Tremor, _trem_-ur, not _tre_-mor.
Twelfth, should have the th sounded.
Umbrella, as spelled, not um-ber-el-la.
Vase, vaiz or varz, not vawze.
Was, woz, not wuz.
Weary, _weer_-i, not w_ar_y.
Were, wer, not ware.
Wont, wunt, not as spelled.
Wrath, rawth, not rath: as an adjective it is spelled wroth, and
pronounced with the vowel sound shorter, as wrath-ful, &c.
Yacht, yot, not yat.
Yeast, as spelled, not yest.
Zenith, _zen_-ith, not _ze_-nith.
Zodiac, _zo_-de-ak.
Zoology should have both o's sounded,as zo-_ol_-o-gy, not
_zoo_-lo-gy
_Note._--The tendency of all good elocutionists is to pronounce as
nearly in accordance with the spelling as possible.
Pronounce:
--ace not iss, as furn_ace_, not furn_iss_.
--age, not idge, as cabbage, courage, postage, village.
--ain, ane, not in, as certain, cert_ane_, not cert_in_.
--ate, not it, as moder_ate_, not moder_it_.
--ect, not ec, as asp_ect_, not asp_ec_; subj_ect_, not subj_ec_.
--ed, not id, or ud, as wicked, not wick_i_d, or wick_u_d.
--el, not l, _mod_el, not _mod_l; _nov_el,not _nov_l.
--en, not n, as sudd_en_, not sudd_n_.--Burden, burthen, garden,
lengthen, seven, strengthen, often, and a few others,have the _e_
silent.
--ence, not unce, as influ_ence_, not influ-_unce_.
--es, not is, as pleas_es_, not pleas_is_.
--ile should be pronounced il, as fert_il_, not fert_ile_, in all
words except chamomile _(cam)_, exile, gentile, infantile,
reconcile and senile, which should be pronounce ile.
--in, not n, as Lat_in_, not Lat_n_.
--nd, not n, as husba_nd_, not husb_an_, thous_and_, not thous_an_.
--ness, not n_iss_, as careful_ness_, not careful n_iss_.
--ng, not n, as singi_ng_, not sing_in_; speaki_ng_, not speak_in_.
--ngth, not nth, as stre_ng_th, not stre_nth_.
--son, the _o_ should be silent; as in treason; _tre-zn_, not
_tre-son_.
--tal, not tle, as capi_tal_, not capi_tle; _me_tal, not met_tle;_
mor_tal_, not mor_tle_; periodi_cal_; not periodi_cle_.
--xt, not x, as ne_xt_, not ne_x_.
[PUBLICATION OF BANNS OF MARRIAGE COMMENCED A.D.1210.]
198. Punctuation.
Punctuation teaches the method of placing _Points_, in written
or printed matter, in such a manner as to indicate the pauses which
would be made by the author if he were communicating his thoughts
orally instead of by written signs.
[SILK FIRST BROUGHT FROM INDIA A.D. 274.]
199. Writing and Printing
are substitutes for oral communication; and correct punctuation is
essential to convey the meaning intended, and to give due force to
such passages as the author may wish to impress upon the mind of the
person to whom they are being communicated.
[WINES WERE FIRST MADE IN BRITAIN A.D. 276.]
200. The Points are as follows:
Comma ,
Semicolon ;
Colon :
Period, or Full Point .
Apostrophe '
Hyphen -
Note of Interrogation ?
Note of Exclamation !
Parenthesis ( )
Asterisk, or Star *
As these are all the points required in simple epistolary composition,
we will confine our explanations to the rules which should govern the
use of them.
201. The Other Points,
however, are:
the paragraph ¶
the section §
the dagger [can not be shown in a .txt file]
the double dagger [ditto]
the parallel ||
the bracket [ ]
and some others.
These, however, are quite unnecessary, except for elaborate works, in
which they are chiefly used for notes or marginal references. The rule
--is sometimes used as a substitute for the bracket or parenthesis.
202. Pauses
The Comma , denotes the shortest pause;
the semicolon ; a little longer pause than the comma;
the colon : a little longer pause than the semicolon;
the period . or full point the longest pause.
203. The Relative Duration
of these pauses is described as:
Comma While you count One.
Semicolon " " " Two.
Colon " " " Three.
Period " " " Four.
This, however, is not an infallible rule, because the duration of the
pauses should be regulated by the degree of rapidity with which the
matter is being read. In slow reading the duration of the pauses
should be increased.
204. The Other Points
are rather indications of expression, and of meaning and connection,
than of pauses, and therefore we will notice them separately.
205. The Misplacing
of even so slight a point, or pause, as the comma, will often alter
the meaning of a sentence. The contract made for lighting the town of
Liverpool, during the year 1819, was thrown void by the misplacing of
a comma in the advertisements, thus:
"The lamps at present are about 4,050, and have in general two
spouts each, composed of not less than twenty threads of cotton."
The contractor would have proceeded to furnish each lamp with the said
twenty threads, but this being but half the usual quantity, the
commissioners discovered that the difference arose from the comma
following instead of preceding the word _each_. The parties agreed to
annul the contract, and a new one was ordered.
206. Without Punctuation.
The Following Sentence shows how difficult it is to read without the
aid of the points used as pauses:
Death waits not for storm nor sunshine within a dwelling in one of
the upper streets respectable in appearance and furnished with such
conveniences as distinguish the habitations of those who rank among
the higher clashes of society a man of middle age lay on his last
bed momently awaiting the final summons all that the most skillful
medical attendance all that love warm as the glow that even an
angel's bosom could do had been done by day and night for many long
weeks had ministering spirits such as a devoted wife and loving
children are done all within their power to ward off the blow but
there he lay his raven hair smoothed off from his noble brow his
dark eyes lighted with unnatural brightness and contrasting strongly
with the pallid hue which marked him as an expectant of the dread
messenger.
[COALS FIRST BROUGHT TO LONDON A.D. 1357.]
207. With Punctuation.
The same sentence, properly pointed, and with capital letters placed;
after full-points, according to the adopted rule, may be easily read
and understood:
Death waits not for storm nor sunshine. Within a dwelling in one of
the upper streets, respectable in appearance, and furnished with
such conveniences as distinguish the habitations of those who rank
among the higher classes of society, a man of middle age lay on his
last bed, momently awaiting the final summons. All that the most
skilful medical attendance--all that love, warm as the glow that
fires an angel's bosom, could do, had been done; by day and night,
for many long weeks, had ministering spirits, such as a devoted
wife; and loving children are, done all within their power to ward
off the blow. But there he lay, his raven hair smoothed off from his
noble brow, his dark eyes lighted with unnatural brightness, and
contrasting strongly with the pallid hue which marked him as an
expectant of the dread messenger.
208. The Apostrophe '
is used to indicate the combining of two words in one,--as John's
book, instead of John, his book; or to show the omission of parts of
words, as Glo'ster, for Gloucester--tho' for though. These
abbreviations should be avoided as much as possible. Cobbett says the
apostrophe "ought to be called the mark of _laziness_ and
vulgarity." The first use, however, of which we gave an example, is a
necessary and proper one.
209. The Hyphen, or conjoiner -
is used to unite words which, though they are separate
and distinct, have so close a connection as almost to become one word,
as water-rat, wind-mill, &c. It is also used in writing and printing,
at the end of a line, to show where a word is divided and continued in
the next line. Look down the ends of the lines in this column, and you
will notice the hyphen in several places.
210. The Note of Interrogation ?
indicates that the sentence to which it is put asks a question; as,
"What is the meaning of that assertion? What am I to do?"
211. The Note of Exclamation or of admiration !
indicates surprise, pleasure, or sorrow; as "Oh! Ah! Goodness!
Beautiful! I am astonished! Woe is me!"
Sometimes, when an expression of strong surprise or pleasure is
intended, two notes of this character are employed, thus!!
212. The Parenthesis ( )
is used to prevent confusion by the introduction to a sentence of a
passage not necessary to the sense thereof. "I am going to meet Mr.
Smith (though I am not an admirer of him) on Wednesday next." It is
better, however, as a rule, not to employ parenthetical sentences.
213. The Asterisk, or Star *
may be employed to refer from the text to a note of explanation at the
foot of a column, or at the end of a letter. [***] Three stars are
sometimes used to call particular attention to a paragraph.
[PAPER MADE OF COTTON RAGS A.D. 1000.]
214. Hints upon Spelling
The following rules will be found of great assistance in writing,
because they relate to a class of words about the spelling of which
doubt and hesitation are frequently felt:
i. All words of one syllable ending in _l_, with a single vowel
before it, have double _l_ at the close; as, _mill_, _sell_.
ii. All words of one syllable ending in _l_, with a double vowel
before it, have one _l_ only at the close: as, _mail_, _sail_.
iii. Words of one syllable ending in _l_, when compounded, retain
but one _l_ each; as, _fulfil_, _skilful_.
iv. Words of more than one syllable ending in _l_ have one _l_ only
at the close; as, _delightful_, _faithful_; except _befall_,
_downfall_, _recall_, _unwell_, &c.
v. All derivatives from words ending in _l_ have one _l_ only; as,
_equality_, from _equal_; _fulness_, from _full_; except they end
in _er_ or _ly_; as, _mill_, _miller_; _full_, _fully_.
vi. All participles in _ing_ from verbs ending in _e_ lose the
_e_ final; as _have, having; amuse, amusing;_ unless they come
from verbs ending in double _e_, and then they retain, both; as,
_see, seeing; agree, agreeing._
vii. All adverbs in _ly_ and nouns in _ment_ retain the _e_ final
of the primitives; as, _brave, bravely; refine, refinement;_
except _acknowledgment, judgment,_ &c.
viii. All derivatives from words ending in _er_ retain the _e_
before the _r;_ as, _refer, reference;_ except _hindrance,_ from
_hinder; remembrance_ from _remember; disastrous_ from _disaster;
monstrous_ from _monster; wondrous_ from _wonder; cumbrous_ from
_cumber,_ &c.
ix. Compound words, if both end not in _i_, retain their primitive
parts entire; as, _millstone, changeable, graceless;_ except
_always, also, deplorable, although, almost, admirable,_ &c.
x. All words of one syllable ending in a consonant, with a single
vowel before it, double that consonant in derivatives; as, _sin,
sinner; ship, shipping; big, bigger; glad, gladder,_ &c.
xi. Words of one syllable ending in a consonant, with a double vowel
before it, do not double the consonant in derivatives: as, _sleep,
sleepy; troop, troopers._
xii. All words of more than one syllable ending in a single
consonant, preceded by a single vowel, and accented on the last
syllable, double that consonant in derivatives; as, _commit,
committee; compel, compelled; appal, appalling; distil,
distiller._
xiii. Nouns of one syllable ending in _y_ preceded by a consonant,
change _y_ into _ies_ in the plural; and verbs ending in _y_,
preceded by a consonant, change _y_ into _ies_ in the third person
singular of the present tense, and into _ied_ in the past tense
and past participle, as, _fly, flies; I apply, he applies; we
reply, we replied, or have replied._ If the _y_ be preceded by a
vowel, this rule is not applicable; as _key, keys; I play, he
plays;_ we have _enjoyed_ ourselves.
xiv. Compound words whose primitives end in _y_ change _y_ into _i_;
as, _beauty, Beautiful; lovely, loveliness._
215. H or no H? That is the Question.
Few things point so directly to the want of _cultivation_ as the
misuse of the letter H by persons in conversation. We hesitate to
assert that this common defect in speaking indicates the absence of
_education_--for, to our surprise, we have heard even educated persons
frequently commit this common, and vulgar error. Now, for the purpose
of assisting those who desire to improve their mode of speaking, we
intend to tell a little story about our next door neighbour, Mrs.
Alexander Hitching,--or, as she frequently styled herself, with an air
of conscious dignity, Mrs. HALEXANDER 'ITCHING. Her husband was a
post-captain of some distinction, seldom at home, and therefore Mrs.
A. H. (or, as she rendered it, Mrs. H. I.) felt it incumbent upon
herself to represent her own dignity, and the dignity of her husband
also. Well, this Mrs. Hitching was a next-door neighbour of ours--a
most agreeable lady in many respects, middle aged, good looking,
uncommonly fond of talking, of active, almost of fussy habits, very
good tempered and good natured, but with a most unpleasant habit of
misusing the letter H to such a degree that our sensitive nerves have
often been shocked when in her society. But we must beg the reader, if
Mrs. H. should be an acquaintance of his, not to breathe a word of our
having written this account of her--or there would be no limit to her
"_h_indignation." And, as her family is very numerous, it will be
necessary to keep the matter as quiet as can be, for it will scarcely
be possible to mention the subject anywhere, without "'orrifying" some
of her relations, and instigating them to make Mrs. H. become our
"_h_enemy," instead of remaining, as we wish her to do, our intimate
friend.
One morning, Mrs. H. called upon me, and asked me to take a walk,
saying that it was her _h_object to look out for an 'ouse, as her
lease had nearly terminated; and as she had often heard her dear
'Itching say that he would like to settle in the neighbourhood of
'Ampstead 'Eath, she should like me to assist her by my judgment in
the choice of a residence.
"I shall he most happy to accompany you," I said.
"I knew you would," said she; "and I am sure a _h_our or two in your
society will give me pleasure. It's so long since we've 'ad a
gossip. Besides which, I want a change of _h_air."
I glanced at her peruke, and for a moment laboured under the idea
that she intended to call at her hairdresser's; but I soon
recollected.
"I suppose we had better take the _h_omnibus," she remarked, "and we
can get out at the foot of the 'ill."
I assented, and in a few minutes we were in the street, in the line
of the omnibus, and one of those vehicles soon appearing--
"Will you 'ail it?" inquired she.
So I hailed it at once, and we got in. Now Mrs. H. was so fond of
talking that the presence of strangers never restrained her--a fact
which I have often had occasion to regret. She was no sooner within
the omnibus than she began remarking upon _h_inconveaience of such
vehicles, because of their smallness, and the _h_insolence of many
of the conductors. She thought that the proprietors ought only to
'ire men upon whose civility they could depend. Then she launched
out into larger topics--said she thought that the _H_emperor of
_H_austria--(here I endeavoured to interrupt her by asking whether
she had any idea of the part of Hampstead she would like; but she
would complete her remarks by saying)--must be as 'appy as the days
are long, now that the _H_empress had presented him with a _hare_ to
the throne! (Some of the passengers smiled, and turning round,
looked out of the windows.)
I much wished for our arrival at the spot where we should alight,
for she commenced a story about an 'andsome young nephew of hers,
who was a distinguished _h_officer of the _h_army. This was
suggested to her, no doubt, by the presence in the omnibus of a
fine-looking young fellow with a moustache. She said that at present
her nephew was stationed in _h_ireland; but he expected soon to be
_h_ordered to South _H_africa.
The gentleman with the moustache seemed much amused, and smilingly
asked her whether her nephew was at all _h_ambitious? I saw that he
(the gentleman with the moustache) was jesting, and I would have
given anything to have been released from the unpleasant predicament
I was in. But what was more annoyance when Mrs. H. proceeded to say
to this youth, whose face was radiant with humour, that it was the
'ight of her nephew's _h_ambition to serve his country in the _h_our
of need; and then she proceeded to ask her fellow-traveller his
opinion, of the _h_upshot of the war--remarking that she 'oped it
would soon be _h_over!
At this moment I felt so nervous that I pulled out my handkerchief,
and endeavoured to create a diversion by making a loud nasal noise,
and remarking that I thought the wind very cold, when an accident
happened which took us all by surprise: one of the large wheels of
the minibus dropped off, and all the passeigers were jostled down
into a corner but, fortunately without serious injury. Mrs. H.,
however, happening to be under three or four persons, raised a loud
cry for "'elp! 'elp!" She was speedily got out, when she assured us
that she was not 'urt; but she was in such a state of _h_agitation
that she wished to be taken to a chemist's shop, to get some
_h_aromatic vinegar, or some _Hoe_ de Cologne! The chemist was
exceedingly polite to her, for which she said she could never
express her _h_obligations--an assertion which seemed to me to be
literally true. It was some time before she resumed her accustomed
freedom of conversation; but as we ascended the hill she explained
to me that she should like to take the house as tenant from '_ear_
to _'ear!_--but she thought landlords would _h_object to such an
agreement, as when they got a good tenant they liked to 'old 'im as
long as they could. She expressed an opinion that 'Amstead must be
very 'ealthy, because it was so 'igh _h_up.
We soon reached the summit of the hill, and turned through a lane
which led towards the Heath, and in which villas and cottages were
smiling on each side. "Now, there's a _h_elegant little place!" she
exclaimed, "just suited to my _h_ideas--about _h_eight rooms and a
_h_oriel _h_over the _h_entrance." But it was not to let--so we
passed on.
Presently, she saw something likely to suit her, and as there was a
bill in the window, "To be let--Enquire Within," she gave a loud
rat-a-tat-tat at the door.
The servant opened it.
"I see this 'ouse is to let."
"Yes, ma'am, it is; will you walk in?"
"'Ow many rooms are there?"
"Eleven, ma'am; but if you will step in, mistress will speak to
you."
A very graceful lady made her appearance at the parlour door, and
invited us to step in. I felt exceedingly nervous, for I at once
perceived that the lady of the house spoke with that accuracy and
taste which is one of the best indications of refinement.
"The house _is_ to let--and a very pleasant residence we have found
it."
"'Ave you _h_occupied it long?"
"Our family has resided here for more than nine years."
"Then, I suppose, your lease 'as run _h_out!"
"No! we have it for five years longer: but my brother, who is a
clergyman, has been appointed to a living in Yorkshire, and for his
sake, and for the pleasure of his society, we desire to remove."
"Well--there's nothing like keeping families together for the sake
of 'appiness. Now there's my poor dear 'Itching" [There she paused,
as if somewhat affected, and some young ladies who were in the room
drew their heads together, and appeared to consult about their
needlework; but I saw, by dimples upon their cheeks, which they
could not conceal, that they were smiling], "'e's 'itherto been
_h_at 'ome so seldom, that I've 'ardly _h_ever known what 'appiness
_h_is."
I somewhat abruptly broke in upon the conversation, by suggesting
that she had better look through the house, and inquire the
conditions of tenancy. We consequently went through the various
rooms, and in every one of them she had "an _h_objection to this,"
or "a 'atred for that," or would give "an 'int which might be
useful" to the lady when she removed. The young ladies were heard
tittering very much whenever Mrs. H. broke out, in a loud voice,
with her imperfect elocution, and I felt so much annoyed, that I
determined to cure her of her defective speaking.
In the evening, after returning home, we were sitting by the fire,
feeling comfortable and chatty, when I proposed to Mrs. Hitching the
following enigma from the pen of the late Henry Mayhew:--
The Vide Vorld you may search, and my fellow not find;
I dwells in a Wacuum, deficient in Vind;
In the Wisage I'm seen--in the Woice I am heard,
And yet I'm inwisible, gives went to no Vurd.
I'm not much of a Vag, for I'm vanting in Vit;
But distinguished in Werse for the Wollums I've writ.
I'm the head of all Willains, yet far from the Vurst--
I'm the foremost in Wice, though in Wirtue the first.
I'm not used to Veapons, and ne'er goes to Vor;
Though in Walour inwincible--in Wictory sure;
The first of all Wiands and Wictuals is mine--
Rich in Wen'son and Weal, but deficient in Vine.
To Wanity given, I in Welwets abound;
But in Voman, in Vife, and in Vidow ain't found:
Yet conspicuous in Wirgins, and I'll tell you, between us,
To persons of taste I'm a bit of a Wenus;
Yet none take me for Veal--or for Voe in its stead,
For I ranks not among the sweet Voo'd, Vun, and Ved!
Before the recital of the enigma was half completed, Mrs. Hitching
laughed heartily--she saw, of course, the meaning of it--that it was a
play upon the Cockney error of using the V instead of the W, and the
latter instead of the V. Several times, as I proceeded, she exclaimed
"_H_excellent! _h_excellent!" and when I had finished, she
remarked that is was very "_h_ingenious," and enough to
"_h_open the _h_eyes" of the Cockneys to their stupid and
vulgar manner of speaking.
A more difficult and delicate task lay before me. I told her that as
she was so much pleased with the first enigma, I would submit another
by the same author. I felt very nervous, but determined to proceed:
I dwells in the Herth, and I breathes in the Hair;
If you searches the Hocean, you'll find that I'm there.
The first of all Hangels, in Holympus am Hi,
Yet I'm banished from 'Eaven, expelled from on 'Igh.
But though on this Horb I am destined to grovel,
I'm ne'er seen in an 'Ouse, in an 'Ut, nor an 'Ovel;
Not an 'Oss nor an 'Unter e'er bears me, alas!
But often I'm found on the top of a Hass.
I resides in a Hattic, and loves not to roam,
And yet I'm invariably absent from 'Ome.
Though 'ushed in the 'Urricane, of the Hatmosphere part,
I enters no 'Ed, I creeps into no 'Art.
Only look, and you'll see in the Heye I appear,
Only 'ark, and you'll 'ear me just breathe in the Hear;
Though in sex not an 'E, I am (strange paradox!)
Not a bit of an 'Eifer, but partly a Hox.
Of Heternity Hi'm the beginning! And, mark,
Though I goes not with Noah, I am first in the Hark.
I'm never in 'Ealth--have with Fysic no power;
I dies in a Month, but comes back In a Hour!
In re-citing the above I strongly emphasized the misplaced _h_'s.
After a brief pause, Mrs. Hitchings exclaimed, "Very good; very
clever." I then determined to complete my task by repeating the
following enigma upon the same letter written by Miss Catherine
Fanshawe and often erroneously attributed to Byron:
'Twas whispered in heaven, 'twas muttered in hell,
And echo caught faintly the sound as it fell;
On the confines of earth 'twas permitted to rest,
And the depths of the ocean its presence confessed.
'Twill be found in the sphere when 'tis riven asunder,
Be seen in the lightning, and heard in the thunder.
'Twas allotted to man with his earliest breath,
Attends at his birth, and awaits him in death;
It presides o'er his happiness, honour, and health,
Is the prop of his house, and the end of his wealth.
In the heaps of the miser 'tis hoarded with care,
But is sure to be lost on his prodigal heir.
It begins every hope, every wish it must bound,
With the husbandman toils, with the monarch is crowned.
Without it the soldier and seaman may roam,
But woe to the wretch who expels it from home.
In the whispers of conscience its voice will be found,
Nor e'en in the whirlwind of passion be drowned.
'Twill not soften the heart, and though deaf to the ear,
'Twill make it acutely and instantly hear.
But in shade let it rest, like a delicate flower--
Oh, breathe on it softly--it dies in an hour.