prisoner if he was guilty or not guilty. 6. I do not know as that will help matters any. 7. We cannot see as that alters the case. 8. We cannot say as he is any worse than he was. 9. We did not doubt but what they will succeed. 10. We fear lest she will not get well. II. We do not deny but that you have grounds for suspicion. 12. He does not doubt but what you did your best. 13. I should not be surprised if that was the case. 14. We will try and do the work for you. 15. Directly I got home I wrote to him. 16. He will not go without you do. 16. I beg leave to differ from you on that point.

GENERAL EXERCISES TO BE CORRECTED.

[Three are correct.]

267. 1. The measure failed in consequence of the President vetoing it. 2. This is Campbell's, the poet's, production. 3. Mans happiness or misery are in a great measure put in his own hands. 4. The prince as well as the people were to blame. 5. The fleet were seen sailing up the bay. 6. The multitude eagerly pursues pleasure as its chief good. 7. Their love, their hatred, and their envy has now perished. 8. The committee was divided in its sentiments. 9. That noble general who had gained so many victories, he died at last in prison. 10. They supposed it was me; but you knew that it was him. II. Who did they send on that mission? 12. Learn to always be content with what you have. 13. It done no harm, for I had wrote my letter before he come. 14. Btween you and I, I am afraid he will never pay it. 15. We cannot find none in the market. 16. The sun had already arose when we resumed our journey. 17. He writes as the best authors would have wrote had they writ on the same subject. 18. It is I which begs you to desist. 19. He behaved bad and now he feels badly about it. 20. I saw one who I took to be she. [See 221 6.] 21. He can sing better than me. 22. Such was the career of Burns, he who delighted a nation with his songs. 23. The Chinese wall is thirty foot high. 24. I think you had better have your horse shod. 25. I intended to have called last week but could not. 26. The fields look freshly and gayly since the rain. 27. He is a better painter than poet. 28. The side A, together with the sides B and C, compose the triangle. 29. Five and eight makes thirteen; five from eight leaves three. 30. He would not believe that honesty was the best policy. 31. Such a bad temper is a great detriment to a person. 32. I guarantee to sell a better hat than any dealer in this city for less money. 33. This is the most perfect piece of work I ever seen. 34. Tom is more active but not so studious as his brother. 35. I doubt if that statement can be depended upon. 36. Every one must take care of themselves. 37. This is quite different than that. 38. I differ with you in that matter. 39. Your choice of any chair in this window for $3.75. 40. I found him better than I expected to. 41. His report of the affair was quite different to that. 42. Neither despise the poor or envy the rich. 43. I had rather die of the sword than with cholera. 44. He accused them for betraying their trust. 45. I expected my father and brother to have come.

SUPERFLUOUS WORDS.

268. 1. At.-Superfluous in "Where is he at ?" "Where ao they live at ?" 2. After.-Superfluous before having; as, “After having seen him, we returned." "After having heard that, he was unwilling to go." Say 'Having seen,''Having heard,' etc.

3. Any-Superfluous in such expressions as, “I am not hurt any." "He is not any afraid." She cannot see any."

4. At all. "We are not at all surprised at the outcome." "I will have nothing to do with it at all." In these sentences, "at all" is superfluous, though it has the sanction of good usage.

5. Anxiety of mind. "Anxiety of mind is undermining his health.” Since anxiety has reference to a state of the mind, the words "of mind" in this sentence are superfluous. For the same reason, these words are superfluous in equanimity of mind," since equanimity means 'balance of mind.'

6. Both alike.—“They are both alike in that respect." Omit "both." (383.)

7. Back.-Superfluous in such expressions as, "They retreated back." "They returned back."

8. Bouts, or Abouts.-" Where bouts [or whereabouts] do you now live?" Say 'Where do you live?'

9. Clear. Superfluous in "He went clear to New York," "I read the book clear through,” and similar expressions.

10. Down.-Superfluous in "It dropped down." "He fell down."

"This

II. Equally as well as.-The correlatives, as—as, indicate equality, therefore equally, in such expressions as, "This is equally as good as that," will do equally as well as that," is superfluous.

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12. Full.-This word is superfluous after fill; as, "It was filled full of things." They filled the cistern full of water." Say filled with things,' etc.

.

13. For.-" He is worth more than you think for." Drop the "for."

14. From.-Superfluous before hence, thence, and whence; as, "From whence does it come." "We shall go from hence as soon as possible." We would consider it absurd to ask, "To whither does it go?" yet that would be no worse than, "From whence does it come?"

15. Forward.-Superfluous in "They advanced forward," since the idea of "forward" is embodied in advance. This is like saying, "They retreated back." 16. Go and fetch.-The first two words are superfluous. [See 27116.]

17. Got.-Superfluous after have, has, and had. [See paragraph 2733.]

18. In.-Superfluous in the expression " In so far as," as "In so far as he is responsible he will make it right," ""In so far as we are concerned,"-etc.

19. Of. Superfluous after admit, accept, recollect, and remember; as, "The case was too plain to admit of doubt." [See 2622.]

20. On.-Superfluous in "continue on." Continue includes the idea of on. 21. Pocket handkerchief.-The word pocket is superfluous, just as hand is in neck-handkerchief. The latter should be neck-kerchief.

22. Right.-Superfluous in " Right there it is," "Please attend to it right now," and similar expressions.

23. Same.-Superfluous in "He is the same man I saw yesterday," "That is the same horse I used to own," and similar sentences.

24. Together, after talk, converse, correspond, connect, unite, and similar words, together is superfluous; as, “We talked together over the matter."

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25. Whole.-Superfluous after throughout; as, "Throughout the whole world there is great interest in the matter." Throughout his whole life he was consistent in that respect."

26. Widow woman.-Widow means a woman who has lost her husband and has not married again. This meaning of the word has remained unchanged for thousands of years and it is understood by people in general as referring to a woman. Hence, the word woman after it is superfluous. (384.)

269.

POPULAR ABSURDITIES.

1. After night.—We hear persons talk of doing work “after night." After night means sometime the next day.

2. A. M., in the morning.—A. M. is an abbreviation of ante meridiem, which means 'before noon' or 'in the morning.' Hence, it is an absurd superfluity to "The train departs at 7 A. M. in the morning." Say 'at 7 o'clock in the morning,' or 'at 7 A. M.' P.M. (post meridiem-' afternoon') and evening are also incorrectly used together; as, "He came at 6 P. M. this evening."

say,

3. Bad orthography.—“Her orthography is very bad." Orthography means 'correct spelling;' therefore, “bad orthography " is bad correct spelling!

4. Been.-"Has the postman been yet?" Such questions are absurd, for the reason that been (the perfect participle of be) means 'existed.' Of course the postman has been ever since he was born. What is meant is "Has the postman been here?" "Had the painters been there?” and so forth.

5. Between each.-"Between each of the houses was a row of shadetrees." Each means one. The absurdity is easily seen.

6. Collect a bill.-How can one thing be collected? The money or the amount due on a bill may be collected, but not the bill.

7. Considerable of a.-The use of the phrase considerable of a to limit a noun is absurd; as, “They paid considerable of a sum for it." We had considerable of a shower." Say a considerable sum," a considerable shower."

8. Dead run.—“He started on a dead run." "They came around the corner on a dead run." How does a dead run differ from a live run? The fact is that what is so often called a "dead run " is far from being dead.

9. Empties. Our geographies have long been telling us that "the Missis sippi empties into the Gulf of Mexico;" that "the Amazon empties into the Atlantic," and that the Niagara empties into Lake Ontario." Nevertheless the "father of waters" has proved (to the sorrow of many) in recent years that it, isn't empty; while the waters of the mighty Amazon continue to flow into the ocean, and the never-ceasing torrents of far-famed Niagara are pouring into the "Lake of the Thousand Isles."

10. Every once in a little while.-This is an absurd and meaningless phrase, made so by the misplacing of the word every. It should be "Once in every little while,” though the latter is not free from criticism. Better simply, "Once in a little while."

II. Good music in attendance.-A common but absurd statement. What is meant is that 'good music will be furnished,' or 'provided.'

12. Head over heels.-"He is always head over heels in work." proper position for a person at work is with his head over his heels.

The

13. "How do you do?"—This question (too often a thoughtless salutation) is not asked for the purpose of finding out how the person addressed does something, as the words really imply ('you do do how '), but how he is, that is, in what condition as regards health, etc. The question should be "How are you?" 14. I dare say.-"I dare say you had a pleasant time." It does not require much courage to dare to say such things.

15. I never remember.-"I never remember such a mild winter as this." Similar to this, but much more common, are the expressions "I don't think,” "I don't guess,” etc., which mean just the opposite of what those who use them intend to say.

16. In our midst.-The common expression "in our midst” is an absurd one, for the reason that midst means nearly, if not exactly, the same as middle. "We have in our midst," etc., should be, "We have among us," or "with us," etc. [See John XIX: 18.]

17. Innumerable number.-The absurdity of such an expression is so apparent that it does not need comment.

18. I thought to myself.—Since a man must think to himself, if he thinks at all, the "to myself" is absurdly superfluous.

19. It should seem.— - Strictly, according to the words, this expression means "it ought to seem but does not; " but this is not what those who use it mean. It is a modest but illogical way of saying simply it seems. (385.)

20. Is being done, Is being built, etc. - Is means 'exists;' being means 'existing;' done means 'finished.' Hence, is being done is, literally taken, 'exists existing finished.' And so, is being built means 'exists existing built.' Considering the words in the light of their essential-their unchangeable meaning, these phrases are about as absurd as any that could be imagined; but they are generally understood as meaning that the work spoken of is not finished, but progressing. In the words of Mr. Ramsey, "Anyone who will invent a better phrase will deserve public gratitude." (386.)

21. No more than he can help.-" He does no more than he can help," or "He does no more than he can keep from doing." Say 'He does no more than he is obliged to do,' or 'compelled to do.'

22. Of all others.-"Of all others, that man ought to be the last to complain," "This habit is, of all others, the hardest to break up." How can a thing be one of all others?

23. On every hand.-Say 'on each hand,' ' both hands,' or 'on every side.'

24. On the street.—This expression is very commonly misused for in the street, the latter being the correct, the logical phrase; thus, Crowds are in the street, not on the street. An accident occurs in (not on) the street. (387.)

25. Powerful weak.-" He was powerful weak after his long sickness." The man of whom this was said must have been a "confirmed invalid.” (2723.)

26. Quite a few, Quite a little.-Whether used in its primary sense of completely,' 'entirely, 'totally,' etc., or in its American sense of 'to a considerable extent or degree,' the word quite before a few, a little, and so forth, is absurd. “We have quite a few of them." "It is quite a little distance

from here."

27. Seldom or ever, (or never.)—This meaningless phrase should be "seldom if ever;" as, "He seldom, if ever, fails to be on time."

28. Table board. There are few words in our language so absolutely synonymous as board and table, the one being the English, the other the Romance name for the same thing; so that table board is simply table-table or