Reading Help How to speak and write correctly Ch.I-VI
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HOW TO `
` SPEAK AND WRITE `
` CORRECTLY `
` `
` By `
` JOSEPH DEVLIN, M.A. `
` `
` Edited by `
` THEODORE WATERS `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` CONTENTS `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER I `
` REQUIREMENTS OF SPEECH `
` Vocabulary. Parts of speech. Requisites. `
` `
` CHAPTER II `
` ESSENTIALS OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR `
` Divisions of grammar. Definitions. Etymology. `
` `
` CHAPTER III `
` THE SENTENCE `
` Different kinds. Arrangement of words Paragraph. `
` `
` CHAPTER IV `
` FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE `
` Figures of speech. Definitions and examples. Use of figures. `
` `
` CHAPTER V `
` PUNCTUATION `
` Principal points. Illustrations. Capital letters. `
` `
` CHAPTER VI `
` LETTER WRITING `
` Principles of letter writing. Forms. Notes. `
` `
` CHAPTER VII `
` ERRORS `
` Mistakes. Slips of authors. Examples and corrections. Errors of redundancy. `
` `
` CHAPTER VIII `
` PITFALLS TO AVOID `
` Common stumbling blocks. Peculiar constructions. Misused forms. `
` `
` CHAPTER IX `
` STYLE `
` Diction. Purity. Propriety. Precision. `
` `
` CHAPTER X `
` SUGGESTIONS `
` How to write. What to write. Correct speaking and speakers. `
` `
` CHAPTER XI `
` SLANG `
` Origin. American slang. Foreign slang. `
` `
` CHAPTER XII `
` WRITING FOR NEWSPAPERS `
` Qualification. Appropriate subjects. Directions. `
` `
` CHAPTER XIII `
` CHOICE OF WORDS `
` Small words. Their importance. The Anglo-Saxon element. `
` `
` CHAPTER XIV `
` ENGLISH LANGUAGE `
` Beginning. Different Sources. The present. `
` `
` CHAPTER XV `
` MASTERS AND MASTERPIECES OF LITERATURE `
` Great authors. Classification. The world's best books. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` INTRODUCTION `
` `
` `
` In the preparation of this little work the writer has kept one end in `
` view, viz.: To make it serviceable for those for whom it is intended, `
` that is, for those who have neither the time nor the opportunity, the `
` learning nor the inclination, to peruse elaborate and abstruse treatises `
` on Rhetoric, Grammar, and Composition. To them such works are as gold `
` enclosed in chests of steel and locked beyond power of opening. This book `
` has no pretension about it whatever,--it is neither a Manual of Rhetoric, `
` expatiating on the dogmas of style, nor a Grammar full of arbitrary rules `
` and exceptions. It is merely an effort to help ordinary, everyday people `
` to express themselves in ordinary, everyday language, in a proper manner. `
` Some broad rules are laid down, the observance of which will enable the `
` reader to keep within the pale of propriety in oral and written language. `
` Many idiomatic words and expressions, peculiar to the language, have been `
` given, besides which a number of the common mistakes and pitfalls have `
` been placed before the reader so that he may know and avoid them. `
` `
` The writer has to acknowledge his indebtedness to no one in _particular_, `
` but to all in _general_ who have ever written on the subject. `
` `
` The little book goes forth--a finger-post on the road of language `
` pointing in the right direction. It is hoped that they who go according `
` to its index will arrive at the goal of correct speaking and writing. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER I `
` `
` REQUIREMENTS OF SPEECH `
` `
` Vocabulary--Parts of Speech--Requisites `
` `
` `
` It is very easy to learn how to speak and write correctly, as for all `
` purposes of ordinary conversation and communication, only about 2,000 `
` different words are required. The mastery of just twenty hundred words, `
` the knowing where to place them, will make us not masters of the English `
` language, but masters of correct speaking and writing. Small number, you `
` will say, compared with what is in the dictionary! But nobody ever uses `
` all the words in the dictionary or could use them did he live to be the `
` age of Methuselah, and there is no necessity for using them. `
` `
` There are upwards of 200,000 words in the recent editions of the large `
` dictionaries, but the one-hundredth part of this number will suffice for `
` all your wants. Of course you may think not, and you may not be content `
` to call things by their common names; you may be ambitious to show `
` superiority over others and display your learning or, rather, your `
` pedantry and lack of learning. For instance, you may not want to call a `
` spade a spade. You may prefer to call it a spatulous device for abrading `
` `
` the surface of the soil. Better, however, to stick to the old familiar, `
` simple name that your grandfather called it. It has stood the test of `
` time, and old friends are always good friends. `
` `
` To use a big word or a foreign word when a small one and a familiar one `
` will answer the same purpose, is a sign of ignorance. Great scholars and `
` writers and polite speakers use simple words. `
` `
` To go back to the number necessary for all purposes of conversation `
` correspondence and writing, 2,000, we find that a great many people who `
` pass in society as being polished, refined and educated use less, for `
` they know less. The greatest scholar alive hasn't more than four thousand `
` different words at his command, and he never has occasion to use half the `
` number. `
` `
` In the works of Shakespeare, the most wonderful genius the world has ever `
` known, there is the enormous number of 15,000 different words, but almost `
` 10,000 of them are obsolete or meaningless today. `
` `
` Every person of intelligence should be able to use his mother tongue `
` correctly. It only requires a little pains, a little care, a little study `
` to enable one to do so, and the recompense is great. `
` `
` Consider the contrast between the well-bred, polite man who knows how to `
` choose and use his words correctly and the underbred, vulgar boor, whose `
` language grates upon the ear and jars the sensitiveness of the finer `
` feelings. The blunders of the latter, his infringement of all the canons `
` `
` of grammar, his absurdities and monstrosities of language, make his very `
` presence a pain, and one is glad to escape from his company. `
` `
` The proper grammatical formation of the English language, so that one may `
` acquit himself as a correct conversationalist in the best society or be `
` able to write and express his thoughts and ideas upon paper in the right `
` manner, may be acquired in a few lessons. `
` `
` It is the purpose of this book, as briefly and concisely as possible, to `
` direct the reader along a straight course, pointing out the mistakes he `
` must avoid and giving him such assistance as will enable him to reach the `
` goal of a correct knowledge of the English language. It is not a Grammar `
` in any sense, but a guide, a silent signal-post pointing the way in the `
` right direction. `
` `
` `
` THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN A NUTSHELL `
` `
` All the words in the English language are divided into nine great `
` classes. These classes are called the Parts of Speech. They are Article, `
` Noun, Adjective, Pronoun, Verb, Adverb, Preposition, Conjunction and `
` Interjection. Of these, the Noun is the most important, as all the others `
` are more or less dependent upon it. A Noun signifies the name of any `
` person, place or thing, in fact, anything of which we can have either `
` thought or idea. There are two kinds of Nouns, Proper and Common. Common `
` Nouns are names which belong in common to a race or class, as _man_, `
` _city_. Proper Nouns distinguish individual members of a race or class as `
` _John_, _Philadelphia_. In the former case _man_ is a name which belongs `
` in common to the whole race of mankind, and _city_ is also a name which `
` is common to all large centres of population, but _John_ signifies a `
` particular individual of the race, while _Philadelphia_ denotes a `
` particular one from among the cities of the world. `
` `
` Nouns are varied by Person, Number, Gender, and Case. Person is that `
` relation existing between the speaker, those addressed and the subject `
` under consideration, whether by discourse or correspondence. The Persons `
` are _First_, _Second_ and _Third_ and they represent respectively the `
` speaker, the person addressed and the person or thing mentioned or under `
` consideration. `
` `
` _Number_ is the distinction of one from more than one. There are two `
`
` SPEAK AND WRITE `
` CORRECTLY `
` `
` By `
` JOSEPH DEVLIN, M.A. `
` `
` Edited by `
` THEODORE WATERS `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` CONTENTS `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER I `
` REQUIREMENTS OF SPEECH `
` Vocabulary. Parts of speech. Requisites. `
` `
` CHAPTER II `
` ESSENTIALS OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR `
` Divisions of grammar. Definitions. Etymology. `
` `
` CHAPTER III `
` THE SENTENCE `
` Different kinds. Arrangement of words Paragraph. `
` `
` CHAPTER IV `
` FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE `
` Figures of speech. Definitions and examples. Use of figures. `
` `
` CHAPTER V `
` PUNCTUATION `
` Principal points. Illustrations. Capital letters. `
` `
` CHAPTER VI `
` LETTER WRITING `
` Principles of letter writing. Forms. Notes. `
` `
` CHAPTER VII `
` ERRORS `
` Mistakes. Slips of authors. Examples and corrections. Errors of redundancy. `
` `
` CHAPTER VIII `
` PITFALLS TO AVOID `
` Common stumbling blocks. Peculiar constructions. Misused forms. `
` `
` CHAPTER IX `
` STYLE `
` Diction. Purity. Propriety. Precision. `
` `
` CHAPTER X `
` SUGGESTIONS `
` How to write. What to write. Correct speaking and speakers. `
` `
` CHAPTER XI `
` SLANG `
` Origin. American slang. Foreign slang. `
` `
` CHAPTER XII `
` WRITING FOR NEWSPAPERS `
` Qualification. Appropriate subjects. Directions. `
` `
` CHAPTER XIII `
` CHOICE OF WORDS `
` Small words. Their importance. The Anglo-Saxon element. `
` `
` CHAPTER XIV `
` ENGLISH LANGUAGE `
` Beginning. Different Sources. The present. `
` `
` CHAPTER XV `
` MASTERS AND MASTERPIECES OF LITERATURE `
` Great authors. Classification. The world's best books. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` INTRODUCTION `
` `
` `
` In the preparation of this little work the writer has kept one end in `
` view, viz.: To make it serviceable for those for whom it is intended, `
` that is, for those who have neither the time nor the opportunity, the `
` learning nor the inclination, to peruse elaborate and abstruse treatises `
` on Rhetoric, Grammar, and Composition. To them such works are as gold `
` enclosed in chests of steel and locked beyond power of opening. This book `
` has no pretension about it whatever,--it is neither a Manual of Rhetoric, `
` expatiating on the dogmas of style, nor a Grammar full of arbitrary rules `
` and exceptions. It is merely an effort to help ordinary, everyday people `
` to express themselves in ordinary, everyday language, in a proper manner. `
` Some broad rules are laid down, the observance of which will enable the `
` reader to keep within the pale of propriety in oral and written language. `
` Many idiomatic words and expressions, peculiar to the language, have been `
` given, besides which a number of the common mistakes and pitfalls have `
` been placed before the reader so that he may know and avoid them. `
` `
` The writer has to acknowledge his indebtedness to no one in _particular_, `
` but to all in _general_ who have ever written on the subject. `
` `
` The little book goes forth--a finger-post on the road of language `
` pointing in the right direction. It is hoped that they who go according `
` to its index will arrive at the goal of correct speaking and writing. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER I `
` `
` REQUIREMENTS OF SPEECH `
` `
` Vocabulary--Parts of Speech--Requisites `
` `
` `
` It is very easy to learn how to speak and write correctly, as for all `
` purposes of ordinary conversation and communication, only about 2,000 `
` different words are required. The mastery of just twenty hundred words, `
` the knowing where to place them, will make us not masters of the English `
` language, but masters of correct speaking and writing. Small number, you `
` will say, compared with what is in the dictionary! But nobody ever uses `
` all the words in the dictionary or could use them did he live to be the `
` age of Methuselah, and there is no necessity for using them. `
` `
` There are upwards of 200,000 words in the recent editions of the large `
` dictionaries, but the one-hundredth part of this number will suffice for `
` all your wants. Of course you may think not, and you may not be content `
` to call things by their common names; you may be ambitious to show `
` superiority over others and display your learning or, rather, your `
` pedantry and lack of learning. For instance, you may not want to call a `
` spade a spade. You may prefer to call it a spatulous device for abrading `
` `
` the surface of the soil. Better, however, to stick to the old familiar, `
` simple name that your grandfather called it. It has stood the test of `
` time, and old friends are always good friends. `
` `
` To use a big word or a foreign word when a small one and a familiar one `
` will answer the same purpose, is a sign of ignorance. Great scholars and `
` writers and polite speakers use simple words. `
` `
` To go back to the number necessary for all purposes of conversation `
` correspondence and writing, 2,000, we find that a great many people who `
` pass in society as being polished, refined and educated use less, for `
` they know less. The greatest scholar alive hasn't more than four thousand `
` different words at his command, and he never has occasion to use half the `
` number. `
` `
` In the works of Shakespeare, the most wonderful genius the world has ever `
` known, there is the enormous number of 15,000 different words, but almost `
` 10,000 of them are obsolete or meaningless today. `
` `
` Every person of intelligence should be able to use his mother tongue `
` correctly. It only requires a little pains, a little care, a little study `
` to enable one to do so, and the recompense is great. `
` `
` Consider the contrast between the well-bred, polite man who knows how to `
` choose and use his words correctly and the underbred, vulgar boor, whose `
` language grates upon the ear and jars the sensitiveness of the finer `
` feelings. The blunders of the latter, his infringement of all the canons `
` `
` of grammar, his absurdities and monstrosities of language, make his very `
` presence a pain, and one is glad to escape from his company. `
` `
` The proper grammatical formation of the English language, so that one may `
` acquit himself as a correct conversationalist in the best society or be `
` able to write and express his thoughts and ideas upon paper in the right `
` manner, may be acquired in a few lessons. `
` `
` It is the purpose of this book, as briefly and concisely as possible, to `
` direct the reader along a straight course, pointing out the mistakes he `
` must avoid and giving him such assistance as will enable him to reach the `
` goal of a correct knowledge of the English language. It is not a Grammar `
` in any sense, but a guide, a silent signal-post pointing the way in the `
` right direction. `
` `
` `
` THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN A NUTSHELL `
` `
` All the words in the English language are divided into nine great `
` classes. These classes are called the Parts of Speech. They are Article, `
` Noun, Adjective, Pronoun, Verb, Adverb, Preposition, Conjunction and `
` Interjection. Of these, the Noun is the most important, as all the others `
` are more or less dependent upon it. A Noun signifies the name of any `
` person, place or thing, in fact, anything of which we can have either `
` thought or idea. There are two kinds of Nouns, Proper and Common. Common `
` Nouns are names which belong in common to a race or class, as _man_, `
` _city_. Proper Nouns distinguish individual members of a race or class as `
` _John_, _Philadelphia_. In the former case _man_ is a name which belongs `
` in common to the whole race of mankind, and _city_ is also a name which `
` is common to all large centres of population, but _John_ signifies a `
` particular individual of the race, while _Philadelphia_ denotes a `
` particular one from among the cities of the world. `
` `
` Nouns are varied by Person, Number, Gender, and Case. Person is that `
` relation existing between the speaker, those addressed and the subject `
` under consideration, whether by discourse or correspondence. The Persons `
` are _First_, _Second_ and _Third_ and they represent respectively the `
` speaker, the person addressed and the person or thing mentioned or under `
` consideration. `
` `
` _Number_ is the distinction of one from more than one. There are two `
`