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Yorkshire.

1341. Men an' women is like so monny cards, played wi' be two opponents, Time an' Eternity: Time gets a gam noo an' then, and hez t'pleasure o' keepin' his cards for a bit, bud Eternity's be far t'better hand, an' proves, day be day, an' hoor be hoor, 'at he's winnin incalcalably fast.

1342. "Hoo sweet, hoo varry sweet is life!" as t' flee said when he wur stuck i' treacle !

1343. Persons bred in these localities, and in Ireland and Scotland, retain more or less of these provincialisms; and, therefore, when they move into other districts they become conspicuous for the peculiarities of their speaking. In many cases they appear vulgar and uneducated, when they are not so. It is, therefore, very desirable for all persons to approach the recognised standard of correctness as nearly as possible.

1344. To correct these errors by a systematic course of study, would involve a closer application than our readers generally could afford; and would require much more space than we can devote to the subject. We will therefore give numerous rules and hints, in a concise and simple form, which will be of great assistance to Enquirers.

1345. These Rules and Hints will be founded upon the authority of scholars, the usages of the bar, the pulpit, and the senate, and the authority of societies formed for the purpose of collecting and diffusing knowledge pertaining to the language of this country.

1346. Who and whom are used in relation to persons, and which in relation to things. But it was once common to say "the man which." This should now be avoided. It is now usual to say, "Our Father who art in heaven," instead of "which art in heaven."

1347. Whose, is, however, sometimes applied to persons as to things. We may, therefore, say, "the country whose inhabitants are free." [Grammarians

general usage justifies the above rule.]

1348. Thou is employed in solemn discourse, and you in common language. Ye (plural) is also used in serious addresses, and you, in familiar language.

1349. The uses of the word It are various, and very perplexing to the uneducated. It is not only used to imply persons, but things, and even ideas, and therefore, in speaking or writing, its assistance is constantly required. The perplexity respecting this word arises from the fact that in using it in the cient care is not taken to ensure that construction of a long sentence, suffiwhen it is employed it really points out instance, "It was raining when John set or refers to the object intended. For out in his cart to go the market, and he was delayed so long that it was over before he arrived." Now what is to be rain over? or the market? Either or understood by this sentence? Was the both might be inferred from the construction of the sentence, which, therefore, should be written thus: "It was raining when John set out in his cart, to go to the market, and he was delayed so long that the market was over bcfore he arrived."

1350. Rule. After writing a sentence

always look through it, and see that wherever the word It is employed, it refers to or carries the mind back to the

object which it is intended to point out.

1351. The general distinction between This and That, is, this denotes an object present or near, in time or place,

that to be absent.

1352. These refers, in the same manner, to present objects, while those refers to things that are remote.

1353. Who changes, under certain conditions, into whose and whom. But that and which always remain the same.

1354. That may be applied to nouns or subjects of all sorts, as, the girl that went to school, the dog that bit me, the ship that went to London, the opinion that he entertains.

1355. The misuse of these pronouns

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gives rise to more errors in speaking and writing than any other cause.

1356. When you wish to distinguish between two or more persons, say, "Which is the happy man?" -not who-" Which of those ladies do you admire?"

1357. Instead of "Who do you think him to be?"-Say, "whom do you think him to be?"

1358. Whom should I see?

1359. To whom do you speak?
1360. Who said so?

1361. Who gave it to you?
1362. Of whom did you procure

them?

1363. Who was he?"

1364. Who do men say that I am? 1365. Whom do they represent me to be ?*

1366. But in the many instances in which who is used as an interrogative, it does not become whom; as "Who do you speak to?" "Who do you expect?' "Who is she married to?" "Who is this reserved for?" "Who was it made by?" Such sentences are found in the writings of our best authors, and it would be presumptuous to consider them as ungrammatical. If the word whom should be preferred, then it would be best to say, "For whom is this reserved?" &c.

1373. Either is sometimes used for each-"Two thieves were crucified, on either side one."

1374. "Let each esteem others as good as themselves," should be, "Let each esteem others as good as himself."

"each

1375. "There are bodies each of which are so small," should be, of which is so small.”

1376. Do not use double comparatives, such as most straightest, most highest, most finest.

1377. The term worser has gone out of use; but lesser is still retained.

1378. The use of such words as chiefest, extremest, &c., has become obsolete, because they do not give any superior force to the meanings of the primary words, chief, extreme, &c.

un

1379. Such expressions as more impossible, more indispensable, more universal, more uncontrollable, more limited, &c., are objectionable, as they really enfeeble the meaning which it is the object of the speaker or writer to strengthen. For instance, impossible gains no strength by rendering it more impossible. This class of error is common with persons who say, "A great large house,' "A great big animal," "A little small foot," "A tiny little hand."

1368. Self should never be added to his, their, mine, or thine.

1369. Each is used to denote every

individual of a number.

1370. Every denotes all the individuals of a number.

1371. Either and or denote an alternative: "I will take either road, at "I will take this or your pleasure;" that."

1372. Neither means not either; and nor means not other.

66

1381. Hence, whence, and thence, denoting departure, &c., may be used without the word from. The idea of from is included in the word whence— therefore it is unnecessary to say, "From whence."

1382. Hither, thither, and whither, denoting to a place, have generally been superseded by here, there, and where. But there is no good reason why they should not be employed. If, however, they are used, it is unnecessary to add the word to, because that is implied"Whither are you going?" "Where are

you going?" Each of these sentences is complete. To say, "Where are you going to?" is redundant.

1383. Two negatives destroy each other, and produce an affirmative. "Nor did he not observe them," conveys the idea that he did observe them."

1384. But negative assertions are allowable. "His manners are not unpolite," which implies that his manners are, in some degree, marked by polite

ness.

1385. Instead of "I had rather walk," say "I would rather walk."

1385.* Instead of "I had better go," say "It were better that I should go." 1386. Instead of "I doubt not but I shall be able to go," say "I doubt not that I shall be able to go." 1387. Instead of "Let you and I," say "Let you and me."

1388. Instead of "I am not so tall as him, say I am not so tall as he."

66

1393. Instead of "I ayn't," or, "I arn't," say I am not."

1394. Instead of "Whether I be present or no," say "Whether I be present or not."

1395. For "Not that I knows on," say "Not that I know."

1396. Instead of "Was I to do so," say "Were I to do so."

1397. Instead of "I would do the same if I was him," say "I would do the same if I were he.'

1398. Instead of "I had as lief go myself," say "I would as soon go myself," or "I would rather."

165

1402. It is better to say "I repeated it," than "I said so over again." 1403. It is better to say "A physician," or "A surgeon" (according to his degree), than "A medical man." 1404. Instead of "He was too young to have suffered much," say "He was too young to suffer much." 1405. Instead of "Less friends," say "Fewer friends." Less refers to quantity.

1406. Instead of "A quantity of people," say "A number of people." 1407. "Instead of " He and they we know," say "Him and them."

1408. "Instead of "As far as I can see," say "So far as I can see."

1409. Instead of "If I am not mistaken," say "If I mistake not."

say

1410. Instead of "You are mistaken," "You mistake."

1411. Instead of "What beautiful tea," say "What good tea."

1412. Instead of "What a nice prospect," say "What a beautiful prospect." 1413. Instead of "A new pair of gloves," say "A pair of new gloves." 1414. Instead of saying "He belongs to the ship," say "The ship belongs to him."

1415. Instead of saying "Not no such thing," say "Not any such thing."

1416. Instead of "I hope you'll think nothing on it,' say "I hope you'll think nothing of it."

1417. Instead of "Restore it back to me," say "Restore it to me.'

1422. Instead of "Shay," say "Chaise."

1423. Instead of "He is a very rising person," say " He is rising rapidly."

1424. Instead of "Who learns you

166

teaches

you

music," say "Who music?" 1425. Instead of "I never sing whenever I can help it," say "I never sing when I can help it."

1426. Instead of "Before I do that I must first ask leave," say "Before I do that I must ask leave."

1427. Instead of "To get over the difficulty," say "To overcome the difficulty."

1428. The phrase, "get over," is in many cases misapplied, as, to "get over a person," to "get over a week," to get over an opposition."

1429. Instead of saying "The observation of the rule,' say "The observance of the rule."

1430. Instead of "A man of eighty years of age," say "A man eighty years old."

1431. Instead of "Here lays his honoured head," say "Here lies his honoured head."

1432. Instead of "He died from negligence," say "He died through neglect," or "in consequence of neglect."

1433. Instead of " Apples are plenty," say "Apples are plentiful." 1434. Instead of "The latter end of the year," say "The end or the close of

of the year."

1435. Instead of "The then government," say "The government of that age, or century, or year, or time."

1436. Instead of "For ought I know," say, "For aught I know."

1437. Instead of "A couple of chairs," say, "Two chairs."

1438. Instead of "Two couples," say "Four persons."

1439. But you may say 66 A married couple," or, "A married pair," or, "A couple of fowls," &c., in any case where one of each sex is to be understood.

1440. Instead of "They are united together in the bonds of matrimony," say They are united in matrimony," or, "They are married."

66

1441. Instead of "We travel slow," say "We travel slowly."

1442. Instead of "He is noways to

1443. Instead of "He plunged down into the river," say "He plunged into the river."

1444. Instead of "He jumped from off of the scaffolding," say "He jumped off from the scaffolding."

1445. Instead of "He came the last of all," say "He came the last."

1446. Instead of " universal," with reference to things that have any limit, say "general; "generally approved," instead of universally approved;' generally beloved," instead of "universally beloved."

66

66

1447. Instead of "They ruined one another," say "They ruined each other."

1448. Instead of "If in case I succeed," say, "If I succeed."

1449. Instead of A large enough room," say "A room large enough.” 1450. Instead of "This villa to let," say "This villa to be let."

1451. Instead of "I am slight in comparison to you," say "I am slight in comparison with you.

1452. Instead of "I went for to see him," say "I went to see him."

1453. Instead of "The cake is all eat

up," say "The cake is all eaten."

1454. Instead of "It is bad at the best," say "It is very bad."

1455. Instead of "Handsome is as

handsome does," say "Handsome is who handsome does."

1456. Instead of "As I take it," say "As I see," or, "As I understand it."

1457. Instead of "The book fell on the floor," say "The book fell to the

floor."