The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-03-18

reason fOr aQOptl0E LQelF plRnb, hoOooS
long words and set phrases.
While the reformer in spelling would econ
omiKe In the use OF q few letters, other re-
are setting pure h9b nnG
words which are less, expressive.
The almost universal tendency now -, 10
drop the use of simple English words whith
sounding words and set phrases with which
we are less acquainted, and In some instances
Of whose meaning we are totally lg-
norant.
For instance: Tho word; "transpired" is
often used, when the speaker means "happen-
ed" or "took place."
lin the midst OF life we are In death," -
perfectly, good, but we're we to say we
| have sickness in our midst 1t mny have
doubtful meaning II reference is had TO tho
location OF our illness, II might tfa<efore DO
s to say Te shs mac e0s then be to
say, we have sickness in the midst OF us."
In writing marriage notice now, the re-
porter puts 1t in this way; -, -. hr,,.,,
Jones and Miss sallie Tompkins.h, 4
Ths5e af i. %osas h:. at 0ss e.. tie
tits it's unn ecessary g. The words ifbply rehf h.
tion on the bridal party by seeming TO corfeL
tss bsSe yehs hsys e sns sops
marry elsewhere than at home. =
While it would be eminently proper for the
Sheriff 10 mention the hom estead as that OF the
talk, the Aforesaid ''residence."is regarded as
the home Of each member OF the household.
The law itself regards the homestead OF the
does the residence OF the father" The homo:
stead of the children is exempt from levy ana
sale to pay debts, but the "residence" OF him
who has no family may be taken and sold. II
therefore the residence OF the bride Ia insert:
ed In the marriage notice it may be Inferred
that the public did not expect her to marry
''at home"
Nearly everybody, says "donor." and "do-
nation" instead OF using the simpler and bet
ter words, GIT and giyer: gnI ..r .c,,ro -.
this day our daily bread''
But II the modern writer Lhad been left to
formulate the petition, he would have am
plefied his remarks, someWhatafte this lash
1--WE pray thee, Good Lord, to make the
daily liberal donations Of meat and bread
stus which are necessary 70 answer tne con- D.
supporting life and IN nourisnlng our ::ood-
les"
In like manner, the words buy and buyer,
| have nearly gone out OF use. We all uso the
less plain and forceful words "purchase" and
purchaser" and some people. have even gone
80 far as TO say "purchaseress."
/ We already have edttress and Proprietress.
It NAV therefore be expected that we will
soon have "singess," "teachess," ''nurseIs'
and "cookesS."
Another common mistake is, in the use OF
good words, Of which We are absolutely
The words, "give, devise, hequeath," &C., are
words which are known TO everybody, but but
, nine men out of ten, who use them In the
order in which they are here named, have no
definite idea Of what they mean.
The inexperienced writer Is sure to think
"heirs" is big word, and will seldom fail to
use that word in writing a will when he
certainly means children. Everybody knows
what child'or children MEANS If they are men
toned by name, but IT might require testi-
mony and q special sitting Of the Supreme
Court to determine the meaning Of the word
"her" or "heirs."
Recently correspondent in =, writing
an account Of church wedding said:
Tomkins was consun,mated in the church"
"Consummated" Is big word, and ofen
very innocent word, and even in connection
with marriage, 1t may not be o bad word. out
we are quite certain that the writer was
innocent of any intention TO convey the
stance. II he had said the wedding
| took place in the church," there could have
been no misunderstanding Of the Idea which
he meant to convey: but 5ns ,id ras
alone, he used 1T instead of shorter and bet
ter words which stated exact and we'll defined
| ideas and facts.
tors and some correspondents will say some.
" "Mr. Jones is buying paregorle now and
Sap,nE Ssppy IT tns sesSs MGDs eleven I pounds"
Now this is vulgar, and o fact is hnted at,
which should be plainly stated, In words like
these o, ,oo, D., AZ.
II is a matter Of congratulation when q
man Is born into the world, and there Is no
more propriety in the use Of hints sta and |. sly
writing notice like the following:
! "Mr. Jones is buying little collins now and
i and digging holes In ecluded Spots. Mrs.
Jones. will wear mourning Tor the next
year."
| in reference to the birth OF child, the puplic
| the same child was published in the same
style in which Its birth was announced, we
presume a decent public would be shorked.
AS 1t is disreputable to spell incorrectly, 30
circumstances 10 use slang, vulgarity, or even
puns. .
may appear on iase mas sbis yasa1
it is shocking to hear lady use slang, She
Is never safei doing so or in using words, the
meaning OF which she does not understand.
Punns, or childish play upon the meaning
of words, is the cheapest wit known to the
ike E to be ca. a Child again the inaulgance may
| 06 DQrQOQeO once OF GWlCo III il0 cihiCt ous
the prac tice is so much out Of place, even
though one were not disposed to offend, society
seldom tolerates the person or the privilege.
But these propositions outline definite and
exact ideas.
more frequently in the use OF long words, or
big words, when shorter words would serve
better purpose.
tion points, and an excess of long words,
writer's often make their meaning obscure,
when shorter and purer English words and a
greater number OF pei iods and paragraphs
would give strength and force to ideas which
are otherwise but feebiy expressed. =,
The changes which hsVe taken place IN the
spelling OF our words, and the further
changes which are urged, we're and are urged
from an economical standpoint
Economy, when placed In opposition to es-
tablished usages receives very little tolera-
tion from the scholar and nd. none ne, at 3 t
and the old iogy contend for the same
thing, but from very different reasnos. TO the
| scholar there is a history or classic definition
in every word, and TO him any alteration OF
any word is an otfense against the Ian
! guage.
The old fogy seeing very little of It's poetic;
- ..s. .xIG.. In n Il