The Handy Cyclopedia of Things Worth Knowing Part 36

October--Beryl, opal.

November--Topaz, pearl.

December--Ruby, bloodstone.

GRAMMAR-SPELLING-p.r.o.nUNCIATION

Five Hundred Common Errors Corrected

Concise Rules for the Proper Use of Words in Writing or Speaking.

The most objectionable errors in speaking or writing are those in which words are employed that are unsuitable to convey the meaning intended.

Thus, a person wishing to express his intention of going to a given place says, "I propose going," when, in fact, he purposes going. The following affords an amusing ill.u.s.tration of this cla.s.s of error: A venerable matron was speaking of her son, who, she said, was quite stage-struck: "In fact," remarked the old lady, "he is going to a premature performance this evening!" Considering that most amateur performances are premature, it cannot be said that this word was altogether misapplied, though, evidently, the maternal intention was to convey quite another meaning.

Other errors arise from the subst.i.tution of sounds similar to the words which should be employed; that is, spurious words instead of genuine ones. Thus, some people say "renumerative," when they mean "remunerative." A nurse, recommending her mistress to have a perambulator for her child, advised her to purchase a preamputator!

Other errors are occasioned by imperfect knowledge of English grammar; thus, many people say, "Between you and I," instead of "Between you and me." And there are numerous other departures from the rules of grammar, which will be pointed out hereafter.

Misuse of the Adjective--"What beautiful b.u.t.ter!" "What a nice landscape!" They should say, "What a beautiful landscape!" "What nice b.u.t.ter!" Again, errors are frequently occasioned by the following causes:

Misp.r.o.nunciation of Words--Many persons say p.r.o.noun-ciation instead of p.r.o.nunciation; others say pro-nun-ce-a-shun, instead of pro-nun-she-a-shun.

Misdivision of Words and Syllables--This defect makes the words an amba.s.sador sound like a namba.s.sador, or an adder like a nadder.

Imperfect Enunciation--As when a person says hebben for heaven, ebber for ever, jocholate for chocolate.

To correct these errors by a systematic course of study would involve a closer application than most persons could afford, but the simple and concise rules and hints here given, founded upon usage and the authority of scholars, will be of great a.s.sistance to inquirers.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN A NUTSh.e.l.l.

Who and whom are used in relation to persons, and which in relation to things. But it was once common to say, "the man which." This should now be avoided. It is now usual to say, "Our Father who art in heaven,"

instead of "which art in heaven."

Whose is, however, sometimes applied to things as well as to persons. We may therefore say, "The country whose inhabitants are free."

Thou is employed in solemn discourse, and you in common language. Ye (plural) is also used in serious addresses, and you in familiar language.

The uses of the word it are various, and very perplexing to the uneducated. It is not only used to imply persons, but things, and even ideas, and therefore in speaking or writing, its a.s.sistance is constantly required. The perplexity respecting this word arises from the fact that in using it in the construction of a long sentence, sufficient care is not taken to insure that when it is employed it really points out or refers to the object intended. For instance, "It was raining when John set out in his cart to go to market, and he was delayed so long that it was over before he arrived." Now what is to be understood by this sentence: Was the rain over? or the market? Either or both might be inferred from the construction of the sentence, which, therefore, should be written thus: "It was raining when John set out in his cart to go to market, and he was delayed so long that the market was over before he arrived."

Rule--After writing a sentence always look through it, and see that wherever the word it is employed, it refers to or carries the mind back to the object which it is intended to point out.

The general distinction between this and that may be thus defined: this denotes an object present or near, in time or place; that something which is absent.

These refers, in the same manner, to present objects, while those refers to things that are remote.

Who changes, under certain conditions, into whose and whom; but that and which always remain the same, with the exception of the possessive case, as noted above.

That may be applied to nouns or subjects of all sorts; as, the girl that went to school, the dog that bit me, the opinion that he entertains.

The misuse of these p.r.o.nouns gives rise to more errors in speaking and writing than any other cause.

When you wish to distinguish between two or more persons, say: "Which is the happy man?" not who--"Which of those ladies to you admire?"

Instead of "Whom do you think him to be?" say, "Who do you think him to be?"

Whom should I see.

To whom do you speak?

Who said so?

Who gave it to you?

Of whom did you procure them?

Who was he?

Who do men say that I am?

Self should never be added to his, their, mine or thine.

Each is used to denote every individual of a number.

Every denotes all the individuals of a number.

Either and or denote an alternative: "I will take either road, at your pleasure;" "I will take this or that."

Neither means not either, and nor means not the other. Either is sometimes used for each--"Two thieves were crucified, on either side one."

"Let each esteem others as good as themselves," should be, "Let each esteem others as good as himself."

"There are bodies each of which are so small," should be, "each of which is so small."

Do not use double superlatives, such as most straightest, most highest, most finest.

The term worser has gone out of use; but lesser is stilt retained.

The use of such words as chiefest, extreamest, etc., has become obsolete, because they do not give any superior force to the meanings of the primary words, chief, extreme, etc.

Such expressions as more impossible, more indispensable, more universal, more uncontrollable, more unlimited, etc., are objectionable, as they really enfeeble the meaning which it is the object of the speaker or writer to strengthen. For instance, impossible gains no strength by rendering it more impossible. This cla.s.s of error is common with persons who say, "A great large house," "A great big animal," "A little small foot," "A tiny little hand."

Here, there and where, originally denoting place, may now, by common consent, be used to denote other meanings, such as, "There I agree with you," "Where we differ," "We find pain where we expected pleasure,"

"Here you mistake me."