The Washington times., 1903-11-29
Ruling on New Questions
of Correspondents.
WORDS NOT TO BE ALLOWED
Much Interest IN the Contest as 1t
Slowly Draws to
a Close.


Slowly Draws to
a Close.
with only three more weeks to submit |
answers to The Times word con- |
test. aspirants for the prizes arc making I
renewed efforts 20 win The puzzle de- |
partment is flooded with inquiries, all
OF which viii be answered as far az pos |
Tibe
Tne majority OF these Inquiries relate
TO the adnissibiHty OF interjections. a
number of which have been ruled
against for the reason that they are
mere explutives. and not familiar 10
those who nave recourse 20 dictionaries
TO help them ont. The intent of The
Times is 20 uSke this a free for all con-
test. with an equal chance for every
body 20 win. regardless OF their re-
sources or the time they register their
solutions.
That the contest has awakened a
great deal OF interest not only because
of tho opportunity TO win the valuable
cash prizes offered. but also because OF
the entertainment the puzzle affords,
there is no doubt. This IS demonstrated
by numerous letters coming TO The
Times puzzle depa, trnent daily. A let
ter from the Jefferson School speaks OF
the contest as follows:
Please print the following questions,
together with your answers, in the chart
page Sunday. and also all special rulings
TO date. II is puzzle IS a battle Of the
wits. and is getting alnlcsf as interest
ing as good game OF chess. Even the
children are tackling IT,"
QUEER Questions Asked.
Among the questions asked in the fore
going letter are these:
l. can a legitimate English word be
formed without TIE use or vowei?'
ans. No.
? Can the number OF words 10 be
made from the chart be more than the
voweis contained in it2" Ans. Not very
well.
3 What is the greatest number OF
" ords which can be formed from the
chart?- Ans Don't know.
T. After all possible words are formed
what viii be the least number of let
ters left which cannot be used?'' Ans.
Don't know
A contestant residing in Spruce Street
sends a list of words. and accompanies
il with a letter IN which he says;
Your valuable paper has been coming
10 our home for two years and we con-
slider it the best paper for the money
in the country"
In reply 10 an inquiry from the same
contestant The Times will say a ruling
has been made allowing such words
en- for n" when they are spslIed
out in the Standard Dictionary.
From a Navy Man.
An Official in the Navy Department
writes in conjunction with sending in
list Of words:
Il found the puzzle very interesting
diversion"
A contestant residing in Anacostia
writes 10 inquire If such words as
refers TO the words pro and con
themselves The Times will say no. as
they are prtaxes and not words
a Florida Avenue resident wishes TO
know If such words as sic 0atin.
Tar Iatin). and lab" (obsolete) will
be allowed. As obsolete and foreign
words have been ruled out the foregoing
VIII not be admitted.
An asplrant for the prizes residing
in c Street Hortheast sends in a list OF
interjections to be passed upon Those
ne submits which VIII be admitted are
bah "-ho," hi" and 'ow" Those
which viii not be are Jaw" "bo," ''eh.''
.-fy. "ha, "hy." ''poh. pho" '.soh.r
hin "st" "sh" and Ia There is
noun 'ha," meaning laugh" which
may be used when the definition is
given In conjunction with it.
Words Spelled Alike.
The same person desires to know If
words spelled alike but having entirely
different meanings viii be allowed. The
Times has already ruled affirmatively
on this proposition, regardless OF
whether the words are pronounced
alike or have a different sound. For
his and others further Information
words which have no definition, except
reference TO the other form OF spell
ing. viii not be allowed. whether the
form Of spelling referred to is used or
not
In response TO a request for a. ruling
on whether the words pa and ma"
VIII be admitted, The Times states that
they VIII be
For the guidance Of those who have
not seen rulings In previous issues. the
more important are repeated as fol-
lows:
Lists containing more letters than the
chart VIII rot be admitted into the
competition. Improper words viii not
disqualify the entire list. such words
merely being deducted from the total
submitted. Abbreviated words. ike
tho for though" .'thro" for
through" etc. will not be allowed,
unless they have been adopted into
such general use that the abbreviated
form has become more common than
the regular form OF spelling. and have
a distinct definition without reference
70 the older form.
The musical terms do re mi"
etc. viii not be admitted Among the
fnterjections which viii be admitted.
reference was made in The Times OF
November IS 20 ''uh. 10. and oh"
In regard TO such words rs sea" and
'see." cell and SELL" both are ad-
Missile
Irregular PlHFsls.
Ir IS proper 10 use the plurais Of
words. such as eats" and men," in
addition 10 the singular. The different
parts OF verbs may also be used IN ad-
dition 70 the present tense. But where
there is no change or addition OF let
ters in forming tho plurals or different