RULE I.-Use words in their precise signification. Care. less writers too often employ words to express one meaning, when according to their just import they mean something different.

EXAMPLES.-Above, for foregoing; as, "The above statement," instead of "the foregoing statement."

Atop, for upon; as, "atop of the table," instead of "upon the table." Behind, for slow; as, "my watch is behind," instead of "too slow." The expression 66 my watch is standing," should be "has stopped."

Between for among, and vice versâ; as, "Divide it between all;" "I)ivide it among both."

In for within, and in for into; as, "Is your father in?" instead of, "Is your father within ?" "Put it in your pocket," instead of "Put it into

your pocket."

Over for of; as "Overseer over his house," instead of Overseer of his house."

While for until; as, "Wait while (until) I come."

If for whether; as, "Inquire if (whether) he called."

(whether) the sun shines."

"Look if

Where and there for whither and thither; as, "Where (whither) are you going?" "From where (whence) does he come?" &c. The adverbs when, while, how, where, for the nouns time, manner, place; the preposition in and the relative which; as, "Since when (which time) I have not seen him." "It is not worth my while" (time). "Do it any how" (in any manner). "A little while," instead of "a short time." "The petition where (in which) it is stated."

Mind, for attend to; as, "Mind (attend to) your book;" "I do not mind it" (regard, or care about it); "I had no mind (inclination) for it;" "1 have a mind (wish) for it," &c.

Get, got, instead of have, obtain, catch, grow, take, become, &c.; as, "I have got some," instead of "I have some." "To get (obtain) a place or office;" "To get (catch) a cold ;" "To get (grow) bigger;" "To get (take) dinner;" "To get (rent) a house;" "To get (purchase);" "To get (become) sick "

"Sit (set) yourself

Lays, laid, for lies, lay, and vice versâ ; as, "he lays or laid down," instead of "he lies or lay down." "He laid (lay) in bed." "Lie (lay) it down." "It was lain (laid) there." Sit for set, and vice versâ; as, 66 Set (sit) down." down." "Sit (set) the plant in the ground," &c. Flee, fled, for fly, flew, and vice versâ; as, "The enemy flies" (flecs). "The birds fled" (flew).

Mistaking, for mistaken, and vice versâ; as, "You are mistaken," for "You mistake," or, 66 are mistaking." "I was mistaking" (mistaken). The phrase "I mistake," or "am mistaking," means "I misunderstand;" but, "I am mistaken," means "I am misunderstood."`

EXERCISES.

The erroneous or careless forms of expression quoted in this lesson may be dictated to the class, that they may present them correctly, in a written form.

LESSON LXXI.

PRECISION OF EXPRESSION.

The following additional examples are given under Rule I.:

Overflown for overflowed, and vice versâ; as, "The river was overflown" (had overflowed).

Misapplications of the word put: "Put up or down the window" should be "open or close, or push down, the window."

"Put (pour) water into the basin."-" Put (lay) the cloth on the diningtable."—"Put down (lay) the carpet on the floor."—"Put (pour) water into the cup."" Put (take) away the dinner-things."-" Put (lead) the horse into the stable."-" Put (show) the stranger into the parlor.""Put (set) the passenger down at the turnpike."—" Put (place) the boy into the first class."

Turn, for to become; as, "To turn (become or grow) sick."—" To turn or turn over (to consider) in one's mind."-" To turn out to one's mind" (not to disappoint one).-Conceive, for to couch; as, "The letter was conceived (couched) in these words."-Maltreat for to ill-use; as, "He maltreats (ill-uses) his family."-Propose, for to purpose; as, "I propose (purpose) to do so."—Adduce, for to produce; as, "He adduced (produced) a proof."

Pull, for gather; as, "Pull (gather) the grapes."-Take, for suppose; as, “I take it (suppose) that you are better.-Hold, for adopt, decide, or determine; as, "He holds (adopts) this opinion.”—The judge held (decided or determined) that," &c.--Remember, for remind; as "Remember (remind) me of that.-Appreciate, for to prize or value; as, "He appreciates (values) learn

ing."

Try, for to make; as, "He tried (made) the experiment."-See, for to hear; as, "Did you see the thunder and lightning?" for "Did you hear the thunder and see the lightning?"-Throw up, for to raise; as, “He threw up (raised) his eyes towards heaven."--Grow, for to become; as, "Old persons grow (become) shorter."

Run, for leak; as, "The vessel runs" (leaks).—Lcst, for arowned; as, "He was lost (drowned) in the river."—Learn, for teach; as, "She learns (teaches) me."-I know of, for to my knowledge; as, “Never, as I know of ;" for "Never, to my knowledge."

Precision is also violated by the use of

Apparent, for obvious;—primary, for primitive;—universal, for generul ;— mutual, for common;-pressing, for urgent ;—dry, for thirsty;—readily, for easily-see, for perceive;-recommend, for advise ;-tell, for desire;-look over, for examine;—undeniable, for unexceptionable, or unimpeachable ;— witnessed, for beheld;—name or notice, for mention;—mean, for intend ;— looked for, or thought for, for expected.

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The following expressions, also, lack precision:

"To extinguish a debt," for "to pay a debt;"-" To take a fever," for to be seized with, or attacked by, a fever:"-" To be laid up with illness," for "to be confined with illness;"-"To follow out a plan," for "to execute a plan ;"-"To follow up an idea," for "to adopt or prosecute an idea;-"To follow advice," for "to attend or listen to advice;"-To lay one's account with," for "to reckon on receiving ;"—"I can eat no more," for "I cannot eat any more ;"-"I can walk no more," for "I can walk no further;"-"I can stay no longer," for "I cannot stay any longer;"—" To militate against," for "to oppose ;"-"To speak contemptibly of one," for "contemptuously ;"-No less (fewer) than forty persons;-" Far prettier and far better," instead of "much prettier and much better;"―There is a great odds (difference) in their accounts;—It is at your disposition (disposal); In no event (case);—Further (future) forms or orders;-He is very bad (ill);—"He has been long ailing," for "he has been sickly for some time;"-A finely tasted (flavored) pear ;—I love (like) good living;-To do (transact) business;-Take which you like (choose);—To furnish (supply) goods;-"To be made much of," for "to be much caressed or indulged ;— "The crop promises to be large," for "the crop has the appearance of being plentiful;"-"Like to have slipped," for "nearly slipped ;"—I rather think," for "I believe;"-"I had better go," for "It were better that I should go ;"-He is oftener (more frequently) right than wrong;— "The then judge of," for "the judge at the time;". "He is a rising man," for "he is rising rapidly ;"-" She is a superior woman," for "she is a woman superior to most."

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The following expressions, also, are deficient in grammatical precision; for neuter, or intransitive verbs, cannot be compounded of the auxiliary verb to be.

The storm is (has) ceased.-They are (have) arrived.—He is (has) departed. They were (had) come. The men are (have) deserted.--He is

(has) entered into a new concern.-Who originated this motion? for, From whom did this motion originate?

The subjoined phrases are not precise in the form of expression:

Lodgings to let; for, Lodgings to be let.-A house to sell; for, A house to be sold.--He was paid the money; for, The money was paid to him.— He was allowed ten per cent.; for, Ten per cent. was allowed him.-They were promised it; for, It was promised to them.-She was offered it; for, It was offered to her.

The above changes become necessary, for the reason that active verbs cannot be used so as to imply a passive signification; nor passive verbs, an active signification.

EXERCISES.

Let the numerous forms of expression, cited in this lesson, be dictated to the class, and by them be written with precision.

LESSON LXXII.

PRECISION OF EXPRESSION.

RULE II.-Avoid expressions that want meaning, or border on what may be denominated nonsensical; as the following:

Almost nothing; instead of, Scarcely any thing, very little, or little or nothing.-Almost never; for, Very seldom, or Seldom or never.-The two first-the two last; instead of, the first two-the last two.-To speak three sentences together; for, To speak three sentences in succession.-Doublebedded; for, two-bedded.—To enjoy a bad state of health; for, To have, or be in, bad health.-To fall sick; for, To grow, or become sick.—To find pain; for, To feel pain.-To meet another's idea; for, To coincide in opinion. He reads best of any boy; for, He reads better than any other boy, or the best of all the boys.-Of all others he is the most trustworthy; for, Of all persons he is the most trustworthy.-There were four ladies, every one prettier than another.-Discontinued for many years together.-To fall into a man's conversation; for, To fall into conversation with a man.-To animadvert on the false taste the town is in; for, of the town.--I had like to have gotten one or two broken heads for, I was once or twice like to have gotten a broken head.

as,

RULE III.-Avoid superfluous words and expressions;

Acquiesce and rest satisfied with ;-Bounds and limits;-Acknowledge and confess;-Clear and obvious;-Plain and evident ;-Advise and counsel;-Confused and disordered;-Corruption and degeneracy ;-Courage and resolution;-Effects and consequences ;-Fears and apprehensions ;Assemble and meet together;-Dissemble and cloak ;-Friendly and amicable;-Governed and conducted ;-Intents and purposes;-Mild and meek ;-Obliged and indebted ;-Obviate and prevent:-Pleasure and sat isfaction;-Safest and securest;-Special and particular;-Support and stay;-Wavering and unsettled;-Worship and adoration;-Support and bear up ;-Positive and peremptory ;-Certain and confident;-They have a mutual dislike to each other;-When will you return again ?--They returned back again to the same city whence they came forth.

While superfluous words and phrases are, in general, to be avoided as unnecessary, and enfeebling to style, it is singular that in not a few cases they have a fine rhetorical effect, being prompted by natural feeling, and in such cases are to be used. Sometimes a series of words and expressions, similar or equivalent in import, adds force and intensity to the thoughts thus expressed. Thus Cicero, speaking of Catiline, said: "Abiit, excessit, evasit, erupit" (He has gone, he has vanished, he has escaped, he has sallied forth); a form of expression thus rendered exceedingly graphic and striking.

The Scripture also abounds in redundant forms of expression, that are nevertheless possessed of great force and of beauty; thus, "Answered and said;"- "Shook and trembled ;"- "Poor and needy;"-"Fearful and afraid;" "Old and stricken in years;""Length of days and long life ;"- "Hear my voice, give ear unto my speech;" -"Perfect and entire, wanting nothing;"-" God is light; in Him is no darkness;"-"He was a man of sorrow, and acquainted with grief;"-"Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not into the way of wicked men ;"—" While I live, will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises to my God while I have a being."

These beautiful forms of Hebrew poetry, called the Parallelism, where the same thought is repeated in somewhat varied phrase