HANDBOOK OF 
 COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 
 
 IVA MYERS WEBBER 
 
 UC-NRLF 
 
 THE PALMER COMPANY 
 
 I Wa i J%U.H.WMiW % % % l' i« MrtlM *>i 
 
HANDBOOK 
 
 • » 1 • , 
 
 OF 
 
 COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 
 
 BY 
 
 IVA L. MYERS WEBBER 
 
 
 THE PALMER COMPANY 
 
 120 boylston street 
 
 Boston, Mass. 
 
■••:-:•■..••:: 
 
 Copyright 1913, by 
 
 THE PALMER COMPANY 
 
 Boston, Mass. 
 
 EDUCATION DEFr* 
 
 Nhwcomb & Gauss, Printers 
 Salbm, Mass. 
 
FOREWORD TO TEACHERS 
 
 An English course that assists a pupil to earn a livelihood 
 and to become a useful member of society is of practical value. 
 This handbook of Commercial English has been prepared to 
 supply Commercial schools with a suitable text-book for special 
 training in English, including grammar, punctuation, composi- 
 tion, letter-writing, etc., necessary to fit students for sten- 
 ographic and clerical positions. Through her experience as 
 business college and high school teacher, the author was led 
 to see the need of practical training in everyday Business Eng- 
 lish. This book is the outgrowth of many years of experience, 
 and the results obtained by its use amply justify the author 
 and the publishers in presenting it to English teachers. 
 
 The adjustibility of the work, as outlined, to one or two 
 years of any high school is one of its strong features. The 
 subject may be made intensive by extending it to outside mate- 
 rial. In addition to supplementary work from newspapers and 
 magazines, debating may be correlated with the plan offered 
 with very beneficial results. 
 
 To meet the need for a practical knowledge of business cor- 
 respondence, which has grown up with the extension of higher 
 Commercial education, the author endeavors to present infor- 
 mation upon letter-writing that is up-to-date and applicable to 
 modern business methods. 
 
 Correspondence is taken up at the beginning and carried 
 on through the whole work. This plan avoids crowding this 
 important subject into the latter part of the course and per- 
 haps slighting it. One letter a week should be assigned to the 
 pupils for proper preparation. These letters should be cor- 
 rected by the teacher, and the errors discussed in class, after 
 which, where necessary, re-writing should be required. It is a 
 good plan to designate a certain day of the week (say Friday) 
 
 iii 
 
 541975 
 
IV FOREWORD 
 
 as letter day, with the understanding that all correspondence 
 will be brought in at that time. 
 
 Rules and principles of Grammar are essential as a basis, 
 whether correction or construction is desired ; consequently, the 
 very fundamentals of sentence-building, parts of speech, and 
 their misuses should be carefully studied. Enough technical 
 grammar is given to enable one to recognize ordinary mis- 
 takes and to know how to correct and avoid them. 
 
 In order to cultivate within the student a keen discrimination 
 in the use of words, some time is given to the subject of syno- 
 nyms. With each lesson, this work should be taken up first, 
 and, if properly handled, the pupil will, as a result, enter with 
 more interest and freedom upon the discussion of other sub- 
 jects taken up in recitation. 
 
 There must be a working knowledge of grammar — an un- 
 derstanding of the relations of one part of a sentence to another 
 — before punctuation can be properly determined. The sim- 
 plest rules possible for punctuation are given, and as large an 
 experience as possible in their use is recommended. The author 
 though realizing her indebtedness for assistance, and desiring 
 to express her appreciation, has derived from so many and 
 varied sources helpful suggestions in arranging her work for 
 actual practice, that it would be an impossibility to give indi- 
 vidual credit. That teachers may find in this book a guide 
 for more effective and satisfactory instructions in English, is 
 the earnest wish of the author. 
 
 TO STUDENTS 
 
 To the many students, whose words of appreciation have en- 
 couraged the author in her work as teacher of English, is large- 
 ly due this effort on her part to prepare a book that she be- 
 lieves will be a helpful guide, not only to the stenographer 
 and bookkeeper, but to any one needing practical assistance in 
 the use of correct English. 
 
CORRESPONDENCE 
 
 LESSON I 
 
 At this time in the history of Commercial education, there 
 is required an accepted form for a business letter, a deviation 
 from which indicates not only bad taste, but ignorance. Paper 
 used for business letters should be of regular size, about 8^ 
 inches in width and 11 inches in length. 
 
 Framework. 
 This accepted form, called letter framework, must be 
 
 1. Clear — easily understood. 
 
 2. Convenient — easily arranged. 
 
 3. Conventional — of uniform adoption, to facilitate 
 correspondence to the business man whose time is 
 money. 
 
 Essentials. 
 This Framework embraces six parts, viz, 
 
 1. Heading — Number and Street — Place — Date. 
 
 2. Address — Name and Address of Correspondent. 
 
 3. Salutation. 
 
 4. Body. 
 
 5. Complimentary Close. 
 
 6. Signature. 
 
 Heading. 
 
 The Heading, 2^ inches from the top margin, if consisting 
 of more than ^ a line, should occupy two lines or more and 
 should begin at about the middle of the typewriter scale, unless 
 
2 * ... HANDBOOK OF 
 
 "" '• * ' the •heading be' short, when it may be moved to the right. The 
 punctuation is indicated below: 
 
 904 Market St., 
 
 Cleveland, Ohio, April 21, 1913. 
 
 19 Center St., 
 
 St. Louis, Mo., April 21, 1913. 
 
 April 
 Ex. of Block Heading. Twenty-first 
 
 1913. 
 
 Inside Address. 
 
 The address of the correspondent should be written in full ; 
 begin two double spaces below the last of the Heading, and to 
 the left, at O or at 5 on the scale. At least a half-inch margin 
 should be made xmless the letter is short, — when its width is 
 increased. 
 
 The second line of the heading should begin at from 5-10 
 spaces to the right of the initial letter of the first line in ordi- 
 nary correspondence, and be so arranged that no line will 
 occupy more than one-half the distance across the page, and 
 should be punctuated as indicated below: 
 Messrs. Jones & Greene, 
 234 Lincoln Ave., 
 
 New York, N. Y. 
 
 A form which is meeting with favor from both employer 
 and stenographer is the following, which aids materially in 
 getting out a large number of letters : 
 
 Mr. Harry Richards, 
 234 Clarendon St., 
 Boston, Mass. 
 
i ; i ' COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 3 
 
 LESSON II 
 
 Salutation. 
 
 The salutation consists of the formal address, and depends 
 upon the relation existing between the writer and the corre- 
 spondent. 
 
 When a letter is not regarded as personal, as when written 
 to high officials in the military or government service, the of- 
 fice rather than the man is addressed. 
 
 Proper Forms : President of the U. S. 
 To the President. 
 Sir: 
 Cabinet Officers. 
 
 The Secretary of the Navy. , ij 
 Sir: ' • 
 
 The ordinary business letter requires Dear Sir: or Gentle- 
 men: according to whether the letter is addressed to one or 
 more than one gentleman. 
 
 If the salutation consists of more than two words: as, My 
 dear Sir, only the first and last words have initial capitals. 
 
 The salutation should begin on the scale at the same point at 
 which the address is begun and should be followed by a colon. 
 Examples : 
 
 1. Mrs. B. C. Roberts, 
 
 654 Delma Ave., 
 
 Los Angeles, Calif. 
 Dear Madam: 
 
 2. Mesdames Gray and Smith, 
 
 785 Howard St., 
 Chicago, 111. 
 Ladies : 
 
^ HANDBOOK OF 
 
 3. Miss Helen Grant, 
 
 242 Willow St., 
 
 Sacramento, Calif. 
 Dear Miss Grant: 
 
 4. Mr. and Mrs. L. G. Harter, 
 
 1108 West Helena St., 
 Rochester, N. Y. 
 Dear Sir and Madam : 
 
 A minister may be addressed as follows : 
 1. Rev. John Brown. 
 
 2- Rev. Mr. Brown. But never as Rev. Mr. J. Brown. 
 
 Body. 
 
 The body should begin at 1 5, and consist of a series of para- 
 graphs, each of which treats a different subject or a different 
 phase of the same subject. Sometimes the first paragraph 
 is indented at 20, and all others at 15, unless the letter is very 
 short and wide margins are desired, in which case the inside 
 address may be dropped a considerable distance below the 
 heading, and the letter double-spaced. The paragraph of a 
 hand-written letter should be indented half or three-quarters 
 of an inch. It is bad form to carry the last line only of a 
 paragraph to the next page. Carry at least two lines. Never 
 begin a line with a figure, — write the number in full. Too 
 much care cannot be exercised in the matter of paragraphing 
 — if it is correctly done, a glance will reveal the proper in- 
 formation. 
 
 Usually, letters of any length are most desirable single- 
 spaced, double-spaced between paragraphs. The second and 
 following sheets should bear the initials of the person addressed, 
 and the page of the sheet — thus, W. E. Wilson, page 2, would 
 be WEW — 2 — , or W. E. W. 2. Ordinarily an inch of space 
 should be left on the left margin, and a trifle less on the right. 
 
commercial english 5 
 
 Complimentary Close. 
 
 In order to avoid discourtesy it is customary to add a com- 
 plimentary closing, which should usually begin at 35, or in the 
 middle of the sheet, the first word only being capitalized, the 
 punctuation should be as follows: 
 
 Thanking you for prompt attention, I am, 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 In case it is desirable to follow the plan, advocated by some 
 business men, of omitting the comma after we are, follow 
 this form: 
 
 Hoping the goods may open to your entire satisfaction, we 
 are 
 
 Yours respectfully. 
 
 Signature. 
 
 The name of the person writing the letter should now be 
 written in full, and is equally binding in ink, pencil, or printed 
 with a rubber stamp. The signature should begin farther to 
 the right than the complimentary closing; if written for some 
 one else, "per" or "by" should precede the signature. A lady 
 should not fail to precede her name by Miss or Mrs. In order 
 to avoid legal complications when doing business for a corpora- 
 tion, the office of the writer should be clearly indicated. 
 
 Two double spaces should be allowed below the complimen- 
 tary closing for signature. 
 
 Examples : 
 
 1. California Compounding Co. 
 
 per John F. Thomas. 
 
 2. California Compounding Co. 
 - per John F. Thomas, Sec. 
 
6 handbook of 
 
 Enclosures. 
 
 Should there be one, two, or more enclosures, write End. 1, 
 End. 2, etc., in the lower left-hand comer of the last sheet. 
 
 The word "Dictated" followed by initials of the dictator and 
 stenographer, or the initials only, should be placed at the lower 
 left-hand corner; as, JMG/AMJ. If the stenographer is 
 known by a number use this form, JMG-6 or JMG/'6. 
 
 Folding. 
 
 The proper folding of a letter and placing of it in the envelope 
 should be carefully executed. A lack of courtesy at this point 
 cannot be disregarded. The letter should be so folded and 
 placed in the envelope that, when removed and opened, it will 
 be right side up, and right side out, ready for reading. 
 
 To fold the ordinary business sheet, place the lower edge 
 next to you, and fold over from below until the lower edge is 
 within J^ inch or less of the top of the sheet, then turn the sheet 
 so that its right margin will be toward you and fold from you 
 until over a little more than a third of its width, then fold 
 down the upper, left-hand margin over that already folded; 
 then, with the free edges up, place it in the envelope, which is 
 held in your left hand, with the flap next to it extending 
 toward the right hand. 
 
 Envelopes. 
 
 The ordinary business size is No. 6^ — measuring 3y2'ii6 
 5/16 inches. 
 
 The address in full of the correspondent should occupy at 
 least three lines, beginning on the first line below the middle of 
 the envelope, measuring from the top. 
 
 Insert a business envelope in the machine until only the 
 lower part is visible above the carriage ; this will give a .proper 
 position for the starting point. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 
 
 The general form is: 
 
 Messrs. Jones, Thomas & Co. 
 
 543 Montgomery St., 
 San Francisco, 
 Cal. 
 
 Postal authorities advise placing the street and number in the 
 lower left hand comer. Some firms prefer the name of the 
 city upon the same line with that of the state. 
 
 LESSON III. 
 Composition of a Business Letter. 
 
 If the framework of a business letter is important, even 
 more so is its composition. 
 
 Requisites. 
 
 1. Brevity: — A business man has not time to spend over a 
 
 lengthy letter when a brief one will answer all purposes; 
 
 neither should the letter be so brief as to fail to convey all 
 
 necessary inquiries or information. 
 
 By the New York Herald, 96% of the applicants replying 
 
 to an advertisement were rejected because of brevity. 
 
8 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 2. Terseness: — Combines brevity and smoothness. 
 
 3. Correctness: — As regards Grammar, Orthography, Cap- 
 italization, Punctuation. 
 
 4. Clearness: — The facts should be well in hand and arranged 
 systematically. Clearness can be attained by the follow 
 ing: 
 
 (a.) Use of words that mean to the reader what they 
 
 mean to the writer, 
 (b.) Natural arrangement of parts, 
 (c.) Using pronouns in such a way that their antecedents 
 
 are plainly indicated, 
 (d.) Avoiding long sentences, 
 (e.) Omitting no necessary words, 
 (f.) Proper punctuation. 
 
 5. Completeness: — No omission of essentials — adequate in- 
 formation, etc. 
 
 6. Exactness: — Careful attention to details, letter-form, ad- 
 dresses, etc., leaving no opportunity for misunderstanding. 
 
 7. Personal in tone : — Written as one person would talk to 
 another. 
 
 8. Unity: — Logical arrangement. All parts connected. 
 
 9. Method: — Ideas so classified that the letter will stand 
 out as a whole. 
 
 10. Force: — Relates to effect of expression ; if properly com- 
 posed and arranged, a letter will not only attract and 
 hold attention, but will be convincing. 
 
 11. Courtesy: — One of the most essential qualities. Main- 
 tain your own dignity by respecting the dignity of others. 
 Rudeness, curtness, sarcasm, are less excusable in writing 
 than in conversation ; calm and courteous treatment brings 
 results. 
 
 If you 7nust, write a letter when angry, but do not mail un- 
 til the following day, when it will be promptly delivered to its 
 proper place — the wastebasket. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 9 
 
 LESSON IV. 
 Correspondence Hints. 
 
 1. Abbreviations in the body of letters should be avoided ; ex- 
 cept, perhaps, the following: inst., ult., prox., viz., with a 
 very few others. 
 
 2. If the place is small, be sure to write name of county. 
 
 3. Write dates in the heading in numerals; as Jan. 2, 1913. 
 In the body it may be followed by th. if preceding the' 
 month; as the 10th of January. 
 
 4. Amounts may be written in full, followed by figures in 
 parenthesis, or in full without figures frequently with fig- 
 ures alone. 
 
 5. Figures in social letters are not used, except to indicate the 
 street number ; the date being spelled in full, and placed at 
 the close of the letter. 
 
 6. The age of a person should be written out in full. 
 
 7. The title Messrs. is used before firm names ending with 
 & Co., but is not used when & is omitted. 
 
 8. The tendency is to omit the sign of the possessive from the 
 titles employed by business firms and corporations; as, the 
 Studebaker Bros. Manufacturing Company instead of the 
 Studebaker Bros.' Company. 
 
 9. The personal pronoun *T" at the beginning, and its fre- 
 quent repetition through the letter should be avoided, when 
 possible. 
 
 10. Worn-out expressions should be avoided ; as, In reply to 
 yours, etc. 
 
 11. Miss is not an abbreviation and does not require a period 
 after it. 
 
 12. Avoid using two titles together, except Rev. Mr. 
 
 13. Flattery should be avoided, but proper courtesy brings its 
 reward. 
 
 14. Slovenly typing or writing is inexcusable. 
 
10 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 15. Do not use % for c/o, which means care of. 
 
 16. The envelope should be of the same color and quality as 
 the paper upon which the letter is written. 
 
 17. When de or le precedes a name with Mr. or Mrs. each 
 should be capitalized; viz, Mrs, De Stael — but if pre- 
 ceded by Monsieur or Madam, each should be in small 
 type, as Madam de Stael. 
 
 18. Guard against making the right margin too narrow. 
 
 19. Do not misdirect and then censure the postal department 
 for non-delivery. Thirty thousand pieces of mail are sent 
 to the Dead Letter Office every day, because of careless 
 mistakes made in addresses. 
 
 Exercise I. 
 Write headings, introductions, salutations, complimentary 
 closings, and signatures for five letters from as many differ- 
 ent places. 
 
 Exercise II. 
 Punctuate, capitalize and arrange the following according to 
 instructions, being careful to indicate not only heading and 
 address, but salutation, complimentary closing and signature, 
 also : — 
 
 1. Syracuse n y sept 4 1912 
 
 2. 510 fourth st galveston tex mar 18 1913 
 
 3. 2000 south St Chicago ill feb 19 1913 
 
 4. 208 state st Chicago ill feb 19, 1913 
 
 5. auditorium building Chicago ill aug 19 1913 
 
 6. messrs boone & curtis 208 water st st louis mo 
 
 7. mrs James bigedow 18 s market st minneapolis minn 
 
 8. prof robert e ely ann arbor mich 
 
 9. j w foster & son 897 e roberts st st paul minn 
 
 10. rev d m woolson 3835 chestnut st Philadelphia pa 
 
 11. misses brown & thurston 4768 wabash ave Chicago ill 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH U 
 
 12. sarah m jollyman 19 broad way n y 
 
 13. mr & mrs james finley 406 main st grand rapids mich 
 
 Exercise III. 
 
 From ruled paper cut ten 6J^ envelopes and address them to 
 as many different persons. 
 
 LESSON V. 
 
 Credits and Collections. 
 
 The subject of handling accounts is an important one and 
 should be thoroughly discussed in class. If the following are 
 properly assigned to the pupils, much valuable information will 
 be gained and an interesting recitation made upon this sub- 
 ject : — 
 
 1. Give two reasons why all business firms do not follow a 
 uniform practice in handling accounts. 
 
 2. Even though one business firm differs from another, is 
 there always a definite basis upon which the credit relations 
 are established ? 
 
 3. Name three ways in which a bill may be collected. 
 
 4. How is the business world kept informed of the credit 
 standing of business concerns ? Is it important? Why? 
 
 5. What two classes of debtors are to be found in the business 
 world ? 
 
 6. What point of difference would you make in dealing with 
 these two classes? 
 
 7. How would you determine the form of a personal letter re- 
 questing payments? 
 
 8. What two things are to be avoided in demanding settle- 
 ment? 
 
 9. Is there any regulation against envelopes or postal cards 
 bearing printed reading matter that is detrimental to the 
 reputation of the business of the receiver? 
 
12 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 REMITTANCES. 
 
 1. Registered Letter. 
 
 (a.) Advantages, 
 (b.) Disadvantages. 
 
 2. Postal Money Order. 
 
 Objection. 
 
 3. Express Money Order. 
 
 Compare with Registered Letter and Postal Money 
 Order. 
 
 4. Bill of Exchange or Bank Draft. 
 
 Collection and Exchange. 
 Define. 
 
 5. Check. 
 
 ( a. ) Personal. 
 
 (b.) Certified. 
 
 Make distinction between (a.) and (b.) 
 
 Objection to filling the check out payable to bearer. 
 
 (c.) Cashier's check. 
 
 Compare with Bank Draft and Certified Check. 
 
 Where issued? 
 
 6. Certificate of Deposit. 
 
 7. Stamps. 
 
 8. Money. 
 
 9. Telegram. 
 
 Letter^ Bearing Remittance. 
 
 A letter of enclosure should always contain a statement as 
 to: — 
 
 1. Form of remittance (whether Draft or Post Office 
 Order, etc.) 
 
 2. Amount sent. 
 
 3. Its purpose. (How the remittance is to be applied.)' 
 
commercial english 13 
 
 Model. 
 
 156 Wabash Ave., 
 Chicago, 111., May 26, 1913. 
 The Palmer Company, 
 120 Boylston St., 
 
 Boston, Mass. 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 Enclosed you will find a money order for Three Dol- 
 lars, to renew my subscription to Education for the year be- 
 ginning Sept. 1, 1913. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 Charles Estes. 
 End. 
 C. E. — J. M. 
 
 LESSON VI. 
 Letter Filing. 
 
 In order to preserye letters and records which may contain 
 information of value for future requirements, a systematic 
 method of filing should be thoroughly understood by the office 
 assistant. To be able to find needed information without any 
 undue loss of time, is a very important feature of Business 
 Correspondence. While each firm should have a filing system 
 suited to its peculiar needs, there are certain principles under- 
 lying all good systems. The modern systems might be grouped 
 under three heads, the Loose-leaf, the Shannon, and the Verti- 
 cal. 
 
 The Loose-leaf is probably the simplest — the letters being 
 placed in a flat drawer containing a book which holds between 
 its leaves the filed papers. This book is indexed — ^usually alpha- 
 betically — and each leaf has a tab at the side bearing a printed 
 letter of the alphabet. For a large correspondence, this system 
 
14 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 is inadequate, and the careful arrangement of correspondence 
 is somewhat burdensome. 
 
 The Shannon System consists of a board bearing two curved 
 pieces of steel forming two arches fastened at the top. A 
 perforation is made at the top of the letter, which is placed 
 upon the spindle when the arches are turned aside. The cor- 
 respondence is filed between pasteboard guides bearing a printed 
 index at the right side. These letters, already filed, can be 
 thrown over the top of the arch, the arch opened, and a new 
 letter slipped on the file and the arch again closed, making 
 all secure. Letters so arranged can be examined without tak- 
 ing off the file, but this system is not rapid, nor are the letters 
 well-preserved as they may be easily torn. 
 
 The Vertical is the most modern system, and is similar to 
 the plan used by libraries. The letters, which are spread open, 
 are filed in Manila folders, and laid in a deep drawer. One 
 side of the folder projects beyond the other, and bears a letter 
 of the alphabet, a number, or the name of the firm whose let- 
 ters are filed therein. The Vertical file may be arranged — 1. 
 Alphabetically — the correspondent whose name begins with C 
 would have his correspondence filed under that letter, etc. 
 2. Geographically — all letters coming from a certain locality 
 would be filed under the name of the city, territory, state, or 
 country. 3. Numerically — for large correspondence an un- 
 limited number of letters can be filed by this method — simply 
 a number is substituted for a name. 4. Topically — in some 
 cases it is more convenient to group correspondence according 
 to a topic or subject, and all letters bearing upon a certain 
 topic are filed together under that title. 
 
 Card-Index File — A separate index may be used with all 
 the foregoing systems and cards are arranged, usually alpha- 
 betically, in a small box bearing necessary information as to 
 where the correspondence can be found. The custom of hav- 
 ing a carbon copy of the reply to any letters made upon the back 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 
 
 IS 
 
 of the one received is inconvenient, and is passing out of use — 
 copies of replies are usually filed with the original letter and 
 in this way all necessary records are kept together. 
 
 Proof Marks. 
 
 It is often desirable, even necessary, to know the marks used 
 by the printer to indicate errors in proof. These marks are 
 few in number and not difficult to learn. Most of them will 
 be found in the back part of the dictionary, but for convenience 
 they are printed here. 
 
 X Change bad letter. 
 
 L^ Move over. 
 
 X Push down space 
 y Turn over 
 
 Q ; Em quad space. 
 
 ^ Take out (^^/^). 
 
 /^y One-em dash. 
 
 /Y { Left out ; insert 
 
 /mimf Two-em dash. 
 
 ^t£" Insert space. 
 y ] Even spacing. 
 
 €T Paragraph. 
 
 ^ j Less space. 
 
 Kolf No paragraph. 
 
 5 Close up entirely. 
 
 \iJO^* . Wrong font 
 
 O Period. 
 
 r«-....! Let it stand. 
 
 4/ Comma. 
 
 %tet. Let it stand. 
 
 ^ Colon. 
 
 (if^ Transpose. 
 
 ij Semicolon. 
 
 Coipa Capital letters. 
 
 ^ Apostrophe. 
 
 f . C. Small caps. 
 
 SQ^ Quotation. 
 •/ Hyphen. 
 
 (^ Straighten lines. 
 
 l^ C* Lower case or 
 small letters. 
 
 (Hal. Italics. 
 B(m. Roman. 
 
16 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 LESSON VII. 
 
 Sentence Structure. 
 
 Essentials. 
 
 1. Every sentence must contain two essentials — Subject and 
 Predicate; example: Stenographers must work. 
 
 Subordinate Elements. 
 
 A sentence may contain one or all of the following subordi- 
 nate elements : — 
 
 (a.) Predicate Complement; ex.: "The lesson is long." 
 (b). Object Complement; ex. : "I learned the lessons." 
 (c). Adjective Modifier; ex.: "Long lessons may be 
 
 learned." 
 (d). Adverbial Modifier; ex.: "The lesson was quickly 
 
 read." 
 
 Prepare 5 examples of each. 
 
 Phrases and Clauses. 
 
 1. Phrases', A group of words without a subject and a pred- 
 icate, used as a single part of speech, is called a phrase. 
 According to their use, phrases are classified as follows: 
 Noun phrases, Adjective phrases, and Adverbial phrases; 
 According to their composition; Prepositional, Infinitive, 
 and Participial. 
 
 2. A phrase or a clause takes its particular name from the 
 part of speech the work of which it performs. 
 
 A Noun phrase is one that does the work of a noun; as, 
 ''The School of Mechanical Engineering is very popular." 
 An Adjective phrase is one that does the work of an ad- 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 17 
 
 jective; as, **A man in trouble may become discouraged." 
 Adjective phrases may be prepositional, participial or infini- 
 tive. An Adverbial phrase is one that does the work of an 
 adverb; as, "The teacher came into the hall" "The in- 
 strument was dropped in haste." 
 
 Adverbial phrases are frequently prepositional, sometimes 
 infinitive. 
 
 Select from a descriptive article, assigned by the teacher, 
 the noun, adjective, and adverbial phrases, and indicate 
 what part of speech each modifies. 
 
 3. Clauses: A clause is a group of words which contains a 
 subject and predicate, and is named for the part of speech 
 the work of which it performs; as, "There is a horse that 
 
 is gentle" 
 
 Adjective clause, being equivalent to kind. 
 In the sentence, "You will learn where you study" the 
 clause being equivalent to an adverb of time, is an adver- 
 bial clause. 
 
 An Absolute phrase has for its principal word a noun or a 
 pronoun that is the subject only of a participle. 
 An Absolute phrase in an abridged clause, is usually ad- 
 verbial. 
 
 The sentence, ''His evening being occupied with study, he 
 had no time for social affairs," when expanded reads, "Be- 
 cause his time was occupied with study he had no time for 
 social aifairs." 
 
 A clause placed after a noun or pronoun to denote the same 
 person or thing, and to explain more clearly what is meant 
 by the noun or pronoun, is called an A p positive Noun 
 Clause. 
 
 Bring into the class from your newspaper or magazine read- 
 ing, examples of the different clauses. 
 
18 handbook of 
 
 Kinds. 
 There are four kinds of sentences. 
 
 (a.) Declarative — which states a fact; as ''Mary went 
 
 home.^' 
 (b.) Interrogative — asks a question; as, "Is she going?" 
 (c.) Imperative — a command; as, "John, study your 
 
 lesson." 
 (d.) Exclamatory — expresses strong feeling; as, "Oh! 
 
 why do you persist in wrong doing?" 
 
 Forms. 
 With regard to form, sentences are either: — 
 
 (a.) Simple; as, "Business Schools prepare for business life," 
 
 (b.) Complex — containing two or more clauses, one dependent 
 
 upon the other; as, "The boy*'who is well prepared should 
 
 succeed." 
 
 (c.) Compound — containing two or more independent 
 
 clauses; as, "The stenographer will type the letters and 
 
 the bookkeeper will keep the accounts." 
 
 Designate the FORM of each of the following sentences : 
 
 1. "My father thinks that Mary will go away today." 
 
 2. "The United States is the foremost republic in the world, 
 and it is also the largest.^' 
 
 3. "He went out alone but came back with a friend." 
 
 4. "If my brother has no money he cannot go." 
 
 5. "The mayor was a man who despised all meanness." 
 
 6. "He is a friend of everybody." 
 
 7. "That hat is mine and this book is yours." 
 
 8. "The streets of this town need attention." 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 19 
 
 LESSON VIII. 
 
 Word Study Essentials. 
 
 In order to become an English scholar, to be master of a 
 large vocabulary, three essentials are necessary : — 
 
 1. Pronunciation. 
 
 2. Orthography. 
 
 3. Definition. 
 
 Synonyms. 
 
 Synonyms are words having a similar meaning in general, 
 but differing in particulars. A proper command of the Eng- 
 lish language makes a study of Synonyms absolutely essential. 
 Indeed, by the careful study of Synonyms the development of 
 easy and correct expression is best attained. 
 
 If carried out with enthusiasm and intelligence, on the part 
 of the teacher, this feature may be made one of the most 
 interesting and helpful divisions of this work. If careful at-, 
 tention is given to this subject, the pupil will not only be as- 
 sisted to an intelligent use of the words contained in these les- 
 sons, but he will soon develop the "Dictionary Habit" and 
 find a keen pleasure in looking up the meaning of other words, 
 that are brought into his daily life, either through conversa- 
 tion or reading. 
 
 In fact, this phase of the work will aid the student greatly 
 toward making a choice of good literature rather than the 
 cheap variety which befogs the brain and leaves the mind 
 filled with valueless matter. 
 
 "To write or speak to the best purpose, one should know, 
 in the first place, all the words from which he may choose, 
 and then the exact reason why in any case any particular 
 word should be chosen." 
 
20 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 In this and following lessons upon the USE OF WORDS, 
 an effort will be made for the building of a vocabulary that 
 will enable the student to make an intelligent choice. 
 
 Words : How to use Them. 
 
 Brave, to be brave one meets with firmness any danger which 
 suddenly presents itself. Courageous; one who possesses a 
 disposition to meet all moral emergencies with steadiness is 
 courageous. Foolhardy, to be foolhardy is to deliberately in- 
 cur unnecessary danger. Rash; one who thoughtlessly plunges 
 into unnecessary danger is rash. Opportunity refers to the 
 time which is to one's advantage or profit. Occasion is an 
 event which brings a cause into action at a particular moment, 
 and means the time when a thing ought to be done. Possible 
 refers to anything which may be made true or real. Probable 
 refers to anything which may be true. Practical refers 
 to that which has been put into practice. Practicable refers 
 to that which may be put into practice. 
 
 Differ with is used when disagreement, dissent by word of 
 mouth, antagonism, or dispute is indicated. Differ from is used 
 when dissimilarity in nature, condition, form, or quality is in- 
 dicated. Mission; that for which a person or thing is destined 
 or designed. Ministry; the rendering of service. Intention; 
 act of designing. Purpose ; when the intention matures into a 
 determination it becomes a purpose. 
 
 Supply the following blanks with proper synonyms : — 
 
 1. Mr. Matthew is in many ways a fine young man, but I 
 him in his views on the liquor question. 
 
 2. May will you, I am sure. 
 
 3. Character reputation. 
 
 4. Why did John me? 
 
 5. He has entered the Presbyterian . 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 21 
 
 6. It is my to follow your advice. 
 
 7. My in learning shorthand is to enter the legal 
 
 profession. 
 
 8. Her was to go from one field of work to another. 
 
 LESSON XII. 
 
 Write a Letter Ordering Goods^ Observing the 
 Following : 
 
 Essential Points: 
 
 1. It must contain a clear, precise, itemized list of goods 
 required, each item occupying a line, the arrangement of 
 which is very important. 
 
 2. Quantity, shape, style, and size of goods given. 
 
 3. Definite directions as to how and when goods are to be 
 sent. 
 
 4. In case of first order the letter should contain: 
 
 (a.) Remittance covering cost of goods, 
 (b.) Satisfactory provision for payment. If credit is 
 is asked, time limit should be stated if possible. 
 
 General Rule. 
 
 Use initial capital for the different items but not the quan- 
 tities; as, pieces, lb., doz., etc. 
 
 Write a letter to the Remington Typewriter Co., Chicago, 
 111., ordering Stenographic supplies, having at least six differ- 
 ent items. 
 
22 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 (FORM LETTER shown below.) 
 
 Toledo, Ohio, May 1, 1913. 
 Taylor, Bruce & Co., 
 14 Park St., 
 Boston, Mass. 
 Gentlemen ; 
 
 Please forward the following goods at your earliest con- 
 venience : — 
 
 100 gross Pens 
 50 rms. Foolscap 
 4 gal. Sanford's Red Ink 
 10 gal. Arnold's Writing Fluid 
 12 doz. Lead Pencils, Mercantile, No. 2 
 8 doz. Stenographers' Note Books, 6x9 
 1 doz. Gregg Shorthand Dictionaries 
 Kindly ship the above by Boston & Maine Freight and for- 
 ward bill to our office. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 Arrange the following order from Charles K. Johnson, 270 
 Elm St., Cincinnati, Ohio, to the Electric Supply Co., Buffalo, 
 N. Y., according to the proper form : — 
 
 10 Electric Newels, oxidized copper. No. 1929 ; 20 Electric 
 Fixtures, polished brass, No. 509; 5 Wall Brackets, oxidized 
 copper. No. 15; 2 Combination Fixtures, 5 gas, 4 electric, pol- 
 ished brass, No. 709 ; 9 Pendant Forms, 7 light series. No. 744. 
 Goods sent by freight. 
 
 Ask for immediate shipment of the following from Sterling 
 Hardware Co., 121 State St., Pittsburg, Pa.: — 
 4 gross union knobs ; two gross 4x4 butts ; 1 doz. bronze hinges ; 
 j4 gross coat and hat hooks (32) ; 10 kegs 10 d wire Nails. 
 
commercial english 23 
 
 Compounds. 
 
 Another essential of Word-Study is an understanding of the 
 hyphen. The following will prove helpful : 
 
 Aids for Compounds. 
 
 1. If the second noun contains the first, then a hypen is 
 used ; as, ice-box, wood-box, money-box. 
 
 2. Two words forming a descriptive adjective should be 
 compounded; as, six-inch circles, red-haired boy. 
 
 3. Compounds are often made by uniting a noun with a 
 noun ; as, button-hook, or by the union of a word ending 
 in ING with a noun; when the meaning of these com- 
 pounds can be reversed by using of or for, the compound 
 should be hyphenated; as, shipping-case, retailing-case. 
 
 ^4. Niunbers consisting of two digits are compounded; as, 
 ■ twenty-four, forty-three. 
 
 5. Fractions when written out should be compounded; as, 
 three-fourths, two-sixths. 
 
 6. When foreign phrases are used or words that have become 
 anglicized, they should be compounded; as, piano-forte, 
 billet-doux. 
 
 V 7. Prefixes not consolidated with the rest of the sentence, if 
 placed before a capital letter should be compounded; as, 
 anti-Democrat. 
 
 8. The syllable Fold should be joined by a hyphen, pro- 
 vided the word consists of more than one syllable, other- 
 wise it is written as one word; as, twenty-fold, twofold, 
 threefold. 
 
 9. The words half and quarter are compounded when pre- 
 fixed to the noun, as, half-dollar, quarter-pound. 
 
 10. Never compound today, tomorrow, and tonight. 
 
 11. Usually when two words are compounded and each keeps 
 its original accent, the hyphen is used ; as, snow-shoes ; if 
 
24 
 
 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 12. 
 
 13. 
 
 14. 
 
 from usage its accent has slipped to one syllable only, 
 omit the hyphen; as, shorthand, dressmaker. 
 When compounds are formed by the union of a possessive 
 and limited nouns, if the meaning is literal, both posses- 
 sive and hyphen signs disappear; as, doomsday, trades- 
 man ; but when these terms have not a literal meaning, as 
 names of plants, (hound's- tongue), both possessive and 
 hyphen signs are retained. 
 
 When the compound terms are used as an adjective, both 
 the possessive sign and the hyphen are retained, bird's- 
 eye view. 
 
 Two or more words conveying a single idea should be 
 united. Ex.: beehive. 
 
 Exercise XII. 
 
 Copy the following list of words according to the helps given 
 above. 
 
 ferryboat 
 
 fiftyfold 
 
 firearm 
 
 fishingnet 
 
 twent5rfive 
 
 flagmen 
 
 fencingmachine 
 
 choppingknife 
 
 flatheaded 
 
 flatiron 
 
 baywood 
 
 foolscap 
 
 sewingmachine 
 
 eightday clock 
 
 goldpen 
 
 football 
 
 singingbird 
 
 cottontail 
 
 forearm 
 
 forehead 
 
 foreman 
 
 fortuneteller 
 
 coachdog 
 
 coaloil 
 
 cobblestone 
 
 bandbox 
 
 barkeeper 
 
 cockcrowing 
 
 caponstail (plant) 
 
 cardboard 
 
 cardmaker 
 
 catfish 
 
 uptodate 
 
 fourfold 
 
 tenfold 
 
 hundredfold 
 
 quarterpound 
 
 shorthand 
 
 elsewhere 
 
 Englishman 
 
 everblooming 
 
 blindfold 
 
 blindmansbuff 
 
 blueprint 
 
 blackberry 
 
 bishopswood (plant) 
 
 birdstongue (plant) 
 
 breastplate 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 
 
 25 
 
 footman 
 
 footprints 
 
 tencent toys 
 
 cutandslash fury 
 
 retailingcase 
 
 chewinggum 
 
 Chinaaster 
 
 Chinaman 
 
 threefourths 
 
 fantailed 
 
 fatherinlaw 
 
 feedroll 
 
 curlyheaded girl 
 
 Anglo Saxon 
 
 hydrocarbon 
 
 watermelons 
 
 bookseller 
 
 goldfish 
 
 chestnut 
 
 byword 
 
 firstclass 
 
 hillside 
 
 schoolhouse 
 
 twoinch circle 
 
 tenfoot pole 
 
 thirtyday note 
 
 farmhouse 
 
 faultfinding 
 
 feedingengine 
 
 laughter loving 
 
 expresident 
 
 feedingbottle 
 
 selfconceit 
 
 wideawake 
 
 buckshead (not plant) 
 
 busybody 
 
 calfshead (plant) 
 
 bridesmaid 
 
 flyupthecreek 
 
 expressman 
 
 eyeglass 
 
 eyeball 
 
 tenpound weight 
 
 oldfashioned 
 
 feedbox 
 
 antiRepublican 
 
 wolfsbane (plant) 
 
 camelshair shawl 
 
 pitchfork 
 
 carvingknife 
 
 fifteencent counter 
 
 LESSON XIII. 
 
 Letter Acknowledging Remittance. 
 
 Write a letter to S. R. Cooper, Denver, Colo., acknowledg- 
 ing receipt of $150.00 in full of his account, and stating that 
 proper credit has been given him. 
 
 Syllabification. 
 
 The typist experiences much difficulty in dividing words at 
 the end of lines ; the following aids may prove helpful. 
 
 Aids for Syllabification. 
 
 1. Words should be divided usually according to the prefixes, 
 suffixes, or grammatical endings if they have any. Ex. : 
 re-new, wis-dom, rock-y, ci-der. 
 
26 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 2. Compounds should be divided into the simple words of 
 which they are composed. Ex. : mill-wheel, tea-kettle. 
 
 3. When the derivation and pronunciation seem to conflict, 
 the division should be according to the pronunciation rather 
 than the derivation. Ex. : rep-re-sent-a-tive, pred-i-cate, ref- 
 or-ma-tion. 
 
 4. In dividing words, give every syllable all the letters neces- 
 sary to the correct pronunciation of that syllable. Ex. : 
 pref-ace, na-tion. 
 
 5. A word having two or more syllables may be divided at 
 the end of a line but only at the end of a syllable. In ap- 
 plying this principle the part on either line should consist 
 of two or more letters, otherwise the word should not be 
 divided. Be careful to divide the words so that there will 
 be no misconception. Ex. : occur-rences, not occurrenc-es. 
 
 6. Diphthongs and tripthongs are not divided. Ex. : buoy-ant, 
 loy-al, boy-ish. When vowels come together and do not 
 form a diphthong they form parts of separate syllables 
 and they may be divided. Ex. : zo-ol-o-gy, co-op-er-ate, 
 a-e-rial. 
 
 7. When a single consonant comes between two vowels, if it 
 does not shorten the sound of the first vowel it goes to the 
 second syllable. Ex. : re-bel, re-sit, co-zy, cra-zy. 
 
 8. When a single consonant comes between two vowels, it 
 goes to the first vowel if that vowel is shortened. Ex. ; 
 reb-el, heav-y. 
 
 9. When a mute and a liquid come between two vowels the 
 same principle applies, the first consonant goes to the first 
 vowel if that vowel is shortened. Ex. : cit-ron, pat-ron-ize, 
 but when the first vowel is not shortened, both consonants 
 go to the second vowel. Ex. : pu-trid, pa-trol, pa-tron. 
 
 10. When a liquid and a mute come between two vowels and 
 blend with the first they are not usually separated. Ex. : 
 post-age, west-ern. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 
 
 27 
 
 11. 
 
 12. 
 
 When a liquid and a mute do not blend with the first 
 vowel they are separated. Ex. : dan-ger. 
 In other cases, two consonants occurring together are usu- 
 ally separated. Ex. : col-lec-tion. 
 
 
 Exercise. 
 
 
 
 Syllabify the Following. 
 
 afternoon 
 
 improvidence 
 
 thoughtfulness 
 
 February 
 
 neckerchief 
 
 stencil 
 
 furnished 
 
 deliberate 
 
 pronounce 
 
 gentleman 
 
 besotted 
 
 double 
 
 chilly 
 
 loosen 
 
 biology 
 
 noble 
 
 matron 
 
 apostle 
 
 numerous 
 
 distilleries 
 
 upward 
 
 discussing 
 
 spirit 
 
 injury 
 
 critically 
 
 coming 
 
 fastening 
 
 commonplace 
 
 received 
 
 heinous 
 
 plentifully 
 
 interest 
 
 prodigious 
 
 palatial 
 
 rebel 
 
 truism 
 
 feeble 
 
 cylinder 
 
 patronize 
 
 neighbors 
 
 beehive 
 
 soldierly 
 
 sculpture 
 
 snow shoes 
 
 requisition 
 
 professional 
 
 royalty 
 
 poorer 
 
 father 
 
 toying 
 
 tuition 
 
 misrepresent 
 
 weighing 
 
 college 
 
 thorough 
 
 portentous 
 
 separate 
 
 economy 
 
 legislators 
 
 pronunciation 
 
 economical 
 
 inevitable 
 
 rebel 
 
 reality 
 
 multiplied 
 
 stranger 
 
 suspicious 
 
 intemperance 
 
 possession 
 
 contention 
 
 realties 
 
 personally 
 
 irreligious 
 
 receives 
 magistrate 
 
 patron 
 
28 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 ADVERTISING 
 
 Advertising has become a science, and to be a successful ad- 
 vertisement writer either by letter or otherwise, one requires 
 enthusiasm^ concentration, tact and patience. The writer must 
 believe in the article to be sold and in himself as having power 
 to make a forceful appeal to the public. An advertisement 
 whether for the newspaper or the letter, must be attractive, in- 
 teresting and convincing. 
 
 The pupil should be led by the teacher to study the per- 
 sonalty of advertisements in different newspapers, to find one 
 that appeals to him strongly, and give to the class his reason 
 for being attracted by it. 
 
 The dress of an advertisement goes far toward its success. 
 What is said and how it is said should be carefully studied. 
 Simplicity, style, cut, and finish are very important. 
 
 The writer must study carefully the class of people to whom 
 he wishes to make the appeal. In some cases, then, the quali- 
 ties of goods will furnish a strong argument while in others 
 the cheapness of the article must be emphasized. 
 
 By careful direction of the teacher, splendid results may be 
 attained by the class upon this subject. An advertisement dis- 
 play in the school room will encourage the pupils, and aid in 
 developing much talent in advertisement writing. 
 
 A picture for an advertisement is desirable if the advertise- 
 ment is to be found in the picture, otherwise, it will gain 
 nothing. Study successful illustrating. The advertisement 
 should not have more than two or three kinds of type, and 
 successful advertisers as a rule find it more profitable to use 
 one small space for several days than a large space of one day. 
 The writer of advertisements must bear in mind that he must 
 leave himself in the background and write from the standpoint 
 of the buyer. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 29 
 
 Having carefully studied the different styles of advertise- 
 ments, the pupil may be directed to write one of his own. Exag- 
 geration in advertisement writing is never commendable, and to 
 the person desiring to build up a business, it will bring disas- 
 trous results eventually. The best advertisement for any firm 
 is a satisfied customer. 
 
 The following questions may be asked by any one studpng 
 an advertisement. 
 
 1. Is it attractive? 
 
 2. Is the beginning bright, strong and suggestive? 
 
 3. Does it give good reasons why the reader should buy? 
 
 4. Does it answer all possible objections? 
 
 5. Is its appeal personal? 
 
 6. Are the strongest selling points given? 
 
 7. Is it perfectly clear? 
 
 8. Is it truthful? 
 
 The preceding suggestions for advertisement writing may, to 
 a considerable extent, be applied to the advertising letter. Make 
 the paragraphs brief and frequent ; the first will be more effec- 
 tive if stated interrogatively. This letter needs to be "boiled 
 down," leaving the very essence, as it were, for time is too val- 
 uable for the busy person to waste in laboring through a long 
 letter. Yet sufficient information must be given to convince 
 the reader that he needs the article, and enable him to decide 
 instantly to obtain it. 
 
 Not only should sufficient information be given to convince 
 the reader that he needs the article, but it should be of such a 
 nature as will enable him to decide instantly to make a pur- 
 chanse. 
 
30 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 ADVERTISING LETTER. 
 Five Points to be Observed. 
 
 1. Try to develop a keen desire for the article. 
 
 2. Write from the customer's point of view. 
 
 3. Prove statements made as to its value. 
 
 4. Be enthusiastic in presenting the argument. 
 
 5. , Make it easy for the customer to enclose an order immedi- 
 
 ately. 
 
 From the following suggestive list of goods select a specific 
 article upon which to write an advertising letter. 
 
 1. Breakfast Foods 
 
 2. Soaps ' 
 
 3. Books 
 
 4. Woolen Fabrics 
 
 5. Groceries 
 
 6. Leather Goods 
 
 7. Canned Meats 
 
 8. Stationery 
 
 9. Roofing 
 
 10. Jewelry 
 
 11. Musical Instruments 
 
 12. Magazines 
 
 13. Real Estate 
 
 14. Automobiles 
 
 15. Agricultural Implements 
 
 16. Furniture 
 
 17. Office Devices 
 
 18. Machines — Typewriters — Sewing Machines — Washing 
 Machines, etc. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 31 
 
 LESSON XV. 
 
 Parts of Speech. 
 
 Words classified according to their various uses in sentences 
 are called PARTS OF SPEECH. In the English Language 
 there are eight; viz., Nouns, Pronouns, Adjectives, Verbs, Ad- 
 verbs, Prepositions, Conjunctions and Interjections. 
 
 Nouns. 
 
 A Noun is the name of a person, place, object, state, or 
 quality; as, Mary, San Francisco, ball, illness, brittleness. 
 
 Classes. 
 
 Nouns are divided into two classes — Proper and Common. 
 A Proper Noun is the name given a particular person, place 
 or thing to distinguish it from other members of the same 
 class; as, Lincoln, Los Angeles, Bible. 
 
 A Common Noun is the name applied to each of a class of 
 objects; as, boy, book, apple. 
 
 Concrete, Abstract, Collective and Verbal Nouns. 
 
 Common Nouns include four classes; viz.. Concrete, Ab- 
 stract, Collective and Verbal. 
 
 A Concrete Noun is the name of an object that may be 
 seen; as, book, horse, man. 
 
 An Abstract Noun usually denotes an attribute abstracted 
 (drawn from) an adjective or a verb; as, length, virtue, good- 
 ness, strength, application, etc., and is always singular in form. 
 
 A Collective Noun is a name, in the singular form, denoting 
 more than one object of a class; as, head, company, army, 
 jury, committee. 
 
32 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 The Verbal Noun, or the Gerund, is a noun formed from a 
 verb by adding ING; as, singing, painting. It may be used 
 as; 
 
 1. Subject — Painting is delightful. 
 
 2. Object — I enjoy painting. 
 
 3. Object of preposition — I devote two hours each day 
 to painting. 
 
 4. Predicate Complement — Seeing is believing. 
 
 5. Modified by an Adjective — Rapid painting is not 
 always well done. 
 
 Properties of Nouns. 
 
 Person, Number, Gender, and Case are called the Properties 
 of Nouns. 
 
 Person. 
 
 Person is the distinction of nouns to denote the speaker, per- 
 son or thing spoken to, or the person or thing spoken of. 
 
 First Person — A Noun is in the First Person when it de- 
 notes the speaker, as, "I, John, have written it." 
 
 Second Person — A noun is in the Second Person when it 
 denotes the person or thing addressed; as, "You, Mary, I 
 mean." 
 
 Third Person — A noun is in the Third Person when it de- 
 notes the person or thing spoken of; as "James was courage- 
 ous." 
 
 Number. 
 
 NUMBER is that change made in a noun which denotes one, 
 or more than one. 
 
 Singular Number denotes one. 
 
 Plural Number denotes more than one. 
 
commercial english 33 
 
 Words: How to Use Them. 
 
 Study the various shades of meaning in the following, and 
 use them correctly in sentences. 
 
 Listen means to strain the ear to catch a certain sound. 
 Attend, to hold the mind fixed upon what is heard. Hearken, 
 to reflect conscientiously upon what is heard. Ought denotes 
 obligation, is a defective verb, and should never be used with 
 an auxiliary; as, "She had ought to do the work." Aught 
 means anything. Naught, means nothing. 
 
 General Rules for Plurals. 
 
 1. Nouns usually form their plurals by adding s to the 
 singular; as, boy, boys. 
 
 2. Words ending in f or fe form their plurals by changing 
 the f to V and adding es; as wife, wives; knife, knives. 
 
 3. Words ending in y preceded by a consonant, form their 
 plurals by changing the y to i and adding es; as, baby, 
 babies; dairy, dairies. 
 
 4. Words ending in y, preceded by a vowel, form their plu- 
 rals by adding s ; as, chimney, chimneys ; valley, valleys ; 
 turkey, turkeys. 
 
 5. Some nouns form their plurals by changing the form of 
 the word ; as, child, children ; mouse, mice ; man, men. 
 
 6. Some nouns ending in o, preceded by a consonant, form 
 their plurals by adding es; musical terms excepted; as, 
 calico, calicoes; echo, echoes, potato, potatoes; piano, 
 pianos; solo, solos. 
 
 7. Some nouns ending in o, preceded by a vowel, form their 
 plurals by adding s; as, cameo, cameos; folio, folios. 
 
 8. When a singular noun ends in the sound of s, z, x, sh, or, 
 ch, es is added to make another syllable; as, base, bases; 
 box, boxes; church, churches. 
 
34 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 9. Some nouns retain the same form in the plural as in the 
 singular; as, sheep, sheep; deer, deer. 
 
 10. To form the plurals of compounds, pluralize the part 
 which names the object; as, tooth-brush, tooth-brushes; 
 hanger-on, hangers-on; aid-de-camp, aids-de-camp. 
 
 11. Letters, figures and signs are pluralized by adding 's; 
 as, a's, 4's. 
 
 12. Proper nouns form their plurals in the regular way; viz., 
 adding s or es to the singular; as, Mary, The Marys; 
 John, the Johns ; Beggs, Beggses ; Griggs, Griggses. 
 
 13. Foreign plurals imported into the English Language re- 
 tain their plurals, and in many cases, when commonly 
 used, they have two plurals ; viz., a Foreign and an Eng- 
 lish: apex, apexes, apices; cherub, cherubs, cherubims; 
 focus, focuses, foci. 
 
 14. A Prefixed title or the name following may be pluralized, 
 but both should never be pluralized in the same sentence: 
 as. The Misses Clark, Messrs. Thomas, The Miss Browns. 
 
 When the title refers to several names, only the title is 
 made plural as, Mesdames Cook, Osgood, and Gray. 
 Drs. Hill, Carter, and Thomas. 
 
 15. Some nouns vary their plurals according to the use of the 
 words; as, head, heads; brothers, brethren; pence, pen- 
 nies; brick, bricks. 
 
 16. Nouns formed from full pluralize the last syllable when 
 one spoon, or one cup is meant; if more than one, the 
 first word is made plural and the words should be writ- 
 ten separately ; as, spoonfuls, hatfuls ; two cups full. 
 
 17. Compound nouns, not hyphenated, form the plural by 
 adding the required letter or letters to the last part of 
 the word; as, hatbands, beehives, snowbirds. 
 
 18. When number, half, none, or dollar is used to express a 
 unit, it is singular, but when used with an idea of several, 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 
 
 35 
 
 19. 
 
 20. 
 
 it is plural; as, "The number is said to be less than it 
 was last year.'' 
 
 "A number of students are to be graduated today." 
 "Half of the paper was torn." "Half of the eggs were 
 broken." "Was there not a book for me?" "There was 
 none." "Were the books seen on the table?" "None 
 were seen." "Fifty Dollars was the amount paid." "Ten 
 Thousand Dollars were paid for the work." 
 Some nouns have only a plural form, but may be used 
 in either number ; ex. : odds, pains, means ; as, "By those 
 means." "By that means." "She took no pains." "No 
 pains were taken by the girl." 
 
 Some nouns have only a plural form, but are used in a 
 singular sense ; viz., news, politics, mathematics. 
 
 
 LESSON 
 
 XVI. 
 
 :'- " 
 
 
 Form Plurals. 
 
 
 topaz 
 
 buffalo 
 
 
 memento 
 
 fox 
 
 ally 
 
 ! 
 
 sheaf 
 
 arch 
 
 daisy 
 
 
 glory 
 
 box 
 
 Monday 
 
 
 folio 
 
 bush 
 
 valley 
 
 
 relay 
 
 hero 
 
 -. \ foot 
 
 
 sea 
 
 cargo 
 
 half 
 
 
 whiff 
 
 a 
 
 wage 
 
 
 prince 
 
 halo 
 
 scarf 
 
 
 alley 
 
 octavo 
 
 roof 
 
 : 
 
 lily 
 
 solo 
 
 chief 
 
 
 city 
 
 tyro 
 
 gulf 
 
 
 man 
 
 embryo 
 
 fife 
 
 
 mouse 
 
 negro 
 
 muff 
 
 
 ox 
 
 hoof 
 
 echo 
 
 
 oat 
 
 calico 
 
 4 
 
 
 die 
 
36 
 
 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 , 
 
 crisis 
 
 nail-brush 
 
 tea cup 
 
 datum 
 
 Lord-Justice 
 
 elipsis 
 
 four 
 
 focus 
 
 General-in-chief 
 
 fungus 
 
 index 
 
 axis 
 
 nebula 
 
 apex 
 
 Mrs. Briggs 
 
 genus 
 
 Miss Howard 
 
 schoolhouse 
 
 domino 
 
 story 
 
 hypothesis 
 
 miasma 
 
 Mary 
 
 court-martial 
 
 study 
 
 calf 
 
 aid-de-camp 
 
 piano 
 
 billet-doux 
 
 attorney-at-law 
 
 booby 
 
 hanger-on 
 
 knight-errant 
 
 wolf 
 
 pailful 
 
 man-of-war 
 
 army 
 
 Griggs 
 
 forget-me-not 
 
 tomato 
 
 gentleman 
 
 goose-quill 
 
 volcano 
 
 grotto 
 
 daughter-in-law 
 
 molasses 
 
 courtyard 
 
 spoonful 
 
 dwarf 
 
 attorney 
 
 maid-of-honor 
 
 cameo 
 
 politics 
 
 knight-templar 
 
 child 
 
 chimney 
 
 memorandum 
 
 turkey 
 
 cupful 
 
 Attorney- General 
 
 cherub 
 
 penny 
 
 German 
 
 artery 
 
 baby 
 
 people 
 
 news 
 
 deer 
 
 Charles 
 
 innuendo 
 
 fungus 
 
 LESSON XVIL 
 Use OF Words. 
 
 wharf 
 
 Intend; to signify a desire to act. Mean; stronger than in- 
 tend — conveys the idea of purpose as well as intention. Pro- 
 pose, to offer a plan for acceptance or consideration. Loan 
 is a noun. "I shall make you a loan." Lend, a verb as, "He 
 ^will lend the amount necessary." Official; one holding public 
 •office. Office, a place where public business is carried on. 
 
COMMBRCIAL ENGLISH 37 
 
 Gender. 
 
 The Gender of a noun or pronoun denotes its sex. 
 
 The Masculine Gender denotes male; as, boy. 
 
 The Feminine Gender denotes female; as, girl. 
 
 The Common Gender denotes either male or female; as^ 
 "Her parent visited the school." 
 
 Neuter Gender denotes neither male nor female; as, "The 
 desk was broken." 
 
 The Masculine is now frequently used for both sexes; as. 
 Author, Doctor, instead of Authoress, Doctoress. 
 
 A Collective Noun, when referring to the objects as a 
 whole, is classed as Neuter Gender; as, "The Committee pre- 
 pared its report." 
 
 When the objects referred to are to be taken separately, 
 the sex will be determined by the sex of the individuals; as, 
 "The jury were out all night, and each was anxious to see 
 his family.'^ "Her society were all present, and each member 
 did her utmost to make the meeting a success." 
 
 Case. 
 
 The Case of a noun or pronoun indicates whether it is used 
 as a subject, a predicate complement, a possessive modifier, or 
 as an object. 
 
 There are three Cases; viz., Subjective or Nominative, Ob- 
 jective and Possessive. 
 
 When a noun is used with another for emphasis or expla- 
 nation, it is in the same case as the other noun it explains 
 or emphasizes. 
 
 Subjective or Nominative Case. 
 
 A noun used as the subject of a verb, as an attribute com- 
 plement, or independently, is in the Subjective Case ; as, "Jen- 
 
38 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 nie will sing." "That is Mary." "Girls, are you ready to 
 recite ?" 
 
 Objective Case. 
 
 A noun used as the object of a verb, the object of a preposi- 
 tion, or as a subject of an infinitive, is in the Objective Case; 
 as, "Ada prepared the lesson." "Lucy went to school." "The 
 parent told the boy to obey." 
 
 Possessive Case. 
 
 A noun "modifying another noun, indicating possession, is 
 in the Possessive Case. 
 
 LESSON XVIIL 
 
 Use OF Words. 
 
 Ingenious, evincing originality, skill or cleverness. Ingen- 
 uous; candid, frank or open in character. Implicate, entangle- 
 ment — always applies to that which is wrong ; involve ap- 
 plies to that which is unfortunate. Involve, stronger word than 
 implicate, ex. : "He was not implicated in the crime, though 
 he was involved in debt." Apt; a person is apt who is pecu- 
 liarly suited or fitted to do a certain thing. Liable; one is 
 liable who is in danger of some undesirable condition. Likely, 
 refers to that which is probable. 
 
 Aids for Forming the Possessive Case of Nouns. 
 
 General Rule; The Possessive Case of singular nouns is 
 formed by adding the apostrophe and s ; ex. : Jane's book. 
 Fred's kite. 
 
commercial english 39 
 
 Possessive. 
 
 Aids. 
 
 1. To form the possessive of plural nouns, add the apostro- 
 phe only, except when the plural is formed by a change 
 
 in the word itself, then add apostrophe and s; as "Boys* 
 hats for sale." "Gentlemen's hats were sold." 
 
 2. Singular nouns ending in the sound of s or z followed 
 by a similar sound add the apostrophe only; as, "For con- 
 science' sake." 
 
 3. In compound nouns the sign of the possessive is added 
 to the last word only; as, "brother-in-law's wife." 
 
 4. Possession by several persons of the same thing requires 
 the sign of possession after the last name only, but sepa- 
 rate and distinct possession of a like thing requires the 
 sign after each; as, "John and Mary's typewriter." 
 "Frank's and Alfred's homes." 
 
 5. When one possessive is in apposition with another, the 
 possessive form may be indicated in various ways; as, 
 "I bought the book at Ma)mard's, the bookseller," or 
 "I bought the book at Maynard, the bookseller's," or 
 "I bought the book at Maynard's the bookseller's." The 
 first and third are preferred. 
 
 6. The possessive of figures, letters, and symbols is formed 
 by adding the apostrophe and s; as, 4's, t's. 
 
 7. A noun used before the gerund requires the possessive 
 sign; as "I have no objection to John's remaining." 
 
 8. When a possessive noun is modified by a phrase, the 
 possessive sign is added to the last word; as, "The Gov- 
 ernor of California's Uncle." 
 
 9. In some cases a double possessive is required, in which 
 case the possessive sign and of are both used; as, "The 
 picture of John's." (John's picture.) 
 
 10. Possessive pronouns do not take the apostrophe. 
 
40 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 11. Inanimate objects should, for the most part, have posses- 
 sion indicated by the preposition of, instead of apos- 
 trophe; as, "The crown of my tooth/' not "my tooth's 
 crown." 
 
 12. The phrases, somebody else, anybody else, are regarded 
 as a whole, and take the possessive sign at the end; as, 
 anybody else's; but whose else, not who else's, is correct. 
 
 CORRECT ACCORDING TO RULES FOR 
 POSSESSIVES. 
 
 1. I bought the book at Smiths the bookseller. 
 
 2. My brother-in-laws house was burned. 
 
 3. This is a criticism of Johns. (John's criticism). 
 
 4. The ts top was not crossed. 
 
 5. Let all the ends thou aimst at be thy countrys, Gods, and 
 truth. 
 
 6. He made the demand for righteousness sake. 
 
 7. He begged him for goodness sake not to take the money. 
 
 8. The ladies hats were removed. 
 
 9. The foxes dens were unmolested. 
 
 10. Down came the fierce rushing eagles wings. 
 
 11. These luminaries brightness was designed for a purpose. 
 
 12. A few miles ride brought us to the river. 
 
 13. Boys, girls, and youths clothing for sale. 
 
 14. The juries verdicts were well received. 
 
 15. The notarys seal was attached to the document. 
 
 16. Clark and Smiths contract has already expired. 
 
 17. The childrens procession was very imposing. 
 
 18. He noticed the geeses tracks in the snow. 
 
 19. The workmans representative was admitted to the hall. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 41 
 
 20. William and Marys reign. 
 
 21. Harrys and James pleading were alike unheeded. 
 
 22. Richard and Susans home was burned. 
 
 23. Ladies and gentlemens dining rooms. 
 
 24. As this knife is not mine, it must be yours. 
 
 25. Your's respectfully. 
 
 26. Womans sphere is an exalted one. 
 
 27. Womens spheres are exalted ones. 
 
 28. It is my province to inquire; your's to command; theirs 
 to obey. 
 
 29. He asked pay for two days work. 
 
 30. We could see the precipices edge. 
 
 31. Both Lees and Grants military manoeuvres will always 
 be famous. 
 
 32. They sell boys hats and mens coats. 
 
 33. The book is Freds, my school mates friend. 
 
 34. I bought the wrap at Roberts and Gross. 
 
 35. My friends sister is a poetess. 
 
 36. King Edward was the Emperor of Germanys uncle. 
 
 37. We own both Websters and Worcester s dictionaries. 
 3S. It is nobody elses book. 
 
 39. Stenographers notebooks for sale. 
 
 40. Ten days interest was due. 
 
 41. Anybody elses umbrella will do. 
 
 42. Every one must judge of his own feelings. 
 
 43. Who's else hat is it. 
 
 44. No ones else affairs are in such a condition. 
 
 45. Nobody else opinion is of any consequence. 
 
 46. Your and Whites contract was broken. 
 
 47. I paid for a six months course. 
 
 48. The is dot was omitted. 
 
 49. He did not mention John going. 
 
Sub. 
 
 Woman 
 
 Poss. 
 
 Woman's 
 
 Obj. 
 
 Woman 
 
 42 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 LESSON XIX. 
 
 Declension. 
 
 The declension of a noun is the change made in its ending 
 to denote the different cases in two numbers. 
 Singular. Plural 
 
 Sub. Lady Ladies 
 
 Poss. Lady's Ladies' 
 
 Obj. Lady Ladies 
 
 Women 
 
 Women's 
 
 Women 
 
 Refusal to Send Goods on Credit. 
 
 Assume that the last letter written to the Remington com- 
 pany asked for credit, and that you are writing for the above 
 company; state that it is against the rules of your house to 
 forward goods in compliance with first order, unless accom- 
 panied by cash or satisfactory references. 
 
 Use of Words. 
 Exercise. 
 
 Write the following sentences, supplying the blanks with 
 the proper sjmonyms: 
 
 Awaken, to arouse interest. Excite, to arouse affections and 
 better powers. Provoke, to call forth or arouse baser passions. 
 Stir up, to arouse a person or mob to rebellious action. 
 
 1. It was Professor Clark who within me a desire 
 
 to become a missionary. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 43 
 
 2. My natural love for the lower animals was greatly 
 
 by a course in zoology which I took at the University. 
 
 3. It is easy for an enthusiastic orator to sedition 
 
 among the people. 
 
 4. The queer sayings of a child will often laughter 
 
 from the sternest individual. 
 
 5. The numerous American flags I saw in London 
 
 within me a feeling of broader patriotism. 
 
 6. The howling Roman mob was to a flood of 
 
 mutiny by Marc Anthony. 
 
 Healthy ; good physical condition of any living organism, 
 animal or plant. Healthful; anything that promotes health. 
 Wholesome, refers especially to various kinds of food which 
 are good for the health. 
 
 1. That was a fine tree we saw this afternoon. 
 
 2. Riding and walking are both exercises. 
 
 3. Nearly all kinds of food are made more ^by cook- 
 ing. 
 
 4. In summer the climate of Rome is not very be- 
 cause of the prevalence of malaria. 
 
 5. Bananas are more when they are thoroughly 
 
 ripe. 
 
 LESSON XX. 
 
 Orthography. 
 
 We hear it said that good spellers are born, not made. 
 While the poor speller does not have the advantage of the bom 
 speller, he must leave no stone unturned to make it possible to 
 spell well, for good spellers can be made. 
 
 A thorough drill upon the following will assist greatly in 
 mastering the proper spelling. 
 
44 ^ HANDBOOK 
 
 / U^ 
 
 The rules for the formation of plurals have been given under 
 the subject of NOUNS. 
 
 >> Final E (silent) of a primitive word is dropped upon 
 taking a suffix beginning with a vowel; as, blame, blamable; 
 obscure, obscurity. 
 
 % Final E of a primitive word is retained on taking a 
 suffix beginning with a consonant. Ex. : large, largely ; pale, 
 paleness. 
 
 ^ Words ending in ce or ge retain the e before a suffix be- 
 ginning with a, i, 0, to preserve the soft sound of the conso- 
 nant; as, peace, peaceable, courage, courageous; singe, singe- 
 ing. 
 
 4. Words ending in oe retain the e to preserve the sound of 
 the root ; as, shoe, shoeing ; hoe, hoeing. 
 
 ^ A few words retain the silent e to prevent the confusing 
 of them with others of similar spelling; as, singe, singeing; 
 dye, dyeing. 
 
 ^ A final e preceded by a vowel is sometimes omitted ; as, 
 due, duly; true, truly. 
 
 7. Words ending in ee drop one on taking a suffix beginning 
 with the same letter; as, free, freest. 
 
 8. Verbs ending in ee retain both when taking a suffix; as, 
 agree, agreement. 
 
 9. In derivations formed from words ending in ie the e is 
 dropped and the i changed to y to prevent the doubling of the 
 i; as, die, dying. 
 
 Kl^ I before E 
 
 Except after C 
 Or when sounded like A 
 
 As in neighbor and weigh. — examples : receive, sleigh. 
 11. Words ending in two vowels retain them on taking a 
 suffix beginning with any other vowel; as, agree, agreeable. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 45 
 
 12. Many nouns ending in dge drop the final e of the prim- 
 itive word; as, lodge, lodgment; judge, judgment; acknowl- 
 edge, acknowledgment. 
 
 LESSON XXI. 
 
 General Rules for Spelling. 
 
 i. Monosyllables and words accented on the last syllable, 
 ending in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel, double 
 the final consonant before a suffix beginning with a vowel ; as, 
 got, gotten; beg, beggar; hot, hotter, hottest; blot, blotting; 
 admit, admitting. 
 
 2. Final y preceded by a consonant, is changed to i before a 
 suffix; as, busy, busiest; pity, pitiful, pitied. 
 
 3. After t the y is changed into e before OUS ; as, plente- 
 ous, beauteous. 
 
 4. Final y before a suffix beginning with i is retained, to 
 prevent doubling of the i; as, carrying, marrying. 
 
 5. Three common English words end in ceed; exceed, pro- 
 ceed, and succeed. All others of the class end in cede, except 
 one which ends in sede, supersede. Those in cede are; con- 
 cede, precede, recede, and secede. 
 
 6. Greek and Latin stems whose nouns end in ation form 
 the adjective by adding able; Those ending otherwise add ible, 
 but Anglo-Saxon words add able ; as, admiration, admirable ; 
 division, divisible. 
 
 7. A prefix or suffix ending in double / generally drops one 
 / in derivative words; as, usefulness. 
 
 8. The final letter of a word or prefix is usually retained 
 before the same letter in the suffix or root ; as, accidental-ly. 
 
 9. In prefixing mis, or dis to a word, the s is not doubled 
 unless the syllable to which it is added begins with s; misspell. 
 
 10. Words ending in // usually retain both when used with 
 prefixes; as, foretell, fulfill. 
 
46 
 
 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 1 1 . Always write c with ian, never tian ; as, physician. 
 
 12. The Latin prepositions, ad, con, and in, in uniting with 
 certain other words to form compounds change their final con- 
 sonant for the sake of euphony, to the initial letter of the other 
 word; as, ad-breviate, abbreviate; ad-lusion, allusion; conmer- 
 cial, commercial; in-legal, illegal; in-rational, irrational. 
 
 LESSON XXII. 
 Drills. 
 
 A written test should now be given upon the following 
 words ; as they are being corrected by the teacher, the different 
 rules applied by the students in spelling the words should be 
 called for: 
 
 abominable 
 
 seizure 
 
 mosquitoes 
 
 admirable 
 
 boxes 
 
 daubing 
 
 durable 
 
 children 
 
 dissolve 
 
 probate 
 
 formally 
 
 distaste 
 
 indispensable 
 
 territories 
 
 reference 
 
 admissible 
 
 brother-in-law 
 
 referred 
 
 divisible 
 
 safety 
 
 assuring 
 
 visible 
 
 journeys 
 
 advancement 
 
 benefited 
 
 beauteous 
 
 encouragement 
 
 committed 
 
 busily . 
 
 forceful 
 
 transferred 
 
 potatoes 
 
 management 
 
 occurring 
 
 joyless 
 
 encouraging 
 
 forgotten 
 
 loneliness 
 
 changeable 
 
 preferred 
 
 mementoes 
 
 chargeable 
 
 traveler 
 
 studying 
 
 courageous 
 
 labeling 
 
 although 
 
 serviceable 
 
 misspell 
 
 vetoes 
 
 abridgment 
 
 misapply 
 
 faithful 
 
 judgment 
 
 dissatisfy 
 
 all right 
 
 acknowledgment 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 
 
 47 
 
 shoeing 
 
 succeed 
 
 loosening 
 
 truly 
 
 supersede 
 
 receiving 
 
 duly 
 
 concurring 
 
 procuring 
 
 annexes 
 
 compelling 
 
 pursuing 
 
 beeves 
 
 repel 
 
 relieving 
 
 occasionally 
 
 expelling 
 
 skimming 
 
 countries 
 
 extol 
 
 owing 
 
 b's 
 
 extolling 
 
 untying 
 
 paleness 
 
 suffering 
 
 disagreeable 
 
 Misses Brown 
 
 develop 
 
 yield 
 
 plenteous 
 
 chiefs 
 
 conceit 
 
 argument 
 
 exceptionally 
 
 deceitful 
 
 mulattoes 
 
 alleys 
 
 chief 
 
 connection 
 
 4's 
 
 chieftain 
 
 business 
 
 arrangement 
 
 pierce 
 
 halos 
 
 theories 
 
 siege 
 
 fighting 
 
 dominoes 
 
 niece 
 
 almost 
 
 definitely 
 
 originally 
 
 crises 
 
 attorneys 
 
 allies 
 
 gaseous 
 
 abbreviate 
 
 mice 
 
 already 
 
 likelihood 
 
 merely 
 
 calicoes 
 
 folios 
 
 monarchies 
 
 marrying 
 
 musician 
 
 cherubim 
 
 disagree 
 
 berrying 
 
 extremely 
 
 cuffs 
 
 solos 
 
 monkeys 
 
 tingeing 
 
 hotter 
 
 welcome 
 
 precede 
 
 fulfill 
 
 easily 
 
 concede 
 
 cargoes 
 
 tomatoes 
 
 intercede 
 
 usefulness 
 
 physician 
 
 recede 
 
 plentiful 
 
 carrying 
 
 singing 
 
 wharfs 
 
 pianos 
 
 secede 
 
 singeing 
 
 begging 
 
 exceed 
 
 developing 
 
 ^ skillful 
 
 proceed 
 
 losing 
 
 tornadoes 
 
48 
 
 beautiful 
 successful 
 
 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 
 buffaloes 
 
 churches 
 
 verbally 
 
 already 
 
 LESSON XXIII. 
 
 
 Write a Letter Explaining your Inability to fill an 
 Order Previously Received. 
 
 1. State that owing to the great demand for challies and 
 dimities, you cannot fill an order for the recipient for one week. 
 
 2. Express regret in a courteous manner, showing a wil- 
 lingness to accommodate your customers. 
 
 Words : How to use them. 
 
 Prepare in accordance with previous instructions: 
 Lonely ; one is lonely when feeling shut away from others. 
 Solitary, apart from others of its kind. The solitary person if 
 possessed of mental resources need not feel lonely. Luncheon, 
 is a light meal. Lunch, to eat luncheon — as, "we lunched 
 together.^' Low-priced ; below its estimated value. Cheap; 
 little value — an article may be cheap and also low-priced but 
 not necessarily so. Luxuriant means superabundant, "the vine 
 is luxuriant in its growth." Luxurious means contributing to 
 ease, "she lives in luxurious ease." 
 
 Pronouns. 
 
 A PRONOUN is a word used in place of a noun (pro, for), 
 to avoid awkward repetition of the noun: as, Mary, lost her 
 book," instead of "Mary lost Mary's book." 
 
 THE ANTECEDENT is a word in place of which the pro- 
 noun stands. The pronoun must agree with its antecedent in 
 person, number and gender, but its case depends upon the con- 
 struction of the sentence or clause in which it stands. 
 
commercial english 
 
 Classes. 
 Personal, Interrogative, Relative, Adjective. 
 
 49 
 
 Personal. 
 
 Personal Pronouns are used to denote persons. They are 
 divided into two classes, simple and compound. There are six 
 simple, personal pronouns, I, (thou), you, he, she, it. I, the 
 pronoun of the First Person, stands for the person speaking. 
 Thou and you, the pronouns of the Second Person, stand for 
 the person spoken to. He, she, it the pronouns of the Third 
 Person, stand for the person spoken of. 
 
 Personal pronouns change their forms, then, to denote per- 
 son, and also to denote number, gender (in the third person), 
 and case. 
 
 A table showing the changes in the form of personal pro- 
 nouns to denote person, number, gender, and case, is called 
 Declension. 
 
 Declension of Simple Personal Pronouns. 
 
 First Person. 
 
 and 
 
 Singular 
 Case — Nominative 
 Possessive 
 Objective 
 
 I 
 
 my or mine 
 me 
 
 Plural. 
 We 
 
 our or ours 
 
 us 
 
 Case 
 
 Nom. 
 Poss. 
 Obj. 
 
 Second Person. 
 Common Form. 
 
 you 
 
 your or yours 
 
 you 
 
 you 
 
 your or yours 
 
 you 
 
50 
 
 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 
 
 Third Person. 
 
 
 
 Feminine. 
 
 
 Case — Norn. 
 
 she 
 
 they 
 
 Poss. 
 
 her or hers 
 
 their or theirs 
 
 Obj. 
 
 her 
 
 Neuter. 
 
 them 
 
 Case — Norn. 
 
 it 
 
 they 
 
 Poss. 
 
 its 
 
 their or theirs 
 
 Obj. 
 
 it 
 
 them 
 
 NOTE — The possessive form of the personal pronouns 
 never requires an apostrophe. 
 
 Aids to Correct Use of Order. 
 
 Aid 1. When two or more personal pronouns in the singular 
 number, but of different persons, are connected by 
 "and", the second person precedes the first and third, 
 and the third person precedes the first; as, "You and 
 I are going." "You and he are going." "He and I 
 are going.'' 
 
 Aid 2. When the pronouns are used together in the plural 
 number, the first person precedes the second and the 
 third, and the second precedes the third ; as, "We and 
 you are going." "You and they are going." 
 
 Exercise. 
 Which is Correct? 
 
 1. You and I are going, or, I and you are going. 
 
 2. He and you are going, or. You and he are going. 
 
 3. You and he and I are going, or. He and you and I are 
 going. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 51 
 
 4. I and he are going, or He and I are going. 
 
 5. We and you are going, or You and we are going. 
 
 6. They and we are going, or. We and they are going. 
 
 7. We and they and you are going, or, We and you and they 
 are going. 
 
 LESSON XXIV. 
 Words: How to use them. 
 (Follow previous instruction.) 
 
 Contagious, a disease is contagious that can be transmitted 
 by contact with the diseased person, by touch, breath, etc. 
 Infectious^ an infectious disease is one produced chiefly by cli- 
 matic condition though it may be applied to diseases produced 
 by no known or definable influence of one person upon another. 
 Delicious, that which affords a gratification to the senses, 
 especially to those of taste and smell; as, delicious fruit, de- 
 licious odor. Delightful, the word delightful implies the grat- 
 ification of a higher sense; as delightful music. Evidence is 
 that which tends to show that a thing is true, including testi- 
 mony of witnesses and all facts of every kind. Testimony 
 signifies the statement of a witness. Call means to attract at- 
 tention. Invite, to solicit respectfully to one's side. Bid, to 
 urge with personal sanction. Summon, to command by authori- 
 ty. Blame, means to assign a fault to a person or thing. Cen- 
 sure, to reprove the person. Condemn, to give over for punish- 
 ment as applied to persons, or to destruction as applied to 
 things. 
 
 Agreement of Pronouns with Antecedent in Number. 
 
 General Rule: A noun in the singular number must be rep- 
 resented by a pronoun in the singular ; as, "A boy will succeed 
 or fail according to his ambition." 
 
52 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 A noun in the plural, or two or more connected by and, 
 must be represented by a plural pronoun; as, "Men strive for 
 what they hold most worthy." "A wheel and a shaft have been 
 broken but they can easily be replaced." 
 
 Special Aids to Correct Usage in Number. 
 Aids. 
 
 1. When a pronoun refers to two or more singular nouns 
 connected by or, either — or, neither — nor, the pronoun 
 must be singular; as, "It was necessary that a colonel, or 
 at least a captain should give his consent to the plan." 
 "Neither employer nor employed can shift his personal re- 
 sponsibility to another." 
 
 2. When the antecedent noun is preceded by each, every, and 
 any, the pronoun must be singular; as, "Every student 
 must take care of his own machine." ."It was a well- 
 drilled team, in which each player had his work assigned 
 him.^' "Any pupil likes to have his work praised." 
 
 3. When person (or one used in the sense of person) is the 
 antecedent, the pronoun must be singular, masculine; as, 
 "If a person likes his work he will do it well." "When 
 one is sure of the right way he should follow it." 
 
 4. When the antecedent is a collective noun taken collective- 
 ly (or in the singular) the pronoun must be singular; as, 
 "The new firm will carry on its business in a larger build- 
 ing." "The class has decided that its banner shall be red 
 and gold." 
 
 5. When the antecedent is a collective noun taken distribu- 
 tively (or in the plural) the pronoun must be plural; as, 
 "The class could not at first agree upon a president, so 
 they had to vote again and again." 
 
commercial english 53 
 
 Exercises. 
 Supply The Proper Pronoun. 
 
 1. Let every one turn from evil ways. (Masculine) 
 
 2. The committe has read report. 
 
 3. Everybody has faults. (Masculine) 
 
 4. Everybody believes own eyes. (Masculine) 
 
 5. Everyone knows own affairs best. 
 
 6. Everyone should attend to own business. 
 
 7. Everyone should do as would be done by. 
 
 8. Neither Henry nor William has found book. 
 
 (Masculine) 
 
 9. Every bush and every tree is putting forth leaves. 
 
 10. Everybody presented ticket at the door. 
 
 11. Neither of us had lesson. 
 
 12. Neither of them had bought ticket. 
 
 13. The cavalry is efficacious and generally important because 
 is adapted for rapid movement. 
 
 14. The committee (that is the members of the committee) are 
 
 unable to agree and, therefore, have not made 
 
 report. 
 
 15. His family is large, but he supports in comfort. 
 
 16. The jury has rendered verdict. 
 
 LESSON XXV. 
 Words: How To Use Them. 
 
 Sort^ signifies a particular lot or parcel not grouped according 
 to relationship. Kind, originally denoted things of the same 
 family, or bound together by some natural affinity and hence a 
 class. Variety, numerous things that are not necessarily alike ; 
 may be diverse, but not always. Intellect, indicates the thinking 
 power of the mind, including perception, memory, imagination, 
 
54 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 understanding and intuition. Mind, includes not only the in- 
 tellect but the sensibilities. Inventor, is a person who combines 
 ideas into a reality for the first time. Discoverer, is one who 
 finds out something heretofore existing but unknown. 
 
 ' Dunning Letter. 
 
 Write a letter to W. H. Bearing, Trenton, New Jersey. 
 
 1. State that his account of $35.00 has been due three months. 
 
 2. Remind him that several statements of account have been 
 sent but were evidently overlooked. 
 
 3. Heavy bills are falling due the first of the month which you 
 cannot meet unless your accounts are properly paid. 
 
 4. Request that if he is unable to pay the bill, he forward a 
 part now and the balance as soon as possible. 
 
 5. Express the hope that he realizes the seriousness of the sit- 
 uation, and will settle as soon as possible. 
 
 Agreement In Gender. 
 
 General Rule : A masculine noun must be represented by a 
 masculine pronoun; as, "The Governor issued his proclama- 
 tion." A feminine noun must be represented by a feminine 
 pronoun; as, "Miss Willard gave her whole life to temperance 
 work." A neuter noun must be represented by a neuter pro- 
 noun ; as, "The book has its good points." 
 
 Special Aids For Correct Usage In Gender. 
 
 Aid 1. A noun of common gender requires a masculine pro- 
 noun, unless the noun is known to stand only for members 
 of the female sex ; for example, if a club, a class, a school, 
 a society, etc., has both men and women in it, the pronoun 
 standing for a member must be masculine; as, "Every 
 member of the class must bring his book." Each officer 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 55 
 
 of the society must make his report.'^ But if you are 
 speaking of a woman's club, society, or of a class, etc., 
 composed of girls only, the feminine pronoun, she, her, 
 hers, should be used. 
 A few nouns of common gender; member, officer, teach- 
 er, physician, operator, pupil, co-worker, student, spectator, 
 inhabitant, family, child. 
 
 Fill in the blanks below with the proper pronouns. 
 
 1. Five physicians were on the wrecked train, four men and 
 
 one woman, every one of them did very best to 
 
 relieve the suffering victims. 
 
 2. Every member of the faculty expressed approval of 
 
 the student's work. 
 
 3. Every officer of the student body pledged word to 
 
 do duty. 
 
 4* The family now consisted of a mother and four daughters 
 
 every one of whom had to do share towards making 
 
 the living. 
 
 Use the remaining nouns of common gender in the above 
 list in sentences of your own, representing each by a pro- 
 noun of the proper gender. 
 
 LESSON XXVI. 
 Case of Pronouns. 
 General Rule ; 
 
 The general rules for the cases of pronouns are the same as 
 those for the cases of nouns ; namely, when a pronoun is the sub- 
 ject or attribute of a verb it must be in the Nominative case; 
 as "The boy is clever and he knows it." "It is I." 
 
 When a pronoun shows possession as, "Parents love their 
 children." "Mary says the book is hers," it must be in the 
 posessive case. 
 
56 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 When a pronoun is the object or object complement of a verb 
 or a preposition, it must be in the objective case; as, "This 
 pretty valley pleases them," ''The soldiers called him a hero," 
 "A close friendship exists betv^^een her and me. 
 
 Special Aids to Correct Usage in Case. 
 Aids. 
 
 1. The pronoun after the verb to he, or any of its parts, is in 
 the same case as the noun or pronoun before the verb. "You 
 evidently thought that he was I.'^ "I saw a figure pass the 
 window and thought at once it must be she." 'Tn a case 
 like that, if you were I, what would you do?" 
 
 "I supposed it to be me whom you saw." 
 "I supposed it to be her whom you saw." 
 
 2. Memorize the following phrases : 
 
 "Between you and me." "Between him and me." "Between 
 him and them." "For you or her." "For him and me." 
 "For them and us." "All but him and me." "No one ex- 
 cept you or her." "Everyone except them and us." "No 
 one but her or him." 
 
 3. Remember that when two or more personal pronouns con- 
 nected by any conjunction are the objects of prepositions 
 or of participles, as in the examples just above mentioned, 
 all of the pronouns must be in the objective case; as 
 
 "meaning you or me," "helping him and her," "serving her 
 and us." 
 
 4. The objective form of the pronoun is never used after am, 
 was, been; as, "It was I, (not me)." "It was she, (not 
 her)." "It was they, (not them)." 
 
 5. The pronoun preceding a gerund requires a possessive 
 form; as, "His going was a surprise." 
 
 6. The subject of the infinitive is in the objective case. Ex. : 
 I thought it to be him. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 57 
 
 7. A noun or pronoun after the verb "be" in the gerundial 
 construction (being) is in the nominative case. Example: 
 "I had no thought of its being she.'^ 
 
 8. The noun or pronoun that follows the infinitive "to be" 
 when the infinitive is not a verb, is in the nominative case. 
 Example : "It was supposed to be I." 
 
 Drill. 
 
 It is she. It is he. It is I. It is we, It is they. I knew 
 it to be him. I imagined it to be her. I supposed it to be them. 
 We had no thought of its being they. It was supposed to be we. 
 
 Exercise. 
 
 Supply proper pronoun. 
 
 1. I knew it was . — Fem. 
 
 2. It was not who made the noise. — Plural. 
 
 3. I doubt being honest. — Mas. 
 
 4. I did not know of writing the letter. — Mas. 
 
 5. My father heard of playing truant. — Plural. 
 
 6. You never heard of doing a thing like that. — 
 
 Singular. 
 
 7. These are . — Plural. 
 
 8. There is no use in going. — Plural. 
 
 9. We knew it was . — Plural. 
 
 10. He sent his regards to you and . — Fem. 
 
 11. Him being rich was a point in favor. — Mas. 
 
 12. Jack and are going to Chicago. — Singular. 
 
 13. It is . — Mas. 
 
 14. Who told you it was ? — Plural. 
 
 15. I supposed it to be . — (3d. fem.). 
 
 16. I cannot imagine it to be . — (3d. Mas.) 
 
 17. How could you suppose it to be ? — (1st. sing.) 
 
 18. I should like to be . — (3d. fem.) 
 
58 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 19. Should you like to be — ' ? — (1st. plural.) 
 
 20. I had no thought of its being . — (3d. Mas.) 
 
 21. They had not thought of its being (1st. plural.) 
 
 LESSON XXVII. 
 
 Words: How to use Them. 
 
 E-ffect, to accomplish. Affect, to influence. Prospective, an- 
 ticipated; as, a prospective student, a prospective plan. Per- 
 spective, the relative importance of facts or matters from any 
 special point of view; also their presentation or description 
 with regard to their proportional importance. Intelligent, ac- 
 tive of mind ; as, an intelligent reader. Intelligible, capable of 
 being understood. Discommode, to put to trouble or annoy. 
 Incommode, to inconvenience. Inconvenience that which works 
 to a disadvantage. The word incommode has superseded dis- 
 commode; as, "I shall incommode you." Not "discommode 
 you." 
 
 Compound Personal Pronoun. 
 
 A compound personal pronoun is formed by adding self or 
 selves to the simple personal pronoun ; as, myself, yourself, him- 
 self, etc. The compound personal pronoun has but two uses: 
 Reflexive and Emphatic. 
 
 Reflexive. 
 
 When the act is done by the actor to himself the compound 
 personal pronoun has a reflexive use; as, "I hurt myself." "He 
 loves himself." "He sang himself to sleep." 
 
 Emphatic. 
 
 When the compound personal pronoun calls special attention 
 to the noun or pronoun to which it refers, it has an emphatic 
 use; as, "I myself did it," "She herself made the statement." 
 
commercial english 59 
 
 Exercise. 
 
 Supply proper pronouns — compound when possible. 
 
 1. I hurt . 
 
 2. He loves . 
 
 3. She sang to sleep. 
 
 4. Vaulting ambition overleaps . 
 
 5. 1 saw him. 
 
 6. He said so. 
 
 7. This is only for and sister. 
 
 8.- This is only for . 
 
 9. No one was there but . 
 
 10. He hurt . 
 
 11. He said so. 
 
 12. He blames . 
 
 13. She engaged the room for . 
 
 14. The boy struck . 
 
 15. He hated for saying the unkind word. 
 
 Exercise. 
 
 Fill the blanks with the correct form of the first personal 
 pronoun. 
 
 1. Mary and are going to the concert. 
 
 2. It was . 
 
 3. Mother brought Jennie and a kitten. 
 
 4. She is neither better nor wiser than you or . 
 
 5. There was nobody there but . 
 
 6. She was happy and too. 
 
 7. You have often seen my cousin and together. 
 
 8. Between you and I have lost my confidence in 
 
 him. 
 
 9. He thought it was . 
 
 10. boys are going riding. 
 
 11. May Rob and have the horse. 
 
60 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 12. Who is it? Only 
 
 13. Would you do this if you were 
 
 14. You sing with more expression than 
 
 Fill the blanks with third personal pronouns. 
 
 1. It was not , but . 
 
 2. Have you ever seen Fred and together. ? 
 
 3. I thought the grey-haired lady was . 
 
 4. I supposed was a gentleman. 
 
 5. Few girls can write as well as . 
 
 6. Everybody went except cousin and . 
 
 7. What are you and playing? 
 
 Fill the blanks with the proper form of the personal pronoun. 
 
 1. I am almost as tall as . 
 
 2. It was either or mother that sent the 
 
 message. 
 
 3. Whom shall I send if not . 
 
 4. I would not do it if I were . 
 
 5. It was not but brother that 
 
 saw. 
 
 6. Was it that came? 
 
 LESSON XXVIII. 
 
 Use OF Words. 
 
 Majority, a majority is more than half of the whole number. 
 Plurality, is the excess of votes given to any candidate over the 
 next highest. Of 100 votes cast 51 is a majority, if there are 
 two candidates; but if three receive respectively 40, Z6 and 24 
 votes, the one receiving 40 has a plurality but not a majority. 
 Opinion is intellectual and is the result of a judgment on vari- 
 ous subjects ; as, science, facts, etc. Sentiment has to do with 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 61 
 
 matters of feeling. Observance, is the due or proper rendering 
 of a formal or practical recognition to rule, law, custom; as, 
 "Proper observance of the Sabbath is urged/' Observation, has 
 reference to an act of close contemplation with the idea of be- 
 coming acquainted with the object. Part, is that which is less 
 than the whole. Portion, is generally used with some suggestion 
 of allotment. A portion of land is a quantity in which one or 
 more persons are interested. 
 
 Interrogative Pronoun. 
 
 An interrogative pronoun is one used in asking a question. 
 There are three in number; who, which, and what. 
 
 Who is applied to persons and objects personified ; as, "Who 
 goes there?" "Whom did John call?" 
 
 Which refers to animals and things ; as, "Which dog was 
 black?" "Which book did you buy?" 
 
 What refers to things in an indefinite manner; as, "What is 
 he doing?" "What did you buy?" 
 
 AID 1. Avoid using who after the verb as an object: as, 
 "Who do you mean?" Transposed — "You do mean who." — 
 incorrect. It should read, "Whom do you mean?" 
 
 Declension. 
 
 What and which have but one form. 
 
 Singular and Plural 
 
 Case — Nom. Who. 
 Poss. Whose 
 Obj. Whom 
 
 Exercise. 
 
 Supply correct interrogative pronouns. 
 
 1. _ do you suppose I saw? 
 
 2. For is this? 
 
62 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 3. From is the letter? 
 
 4. can be trusted. 
 
 5. With was he talking? 
 
 6. book was lost ? 
 
 7. can you send me? 
 
 8. do men say I am? 
 
 9. Of were you speaking? 
 
 10. To did he speak? 
 
 Relative Pronon. 
 
 A relative pronoun is one that relates to a noun or pronoun, 
 and at the same time acts as a connective. 
 
 Simple. 
 
 The simple relatives are: who, which, that, what, and 
 occasionally, as. 
 
 Who applies to persons and personified objects : as, "The man 
 who speaks." Which to inferior animals and things; as, "The 
 dog which barks." Thatj to both persons and things ; as, "The 
 children and house that were seen have disappeared." 
 
 Who is preferred when a new fact is added ; as, "I was told 
 the news by Mrs. Gray who (and she) heard it from Mrs. 
 Jones." 
 
 Who is usually preferred to that after adjective pronouns ; as 
 "There are several who will go." "There are those who wish to 
 remain, others who prefer to go." 
 
 Who is preferred if the relative and verb are separated; as, 
 "There are students who, though slow to learn and who progress 
 at a moderate speed, never yield to discouragement." 
 
 Who is preferred when the antecedent is already restricted; 
 as, "The teacher from San Francisco who had been invited to 
 address the class, is unable to be present." 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 63 
 
 Which is preferred when a new fact is added ; as, "The dog 
 was lame, which (and it) caused him to walk slowly." 
 
 That is preferred after adjectives in the superlative degree ; as, 
 "He is the brightest boy that I saw in school." 
 
 That is preferred after the interrogative pronoun who, and 
 often after personal pronouns ; as, "Who that heard the remark 
 would repeat it?" "I that speak am he." 
 
 That is preferred when reference is made to both persons 
 and things; as, "I saw the performers and the animals that 
 were in the circus." 
 
 That is preferred when there is doubt as to whether who, 
 that, or which should be used. 
 
 That may be used in some cases when the sense is restrictive ; 
 as, "It was not she that I saw." 
 
 NOTE. — Avoid using what for that; as, "I do not know 
 but what she will go." 
 
 Compounds. 
 
 Compound relatives are formed by adding ever and soever 
 to who, which, and what. 
 
 Declension. 
 
 Who and which are the only declinable compounds. 
 
 Singular and Plural 
 
 Case — Nom. Who 
 
 Poss. Whose. 
 
 Obj Whom 
 
 Singular and Plural 
 
 Case — Nom. Which 
 
 Poss. Whose. 
 
 Obj. Which. 
 
64 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 Supply Relative and Interrogative Pronouns. 
 
 1. do men say that I am? 
 
 2. do you think gave this to me? 
 
 3. Men are rich should assist the poor. 
 
 4. I am he is not afraid of work. 
 
 5. This is the man we sent for. 
 
 6. This is the child — I heard crying. 
 
 7. All he described was true. 
 
 8. I cannot believe I shall go. 
 
 9. He knows were. 
 
 10. do you mean? 
 
 11. do you suppose is in the other room? 
 
 12. shall you invite? 
 
 13. I know a gentleman , I think, I can safely rec- 
 ommend. 
 
 14. It is he addressed us at the meeting. 
 
 15. For is this? 
 
 16. Do you know any one you can recommend. 
 
 17. Have you ever met any one you could wholly 
 
 trust ? 
 
 18. A man called yesterday , I think, will do the 
 
 work for you. 
 
 19 can you recommend for the position? 
 
 20. I gave it to the gentleman you thought was Mr. 
 
 James. 
 
 21. Do you know any one you think would be able 
 
 to do the work? 
 
 22. Have you ever met any one you could trust to 
 
 do the work? 
 
 23. Do not say a word to any one you feel would 
 
 mention the matter. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 65 
 
 LESSON XXIX. 
 
 Use of Words. 
 
 Transpired, to make known. Occurred, to happen; ex.: 
 "after the accident occurred, it transpired that the boy had 
 been supporting an invalid mother in the East.'^ Abbrevia- 
 tion is a shortening by any method. Contraction is the reduc- 
 tion of size by the drawing together of the parts. By omitting 
 certain letters or syllables of a word its contraction may be 
 made, as, "don't." Room, a space for occupancy. Space, a 
 limited portion of extension or distance not necessarily occu- 
 pied. Ground, the enclosed space appertaining to a mansion 
 or estate. Locality, a definite place or district. Appertain, to 
 belong as by right, fitness, association, classification, possession, 
 natural relation or the like; as, "a house and everything apper- 
 taining to it." Pertain, to have reference — necessary relation ; 
 ex. : "That pertains to another matter." Honorable, worthy of 
 honor. Honorary, conferring honor. Perceive, is to become 
 conscious of an object through the senses. Believe a person 
 believes a statement when he accepts it as true on other grounds 
 than personal observation and experience. Discern, to see an 
 object apart from all others. 
 
 Adjective Pronouns. 
 
 AN ADJECTIVE pronoun is an adjective used as a pro- 
 noun, or with the noun omitted. 
 
 The adjective pronouns are many; a few are, some, one, all, 
 few, many, both, either, none, neither, every, etc. 
 
 Declension. 
 Only five change their form. 
 
66 
 
 Hi 
 
 \NDBOOK OF 
 
 
 THIS 
 
 ingular 
 
 Plural 
 
 this 
 
 these 
 
 that 
 
 those 
 
 ONE 
 
 Common form — one 
 Poss. " one's 
 
 ones 
 ones' 
 
 OTHER 
 
 Common form — other 
 Poss. " other's 
 
 others 
 others' 
 
 ANOTHER 
 
 Common form — another 
 Poss. " another's 
 
 Supply with Adjective Pronouns. 
 
 1. 
 
 2. 
 
 3. 
 
 4. 
 
 5. 
 
 6. 
 
 7. 
 
 8. 
 
 9. 
 10. 
 11. 
 12. 
 
 I wish 
 
 was asked to give her opinion. 
 to study his lesson. 
 
 will attend the convention. 
 
 are going home. 
 
 will do. 
 
 There was only there. 
 
 would like to do so. 
 
 Is there to help? 
 
 If 
 
 is sometimes at a loss to know what to say. 
 
 like him and do not. 
 
 — would like to speak, now is the time. 
 is my book. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 67 
 
 13. book is mine. 
 
 14. is my pen. 
 
 15. pen is mine 
 
 16. are your books. 
 
 17. books are yours. 
 
 18. are my books. 
 
 19. books are mine. 
 
 20. applicant is to write his name. 
 
 Tell When the Words in Italics are used as Pronouns 
 AND When as Adjectives. 
 
 1. The other girl was here. 
 
 2. The other will do. 
 
 3. There are several persons here. 
 
 4. A certain young man, whom I shall not name, called this 
 evening. 
 
 5. All the boys were at home. 
 
 6. He invited certain of his friends. 
 
 7. He invited several. 
 
 8. I invited all to come. 
 
 9. Some bookkeepers do need work. 
 
 10. Many books were sent. 
 
 11. If there are no books I shall order some. 
 
 12. None are to be found. 
 
 Letter. 
 Dun No. 2. 
 
 1. Express your disapproval of delay. 
 
 2. State your intention of taking extreme measures for col- 
 lection. 
 
68 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 LESSON XXX. 
 
 Use of Words. 
 
 Proceed, — to go forth. Precede, — to go before. Recom- 
 mend, — to commend to the favorable notice of another. Rec- 
 ommendation, — that which commends to favor. Stationery, 
 — article sold by stationer. Stationary, — not moving from 
 one place ; fixed. Epistle, — a written message more formal 
 than a letter; it is usually applied to ancient writings of 
 sacred character or literary excellence. Note — a brief written 
 statement — something to call attention. Message, — a com- 
 munication containing advice or information, — may be either 
 oral or written. Decide, — to bring to a conclusive result. 
 Determine, — to influence or resolve, — broader in meaning 
 than decide. Fix, — to make sure. Settle, — to adjust differ- 
 ences ; to put in order that which has been disarranged. 
 
 Adjective. 
 
 An ADJECTIVE is a word used to describe or define the 
 meaning of a noun; as, a dirty typewriter. 
 
 Classes. 
 
 Adjectives may be divided into TWO CLASSES: Descrip- 
 tive and Limiting. 
 
 Descriptive. 
 
 An adjective used to describe an object is called a descriptive 
 adjective ; as, a white hat. 
 
 Limiting. 
 
 A limiting adjective is one that denotes some limitation or re- 
 striction of the object named by the noun : as. Three stenogra- 
 phers. This hardware store. 
 
commercial english 69 
 
 Limiting. 
 
 Limiting adjectives are divided into three classes, articles, 
 numerals, and pronominals. 
 
 Articles. 
 
 The limiting adjectives, a, an, and the, are usually called 
 articles; the is a definite article and a and an are indefinite. 
 
 Numerals. 
 
 A numeral is a limiting adjective used to denote a definite 
 number ; as, one boy ; forty books ; first house. 
 
 Pronominals. ! 
 
 A pronominal adjective is a pronoun used as an adjective: 
 as, that lesson; those books. 
 
 Pronominal adjectives may sometimes be Distributive; as, 
 each, every, either, and neither. Demonstrative ; as, this, these, 
 those, yonder, former, latter ; or Indefinite : as, some, any, none, 
 other, and another. 
 
 COMPARISON. Comparison is that change made in some 
 adjectives to express different degrees of quantity and quality. 
 
 There are three degrees of comparison, the POSITIVE ; as, 
 sweet; the COMPARATIVE, sweeter; the SUPERLATIVE, 
 sweetest. 
 
 Aids. 
 
 1. Adjectives of one syllable, and many of two syllables add 
 er to the positive to form the comparative, and est to form 
 the superlative; as, bright, brighter, brightest; happy, 
 happier, happiest. 
 
70 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 2. Adjectives of two syllables ending in le or y, accepted 
 upon the first syllable, and many ending in om and er 
 are also compared by adding er or est j as, noble, nobler, 
 noblest; healthy, healthier, healthiest; shallow, shallower, 
 shallowest. 
 
 3. Most other adjectives of two syllables, and all adjectives 
 of more than two syllables form the comparative and 
 superlative degrees by prefixing more and 7nost, or less 
 and least to the simple form of the adjective; as, beauti- 
 ful, more beautiful, most beautiful. 
 
 4. Some adjectives are compared irregularly; as, good, bet- 
 most are used when two or more qualities are compared ; 
 
 • ter, best; bad, worse, worst; little, less, least. More and 
 as, "She is more witty than wise." 
 
 General Rules for the Agreement of Adjectives. 
 
 1. Adjectives that indicate unity or plurality must agree with 
 their nouns in number; as, that kind, these kinds. This 
 and these denote an object as near at hand; that and 
 those, an object not near. 
 
 2. The adjectives each, every, either, neither, are used with 
 nouns in the singular only; as, "Each student was in his 
 place." "Neither boy was there." The phrase "each 
 other" is usually appled to two objects, and one another 
 to more than two; as, "The two children helped each 
 other." "We should love one another." 
 
 Either and neither usually refer to two things only; as, 
 "Neither of the two was present." 
 
commercial english 71 
 
 Articles. 
 Aids. 
 
 1. When two or more adjectives relate to a noun denoting 
 one and the same object, the article is used before the 
 first only; but if two or more objects are intended, the 
 articles are repeated and a plural verb used ; as, 
 
 A black and white dress was shown, (one dress.) 
 A black and a white dress were shown, (two dresses.) 
 
 2. The use of a or an after kind of or sort of ; as, "This is 
 the right kind of an apple," is unnecessary and should be 
 avoided. 
 
 3. When two or more nouns following each other do not 
 denote the same thing, but may be so associated in thought 
 as to form a whole, the article may be used before the first 
 noun only, and a singular verb used ; as, A new doll and 
 cart has been bought. 
 
 4. A is used before words beginning with a consonant sound ; 
 an before words beginning with a vowel sound and before 
 nouns beginning with h when the accent is on the second 
 syllable ; as, a man, an orange, an heir, an historian. 
 
 5. When two or more nouns are repeated, the article is not 
 repeated if the nouns denote the same person or thing; 
 but if different persons and things are indicated, the 
 article must be repeated before each noun ; as, "She is a 
 better stenographer than the bookkeeper." (Different per- 
 son). "She is a better stenographer than bookkeeper." 
 (One person). 
 
 6. In a series of adjectives of equal rank the shortest and 
 simplest should generally be placed first; as, "She is a 
 younger but more intelligent person." 
 
72 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 LESSON XXXI. 
 
 Use Of Words. 
 
 Acid, is a concentrated corrosive sourness. Sour, refers to a 
 milder form of acidity than acid. Buttermilk is sour; lemon 
 juice is acid. Active, expresses a tendency toward employment 
 — it implies energy. Busy, means closely or diligently employed 
 and implies attention to one's work. Adjacent, means lying 
 near, without touching. Adjoining, touching at a single point. 
 Contiguous, touching at one or more sides. Abundant is used 
 with reference to the quantity of the supply and without refen- 
 ence to the source. Copious, an abundant giving forth. Plen- 
 tiful is limited to physical things, strictly. A harvest may be 
 plentiful, a stream copious, and our gratitude abundant. 
 Artful has reference to the use of such means for one's own 
 purpose as are hidden from the observation of others. 
 Deceitful pertains to a deliberate purpose to lead others astray. 
 A man may deceitfully resort to falsehood to gain his end. 
 Designing denotes the exercise of artful conduct to scure 
 certain results. The designing person is always laying plans 
 for accomplishing some end in the future. Authentic, having 
 authority : Genuine, real or true. A history may be authentic ; 
 butter genuine. 
 
 Letter Of Introduction. 
 
 L Introduces the bearer to some other person with whom the 
 
 writer is acquainted, but who is a stranger to the bearer. 
 
 2. Written for the purpose of establishing relations conducive 
 to their mutual interests and advantage. 
 
 3. Carries with it an implied attitude of esteem and trust on 
 the part of the writer to the bearer, who is worthy of any 
 confidence reposed in him. 
 
 4. Present it to the person to be introduced. 
 
 5. The envelope should be unsealed. 
 
commercial english 73 
 
 Comparison. 
 
 Aid 
 
 1. The comparative degree is used when two objects or 
 clauses are compared ; the superlative when more than two 
 are compared; as, "J^^^ i^ taller than Tom." "Clara is 
 the tallest of the class." 
 
 2. When the comparative is used with than, the thing com- 
 pared must always be excluded from the class of things 
 with which it is compared; hence other must accompany 
 tha7i; as, San Francisco is larger than any other city in 
 California. 
 
 3. When the superlative degree is used, the class that fur- 
 nishes the object of comparison, and that is introduced by 
 "of/' should always include the thing compared as 
 "smoking is of all vices the most expensive." 
 
 4. Double comparison should be avoided: "I am growing 
 more stronger every day." 
 
 5. Some adjectives do not admit of comparison ; as, superior, 
 perpendicular, full, dead, perfect, square, round, universal. 
 
 6. When it is desired to express an approximation of com- 
 parison with adjectives that do not admit of comparison 
 more nearly or most nearly should be used; as, This glass 
 is more nearly full than that one. John's line is more near- 
 ly perpendicular than mine. 
 
 7. When a verb asserts an action on the part of the subject, 
 the qualifying word that follows the verb is an adverb; 
 but when the verb asserts merely a quality of the subject 
 or its existence in a certain state, if any part of the verD 
 "be" (am, was, been,) or "become" can be substituted for 
 the verb, the following word should be an adjective; "Lucy 
 feels (is) bad." "Mary looks (is) beautiful." "The 
 apples taste (are) sweet." 
 
74 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 8. When two adjectives limiting the same noun are joined 
 without a conjunction, that adjective modified by the 
 other, should be placed nearest the noun; as, "A pretty 
 little bird," not "a little pretty bird." 
 
 9. When several adjectives limiting the same noun follow one 
 another, and are separated by a conjunction, the simplest is 
 placed first. "The girl whom you see is younger and more 
 beautiful than her sister," not "The girl whom you see is 
 more beautiful and younger than her sister." 
 
 Cautions. 
 
 1. When two negative words are used in the same clause the 
 second destroys the first : "I cannot find no book.'' 
 
 2. Do not use an adjective when an adverb should be used; 
 "real" for "very", "I am real glad to see you." 
 
 3. Lesser is now rarely used for comparative form, less being 
 the correct form. "Of two evils choose the less." "He is 
 a lesser light," is allowable, however. 
 
 Choose correct word. 
 
 1. She dressed neat or neatly. 
 
 2. Do you write plainly or plain? 
 
 3. The rose smells sweet or sweetly? 
 
 4. She feels badly or bad? 
 
 5. The egg boiled soft or softly? 
 
 6. He acted bad or badly? 
 
 7. I feel badly or bad over your misfortune? 
 
 Exercise. 
 
 1. There were less than twenty people there. 
 
 2. Every pair of curtains and every yard of curtain material 
 are included. 
 
 3. He does not use good grammar. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 75 
 
 4. He is the right kind of a teacher. 
 
 5. A young, honest, industrious stenographer is wanted. 
 
 6. The world does not want those kind of bookkeepers. 
 
 7. He engaged a capable and an industrious assistant, (one 
 person) 
 
 8. We have just received a fresh consignment of berries. 
 
 9. The two children love one another. 
 
 10. The five girls divided the apples among each other. 
 
 11. I was real glad to go. 
 
 12. None of her friends was there. 
 
 13. Neither of the boys are going. 
 
 14. If you are fond of those sort of things you may have them. 
 
 15. Sew the buttons on good and strong. 
 
 16. How are you getting along? Oh, pretty good. 
 
 17. He sing an awful lot. 
 
 18. How sourly those apples taste. 
 
 19. Tom came latest. 
 
 20. This is the most perfect drawing I have seen. 
 
 21. Do not buy any more of those sort of pencils. 
 
 22. Which is the heaviest, hers or mine? 
 
 23. Neither of the three methods is correct. 
 
 24. I have three kind of pens. 
 
 25 He had twenty variety of pens. 
 
 26. I think you acted foolish in refusing it. 
 
 27. This is the most perpendicular of three lines. 
 
 28. A more happier student is seldom found. 
 
 29. She is a graduate from the Industrial and the Classical 
 departments. 
 
 30. What kind of a book did you buy? 
 
 Use of Words. 
 
 Brilliant is a stronger term than bright. It is shining with 
 intense or sparkling brightness which shines with a changeful 
 play. Bright is used in a variety of meanings, — shedding light. 
 
76 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 reflecting light, etc. Clean means free from filth or that which 
 is foul. In a moral sense it means that which is free from 
 evil. Cleanly denotes a disposition to be physically clean. It 
 has reference to the habit. One is qualified by training or other- 
 wise, if he has a special aptitude for certain work. He is com- 
 petent when he has simply the natural powers. Diffidence is 
 the positive distrust of one's self. Modesty is the absence of any 
 tendency to overestimate one's self. Bashfulness is excessive 
 or extreme modesty. Reserve, keeping to one's self. 
 
 LESSON XXII. 
 Verbs. 
 
 A verb is used to express action, being, or state of being ; as, 
 "John reads his lesson." 
 
 Classes. 
 
 With regard to their use, verbs are divided into three classes ; 
 Transitive, Intransitive, and Attributive. 
 
 A Transitive verb in the active voice requires an object to 
 complete its meaning ; as, "Mary lost her book." "The student 
 learned his lesson.^' 
 
 An Intransitive verb does not require an object to complete 
 its meaning ; as, "Mary sings." 
 
 An Attributive verb is one that asserts something of the sub- 
 ject and connects that assertion with the subject; as, "Chalk is 
 brittle." "Sugar is white." 
 
 Give examples illustrating each of the above. 
 
 Modification. 
 
 The modifications of a verb are Voice, Mode, Tense, Person, 
 and Number. 
 
commercial english 77 
 
 Voice. 
 
 Voice is a form of the transitive verb denoting whether the 
 subject acts, or is acted upon. There are two voices, active and 
 passive. The active voice represents the subject as acting upon 
 an object; as, "J^^^ struck William." "Tom caught the ball." 
 
 The passive voice represents the subject as receiving the act ; 
 as, "William was struck by James." "The ball was caught." 
 
 Mode. 
 
 Mode indicates the manner of asserting the action. There 
 are five modes; Indicative, Potential, Imperative, Subjunctive, 
 and Infinitive. 
 
 Indicative. 
 
 The indicative mode asserts a fact. "Birds sing." "Lucy- 
 studies.'^ 
 
 Potential. 
 
 The potential mode asserts the power, liberty, possibility, or 
 necessity of action or being and this mode uses may, can, must, 
 might, could, would, or should, as part of the verb. 
 
 Imperative. 
 
 The imperative mode asserts the action or being as a com- 
 mand or an entreaty; as, "John, study your lesson." 
 
 Subjunctive. 
 
 The subjunctive mode asserts the action or being as a mere 
 condition; as, "If it rains, I shall remain at home." 
 
 Infinitive. 
 The infinitive mode expresses the action or being without 
 affirming it ; as, "To study." "She arose to recite." 
 
78 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 Note. — The subject of a verb in the infinitive mode is always 
 in the objective case. 
 
 The infinitive has two uses, that of a verbal noun and that 
 of a verb ; as, "I told him not to fail" — As the subject — "To 
 fail now would be a disgrace." — As an object — "I do not 
 want to fail." — As predicate complement — "His weakness is 
 to fail to spell correctly." — As the object of a preposition — 
 "He meant to fail.'' 
 
 Tense. 
 The tense of a verb denotes the time of the action or being. 
 There are six tenses, the Present tense, the Past tense, the 
 Future tense, the Present Perfect tense, the Past Perfect tense, 
 and the Future Perfect tense. 
 
 Present Tense. 
 The Present Tense denotes action or being as present; as, 
 "I study." 
 
 Past Tense. 
 The Past Tense denotes the action or being as past; as, "I 
 studied." 
 
 Future Tense. 
 The Future Tense denotes the action or being as yet to come ; 
 as, "I shall study." 
 
 Present Perfect Tense. 
 The Present Perfect Tense denotes the action or being as 
 completed at the present time; as, "I have studied." 
 
 Past Perfect Tense. 
 The Past Perfect Tense denotes the action or being as com- 
 pleted at some past time; as, "He had studied." 
 
commercial english 79 
 
 Future Perfect Tense. 
 
 The Future Perfect Tense denotes the action or being to be 
 completed at some future time; as, "I shall have studied." 
 
 Person and Number. 
 
 Person and Number as applied to verbs indicate the form 
 to be used with each number and person of the subject. 
 
 Form. 
 
 Verbs are divided in respect to forms into two classes ; — 
 Regular and Irregular. 
 
 Regular. 
 
 The regular ver-b is one that forms its Past Tense in the 
 indicative mode, active, and its past participle, by adding ed to 
 the present; as, Present, act; Past, acted; Past Participle, 
 acted. 
 
 Irregular. 
 
 An irregular verb is one that does not form its Past Tense 
 in the indicative mode, active, and its past participle by adding 
 ed to the present ; as Present, go ; Past, went ; Past Participle, 
 gone. 
 
 Conjugation. 
 
 Conjugation is the regular arrangement of all the forms of 
 the verb through all the modes and tenses. 
 
 Auxiliary Verbs. 
 
 Auxiliary verbs are those used in the conjugation of other 
 verbs. 
 
 The auxiliaries are he and its variations, did, do, have, had 
 shall, should, will, would, may, might, can, could, and must. 
 
80 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 LESSON XXXIII. 
 
 Use of Words. 
 
 Great implies magnitude and may be applied to character 
 as well as to concrete objects. Grand implies the idea of ex- 
 cellence. Magnificent, majestic in appearance; befitting the 
 great, as in deeds, manners or surroundings; great in effect, 
 promise or import. Sublime refers to objects of nature, in- 
 cluding the ideas of loftiness and awe. Aged refers to people 
 who are old. Ancient has to do with things existing at a dis- 
 tant period. Antique refers to objects of an ancient period. 
 Antiquated means old-fashioned. 
 
 Aids for the Agreement of Verbs. 
 
 1. A verb must agree with its subject in number and person; 
 as, "The book is on the table." 
 
 2. A collective noun requires a singular verb when reference 
 is made to the body or collection as a whole; but when 
 the individuals are referred to, a plural verb is required ; 
 as, "The committee has sent in its report." "The com- 
 mittee were not agreed." 
 
 3. When a verb has two or more subjects connected by and, 
 denoting plurality of ideas, it must agree with them in 
 the plural ; as, "My table and typewriter are dusted." 
 
 4. When a verb has two or more singular subjects connected 
 by or or nor, it must agree with them in the singular ; as, 
 "Either Grace or Henry has the book." 
 
 5. A verb having two or more subjects of different mmiber 
 connected by or or nor, agrees with the subject nearest to 
 it, and is understood with the rest in the person and num- 
 ber required; as, "Neither his pencil nor his books are 
 here." 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 81 
 
 6. When the subject of a verb is a relative pronoun, the num- 
 ber of the verb is determined by the number of the ante- 
 cedent ; as, "A boy who improves his mind will succeed." 
 
 7. Two connected subjects, one affirming, the other denying, 
 belong to different propositions, and the verb must agree 
 with the affirmative subject; as, "The boy, not the girl, 
 
 is ready to recite." 
 
 8. When the verb separates its subject, it agrees with the 
 subject which precedes it and is to be understood after 
 the others; as, "John was here, and Frank and Lucy." 
 
 9. Two or more subjects connected by and, but preceded by 
 each, every, any, require a singular verb; as "Each boy 
 and each girl was silent." 
 
 10. When a subject is limited by two or more adjectives, it 
 is in the plural if each adjective is preceded by an article, 
 but in the singular if there is but one article used; as, 
 "The shorthand and the bookkeeping department have 
 their work well arranged." "The shorthand and type- 
 writing department was visited by the committee." 
 
 11. When a singular subject is followed by "as well as" a 
 singular verb should always be used; as, "John, as well 
 as Mary, is to blame." 
 
 12. When one of the subjects is to be made emphatic, the 
 singular verb is required if the subject to be emphasized is 
 singular, otherwise, the plural verb should be used; as, 
 "Not joys, but sorrow, has been his portion in life." "Joys 
 not sorrow, were in his heart." 
 
 13. When a singular subject is modified by a phrase intro- 
 duced by the preposition "with" a singular verb should 
 always be used ; as, "The child, with her dog, was found 
 near the river." 
 
 14. A modifier of the subject of the sentence does not affect 
 the form of the verb; as, "Twenty pounds of sugar cost 
 a dollar." 
 
82 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 15. When the indefinite there is the subject, the verb con- 
 forms to the number of the noun or pronoun following; 
 as, "There are a few questions I wish to ask.'^ "There 
 is but one thing to be done." 
 
 Choose correct form. 
 
 1. My scissors (need, needs) repairing. 
 
 2. (Was, were) you here yesterday? 
 
 3. The meaning of these letters (is, are) not clear. 
 
 4. The pupil who (study, studies) earnestly will make 
 progress. 
 
 Exercise. 
 
 1. On the table there neatly and handily arranged 
 
 two pipes. 
 
 2. The introduction of such beverages as tea and coffee 
 not without effects. 
 
 3. Neither John nor Henry to go. 
 
 4. John or Henry to go. 
 
 5. Everybody there. 
 
 ■ 6. He don't know me. 
 
 7. Each of the pupils suspended. 
 
 8. Not one of them convinced. 
 
 9. The wind very hard. 
 
 10. Measles broken out and half the school 
 
 absent. 
 
 11. I to stay here. 
 
 12. I loan you the money. 
 
 13. Either you or I in the wrong. 
 
 14. Grace as well as Emma going tomorrow. 
 
 15. There thirty days in September. 
 
 16. Ten tons of hay $200.00. 
 
 17. Neither the boy nor his parents here. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 83 
 
 18. The stenographer, not the bookkeeper to blame. 
 
 19. The manager, not the assistants responsible. 
 
 20. The child at the parade, and her father and 
 
 mother. 
 
 21. The teacher as well as the pupil there. 
 
 22. Not success but failures shadowed his life. 
 
 23. The professor, with his son, spending vacation 
 
 in the mountains. 
 
 24. There nothing I can do. 
 
 25. There more pupils present than we expected. 
 
 LESSON XXXIV. 
 
 Use of Words. 
 
 Proficient pertains to skill acquired. Efficient pertains to 
 the quality that brings all one's power to bear promptly to the 
 best purpose on the thing to be done. Relate, to recount par- 
 ticulars, bringing into relation or connection of one with an- 
 other. Tell, to communicate knowledge by word or mouth. 
 Narrate, to tell either in speech or writing, in successive order 
 the details of. Rehearse, to repeat that which has already been 
 spoken. Trust, a confidence in the reliability of persons or 
 things without special or careful investigation. Faith is a 
 union of belief and trust, is chiefly personal. Confidence is a 
 firm dependence upon a statement as true, or upon a person as 
 worthy. Belief is the acceptance of something as true on other 
 grounds than personal experience and observation. In religion 
 a distinction is made between intellectual belief of a religious 
 truth and belief of the heart. Empty, that which contains 
 nothing is empty. Usually applied to common or homely 
 things, as an empty dish. Vacant has reference to rights or 
 possibilities of occupancy, and relates to things of dignity. 
 
84 handbook of 
 
 Mode. 
 Aids. 
 
 1. Instead of the present subjunctive forms, "If I be," "If 
 he be," "If it be," the indicative forms are generally em- 
 ployed; but the subjunctive forms, "If I were," "If he 
 were," are employed by the best speakers and writers. 
 "If I (he, she, or it) was" is correct, when the words "and 
 I (he, she, or it) was" can be supplied. "If I (he, she, 
 or it) were" when the words "but I am not (or he, she 
 or it is not)," can be supplied; as, "If I was mistaken, 
 (and I was), then I am sorry." "If I were mistaken (but 
 I am not), I should make an apology." 
 
 2. The infinitive sign to should never be used for the full 
 form; as, "I have not spoken about it and do not intend 
 to," should be "I have not spoken about it and do not 
 intend to do so. 
 
 3. The present tense of the infinitive should follow verbs ex- 
 pressing hope, intention, desire, command, or expectation ; 
 as, I had hoped to meet you," not "I had hoped to have 
 met you." "I had meant to call," instead of "I had meant 
 to have called." 
 
 4. The sign "to" must not be separated from the remaining 
 part of the infinitive; as, "He will tty to pay promptly." 
 not "He will try to promptly pay." 
 
 5. When the infinitive refers to a time prior to that of the 
 principal verb, the perfect infinitive is used; as, "I am 
 thankful to have had this opportunity." 
 
 Exercise. 
 
 1. I am delighted to see her. 
 
 2. I am delighted to go. 
 
 3. I am happy to meet her. 
 
 4. I am sorry to go before seeing her. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 85 
 
 5. I regret not seeing her. 
 
 6. I am glad to greet her. 
 
 7. I am happy to meet you. 
 
 8. I am pleased to oblige you. 
 
 Tense. 
 
 Aids. 
 
 1. In complex sentences, the time indicated by the verb of 
 the dependent sentence must not conflict with that indi- 
 cated by the verb of the principal sentence; as, "I shall 
 type when she comes." 
 
 2. Usually when the tense of the principal verb is present, 
 that of the subordinate verb is present, and when the tense 
 of the principal verb is past, that of the subordinate verb 
 is past; as, "He says he is ill." "He said he was ill." 
 
 3. When the time of the principal verb is past, that of the 
 subordinate verb must not be present, unless the subordi- 
 nate sentence states a fact that is unchanging and univer- 
 sal; as, "He said he was studying shorthand." "He said 
 that three and three make six." 
 
 4. In passive verb phrases and phrases denoting complete 
 time, the perfect participle of the verb is used ; as, "I have 
 seen nothing of the book.'^ 
 
 Letter. 
 Request for Extension of Time. 
 
 1. State that owing to the dullness of trade, you find yourself 
 unable to meet pa)m[ient for merchandise bought last 
 month. 
 
 2. State that some of your best customers disappointed you. 
 
 3. Give assurance of brightening prospects, and of your ex- 
 pectation that you will be able to pay in a short time. 
 
 4. State that if the time can be extended one month, you feel 
 confident that you can discharge the obligation. 
 
86 handbook of 
 
 Exercise. 
 
 1. What did you say the capital of Ohio? 
 
 2. He says nine times nine eighty-one. 
 
 3. I have not the city. 
 
 4. I have the work. 
 
 5. I the work. 
 
 6. She would have liked to (go or have gone) . 
 
 7. I had meant to (write or have written) . 
 
 8. If I in your place I should remain. 
 
 9. If the cup on the shelf (and it was) I heard it 
 
 fall. 
 
 10. I have said nothing about it and do not mean to . 
 
 Auxiliary. 
 
 Aids. 
 
 1. When two or more auxiliary verbs are used with reference 
 to one principal verb, the auxiliaries and the principal 
 
 verb must be in concord; as, "I have studied and shall al- 
 ways study my lessons." not "I have and shall always 
 study my lessons." 
 
 2. Shall in the first person, will in the second and third, 
 express simple futurity, also condition beyond the control 
 of the will; as, "I shall sing." "He will sing." "She will 
 sing." But will in the first person, and shall in the second 
 and third, express determination; as, "I will go." "He 
 shall go." "They shall go." 
 
 3. Should in the first person, would in the second and third 
 persons, express simple contingent futurity, also a condi- 
 tioii beyond the control of the will : "I should." "You 
 would." "He would." 
 
 Would in the first person and should in the second and 
 third persons express contingent promises, willingness, res- 
 olution ; "I would not forgive him." "You should study it." 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 
 
 87 
 
 4. The auxiliary that is required in the answer must be used 
 in the question, when the person spoken to decides the 
 question or controls the speaker ; as, 
 
 Question. 
 
 Will you go? 
 Shall you come? 
 Shall he come? 
 Should you go? 
 Should they go? 
 Will they go? 
 
 Determination 
 Promise 
 Determination 
 
 Answer. 
 
 I will go. 
 I thall come. 
 He shall come. 
 I should go. 
 They should go. 
 They will go. 
 
 5. Should is used to express propriety or expediency and 
 ought, moral obligation: as, "Students should keep their 
 desks in order." "Students ought to obey the rules of the 
 school." 
 
 6. In a direct quotation would and should are used as in 
 independent constructions ; as, He said, "If I should," etc. 
 
 7. In subordinate clauses, after "if", "though", although", 
 "when", "until", etc., should (or shall) is used in all 
 three persons unless the subject is thought of as wishing 
 or consenting, when would or will is correct; as, "If I 
 should sing he would be happy." "Would that this trouble 
 had never come." 
 
 8 May or might expresses permission or possibility — may 
 being used in the present and might in the past tense ; as, 
 "I may leave Monday." "I might have gone last week." 
 There is no essential difference between the use of may 
 and that of might, the words being used according to the 
 tense form required ; as, "I may go if I can find some one 
 to take my place," or "I might go if I could find some 
 one to take my place.'^ 
 
 9. Can and could express ability; as, "I can climb that pole" 
 or "He could have won the race." 
 
88 handbook of 
 
 Suggestions. 
 
 1. Little trouble will be experienced if the pupil remembers 
 that the words lie, rise, sit, fall, are used when the body 
 possesses the power to act; as, "I sit." While the verbs 
 lay, raise, set, fell, are used when the power is applied 
 to the body; as, "I raised the boy." "He set the chair 
 here." 
 
 Of the first group we have: 
 
 Intransitive Transitive. 
 
 Lie — lay — lain Lay — laid — laid 
 
 Rise — rose — risen Raise — raised — raised 
 
 Sit — sat — sat Set — set — set 
 
 Fall — fell — fallen Fell — felled — felled 
 
 2. The following verbs are sometimes confused — flee, fled, 
 fled, (to run away). Fly, flew, flown (To move in the 
 air). Flow, flowed, flowed, (to move by gravity as a 
 liquid). 
 
 3. The following verbs should never be used with has, have, 
 
 or had. When such use is desired, change the "a" to "u". 
 Sank, drank, sprang, sang, began. 
 
 4. Never use has, have, had with got. 
 
 Use flee, fly, flow, in the following sentences. 
 
 1. The thief from justice. 
 
 2. The whole valley was — with water. 
 
 3. The bird has . 
 
 4. The house was by birds. 
 
 5. The hounds the track. 
 
 6. The air was filled with timber. 
 
 7. The water has over the bridge. 
 
 8. The engine fairly along the rails. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 
 
 89 
 
 Use shall or will. 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 10 
 11 
 
 12. 
 
 I consider it a favor. 
 
 I am resolved that I do it. 
 
 I go to Europe or not? You 
 
 He 
 He 
 We 
 I - 
 
 sit and read for hours. 
 
 pay his bills. (Promise.) 
 
 pay our bills. (Determination.) 
 
 keep my promise. (Determination). 
 
 Mother says that you have a pleasant visit. 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 know my decision. 
 Trusting that we - 
 
 you be glad to go. I 
 
 — will be sixteen in June. 
 
 — deliver your message and you 
 
 -soon 
 
 have an early reply, we are. 
 
 Use should or would. 
 
 He 
 
 He cannot come if I 
 
 go. (meaning obligation.) 
 
 go- 
 
 You 
 She 
 
 that I were rich. 
 
 not use such language. 
 
 start in spite of the rain, (determination.) 
 
 Use some form of each of the following: drink, sing, ring, 
 begin. 
 
 1. I a glass of water before breakfast. 
 
 2. I have all the water in the pitcher. 
 
 3. I several songs last evening. 
 
 4. She has the latest songs to an interested audi- 
 
 ence. 
 I — 
 
 They 
 
 I had 
 
 Has the bell 
 She 
 
 this letter yesterday. 
 
 — to think that he did not intend to go. 
 
 several glasses of water today. 
 
 the bell. 
 
90 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 10. Has he all the water in the pitcher? 
 
 11. He the work yesterday. 
 
 Use can, may, or might. 
 
 1. I shall speak to my countrymen, if I . 
 
 2. I climb the roof. 
 
 3. I go? You . 
 
 4. Who resist his pleadings.? 
 
 5. Water not flow up hill. 
 
 6. No one solve the problem of life. 
 
 7. Teacher, please I be excused? 
 
 8. the Eskimos live in the tropics. 
 
 9. He whose legs are sound walk, but he ^ 
 
 not walk on the grass. 
 
 Use lie or lay. 
 
 1. John on the bed. 
 
 2. My road through France. 
 
 3. The book on the table. 
 
 4. Let it there, while I down to rest. 
 
 5. He has there all day. 
 
 6. Let it there. 
 
 7. The old lady has gone to sleep, while there. 
 
 8. We have our plans. 
 
 9. Please that down. 
 
 10. I was so tired that I down to rest. 
 
 11. I was so tired that I me down to rest. 
 
 12. If one is sick he should down. 
 
 13. These eggs were yesterday. 
 
 14. the books on the table and let them ' 
 
 there. 
 
 Use raise and rise. 
 1. He \ himself with difficulty. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 91 
 
 2. The river has . 
 
 3. The river has the bridge. 
 
 4. My bread will not . 
 
 5. We the log. 
 
 6. The of the water caused the log to 
 
 Use fall and fell. 
 
 1. Are they going to the tree? 
 
 2. He the tree yesterday. 
 
 3. The tree was by the wind. 
 
 4. I am glad you have in with good company. 
 
 5. The baby down stairs. 
 
 6. The woodmen had the tree before the overseer 
 
 arrived. 
 
 Use set and sit. 
 
 1. Henry out on a long journey. 
 
 2. The hen is . 
 
 3. He is as cross as a hen. 
 
 4. John was the hen on her nest. 
 
 5. Your coat well. 
 
 6. The boy the plants on the table. 
 
 7. He still for an hour. 
 
 8. the lamp on the stand. 
 
 9. The jury for three days. 
 
 10. Court the first Monday in October. 
 
 11. One a hen and she on the eggs. 
 
 12. The of eggs was sold at a high price. 
 
 LESSON XXXV. 
 
 Participles. 
 
 A participle is a word derived from a verb, and is used 
 either as a modifier or a verb; as, "singing." 
 
92 handbook of 
 
 The Participle and its Forms. 
 
 The Participle has two forms, present and perfect. The 
 present participle expresses action or state in progress and is 
 formed by adding "ing" to the simply form; as, "thinking, 
 seeing," The past participle expresses the action or state 
 either as completed in the past or just completed and is some- 
 times called the perfect participle. 
 
 Uses. 
 
 The Participle has two uses ; that of a modifier and that of 
 a verb. When used as a modifier, it may be: (a) a Verbal 
 adjective; as, "The boy, studying continually, injured his 
 health." (b) an Adjective purely; as, "The singing bird fell 
 from its perch." When used as a verb the participle may ex- 
 press action or state with a noun in the Nominative case, which 
 is known as the absolute or independent construction ; as, "The 
 boy having studied knew his lesson." (c) An Attribute Com- 
 plement; as, "The child is laughing." 
 
 Helps. 
 
 1. A participle used as an adjective modifier should never 
 be used without a subject; as, "Hoping to receive an 
 early reply, Yours truly," correct form, "Hoping to re- 
 ceive an early reply, I am Yours truly." 
 
 2. The noun or pronoun preceding the gerund must be in 
 the possessive case; as, "The boy's being ill changed our 
 plans.'* 
 
 3. When a transitive participle, used as a noun, is limited by 
 some preceding word, the preposition of is required to 
 govern the object following; as, "Much studying of the 
 shorthand principles, will enable you to master the sub- 
 ject." 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 93 
 
 4. When the transitive participle is not limited by a pre- 
 ceding word, the preposition of should not be used. 
 "Studying shorthand principles thoughtfully, has put him 
 ahead of the class." 
 
 5. That the use of the participle and the infinitive may not 
 confuse you, the following may be of use: (a.) After the 
 verb that signifies to omit, to avoid, to prevent, etc., gen- 
 erally use the participle; as, "He will avoid singing if 
 possible." (b.) After verbs that signify to try, or to 
 intend, generally use the infinitive ; as, "I tried to study.'^ 
 (c.) After the various forms of the verb begin, com- 
 mence, desist, practice, generally use the participle; as, 
 "I began typing at eight o'clock." 
 
 6. The participle should not be used when an ordinary noun, 
 a verbal noun, a verb in the infinitive, or a substantive 
 phrase or clause expresses the meaning more accurately 
 or more clearly; as, "It is easier listening than speaking" 
 — should be "It is easier to listen than to speak. 
 
 Exercise. 
 Misused Participles. 
 
 1. The reading good books improves the mind. 
 
 2. The learning shorthand requires patience. 
 
 3. The educating children is a responsible undertaking. 
 
 4. Observation the rules of health will enable us to avoid 
 sickness. 
 
 5. It is easier asking questions than answering them. 
 
 6. I intend staying all day. 
 
 7. No one likes being in debt. 
 
 8. We were just discussing of the propriety of doing so. 
 
 9. The careful studying lessons will bring good results. 
 10. I prefer singing the song. 
 
94 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 LESSON XXXVI. 
 
 Adverbs. 
 
 1. An adverb is a word used to modify the meaning of a 
 verb, an adjective or another adverb. 
 
 An adverb may be used (1) As an adverb to modify 
 a verb; as, "The doorbell rings merrily/' (2) As an in- 
 terrogative adverb to ask a question; ''How do you pre- 
 pare your lesson?" (3) As a conjunction adverb; as, 
 "The machine looks like new when she cleans it." 
 
 The adverb may be divided into seven classes : 
 
 1. Adverbs of manner — answering the question how? "She 
 sings sweetly/' 
 
 2. Adverbs of place — answering the question where? "He 
 went there/' 
 
 3. Adverbs of time — answering the question when? "She 
 studies now/' 
 
 4. Adverbs of degree — answering the question how much? 
 "It is nearly done." 
 
 5. Adverbs of cause and effect — answering the question 
 why? ''Therefore, we continued our journey." 
 
 6. Adverbs of number — answering the question how many? 
 Firstly, Secondly. 
 
 7. Adverbs of affirmation and negation ; as, Yes and no. 
 
 Modification. 
 Adverbs have but one modification ; viz., Comparison. 
 
 General Rule. 
 
 An adverbial modifier should be placed as near as possible to 
 the word that it modifies. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 95 
 
 Aids. 
 
 1. An adverb that modifies an intransitive verb usually fol- 
 lows the verb ; as, "She spoke hastily." 
 
 2. An adverb that modifies a transitive verb usually precedes, 
 to prevent the separation of the verb and its object; as, 
 "She gladly gave the book to me." 
 
 3. When an adverb of time and an adverb of place modify 
 the same verb, the adverb of time is placed first, and that 
 of manner second; as, "She seldom goes there." 
 
 4. Adverbs should not be used as adjectives or adjectives 
 as adverbs; as, "She did the work good." (adj.) instead 
 of.; "She did the work well." (adv.) 
 
 5. Particular care should be given to the following: 
 
 farther distance. 
 
 further additional. 
 
 most highest degree. 
 
 nearly applied to quantity, time or space. 
 
 almost to degree. 
 
 Hence, whence, thence, should never be preceded by from. 
 
 6. The adverb "that" should not be used in place of the 
 adverb so; as, "The book was that thick," correct "The 
 book was so thick." 
 
 7. Special care must be taken to place the adverbs "only," 
 "chiefly," "merely,^' and "solely," in such position that the 
 meaning may not be misunderstood; as, "He spoke only 
 on this matter." Not, "He only spoke on this matter." 
 
 Misused Adverbs, (point out the errors.) 
 
 1. I feel remarkable well. 
 
 2. His sister has acted very strange in the matter. 
 
 3. I never knew a more happier man. 
 
96 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 4 The patient suffered intense. 
 
 5. You should listen more attentive. 
 
 6. They will pay the check if you present it prompt. 
 
 7. The rose smells sweetly. 
 
 8. From whence does he come? 
 
 9. For what does the lady look so ^beautiful? 
 
 10. I like never to hear a person slander his neighbor. 
 
 11. We seldom or ever see such Indians. 
 
 12. We are only following your orders. 
 
 13. Do not merely read this page but read this other also. 
 
 14. He is considered generally insane. 
 
 15. We now are prepared to promptly fill all orders. 
 
 16. You can depend upon him to faithfully see you. 
 
 17. The cushion feels softly. 
 
 18. I don't want no coffee. 
 
 19. The orange tastes sourly. 
 
 20. My head feels badly. 
 
 21. Some birds fly more swifter than others. 
 
 22. The mills of God grind slowly but they grind exceeding 
 fine. 
 
 23. I sort o' think it would be a good plan. 
 
 24. I feel kind o' tired. 
 
 25. I remember most all the books of the Bible. 
 
 26. He is kind of slow. 
 
 27. A more perfect specimen could not be found. 
 
 28. Draw that line more perpendicular. 
 
 29. He does no talk near so must as he did. 
 
 30. I arrived safely. 
 
 31. He came near falling down stairs. 
 
 32. He came near being killed. 
 
 33. He writes good. 
 
 34. There isn't hardly any use. 
 
 35. I am very pleased to see you. 
 
commercial english 97 
 
 Prepositions. 
 LESSON XXXVII. 
 
 1. A PREPOSITION is a word used to show the relation 
 between a noun or pronoun before which it is usually 
 placed, and some other words in the sentence; as, "The 
 book is on the table." 
 
 Aids. 
 
 1. Avoid ending a sentence with a preposition. 
 
 2. Prepositions should not be omitted when needed to com- 
 plete the sense; as, "Alum Rock Park is the east of San 
 Jose" should read, "Alimi Rock Park is on the east side 
 of San Jose," or, "Alum Rock is east of San Jose." 
 
 3. Unnecessary use of prepositions should be avoided; as, 
 "He cut a slice off of the loaf." 
 
 4. Prepositional modifiers should be so placed that the 
 meaning intended will be clear; as, "She could see that 
 the machine was dirty, with but a single eye." Should 
 read "She could see with but a single eye that the machine 
 was dirty." 
 
 5. Care should be taken to use the proper preposition to ex- 
 press the meaning intended; as. ^^On means merely over, 
 or resting upon a thing, while upon conveys the idea of 
 motion; as, "The man stood on the unfinished floor." 
 "The man stepped upon the rock in the creek. 
 
 Exercise. 
 
 Supply prepositions where it is correct to do so. 
 
 1. The bird flew the window. 
 
 2. He was accused stealing goods. 
 
 3. He listened the music the waves. 
 
98 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 4. Five boys agreed themselves buy melons. 
 
 5. What's the matter him? 
 
 6. I was not home. 
 
 7. This is different that. 
 
 8. He is fault the matter. 
 
 9. The dog ran the bridge. 
 
 10. The man fell the sidewalk. 
 
 11. The cat jimiped the table. 
 
 13. He lives a mile here. 
 
 13. It is ten minutes six. 
 
 14. Will you accept this token? 
 
 15. She is sixty years age. 
 
 16. In compliance your request, we mail you our price 
 
 list. 
 
 17. Working in an office is different attending College. 
 
 18. We got the car. 
 
 19. The boy climbed the chair. 
 
 20. You write differently what you did last year. 
 
 21. The soil is adapted com. 
 
 22. I differ you. 
 
 23. I congratulate you your success. 
 
 Correct. 
 
 1. He died of pneumonia. 
 
 2. I study of evenings. 
 
 3. It is all right in so far as I am concerned. 
 
 4. I arrived on time. 
 
 5. Where is my book at? 
 
 6. Will you accept of this token. 
 
 7. Cut the slice off of the loaf. 
 
 8. He received his pay and fifty cents over. 
 
 9. He is worthy our kindness. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 99 
 
 LESSON XXXVIII. 
 Conjunctions. 
 
 1. A conjunction is a word used to connect words, phrases 
 and clauses; as, ''Grapes and peaches are raised in the 
 Santa Clara Valley." 
 
 Classes. 
 
 Conjunctions are divided into t^vo classes, Co-ordinate and 
 Subordinate. 
 
 Co-ordinate Conjunctions join words, phrases, and clauses of 
 equal rank; as, "J^^^ studied her lesson and Mary practiced 
 her music." 
 
 Subordinate Conjunctions join phrases of unequal rank; as, 
 "When she comes, we shall be ready to go.'* 
 Conjunctions used in pairs are called Correlatives as, "Either 
 she or I will go." 
 
 Aids. 
 
 1. Care should be taken that the proper Correlatives 
 be used together; as, ^'Neither she or I will go," should 
 read "Neither she nor I will go." 
 
 2. "As" is the Correlative of "as" when there is an expres- 
 sion or question of equality ; as, "Tom is as tall as John." 
 
 3. "As" is the Correlative of "so" when an inequality is 
 expressed, or when an infinitive follows, as, "Mary is 
 not so studious as she was last month." 
 
 4. "Then" should not be used for "than" as, "Paul's work is 
 better then (use than) Jean's." 
 
 5. Avoid using the expression, "but what" for "that" ; as, 
 "I do not know but what (use that) she will go." 
 
100 handbook of 
 
 Supply Blank. 
 
 He will try do his duty. 
 
 I shall try answer soon. 
 
 He will not go you do. 
 
 Neither John his brother could go. 
 
 He is a better boy you. 
 
 one will go. 
 
 Correct. 
 
 7. I shall not go except you go also. 
 
 8. I do not know if he will go. 
 
 9. This is not as long as that. 
 
 10. This is not as large as that. 
 
 11. She is so tall as Mary. 
 
 12. This bank is so large as the other. 
 
 Letter. 
 
 Calling attention to an error. 
 
 1. State that you received $34.00 on account, but that the bill 
 rendered shows the total amount to be $34.50. 
 
 2. You hope that the oversight may be rectified. 
 
 LESSON XXXIX. 
 
 Interjections. 
 
 An interjection is a word used to denote strong or sudden 
 emotion. 
 
 Aid. 
 
 The interjection "Oh" should never be used when addressing 
 a person, place or thing — use "O." 
 
commercial english 
 Misused Interjections. '•>• '^» •• 
 
 Oh, Mother come. 
 
 Oh, dear me. 
 
 O, how it pains me. 
 
 Use the Following in Sentences: 
 O Jennie, Alas, Pshaw, Oh, Hurrah, Beware, Stop. 
 
 ' 101 
 
 Exercise. 
 
 Name the Part of Speech as Indicated Below. 
 
 1. There is nothing so strong as truth. 
 
 2. \ zm as tall as you. 
 
 3. No such person as he lives there. 
 
 4. As soon as he comes, I shall go. 
 
 5. Like begets like. 
 
 6. She sings like an angel. 
 
 7. The girl is like her mother. 
 
 8. I like the work. 
 
 9. There is no place like home. 
 
 10. Think before you speak. 
 
 11. We stood before the picture. 
 
 12. Both men will go. 
 
 13. Both went. 
 
 14. They were both tired and hungry. 
 
 15. It is true for she told me. 
 
 16. He bought it for me. 
 
 17. Since you wish it, I shall go. 
 
 18. We have had no rain since June. 
 
 19. I have not seen her since. 
 
 20. I believe that he will succeed. 
 
 21. This is the first one that came. 
 
 22. That knife will do. 
 
102 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 23. V/c know what he wished. 
 
 24. What have you heard ? 
 
 25. What beautiful flowers. 
 
 26. What by study and work I learned it. 
 
 27. ^i^a^' Shall I give up shorthand? No! 
 
 28. I saw the well. 
 
 29. The water wells up. 
 
 30. He did it well. 
 
 31. He is a well boy today. 
 
 32. Well! Well! it's you. 
 
 3Z. If it is true then he can go. 
 
 34. I went then. 
 
 35. Sit a while. 
 
 36. I shall while away the time. 
 
 37. They listened while she spoke. 
 
 38. Though he slay me, yet will I trust him. 
 
 39. We have not yet completed it. 
 
 40. The boy went. 
 
 41. The deeper the well the cooler the water. 
 
 42. The more I study science the better I like it. 
 
 43. All hut him went. 
 
 44. I have made hut this trip. 
 
 45. It is not he hut you. 
 
 46. Neither went. 
 
 47. Either you or I shall go. 
 
 Letter of Censure to an Agent. 
 
 John W. Watkins, Seattle, Washington, is your agent for 
 some article, book, or machine, as you may choose. His orders 
 have decreased in number to such an extent that you find it 
 necessary to call his attention to the fact. In doing so be care- 
 ful not to incur his displeasure. Bear the following hints in 
 mind while composing the letter: — 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 103 
 
 1. Call attention to the few orders sent — with conditions 
 favorable. 
 
 2. Compare the result with previous trips to this territory. 
 
 3. The financial condition of the country is good — there 
 should be an increase, not a decrease in sales. 
 
 4. Ask for an explanation if he has one to give. 
 
 5. Allow him a little time for improvement. 
 
 6. Ask for an early reply. 
 
 Supply the Correct Word. 
 
 1. Keep back thy servant from presumptive — presumptuous 
 sins. 
 
 2. He was certainly presumptuous — presumptive in com- 
 ing to me, an entire stranger, to ask that favor. 
 
 3. I worked in a flour mill previous — previously to my com- 
 ing here. 
 
 4. It is quite — somewhat warm today. 
 
 5. You are quite — entirely welcome. 
 
 6. Rarely ever — if ever, was President McKinley absent 
 from Sunday morning service at church. 
 
 7. There are scarcely — hardly enough books for the choir. 
 
 8. Do you care for those — that sort of plays? 
 
 9. We bought this kind — these kind of oranges. 
 
 LESSON XL. 
 
 Capitalize. 
 
 1. The first word of every sentence; as, "The boy went 
 home." 
 
 2. All proper nouns; as, "He called John to the office." 
 
 3. Every line of poetry: as, 
 
 "Into each life some rain must fall. 
 Some days must be dark and dreary." 
 
104 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 4. The days of the week, and the months of the year ; as, 
 "He comes Monday." "I was born in December." 
 
 5. The points of the compass meaning location; as, *'She 
 will go South for the winter." 
 
 6. I and O, when standing alone; as, "Yes, O mother, you 
 and I are to go." 
 
 7. Oh, when at the beginning of a sentence; as, "Oh, how 
 sad it is I must fail !" 
 
 8. Titles of books, historical events, essays, newspapers, etc., 
 (except articles, prepositions and conjunctions not begin- 
 ning a sentence) ; as, "Uncle Tom's Cabin." "The Civil 
 War." "The San Francisco Chronicle." 
 
 9. Proper adjectives; as, "The American girl is self- 
 reliant.^' If the proper adjective by long usage expresses 
 some quality without reference to original word do "not" 
 capitalize; as, "I like prussian blue for this work." 
 
 10. Titles when preceding the name; as, "President Taft has 
 chosen his cabinet." "The first president of our society 
 was present." 
 
 11. The first word of direct quotation (making complete 
 sense) unless preceded by if, that, or similar words; as 
 Andrew, said "Yes, I am here." 
 
 12. Abbreviations of proper nouns and titles; as, **Wm. 
 James, D. D." 
 
 13. Pronouns referring to the Deity; as, "Christ said He 
 would come again." 
 
 14. Initials; as, "T. J. Smith." 
 
 15. Articles and items in formal bills and business accounts 
 and sums of money; as, "Enclosed find Two Hundred 
 Dollars, for which send the following: 
 
 100 copies "Life of Lincoln." 
 150 copies "War in South Africa." 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 105 
 
 16. The first word of complimentary closing, and both words 
 in salutation, also words denoting a relationship; as 
 "Yours truly," "Dear Sir:" "My dear Friend:" 
 
 17. Religious denominations, business firms, societies, noted 
 eras, and measures; as "Presbyterian." "Merchants Dis- 
 patch." Ladies' Aid." "Middle Ages." "Stamp Act." 
 
 18. Sub-headings; as "Sentences (a.) Simple, (b.) Complex, 
 (c.) Compound." 
 
 19. Words personified; as, "Grim Death stalked through the 
 land.'' 
 
 20. Specific titles when preceded by the proper names; as, 
 "The Rocky Mountains." "Mississippi River." "Geo. B. 
 Cortelyou, Secretary of the Treasury." 
 
 21. Goods handled or manufactured by a concern; as, "Call 
 to see our new Morris Chairs." 
 
 22. Company, when directly referring to a certain firm or 
 corporation; as, "The Linger Company." 
 
 23. Military designations; as, "Company B." 
 
 24. Nicknames; as, "Badger." "Buckeye." 
 
 25. No. and Sec. and use these abbreviations only when fol- 
 lowed by figures, otherwise use these with small letters 
 and spell out; as, "It is fourth in Sec. 2." "I do not find 
 it in this section." 
 
 26. Names of Courts; as, "The Probate Court is in session." 
 
 27. Day, when referring to a holiday; as, "Thanksgiving 
 Day". 
 
 28. Roman Numerals; as, "11", "IV." 
 
 29. Words following a colon, unless the letter is used simply 
 to separate the thought of a sentence the subdivisions of 
 which are separated by a semi-colon; as, "For the follow- 
 ing reasons: First," etc. 
 
 30. The page rarely, if ever, when abbreviated ; as, "p. 24." 
 
106 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 31. The important statement or question; as, "The next ques- 
 tion to be considered is, What shall be done with the 
 case?" 
 
 32. The first word after an exclamation point, if the relation 
 between it and the preceding word is remote ; as, "Look I 
 Here comes the procession." 
 
 33. Farenheit, not centigrade. 
 
 34. Mother, Uncle, General, etc., when used as terms of ad- 
 dress; as, "Mother is coming, General." 
 
 LESSON XLI. 
 Use Proper Capitalization. 
 
 1. the bookkeeper will send a statement. 
 
 2. thomas Jefferson was a good president. 
 
 3. be still, sad heart, and cease repining, 
 behind the cloud is the sun still shining. 
 
 4. friday need not be an unlucky day. 
 
 5. we shall go east in may. 
 
 6. death, where is thy sting. 
 
 7. oh why should he say, oh do not come! 
 
 8. she read little women and old fashioned girl this sum- 
 mer. 
 
 9. do you take scribner's magazine? 
 
 10. the german people are usually industrious. 
 
 11. san jose sent 260 telegrams to president taft relating to 
 the exposition for 1915. 
 
 12. the teacher said, "yes, we require an average of 90 per- 
 cent. 
 
 13. jas t smith was elected president. \ 
 
 14. o lord, how excellent is thy name. 
 
 15. his order called for 2 pes. merrimac prints 50 yd. fancy 
 gingham. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 107 
 
 16. the letter closed with the words yours sincerely. 
 
 17. she claimed to be a baptist. 
 
 18. he was a prohibitionist for many years. 
 
 19. the boston tea party was referred to in his speech. 
 
 20. the paper was arranged as follows: 
 
 21. as fear arose, terror seized us all. 
 
 22. step aside, see honor cometh. 
 
 23. we crossed the mississippi river. 
 
 24. we climbed the rocky mts last year. 
 
 25. he was puritanical in his family government. 
 
 26. she displayed Stoical fortitude. 
 
 27. we call your attention to our fine line of persian rugs. 
 
 28. the omaha furniture company won the prize. 
 
 29. much enthusiasm was aroused as company g marched down 
 the street. 
 
 30. having been born in iowa i am known as a hawkeye. 
 
 31. the lease will be found on p. 9, sec. 12. 
 
 32. the circuit court sits early in the week. 
 
 33. the accident occurred on Christmas day. 
 
 34. we are to study chaps. V, VI, and VII today. 
 
 35. he read the following statements: 
 first the lesson is important. 
 
 second it is required for the completion of the work. 
 
 36. he said the question *'what is to be done for her develop- 
 ment?" is causing me much anxiety. 
 
 37. you will find the lesson on p. 42. 
 
 38. hurrah the snow is falling! According to farenheit the 
 mercury registered today 10 degrees below zero. 
 
 39. i am to take a position as bookkeeper for uncle. 
 
 40. if god be for us, who can be against us? 
 
 41. he went west. 
 
 42. his conduct was puritanical in the extreme. 
 
 43. he was possessed of satanic spirit. 
 
108 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 44. he quoted to me this proverb : where there's a will, there's 
 a way. 
 
 45. our teacher often repeated this sentence: "there is no 
 royal road to learning." 
 
 46. if "want of care does us more damage than want of 
 knowledge," our careless ways ought to be diligently re- 
 formed. 
 
 47. it is reported that senator brown will speak to-day. 
 
 48. richard the lionhearted was king of england. 
 
 49. his place of residence is the hotel Windsor. 
 
 Use of Words. 
 
 Endemic, disease, one that is peculiar to the people of a par- 
 ticular nation or community. Epidemic is a disease in which 
 the cause acts upon a large number of people at the same time. 
 Envious denotes a feeling of unhappiness caused by the con- 
 templation of any good enjoyed by another. Jealous indicates 
 envy mixed with rivalry. One is jealous of another when the 
 latter stands in some relation to a third which the former 
 wishes to occupy. Extraordinary pertains to that which is out 
 of the ordinary. Remarkable denotes something that causes 
 remark. 
 
 Period. 
 
 The Period should be used: 
 
 1. After every complete declarative or imperative sentence; 
 
 as, "His stenographer is ill." "Come quickly or we shall 
 
 miss the car." 
 
 2. After abbreviate^! words and initials; as, "J as. R. 
 Thomas." 
 
 3. After Roman numerals; as, Chap. VI. 
 
 4. After letters used to denote titles; as, "Francis Summers, 
 M. D." 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 109 
 
 5. After titles, headings and side-heads, but may be omitted 
 from title pages and after Arabic numerals, unless used 
 in an enumeration of particulars; as, "The bones of the 
 
 '^ body are divided as follows: 
 
 1. The bones of the Head. 
 
 2. The bones of the Trunk. 
 
 3. The bones of the Limbs." 
 
 6. After lettered headings; as, "The subject will be given 
 the following divisions: 
 
 (a.) 
 (b.) 
 (c.)" 
 
 Exercise. 
 Punctuate. 
 
 1. She is a member of the W C T U 
 
 2. He has received the degree of DD MD and LL D 
 
 3. He took the train at 2 P M 
 
 4. He read chapter I II III in an hour 
 
 5. the chairman of the Ex Com of the Nat Temp Soc rose 
 to speak 
 
 6. The following subdivisions of the topic were discussed 
 a b c 
 
 7. Dr Robt B Smith Jr 
 
 8. Henry V of England 
 
 9. On the 5th of Jan 1856 the vessel while off the N W 
 coast of N A was lost 
 
 10. Robt Jones Sen was the son of Col Henry Jones of Wil- 
 mington Del 
 
 11. thomas williams esq was bom in sacremento calif 
 
 12. his lecture was arranged under the following heads (a) 
 (b) (c) 
 
 13. the airship descended off the N W coast of N A 
 
110 HANDBOOK OP 
 
 14. he has been appointed to a clerkship in the P O depart- 
 ment of san jose 
 
 15. chas V of Spain is well known in history 
 
 Letter Asking Favor. 
 
 1. State that you have just completed a model of a type- 
 writer attachment which is superior to anything on the 
 market. 
 
 2. That you are financially imable to begin the manufacture 
 of the same, and desire capital. 
 
 3. Ask if he would loan $6,000 at 6 per cent. 
 
 4. State that you will give as security a farm in the southern 
 part of the State. 
 
 LESSON XLII. 
 
 Use of Words. 
 
 Female pertains to the sex opposed to male. Effeminate re- 
 fers to traits of woman found in men. Feminine pertains to 
 womanly traits. Beautiful is applied to persons and other ob- 
 jects of either sight or sound. Handsome implies the idea of 
 strength and size in addition to attractiveness. Pretty is ap- 
 plied to objects of small size. Beneficent denotes largeness of 
 bounty. It is restricted to Divine giving. Generous denotes a 
 mental disposition to give whether one possesses the means or 
 not. It applies to other possessions than money. Benevolent 
 refers to people rather than acts. A benevolent person will 
 avoid doing injury, and aim to benefit where possible. Liberal 
 denotes a character which gives largely when it does give. Prod- 
 igal indicates a love of large and excessive expenditures. A per- 
 son may be extravagant, but not prodigal for lack of means. 
 Extravagant denotes a wandering beyond. One may be extrav- 
 agant in the expenditure of money, in speech, in compliments. 
 
commercial english 111 
 
 Quotation Marks. 
 
 Quotation marks should be used: — 
 /. To enclose the exact words of another; as, Mary said, 
 "Here is the book." If, however, the quotation is indirect, 
 none are used ; as, Mary said she would bring the book. 
 
 2. With a small letter if the quotation is preceded by if, that 
 unless, etc., as, "If," he said, "industry is the road to 
 success, then I am in sight of the goal." 
 
 3. Around a single word or group of words, not complete; 
 but the first word does not begin with a capital ; as. His 
 last words were "many mansions." 
 
 4. Before each of several successive formal paragraphs and 
 after the last only ; as, The Constitution states the follow- 
 ing duties of the treasurer: 
 
 "1. To collect all duties. 
 
 "2. To pay such bills as are approved by the Secretary. 
 "3. To collect such fines as are imposed for non-at- 
 tendance." 
 
 5. At the beginning of every stanza of poetry and at the end 
 of the last stanza unless the author's name is appended. 
 
 6. Around each part of a broken quotation : as, "John," said 
 the teacher, "bring the book from the table." 
 
 7. Around titles of books, newspapers, periodicals, etc., un- 
 less written in italics or capitals; as. She subscribed for 
 "The Ladies Home Journal." 
 
 8. Singly around a quotation within a quotation ; as, I heard 
 her say, "Yes, his exact words were, *I paid $2167.20 for 
 the land.' " 
 
 Q. If Still another quotation is enclosed; as, I found the 
 words on the fly leaf of his book, "Some one has said, 
 'What a world of wisdom is contained in the words, "The 
 grave is not the goal." ' " 
 
112 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 10. Outside of all punctuation marks except in case of inter- 
 rogation and exclamation points, which are governed by 
 special rules ; as, "Come," he said. 
 
 11. As commercial signs for inches and singly for feet. The 
 same is true of seconds and minutes of longitude; as 
 
 4' 5'^ — 4ft. 5 inches. 
 6' 30''— -6 Min. 30 Sec. 
 
 12. Singly around a quotation not quoted word for word, Ex. : 
 'All may not be gold that glitters.' 
 
 LESSON XLIII. 
 Use OF Words. 
 
 Hard, a task is hard when it involves physical labor. Diifi- 
 cult, a difficult undertaking requires great mental effort for its 
 execution. Righteous, the righteous man is one who believes 
 in a practical application of a religious creed and tries to live 
 up to his belief. Godly, a godly man is one who communes 
 with God, in prayer, meditation and the study of God's word. 
 Garrulous denotes being unduly talkative about others' affairs 
 rather than our own. Loquacious denotes the habit of talking 
 continuously. Talkative, implies a desire to engage in conver- 
 sation with others as well as to others. 
 
 For Punctuation — Quotation Marks. 
 
 1. We notice that you say bronze caskets with steel handles 
 but we think you mean steel caskets with bronze handles. 
 
 2. You know the old saying All is not gold that glitters do 
 you not? 
 
 3. He said Economy is the road to wealth. 
 
 4. What does he know about economy I should like to know. 
 
_ COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 113 
 
 5. In the first place said my father I hope you will remem- 
 ber the old saying A rolling stone gathers no moss and 
 not make the mistake of needlessly going from place to 
 place. 
 
 6. We think the whole affair is a fake. 
 
 7. Cambridge has given us three noted writers Holmes who 
 is known as the Autocrat Lowell whose quaint Yankee 
 humor sparkles in the Biglow Papers and the gentle 
 author of Evangeline our loved and lamented Long- 
 fellow. 
 
 8. The Bible opens with the words In the beginning God 
 created the heavens and the earth. 
 
 9. The line The path of glory leads but to the grave is found 
 in Grays Elegy. 
 
 10. Since the path of glory like all others leads only to the 
 grave we should not cherish it too highly. 
 
 11. Friends said he I come not here to talk. 
 
 12. His words rang out loud and clear wet the ropes. 
 
 13. Miss Gary said 
 
 Do not look for wrong or evil 
 You will find it if you do 
 As you measure for your neighbor 
 He will measure back to you 
 
 Look for goodness look for gladness 
 You will find them all the while 
 If you bring a smiling visage 
 To the glass you meet a smile 
 
 14. There is no better guide for human conduct than the 
 Golden Rule whatsoever ye would that men should do to 
 you do ye even so to them. 
 
114 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 15. A teacher asked what is the holiday tomorrow Decoration 
 Day was the reply in a shout For what do we have deco- 
 ration day To decorate soldiers graves said several Why 
 should they decorate One little fellow said If you please 
 sir I think it is because they are dead. 
 
 16. Did you hear that noise said he. 
 
 17. I did not know she said why he asked me to do this task 
 
 18. If honesty is the best policy then he is following the right 
 course 
 
 19. That a rolling stone gathers no moss was his favorite 
 maxim. 
 
 20. Sunset is his favorite magazine 
 
 21. Come said Mary let me read his message come at once 
 
 22. All things come to him who waits is frequently quoted 
 
 23. These were Longfellow's words life is real life is earnest 
 
 24. There are loyal hearts there are spirits brave 
 there are souls that are pure and true 
 
 then give to the world the best you have 
 and the best will come back to you 
 
 give love and love to your life will flow 
 a strength in your utmost need 
 have faith and a score of hearts will show 
 their faith in your word and deed. 
 
 LESSON XLIV. 
 
 Proceeding is a complex action whose steps may be dis- 
 tinguished separately. Procedure is the act of proceeding. 
 Proposal is something put forth or laid down for acceptance or 
 rejection by another. Proposition is a statement, or affirmation 
 or a denial. It implies something to be deliberated upon; a 
 proposal, something to be done. Relative, a relative is one con- 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 115 
 
 nected with another by blood or marriage. Relation is used in 
 an abstract sense, only; as, "what are his relations to the com- 
 munity." Requirement is something needed by a person or per- 
 sons. Requisite is something needed by the nature of the case, 
 to give completeness. Sewage is the contents of sewers. Sew- 
 erage has reference to the system employed in carrying sewage. 
 
 The Exclamation Point Should Be Placed : 
 
 1. After words or clauses which express surprise, or sudden 
 
 emotion; as, Oh! 
 3. After words of emphatic or solemn address ; as. Venerable 
 
 men ! you are right. 
 
 3. After each of several successive exclamations when the 
 thought is complete, and the word following the exclama- 
 tion mark should begin with a small letter. Ex. : "How 
 crisp the morning air! how invigorating!" 
 
 4. After the last of several successive exclamatory ex- 
 pressions, when the sense is complete only in the last mem- 
 ber of the sentence ; as, "How crisp, how invigorating, how 
 inspiring, the morning air !" 
 
 5. Within parenthesis to indicate contempt. 
 
 Honor (!) Do not talk of his honor (!) to me. 
 
 6. After a clause of invocation. "Father in Heaven ! hear our 
 prayer." 
 
 7. Within a quotation, if the exclamation refers only to 
 words quoted otherwise outside. He said, "How grand is 
 the scene!" How inspiring are the words, "The darkest 
 hour is the one before the dawning !" 
 
 8. After an exclamatory interrogative sentence, if exclama- 
 tory in nature and no answer is required : as, "Oh, how can 
 I bear it!" 
 
 9. After the Interjection, if an answer is expected ; as, "Oh ! 
 Where do you think I will find him?" 
 
 No mark of punctuation follows "O". 
 
•116 handbook of 
 
 Exercise. 
 
 1. Oh where can rest be found 
 
 2. O the times O the seasons O the morals of the day 
 
 3. O John are these rewards not worth effort 
 
 4. God bless the bonny highlanders she cried 
 
 5. Oh that your minds were interested in this subject 
 
 6. Alas noble spirit that this should be thy lot 
 7- Welcome noble defenders of your country 
 S. Oh where shall rest be found 
 
 9. Here comes the pride of the regiment 
 
 10. What endurance was exhibited in that humble home what 
 unselfishness what heroism what purity what faith 
 
 11. What endurance what unselfishness what heroism what 
 purity what faith was exhibited in that humble home 
 
 12. What neatness what precision what faithfulness was shown 
 in her domestic science work. 
 
 13. What neatness was shown in her typewriting practice 
 what precision what faithfulness 
 
 14. He said hearken to my words 
 
 15. How inspiring are the words I will never leave thee nor 
 forsake thee 
 
 16. The first words that greeted our ears were welcome friends 
 welcome 
 
 17. Yes the college graduate spelled advice with an "s" 
 
 18. Stand for the right fight if need be but never give up 
 
 19. What satisfaction comes to the competent assistant what 
 confidence what assurance 
 
 20. What satisfaction what confidence what assurance comes 
 to the competent assistant 
 
 21. Oh friend she cried do secure release 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 117 
 
 LESSON XLV. 
 
 The Interrogation Point Should be Used: 
 
 1. After every direct question; as, Are you going now? 
 
 2. When the declarative form is used in asking a question 
 and the rising inflection is given at the close; as, Your 
 name is John? 
 
 3. After a direct question is quoted, and "inside" quotation 
 marks ; as, The question "What shall I do with my place?" 
 is troubling me. 
 
 4. After each of several direct questions when the sense is 
 closely connected, and the thought is complete in each ; 
 using a small letter for the beginning of the following 
 words; as, "Shall truth triumph in this cause? shall 
 righteousness? shall love?" 
 
 5. After the last of several successive questions when the 
 thought is not complete until the close; as, "Shall truth, 
 shall righteousness, shall love, triumph in this cause?" 
 
 6. In a parenthesis to express doubt ; as, 
 
 "The first-class stenographer ( ?) spelled referring with 
 one "r". 
 
 7. Within the quotation, if the point refers only to words 
 quoted, otherwise outside; as, He said, "Do you mean it?" 
 Did he say, "You may remain" ? 
 
 Exercise. 
 
 1. Why do you sit amid the sad surroundings of this gods 
 acre said he 
 
 2. When will you come said Walter I wish it would be today 
 
 3. His remark was why do you go today 
 
 4. Was his remark must you go or will you go. 
 
 5. What is the meaning of all this excitement of all this 
 tumult of all this confusion 
 
118 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 6. Whither now are fled those happy days those joyous nights 
 that made life glad 
 
 7. Where are those precious hours those golden moments that 
 I wasted in early life 
 
 8. Do you study hard do you wish to succeed do you think 
 you are doing all possible 
 
 9. When I become president of the united states shall I give 
 you a position 
 
 10. Shall treachery triumph in this decision shall robbery shall 
 assassination shall murder 
 
 11. Shall treachery shall robbery shall assassination shall mur- 
 der triumph in this decision 
 
 12. When did the accident occur how where 
 
 13. When did we see you persecuted and did not hasten to your 
 assistance 
 
 14. you are ill today 
 
 15. She asked do you mean to be a coward and give up the 
 high-school course and I said no 
 
 16. She asked me if I meant to be a coward and give up the 
 plan of the college course and I quickly answered in the 
 negative 
 
 17. Do you keep your machine clean was the next question 
 asked by the prospective employer 
 
 18. Then came the following questions: Is it your purpose 
 to be loyal to your employer to study to make your interest 
 his to become in every sense a needed office assistant. 
 
 19. Shall carelessness shall discourtesy shall indolence shall 
 disloyalty to your employers interests continue to charac- 
 terize your work. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 119 
 
 LESSON XLVI. 
 Words: How to Use Them. 
 
 Receive, to take one's own, as a letter. Accept, to take to 
 one's self. We receive our own, we accept what others 
 offer us. Recline, to lean back. Repose, to recline or to 
 place one's self in such a position as will be comfortable ; a face 
 may be in repose. Relieve, to remove or take away. Alleviate 
 to lighten or lessen. That which takes away pain, relieves it; 
 that which affords ease from pain alleviates it. Share, to divide 
 into parts and give those parts to others reserving one or more 
 for ourselves. Divide, to separate into parts. Distribute, to 
 give all the parts to others. Shut means to bring the parts so 
 close together that nothing can pass in or out. Close is to bring 
 the parts together. One may close a book before a friend or 
 shut a door in the face of an agent. Lawful denotes in accord- 
 dance with law, whether civil or moral. Legal denotes con- 
 formity to civil law. Noted refers to that which is well and 
 favorably known. Notorious expresses public knowledge that 
 is usually unfavorable. 
 
 Colon. 
 
 1. A colon should be used before a formal enumeration of 
 particulars, or a direct quotation, when introduced by 
 "this, these, as follows," etc., as "The order reads as fol- 
 lows:" 
 
 2. When the quotation is long and should commence another 
 paragraph, a dash may be used after the colon. 
 
 3. A colon is used to separate two members of a sentence 
 when either or both of the members are subdivided by 
 semicolons. Ex. : "Him that is wise, observe ; him that is 
 good, copy : so shall thy life be both wise and just." 
 
120 • HANDBOOK OF 
 
 4. A colon should separate two members of a compound sen- 
 tence, when the conjunction is omitted, if the connection 
 is not close enough for a comma or semicolon, as, "The 
 battle is not to the strong alone : it is to the vigilant, the 
 active, the brave." 
 
 5. A colon should be used between hour and minutes when ex- 
 pressed in figures, 9:10 A. M. 
 
 6. If the main title of a book is followed by an explanatory 
 title, if the word "or" is omitted, a colon should precede 
 the latter ; as, "The subject of my book will be, MAN- 
 UAL OF COMPOSITION AND PUNCTUATION : A 
 TEXT BOOK FOR BUSINESS COLLEGES. 
 
 7. A colon should follow the salutation in a letter. Dear Sir: 
 
 Letter Soliciting Partner. 
 
 L Write to Charles H. Wilson, 
 45 Garfield St., 
 
 Oswego, New York. 
 
 2. Tell him that you have been conducting a retail drug 
 business. 
 
 3. That your business is so extensive that you need a partner. 
 
 4. That your acquaintance with his fine business qualities and 
 his thorough knowledge of the drug business makes him 
 seem to you desirable. 
 
 5. Assure him of your favorable location for a wholesale 
 business, being in a railroad center with extensive shipping 
 facilities. 
 
 6. Ask for an early reply to your proposition ; use the follow- 
 ing as guide: 
 
 Dear Sir : 
 
 For several years I have been conducting a retail drug busi- 
 ness in this city. The increase in my trade makes it neces- 
 sary for me to secure a partner. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 121 
 
 I am convinced that you have not only a thorough knowledge 
 of the drug business, but that you possess the qualities that go 
 to make a first-class salesman. It is my conviction that you 
 are just the man I need to help me build up a large wholesale 
 business. 
 
 This location is very favorable because of the large shipping 
 facilities, being a railroad center, and I see a very promising 
 future for us in the drug business. 
 
 Trusting that you will consider this proposition and favor 
 me with an early reply, I am 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 Exercise. 
 Insert the Colon. 
 
 1. In his last moments he uttered the following words Don't 
 give up the ship. 
 
 2. Trains arrive at 8 40 A. M. and 10 15 P. M. 
 
 3. The following goods were ordered 101 lbs of Sugar 51 
 lbs of lard 5 1 lbs table salt. 
 
 4. I cannot do that for two reasons first I have not the neces- 
 sary capital to carry on the business second I am not well 
 enough acquainted with the details. 
 
 5. The Declaration of Independence begins when in the 
 course of human events. 
 
 6. The subject of my new book is She Stoops to Conquer the 
 Mistakes of a Night. 
 
 7. He said Apply yourself to study it will redound to your 
 honor. 
 
 8. The battle is not to the strong alone it is to the vigilant 
 the active and the strong. 
 
 9. Thus she gave vent to her Joy Joy Joy forever my task is 
 done. 
 
122 HANDBOOK OP 
 
 10. Learn this important lesson yourself do not let others learn 
 it before you and instead of you. 
 
 11. Her book Correct English How to Use It was well pre- 
 pared. 
 
 12. The reasons given for the Stenographers failure were as 
 follows he would continue to come to the office after the 
 appointed hour he turned out untidy transcripts because he 
 would not clean his machine his work was frequently in- 
 terrupted by messages from his friends over the telephone 
 he cared more for a ball game than for the interests of his 
 employer. 
 
 13. He quoted the following Talent is only long patience and 
 I thought if his words are true then why not stick to my 
 task. 
 
 14. She impressed upon the minds of her students that their 
 work must possess the following requisites accuracy neat- 
 ness correct punctuation and spelling. 
 
 15. An attempt to learn shorthand without study is useless to 
 learn touch typing by looking at the hands is a failure if 
 you wish to make a success of both application to study 
 and conscientious typewriting practice are absolute es- 
 sentials. 
 
 16. To rule one's anger is well to prevent it is better. 
 
 17. Do not be discouraged over your work persistent effort 
 will bring results. 
 
 18. He treated the subject under three heads first, the past 
 second the present and third the future. 
 
 Bring into class one example of each of the above rules. 
 
 Supply the Proper Words. 
 
 1. The boldness of the assertion statement invited 
 
 doubt. 
 
 2. He could not understand the allusion illusion. 
 
 3. This man is the victim of an elusion delusion. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 123 
 
 4. Henr/s essay assay indicated his ability. 
 
 5. John Smith was thrown out of a team carriage 
 
 Sunday night. 
 
 LESSON XLVII. 
 Supply the Proper Words. 
 
 1. A flower bed occupied the middle — center of the yard. 
 
 2. The colonel thought the compliment — complement to the 
 regiment would give the men a new incentive. 
 
 3. There is a legitimate place in business life for confidence 
 — confidants. 
 
 4. The conscience — consciousness of a sincere Christian is 
 sensitive. 
 
 5. His remarks were a complement — compliment to what has 
 been said. 
 
 6. Each one of them expressed his — their opinion. 
 
 7. Neither boy treated his — their parents with respect. 
 
 8. Everybody do — does as he pleases — they please. 
 
 9. The defeat of W. J. Bryan in 1896 was owing — due to a 
 widespread belief in the dishonor that would follow the 
 adoption of "Free Silver." 
 
 Write a Letter of Information. 
 
 1. Make inquiry of Dr. D. Anderson, Kansas City, Mo., re- 
 garding Mr. Walter Bower, of St. Joseph, Mo., as to 
 character, ability and experience. 
 
 2. Request a frank statement as to Mr. Bower's qualifications 
 to fill the said position. 
 
 3. Assure him of your confidence. 
 
 4. Express regret for any inconvenience your request may 
 cause. 
 
124 handbook of 
 
 Rules for the Semicolon. 
 
 1. A semicolon may separate members of a compound sen- 
 tence too closely connected for a colon, and not close 
 enough to require a comma. "There is no royal road to 
 success; industry is essential if its attainment is desired." 
 
 2. A semicolon often separates the members of compound 
 sentences punctuated with commas. "The times of rest, 
 freedom from care, came at last ; he said it came too late." 
 
 3. A semicolon usually precedes such words as "namely", 
 "as", "to wit", "thus," etc. "Three essentials to success 
 were given; namely, purpose, earnestness, and industry." 
 
 4. Semicolons or commas may be used to separate the ex- 
 pressions in a series dependent upon an introductory or a 
 final clause, except preceding the one upon which the 
 others depend, when a colon, a semicolon, or a comma and 
 a dash may be used ; as, "If you succeed as a stenographer ; 
 if you make yourself needed by the business man ; if you 
 become a member of the firm: then every effort must be 
 put forth to lay a good foundation." 
 
 5. A sentence complete in itself followed by a clause added 
 as explanation or reason, may be followed by a semicolon. 
 "Apply yourself to study; for it will redound to your 
 honor." 
 
 Insert Semicolon. 
 
 1. Character is what we are reputation is what others think 
 we are. 
 
 2. It is one thing to be well informed it is another thing to be 
 wise. 
 
 3. Example is better than precept inspiration is better than 
 instruction. 
 
 4. The apostles were not chosen on account of their superior 
 abilities education or rank of society but that they were 
 chosen wisely their subsequent history abundantly attests. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 125 
 
 5. Four things are desirable for a good place of residence 
 good soil good climate pure air and pure water. 
 
 6. We have three great bulwarks viz schools colleges and 
 universities. 
 
 7. There are three roads commonly leading to want and 
 wretchedness namely idleness intemperance and crime. 
 
 8. Suffering is the common lot of humanity therefore be pre- 
 pared to meet it bravely. 
 
 9. Industry is essential to success there is no royal road. 
 
 10. The rain which was falling came down in torrents women 
 shrieked and ran and men grew pale and fearful terror 
 seized them all. 
 
 11 The perfect purity of the air one breathes the alluring 
 landscape that meets the eye the sense of security as the 
 waves lash the shore all these made it an ideal spot for 
 tired nerves. 
 
 12. There is no promise of success to the sluggard work hard 
 work and self sacrifice must be paid. 
 
 13. John quoted the following life is real life is earnest. 
 
 14. The time for lessons school day pleasures freedom from 
 business cares went quickly alas they passed too quickly. 
 
 15. There are five essentials he said for a successful business 
 man industry punctuality honesty faithfulness and reli- 
 ability. 
 
 16. Time properly spent will mean success success properly 
 directed means a well-spent life. 
 
 LESSON XLVIII. 
 
 Insert Proper Word. 
 
 1. Emigration — Immigration has reduced the population of 
 Ireland. 
 
 2. The influence of a pure home — house is a trusty anchor in 
 the storm of temptation. 
 
126 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 3. The invention — discovery of gold in California, in 1849, 
 was of international significance. 
 
 4. A choice lot — number of silks will be sold. 
 
 5. The doctor's patients — patience with his patience — 
 patients was remarkable. 
 
 6. China is a populous — populace country. 
 
 7. The production — produce — products were unknown to 
 the old world before the discovery of America. 
 
 Comma. 
 Rule I. 
 
 Words or phrases in a series are separated by commas. Usu- 
 ally a comma is used before the conjunction placed before the 
 last noun, unless the latter is closer in thought to the remainder 
 of the sentence. Ex. : Apples, peaches, grapes, and apricots 
 are raised in Santa Clara Valley. 
 
 Exercise. 
 
 1. Rebuffed scorned ridiculed hissed down in the House of 
 Commons Disraeli did not give up. 
 
 2. In Dante's time nearly every literary man in Italy was a 
 hardworking merchant physician statesman judge or soldier. 
 
 3. It is left for each by the cultivation of every talent by 
 watching with an eagle's eye for every chance of im- 
 provement by redeeming time defying temptation and 
 scorning sensual pleasures to make himself useful honored 
 and happy. 
 
 4. The perusal of a book the execution of a model or the 
 superintendency of a water-wheel of his own construction 
 absorbed Isaac Newton's boyhood days. 
 
 5. From every bush from every fence from cannon and mus- 
 kets a pitiless storm poured upon the retreating British. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 127 
 
 6. God is seen in the growth of the grass in the movement of 
 the stars in the warbling of the lark in the thunder of 
 heaven. 
 
 7. Give and it shall be given unto you good measure pressed 
 down shaken together and running over. 
 
 8. Read not to contradict and confute not to believe and 
 take for granted not to find talk and discourse but to 
 weigh and consider. 
 
 9. Many so-called good-for-nothing boys blockheads num- 
 skulls dullards or dunces were only boys out of their 
 places round boys forced into square holes. 
 
 10. Hotel de Paris Marseilles France April 17, 1902. 
 
 11. Stones grow vegetables grow and live animals grow live 
 and feel. 
 
 12. In business there is something more than barter exchange 
 price payment there is a sacred faith of man in man. 
 
 13. The chief exports are tobacco gold silver hides and coal. 
 
 14. They are engaged in the manufacture of light articles 
 such as textile goods jewelry fancy bric-a-brac etc. 
 
 15. The rains descended the floods came and the winds blew 
 and beat upon the house and it fell and great was the 
 fall thereof. 
 
 16. Wine is a mocker strong drink is raging and whosoever is 
 deceived thereby is not wise. 
 
 17. The successful carpenter ship-builder stone-mason and 
 machinist will tell you the road they traveled was not an 
 easy one. 
 
 18. Rising early in the morning eating meals regularly taking 
 proper exercise working industriously maintaining a clear 
 conscience all these help to make a man happy and 
 healthy. 
 
 19. Why are the Harvard football players not allowed to 
 drink smoke and sit up late at night? 
 
128 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 LESSON XLIX. 
 
 Rule 2. If the last word of a series is an adjective, no 
 comma is needed. Ex. : He is a faithful, energetic, progressive 
 man. 
 
 Rule 3. When the first of two adjectives modifies the idea 
 expressed by the second adjective and noun, it is not set off by 
 a comma. Ex. : He strained his eyes towards the "two" "slight" 
 figures. 
 
 Rule 4. When the first of two (or more) adjectives modi- 
 fies the noun alone, it is set off by a comma. Ex. : The "salt," 
 "moist" air was borne to him through the open window. 
 
 EXERCISE. 
 
 1. A moment later he heard her flit down the corridor and 
 heard John open the heavy outer door. 
 
 2. It lay before him like a great glassy lake, etc. 
 
 3. This gentle shrinking Southern child whom he had loved 
 and smothered with roses this tender clinging girl who 
 trusted him so implicitly was no longer his sweetheart but 
 his helpmate. 
 
 4. At the sun's first gleam Henry Stanford had awaked with 
 a joyous heart. 
 
 5. Its glassy surface rippled now and then by the dipping 
 buckets etc. or by the quick water-spider strokes of some 
 lobster-fishermen. 
 
 6. At Stanford's request three short bells sounded in the 
 engine-room below and the yacht quivered along her 
 entire length as she doubled her speed. 
 
 7. Soon the broad white sails were flying in the breeze. 
 
 8. The industrious energetic faithful bright eyed boy is the 
 one I wish. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 129 
 
 9. The raw east wind so chilled us that we searched for a 
 farm along the rough dreary road. 
 
 10. The long difficult lesson was learned at last. 
 
 11. Thus he wrote He was a great good noble man. 
 
 12. An earnest persistent undaunted student is bound to suc- 
 ceed. 
 
 13. The poor old man was run over by a train. 
 
 14. Of late her pale blue eyes seemed sadder than usual. 
 
 15. The large square envelope was addressed in a clear round 
 hand. 
 
 16. The quaint reticent girl grew suddenly daring. 
 
 17. The boy gave a quick short pull to the rope. 
 
 18. The low sweet voice was wafted over the wave. 
 
 19. James Brown the handsome young son of the Judge is 
 taking a medical course. 
 
 20. She had beautiful long hair. 
 
 21. He was found a tall broad shouldered young student. 
 
 22. She contracted a heavy cold standing on the uncomfort- 
 able damp ground. 
 
 23. The child was a loyal little play fellow. 
 
 24. The peaceful sea lay before him suggestive of the better 
 higher life to be possessed by each of us. 
 
 25. The beautiful fragrant flowers made the place seem en- 
 chanted. 
 
 26. She wore a dark blue dress. 
 
 27. The butterflies appeared to be stemless floating velvet 
 blossoms. 
 
 28. The empty comfortable hammock was very inviting in 
 the dense cool shade. 
 
 Comma. 
 
 RULE 5. Parenthetical words, phrases, and clauses should 
 be separated by commas ; as, "I shall, in all prob- 
 ability, see you Monday." 
 
130 handbook of 
 
 Punctuate. 
 
 1. Punctuation like other matters should be governed by 
 common sense. 
 
 2. Luther in his despondency used to seize his flute and re- 
 vive his spirits with its strains saying the devil hates good 
 music. 
 
 3. Every one must of course think his own opinions right 
 but there is a wide difference between regarding ourselves 
 as infallible and being firmly convinced of the truth of 
 our creed. 
 
 4. From this of course it follows that in an ideally-massed 
 sentence the most significant words come close to the 
 periods. 
 
 5. No one however is likely to write even a page on any 
 subject without pausing to rearrange the sentences. 
 
 6. Better than all other means of increasing the vocabulary 
 however is writing. 
 
 7. Take for instance this sentence. 
 
 8. Absurdly enough human vanity comes in here. 
 
 9. This experience it is true may be actually in the imagina- 
 tion only. 
 
 10. There is too that sense of restfulness that belongs to the 
 twilight coolness. 
 
 11. Public opinion like the tide rises and falls at regular 
 intervals. 
 
 12. For words after all are tools of literary men. 
 
 13. There is then but one course to pursue. 
 
 14. What said he is the right thing to do. 
 
 15. In fact we should rely a little more upon ourselves each 
 day. 
 
 16. Yes of course it takes time to bring your life up square. 
 
 1 7. The aim if reached or not makes great the life. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 131 
 
 18. "Oh could you find Tomorrow please" said little Dimple- 
 
 chin. 
 The loveliest things are happening tomorrow. 
 Don't you know? 
 I never quite catch up with it 
 However fast I go. 
 
 19. Go forth I say attain attain. 
 
 20. "Half the joy of life," said Dr. Jordon is in little things 
 taken on the run. 
 
 21. Now if you will but listen I shall gladly tell you of my 
 work, 
 
 22. All this it is true may be the case but I doubt it. 
 
 23. Perhaps I shall go. 
 
 24. I shall perhaps go. 
 
 25. Undoubtedly he will succeed. 
 
 26. He will undoubtedly succeed. 
 
 27. Broadly speaking the office of punctuation is to empha- 
 size. 
 
 28. Napoleon The Little Corporal was brought to France on 
 the Bellerophon. 
 
 29. So too the ancient worship of a storm-god arose from un- 
 conscious personification. 
 
 30. The dream of Joseph for instance seemed to him more 
 than a dream it was a message from God. 
 
 31. In short the main purpose of this exercise is to teach you 
 one use of the comma. 
 
 LESSON L. 
 
 Comma. 
 
 Rule 6. Words in apposition should be separated by com- 
 mas ; as, Harry, my elder brother, is attending college. 
 Rule 7. Words used in direct address should be separated 
 
132 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 by commas; as, "Jo^^> close the door." 
 
 Rule 8. Words repeated for emphasis should be set off by 
 commas; as, "Verily, verily, I say unto you." 
 
 Punctuate. 
 
 1. Martin Luther the great German reformer made his fam- 
 ous defense before Charles V at the diet of worms in 1521. 
 
 2. Our representative Mr. Cutting who is a new man in your 
 territory expects to call on you next week. 
 
 3. You must not forget young man that talent is only long 
 patience. 
 
 4. Take her O Bridegroom old and gray. 
 
 5. Flag of the brave thy folds shall fly the sign of triumph. 
 
 6. Father I have sinned against Heaven. 
 
 7. Safety safety I beg of you. 
 
 8. Surely surely this is a solemn moment. 
 
 9. Why why should he do it. 
 
 10. Never no never shall I yield to discouragement. 
 
 11. There there child dry your tears mama's coming. 
 
 12. James the postman left a letter. 
 
 13. Mr. Simmons the bookkeeper is an expert in his line. 
 
 14. The truth the truth sir I want nothing but the truth. 
 
 15. Mary did you prepare the lesson. 
 
 16. Miss Ruth Boyce the librarian is an able scholar. 
 
 17. Rev. Mr. Brown the minister of that church is taking a 
 vacation from his arduous duties. 
 
 18. Can it be can it be that I have been deceived. 
 
 19. Yes sir I am coming at once. 
 
 20. No sir she would never make such a blunder were she a 
 competent assistant. 
 
 21. The goods you ordered, groceries and fruit will be for- 
 warded in a day or two. 
 
 22. My favorite fruits grapes pears and peaches are on the 
 table. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 133 
 
 23. We boarded the Illinois the new man-of-war. 
 
 24. Gold our medium of exchange is changing hands rapidly. 
 
 Words. 
 How TO USE Them. 
 
 Pliant, that which is capable of bending. Pliable, that which 
 may be readily bent, a whipstock is pliant, but a whiplash is 
 pliable. Ravenous, Voracious, both these words apply to the 
 matter of appetite. A voracious animal is one that eats large 
 quantities of food ; a ravenous animal is one that eats with great 
 haste, usually because hunger has been increased by priva- 
 tion. Scarce, things are scarce when they can be had only in 
 less quantity than usual. Rare, things are rare when only a 
 few of the kind exist. Sensible expresses a habit or state of mind 
 relating to a particular subject. One may be sensible of cold, 
 heat or kindness. Sensitive, expresses a condition in which the 
 sense of feeling is quickly acted upon, as one is sensitive to 
 changes of temperature. Allow, to allow is to give some de- 
 gree of sanction. Permit, to permit is simply not to prevent. 
 Banish is to eject by ban or public proclamation. Expel, to 
 expel is to drive out. Transport is to carry beyond the sea to a 
 penal colony. Expatriate, to expatriate denotes the alienation 
 from one's native land. One may expatriate himself, but he is 
 banished, expelled, or transported by some authority in power. 
 Begin usually refers to time or order. Commence implies ac- 
 tion. "A wicked life begins with little sins." Formal or pub- 
 lic transactions are said to commence. 
 
 LESSON LI. 
 
 Rule 9. Members of compound sentences, when the con- 
 nection is too short for semicolons, should be separated by 
 commas ; as, Jane is coming, I am going. 
 
134 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 Rule 10. When the verb is omitted the comma is used; as, 
 William seeks to oblige; Jessie, to displease. 
 
 Rule 1 1 . The comma may be used to separate a direct quo- 
 tation from the rest of the sentence : I hear him say, "Wait." 
 
 Punctuate. 
 
 1. Jessie cleaned her typewriter Lucy studied her shorthand 
 lesson. 
 
 2. John is waiting for his book Tom is reciting his lesson. 
 
 3. Stenography is an intensely interesting subject typewriting 
 though trying to the nerves is fascinating work. 
 
 4. The climate is all we could wish the fruit is delicious and 
 abundant. 
 
 5. The poor man is rich with contentment the rich man poor 
 without it. 
 
 6. Curiosity allures the wise vanity the foolish pleasure both. 
 
 7. One was tall the other short. 
 
 8. Fishes play in calm streams birds in sunshine. 
 
 9. To err is human to forgive divine. 
 
 10. Death but entombs the body life the soul. 
 
 11. Plato called beauty a privilege of nature Theocritus a de- 
 lightful prejudice. 
 
 12. London is the large city in England New York in the 
 United States Paris in France. 
 
 13. Virtue brings its own reward vice its own punishment. ' 
 
 14. Reading makes a full man conversation a ready man and 
 writing an exact man. 
 
 15. The shrub is taller than the flower which grows in its 
 shade the tree than the shrub the rock than the tree the 
 mountain than the single rock and above all are the sun 
 and the heavens. 
 
 16. This is an old proverb A fool and his money are soon 
 parted. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 135 
 
 17. It is said that John Bunyan seeing a drunkard stag- 
 gering along the street said there but for the grace of God 
 goes John Bunyan. 
 
 18. Patrick Henry commenced by saying it is natural to men 
 to indulge in the illusions of hope. 
 
 19. We heard the words The bell has rung which reminded us 
 of waiting tasks. 
 
 20. The black mud walls are somber and soiled and even the 
 best of them is scarcely more than a hovel. 
 
 21. Many of the estates were purchased for a mere pittance 
 twenty years ago and the rise in value has made the own- 
 ers wealthy men. 
 
 22. The climate is delightful the people sociable but there are 
 few business opportunities. 
 
 23. I heard him say Little foxes steal the vines and pondered 
 over its meaning. 
 
 LESSON LIL 
 
 Comma. 
 
 12. The comma should be used to prevent ambiguity. Ex.: 
 That that is, is. 
 
 13. The comma should be used to separate figures in large 
 numbers; as, 3,127,896. 
 
 14. The comma should be used to separate transposed phrases 
 and clauses. Ex. : Hoping to receive an early reply, I am, 
 
 15. After the logical subject, when of considerable length, and 
 when it is itself separated by commas, it is usually best 
 to insert a comma before the verb. Ex. : That such a con- 
 dition should exist here in the Golden State, is almost 
 inconceivable. 
 
136 handbook of 
 
 Exercise. 
 
 1. The amount paid out was $23738652. 
 
 2. The figure read was 7629824327 and it should have been 
 782925326. 
 
 3. Should the Union fall the crash would be heard in all 
 lands. 
 
 4. The love of money influencing us in our daily actions 
 towards our fellowmen to the exclusion of the motives of 
 a common interest and humanity is certain to work to our 
 injury. 
 
 5. The time of difficulty of trial of temptation came upon 
 them unexpectedly. 
 
 6. That an immense ship could be impelled across the At- 
 lantic Ocean between Liverpool and New York in the 
 short period of six days would hardly have been believed 
 by our ancestors. 
 
 7. That our age excels in mercy and compassion many ages 
 of the past is evident to all. 
 
 8. The impossibility of conducting the business on such a 
 basis as to afford an adequate margin of profit to the stock- 
 holders caused a suspension of the firm. 
 
 9. Hoping that the time mentioned will be satisfactory I am 
 very truly. 
 
 10. If you are in need of more winter goods let us know. 
 
 11. As long as one is healthy want or fear of want will have 
 no depressing effect. 
 
 12. To err is human to forgive divine. 
 
 13. Where the bee sucks honey the spider sucks poison. 
 
 14. When I said I would die a bachelor I did not think I 
 would live until I were married. 
 
 15. As it is our duty to correct the charges made we have 
 decided to carry the deal through for you to your entire 
 satisfaction. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 137 
 
 16. I said I could not see the use of such a body a^ our 
 Society could do all the work. 
 
 17. The stream fell over the falls paused fell paused again 
 then darted down the valley. 
 
 18. If you want knowledge you must toil for it if good you 
 must toil for it and if pleasure you must toil for it. 
 
 19. When a man's busy leisure 
 
 Strikes him as a wonderful pleasure 
 Faith and at leisure once is he 
 Straightway he wants to be busy. 
 
 20. If we knew ourselves we would not judge each other 
 harshly. 
 
 21. If thou would'st work for God it must be now. 
 
 22. If honor be your clothing the suit will last a lifetime but 
 if clothing be your honor it will soon be worn thread-bare. 
 
 23. As we must account for every idle word so we must for 
 every idle silence 
 
 24. Though the difficulties throng 
 And the struggle may be long 
 
 And the power of evil strong 
 Hope on. 
 
 LESSON LIII. 
 
 Comma. 
 
 Rule 16. When words are used in pairs, commas are used 
 to separate them ; as, Sink or swim, live or di^, survive or per- 
 ish. 
 
 Rule 17. Contrast expressed in two clauses of the same 
 sentence, should be separated by commas. Ex. : You may walk, 
 I shall ride. 
 
 Rule 18. A word, phrase, or clause placed between the sub- 
 ject and the verb are set off by commas ; as, Robert, with that 
 
138 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 keen observation, which lay hidden somewhere under his boyish 
 ways, noticed many points of change about his old friend. 
 
 Rule 19. When two phrases precede the subject and the 
 verb, each phrase is set off by a comma. Ex. : Little more than 
 a week after, on the seventh day of April, the matter was taken 
 up again. 
 
 Punctuate. 
 
 1. Jessie prepared her debate for the contest Lucy made a 
 new dress to wear to the picnic. 
 
 2. John is waiting for his father's return Thomas is cultivat- 
 ing the field in which he hopes to raise a good crop of 
 corn. 
 
 3. Cold and wet ragged and hungry uncouth and forbidding 
 despairing and forsaken he appeared at my door. 
 
 4. He was respectful not servile to superiors affable not im- 
 properly familiar to equals and condescending not super- 
 cilious to those beneath him. 
 
 5. Washington Irving who was the author of the Legend of 
 Sleepy Hollow lived at Sunnyside on the Hudson. 
 
 6. The mill to which we shipped the material and with 
 which we have never had any trouble in our dealings 
 handles large quantities. 
 
 7. A celebrated woman to whom one proposed to teach the 
 art of memory replied I would rather learn the art of 
 forgetting. 
 
 8. Are there not seasons of spring in the moral world and 
 is not the present age one of them. 
 
 9. Little more than a month later on the 20th day of June 
 the great building was completed. 
 
 10. At that time several months following the accident 
 Charles was in poor health. 
 
 11. He is a bright pupil she is a dull one. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 139 
 
 12. They were wrong we were right. 
 
 13. Rich or poor old or young high or low all must meet the 
 requirement. 
 
 14. I said let me walk in the fields he said no walk in the 
 town I said there are no flowers there he said no flowers 
 but a crown. 
 
 15. Cities are where people are too close together and too far 
 apart says a wise writer. 
 
 16. Smiles and tears joys and sorrows strength and weariness 
 are closely associated in life. 
 
 17. This is the man whom you mentioned. 
 
 18. Under the broad expanse of heaven in the wilds of Africa 
 he saw the moon looking down with a friendly smile. 
 
 19. In the city of Chicago on LaSalle St. he will be found. 
 
 20. When all around is a desert and the clouds obscure the 
 
 light 
 When there are no songs for the darkest days 
 No stars for the longest nights be glad. 
 
 LESSON LIV. 
 Comma. 
 
 Rule 20. Participial phrases are always set off when pre- 
 ceding a noun, and set off after it, if not restrictive. Ex. : 
 Hearing of your loss, I hasten to extend my sympathy. 
 
 Rule 21. A non-restrictive clause when adding a new 
 thought, is always set off by a comma; as, Bring me the book, 
 which you will find on the table. 
 
 Rule 22. If or is followed by explanatory words, the comma 
 is required ; as. The building, or bungalow, is completed. 
 
 Rule 23. Two or more words in the same construction, con- 
 nected by or or nor do not require a comma but two or more 
 sentences, when connected by these conjunctions, must have a 
 
140 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 comma before the conjunction unless the sentences are short 
 and the connection close. Ex. : John will take music in Chi- 
 cago, or he will study medicine in Boston. 
 
 Punctuate. 
 
 1. To be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves was 
 emphasized. 
 
 2. He reads many books but she is continually wasting her 
 time. 
 
 3. Having made a careful preparation for the position Miss 
 Jaynes entered the First National Bank yesterday. 
 
 4. The boy is making an effort to secure an education and I 
 think we should aid him in every way possible. 
 
 5. Mr. James will be in San Antonio next week when he will 
 be pleased to show you our latest spring patterns in dress- 
 goods. 
 
 6. The boy receiving the sad news left immediately for his 
 home. 
 
 7. Possessed of this knowledge he will surely succeed. 
 
 8. He declaring his innocence to the last paid for his crime 
 upon the scaffold. 
 
 9. The stenographer anxious to please his employer did not 
 leave the office upon the stroke of the hour for closing. 
 
 10. The typist encouraged by the results of his first ef- 
 fort was faithful in practice and in time became an ex- 
 pert operator on the machine. 
 
 11. The man is in the upper row who will hand you the book 
 mentioned. 
 
 12. The savages or cannibals on the island have been civilized. 
 
 13. He was about to whip me soundly when I told him the 
 mischief was not of my making. 
 
 14. I was taken into his confidence told many facts concerning 
 the business and soon discovered the financial condition 
 of the firm. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 141 
 
 15. We have looked into this affair which by the way is rather 
 peculiar. 
 
 16. We shall give you thirty days time on the bill which is 
 the best we can do. 
 
 17. The letter was received this morning which will be an- 
 swered soon. 
 
 18. There is a boy at the door who will come in if you ask 
 him. 
 
 19. I talked with the manager who said he put John and Carl 
 to work. 
 
 20. The grove or orchard was well cared for. 
 
 21. The road or trail was easily followed. 
 
 22. The river or stream was nearly dry. 
 
 23. The book or pamphlet was made yesterday. 
 
 24. The article or item was omitted. 
 
 25. Wishing you a pleasant journey we are. 
 
 26. Trusting the above will not inconvenience you and that 
 you will call at an early date I am. 
 
 27. The water or moisture was very noticeable. 
 
 28. Wishing you success in your undertaking I remain. 
 
 29. The letter was received this morning which will be an- 
 swered soon. 
 
 30. The road or trail was easily followed. 
 
 LESSON LV. 
 Comma. 
 
 Rule 24. If several antecedents come before a restricted 
 clause, a comma precedes it, also use commas when several rela- 
 tive clauses relate to a single sentence. "There were present 
 men, women, and children who were in the San Francisco 
 earthquake." 
 
 Rule 25. Two correlatives, as so and as, though and yet. 
 
142 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 when connecting dependent sentences are usually separated by 
 commas, unless the sentence is short. "Though he slay me, yet 
 will I trust him." 
 
 Rule 26. When one sentence depends in sense upon another, 
 this dependence being often expressed by a conjunction denot- 
 ing cause or result, or adverb denoting time, the sentence should 
 be separated by a comma. "Love not sleep, lest thou come to 
 poverty." 
 
 Exercise. 
 
 1. Orphans thrown upon the charities of the world should 
 always be treated with kindness. 
 
 2. As waters rush down the mountain sides so came the High- 
 landers down from their native cliffs. 
 
 3. As far as the East is from the West so far is truth from 
 falsehood. 
 
 4. As a flower of the field so he flourisheth. 
 
 5. He pointed out to me the three men Adams Jones and 
 Smith who were responsible for the trouble. 
 
 6. Judges whose knowledge is great whose integrity is un- 
 doubted and whose judgment is unerring are most valuable 
 in any community. 
 
 7. The poverty disease and pain which had brought him to 
 his present position had stamped clearly their effects upon 
 him. 
 
 8. The infirmities diseases and succeeding distempers that 
 usually accompany a seige and famine cause a great de- 
 struction to human life. 
 
 9. The clerks stenographers bookkeepers and teachers who 
 went on the excursion did not return until a late hour. 
 
 10. The teacher named Charles Harry and John who were 
 doing good work. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 143 
 
 11. Young men whose education is practical whose manners 
 are pleasing whose moral habits are irreproachable are 
 being sought by business men. 
 
 12. The anger malice and revenge that we often harbor in our 
 hearts are extremely dangerous. 
 
 13. The extremes of fortune the resulting depression of spirits 
 the low physical vitality that the man endured made his 
 body a ready prey for disease. 
 
 14. As the day so shall thy strength be. 
 
 15. We are never better satisfied than when having our own 
 way. 
 
 16. They are swifter than eagles. 
 
 17. As the teacher so the class. 
 
 18. Like the mother earnest faithful and gentle so was the 
 daughter as she entered womanhood. 
 
 19. Go where you will you will find no place like home. 
 
 20. Just at this time it is important that the lessons be learned 
 thoroughly for opportunity will be given in practical life 
 for their application. 
 
 21. It is no wonder that some assistants fail to give satisfac- 
 tion in the office for they do not follow the advice of their 
 teacher in the schoolroom. 
 
 22. She will make a first-class bookkeeper because she is care- 
 ful and accurate in her work. 
 
 23. His aspirations are high although his environment is 
 very unfavorable for their development. 
 
 24. Wherever we may go we cannot get beyond the reach of 
 a kind Providence. 
 
 25. After the lessons were learned the class studied nature 
 along the stream. 
 
144 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 LESSON LVI. 
 General Exercise for Punctuation. 
 
 1. Mary said a would-be agreeable took his seat between 
 madam de Stael and the reigning beauty of the day how 
 happy I am he said between wit and beauty yes replied 
 madam de Stael and without possessing either. 
 
 2. He said I get a great deal of comfort from the biblical 
 quotation blessed are the pure in heart. 
 
 3. Will you kindly correct the enclosed article and return 
 it at your earliest convenience and greatly oblige yours 
 truly John Black. 
 
 4. The rolling stone gathers no moss quoted the man who 
 had never been outside of his home country true returned 
 the globe-trotter but it acquires an enviable polish. 
 
 5. We have yours in regard to our salesman calling on you. 
 
 6. We herewith return your letter in regard to John and 
 Smiths receiving goods from us in bad condition. 
 
 7. He most lives who thinks most feels the noblest acts the 
 best. 
 
 8. Breathes there a man with soul so dead who never to him- 
 self hath said This is my own my native land. 
 
 9. The correct remark has been made that it is a great 
 loss to lose an affliction. 
 
 10. He is the richest man who enriches his country most in 
 whom the people feel richest and proudest who gives him- 
 self with his money who opens the doors of opportunity 
 widest to those about him who is ears to the deaf and feet 
 to the lame. 
 
 11. The man or woman who believes well is apt to work well 
 and faith is as much the key to happiness here as it is 
 the key to happiness hereafter. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 145 
 
 12. Yes let me be free let me go and come at my own will lee 
 me do business and make journeys without a vexatious 
 police or insolent soldiery to watch my steps let me think 
 and do and speak what I please subject to no limit but 
 that which is set by the common weal subject to no limit 
 but that to which conscience binds me and I will bless 
 my country and love its rugged rocks and its most 
 barren soil. 
 
 13. I was asked if I would stop for dinner. 
 
 14. Be our plain answer this the throne we honor is the 
 peoples choice the laws we reverence are our brave fathers 
 legacy the faith we follow teaches us to live in bonds of 
 charity with all mankind and die with hope of bliss be- 
 yond the grave. 
 
 15. The shrub is taller than the flower which grows in its 
 shade the tree than the shrub the rock than the tree the 
 mountain than the single rock and above all are the sun 
 and the heavens. 
 
 16. He was respectful not servile to superiors affable not im- 
 properly familiar to equals and condescending not super- 
 cilious to those beneath him. 
 
 17. The woods may disappear but the spirit of them will 
 never vanish for it has been felt by a poet and we can 
 feel forever what he felt. 
 
 18. Every one must of course think his own opinions right 
 for if he thought them wrong they would no longer be his 
 opinions but there is a wide difference .between regarding 
 ourselves as infallible and being firmly convinced of the 
 truth of our creed. 
 
 19. Did greece fall like lucifer never to hope again? 
 
 20. O freedom thou art not as poets dream a fair young girl. 
 
 21. Oh what a glorious part does a good and intelligent 
 mother take on the great stage of humanity. 
 
146 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 LESSON LVII. 
 
 Dash. 
 
 1. The dash is used when there is an unexpected change of 
 thought, or when the train of thought is stopped; as, Do you 
 think him an honest — but why should I ask such a question 
 of his friend? 
 
 2. The Dash is used when there is hesitation on the part of 
 the speaker, when an explanation is added which is not suffi- 
 ciently distinct to require the parenthesis, and when there is an 
 abrupt repetition. Examples. She said he was a — a — a vil- 
 lian. Who has not heard of George Washington — George 
 Washington who stood by our country in her peril. The girls 
 
 — Lucy and May — are going. 
 
 3. The Dash is used when a rhetorical pause following a 
 grammatical point is required, in the following cases: — 
 
 1. After a comma succeeding a series of adjuncts in the 
 same construction. Ex. : The loss of business, the breaking up 
 of social ties, the endurance of ill health, — all these he suf- 
 fered in his last days. 
 
 2. After a period following the subject head in the same 
 paragraph, and after a period preceding the name of an 
 author following the subject matter in the same paragraph, 
 also after a colon when a new paragraph follows. Examples: 
 Bones of the Head. — The bones of the head are divided into 
 
 — etc. We are fortunate to behold this day. — George W. 
 Curtis. 
 
 3. Between questions and answers written in the same para- 
 graph. Ex.: "How old are you?" — "Nineteen last Decem- 
 ber."— "Do you live in this city?" — "I do." 
 
 4. Following a period when the train of thought is 
 changed, but not enough to require a new paragraph. Ex. : 
 When I traveled in California, the beautiful flowers, the de- 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 147 
 
 licious fruits, the glorious sunshine, renewed my youth — but 
 let me help you to more of the turkey? 
 
 Punctuate. 
 
 1. He is troubled with consumption consumption of victuals. 
 
 2. He is a a a villian of the deepest dye. 
 
 3. Dare you but how shall I ask questions that might involve 
 your own life. 
 
 4. Kindness sympathy pity tenderness all these were re- 
 flected in his countenance. 
 
 5. He is a famous lover a lover of himself. 
 
 6. Do not speak to me of devotion you know not the name. 
 
 7. Now fruit chocolate look here did I ever tell you how 
 when I was in the south sea islands and the speaker began 
 one of his interesting anecdotes. 
 
 8. No one man even though it were hannibal himself could 
 in a generation effect such a work. 
 
 9. You are a coward and I care not who hears it. 
 
 10. James is your master in yes sir can I see him no sir why 
 not because he is engaged at present but my business is 
 urgent cannot help it sir had strict orders to admit no 
 one but will you not carry him my card and tell him I 
 must see him I will do that then I will await his answer. 
 
 11. She thought she saw a a mouse. 
 
 12. No one should believe that I am a a a dunce. 
 
 13. The ability to write shorthand at a speed of one hundred 
 words per minute to take dictation on the machine at 50 
 words a minute to file letters so that they can be found 
 without difficulty to be courteous to callers these are 
 some of the requirements of a good stenographer. 
 
 14. Newspapers in every section of the country we have two 
 classes of newspapers the one which tends to uplift the 
 morals of its readers and the one which publishes every 
 piece of news no matter how unsavory it may be. 
 
148 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 15. Her efforts against poverty her courageous spirit under 
 trying circumstances her calm sweet spirit through many 
 sad experiences all these endeared her to the hearts of 
 those who knew her. 
 
 16. Into all lives some rain must fall Longfellow. 
 
 17. When you become teachers and find yourselves unable to 
 give satisfaction you will wish your time for thorough 
 preparation had not been wasted but I did not mean to 
 lecture you today. 
 
 18. Bring me fruit nuts cereals anything but meat I want no 
 meat. 
 
 LESSON LVIIL 
 Parenthesis. 
 
 1. The words within the parenthesis should be punctuated 
 as an independent construction; as, "We are all of us (who 
 can deny it?) partial to our own failings." 
 
 2. When the word preceding the parenthesis requires a 
 punctuation mark, the mark is placed after the parenthesis 
 if the last word within the parenthesis is not punctuated ; other- 
 wise, the punctuation mark is placed before the parenthesis ; as, 
 "Pride in some disguise or other (often a secret to the proud 
 man himself), is the most ordinary spring of action among 
 men." 
 
 3. When the parenthesis is independent of the context, a 
 period is placed after the matter within the parenthesis, and 
 also after the word that precedes it ; as, "Alaska can hardly be 
 considered as lying under the sun." (Laughter.) 
 
 4. An exclamation point in a parenthesis is often placed 
 after a word or a sentence to express irony or contempt; and 
 an interrogation point to express doubt; as, "An Englishman 
 once asked if Boston ( !) was the capital of New York State." 
 "When I am elected to that office ( ?) I will not forget you. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 149 
 
 5. When an extraordinary degree of emotion is to be ex- 
 pressed, several exclamation points without the parenthesis 
 are sometimes used; as, "Place of refuge! Retreat for the suf- 
 fering ! ! They are abodes of cruelty, the full narration of whose 
 deeds would outrage the sense of public justice/' 
 
 6. The brackets instead of the parenthesis are frequently 
 used when a word is to be introduced in a quoted passage, and in 
 special cases in dictionaries ; as, "Five hundred dollars are [is] 
 not enough to pay for this lot." Blarney [Fr. a legend of 
 Blarney Castle, Ireland]." "Elate [L. elatus, p. p. of efferre, 
 to carry out]." 
 
 Punctuate. 
 
 1. The doctrine of the immortality of the soul was taught 
 explicitly at least as explicitly as could be expected of 
 an ancient philosopher by Socrates. 
 
 2. We are all of us who can deny it? partial to our own 
 failings. 
 
 3. I wish to ask the gentleman from Ohio Mr. Thomas a 
 question which he may not want to answer in this place 
 hear, hear. 
 
 4. Pride in some disguise or other often a secret to the proud 
 man himself, is the most ordinary spring of action among 
 men. 
 
 5. While the Christian desires the approbation of his fellow 
 men, and why should he not desire it? he disdains to re- 
 ceive their good will by dishonorable means. 
 
 6. Can we call such a person by any other name than a 
 tyrant? I use the word with a full understanding of the 
 responsibilities I assume by its use. 
 
 7. The second President of the United States John Adams 
 had only one term as president. 
 
 8. Benjamin Franklin one of our first ministers to France 
 did much for the cause of American liberty. 
 
150 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 9. I am not in sympathy with the reasonings or the conclu- 
 sions of the speaker who has just taken his seat. Hisses 
 mingled with cheers. 
 
 10. Day of fate Dangers unparalleled Woes unutterable Who 
 can describe the horrors of the French revolution. 
 
 11. A. M. Artium Magister Master of Arts. 
 
 12. His manner of writing i. e. his style is very pleasing. 
 
 13. Miss Smith such is our teacher's name expelled three 
 pupils for bad conduct. 
 
 14. The orator who made a grammatical mistake in nearly 
 every sentence which he uttered, is called an Oxford 
 scholar. 
 
 15. The days have passed 1800 when the bitterness of party 
 spirit prevented the possibility of arriving at calm judg- 
 ments. 
 
 LESSON LIX. 
 Apostrophe. 
 
 The apostrophe is a comma placed above the line. It is 
 used to denote the omission of a letter or letters in a word; 
 as, e'er, for ever ; don't for do not ; 'tis for it is. 
 
 Accents. 
 
 The acute accent (') is used to denote the accented syllable 
 of a word as, plurality. It is also placed over the final e of 
 the French origin; when the e has the sound of a as in San 
 Jose. It is also placed over the last word of a question to show 
 that the rising inflection should be given. 
 
 The Grave Accent {^) is used when it is desired to show 
 that a question should have the falling inflection, and to in- 
 dicate that certain letters should be pronounced separately and 
 not joined in sound with the preceding syllable; as, "How old 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 151 
 
 are you?'^ "He is a learned man." All questions that can be 
 answered by yes or no should have the rising inflection, others 
 the falling. 
 
 The Circumflex Accent {") placed over a word shows that 
 it should be read with a combination of the rising and the fall- 
 ing inflection. 
 
 Brace. 
 
 THE BRACE is used to connect several words or expres- 
 sions having a common relationship. 
 
 r Abstract 
 Common Nouns. < Verbal 
 
 y Collective 
 
 Diaeresis. 
 
 THE DIAERESIS (") is placed over the latter of two 
 contiguous vowels, as zoology. 
 
 Caret. 
 
 THE CARET (A) INDICATES omission of words to be 
 my 
 supplied; as, It is intention. 
 A 
 
 Cedilla. 
 
 THE CEDILLA (,) is a mark resembling a comma placed 
 under the letter c in some words to show that it requires the 
 sound of s, as, fagile. 
 
 Punctuate. 
 
 1. I saw the phaeton. 2. He studied zoology. 3 He 
 was a learned man. 4. Your name is Smith. 5. His mind 
 was tranquil mid all the perils of the deep. 6. Tho he slay 
 me yet will I trust him. 7. The toy was worth only a 
 hapenny. 8. They darent refuse his request. 9. He doesnt 
 
152 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 acknowledge all his obligations in the matter. 10. They sat 
 neath the shadow of a favorite oak. 11. Is this the right 
 word. 12. Who goes there, 13. Would a friend advise 
 such a step. 14. This work on zoology is a most excellent 
 one. 15. Een to old age he preserved his integrity. 
 
 Arrange and Punctuate. 
 
 mr homer a brown hacienda cal dear sir in looking over our 
 books today we find that your account with us amounting to 
 $35.00 is three months overdue several statements of this ac- 
 count have been sent you but presume you have overlooked 
 them owing to some heavy bills which fall due the first of the 
 month which we shall not be able to meet unless our outstand- 
 ing accounts are promptly paid we wish you would kindly call 
 at your earliest convenience and make arrangements to settle 
 if not all at least a part of your account and the balance to 
 date trusting the above will not inconvenience you and that 
 you will call at an early date i am very truly yours. 
 
 LESSON LX. 
 Correct and Punctuate. 
 
 mr John b gray wheeling w va dear sir your inquiry in regard 
 to the knabe piano is received we are mailing you today under 
 separate cover a catalogue of the knabe piano you are no doubt 
 aware that it is one of the best and most expensive pianos on 
 the market today we should like very much to place one of 
 these in your home we believe it would lead to more sales in 
 your locality we find only one complaint in this piano and that 
 is the price we believe when you take into consideration its 
 tone durability and finish that it is the cheapest in the end 
 the prices marked in the catalogue are the regular prices for 
 the various styles of instruments we give a discount of ten per 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 153 
 
 cent for cash from these prices we shall be glad to send you 
 one of these instruments and if you are not satisfied after giv- 
 ing it a free trial you may return it to us and we will pay all 
 expenses we also carry about 25 other makes of pianos ranging 
 in price from $100 up to the price of the knabe let us know 
 about what you axe willing to pay and we will send you an in- 
 strument on approval which we are sure you will consider full 
 value for yoiu: money we thank you very kindly for writing 
 to us and we hope we may have the pleasure of doing some 
 business with you all our pianos are sold direct from our house 
 and none through local dealers so if you place an order with 
 us you will save the payment of two or three profits if you 
 are not prepared to pay cash we will give you as liberal terms 
 as any piano house in the country hoping that we may have the 
 pleasure of hearing from you by return mail we are yours 
 truly. 
 
 kansas construction co leavenworth kansas gentlemen we have 
 your letter of may 25th concerning shipment of empty sacks 
 to the fort scott portland cement co under date of January 
 20th we find after careful investigation that no record of the 
 receipt of the shipment in question namely 16 bundles contain- 
 ing 320 sacks is available at the mills we find further that the 
 efforts made by your local freight agent and the freight audi- 
 tor here have been wholly misdirected on the same day that you 
 shipped the sacks in question you also shipped to the kansas 
 Portland cement co likewise at fort scott 26 bundles containing 
 520 empty sacks for which you received credit through the 
 d w hall CO of this city this shipment was consigned via the 
 c b & q way bill 169 whereas the consignment to the fort scott 
 Portland cement co was on way bill 168 it now develops that 
 the shipment which has been traced is 169 for which you have 
 already received credit and therefore our efforts have been en- 
 tirely fruitless we suggest that you take immediate steps to 
 
154 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 see that your local railroad agents trace the proper shipment 
 way bill 168 which as has been said has not arrived at the mill 
 we are extremely sorry that there should have been any confu- 
 sion in following up your shipment it is undoubtedly due to the 
 carelessness of your local agent in making out tracing papers 
 we wish to assure you of our desire to secure a satisfactory 
 statement of this account and trust that no further difficulties 
 may arise we are mailing you a revised pricelist you will be 
 glad to see that the prices of all grades of cement are slightly 
 lower than our last quotations the price of brick however has 
 advanced and will probably go still higher owing to the local 
 demand being so great hoping you will continue to favor us 
 with a generous portion of your patronage we are yours truly. 
 
 LESSON LXI. 
 
 Correct and Punctuate. 
 
 mr abraham b rowley woodbine iowa dear sir we understand 
 that you are feeding a number of cattle you will therefore be 
 interested in our up to date line of cattle feeding machines 
 we sell corn crushers that crush the corn cobs and husks all 
 together into a coarse meal corn crushers that shell off the 
 grain and husks and crush the grain and husks together throw- 
 ing out the cob crushers that crush shredded corn only 
 corn crushers that crush the ears of the corn only not mashing 
 the grain in fact feed cutters that do a greater amount and 
 variety of cutting than any other machine experience and tests 
 have proved that the best half of the corn crop is contained 
 in the stalks and husks our combined feed cutter and shredder 
 will cut stalks husks ears and cobs leaving them in the best 
 possible condition for feeding to the cattle it would enable you 
 to save enough good food that would otherwise be wasted to 
 pay for the original cost of this machine in one year save your 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 155 
 
 entire corn crop and save your hay if you will try this plan of 
 leaving the husks on the corn for feeding cattle it is a fact that 
 feed well prepared by one of these machines has almost double 
 the value of food used in the ordinary way these machines merit 
 the attention of cattle feeders for the following reasons they 
 put the corn in the best possible shape to secure the rapid gain 
 of flesh and health of the cattle they enable farmers to fatten 
 with three fourths of the quantity required by the old method 
 of feeding write for our illustrated catalogue yours truly, 
 mr leslie n craig plainfield new jersey dear sir your letter 
 asking for information in regard to certain tracts of land in the 
 valley of the big horn in Wyoming came duly to hand as you 
 know i have for more than a dozen years lived in the west and 
 have traveled extensively in the semi arid states of Idaho Wash- 
 ington Oregon Utah Colorado new mexico Wyoming and montana 
 i have been much interested in irrigation having assisted in the 
 survey of one of the largest canals now in operation i have 
 recently visited the big horn country and am ready to give it 
 my unqualified praise the most important considerations in 
 arid countries is the abundance of the water supply and the 
 ease of distribution of the water over the land the conditions in 
 the part of the basin in which the land in question lies are 
 ideal the land is so nearly level that the water will follow a com- 
 mon plow furrow for miles another important consideration 
 is the cost of preparing the land for cultivation in this particu- 
 lar valley it costs absolutely nothing for either leveling or 
 clearing a soft salt sage sparsely covers the valley a disc tears 
 it to pieces i was in a field put to wheat last year the ground 
 was disced twice and wheat sown that wheat last year produced 
 38 bushels to the acre on that unplowed land the fertility of 
 the soil is marvelous there is no gravel and no stone the 
 washing away of the hills and the decomposing of vegetable 
 matter through the countless ages of the past have created a 
 soil unsurpassed this combined with the abundance of water 
 
156 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 brought down by the big horn river and the ease with which it 
 is being distributed makes this a country of unusual promise 
 the climate is also very attractive the winters are very mild 
 ^nd the summers are favorable for growing crops yours very 
 truly. 
 
 LESSON LXII. 
 Circular Letter. 
 
 Write a circular letter to Miss Jennie Scranton, Los Angeles, 
 California. 
 
 Object, To Advertise your Shorthand Department. 
 
 1. Refer to the Reputation of the System taught. 
 
 2. Refer to the Reputation of the School. 
 
 3. Refer to the Reputation of the Teachers. 
 
 4. Refer to the Reputation of the Graduates. 
 
 5. Mention the fact that what is valuable to hundreds of 
 others may be valuable to the recipient. 
 
 6. State the cost of the course and the time required. 
 
 7. Express your willingness to give further information. 
 
 8. Extend a cordial invitation to the recipient to call and 
 see the work done. 
 
 Follow-Up Letters. 
 
 1. State that the recipient doubtless received a previous letter, 
 setting forth the merits of the school, but probably over- 
 looked answering it. 
 
 2. Set forth some new merits, other than those that were men- 
 tioned in the former letter. 
 
 3. Request a visit from him to the school. 
 
 4. Enclose a testimonial of one of the graduates. 
 
 5. Essentials — Genuine frankness and candor. 
 
commercial english 157 
 
 Letters of Application. 
 
 Write an answer to an advertisement for a stenographer. 
 
 1. (a) Form — Appearance — Neatness — Spelling — Capitali- 
 
 zation — Grammatical Construction, 
 (b) Concise, yet expressing qualifications, not stilted, 
 but straight-forward, manly, free from display. 
 
 2. (a) Explanation as to why the application is made. 
 
 (b) Statement of age and qualifications. 
 
 (c) Name of reference; and credentials, if any are en- 
 closed. 
 
 Letter. 
 
 Advertising Space Desired. 
 
 1. Write a letter enclosing an advertisement of your business. 
 
 2. Request rates on it for one week or longer. 
 
 Letter. 
 
 1. Write a letter giving the resources of the locality in which 
 you live. 
 
 Formal Notes. 
 
 Formal notes and invitations are written in the third person 
 and should be answered, also, in the third person, for example ; 
 1. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Kingsley request the 
 pleasure of Mr. Rolland Eberhart's company at 
 dinner, on Thursday evening June the third, at 
 seven o'clock. 
 1920 Maple Street 
 May thirtieth. 
 
158 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 2. Mr. Eberhart accepts with pleasure Mr. and 
 Mrs. Walter Kingsley's kind invitation to dinner 
 on Thursday evening, June the third, at seven 
 o'clock. 
 
 29 Coe Ave. 
 June first. 
 
 3. Mr. Eberhart regrets that he cannot accept 
 Mr. and Mrs. Walter Kingsley's kind invitation 
 to dinner on Thursday evening, June the third. 
 29 Coe Ave. 
 
 June first. 
 If a large number of invitations are sent out, it is desirable 
 to write them in the second person, as: 
 
 4. The class of Nineteen Hundred and Thirteen 
 
 Columbia School of Expression 
 
 requests the honor of your presence at the 
 
 Commencement Exercises 
 
 Wednesday, June eighteenth 
 
 at two o'clock. 
 
 Temple Auditorium, 
 
 Chicago. 
 
 5. Miss Jennie Bryant accepts with pleasure 
 the kind invitation of the class of Nineteen 
 Hundred and Thirteen, Columbia School of 
 Expression, to attend the Commencement Exer- 
 cises, Wednesday, June eighteenth, at two o'clock, 
 in Temple Auditorium. 
 
 Informal notes are written in the first person and no set form 
 is required. 
 
 1. Write an invitation to Mr. and Mrs. James Strong to dine 
 with you, at 8 o'clock, Wednesday evening. 
 
 2. Write an acceptance to the above invitation. 
 
 3. Write a regret to the above invitation. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 159 
 
 4. Miss Caroline Bush is to give a Valentine party on Feb- 
 ruary 14, at 8 o'clock. Write for her an invitation to Miss 
 Lucy Larcome. 
 
 5. Write Miss Larcome's acceptance. 
 
 6. Write an informal note to a friend expressing apprecia- 
 tion of a Christmas gift just received. 
 
 Telegrams. 
 
 Both clearness and brevity are absolutely essential in the 
 writing of telegrams. 
 
 The minimiun charge made by telegraph companies to any 
 part of the United States, is generally upon a basis of ten 
 words. As the charge is the same for a smaller number, nothing 
 is gained by reducing a message below ten words ; but for every 
 word above ten an additional charge is made. 
 
 No charge is made for the name and address of the addressee 
 or for the name of the sender. 
 
 Exercise. 
 
 1. Write a telegram accepting a clerkship with the James 
 Hardware Company, St. Louis, Mo. State the time of your 
 arrival in the city. Do not exceed ten words. 
 
 2. Telegraph to The Jones Paper Company, Charleston, 
 South Carolina, for 60 reams of French bond paper, light blue 
 tint, 20x24, heaviest weight. Paper to be shipped by Southern 
 Pacific Freight. 
 
160 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 CONJUGATION OF THE VERB STUDY. 
 
 ACTIVE VOICE. 
 Indicative Mode. 
 Present Tense. 
 Person. Singular Number. Plural Number. 
 
 1. I study. 1. We study. 
 
 2. You study. 2. You study. 
 
 3. He studies. 3. They study. 
 
 Present Perfect Tense. 
 
 1. I have studied. 1. We have studied. 
 
 2. You have studied. 2. You have studied. 
 
 3. He has studied. 3. They have studied. 
 
 Past Tense. 
 
 1. I studied. 1. We studied. 
 
 2. You studied. 2. You studied. 
 
 3. He studied. 3. They studied. 
 
 Past Perfect Tense. 
 
 1. I had studied. 1. We had studied. 
 
 2. You had studied. 2. You had studied. 
 
 3. He had studied. 3. They had studied. 
 
 Future Tense. 
 Simple Futurity. 
 
 1. I shall study. 1. We shall study. 
 
 2. You will study. 2. You will study. 
 
 3. He will study. 3. They will study. 
 
 Determination. 
 
 1. I will study. 1. We will study. 
 
 2. You shall study. 2. You shall study. 
 
 3. He shall study. 3. They shall study. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 
 
 161 
 
 Future Perfect Tense. 
 
 1. I shall have studied. 1. 
 
 2. You will have studied. 2. 
 
 3. He will have studied. 3. 
 
 We shall have studied. 
 You will have studied. 
 They will have studied. 
 
 CONJUGATION OF THE VERB STUDY. 
 ACTIVE VOICE. 
 
 
 Subjunctive Mode. 
 
 
 Present Tense, 
 
 Person. 
 
 
 1. If I study. 
 
 2. If you study. 
 
 3. If he study. 
 
 1. If we study. 
 
 2. If you study. 
 
 3. If they study. 
 
 Present Perfect Tense. 
 
 1. If I have studied. 1. If we have studied. 
 
 2. If you have studied. 2. If you have studied. 
 
 3. If they have studied. 
 
 If he has studied. 
 
 1. If I studied. 
 
 2. If you studied. 
 
 3. If he studied. 
 
 Past Tense. 
 
 1. If we studied. 
 
 2. If you studied. 
 
 3. If they studied. 
 
 Past Perfect Tense. 
 
 1. If I had studied. 1. 
 
 2. If you had studied. 2. 
 
 3. If he had studied. 3. 
 
 If we had studied. 
 If. you had studied. 
 If they had studied. 
 
162 HANDBOOK OP 
 
 CONJUGATION OF THE VERB STUDY. 
 ACTIVE VOICE. 
 Potential Mode. 
 Present Tense. 
 Person. Singular Number. Plural Number. 
 
 1. I may, can or must study. 1. We may, can, or must 
 
 study. 
 
 2. You may, can, or must 2. You may, can, or must 
 study. study. 
 
 3. He may, can, or must 3. They may, can, or must 
 study. study. 
 
 Present Perfect Tense. 
 
 1. I may, can, or must have 1. We may, can, or must have 
 studied. studied. 
 
 2. You may, can, or must 2. You may, can, or must have 
 have studied. studied. 
 
 3. He may, can, or must have 3. They, may, can, or must 
 studied. have studied. 
 
 Past Tense. 
 
 1. I mighv, could, would or 1. We might, could, would or 
 should study. should study. 
 
 2. You might, could, would 2. You might, could, would or 
 or should study. should study. 
 
 3. He might, could, would or 3. They might, could, would, 
 should study. or should study. 
 
 Past Perfect Tense. 
 
 1. I might, could, would or 1. We might, could, would or 
 should have studied. should have studied. 
 
 2. You might, could, would 2, You might, could, would or 
 or should have studied. should have studied. 
 
 3. He might, could, would or 3. They might, could, would 
 should have studied. or should have studied. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 163 
 
 CONJUGATION OF THE VERB STUDY. 
 
 ACTIVE VOICE. 
 
 Imperative Mode. 
 
 Present Tense. 
 
 Person. Singular Number. Plural Number. 
 
 1. Study (you or thou). 1. Study (you or thou). 
 
 Infinitive Mode. 
 
 Present. 
 
 Present Perfect. 
 
 study. 
 
 To have studied. 
 
 
 Participles. 
 
 Present. 
 
 Past Perfect. 
 
 dying. 
 
 Having studied. 
 
 
 Past. 
 
 
 Studied. 
 
164 
 
 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 A. A 
 
 A. B. or B. A. . . 
 
 A. M. or M. A. . 
 
 B. C. or B. C. S. 
 
 Litt. B 
 Ph., or 
 B. Sc 
 
 Ph 
 
 D. Sc 
 
 M. L 
 
 DEGREES 
 
 The following are the more usual abbreviations, with the de- 
 grees for which they stand — 
 
 . . Associate of Arts. 
 
 . . Bachelor of Arts. 
 
 . .Master of Arts. 
 
 . . Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of 
 
 •' Commercial Science. 
 
 ..Bachelor of Civil Law. 
 
 . . Bachelor of Divinity. 
 
 . . Bachelor of Letters. 
 B. . . Bachelor of Philosophy. 
 .... Bachelor of Science. 
 .... Civil Engineer. 
 . . . .Master of Surgery. 
 . . . .Doctor of Civil Law. 
 . . . .Doctor of Divinity. 
 . . . .Doctor of Literature. 
 . . . .Doctor of Medicine. (Oxford.) 
 . . . .Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. 
 . . . .Doctor of Science. 
 . . . .Electrical Engineer. 
 . . . .Doctor of Laws. 
 . . . .Doctor of Civil and Canon Law. 
 . . . .Bachelor of Laws. 
 . . . .Doctor of Letters or Humanities. 
 . . . .Doctor of Laws. 
 . . . .Master of Laws. 
 . . . .Bachelor of Medicine. 
 . . . .Master of Civil Engineering. 
 . . . .Doctor of Medicine. 
 . . . .Master of Mining Engineering. 
 . . . .Bachelor of Music. 
 . . . .Doctor of Music. 
 . . . .Doctor of Philosophy. 
 .... Graduate in Pharmacy. 
 Veterinary Surgeon. 
 
 B. C. L. 
 B. D. . . 
 B. L. or 
 B. P., B 
 
 B. S. or 
 
 C. E. . . 
 
 C. M. . 
 
 D. C. L. 
 D. D. . 
 D. Litt. or Litt 
 D. M. . . 
 D. V. M 
 
 D. S. or 
 
 E. E. . . 
 J. D. . . 
 J. U. D. 
 LL. B. 
 L. H. D. 
 LL. D. . 
 LL. M. - 
 M. B. . 
 M. C. E. 
 M. D. . 
 M. M. E 
 Mus. B, 
 Mus. D 
 Ph. D. 
 Ph. G. 
 V. S. . 
 
 ABBREVIATIONS 
 
 The following abbreviations are frequently used in correspond- 
 ence, namely: — 
 
 Agl; Agent. 
 
 A. M meaning Ante Meridian — ^before noon. 
 
 Apr April. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 165 
 
 Asst Assistant. 
 
 Aug August. 
 
 c. i. f meaning cost, insurance, and freight ; 
 
 that is, the price includes the cost 
 of the goods, packing, insurance, 
 freight, etc. 
 
 Cor. Sec Corresponding Secretary. 
 
 Dec December. 
 
 e. g for example. 
 
 et al and others. 
 
 etc et cetera. 
 
 Feb February. 
 
 f. o. b meaning free on board ; siguiOes that 
 
 I the price of goods includes all 
 ^ ! charges up to and including plac- 
 ing the goods on train or vessel. 
 
 i. e .that is. 
 
 inst meaning instant — present month. 
 
 Jan January. 
 
 M meaning Meridies — ^meridian or noon. 
 
 Mf g Manufacturing. 
 
 Mgr Manager. 
 
 Ms. or Mss Manuscript or Manuscripts. 
 
 Nov November. 
 
 P page. 
 
 P. M meaning Post Meridian — afternoon. 
 
 PP pages. 
 
 Prest. or Pres .President. 
 
 prox meaning proximo — coming month. 
 
 E. R Railroad. 
 
 Ew., Ry., or 'Rwy Railway. 
 
 Sec Secretary. 
 
 Sept September. 
 
 Sts., Streets. 
 
 Supt Superintendent. 
 
 Treas Treasurer. 
 
 ult last month. 
 
 viz namely ; to wit. 
 
 The following are the abbreviations for the states, terri- 
 tories, and possessions of the United States recommended by the 
 United States government : — 
 
 Ala. Alabama. 
 
 Alaska. Alaska Territory 
 
 Ariz. Arizona Territory 
 
 Ark. Arkansas. 
 
 Cal., Calif. California. 
 
 Col., Colo. Colorado. 
 
 Conn. Connecticut. 
 
 Del. Delaware. 
 
166 
 
 
 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 D. C. 
 
 District of Columbia. 
 
 Fla. 
 
 Florida. 
 
 Ga. 
 
 Georgia. 
 
 H. T. 
 
 Hawaiian Territory. 
 
 111. 
 
 Illinois. 
 
 Ind. 
 
 Indiana. 
 
 Kan., Kans'. 
 
 Kansas. 
 
 Ky. 
 
 Kentucky. 
 
 La. 
 
 Louisiana. 
 
 Me. 
 
 ' Maine. 
 
 Md. 
 
 Maryland. 
 
 Mass. 
 
 Massachusetts. 
 
 Mich. 
 
 • Michigan. 
 
 Minn. 
 
 Minnesota. 
 
 Miss. 
 
 Mississippi. 
 
 Mo. 
 
 Missouri. 
 
 Mont. 
 
 Montana. 
 
 Neb. 
 
 Nebraska. 
 
 Nev. 
 
 Nevada. 
 
 N. H. 
 
 New Hampshire. 
 
 N. J. 
 
 New Jersey. 
 
 N. Mex. 
 
 New Mexico Territory 
 
 N. Y. 
 
 New York. 
 
 N. C. 
 
 North Carolina. 
 
 N. Dak. 
 
 North Dakota. 
 
 Okla. 
 
 Oklahoma Territory. 
 
 Ore., Oreg., 
 
 Oregon. 
 
 Pa. 
 
 Pennsylvania. 
 
 P. I. 
 
 Philippine Islands. 
 
 P. E. 
 
 Porto Rico. 
 
 R. I. 
 
 Rhode Island. 
 
 S. C. 
 
 South Carolina. 
 
 S. Dak. 
 
 South Dakota. 
 
 Tenn. 
 
 Tennessee. 
 
 Tex. 
 
 Texas. 
 
 Vt. 
 
 Vermont. 
 
 Va. 
 
 Virginia. 
 
 Wash. 
 
 Washington. 
 
 W. Va. 
 
 West Virginia. 
 
 Wis. 
 
 Wisconsin. 
 
 Wyo. 
 
 Wyoming. 
 
 Guam, Idaho, Iowa, Samoa ani Utah are not abbreviated. 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 
 
 167 
 
 INDEX 
 
 Accents 150,151 
 
 A.djectives 68-75 
 
 Agreement of 70 
 
 Classes of 68 
 
 Articles 69 
 
 Descriptive 68 
 
 Limiting 68-71 
 
 Numerals 69 
 
 Pronominals 69 
 
 Comparison of 69-75 
 
 Adverbs 94-96 
 
 Aids in use of 95, 96 
 
 Comparison of 94 
 
 Advertising 28-30 
 
 Apostrophe 150 
 
 Articles 69 
 
 Aids in the use of ... . 71 
 
 Brace 151 
 
 Capitalization 103-108 
 
 Caret 151 
 
 Cedilla 151 
 
 Colon 119-122 
 
 Comma 126-143 
 
 Compounds 23-25 
 
 Hyphen, use of the 23 
 
 Conjugation of the verb 
 
 study 160-163 
 
 Conjunctions 99, 100 
 
 Aids in the use of 99, 100 
 
 Classes of 99 
 
 Co-ordinate 99 
 
 Subordinate 99 
 
 Correspondence 1-15 
 
 Correspondence hints .... 9-11 
 Credits and collections . . 11 
 
 Dash 146-148 
 
 Diaeresis 151 
 
 Exclamation Point 115, 116 
 
 Gerund 33 
 
 Hyphen 23-25 
 
 Interjections 100 
 
 Aids in the use of 100-102 
 
 Interrogation Point 117 
 
 Letters 
 Acknow^ledging remit- 
 tance 25 
 
 Advertising 28-30 
 
 Application 157 
 
 Asking favor 110 
 
 Bearing remittance ... 12 
 Calling attention to an 
 
 error 100 
 
 Censuring an agent . . 102, 103 
 Circular letter advertis- 
 ing Shorthand De- 
 partment 156 
 
 Complimentary close . . 5 
 Describing the re- 
 sources of a local- 
 ity 157 
 
 Dunning No 1 54 
 
 Dunning No. 2 67 
 
 Enclosures 6 
 
 Envelopes 6 
 
 Filing 13-15 
 
 Folding 6 
 
 Follow^ up 156 
 
 Formal notes and invi- 
 tations 157-159 
 
 Framew^ork 1 
 
 Essentials 1 
 
 Heading 1 
 
 Address 1 
 
 Salutation 1 
 
 Body 1 
 
 Compli m e n t a r y 
 
 close 1 
 
 Signature 1 
 
 Model for ordering 
 
 goods 21,22 
 
 Of introduction 72 
 
 Eef usal of credit ..... 42 
 Request for extenfion 
 
 of time 85 
 
168 
 
 HANDBOOK OP 
 
 Kequesting information 123 
 Eequisites of business 
 
 letter 7 
 
 Soliciting advertising 
 
 space 15? 
 
 Soliciting a partner . . 120, 121 
 Stating inability to fill 
 
 an order 48 
 
 Telegrams 159 
 
 Nouns 31 
 
 Classes of 31 
 
 Abstract 31 
 
 Collective 31 
 
 Concrete 31 
 
 Verbal 31 
 
 Case 37-41 
 
 Declension of 42 
 
 Gender 37 
 
 Number 32 
 
 Person 32 
 
 Plurals of 33-36 
 
 Orthography 43 
 
 Parenthesis 148-150 
 
 Parts of speech 31 
 
 Period, the 108-110 
 
 Plurals, formation of . . . 44, 45 
 
 Prepositions 97, 98 
 
 Aids in the use of 97, 98 
 
 Pronouns 48-67 
 
 Adjective 65-67 
 
 Agreement in gender . 54 
 Agreement of w^ith an- 
 tecedent 51 
 
 Aids to correct use of 50-67 
 
 Antecedents, the 48-52 
 
 Case of 55 
 
 Classes 49 
 
 Compound personal ... 58 
 
 Declension of personal. 49 
 
 Emphatic 58 
 
 Interrogative 61 
 
 Reflexive 58 
 
 Relative 62-64 
 
 Proof reader's marks . . 13 
 
 Quotation Marks Ill, 112 
 
 Remittances 12 
 
 gemicolon 124-126 
 
 Sentence structure 16 
 
 Forms of sentences ... 18 
 
 Kinds of sentences .... 18 
 
 Phrases and Clauses . . 16, 17 
 
 Subordinate elements . 16 
 
 Spelling, drill in 43-48 
 
 Spelling, general rules for 45 
 
 Syllabification 25-27 
 
 Bynonyms 19 
 
 ffelegrams 159 
 
 Verbs 76-93 
 
 Aids for the agree- 
 ment of 80-82 
 
 Auxiliary 79 
 
 Aids to 86-87 
 
 Classes of 76 
 
 Conjugation 79 
 
 Form 79 
 
 Mode 77, 78 
 
 Aids to 84 
 
 Model conjugation of 
 
 the word study . . . 160-163 
 
 Participles 91-93 
 
 Person and number ... 79 
 Suggestions on the verbs 
 
 Lie and Lay 88-91 
 
 Suggestions on the verbs 
 
 Rise and Raise . . . 88-91 
 Suggestions on the verbs 
 
 Sit and Set 88-91 
 
 Suggestions on the verbs 
 
 Fall and Fell 88-91 
 
 Suggestions on the verbs 
 
 Fly and Flow 88-91 
 
 Tense 78,79 
 
 Aids to 85 
 
 Voice 77 
 
 Words, how to use them. 20 
 
 Word study, essentials of 19 
 
 Definition 19 
 
 Orthography 19 
 
 Pronunciation 19 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 
 
 169 
 
 SYNONYMS, EXAMPLES OF 
 
 Abbreviation . 
 
 Affect , 
 
 Appertain 
 
 Apt , 
 
 Attend 
 
 Aught 
 
 Awaken , 
 
 Believe , 
 
 Bid 
 
 Blame 
 
 Brave , 
 
 Call 
 
 Censure , 
 
 Cheap , 
 
 Condemn . . . . , 
 Contagious . . , 
 Contraction . 
 Courageous . , 
 
 Delicious 
 
 Delightful 
 
 Discern 
 
 Discommode . 
 Discover .... 
 
 Effect 
 
 Evidence .... 
 
 Excite 
 
 Foolhardy ... 
 
 Ground 
 
 Healthful ... 
 
 Healthy 
 
 Harken 
 
 Honorable 
 
 Honorary 
 
 Incommode . 
 Inconvenience 
 Infectious ... 
 Ingenious ... 
 Ingenuous ... 
 
 Intellect 
 
 Intelligent . . , 
 Intelligible . . , 
 
 Intend 
 
 Intention ... 
 
 Invention 
 
 Invite 
 
 Involve 
 
 Implicate 
 
 Kind 
 
 Lend 
 
 Liable 
 
 Likely 
 
 65 
 58 
 65 
 38 
 33 
 33 
 43 
 65 
 51 
 51 
 20 
 51 
 51 
 48 
 51 
 51 
 65 
 20 
 51 
 51 
 65 
 58 
 54 
 58 
 51 
 42 
 20 
 65 
 43 
 43 
 33 
 65 
 65 
 58 
 58 
 51 
 38 
 38 
 53 
 58 
 58 
 36 
 20 
 54 
 51 
 38 
 38 
 53 
 36 
 38 
 38 
 
 Listen 
 
 Loan 
 
 Locality . . . 
 
 Lonely 
 
 Lovs^ priced . 
 
 Lunch 
 
 Luncheon . . 
 Luxuriant . 
 Luxurious . 
 Majority . . . 
 
 Mean 
 
 Mind 
 
 Ministry . . . 
 Mission . . . , 
 Naught . . . . 
 Observance 
 Observation 
 Occasion . . . 
 Occurred . . 
 
 Office 
 
 Official 
 
 Opinion . . . . 
 Opportunity 
 
 Ought 
 
 Part 
 
 Perceive . . . 
 Perspective 
 Pertain . . . . 
 Plurality . . . 
 
 Portion 
 
 Possible . . . . 
 Practicable 
 Practical . . 
 Probable . . . 
 
 Propose 
 
 Prospective 
 Provoke . . . . 
 Purpose . . . . 
 
 Rash 
 
 Room 
 
 Sentiment . 
 Solitary . . . . 
 
 Sort 
 
 Space 
 
 Stir up . 
 
 Summer . . . . 
 Testimony . 
 Transpire . , 
 Variety . . . . 
 Wholesome 
 
 33 
 36 
 65 
 48 
 48 
 48 
 48 
 48 
 48 
 60 
 36 
 54 
 20 
 20 
 33 
 61 
 61 
 20 
 65 
 36 
 36 
 60 
 20 
 33 
 61 
 65 
 68 
 65 
 60 
 61 
 20 
 20 
 20 
 20 
 36 
 58 
 42 
 20 
 20 
 65 
 60 
 48 
 53 
 65 
 42 
 51 
 51 
 65 
 53 
 43 
 
170 
 
 HANDBOOK OF 
 
 WORDS OFTEN MISUSED 
 
 Abundant 72 
 
 Accept 119 
 
 Acid 72 
 
 Active 72 
 
 Adjacent 72 
 
 Adjoining- 72 
 
 Aged 80 
 
 Alleviate 119 
 
 Allow 133 
 
 Ancient 80 
 
 Antiquated 80 
 
 Antique 80 
 
 Artful 72 
 
 Authentic 72 
 
 Banish 133 
 
 Bashfulness 76 
 
 Beautiful 110 
 
 Begin 133 
 
 Belief... 83 
 
 Beneficent 110 
 
 Benevolent 110 
 
 Bright 75 
 
 Brilliant 75 
 
 Busy 72 
 
 Clean 76 
 
 Cleanly 76 
 
 Close 119 
 
 Commence 133 
 
 Competent 76 
 
 Confidence 83 
 
 Contiguous 72 
 
 Copious 72 
 
 Decide 68 
 
 Deceitful 72 
 
 Designing 72 
 
 Determine 68 
 
 Difficult 112 
 
 Diffidence 76 
 
 Distribute 119 
 
 Divide 119 
 
 Effeminate 110 
 
 Efficient 83 
 
 Empty 83 
 
 Endemic 108 
 
 Envious 108 
 
 Epidemic 108 
 
 Epistle 68 
 
 Expatriate 133 
 
 Expel 133 
 
 Extraordinary 108 
 
 Extravagant 110 
 
 Faith 83 
 
 Female 110 
 
 Feminine 110 
 
 Fix 68 
 
 Garrulous 112 
 
 Generous 110 
 
 Genuine 72 
 
 Godly 112 
 
 Grand 80 
 
 Great 80 
 
 Handsome 110 
 
 Hard 112 
 
 Jealous 108 
 
 Lawful 119 
 
 Legal 119 
 
 Liberal, 110 
 
 Loquacious 112 
 
 Magnificant 80 
 
 Message 68 
 
 Modesty 76 
 
 Narrate 83 
 
 Note 68 
 
 Noted 119 
 
 Notorious 119 
 
 Permit 133 
 
 Plentiful 72 
 
 Pliable 133 
 
 Pliant 133 
 
 Precede 68 
 
 Pretty 110 
 
 Procedure 114 
 
 Proceed 68 
 
 Proceeding 114 
 
 Prodigal HO 
 
 Proficient 83 
 
 Proposal 114 
 
 Proposition 114 
 
 Qualified 76 
 
 Rare 113 
 
 Kavenous . 113 
 
 Receive 119 
 
 Recline 119 
 
 Recommend 68 
 
 Recommendation .... 68 
 
 Rehearse 83 
 
COMMERCIAL ENGLISH 
 
 171 
 
 Belate 83 
 
 Relation 115 
 
 Eelative 114 
 
 Eelieve 119 
 
 Eemarkable 108 
 
 Repose 119 
 
 Requirement 115 
 
 Requisite 115 
 
 Reserve 76 
 
 Righteous 112 
 
 Scare 133 
 
 Sensible 133 
 
 Sensitive 133 
 
 Settle 68 
 
 Sewage 115 
 
 Sewerage 115 
 
 Share 119 
 
 Shut 119 
 
 Sour 73 
 
 Stationary 68 
 
 Stationery 68 
 
 Sublime 80 
 
 Talkative 112 
 
 Tell 83 
 
 Transport 133 
 
 Trust 83 
 
 Vacant 83 
 
 Voracious 133 
 
 / 
 
• U ODvJUO