The Globe-republican., 1907-03-28
NEED FIXED RULES
WASHINGTON MAN TALKS OF SIM
PLiFiED SPELLING.
One Basis Of Authority an Absolute
MISUNDERSTANDING Rules OF
orthography Properly Should
Govern.

speaking about simplified spelling.
and the confusion which may result
from the spelling Of certain words one
way In the department correspondence
and another in congressional matters,
] am reminded Of an instance OF de-
partmental spelling which recently
came under my observation" said a
correspondent to q Washington Star
reporter.
II received a letter from a bureau
chief containing two additional docu'
ments. and at the foot Of the dictated
pages appeared these two words spell.
ed as given: Two enclosures
I'VE must take something as fixed
basis Of authority in matters Of orthog.
raphy. It is all we'll enough to theorize
about a happy-go-lucky-any-old-st
Of spelling, but even the simplihed
spelling advocates fix upon certain
well-defined rules. Hence, in the spell.
ing Of the word inclosure' with an e.
authoritative rules Of photography
are departed from, in that all Of the
latest editions Of the recognized die
tionaries spell the word with an T.
and not with an e. except as an inser'
tion Of the word In the books 40
cross.reference to the accepted and
defined word 1nclosure.'
"The spelling of the word Enclosure
with an e. Is. to my mind. Just as in.
defensible and without proper philo-
logical authority as would be the SPELL
ing Of indorse' with an e. or any
Of the other numerous instances Of
words properly beginning with the in.
ital r. Probably the most prominent
Of these words is inquiry Just be-
cause several newspapers, for the pur.
pose of individuality, and without or
biographical authority, spell the word
inquirer as enquirer" some of the
more thoughtless In the spelling Of
this word have assumed that such or
biography of the word was sanctioned
by the authorities upon language. so
they proceed to spell inquiry ~ en-
quiry.'
"Of course, II, as some persons seem
to think, accepted rules Of photography
and the standard dictionaries don't
count, then this criticism fails. but, !
am glad to say there are still q few
Of US in school and out who adhere to
the rules prescribed by what have
from time immemorial been the recog.
nized sources Of information upon this
subject. Indeed. It may be said with
truth that 1t is lucky for the stability
Of our language that such Is the case.
for, as faulty as It may be in some re-
spects as regards the photography OF
certain of its words, II 10 fortunate
thing that 1t is not open to the sledge-
hammer assaults Of some master
minds who would seek to mold 1t to
meet individual views.
Therefore, have often thought
that some of the departments might
employ to advantage the services Of
some one well qualified for the work
who would pass upon some Of the
illusions published, to the end that
Improvement be made along the lines
suggested, and also along those OF
punctuation.
"In view of the many hands through
which these letters and documents
must pass perhaps they may be said
to answer the purpose, but 1t Is GER
tain that in those departments where
the e. and not the 4 are sanctioned,
and in other instances, a trifing item
to pay for dictionaries and other au.
thorities on language might be tackled
on the departmental appropriation
bills, especially in view Of the fact
that congress stands committed to
abide by the rules Of the photography
therein"