Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-02-24
The common Crimes of Conversation.

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There are the careless people, those
uwbo know the right, and yet the wrong
,rrsne." They plunge recklessly on
without a thought for the words they use T;
thnir sentences abound with EXPLANATIONS
snd expletives more expressive than
choice. Their slang phrases are an offense
20 cult, ted ears; and they exhaust the
snnerlati, IS of the language on the most
culinary occasions 1t is they who pref
ocs very sentence, even on trivial topics,
with, my stars?" by Georgel" " BY
Jupiter i" "Graciousl "Good Lord ~
SThunder v" You betl" No. you don't!"
In their voca bulary, "Oh ~" Indeed, yes!'
aWelll" "And all !" are as thickly
strewn as leaves in Vallambrosa. With
them funeral is "jolly,"a prayer meet
ing funny" an ordinary performance is
g tirst rate" the lowessround on the ladder
Of beauty is real pretty" and their in
discriml nate admiration is expressed by
the mueh,abused epithets, splendid
beautiful, magnificent, superb, exquisite"
etc ANY violation of law belonging to
their code is shameful" refusal to
conform to their wishes is "horrid mean
a common COlu 10 tSlllulc, anu d uCdu-
ache is "beyond endurance" They are
always "roasted or " frozen or "melt
ed !" their friends are beautified win
every virtue; and their enemies are the
ofscourings of the race They so COM
nletely exhaust the language on common
occasions that no words are left to give
express lons to their deeper feelings.
A second class includes those who vio
late the laws of etymology. They have
been thoroughly trained in the grammar
of language, and yet refuse to be regu-
lated Ivy its precepts. This class is large
one, and includes among its audacious
sinners:
|, Those who use the objective case for
the nominative; as, 1T is me" for " 1t is
| :" at is her." for is She" 1t is us"
for at is We"
2. Those who use the nominative case
for the objective as, Between you and
II for" Between you and me-" "Like you
and l." for Like you and me; know
who you mean," for 81 know whom you
mean"
3. Those whose subjects and verbs do
not agree in number and person; as, "Says
II for "Say / :" "You was" for "You
were" "My feets cold" for "My feet
are cold; )" There's thirty" for "There
are thirty"
4. Those who use the indicative mood
for the subjunctive; "If i was you," for
aft were you"
5. Those who use the present. tense for
the past 81 see you yesterday" for 81
saw you yesterday
6. Those who use the intransitive verb
for the transitive; IF he is mind to-"
for "lf he has mind to-"
7. Those who use incorrectly the much
abused verbs sit and lie; as 81 am going
to Law down." for am going to lie down !"
al laid down this morning" for " / lay
down this morning." 81 shall set there"
for 81 shall sit there.
8. Those who use the adverb for the ad-
iectve as, "She looks beautifully" tor
'She looks beautiful" or its opposite,
She walks graceful" for "She walks
gracefully"
8. Those who use plural adjective
with a singular noun; as, "Those kind !"
for "That kind" Six pair" for "Six
pairs"
~. Those who use tne comp (unu rela-
tive for the conjunction; as, ~ do not
know but what l WILL" for 81 do not
know but that | will.
II. Those who use the objective case
after the conjunction "than;" as "He
knows more than me-" for "He knows
more than |.
H. Those who use double negatives;
as, "No, you don't neither" for No you
don't either"
49, Those who use the wrong preposi-
ton; as, Different to-" for Different
from; "In regard Of" for with regard
to-" f-
"A. Those who use the superlative de-
gree for the comparative; as, THE Oldest
of the two" for "The elder of the two
Old and Nea0.