PART I. Of Perspicuity and Accuracy of Expression, with respect to Single Words and Phrases. These qualities of style, considered with regard to words and phrases, require the following properties: PURITY, PROPRIETY, and PRECISION. CHAPTER I. OF PURITY. Purity of style consists in the use of such words, and such constructions, as belong to the idiom of the language which we speak; in opposition to words and phrases that are taken from other languages, or that are ungrammatical, obsolete, new-coined, or used without proper authority. (1.) All such words and phrases as the following, should be avoided: Quoth he; I wist not; erewhile; behest; selfsame, delicatesse, for delicacy; politesse, for politeness; hauteur, for haughtiness; incumberment, connexity, martyrised, for encumbrance, connexion, martyred. The introduction of foreign and learned words, unless where necessity requires them, should never be admitted into our com position. In general, a plain, native style, is not only more intelligible to all readers, but by a proper management of words, it can be made as strong and expressive as Latinised English, or any foreign idioms. We should be employed dailily in doing good. He is no way thy inferiour; and, in this instance, is no ways to blame. The assistance was welcome, and timelily afforded. For want of employment, he stroamed idly about the fields. We ought to live soberly, righteously, and godlily in the world. He was long indisposed, and at length died of the hyp. That word follows the general rule, and takes the penult accent. He was an extra genius, and attracted much attention. The hauteur of Florio was very disgracious, and disgusted both his friends and strangers. He charged me with want of resolution, in the which he was greatly mistaken. They have manifested great candidness in all the transaction. The naturalness of the thought greatly recommended it. The importance, as well as the authenticalness of the books, has been clearly displayed. It is difficult to discover the spirit and intendment of some laws. The disposition which he exhibited, was both unnatural and incomfortable. His natural severity rendered him a very im popular speaker. The disquietness of his mind, made his station and wealth far from being enviable. I received the gift with pleasure, but I shall now gladlier resign it. These are the things highliest important to the growing age. It grieveth me to look over so many blank leaves, in the book of my life. It repenteth me that I have so long walked in the paths of folly. Methinks I am not mistaken in an opinion, which I have so well considered. They thought it an important subject, and the question was strenuously debated pro and con. Thy speech bewrayeth thee; for thou art a Galilean. Let us not give too hasty credit to stories which may injure our neighbour: peradventure they are the offspring of calumny, or misapprehension. The gardens were void of simplicity and elegance, and exhibited much that was glaring and bizarre. CHAPTER II. OF PROPRIETY. Propriety of language is the selection of such words as the best usage has appropriated to those ideas, which we intend to express by them; in opposition to low expressions, and to words and phrases which would be less significant of the ideas that we mean to convey. Style may be pure, that is, it may be strictly English, without Scotticisms or Gallicisms, or ungrammatical, irregular expressions of any kind, and may, nevertheless, be deficient in propriety for the words may be ill chosen, not adapted to the subject, nor fully expressive of the author's sense. : SECT. I. (2.) Avoid low expressions: such as, Topsy turvy, hurly burly, pellmell; having a month's mind for a thing; currying favour with a person; dancing attendance on the great," &c. "Meantime the Britons, left to shift for themselves, were forced to call in the Saxons for their defence." The phrase "left to shift for themselves," is rather a low phrase, and too much in the familiar style to be proper in a grave treatise. I had as lief do it myself, as persuade another to do it. Of the justness of his measures he convinced his opponent by dint of argument. He is not a whit better than those whom he so liberally condemns. He stands upon security, and will not liberate him till it be obtained. The meaning of the phrase, as I take it, is very different from the common acceptation. The favourable moment should be embraced; for he does not hold long in one mind. He exposed himself so much amongst the people, that he had like to have gotten one or two broken heads. He was very dexterous in smelling out the views and designs of others. If his education was but a little taken care of, he might be very useful amongst his neighbours. He might have perceived, with half an eye, the difficulties to which his conduct exposed him. If I happen to have a little leisure upon my hands to-morrow, I intend to pay them a short visit. This performance is much at one with the other. The scene was new, and he was seized with wonderment at all he saw. SECT. II. (3.) Supply words that are wanting. · Arbitrary power I look upon as a greater evil than anarchy itself, as much as a savage is a happier state of life than a slave at the oar:" it should have been, "as much as the state of a savage is happier than that of a slave at the oar." "He has not treated this subject liberally, by the views of others as well as his own;" "By adverting to the views of others," would have been better. "This generous action greatly increased his former services;" it should have been, "greatly increased the merit of his former services." By the pleasures of the imagination or fancy (which I shall use promiscuously) I here mean," &c. This passage ought to have had the word "terms" supplied, which would have made it correct: "terms which I shall use promiscuously.' The repetition of articles and prepositions is proper, when we intend to point out the objects of which we speak, as distinguished from each other, or in contrast; and when we wish that the reader's attention should rest on that distinction; as, Our sight is at once the most delightful, and the most useful of all our senses.' Let us consider the works of nature and art, with proper attention. He is engaged in a treatise on the interests of the soul and body. Some productions of nature rise in value, according as they more or less resemble those of art. The Latin tongue, in its purity, was never in this island. For some centuries, there was a constant intercourse between France and England, by the dominions we possessed there, and the conquests we made. Q He is impressed with a true sense of that function, when chosen from a regard to the interests of piety and virtue. The wise and foolish, the virtuous and the vile, the learned and ignorant, the temperate and profligate, must often, like the wheat and tares, be blended together. SECT. III. (4.) In the same sentence, be careful not to use the same word too frequently, nor in different senses. "One may have an air which proceeds from a just sufficiency and knowledge of the matter before him, which may naturally produce some motions of his head and body, which might become the bench better than the bar." The pronoun which is here thrice used, in such a manner as to throw obscurity over the sentence. "Gregory favoured the undertaking, for no other reason than this, that the manager, in countenance, favoured his friend." It should have been," resembled his friend." 66 Charity expands our hearts in love to God and man: it is by the virtue of charity that the rich are blessed, and the poor supplied. In this sentence, the word charity" is improperly used in two different senses; for the highest benevolence, and for almsgiving An eloquent speaker may give more, but cannot give more convincing arguments, than this plain man offered. They were persons of very moderate intellects, even before they were impaired by their passions. True wit is nature dressed to advantage; and yet some works have more wit than does them good. The sharks, who prey upon the inadvertency of young heirs, are more pardonable than those, who trespass upon the good opinion of those, who treat them with great confidence and respect. Honour teaches us properly to respect ourselves, and to violate no right or privilege of our neighbour: it leads us to support the feeble, to relieve the distressed, and to scorn to be governed by de |