Among the "words" we should not use are ain't, anywheres, firstly, heighth, illy, rumpus, specs, unbeknown, etc. 7. Avoid tautological and redundant expressions. TAUTOLOGIES. — False misrepresentations, frosty rime, funeral obsequies, leafy foliage, new beginner, sylvan wood, etc. REDUNDANCIES. "I have got a cold." "He looks at it with an eye of contempt." "I have no leisure at my command." 8. Do not use new combinations of words. Avoid such expressions as "a go-as-you-please race"; "a buy-goodswhen-you-need-them rule"; "the never-too-often-to-be-repeated reason," etc. 9. Do not use obsolete words. 10. As a rule, avoid foreign words and phrases. Which shall we say - "This is à propos," or "This is appropriate "? "Keep this inter nos," or "Keep this between ourselves"? 11. Study the dictionary and add to your vocabulary. Make it a rule to refer to a dictionary whenever the meaning of a word is not fully understood. In an unabridged dictionary may be found (1) the spelling of a word; (3) its pronunciation; (3) the part of speech to which it belongs; (4) its derivation; (5) its definition, and (6) its use illustrated. How does a dictionary indicate the part of speech to which a word belongs? Why is this necessary? To acquire a good vocabulary, (1) read good books carefully; (2) talk with cultured persons; (3) avoid low companions; (4) keep a list of new words, and learn their meaning and use; (5) study etymology; (6) memorize selections of poetry and prose. 12. The parts of speech that need especial attention are pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, verbals, and prepositions. As a rule, a relative pronoun should not be omitted when it is the subject of a finite verb; as, "Which is the one struck him?" In poetry the relative is occasionally omitted, but with some loss of clearness; as, "'Tis distance lends enchantment to the view." Frequently a relative used as the object of a verb or preposition is omitted, but in many cases it would be better to use the relative; as, "The man we saw is a sailor." "I met the man he referred to." What is incorrect in the following sentences? "If any one needs assistance, they may report at the office." "I never saw such a man as him." "It lost its eye." “That's not him." One of the commonest errors made by writers usually accurate is illustrated in the following sentences. Can you correct them? "Having completed the discussion of perception, memory will be presented." "Looking beyond the pickets, Morro Castle could be seen." "A large fish was seen, while walking near the stream.” EXERCISES 288. Use simple expressions for 1. She retired to her downy couch. 2. He expired in indigent circumstances. 3. An elevated apartment. 4. Pharmaceutical chemist. 5. They proceeded to the sanctuary. 289. Correct the following errors: I. Look back for one short moment into the past that has gone and left us. 2. She has a nice smile. 3. A drink of cool water is nice on a hot, midsummer day. 4. He stood speechless in our midst without uttering a sound. 5. He don't enthuse his audience a bit. 290. Fill the blanks with words from the following list: Bravery, courage; conduct, behavior; petition, request; to bury, inter; clothe, dress; healthy, healthful, wholesome. I. She is 2. The climate is 3. The food 5. The king received their in beauty. 7. They 8. Savages are in in skins. in his hands. of Charles I. faces danger calmly. 13. He 14. General Meade was ceremonies. 15. The poor animal was his face with imposing 291. The following foreign expressions are among those in frequent use. Can you find English equivalents for them? (See dictionary.) FRENCH TERMS. - Billet-doux, boudoir, coup d'état, esprit de corps, protégé, tête-à-tête. LATIN TERMS. - Ad libitum, ad valorem, alias, alma mater, bona fide, contra, et cetera, exempli gratia (contracted e.g.), ex officio, ibidem (con. ibid.), idem (con. id.), id est (con. i.e.), ignis fatuus, in statu quo, nota bene (N.B.), per se, pro and contra (con. pro and con.), pro tempore, sine die, verbatim, versus, via, viz., vice, vice versa. Compare with (in quality), to (for illus tration). Comparison with, between. Concur with (a person), in (an opinion). Confide in (a person) (a thing to a person). Congratulate on or upon. Connect with (an equal), to (a superior). Contend with (a person), for (an ob ject), against (an obstacle). Danger of, sometimes from. Defend from, sometimes against. Depend on or upon. Desire for, of, sometimes after. Die of, sometimes with or from (a disease), by (an instrument). Differ among (ourselves), from (one another), from, sometimes with (in opinion), about, concerning (a question), from (in quality). Difference with (a person), between (two things). Direct to, toward. Disagree with (a person), to (a thing proposed). Distinguished for, from, sometimes by. Enter into, in, on, upon. Entertain by (a person), with (a thing). Equal to, with. Escape from, sometimes out of. Familiar to (us), with (a thing). Favorite of, with. Followed by. Frightened at. Glad of, rarely at. Graduate at, from, in. Grieve at, for. Hatred to, of. Impatient with (a person), at (one's conduct), of (restraint), under (affliction), for (something expected). Incorporate into, with. Indulge with (one thing), in (a habit). Inquire after, about, concerning, for, into, of. Insight into. Introduce to (a person), into (a place). Intrust to (a person), with (a thing). Irritated by (a person), by, sometimes at (an action). Join with (an equal), to (a superior). Killed by (a person), with (a thing). Listen for (something to be heard), to (something heard). Love of, for. Make of, out of, from, with, for. Married to. Mix with, in. Mortified with, at. Name after, from (not for). Necessity for, of. Objection to, sometimes against. Obtain from, of. Partiality to, for. Pity on. Possessed of, by, with. Prefer to, rarely before. Prejudice against (not to, for, or in favor of). Present to. Protect from, against. Punish by (a person), with (a penalty), for (a crime). 1. This preposition may be omitted. 2. An infinitive may follow this word. FIGURES OF SPEECH 293. Words are sometimes used in a sense that differs from that in which they are ordinarily used; as, “He is like a fox." "He is a fox." "Gray hairs should be respected." "How many hands do you employ?" These deviations from the ordinary mode of expression are used to add beauty or strength to a sentence. What words might be used instead of gray hairs? Hands? Instead of a fox, in the second example? What is figurative language? 294. A figure of speech is a deviation from the ordinary mode of expression. 295. Among the commonest figures of speech are — 1. Simile. A simile is a figure in which one object is compared with another not of the same kind; as, "He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water." Similes are introduced by like or as. 2. Metaphor. A metaphor is a figure in which the name or some action or quality of one object is applied |