New-York tribune., 1920-01-02
The Question, of Whom
w h en- Will Gromr1orians
Catch Up With Language?
the Editor of The Tribune.

10 the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: The simplicity of our relatives
is due to the fact that they, with one
exception, have no gender, person,
number or case, and thus are seldom
misused. Who alone, having a nomi-
native, possessive and objective case,
retains some of the much bewailed lost
infections, but how long will these be
retained? In the past confusion has
invariably led to the adoption of the
simpler forms, and who shall say that
whom may not go by the board in time?
There is nothing new in claiming
that violation of the canons of the
language is poor English. That is the
common practice Of grammarians I.
echo Mr.. Ferguson's hope that some
day perhaps the grammarians will
catch up with the language and give
up their longing to recast it and run
it into what the late DR.. Fernald
called traditional molds from which
it should come forth with cogs and
cams and dovetails to be interlocked
with mathematical precision This
eminent grammarian, who long ago
recognized the loose way in which who
and whom were used, said: There is
just one OF the relative or interroga-
tive pronouns that has a semblance of
declension, and we are at our wits
end how to handle it. We are appalled,
at word that riots in the luxury of
nominative, possessive and objective
case-who, whose, whom. II
must be admitted that somewhat ad-
vanced knowledge Of English grammar
is required for the correct use Of who
and whom in certain special construc-
tions."
To me English grammar is merely q
systematized statement Of fsc}s based
upon approved English usage. These
facts establish the controlling prin-
elple, and the language reserves to
itself the right to sacrifice the nice
ties OF syntax for euphony and
strength. We need correct English.
OF course; but not that correctness
which is so deadly that it takes a vigor-
Gus blunder to relieve the dullness. In
using the language, one should bear
in mind that the correctness of form
or of construction is not impaired by
the fact that nothing analogous to it
exists in the language, any more than
because there is no other in
the language that resembles it in sound
or spelling. All the rules of grammar
and rhetoric should be based on good
usage, for that is the only standard by
which the correct use Of words is 30
be judged
We have learned from the past that
the changes in our language are part
Of its life, and from the present wo msy
learn that the error of day may be-
come the established idiom of to-mor-
row. Once again hear the old rule:
Never end a sentence with a preposi-
tion," and the absurdity Of it strikes
me forcibly when recall the noble
words that Lowell applied to his native
land and to President Carheld-"Tho
soil out of which such men as he are
made is good to be born on, good 10 live
on, good to die for, and good TO be
buried in"
In his Expressive English Dr.
Fernald tells us that Father Taylor. OF
the Seaman's Bethel, of Boston, while
addressing an audience, became in
volved in sentence which he coaid
not complete. He paused moment,
then exclaimed: Brethren, I've lost
the track of the nominative case, but
ono thing ! know-I'm bound for the
kingdom Of heavent"
FRANK a. vIZETELLN
= Nsw York. Dec. SO. 1919