Year: 1879

O0mmlOH EFFOfS O1 DpccCus


A grammarian correspondent writing
to the press remarks that very few per-
sons-fewer, indeed, than is generally
supposed-speak and write our language
correctly, and expresses the belief that
every one gives too little attention to the
proper use Of words-their exact mean
ing, photography and pronunciation.
We should not be satisfied with our
ability to speak and write well enough
for all practical purposes He also sug-
gests that much progress may be made
in acquiring knowledge of words BY
careful study of the introduction to Web
ster's Electromagnetic unabridged edi-
ton. II gives information as 10 the phi
Iosophy Of our language-which cannot
iaIl 10 interest the reader.


The writer picks out number ofex-
ampIes Of words most frequently ap-
Piled wrong, and sets them forth thus
IL is the exception rather than the rule
when shall and will, should and would
are used correctly, especially in conver-
sation. The Frenchman who fell over
board from q vessel gave us a sort Oi
legacy, a pointed illustration of the
misuse Of shall and will. He Justify
cried out "I will be drowned and no.
body shall help me-" The spectators,
with a proper regard for his expressed
intention, and feeling, doubtless, that
The result would be simply retributive
Justice for his numbering The Kings
! English, kindly held of and permitted
him-to be drowned.


Shall primarily denotes obligation,
and will purpose Of inclination, the fu-
turity of the action being naturally in
ferred. These verbs are now used only
as auxiIiaries, but they still retain to a
great extent their primary signi6catiOn.
The following examples will show their
proper use Il will write now. You
shall write now He intends that |
shall write with reference TO future
time we should say: 4 shall go to-mor-
row. He will go Tomorrow And
in asking questions Shall / sing 7
will you singY Shall you be al home
tomorrow ? will he arrive in time ?
Shall is used instead OF will after GER
tain conjunctions-if, provided, though,
unless, ETC., and adverbs when, before,
after, until, while, etc. Should is used
in the past tense in place Of shall and
would in place Of will. lie intended
that or you should write-he (himsell)
would wrIte.' i should be glad TO see
you Tomorrow


A very common error is found in the
expression, Il am opposed to those sort
of things making the pronoun agree
with things in the plural instead Of
sort in the singular number. The most
careless reader will say, it should be
that sort OF things but If be give the
matter some attention he will find that
even careful speakers frequently make
the mistake. Another common error IS
in the use OF like for as and as if. We
hear, you read like George speaks for
You read as George speaks He
spoke like he meant what he said, for
He spoke as IL he meant what he said
Without is often enormously used for
unless: 4 cannot do IL without you help
me- should be. Il cannot do it unless
you help me- Not long since l heard
a man, who had the appearance Of one
who should know better, say to friend,
There is no use in me going He eV-
idently intended TO say that there was
no use in the going. but what he really
said was equivalent TO: There - no
use in me while am going He should
have used the possessIve pFonouB my
instead Of the objective me, and has
sentence would have been, There is no
use in my going This mistake is Of
ten made, not only colloquially but in
print, as per example. 4 daily paper
SAID some days ago: In the event OF
Colonel Blank TesignIng.' etc, when il
should have SAID, using the pOssessiVe
case: In the event OF Colonel Blanks
resigning, etc.


Probably one Of the most common and
unpardonabIe errors is IN the use OF who
for whom in certain forms Of speech
Ii is made universally in conversation
by those who are well educated, as well
as By those Who are not, aud reputable
journals are not free from the fault
For example: Who did you see -
WHO do you want: 1t was the man,
who, OF all others, we desired to see.'
OF course the sentences should be -
Whom did you see? Whom do you
want:' cit was The man whom, Of all
others, We desired 10 see.' This error is
one Of the best illustrations Of that care
lessness of fspeechi 10 which have above
referred-a eaFelessness which, when
indulged by educated persons, leaves
is impress upon the minds Of these
who are not educated with results which
cannot be otherwise than injurious
Another, not SO common. but which
needs correction, is in such expressions
as She looked besatIially.' This sen