Errors In Speaking, (see 2965.) There are several kinds of errors in speaking. The most obectionable of them are those in which words are employed that are unsuitable to convey the meaning intended. Thus, a person wishing to express his intention of going to a given place, says, "I propose going," when, in fact, he purposes going. An amusing illustration of this class of error was overheard by ourselves. A venerable matron was speaking of her son, who, she said, was quite stage-struck. "In fact," remarked the old lady, "he is going to a premature performance this evening !" Considering that most amateur perform-ances are premature, we hesitate to say that this word was misapplied; though, evidently, the maternal intention was to convey quite another meaning.

1324. Other errors arise from the substitution of sounds similar to the words which should be employed. That is, spurious words instead of genuine ones. Thus, some people say "re-munerative," when they mean "remunerative."A nurse, recommending her mistress to have one of the newly-invented carriages for her child, advised her to purchase a preamputator!

1325. Other errors are occasioned by imperfect knowledge of the English grammar. Thus many people say, "Between you and J," instead of "Between you and me." By the misuse of the adjective: "What beautiful butter," "What a nice landscape." They should say, "What a beautiful landscape" "What nice butter." And by numerous other departures from the rides of grammar which will be pointed out hereafter.

* See a work published by Dick & Fitzgerald. New York, entitled " Live and Learn, or 1000 Mistakes Corrected."

1326. By the mispronunciation of words. Many persons say pronouncia-tion instead of pronunciation: others say pro-nun'-she-a-shun, instead of pro-nun-ce-a-shun.

1327. By the misdivision of words and syllables. This defect makes the words an ambassador sound like a nam-bassador, or an adder like a nadder

1328. By imperfect enunciation, as when a person says hebben for heaven, ebber for evcr,jocholate for chocolate, a hedge, a ncdge, or an edge, a hedge.

1329. In affirmative sentences, shall in the first person, simply foretells; as "I shall write."

1330. In the second and third persons, shall is used potentially, denoting a promise, command, or determination; as, You shall be rewarded;" "Thou shall not kill;" "He shall be punished."

1331. Will, in the first person, is used potentially, denoting promise or determination; as, "I will go at all hazards." In the second and third persons, will simply foretells; as, "You will soon be there;" "He will expect you-."

1332. In interrogative sentences, shall, in the first person, may either be used potentially to inquire the will of the person addressed, as, "Shall I bring you another book?" or it may simply ask whether a certain event will occur; as, "Shall I arrive in time for the train?"

1333. .When shall is used interrogatively in the second person, it simply denotes futurity; as, "Shall you be in New York next week?"

1334. Shall, employed interrogatively in the third person, has a potential signification, and is used to inquire the will of the person addressed; as, "Shall John order the carriage ?"

1335. Will, used interrogatively in the second person, is potential in its signification; as, "Will you go?"

1336. Will may be used interrogatively in the third person, to denote mere futurity; as," Will the boat leave to-day?" Or it may have a potential signification, inquiring the will of the person spoken of; as, "Will he hazard his life for the safety of his friend?"

1337. In the subjunctive mood, shall, in all the persons, denotes mere futurity; as," If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault."

1338. Will, on the contrary, is potential in its signification, having respect to the will of the agent or subject; as, "If he will strive to improve, he shall be duly rewarded."

3339. The following expressions are by some persons considered objection-able: they are, however, so far sanctioned by custom, that any deviation from them would be looked on as pedantic: -

1340. He lives opposite the church; the very best; the very worst; he need not go; she dare not come; this house to let; he could neither read nor write; they were bred and born in New York.

1341. Some would have us say, opposite to, etc., the best and the worst, leaving out very; he needs not, etc.; she dares not, etc.

1342. To be let; neither write nor read; born and bred,etc.

1343. Persons bred in Ireland and Scotland retain more or less of their 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 recognized 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 things as to persons. We may, therefore, say, "the country whose inhabitants are free." [Grammarians differ in opinion upon this subject, but general usage justifies the 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 construction of a long sentence, sufficient care is not taken to ensure that when it is employed it really points out or refers to the object intended. For instance, "It was raining when John set out in his cart to go to the market, and he was delayed so long that it was over before he arrived." Now what is to be understood by this sentence? Was the rain over? or the market? Either or 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 before he arrived."