The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-02-07
Connosition Writing.


Mr.. IToR,-Having received through the
mail copy of the Argus of recent date, with
an article upon composition writing"
marked for me to notice. L have been thus
influenced to present another side of the dis
puted question. Is the use of parts of the
verb "to write" in connection with the word
composition" always incorrect. The express
sion in question was the topic of letter, writ
ten some time ago. for which l was response.
BILE. The local editor of the Argus has twice
devoted considerable space of his paper to crit
icising that unimportant affair, as if it were
formal essay, instead of few thoughts famil-
iarly presented in the form of a letter-a spe-
cies of writing in which much latitude of style
is allowable-and printed for the scrap-books
of our pupils. I maintain that parts of the
verb "to write" may be correctly used in con-
nection with the noun composition" when
the noun has particular meaning.
The word composition" may be used as an
abstract noun, meaning "the act of compos-
ing" or as a concrete noun meaning, "that
which is formed by putting together" Our
critic has fallen into error by failing to distin-
guish between those two uses of the word. A
tSAApOoAtAOkA
application to school or college essay. This
use is sanctioned by custom, by standard
works such as, Harris Rhetoric, Kerl's Rhet-
ORIG, etc., by the precedents of our schools and
colleges. At Yale College the essays of the
students are technically called compost
TONS" and are so designated in the printed
curriculum Hence we have abundant author
itv for applying the word composition" to a
school essay. "Letter writing" essay writ
ing" are expressions employed by the best au-
thorities. If essay writing be not Pathological,
then composition writing is not, since ESSAY
and Composition" in those expressions are
svnonvmous terms Not only does this logical
demonstration sustain our position, but We can
point out examples of coupling parts of the
vverh ssto write with the noun composition, in
r. a works of standard authorities.
We have found in Harris Rhetoric, the text
hook used at Yale College, the expressions "to
write compositions" and writing Compost
tions.r In Kerls work upon the subject, oc-
cur the phrases "the writing Of compositions
sind 'to write compositions" We might pro.
coed further in citing authority, If mention OF
two standard sources weee not sufficient. :.
We used the phase composition writing"
to pointedly specify particular kind of writ
ing; not sermon writing, nor letter writing,
nor novel writing, but school-boy's essay or
composition writing. Our critic thinks that
| only the abstract word Composition should
| be used in that case. Composition" for such
a special purpose would be too general. The
| abstract use of the word may refer to compos-
| ing novels, history, dramas, poetry, music, &C.,
| without necessarily involving the act of writ
| ing.
| Such are some of our reasons for maintain
ing that the criticised expression is not incor-
rect. Our critic should bear in mind that,
while he may be allowed to prefer certain
forms to others, he is not justified in dogmat,
ically condemning an expression as slang,
because he does not like it, or cannot find IL
| in the works of his favorite author.
| A. B. M.