adhesion
cohesion
compulsion
declension
decursion
depulsion
dissension
divulsion
evulsion
exesion
expulsion
impulsion
incursion
propulsion
recension
recursion
revulsion
scansion
tension
transcursion
version
attention
causation
distention
distortion
coercion
suspicion
crucifixion
_FARTHER and FURTHER._
_Farther_ is nowadays only employed when speaking of _distance_; in all
other acceptations of the word, _further_ is generally adopted.
_PEAS and PEASE._
There are scarcely any words in which a mistake is more frequently made
than in _peas_ and _pease_. Yet the distinction between them is simple
and well defined. _Peas_ is the plural of _pea_, and, consequently, only
follows _numeral_ adjectives; as, “_ten_ peas,” “a _hundred_ peas,” “a
_few_ peas,” “_many_ peas;” but _pease_ is used when speaking of the
legumen in the aggregate, or generally. Thus, we correctly say, “_Pease_
are dear this year,” “_Pease_ were plentifully supplied to the horses,”
&c.
_Pease_ is also employed adjectively; as, “_pease_-pudding,”
“_pease_-soup,” or “_pea_-soup,” &c.
_The Omission of S in the Possessive Case._
It is not uncommon with some persons to omit the _s_ after the apostrophe
in the possessive case of nouns, if the name itself ends in _s_; as,
“_James’_ book,” “_Barnes’_ Notes.” But this is incorrect; for if we ask,
Whose book? we should directly answer, _James’s_. The only case when the
_s_ can be judiciously omitted, and this solely to avoid the too hissing
sound of so many _s_’s in succession, is when the first word ends with
the sound of _s_ in its last two syllables, and the next word begins with
_s_; as in _Misses’_ spectacles, _righteousness’_ sake, _conscience’_
sake.
_Formation of the Plurals of Words compounded of a Noun and an Adjective._
Adjectives have no plural number. Therefore, in a word compounded of a
noun and an adjective, the _s_ denoting the plural number is attached to
the end of the noun, as follows:—
Governor-general Governors-general.
Attorney-general Attorneys-general.
Court-martial Courts-martial.
But where the adjective is taken substantively, the mark of the
plural will properly follow it. For example: _Brigadier-generals_,
_major-generals_, _lieutenant-generals_.
Words compounded of a noun and the adjective _full_ form their plurals
thus: _spoonfuls_, _cupfuls_, _bucketfuls_, _handfuls_, _mouthfuls_.
_Pointing of Numbers, Weights, Measures, &c._
No comma should be placed between the constituent parts of the same
number, however long it may be. Thus, we say, “One million one hundred
thousand five hundred and twenty-one,” without any interpunction. The
reason is, that there is no more than _one_ numerical aggregate intended,
or but _one_ complex notion; and, consequently, no separation of parts
or members can take place. The same reasoning holds good as respects
_values_, _weights_, &c. For instance, when we say, “Six dollars and
ten cents,” we merely mean that aggregate amount, but not necessarily
any one of the coins indicated. If we did so intend, then two commas
should be introduced,—one after “dollars,” and the other after “cents.”
In like manner we should act with such sentences as, “Five tons three
hundredweight two quarters and fifteen pounds;” or, “Ten acres four roods
and twenty-seven perches;” and for the same reason: no division of parts
is intended, but merely one aggregate amount.
When figures are used to express amounts, a comma should not be inserted
to cut off the tens unless the sum requires five figures: _e.g._ $10,600,
20,000 men, &c. In column matter this rule will not apply.
_Derivation of English Words._
Of course the Saxon forms the basis of our language in its essential
parts, and is the source whence we derive the greater part of our
ordinary and most emphatic words. Nevertheless, various other languages
have been put under contribution, especially the French, Latin, and
Greek. This will be evident from the following statement of derivations,
which will show the unlearned reader how important it is to him that he
should acquire some knowledge of those languages, if he desires to attain
to a thorough proficiency in his business as an educated printer.