'They could easier get them by heart:' say, more easily.
'Use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often in-
firmities. Often is an adverb, and therefore wrong: we
should say, thy frequent infirmities.

II. Adjective.

1. When adjectives, or their equivalents, deny equality, or affirm inequality, neither term of the comparison should ever include the other; as,

'I know none so happy in his metaphors as Addison.' Addison is included in none, and therefore is not so happy as himself.-A.

2. When a comparative is used with than, the thing compared must always be excluded from the class of things compared; as, 'Jacob loved Joseph more than all his children;'

corrected, all his (other) children.'-A.

3. Avoid the common blunder of confounding the first two with the two first, the last two with the two last.

III. Article.

1. If different persons or objects are referred to, the article must be repeated with each; as,

'The wooden and iron bridge'=one bridge.

'The wooden and the iron bridge'=two bridges.

2. The article is never used in English before virtues, vices, arts, and sciences; abstract quantities defined not otherwise particularly; terms strictly limited by other definite words; titles used as titles, and names as names.

3. Since a (an) indicates one thing of a kind, it must not be used to denote the whole kind; as,

(Not) (But)

'The unicorn is a kind of a rhinoceros ; '
'The unicorn is a kind of rhinoceros.'

I

1. Pronouns and co are followed by singul 'Everyone must

2. Nouns of multi followed by plural pr

'The clergy

3. If two or more number, or person, th agree, care must be generally the nomina the accusatives to the

4. As personal pr in one of which the connected with two peculiarly liable to completing the sente

1. 'Let you

the cave;' say.
2. If there

him who;' say

3. 'Betwee

VI. Verb.

1Be careful about the use of the verb Do, as a substitute feer verbs. It ought to be so used only when the ellipsis of the prding verb can be supplied; as,

I did not say as some do (say).'

'I did not say as some have done (correct said).'

2. Avoid the use of the verb get, got. It is generally re-
dundant, or else used for a verb far more suitable than itself; as,

I have got a cold. Simply, 'I have a cold;' or, 'I have
caught a cold."

'I can't get into the box;" i. e. 'open the box."

If verbs are used in different voices, moods, and tenses, and are pha caly distinguished, the nominative, or its equivalent, must be repeated with each.

4. Since conjunctions connect like constructions, test the concord of må et with verb in each clause.

& Prestons waiversally true are generally put in the present

tens, whatever tense precedes them.

The genitive form of the infinitive in ing, after a possessive case, as always questionable, and to be avoided; as,

What is the object of your brother's writing so long a letter?'

7 SHALL and WILL. For the use of these verbs the following ercent rule is laid down: If the speaker is nominative to the wer, and also determines its accomplishment; or, if he is neither the maty to the verb, we determines its accomplishment, the proper aux: „ary is mal';' in every other case it is shall.-M.

& How far back soever the expectation or intention may be re

ferred, the seeing or writing must be considered as

contemporary, or

as a blow, but cannot, without absurdity, be considered as

I have lost this game, though I thought I should have won it.' Corrected). 'I have lost this game, though I thought I should win it.'

Instead of 'I had rather go,' say, 'I would rather go.'

VII. Conjunctions, Prepositions, &c.

When conjunctions are used to connect terms or phrases, care be taken that the phrase which is applied to the two makes matical sense with each; as,

He was more beloved (than), but not so much admired as
Cinthio.'-A.

See that correlative expressions, such as not only, but are similarly situated in the clauses to which they belong. A few having an affirmative meaning may be followed by but. having a negative meaning, does not admit the conjunction

-M.

Cities, towns, countries, lands, islands, take of after them. vers are not followed by of.

VIII. Collocation of Words, &c.

ese rules are of frequent use and great value.

Words that express things connected in thought should be placed ar to each other as possible, unless another arrangement be red by the emphasis.

Where words or clauses are so placed as to be susceptible of uble reference, the construction (called 'construction louche') be changed.

the careful arrange

Use as few stops as possible; depend upon of words for a clear expression of meaning. When different things have an obvious relation to each other in ct to the order of nature or time, that order should be regarded signing them their places in the sentence, unless the scope of assages require it to be varied.-Lindley Murray, quoted by

IV. Pronoun.

1. Pronouns and collective nouns which require a singular verb are followed by singular pronouns; as,

'Everyone must judge of his (not their) own feelings.'

2. Nouns of multitude, which require verbs in the plural are followed by plural pronouns; as,

'The clergy would not surrender their privileges.'

3. If two or more pronouns in one sentence differ in gender, number, or person, the reference to each will be clear; but, if they agree, care must be taken that there be no confusion. Speaking generally the nominatives should all refer to the same person, and the accusatives to the same.—A.

4. As personal pronouns are often found in connected sentences in one of which the verb is omitted, and relative pronouns are often connected with two verbs in the same sentence, the use of them is peculiarly liable to errors. Such errors are most easily avoided by completing the sentence, or by analysing it; e.g.

1. ‘Let you and I endeavour to improve the enclosure of the cave;' say, 'Let you and let me ;''Let us.'

2. If there be one character more base than another, it is him who;' say, 'That character is he who.'

3. Between you and I (me) he is mistaken.'

4. The nations not so blessed as thee (as thou art).'— Thomson.

5. 'It is not for such as us (as we are) to sit with the rulers of the land.'

เ

6. Is she as tall as me (as I am).'-Shakspere.

7. 'There were a thousand in the French army who could have done it as well as him (as he could).'-Napier.

8. 'Whom do men say that I am? (That I am who do men

say?j'

9. 'Who do you take me to be (me to be whom).'

10. Who servest thou under (whom).'

11. 'Who should I meet the other day but my old friend.'Steele.

12. My son is going to be married to I don't know who.'Goldsmith.

(Whom, in both cases).-A.

5. Ye is the nominative form of the pronoun, you the accusative. In Old English this distinction is carefully preserved. In Shakspere it is not observed; by later writers it is reversed.-A.

6. Avoid the use of that for when; as,

'He tells them that the time should come that the Temple should be graced with the presence of the Messias.' For that substitute when.

1.

V. Relative.

The antecedent to which a relative refers must be perfectly obvious. Hence no other word which might grammatically be interpreted as the antecedent must intervene.

2. An adjective should never be an antecedent. Avoid such expressions as,

'Homer is remarkably concise, which renders him lively and agreeable.'-Blair.

3. Relatives being connective words, do not admit conjunctions before them, unless there are two or more relative clauses to be repeated. Hence avoid such errors as, And which.

EXAMPLE. The principal and distinguishing excellence of Virgil, and which in my opinion he possesses beyond other poets, is tenderness.'

4. Vide Syntax, § 8, 5, p. 101.

5. Avoid such common errors as, 'Who do you speak to?' for Whom do you speak to?'