Enquire Within Upon Everything Part 31

218. Instead of "I _enjoy_ bad health," say "My health is not good."

219. Instead of "_Either_ of the three," say "Any one of the three."

220. Instead of "Better _nor_ that," say "Better than that."

221. Instead of "We often think _on_ you," say "We often think of you."

222. Instead of "Though he came, I did not see him," say "Though he came, yet I did not see him."

223. Instead of "Mine is _so_ good as yours," say "Mine is as good as yours."

224. Instead of "He was remarkable handsome," say "He was remarkably handsome."

225. Instead of "Smoke ascends _up_ the chimney," I say "Smoke ascends the chimney."

226. Instead of "You will _some_ day be convinced," say "You will one day be convinced."

227. Instead of saying "Because I don't choose to," say "Because I would rather not."

228. Instead of "_Because_ why?" say "Why?"

229. Instead of "That _there_ boy," say "That boy."

230. Instead of "Direct your letter to me," say "Address your letter to me."

231. Instead of "The horse is not _much worth_," say "The horse is not worth much."

232. Instead of "The subject-matter of debate," say "The subject of debate."

233. Instead of saying "When he _was_ come back," say "When he had come back."

234. Instead of saying "His health has been _shook_," say "His health has been shaken."

235. Instead of "It was _spoke_ in my presence," say "It was spoken in my presence."

236. Instead of "_Very_ right," or "_Very_ wrong," say "Right," or "Wrong."

237. Instead of "The _mortgager_ paid him the money," say "The mortgagee paid him the money." The mortgagee lends; the mortgager borrows.

238. Instead of "This town is not _as_ large as we thought," say "This town is not so large as we thought."

239. Instead of "I _took you to be_ another person," say "I mistook you for another person."

240. Instead of "On _either_ side of the river," say "On each side of the river."

241. Instead of "_There's_ fifty," say "There are fifty."

242. Instead of "The _best_ of the two," say "The better of the two."

243. Instead of "My clothes have _become too small_ for me," say "I have grown too stout for my clothes."

244. Instead of "Is Lord Lytton in?" say "Is Lord Lytton within?"

245. Instead of "Two _spoonsful_ of physic," say "Two spoonfuls of physic."

246. Instead of "He _must_ not do it." say "He need not do it."

247. Instead of "She said, says she," say "She said."

248. Avoid such phrases as "I said, says I," "Thinks I to myself, thinks I," &c.

249. Instead of "I don't think so," say "I think not."

250. Instead of "He was in _eminent_ danger," say "He was in _imminent_ danger."

251. Instead of "The weather is _hot_," say "The weather is very warm."

252. Instead of "I _sweat_," say "I _perspire_."

253. Instead of "I _only_ want two s.h.i.+llings," say "I want only two s.h.i.+llings."

254. Instead of "Whatsomever," always take care to say "Whatever,"

or "Whatsoever."

255. Avoid such exclamations as "G.o.d bless me!" "G.o.d deliver me!"

"By G.o.d!" "By Gor'!" "My Lor'!" "Upon my soul," &c., which are vulgar on the one hand, and savour of impiety on the other, for:

256. "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy G.o.d in vain."

[Footnote 1: Persons who wish to become well acquainted with the principles of 'English Grammar' by an easy process, are recommended to procure "The Useful Grammar," price 3d., published by Houlston and Sons.]

[SOME FEMALE SPIDERS PRODUCE 2,000 EGGS.]

182. p.r.o.nunciation.

Accent is a particular stress or force of the voice upon certain syllables or words. This mark ' in printing denotes the syllable upon which the stress or force of the voice should he placed.

[THERE ARE 9,000 CELLS IN A SQUARE FOOT OF HONEYCOMB.]

183. A Word may have more than One Accent.

Take as an instance aspiration. In uttering this word we give a marked emphasis of the voice upon the first and third syllables, and therefore those syllables are said to be accented. The first of these accents is less distinguishable than the second, upon which we dwell longer, therefore the second accent in point of order is called the primary, or chief accent of the word.