IN SPELLING. A COMPLETE COLLECTION OF DIFFICULT COMMON WORDS, WITH DEFINITIONS AND PRONUN- AND AN APPENDIX, CONTAINING RULES FOR THE USE OF CAPITAL LETTERS, AND A List of Abbreviations. ARRANGED FOR THE USE OF BUSINESS COLLEGES, J.E Kiny ROCHESTER, N. Y. PREFACE. The following collection of words has been arranged for use as a text-book on the subject of spelling. The words have been selected with great care, two considerations having been constantly kept in view; first, that the word be in common use, and second, that it be one liable to be misspelled. No word has been selected simply because it is difficult. The spelling of English words is, at best, so arbitrary and inconsistent, that learning to spell only those words which occur in every day life is a task of sufficient difficulty, without studying the curiosities of the language. Words of unsettled orthography have been omitted, except those of special importance, in which cases both forms are given. Rules for speiling have also been purposely omitted, as they are generally more a hindrance than a help in learning to spell. The importance of the subject need not be urged; it may be said, however, that although spelling is only a small part of a complete education, one who cannot spell is regarded as an ignoramus. Some learn spelling with much more difficulty than others, but it must be learned in either case. Notonously poor spellers almost invariably claim that it is not natural for them to spell, and this very idea is the principal cause of their deficiency; for they offer this as an excuse for all errors, and therefore, never correct their mistakes. Suggestions regarding the use of the book will be found in the introduction. |