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 thing that are remote.

1353. If ho 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 New Orleans, the opinion that he entertains.

1355. The misuse of these pronouns 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 V

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 7 am.

1365. Whom do they represent me to be?

1366. In 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 woould 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 ?" etc."

1367. Instead of "After which hour," Bay, "After that hour."

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 alter native: "I will take either road, at your pleasure;" "1 will take this or that."

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

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.'

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

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

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

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

1379. Such expressions as more impossible, more indispensable, more universal, more uncontrollable, more unlimited, etc, 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."

1380. Here, there, and where, originally denoting place, may now, by common consent, be used to denote other meanings; such as, "There I agree with you," "Where we differ," "We find pain where we expected pleasure," "Here you mistake me."

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

1382. Hither, thither, and whither, de-noting 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 yougoing?" 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."

1364. But negative assertions are allowable. "His manners are not un-polite," 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 belter 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 /," say "Let you and me."

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

1389. When asked "Who is there?" do not answer "Me," but "I."

1390. Instead of "For you and I," say "For you and me."

1391. Instead of "Says I," say "I said."

1392. Instead of "You are taller than me," say "You are taller than I."

3383. 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."

139C. Instead of "Was I to do so," say "Were I to do so."