away ;" say, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away." "They arrived before we left the city :" say, " they had arrived" " All the brothers have been greatly indebted to their father :" say, " are indebtedP "This painting was preserved and exhibited for the last century :" say, " has been preserved and exhibited." INTKODTJCTION. 15 " It was the last act he intended to have performed :" say, " to perform." " He drinks wine at dinner," means that such is his habit; "he is drinking wine at dinner," refers to one particular time and occasion. Adverbs are often inelegantly used instead of adjectives ; as, "the then ministry," for "the ministry of that time." Of the phrases "never so good," or, "ever so good," as to whether one is preferable to the other, authority is divided. Modern usage inclines to the latter, while an- cient preferred the former, as in the Scriptural expres- sion, " charm he never so wisely." Yea and nay are not equivalent to yes and no / the lat- ter are directly affirmative and negative, while the former are variously employed. Of prepositions, it has been frequently said, that no words in the language are so liable to be incorrectly used. For example, " The love of God," may mean either " His love to us," or, " our love to Him." Many more of these particles are inelegantly, if not ambiguously used. Instead of "the natives were a different race to what they are now," say, " different ■from.''' 1 " He was made much on in the country:" say, " made much of." "In compliance of your request:" say, "in compli- ance with." " He doubts if his friend will come," is not so elegant 1 6 INTRODUCTION. and accurate as, " He doubts whether his friend will come." More instances might be given, setting forth other frequent errors of speaking and writing, at the risk, how- ever, of destroying the due proportion which should exist between the size of a work and the length of the Intro- duction. But a good heed to what has been said in the few preceding paragraphs, will enable a person who care- fully reads this work to mend his modes of expression, to no inconsiderable degree. It is well known that there is no " royal road to learning," but if there were, it could hardly be expected that such a little book as this would afford a passport to the end of the course. About two hundred years ago, a small volume was put forth by one " John Peters, learned scholar and author," which had the following long-winded title : " A New "Way to make Latin Verses, whereby any one of ordinary capacity, that only knoios the A, J?, C, and can count nine, though he understands not one word of Latin , or what a verse means, may be plainly taught to make thousands of Hexameter and Pentameter Verses, which shall be true Latin, true Verse, and Good Sense !" The present volume must not be ex- pected to accomplish so great a result as this — not having so comprehensive an aim, nor possessing so great a secret of success. But it is hoped that it may incite some who are unfortunately deficient in education, to seek so much additional knowledge as shall enable them at least to con- verse in a dialect which is within the compass of the INTRODUCTION. IT language of their country, and free them from the imputa- tion of belonging to another tribe of men, speaking another tongue. A Welshman, residing near Caermarthon, who was sel- dom seen at the only church in the parish of his residence, was one day accosted by the worthy clergyman with the question, "My friend — to what church do you belong?" He responded, "To the Church of England." "Ah," replied the pastor, " I was sure that it must be some church out of Wales/" There are not a few persons who speak the English language about as truly as the Caermar- thon Welshman attended the English Church I FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 1. "The business would suit any one who enjoys had health" [From an advertisement in a daily newspaper of Xew-York.] Few persons who have had health can Le said to enjoy it. Use some other form of expression : as, one in delicate health, or, one whose health is had. 2. " We have no corporeal punishment here," said a schoolmaster. Corporeal is opposed to spiritual. Say, corporal punishment. Corporeal means having a body. 3. " She is a notable woman," as was said of the wife of the Shepherd of Salisbury Plain, — meaning careful, and pronounced as though divided not-able. This word is no longer current, with this pronunciation or signification, except to a slight extent in England. It has become obso- lete, and its use now is in bad taste. 4. " Insert the advertisement in the "Weekly." Empha- size vert, and not ise. 5. "He rose up, and left the room :" leave out up, as it is absurd to say rise down. The Irishman who was hoisted down the coal pit, did not observe this rule. 6. " Set down and rest yourself:" say sit down / setting is said of the sun in the west, but cannot be properly applied to a person taking a seat. " Sit down" is not improper, 20 FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. though "rise up" (as in Xo. 5) should never be used. Sitti/ng down expresses the net of appropriating a chair, while sitting up means sifting erect. Sitting i/jj also refers to watching during the night with the -sick. 7. " You have sown it very neatly," said a seamstress to her apprentice : say sewed, and pronounce so as to rhyme with road. The pronunciation of sew, meaning "to use the needle," violates its spelling; it is the same as that of sow, meaning " to scatter seed." 8. "This is a secret between you and I:" say, you and me. The construction requires the objective case in place of /, which is in the nominative. It is in still better taste to say, " This is a secret with you and me." 9. " Let you and /take a walk :" say, Let you and me, or, Let us. Who would think of saying, Let Lyof The expression " Let I and you" is frequently heard, which contains the additional impropriety of putting *the first per- son before the second. 10. " He is going to learn his brother Alfred how to knit nets:" say, teach. The act of communicating instruc- tion is expressed by " teaching," the act of receiving it by " learning." The distinction between these words was made as early as the time of Shakespeare, and cannot be violated without incurring censure. 11. "John and Henry both read well, but John is the best reader:" say, the better reader, as best can be properly used only when three or more persons, or objects, are com- pared. 12. "Thompson was there among the rest." This mode of expression, which is very common, literally declares an impossibility. The signification of " the rest" is, those in FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 21 addition to Thompson, and of which Thompson formed no part; he could not therefore be among them. A more correct form would be, " Thompson was there with the rest," 13. " The two first cows are the fattest," said a farmer at an agricultural fair. He should have said, " the first two /" there can be only one that is first — the other must necessarily be second. 14. " It is an error ; you are mistaken:" say, you mis- take. Mistaken means misapprehended / "you mistake" means " you miscomprehend." 15. " ITave you lit the fire, Bridget?" say, lighted; lit is now obsolete. 16. "To be is an auxiliary verb :" pronounce auxiliary as though spelled awg-zil-ya-re, and not in five syllables. 17. February : this word is often incorrectly spelled by omitting the r. 18. The " Miscellany" was an interesting publication : pronounce miscellany with the accent on mis, and not on eel. 19. " Celery is a pleasant vegetable :" pronounce celery as it is written, and not salary. 20. " Are you at leisure f" pronounce lei in leisure the same as lee. The word should not rhyme with measure. 21. " John is my oldest brother :" say, eldest. Elder and eldest are applied to persons — older and oldest to things. Usage, however, does not make these distinctions impera- tive. 22. "The cloth was wove in a very short time:" say, woven. 23. " I prefer the yolk of an egg to the white :" the 22 FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. more common word is yelk, with the I sounded ; but if yolk be used, it should be pronounced like yoke. 24. Sjparrowgrass : it is only the grossest ignorance which confounds this word with asparagus. The same is the case with ing-uns for onions. A man in an obscure section of ISTew Jersey, inquiring at a country store for onions, was told that there were none in the place. On his going out, the storekeeper turned to half a dozen idlers sitting round the stove, and said, " I wonder if that 'tarnal fool meant ing-uns /" 25. " You are very mischievous :" pronounce mischiev- ous with the accent on mis, and not on chie, and do not say mischievious (mis-cheev-yus.) 26. The following words were posted, as a sign, in a reading-room — "No Talking Allowed;" which was de- signed to prohibit all conversation. A wag altered the inscription so as to read, " ISTo Talking Aloud," which (he declared) did not prevent whispering, and chatting in low tones. What shall be said of the following — " No /Smok- ing Aloud?" 27. " No extras or vacations ;" [from the prospectus of a schoolmistress :] say, nor vacations. 28. " He was never known to be covetous :" pronounce covetous as if written covet us, and not covetyus. 29. The Three Il?s. — An ignorant and vain pedagogue, on being asked what he could teach, replied, " The three R.'s — , ritin > , 'rethmetic, and readin\" Any persons among the readers of this little book, who may chance to be schoolmasters, are warned against giving such a course of instruction. 30. " Dearly beloved brethren :" when beloved is placed FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 23 before the noun, as in this instance, pronounce it in three syllables ; when placed after, in two syllables, as, " She was much be-loved by us all." When used as a noun by itself, it is pronounced in three syllables ; as, " Be-lov-ed, let us love one another." 31. " Not as Iknoio :" say, that I know. 32. " He came on purpose for to do it:" omit for. 33. " He would never believe but what I did it :" say, but that I did it. 34. " He is quite as good as me :" say, as good as I. Also, instead of as good as him, say, as good as he. In both these instances am or is must be mentally supplied at the end of the phrase, to suggest the meaning ; and the pronouns should, therefore, be in the nominative case. 35. " Many an one has done the same :" say, many a one. A, and not an, is also used before »the long sound of u i that is, when u forms a distinct syllable of itself : as, a unit, a union, a university : it is also used before eu : as, a euphony, and likewise before the word ewe: as, a ewe: we should also say, a youth, not an youth. 36. " How do you like these hind of pears ?" say, these kinds j a noun in the singular number will not allow its adjective to be in the plural. 37. " You should have went home :" say, gone. 38. " John went with James and I: n say, James and me. 39. " I see him last Monday :" say, saw him. 40. " He was averse from such a proceeding :" say, averse to. 41. " Have you shoolc the table-cloth V say, shaken. 42. " I have rang several times :" say, rung. 24: FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 43. " I Jcnow*d him at once :" say, knew. 44. "You have drank too much of it:" say, drunk. 45. " He has chose a very poor pattern :" say, chosen. 46. " They have broke a window:" say, broken. 47. " I" have just began my letter :" say, begun. 4S. " Give me them books :" say, those books. 49. " Whose are these here books f n say, these books. Here is superfluous and inelegant. 50. " Who do you mean ?" say, whom. 51. " The men which we saw :" say, whom. 52. "The flowers what you have :" say, which, or that. 53. "The boy as is reading:" luho is reading. 54. " It was them who did it :" say, they. 55. " It is me who am in fault :" say, It is I. 56. " Was it her who called me ?" say, she. 57. " If I were her, I would accept his offer :" say, If I were she. 58. " He has got my slate :" omit got ; has is sufficient for the sense. The addition of got, though not ungrammatical, hut gradually becoming obsolete, does not in any degree strengthen the meaning. 59. " The pond is froze :" say, frozen. 60. "I know I am him whom he meant:" say, I am he. 61. "You cannot catch him:" pronounce catch so as to rhyme with match, and not ketch — as the fishermen are in the habit of saying. 62. " Who done it f n say, Who did it ? 63. "The club gives an impetus to the ball:" pronounce impetus with the stress on im, and not on pe. 64. " Spain and Portugal form a peninsula :" pronounce pen-in-su-la, with the accent on in, and not on su. FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 25 65. Sar-da-na-padus : pronounce it with the accent on pa, and not on op. The latter pronunciation cannot be changed for the former, without incurring a gross error. (}6. " He must by this time be almost as far as the antip- odes :" pronounce antipodes with, the accent on tip, and let des rhyme with ease; it is a word of four syllables, and not of three. 67. Vouchsafe : a word seldom used, but when used, the first syllable should rhyme with pouch • never say vousafe. 68. " The land in those parts is very fertile :" pronounce fertile so as to rhyme with myrtle. lie in such words must be sounded as ill, with the exception of exile, senile, gentile, reconcile, and camomile, in which He rhymes with mile. 69. Benefited : often spelt benefitted, but incorrectly. 70. " Gather a few. ears of corn for dinner:" pronounce gather so as to rhyme with lather, and not gether. 71. Purpose and propose : these two words, which are often confounded, are entirely distinct in meaning. To purpose means to intend ; to propose means to offer a pro- position, 72. Directing and addressing letters: Directing desig- nates the persons to w r hom, and the place to which the let- ter, as a parcel, is to be sent ; addressing refers to the individual to whom, as a communication, it is written. A letter addressed to the President, may be directed to his secretary. 78. " Who do you think I saw yesterday ?" say, Whom. 74. A popular proverb is expressed in the following language : " Of two evils choose the least /" say, the less. Of no less than three evils can a person choose the least. 26 FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 75. Exaggerate : pronounce exad-gerate, and do not sound agger as in dagger. 70. Ladies School : the usual form, but not correct / write, Ladies'' School. The apostrophe (') is thus used after nouns in the plural, and indicates possession. In the singular, it is placed before the s, as, The lady's school. 77. The following equivocal notice is said to swing out on a sign-board somewhere in the Western country : " Smith & -Huggs — Select School. — Smith teaches the boys, and JTuggs the girlsP Suggs needs correction ! 78. " He keeps a chaise :" pronounce it shaze, and not shay / it has a regular plural, chaises. 79. "The drought lasted a long time:" pronounce drought so as to rhyme with sprout, and not drototh. 80. "The two friends conversed together for an hour:" omit together, as the full meaning of this word is implied in con, which means with, or together, or in company. 81. " The affair was compromised :" pronounce compro- mised in three syllables, and place the accent on com, sounding mised like prized. 82. "A steam-engine ;" pronounce engine with en as in fen, and not like in; also, pronounce gine like gin. 83. "Several of the trappers were massacred by the In- dians:" pronounce massacred with the accent on mas, and red like erd, as if massaker^d / never say massacreed, which i ■ abominable. 84. " The King of Israel and the King of Judah sat, either of them on his throne :" say, each of them. Either signi- fies the one or the other, but not both. Each relates to two or more objects, and signifies both of the two, or every one FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 27 of any number taken singly. We can sa}', "either of the three," for " one of the three." 85. "A respite was granted the convict:" pronounce respite with the accent on res, and sound pite as pit. 86. " He soon returned hack :" leave out hack, which is implied by re in returned. 87. "The ship looked like a speck on the edge of the horizon :" pronounce horizon with the accent on W, and not on hor, which is often the case. 8S. " They were early at the sepulchre :" pronounce sep- ulchre with the accent on sep, and not on the second syllable. 89. " I have often swam across the Hudson:" say, swum. 90. " I found my friend better than I expected to have found him :" say, to find him. 91. "I intended to have written a letter yesterday :" say, to write / as however long it now is since I thought of writing, " to write'''' was then present to me, and must still be considered as present, when I recall that time and the thoughts of it. 92. Superfluous IPs : Many persons pronounce words which have no letter r in them, exactly as though they had ; as, drawring for drawing ; " I sawr Thomas," for " I saw" &c. Some who do not insert a full-toned r, do worse by appending an ah to almost every word they utter. They would do well to recall the reproof which the excel- lent Rev. John Gruber administered to a brother in the ministry, who was guilty of this habit. That eccentric clergyman addressed a note to his friend, as follows: " Dear-ah Sir-ah — "When-ah you-ah speak-ah in-ah public- ah, take-ali my-ah ad-ah-vice-ah and-ah never-ah say-ah ah- ah ! — John- ah Gruber-ah." 28 FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 93. Shall and will are often confounded, or misused. The following suggestion will be of service to the reader: mere futurity is expressed by shall in the first person, and by will in the second and third / the determi- nation of the speaker by will, in the j%*£, and shall, in the second and third. For example : " Z sA«£Z (70 fo/ tf/w way ^ Halifax" simply expresses an event about to take place — as a\so you will, and they will; Twill expresses de- termination — as also you shall and they shall. Brightland has the following illustrative stanza : " In the first person simply shall foretells ; In will a threat, or else a promise, dwells. Shall, in the second and the third, does threat ; — Will, simply, then, foretells the future feat." 94. " Without the grammatical form of a word can be recognized at a glance, little progress can be made in read- ing the language :" [from a work on the study of the Latin language :] say, Unless the grammatical, &c. The use of without for unless is a ver} r common mistake. 95. " He claimed admission to the chief est offices :" say, chief. Chief, right, supreme, correct, true, universal, per- fect, consummate, extreme, &c, imply the superlative de- gree without adding est, or prefixing most. In language sublime or impassioned, however, the word perfect re- quires the superlative form, to give it its fullest effect. 96. " I had rather do it now :" say, I would rathe/' do. The incorrectness of the first form of expression is very clearly seen by cutting out rather, leaving "I had do," which is ungrammatical and meaningless. 97. An obituary notice contained the following ludi- crous statement: "He left a large circle of mourners, em- FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 20 bracing his amiable wife and children!" Com/prising should have been used, instead of embracing. 98. "His court-of-arms is very splendid :" say, coat-of- arms. 99. " They ride about in small carriages, which are called flies :" write the last word flys / flies is the plural of fly, the insect. 100. " A r ictoria is Queen of the United Kingdom:'''' say, United Kingdoms. .Who ever speaks of the United State of America ? 101. "I have not traveled this twenty years ;" say, these tvjenty years. 102. "Soldier arms!" Say, " Shoulder arms /" The latter is frequently corrupted into " Sojer arms/" 103. " He is very much the gentleman :" say, He is a very gentlemanly man, or, He is very gentlemanly. 101. " The yellow part of an egg is very nourishing :" never pronounce yellow so as to rhyme with tallow, as we so often hear. 105. " We are going to the Zoological Gardens :" pro- nounce Zoological in five syllables, and place the accent on log in logical ; sound log like lodge, and the first two d's in distinct syllables / never make Zool one syllable. 106. "He strived to obtain an appointment:" say, strove. 107. " He always preaches extempore ;" pronounce ex- it i m pore in four syllables, with the accent on tern, and never ii> three, making pore to rhyme with sore — but with story. 108. " Allow me to suggest ;" pronounce sug so as to rhyme with mug, and gest like jest f never say sudjest. 109. "That building is an episcopal chapel :" pronounce 30 FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. episcopal with the accent on the second syllable, and not on co. 110. " The Emperor of Russia is & formidable sovereign :" pronounce formidable, with the accent on for, and not on mid. 111. Before the words heir, herb, honest, honor, and hour, • and their compounds, instead of the article a, we make use of an, as the h is not sounded ; likewise before words be- ginning with h, that are not accented on the first syllable: such as heroic, historical, hypothesis, &c, as, " an heroic action;" " an historical work ;" " an hypothesis that can scarcely be allowed." The letter h is seldom mute at the be- ginning of a word ; but from the negligence of tutors, and the inattention of pupils, many persons have become almost incapable of acquiring its just and full pronunciation. It is, therefore, incumbent on teachers to be particularly care- ful to inculcate a clear and distinct utterance of this sound. 112. "He was such an extravagant young man, that he soon spent his whole patrimony." This construction, which is much used, is not so elegant as, " He was so extravagant a young man," &c. 113. "The girl speaks distinct:" say, distinctly. Never use Adjectives as Adverts. 114. " The accident of which he was reading, occurred far from Reading :" pronounced the first italicized w< >rd to rhyme v:\t\i feeding, and the other, with ivcdding. 115. The combination of letters ough is pronounced in eight different ways, as follows: 1. Thoug7t, in which i; i ! pronounced o; 2. Through, pronounced oo ; 3. Vloug/i, ow ; 4. Sought, aioe ; 5. Cough, off; 6. Hough, uff ; 7. Borough, ugh; 8. Lough, ok. The following sentence, FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 31 which is of doubtful authorship, affords an example of each of these eight modes of pronunciation : " I put (1) dough (6) enough' \n the (5) trough near the (3) slough by the (8) lough, to last the clucks that I (4) bought at the (7) borough (2) through the day." 116. " I saw his august majesty, the Emperor of Hay ti, last August :" pronounce the former word with the accent on gust; the latter, on Au. 117. "She is quite the lady :" say, She is very lady-lika> in her demeanor. 118. "He is seldom or ever out of town:" say, seldom or never, or, seldom if ever. 119. "^Ye laid down to sleep :" say, we lay down, &c. We can say, however, " we laid him down to sleep." 120. It is somewhat singular, that while tie and untie convey meanings directly opposite, loose and unloose signify precisely the same thing. Loose is the original word, and unloose is a corruption ; both words, however, are now sanctioned by good usage, and may be indiscriminately employed, without offence against propriety. 121. "It is dangerous to walk of a slippery morning:" say, on a slippery morning. But the expression, " walking on a slippery morning" and all others like it, of which a strictly literal interpretation will not give the designed significa- tion, are to be avoided. They often excite a smile when seriousness is intended. 122. " He who makes himself famous by his eloquence, makes illustrious his origin, let it be never so mean:" say, ever so mean. The practice of using never in such phrases was anciently in vogue, but is now becoming obsolete. (See Introduction.) 6'J FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 123. " His reputatioD is acknowledged through Europe :" say, throughout Europe. 1:24. " The bank of the river is frequently overflown .•" say, overflowed. Flown is the perfect participle of fly, fly- ing • flowed, oi'flow, flowing. 125. "I doubt if this will ever reach you :" say, whether this, &c. 128. " It is not improbable but I may be able to pro- cure you a copy :" say, that I may, &c. 127. "He was exceeding kind to me:" say, exceedingly hmd. 128. " I doubt not but I shall be able :" say, that I shall. 129. " I lost near twenty pounds :" say, nearly, or al- most. 130. " There were not over twenty persons present :" say, more than. Such a use of this word is not frequent among writers of reputation. It may, however, be less improperly employed, where the sense invests it with more of a semblance to its literal signification : as, " This pair of chickens will weigh over seven pounds." Even in this case, it is better to say more than. 131. " Bills are requested to be paid quarterly :" the bills are not requested, but the persons who owe them. Say instead, It is requested, that bills be paid quarterly. 132. " There can be no doubt but that he will succeed :" omit but. 133. " It was no use ashing him any more questions :" say, of no use to ash him, or there was no use in ash- ing, &c. 134. "The Americans said they had no right to pay taxes." [From a Fourth of July Oration.] They certainly FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. oj had a right to pay them, if they wished. "What the speaker meant was, they were under no obligation to pay, or, they to ere not bound to pay. 135. "He intends to stop at home for a few days:" it is more elegant to say stay. If the time, however, should be very brief, stop would better express the idea ; as, ."We stopped at Elmira about twenty minutes." 136. "At this time, I grew my own corn:" say, 1 raised. Farmers have made this innovation against good taste ; but for what reason, it is not apparent ; there seems to be no sufficient occasion for so awkward a substitute for raised. 137. " Having incautiously laid down on the damp grass, he caught a severe cold :" say, lain down. 138. "We suifered no other inconvenience but that arising from the rain:" say, than that, &c. But, to be properly used in this sentence, would require the omission of other. •139. " Brutus and Aruns killed one another ;" say, each other, which is more proper. But many similar instances which occur in the New Testament, as, " Beloved, love one another," and others no less beautiful and cherished, have rendered this form of expression common, and almost un- exceptionable. 140. In a recently issued work on Arithmetic, the fol- lowing is given : " If for 72 cents I can buy 9 lbs. of rai- sins, how much can I purchase for $14 49?" say, "what quantity can I," &c. Who would think of saying, " how much raisins f " 141. Words to be Carefully Distinguished. — Be very careful to distinguish between indite and indict (the former meaning to write, and the latter to accuse) ; hey and quay / 34 FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. principle and principal; marshal and martial; counsel and council; counsellor and councillor ; fort and fori ; (J raft and draught; ]>laee and plaice (the latter being the name of a fish); stake and steak; satire and satyr; sta- tionery and stationary ; ton and fam/ Ze-yy an d levee ; fo- ment and ferment ; fomentation anil fermentation ; petition and partition ; Francis and Frances ; dose and dose; er. 281. " In reading Paley's 'Evidences of Christianity,' I unexpectedly lit on the passage I wanted :" say, met with I lie passage, &c. 282. A gentleman having selected a book from the library shelves of the Mechanics' Institute, went to the librarian to have the volume registered under his name, and said, " I have taken the life of Julius Ccesar." "1 48 FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. shall then," responded the librarian, " charge the work to Mr. Brutus !" Be careful how you " take the lives'' of distinguished men. 283. " He has a bayonet to his gun :" never say haggo- net. This error is a peculiarity of the Wiltshire dialect, in England. In an old Wiltshire song the following stanza occurs: " A hornet zet in a holler tree, A proper spiteful twoad was he ; And merrily zung while he did zet, — His sting as sharp as a baggonet." 284. " Aunt Deborah is down with the rheumatiz ;" pay, rheumatism; this is one among the isms, though a very unpopular one. 285. " It is obligatory upon every honest man to go to the polls to-day :" accent lig, and not ga. 286. " On the contra^ :" accent con, not tra. The old song takes up with a bad pronunciation, for the sake of a good rhyme: " Mistress Mary, Quite contrary, How does your garden grow?" 287. "That is altogether above ray bend:" say, out of my power. 288. " He has absquatulated, and taken the specie with him :" absconded is a more classical word. 289. " It's eenamost time we had started:" say, almost. 290. " I haven't ary one:" say, 7" have neitJier, or, / haven't either. 291. "That man is in a bad box:" sax, bad predica- ment, or bad situation. v FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 49 292. It may be doubted whether to say of a man " that he larked up the wrong tree" is a complimentary or ele- gant metaphor. 293. " I will retain two-thirds, and give you the bal- ance:" say, remainder. 294. " I calculate to go by steam :" say, " I expect." 2,95. Avoid using the phrase " I cave in" for " / give up" It savors of slang. 296. Do not say, " chicken fixings" for " trifles" or " extras" connected with dress. 297. " He is a cute man :" this is an inelegant abbrevia- tion of acute, and employed to mean smart. It may, how- ever, be properly applied to Yankees ! 298. " He dickered with him an hour :" say, " he bar- gained." This isa word somewhat peculiar to New- York. 299. " Do don't " is a vulgar usage of the Southern States, especially Georgia, for " do not." 300. " He is done gone :" say, ruined. 301. " We had a dreadful line time :" say, very, or exceedingly. 302. " It rains, and I want an umbrella the worst kind:" say, " I am greatly in want" &c. An umbrella of the worst hind would not be likely to answer the best of purposes on a rainy day ! 303. " The whole concern fizzled out :" say, proved a failure. 304. " As soon as I mentioned it to him, hefiarcd up :" say, he hecame excited, or grew violent. 305. " The choir sang Old Hundred :" pronounce Hun- dred as written, and not Hunderd. 306. " The message was sent by his aid-de-camp :" pro- 50 FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. nonnce as if written ade-dc-Jcawng, avoiding, however, as much, as possible a twang on the last syllable. 307. "My heard is long:" don't say bawd. 308. "The blacksmith blows the bellows ;" pronounce as written, and not bellus. 309. " Let me help you to some catsup :" avoid saying ketchup. 310. " It is new China ware :" do not say, chaney ware / this latter article exists only in the traditions of old women. 311. " The combatants parted in good humor:" accent the first syllable — never the second. 312. "We poled the raft up the creek:" pronounce as if written Tank. 313. "Then spake the warrior bold :" pronounce in two syllables, as war-yur, not war-ri-or. 314. In using the word venison, sound the i: venzun is a common, though not elegant pronunciation. 315. Tapestry is divided tap-es-try and not ta-pes-try. 316. " He is only a subaltern :" accent the first syllable of subaltern. 317. " The barge is at the quay :" pronounce qtiay, hay. 318. " The path over the meadow was queachy .*" this word, meaning soft or boggy, is now obsolete, and cannot be used with propriety. 319. " He talks puVpitically :" this word, which some who copy Chesterfield persist in using, has never by any good authority been admitted into the language. 320. To peff, meaning to cough faintly (like a sheep), is hardly a useable word. 321. Be careful to distinguish between pencil, an instru- ment for writing, and pensile, meaning hanging down. FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 51 322. To yank is a vulgarism, meaning to twitch power- 'faUy> 323. Avoid the slang phrase, " I used to could." Say, " I could formerly \" 324. " She takes on about it greatly :" say, grieves. 325. " He staved off the case two days longer :" say, he put off, or delayed. 326. " He made a great splurge :" say, he made a Mus- tering effort. 327. " I reckon it is going to rain :" say, I think, or ex- pect. JRecTcon applies to calculation. 328. " The basket is pretty large :" avoid, if possible, the use of the word pretty out of its legitimate signification ; the language abounds with substitutes more elegant. 329. " She weighs a plaguy sight:" say, a great deal. 330. " He made tracks at sundown :" say, he left, or es- caped. 331. " He was compelled to fork over the cash :" say, to pay over. 332. " To flunk out " is a vulgar expression for to retire through fear • the most that can be tolerated is, to sneak out. 333. " "When last observed, he was going at full chisel:" say, at the top of his speed. 334. " That bill is a counterfeit :" the last syllable is pronounced as if written^, and Vioifeet. 335. " I am very much obliged to you :" do not say obleeged. 336. The following sentence affords an example of three words of similar pronunciation, but different signification : " It is not easy to pare a pear with a pair of scissors." 52 KITE HUNDRED MISTAKES COEUECTED. 337. " Tlie robber entered the dwelling, and secretly carried off the silver:" say, thief; a robber attacks vio- lently, and commits his depredations by main force ; a thief is one who uses secrecy and deception. 338. " Go and fetch me my riding-whip :" say, brmg. Fetch means to go and bring; go and fetch is repeti- tion. 339. To leave and to quit are often used as synonymous terms, though improperly ; to leave implies a design of returning soon — to quit, ah absence of a long time, or forever ; as, in Shakespeare : — " the very rats Instinctively had quit it." — Tempest, i. 2. " I shall leave my house for a month before next Au- tumn ; but I shall not be obliged to quit it until after Christmas." 340. Mute and dumb. A dumb man has not the power to speak ; a mute man either does not choose, or is not allowed to speak. It is, therefore, more proper to say of a person who can neither hear nor speak, that he is " deaf and dumb," than that he is a " deaf mute." 341. Strong and robust. These words are frequently misused : a strong man is able to bear a heavy burden, but not necessarily for a long time ; a robust man bears continual fatigue with ease ; a strong man may be active and nimble ; while an excess of muscular development, to- gether with a clumsiness of action, exclude these qualities fr< >m the robust man : — " Stro7ig as a tower in hope, I cry Amen!" Shakespeare, Richard II. i. 3. FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 53 " For one who, though of drooping mien, had yet From nature's kindliness received a frame Robust as ever rural labor bred." Wordsworth, Excursion, VI. 342. " Isaac Newton invented the law of gravitation :" say, discovered. " Galileo discovered the telescope:" say, in ri nted. 343. To hear and to listen have each distinct degrees of meaning. To hear implies no effort or particular attention. To listen implies some eagerness to hear. An old proverb says, " They that listen seldom hear any good of them- selves." 344. Ought and should both express obligation, but the latter is not so binding as the former. " Children ought to love their parents, and should be neat in their appear- ance." 345. Alone and only are often misapplied. " He only could do it," means that no other but himself could do it ; " he alone could do it," should mean that he, without the as- sistance of others, could do it. 346. " Please the pigs."— {Old Proverh.) This is a cor- ruption from " Please the pyx." The pyx is the receptacle which contains the consecrated wafer on Romish altars ; and the exclamation is equal to "Please God." This cor- ruption is as curious a one as that of " tawdry " from " 't Audrey," or " at St. Audrey's Fair," famous for the sale of frippery' — showy, cheap, and worthless. 347. " The partridge is a delightful bird :" do not say patridge. Also, do not a&y pasley for parsley. 348. "After this, let him hide his diminished head:" this common phrase is a poetical quotation from Milton, 54- FIVE HUNDRED MI8TAEJE8 CORRECTED. and is therefore proper to be used even when it does not liU rally express the idea : — • " At whose sight all the stars Hide their diminished heads." 349. "That bourne from whence no traveler returns." How often are precisely these words spoken ? They are improperly quoted from Shakespeare, in Hamlet, and cor- rectly read as follows : — " That undiscovered country, from whose bourne No traveler returns." 350. " Bring me my waistcoat :" pronounce as if written waste-coat, and not weskut. It should rhyme, as it did in an old ballad, with "laced coat" 351. "Your bonnet to its right use." — {Shakespeare:) never say bunnet. 352. " It is not cold enough to wear my gloves :" pro- nounce as if written gluvs, and to rhyme with loves. In " Fair Rosamond " the following illustrative stanza oc- curs : — "He said he had his gloves from France: The Queen said, ' That can't be : If you go there for glove-making, It is without the g.'" 353. "Egad! what great good luck!" This word is now inelegantly used, except in certain species of poetry, where it is introduced with much effect, as in the following distich : — " All tragedies, egad! tome sound oddly; I can no more be serious, than you godly." 354. " The frigate is now in the Yellow Sea, or there- FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 55 abouts ;" say, thereabout. This term is a transposed com- bination of about there i there is no such word as there- abouts. The same mav be said of hereabouts, and where- abouts. 355. " Whether he will or no /" say, not. The reason of this correction is clearly seen by supplying what is needed to complete the sense : Whether he will or will not. 356. " He looked at it first lengthways, then sideways ;" say, lengthwise and sidewise. Also, say otherwise instead of otherways. A nobleman said to his fool, " I am wise, and you are otherwise^ "Yes," replied his jester, " you are wise, and I am another toise." 357. If you are a landlord, beware of incorrectly using such an expression as in the following : A landed propri- etor went to a tenant with a view of increasing his rent, and said to him, " Neighbor, I am going to raise your rent." " Thank you, sir," was the reply, " for I am utterly unable to raise it myself." 358. " Will you accept of this slight testimonial?" Omit of, which is superfluous, and weakens the sentence. 359. " He convinced his opponent by dint of good rea- soning :" dint, meaning force or strength, is an obsolete word, and should not now be employed. 360. "The Danube empties into the Black Sea":" say, flows / to empty means to make vacant / no river can prop- erly be called empty, until it is entirely dried up. 361. Such words as bamboozle, topsyturvy, helterskelter^ l urlybv/rly, and pellmell are generally to be avoided. They answer, however, for familiar conversation. 362. Never say serap)hims, for the plural of seraph, 56 FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. but sera/phim ; the same rule holds with cherubi'i Cherubs and seraphs are proper plurals, suiting a familiar style of speaking or writing, while cherubim and seraphim are to be used only in more dignified and solemn dis- course. 363. "There's the books you wanted:" say, there are: avoid all abbreviations when they lead to a grammatical error, as in the present instance. 364. " This prisoner has, of all the gang, committed fewer misdemeanors :" say, fewest. "We may say fewer than all, but we must say fewest of all. 365. "I esteem you more than the others:" this sentence is equivocal. Does it mean, " I esteem you more than I esteem the others" or, " I esteem you more than the others esteem you f" 366. "The most eminent scholars will, on some points, differ among one another :" say, among themselves. 367. ""lie, from that moment, doubled his kindness and caresses of me:" say, " kindness for and caresses of me;" by omitting caresses we have, " He doubled his kindness ofme" which is not good English. 368. To differ from and to differ with : to differ from a man means to have an opinion different from his; to differ with a person signifies a quarrel or rupture. 369. " He barely escaped having one or two broken heads :" a man has but one head, let it be broken or whole. Say, " He once or twice barely escaped having a broken head." 370. " "Whenever I fall into that man's conversation I am iiitertained and profited:" say, fall into conversation toith that man. FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 57 371. " The lecturer spoke to several points :" say, " spoke on several points." He spoke to his audience. 37£. " I sliull regard your strictures only so far as con- cerns my own errors:" say, concern y the phrase when filled out should read, " only so far as they concern my own errors." 373. " I found him better than I expected to have found him :" say, to f/nd him. 374. " I perceived that he was totally blind with half an eye :" say, " I perceived, with half an eye, that he was totally blind." Otherwise, to a man totally Hind you allot half an eye ! 375. The word only is often wrongly placed in the sen- tence, and made to express an idea which is not designed to be conveyed. " ISTot only Chinese are superstitious," implies that others besides the Chinese are superstitious. " Chinese are not only superstitious," implies that in ad- dition to being superstitious, they have some other charac- teristics. " Chinese not only are superstitious," leaves room for something still further to be implied of the Chinese than superstition, and which is not necessarily the predicate of are j as, " Chinese not only are superstitious, but they per- secute those who do not put faith in Confucius." 376. Not the least and nothing less than, sometimes lite- rally convey just the opposite of what is intended. " He has not the least excuse for going," may mean that he has a great excuse, or none at all. " He seeks nothing less than worldly honor," may signify that nothing inferior to worldly honor will satisfy his desire ; or, on the other hand, it may mean that nothing is less sought by him than worldly 58 FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. honor. Such expressions, therefore, are to be used with caution, else they will mislead. 377. Cure should be taken in the use of epithets. For instance, in the sentence, "A wise and good man should be respected, the words wise and good may properly be applied to the same man ; but if the sentence should be altered to read, " An old and young man" it is obvious that both epithets could not relate to the same person. 378. Never say turhle soup, for turtle soup. 379. The word long should not now be employed to sig- nify many. An example of this early usage is found in the Fifth Commandment, " that thy days may be long upon the land." The following lines furnish an instance of the verb to lengthen, meaning to make many : — ■ " The best of all ways To lengthen our days, Is to take a few hours from the night, my lad." 380. "They returned bade again to the same city from whence they came forth:'''' omit the italicized words, which are redundant and inelegant. 381. " Have you any leisure upon your hands V omit upon your hands, — not so much because anything after " leisure " is superfluous, in such a sentence, as because the idea of having leisure upon your hands is absurd. 382. " Seven lads were present, and he gave them all a book:" say, gave them each a book. All refers to a num- ber of persons or things taken collectively, as one bod;/ : each refers to every individual, separately considered. 383. " Lend me your umberell:" say, umbrella. The former pronunciation, however, is allowed by poetic license, as in the following, adapted from Thomas Moore : — FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 59 "Oh, ever thus from childhood's hour, Has chilling fate upon me fell ! There always comes a soakin' shower When I hain't got an ivnberell." 384. We lately met a grammarian, who had just made a tour through the mines, conjugating, or, rather, cogitating thus: "Positive, mine; comparative miner; superlative, minus/" 385. " Put not thy secret into the mouth of the Bosplio- rus, for it will betray it to the ears of the Black Sea." — ■ {Oriental Proverb.) Pronounce Bosphorus as if written Bosforus, and not Bos-porous. 3S6. Be careful to use the hyphen (-) correctly : it joins compound words, and words broken by the ending of a line. The use of the hyphen will appear more clearly from the following example: "many colored wings" means many wings which are colored; but " many-colored wings" means "wings oi many colors." 387. " I am afraid it will rain :" say, I fear. Afraid expresses terror ; fear may mean only anxiety. 388. Never say o fences for offences ; pison for poison ; co-lection for collection; voiolent for violent; kivver for cover ; afeard for afraid; debbuty for deputy. The last three examples are very common. 389. " It is a mere cipher :" never spell cipher with ay. 390. "I was necessitated to do it:" a poor expression, and often made worse by n-ecessiated being used : say, I was obliged, or compelled, to do it. 391. " Gibbon wrote the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire:" pronounce Rise, the noun, so as to rhyme with price ; Rise, the verb, rhymes with prize. 60 FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 392. ' : Ho joined his regiment last week:" never say, ridgiment for regiment. 393. "He bought a gimlet:" never spell the last word gimblet, as many do. 304. " lie is a supporter of the Government :" beware of omitting the n in the second syllable of Government — a very common practice. 305. "Received this day of Mr. Brown ten dollars:" say, "Received this day from," &c. 396. " Of whatever you get, endeavor to save something ; and with all your getting, get wisdom :" carefully avoid saying git for get, and gitting for getting. 397. " So intent was he on the song he was singing, while he stood by the fire, that he did not perceive that his clothes were singeing" Verbs ending with a sin- gle e, omit the e when the termination ing is added, as, give, giving / in singeing, however, the e must be re- tained, to prevent its being confounded with singing. The e must also be retained in dyeing, to distinguish it from dying. 398. The following sentences may be studied : " The dyer dyes daily, yet he dies not." "The miner minds the minor mines." "It is not meet to mete out such meat." "He performed a great feat with his feet at the fete." {Fete is pronounced fate.) 399. " Lower the sails, as the sky begins to lower :" pronounce low in the former so as to rhyme with mow, and low in the latter so as to rhyme with cow. 400. " There was a great row on Monday, in Try on Row :" pronounce the former row so as to rhyme with cow — the latter row, so as to rhyme with mo. FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 61 401. " His surname is Clifford :" never spell the sur in " surname''' sir, which shows an ignorance of its true deri- vation, which is from the Latin. 402. "The buildings are so old that they pay almost no rent now :" scarcely any rent, is better. 403. "His mamma sent him to a preparatory school :" mamma is often written with one m only, which is not, as may at first be supposed, in imitation of the French rnaman, but in sheer ignorance. 404. Active verbs often take a neuter sense ; as, " The house is building :" here, is building is used in a neuter signification, because it has no object after it. By this rule are explained such sentences as, " Application is wanting;" "The Grammar is printing" &c. 405. " He attackted me without the slightest, provoca- tion :" say, attacked. 406. " I called on him every day in the week success- fully :" very common, but incorrect ; say, successively. 407. " I fear I shall discommode you :" it is better to say, incommode. 408. " I can do it equally as well as he :" leave out equally, which is superfluous. 409. " We could not forbear from doing it :" leave out from, which is unnecessary ; or say, refrain from. 410. " He was totally dependent of his father :" say, dependent on his father. 411. " They accused him for neglecting his duty :" say, of neglecting, &c. 412. " They have a great resemblance with each other :" say, to each other. 413. " I entirely dissent with him :" say, from him. 62 FIVE HUNDEED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 414. " He was made much on at the Springs :" say, made much of, &c. 415. " He is a man on whom you can confide :" say, in whom, &c. 416. " He was obliged to fly the country :" say, flee the country. A very common mistake. 417. " The snuffers wants mending :" say, want mend- ing. No one would say, " My pantaloons is ripped." 418. u His conduct admits of no apology:" omit of, which is quite unnecessary. 419. " A gent has been here inquiring for you :" a de- testable, but very common expression ; say, a gentleman has been, &c. Oliver Wendell Holmes hits off this liberty with language, in the following happy couplet : — "The tilings called pants, in certain documents, Were never made for gentlemen, but gents." 420. "That was all along of you:" say, "That was all your fault" 421. " You have no call to be angry with me :" say, no occasion, &c. 422. " Too free an indulgence in luxuries enervate and injure the system :" say ', enervates and injures, &c. The plural, luxuries, standing directly before the verb, (which should be enervates, in the singular,) deceives the ear. Errors of this kind are very common, though a moment's thought would correct them. The verb must agree with. its subject in person and in number ; if the noun \< in the singular, the verb that belongs to it must also be in the singular. 423. "A father divided a portion of his property among his two children, and the remainder he distributed between FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 63 the poor:" say, between his two children, and among the poor. Between is applicable to two only, among to th or more. 424. ''''Every child should obey their parents:" say, his parents. The pronoun must agree with the noun in num- ber, &c. 425. " He is a person who I respect greatly :" say, whom. " Be careful who you trust :" whom you trust. 426. "Let me consider of this matter." "The culprit dreaded to enter in the prison." " The laborers were not allowed to want for anything." Leave out the italicized words — the sense being complete without them. 427. Cupola is often pronounced cupalo / foliage, foil- age j future, futur j nature, natur : all of which errors should be carefully avoided. 428. " 'Ovv 'appens it that ^englishmen so Aoften mis- place their Aaitches ?" It is a cockney ism ; and if yon have fallen into the habit, it will require perhaps more perse- verance than you imagine, to correct it. 429. Do you say vagabond or vagabond, vinegar or -vinegar, e>ery or very, walking or walking, watchman or watchman ? It is a local custom, but if you have any taint of it, don't sing " Fillikins and his Dinah." 430. Providence, confidence, and similar words, are often pronounced Providence, confidence, &c, substituting u for ence. So also, words ending in ance, as maintenance, sustenance, suRVEiiiance, are pronounced falsely jnainl unce, sustenance, &c. 431. Coming, going, according, ifoc, are often pro- nounced without the final g : speak them distinctly, and pronounce difficult words with de-lib-er-a-tion. 04 FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 432. If you are a Yankee, you should (though, as a gen- eral thing, you will not) take special pains with your vowel sounds, that they he not formed through the nasal ca- vil ios. Don't say heow, ceow, confeound, for how, cow, &c. 433. If you are a Western man, you are liable to give your vowel sounds too great breadth. You should not say Ixir f( n- b, ar, li inn for home, dawlar for dollar / and it is bet- ter to avoid using such expressions as I reckon, I guess, I calculate, too frequently. 434. " I am going a fishing:" be bold enough to be. one among the foremost to break away from the bad habit of saying a fishing, a talking, a courting, &c. This custom, however, should be retained in quoting proverbs and wise sayings ; these are better in proportion as they are older; for example : " Who goes a-borrowing, goes a-sorr owing." The quaintness would be destroyed by saying simply bor- rowing and sorrowing. 435. Some people add a superfluous preposition at the end of a sentence — " More than you think for." This is awkward. 436. " Then think on the friend who once welcomed it too," &c. &c. : say, of. 437. Thou and thee are no longer used in spelling or writing, except by some of The Friends ; but proverbial citations, originally expressed in that form, lose much of their beauty and force by alteration ; as, "If thou seest thy house in flames, approach and warm thyself by it." How greatly would a change of person tame the spirit of this fine proverb ! 438. "By the street of l By-r coining), j Indexes (tables of con- / tents); j Peas (referring to a ( limited numbei), Pennies (coins), C'ovjs (a herd of cattle), Sows (a litter), Geniuses (men of genius), Second Plural. ( Brethren (of the same j society). Dice (for gaming). Indices (signs in a! j Pease (referring to the / whole species). Pence (the value). Kine (the species). Swine (the species). Genii (imaginary spirits). 440. Different shades of meaning may be expressed by slight variations in the position of the important words in a sentence. For example, " The Paradise Lost of Milton" is not exactly the same in import as, "Milton's Paradise Lost ;" in the former, attention is called to the author- — in the latter, to the poem. 441. In uniting the plural of one, two, three, do not use the apostrophe ['] as one's, two's, three's. Good writers never conform to the latter mode. Wordsworth, who was remarkably particular, not only in the choice of his words but in their orthography, wrote : " The sun has long been set, The stars are out by twos and threes ; The little birds are piping yet Among the bushes and the trees." 442. "How's yourself, this morning?" an exceeding! v common, but very objectionable expression: say, u How are you," &c. 443. " "Wantetl, two apprentices, who will be treated as one of the family :" great practical difficulty would be found in realizing such treatment ! Say, " as members of the family." GQ FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 444. The following lines afford an instance of the in- genious uses to which the English language may be put: " You sigh/or a cipher, but I sigh for you ; Oh, sigh for no cipher, but oh, sigh for me ; Oh, let not my sigh for a cipher go, But give sigh for sigh, for J sigh for you so!" The above is more briefly expressed in the following manner : " U o a o, but I o u, Oh, no 0, but oh, me ; Oh, let not my a go, But give I u sol" 445. Sometimes but is incorrectly substituted for that : as, "I have no doubt but he will be here to-night." Sometimes for the conjunction if, as, "I shouldn't wonder but that was the case." And sometimes two conjunctions are used instead of one, as, " If 'thai I have offended him," " After that he had seen the parties," &c. All this is very awkward and should be avoided. 446. "My hands are chopped:" say, chapped. 447. " This will serve as a preventative :" say, preven- tive. 448. " A nishe young man," " What makesh you laugh ?". " If he offendsh you, don't speak to him," "Ash you please," " ^sotjush yet," "We always passh your house in going to call on MisshYatesh." This is decided, unmitigated cock- neyism, having its parallel in nothing except the broken English of the sons of Abraham, and to adopt it in conver- sation is certainly " not: speaking like a Christian." 449. Never say, " Cut it in half" for this you cannot do unless you could annihilate one half. You may " cut it in FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 07 two," or " cut it in halves," or " cut it through," or " di- vide it," but no human ability will enable you to cut it in half. ' 451. To lay and to lie. — To lay is an active or transitive verb, and must always have an object, expressed or un- derstood. To lie (not meaning to tell a falsehood) is a neuter or intransitive, and therefore does not admit of an object. The only real difficulty arises from the fact, that the past tense of " lie," when used without an auxiliary, is the same as the present of " lay." But a little attention will obviate this. Nothing can be more erroneous than to say, " I shall go and lay down." The question which nat- urally arises in the mind of the discriminating hearer is, " What are you going to lay down — money, carpets, plans, or what?" for, as a transitive verb is used, an object is wanted to complete the sense. The speaker means, that he himself is going to lie down. " My brother lays ill of a fever," should be, " My brother lies" &c. Verb Active. To lay. Present Tense Hay Thou layest 11 <> lays We iay You lay They lay money, carpets, -plans, — any thing. Imperfect Tense. I laid Thou laidest He laid We laid You laid They laid money, carpets, plans, — any thing. Present Participle, Laying. Perfect Participle, Laid. Hie Thou liest He lies We lie Yon lie They lie Verb Neuter. To lie. Present Tense. down, too long, -on a sofa, — any where. Hay Thou layest He lays We lay You lay They lay Imperfect Tense. down, (oo Ions;, on a sofa, — any where. Present Participle, Lying. Perfect Participle, Lain. 0b FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 452. Many people have an odd way of saying, "I ex- pect," when they mean only "I think," or "I conclude ;" as, " I expect my brother went to Richmond to-day," " I expect those books were sent to Paris last year." Expect can relate only to future time, and must be followed by a future tense, or a verb in the infinitive mood ; as, " I expect my brother will go to Richmond to-day," " I expect to find those books were sent to Paris last year." 453. " A summer's morning," should be, A summer morning. 454. The vulgar speaker uses adjectives instead of ad- verbs, and says, "This letter is written shocking y" the genteel speaker uses adverbs instead of adjectives, and says, "This writing looks shockingly. " 455. " Nobody else but him," should be, Nobody but him. 456. "That ain't just," should be, That is not just. 457. " He was killed by a cannon-ball," should be, He was killed with a cannon-ball. He was killed by the cannoneer. 458. "A new jpair of gloves," should be, A pair of new gloves. 459. " Before I do that, I must first be paid," should be, Before I do that, I must be paid. 460. A grammatical play upon the word that: " Xow that is a word which may often bo joined, For that that may be doubled is clear to the mind ; And that that that is right, is as plain to the view, As that that that that we use is rightly used too; And that that that that that liue has in it, is right — In accordance with grammar, is plain in our sight" FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 69 461. "He will go from thence tomorrow." The prepo- sition " from" is included in these adverbs, therefore it be- comes tautology in sense when prefixed to them. 462. " Equally as well," is a very common expression, and a very incorrect one ; the adverb of comparison, " as," has no right in the sentence. "Equally well," "Equally high," " Equally dear," should be the construction ; and if a complement be necessary in the phrase, it should be preceded by the preposition " with," as, " The Avail was equally high with the former one," " The goods at Smith's are equally dear with those sold at the shop next door," &c. " Equally the same" is tautology. 463. Some persons talk of " continuing on ;" in what other direction would it be possible to continue? 464. "The satin measured twelve yards before I cut this piece off of it." " The fruit was gathered off of that tree." Omit of; or, omitting off of, insert from. 465. " He left His horse, and got on to a stage-coach," "He jumped on to the floor," " She laid it on to a dish," "I threw it on to the fire." Why use two prepositions where one would be quite as explicit, and far more ele- gant? Nobody would think of saying, "He came to JNew- Yovk,for to go to the exhibition." 466. " No other resource but this was allowed him :" say, " No other resource than this," &c. 467. " I don't know but what I shall go to White Plains to-morrow :" say, " I don't know but that," &c. 468. " One of those houses were sold last week," " Each of the daughters are to have a separate share," " Every tree in those plantations have been injured by the storm," " Either of the children are at liberty to claim it." Here TO FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. it will be perceived that the pronouns " one," "each," " every," " either," are the true nominatives to the verbs ; but the intervening noun in the plural number, in each sentence, deludes the ear; and the speaker, without reflec- tion, renders the verb in the plural instead of the singular number. 469. " Many still die annually from the plague :" sa} 7 , (f the plague. 470. " He spoke contemptibly of him," should be, He spoke contemptuously of him. 471. " Was you?" should be, Were you? 472. " This is the more perfect of the two :" say, More complete. Perfect rarely admits comparison. 473. Avoid all slang and vulgar words and phrases, as, Anyhow, Bating, Bran neio, To blow up, Bother, Cut, Carrying favor, Fork out, Half an eye, I am up to you, Kick up, /Scrape, The /Scratch, Walk into. 474. " Go over the bridge," should be, Go across the bridge. 475. u I was some distance from home," should be, I was at some distance from home. 47G. "Is Mr. Smith inf" should be, Is Mr. Smith within f 477. " It is above a month since," should be, It is more than a month since. 478. Vegetables were plenty" should be, Vegetables were plentiful. 479. "We both were very disappointed." This is an incomplete expression : say, very much, or very greatly. No one would think of saying, " We both were very pleased" FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 71 480. "It is I who is to receive the appointment :" say, who am to receive ; who is in the first person, and the verb of which it is the subject must be in the same. 481. Never say biscake* for biscuit. 482. " Passengers are not requested to let down the chains, before the boat is fastened to the bridge." [From a printed regulation on one of the New- York and Brook- lyn ferry-boats.] The reading should be, "Passengers are requested not to let down the chains." 483. " How will you swap jack-knives ?" swap, although it is a word familiarly used in connection with "jack- knives," is a term that cannot lay the least claim to elegance. Use some other of the many mercantile ex- pressions to which trade has given rise. 484. " He's put his nose to the grin-stone at an early age." [A remark usually made by old ladies, suggested by the first marriage among their grandsons.] Say,- grind- stone. A grin-stone implies a stone that " grins," whereas, especially in this instance, the " nose " fulfills that office. 485. The importance of punctuating a written sentence is often neglected. Space does not permit the giving of rules on this subject, in this book. Business correspond- ence is generally blemished by many omissions of this character ; for example, " Messrs G Longman & Co have reed a note from the Cor Sec Nat Shipwreck Soc in- forming them of the loss of one of their vessels off the N E Coast of S A at 8 P M on the 20 of Jan." A clergyman, standing in his pulpit, was once handed a slip of paper, to be read in the hearing of the congregation, which was in- tended to convey the following notice : " A man going to sea, his wife desires the prayers of the church." But the 72 FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. sentence was improperly punctuated, and he read, " A man going to see his wife, desires the prayers of the church !" 486. "The knave thereupon commenced rifling his friend's (as he called him) pocket :" say, " The knave com- menced rifling the pocket of his friend, as he facetiously called him." The possessive case, and the word that governs it, must not be separated by an intervening clause. 487. " I owe thee a heavy debt of gratitude, and you will not permit me to repay it :" say, either " I owe you" (fee, preserving " and you will " in the second clause ; or, "I owe thee" and altering "and you will" into "and thou icilt." 488. " Every lancer and every rifleman were at their post :" say, was at his post. 489. " I can lift as many pounds as he has:" add I 490. Do not use to, the sign of the infinitive mood, for the infinitive itself. " I have not written to him, and I am not likely to," should read, " I am not likely to write to him." 491. The word agree is sometimes followed by the wrong preposition. We should say, agree with a person — to a proposition — upon a thing among ourselves. 492. We should say compare with, in respect of quality — compare to, for the sake of illustration. 493. We should say copy after a person — copy from a tiling. 494. Between is properly applied only to two objects ; among, to three or more. " A father divided a portion of his property between his two sons ; the rest he distributed among the poor." 495. In should not be used for into, after verbs denoting FIVE HUNDRED MISTAKES CORRECTED. 73 entrance. " Come in my parlor," should read, " Come into my parlor." 496. " We confide in, and have respect for, the good." Such a form of expression is strained and awkward. It is better to say, " We confide in the good, and have respect for them" or, " We trust and respect the good." 497. "This veil of flesh parts the visible and the invisi- ble world:" say, "parts the visible from the invisible." It certainly is not meant that the veil of flesh parts (or divides) each of these worlds. 498. " Every leaf, every twig, every blade, every drop of water, teem with life :" say, teems. 499. " Dr. Prideaux used to relate that when he brought the manuscript of his Connection of the Old and the New Testaments to the publisher, he told him it was a dry subject, and that the printing could not be safely ventured upon unless he could enliven the work with a little humor." The sense alone, and not the sentence, indicates to whom he and him respectively refer ; such a form of expression is faulty, because it may lead to a violation of perspicuity, which is one of the most essential qualities of a good style. 500. The last direction which this little book will give, on the subject with which it has been occupied, is one that long ago was given in the greatest of books — " Let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ." Ii obedience to this injunction may not guard him who heeds it against the commission of such mistakes as are num- bered in this catalogue, it will not fail to lead him out of the way of errors more grievous and solemn. THE smm mi nun's umiL BY WILLIAM W. SMITH, Princiual of Grammar School No. 1, New- York; Author of The Speller's Manual. This work contains about fourteen thousand of the most useful words in the English language, correctly spelled, pronounced, defined, and arranged in classes, together with rules for spelling, prefixes and suffixes, with their significations, rules for use of capitals, punctuation and other marks used in writing and printing, quotations from other languages used in English com- position, abbreviations, &c, to which is added a Vocabulary for reference. Words which resemble each other in pronunciation, but have different meanings, are arranged together, and occupy about one eighth of the entire work, containing nearly three hundred pages. The sentences for examples for pupils (each embracing two or more of these words) will be found very instructive and interesting. While The Speller and Definer's Manual supplies all that can be desired in an ordinary dictionary or speller, it fur nishes much important information that cannot be found in these, and pre- sents a study, usually dry and uninteresting, in a natural and attractive manner. It is adapted to the capacities of children, and will essentially aid the teacher in the work of instruction by suggesting questions and ideas that are very often overlooked amid the anxieties of the school-room. It will be found to be one of the most useful works U>v schools or SELF- INSTRUCTION ever issued as a text-book, and its examination will abundantly repay any friend of education. The Manual has been adopted by the Board of Education for use in the Public Schools of New-York City. We invite attention to the following extracts of notices of this work from city papers : NOTICES OF THE PRESS. "The volume is not only, valuable as a text-book for schools, but will bo USEFUL TO ADULTS whose knowledge of the mechanics of literature has grown rusty." — Commercial Advertiser. "We like the plan and execution of this new work, and recommend it to the attention of teachers." — Life Illustrated. "The author cf this excellent little manual is the principal of one of our grammar schools, and is well known as a teacher. If his manual have any fault, it is that of brevity, for the principle upon which it is constructed, strikes us as perfect. — New-York Courier. Retail price G2A- cents. Single copies, for examination, sent to any part of the country post-paid on receipt of Fifty Cents. Address DANIEL BURGESS & CO., Publishers, No. 60 John Street. New-York. OF READERS. D. B. TOWER, A. M., (principal of park latin school, boston,) AND CORNELIUS WALKER, A. M. (principal of wells grammar school, boston.) The first essential of good reading is a distinct articulation. This can only result from practice of the elementary sounds and their combinations. All of these simple elements and their combinations are given, with ample directions, arranged in the simplest ami most compact form, in the first books of Tower's series. The next points are Emphasis and the Tones. These are set forth and illustrated in the last three Readers. The elements of expression requisite for the utterance of every sentiment, are clearly described and explained by appropriate examples. By these examples, it is clearly shown how a passage is to be read, and thence is deduced a rule or principle that all similar passages are to be read in a similar manner. The character of the selections is such as to claim the attention of all who are in search of good reading matter. They are exciting, instructive, and interesting, and admirably adapted to the capacity of the pupils. The higher books of the series contain selections from authors who are D. BUKGESS & CO. S PUBLICATIONS. considered standards in their respective departments. The dignity and objects of literature are distinctly brought to view, whether in the form of prose to persuade and instruct — in that of poetry, to please the fancy — or in that of the drama, to move the passions. The character of the selections in these two books is such as to claim the attention of all who are in search of reading matter that will wear. The superiority of these books is acknowledged, wherever they have been brought to a practical test. The more intelligent any school com- mittee, or teachers are, the more readily are these Readers appreciated, and the more eagerly are they sought for use in the school-room. So decided is the preference for them, among the educated, over every other series, that thej' are gradually but surely superseding them all, and going into general use in all the best schools in our country. Price. TOWER'S FIRST READER, or Gradual Primer, . 14 cts. Do. SECOND READER, or Introduction to Gra- dual Reader, 25 " Do. TEIRD READER, or Gradual Reader, . 34 " Do. FOURTH READER, or Sequel to Gradual Reader, 50 " Do. FIFTH READER, or North American Sec- ond Class Reader, 62} " Do. SIXTH READER, or North American First Class Reader 84 " Do. GRADUAL SPELLER, or Complete Enun- ciator, . . . ■ 17 " Do. INTERMEDIATE READER, . . . 25 " Copies of the above sent by mail, postage paid, on receipt of the prices annexed. Address DANIEL BURGESS & Co., Publishers, New- York 3HHX3Z ftllHIilS B Y DAVID B. TOWER, A.M., AND PROF. BENJAMIN F. TWEED, A.M. Uo ELEMENTS © F § R A H R3 A ft . PRICE 25 CENTS. FIRST LESSONS IN LANGUAGE; OR, ELEMENTS OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR, BY David B. Tower, A.M., and Prof. Benjamin F. Tweed, A.M. This little book was prepared for beginners, that they might feel their way understandingly, and become interested in this sometimes dry study. This subject is presented in a natural way, avoiding all unnecessary innovations. The plan is simple and plain, introduc- ing only one thing at a time, that the pupil may see a reason for each step, and thus be led to think. It is concise, that the whole subject may be placed before the learner in the simplest manner and encumbered by as few words for the memory as possible, that the interest may be kept up till he is master of the study. By easy questions, principles are deduced from familiar examples already- explained for the sake of such inferences, that a clear understanding of these principles and their application may be acquired, rather than the words used to explain and describe them. C B fo I X S ara@M§i*) grammas ' PRICE FIFTY-SIX CENTS. GRADUAL LESSONS IN GRAMMAR; OR, GUIDE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE BY THE ANALY SIS AND COMPOSITION OF SENTENCES ; WITH A SEQUEL. BY DAVID B. TOWER, A.M., AND PROF. BENJAMIN F. TWEED, A.M. The first object, in the Gradual Lessons in Grammar, is to render the pupil familiar with the different classes of words, in the various relations in which they may be used, by directing attention to the manner in which they affect the meaning of the sentence. Thus it is stated, that " words used as names are nouns." Then follow examples of the different kinds of nouns, and the pupil is required to tell why they are nouns, and to write others, till he recognizes the noun wherever it is found. The same course is then taken with reference to the verb, after which sentences are introduced in their simplest form, containing only the essential elements, and the pupil is required to analyze them and construct similar (sentences. Then follows the adjective, and attention is called to its effect on the meaning of the sentence. The statement at the head of each section is not to be committed to memory, but is made to assist the pupil in appreciating the grammatical forms of the sentences which follow. In this manner, by the introduction of a new class of words, or the use of the same class in a dif- ferent relation, the sentence is gradually built up ; till, from the most simple, we have the most complex and involved forms. The technical terms, denot- ing the various relations and modifications, are then given, with marginal references to the illustrations. The definitions and rules in the Sequel are deduced from illustrations in the First Part. The First Part of this Grammar has one peculiar advantage.* It combines Construction with Analysis. On every principle developed, written exer- cises are required of the pupils, net only to insure an understanding of that particular principle and to perpetuate a knowledge of it, but also to furnish gradual and continued practice in the construction of sentences. This inei hod of instruction makes correct writers, as it regards the using of words 'ingly and grammatically in sentences, and prepares the pupil for the task of composition, by enabling him to express his thoughts correctly if he has any. J^" Persons who wish to acquire a knowledge of English Grammar WITHOUT A MASTER, will find these works of great service. Sent singly or together, by mail, post-paid, on receipt of price. Publishers, No. 60 John St., New- York. MATHEWS BOOK-KEEPING. A PRACTICAL SYSTEM OP BY SINGLE AND DOUBLE ENTRY. BY IRA MAYHEW, A.M. FOR FARMERS, MECHANICS, AND MERCHANTS. This is a very neat-looking volume, whose title, " Practical Book-keep- ing," is indicative of its leading characteristics. The specimens of accounts presented in it are in script that closely resembles writing, and they hence afford excellent models for imitation. The book contains four forms of accounts, immediately following each of which is a large number of exam- ples for practice. In their solution, the pupil has occasion practically to apply the knowledge he has already acquired of both arithmetic and pen- manship, while at the same time he learns Book-keeping as he will have occasion to practice it in after life. For this purpose a set of account books, in which the examples for practice are to be written out by the learner, and a Key for teachers containing the solution, accompany the book. Agesilaus, king of Sparta, being asked what things he thought most proper for boys to learn, very appropriately replied, " Those things which they should practice when they become men." Ever since it was said to Adam, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread," there has been a necessity laid upon man not only to labor, but to exchange with others the products of his industry, in order to secure a comfortable support. Excepting mer- chants, mechanics, and professional men, very few, comparatively, keep any accounts. The principal reason for this is found in the fact, that when young they were not taught how to do so, and the necessity of its being done. Considerations are presented, in tin- Introduction to this work, to Bhow some of the many advantages that would result to individuals and to the community from making Book-keeping a common study, and the design of the present work is to furnish a practical system of popular Book -keep- ing, which may meet the wants of the great majority of the American people. . Sent by mail, post-paid, to any part of the country, on re<:wpfc of 37^ cts. Blanks, 50 cts. Daniel Burgess & Co., P u blinkers, GO John St., JVeio-York, GEOGRAPHY FOR THE MILLION. ACCOMPANIED BY A LARGE AND VALUABLE Containing 35 Beautiful Colored Maps, drawn and engraved expressly foi this work. The Maps have all been corrected and brought np to the times; Railroads have all been laid down as far as completed. This Atlas also con- tains a huge number of new and interesting Statistical Tables from the Cen- sus of 1851). The Tables contain the POPULATION OF EACH CUONTY in the United States. Also, the AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIONS of each of the States, with 30 other Tables from the Census. A of the principal Political and other Events in American History, from H92 to 1853, has been added, in which everything of any importance, has been noticed, with the date at which it happened. There has also been added a large and beautiful Map of the ROMAN EMPIRE, which will be of use in the study of Ancient Geography and History, most of the towns mentioned be- ing laid down on this Map. The descriptions of the States and Territories are full and complete, hav- ing been brought up to the times in every respect. This work is rendered still more valuable by a complete COMPENDIUM OF ANCIENT CEOGRAPHY, which will be found as interesting and instructive as the more extended trea- tises of this subject. A series of DRILL QUESTION'S for General Revision is appended to this work, which will be found of great convenience to the Teacher and aid to the Scholar in bringing definitely to his mind, in a con- densed form, the main features of the subject he has gone over. This Book is receiving universal favor where it is known by Teachers, Committees, and others. It lias been introduced into the Best Schools of our country, and they cannot be without it. Full and complete descriptions of our new Territories of NEBRASKA AND KANSAS, with their Boundaries accurately laid down on the Map. This Map will be of great use to those who intend emigrating to these Territories. This work contains more information than will be found in any other book for the price. Price, for both Geography and Atlas, $1.13, sent by mail, post-paid. The Atlas can be had separately by those who want it, at 75els., postage paid. SMITH'S PRIMARY GEOGRAPHY, A beautiful Book for young Students. Price, 37-$- cents. SMITH'S QUARTO GEOGRAPHY, combining Maps and Text in one volume ; well adapted to private study. Price, 75 cents. Sent by mail, post-paid. DANIEL BURGESS & Co., PUBLISHERS, NO. 60 JOHN ST., N. T WESTWARD, HO! A NEW TOWNSHIP MAP Stf&US (DP Q®rc7A ? . Showing the Streams, Roads, Towns, Post-offices, County Seats, Railroads, &c, compiled from the latest U. S. Surveys, official information, and per- sonal reconnoissance, just published. Pocket edition. Very large and beau- tifully colored. Travellers, Emigrants, and all others interested, will find this the best and only complete and reliable Map of this State published. Sent by mail, post-paid, on receipt of One Dollar. ► , ALSO, ANEW ™H1 m STATE OF WISCONSIN, Comprising all the most recent Surveys, Towns, Post-offices, Railroads, Coun- ty Seats, 'X*i/^2s8 " O 111 schools suffer no imposition so egregious aa In the SS4§?53ijl§ cumbrous grammatical teit.books in common use. They serve no earthly purpose, except to overtask the verbal memory, and to obscure the mental perception of the pu- * pil. The Grammar now before ub is an honorable excep- tion. Its definitions arc as simple as language can make them, and are in every instance illustrated by examples M?c^Vf5l?^V?&fz?*Ss could bo studied with interest and profit by an intelligent ^^^SwI&^SwIra? pupil of Bcvcn or eight years of ago." Price 25 cents. Copies sent by mail, postago paid, on ? receipt of price to the Publishers. DANIEL BURGESS & CO., 60 John Street, N. T. MAYHEW'S PRACTICAL BOOK-KEEPING, A PRACTICAL SYSTEM OF BOOK-KEEPING, BY SINGLE AND DOUBLE ENTRY, BY IRA MAYHEW, A. M., Author of a Treatise on " Popular Education." and Super- intendent of Public Instruction in Michigan. This book affords a lucid explanation of the best modes ^^^^^^^^^§^^ of keeping exact accounts of business transactions of all sO»v^>^\rj3© ! '»i'j'W kinds, whether large or small, and imparts such informa- ?^Sk i^/'j&i.v^*? tion as every merchant, mechanic, farmer, clerk or laborer B&SsgS 'vXv'i^^vS 1 ^* 6hould understand. It is important that every individual s^^&i^j-^i&wJj in a busy and industrious community like ours, should be $&S*£'''&y ! '*&l&r master of a ready, and at the same time reliable, system C8®/I5^^^^?^^,v' ! t1 of book-keeping. sfil^&sl&riikj^ To schools such a work as this is almost indispensable. No reason can be assigned why a boy who is taught arith- _ metic, should not be instructed in book-keeping, which to «v>jj " a man of business, is one of the most needed applications of S§<^ arithmetic. The advantage of having scholars prepared, ©JJ/^^Svv^Wn^V^ before they leave school, in some degroe for active busi- ness, is obvious to every one ; and no better preparation can be afforded than by rendering them familiar with the wStS^V. _ modes of keeping accounts. fmjfc^j&.<&S)>&^y This book, prepared by a well-known skillful hand, not g£$ra>C3fiX5£3SZ£2&^ only supplies the necessary information on this subject, Cw/WW'. »fVW, "»• but inculcates the habit of putting it into satisfactory sS>AX.!*vi>Hwl/t?3S practice. It explains the theory of debit and credit, and M^^S^Wft'yS^^Sijfc supplies forms and examples which render the modes of S©3£^v5&/WS©o£5« keeping all kinds of accounts perfectly intelligible and |X'^WjC'W^&vW simple. Farmers and mechanics especially, will find much 8ffi§Hfc$K3§f that will be of great advantage to them in this little book. V^i^^o?'^',^ Price, 42 cents. Copies sent by mail, postage paid, on &tK^^(KK|^yi>'^ receipt of price to the Publishers, Wv.^vXWX'v^^ DANIEL BURGESS & CO., CO Jolui Street, Wew-Yovk. Our Illustrated Catalogue sent to any address, post paid. msm ^:hmi ■1^V-> l ?X' msm