Evening star., 1946-11-16
Letters to The Star
Defend the English USAGE Of
Two Presidents

DeIeHu the En&lISn Usage OF
Two, Presidents
10 the Editor Of The Star:
President Truman's use Of English Is
questioned by an instructor In English
whose letter is quoted by Frank Colby
in his column, "Take My Word for IT,
The President is quoted as saying to
questioner at q press conference, 'It
seems like have been hearing talk like
that lately"
OF course, 1t is possible that these are
not the exact words Of the President at
all, but that is the way he is quoted, and
both the English instructor and Mr..
Colby believe that his use OF the first
like" Is incorrect. MIR. Colby cites the
rule, do not use like for as IT, or
as though"
Just nine years ago President Roose-
welt, In an extemporaneous address, used
"like" as conjunction and was criti-
cized by several English critics. Shortly
afterward, lr. Charles Allen Lloyd, in
his book, 1--WE Who Speak English"
wrote in part as follows: Some adverse
criticism has been made Of the Presi-
dents use OF like as q conjunction In
the expression like / do AS is un-
doubtedly preferable here, but II Mr..
Roosevelt wishes to argue the matter
he can point to Shakespeare, Darwin,
Southey, Newman, Morris, and Hazlitt
all writer's of good standing-wino
have used like as he did" And he
adds. like as conjunction is con-
sidered by many to be reasonably good
colloquial English"
And 1t Is more than reasonably good
colloquial English" The Oxford Eng
nsh Dictionary lists quotations from
many distinguished writer's In support
Of the usage-too many to list in this
letter. Two Of the most graceful and
correct writers In our language-Wash-
ington Irving and the supreme master
Of style, Cardinal Newman, who Justly
has been proclaimed the Guardian
Angel of the English language"-hay
used "like" as conjunction In some of
their most polished essays.
In his standard work, "An Index to
English" DR.. Porter G. Perrin. of the
English faculty at Colgate University,
treats Of this subject in part as follows:
I'm the last few years the colloquial use
Of like as Q conjunction has greatly
increased. The vogue of fiction, In which
1t often stands appropriately in the con-
versation and sometimes In the informal
prose surrounding the conversation, as
well as the popular radio programs In
colloquial English are doubtless In part
responsible for this increased currency.
In fact, If editors and publishers did not
enforce the use Of as instead of like
according to the rules in their style
books, it is possible that like would
become the dominant form, and it occa-
sionally appears in print even now. . :
This use Of like In public address is
quite common, even among careful
people. One of our most fastidious radio
announcers said, You can play Informa-
ton Please in your home just like the
experts do here in the studio"
What many critics and teachers seem
to overlook Is the fact that English Is q
growing and changing language. What
was wrong last year may be right this
year. Many rules In rhetorics and
grammars published 40 years ago
are obsolete now or on the way to the
discard. The late Dr. Fernald, an emi-
nent photographer. told one OF his
classes that an English dictionary ceased
to be authoritative after seven years,
because Of the constant changes in the
language. = .
Both President Truman and his pre-
Jdecessor, In their use Of "like" as a
conjunction, have the support Of good
usage and authority.
FRANCIS DE SALES RYAN.
Sees Toleration Misunderstood
To the Editor Of The Star:
A letter from Carlyle B. Haynes ap-
peared In The Star q short time ago
in which he objected to proposal
made by some washingtonians inter-
ested in the training Of our young
people in religion. viz, to teach In the
public schools "the basic principles of
all religions to promote religious
liberation thereby" Mr.. Haynes took
particular offense at the word tolera-
tion.
Now, what is proposed to be done
is for the proper religious leaders to
determine. I believe it might be done
except for the children of atheists who
have no positive religious principles;
but believe it can be done best by
releasing specified time from the
weekly school period in order to have
religion taught In the respective
churches or halls Of the childrens
afdliations-as is being done In an in
creasing number Of American cities.
liberation, like its synonym tolerance,
is defined as q disposition to tolerate
beliefs, practices or conduct differing
from ones own; freedom from bigotry"
Webster). As the proposal is concerned
only with the instruction Of children
in the public schools Of the District of
Columbia there can be no question of
any exercise Of liberation by the civil
authorities towards any cult or creed.
ALI churches are equal before the law.
The state, however, can refuse to
tolerate religious sect or cult only If
1t violates the Constitution or becomes
menace to the public welfare. It
maintains the right and freedom of all
to believe and practice the faith that
appeals to their conscience This is the
limited sphere Of the civil power in
matters Of religion.
In teaching basic religious principles
on which all denominations can agree,
there would be no intolerance since
there would be agreement. No superb
ority would be claimed or assumed.
On other matters, there should be no