Chapter 16

Accordance of Verb with Subject

No rule of grammar is more familiar to the schoolboy than that which relates to the agreement of the verb with its subject, or nominative, and none that is more frequently violated. It would be a mistake, however, to assume that the schoolboy is the only transgressor. Ladies and gentlemen of culture and refinement, writers and speakers of experience and renown, have alike been caught in the quicksands of verb constructions.

“This painting is one of the finest masterpieces that ever _was_ given to the world.” A transposition of the sentence will show that the verb should be _were,_ and not _was. “_Of the finest masterpieces that ever _were _given to the world, this painting is one.”

“His essay on ‘Capital and Labor’ is one of the best that _has_ ever been written on the subject.” The verb should be _have._

“The steamer, with all her passengers and crew, _were_ lost.” The subject is _steamer,_ and the verb should be _was._

Interrogative sentences

“What _signifies_ his good resolutions, when he does not possess strength of purpose sufficient to put them into practice?” _Resolutions_ is the subject, and the verb should be _signify._

“Of what profit is his prayers, while his practices are the abomination of the neighborhood?” _Prayers_ being plural, the verb should be _are._

“What _avails_ good sentiments with a bad life?” Use _avail._

Subject after the Verb

“In virtue and piety _consist_ the happiness of man.” _Happiness, _the subject, being singular, the verb should be _consists,_ to agree with its nominative.

“To these recommendations _were_ appended a copy of the minority report.” A transposition of the sentence will show that the verb should be _was_, and not _were._ “A copy of the minority report _was_ appended to these recommendations.”

Whenever the sentence is introduced by a phrase consisting in part of a noun in the plural, or several nouns in the singular or plural, and, especially, where the subject follows the verb; care must be taken to keep the nominative well in mind, so that the verb may be in strict accord with it.

Compound Subjects

When a verb has two or more nominatives it must be plural. These nominatives may or may not be connected by _and_ or other connecting particle. The nominatives may consist of nouns or pronouns, either singular or plural, or they may be phrases.

“Washington and Lincoln _were_ chosen instruments of government.”

“Judges and senates _have_ been bought for gold,

Esteem and love _were_ never to be sold.”—_Pope._

“Art, empire, earth itself, to change _are _doomed.”— _Beattie._

“You and he _resemble_ each other.”

“To read and to sing _are_ desirable accomplishments.”

“To be wise in our own eyes, to be wise in the opinion of the world, and to be wise in the sight of our Creator, _are_ three things so very different as rarely to coincide.”—_Blair._

Singular in Meaning

Nominatives are sometimes plural in form but singular in meaning. Such nominatives require a verb in the singular.

“The philosopher and poet _was_ banished from his country.” _Was_ is correct, because philosopher and poet are the same person.

“Ambition, and not the safety of the state, _was_ concerned.” _Was_ is correct, because _ambition_ is the subject. The words, _“and not the safety of the state,”_ simply emphasize the subject, but do not give it a plural meaning.

“Truth, and truth only, _is_ worth seeking for its own sake.” Another case of emphasis.

Each, Every, No, Not

When two or more nominatives are qualified by one of the foregoing words the verb must be singular.

“Every limb and feature _appears_ with its respective grace.”—_Steele._

“Not a bird, not a beast, not a tree, not a shrub _were_ to be seen.” Use _was_ instead of _were._

Poetical Construction

When the verb separates its nominatives, it agrees with that which precedes it.

“Forth in the pleasing spring, Thy beauty _walks,_ thy tenderness, and love.”—_Thomson._ __

Or, Nor, As well as, But, Save

When two or more nominatives in the singular are separated by such words as the preceding, the verb must be singular.

“Veracity, as well as justice, _is_ to be our rule of life.”—_Butler._

“Not a weed nor a blade of grass _were_ to be seen.” Change _were _to _was_.

“Nothing but wailings _were_ heard.” Transpose. “Nothing _was_ heard but wailings.” The verb should be _was_.

“Either one or the other of them _are_ in the wrong.” The verb should be _is._

If, however, one or more of the nominatives are plural, the verb must be plural.

“It is not his wealth, or gifts, or culture that _gives_ him this distinction.” _Gifts_ being plural, the verb should be _give._

Some authorities say that the verb should agree in number with the subject which is placed next before it, and be understood (or silent) to the rest; as, “Neither he nor his brothers _were_ there,” “Neither his brothers nor he was there,” “Neither you nor I _am_ concerned.”

Prof. Genung, author of _Outlines of Rhetoric,_ says: “When a clash of concord arises, either choose subjects that have the same number, or choose a verb that has the same form for both numbers.” He gives this sentence to show the change of verb: “Fame or the emoluments of valor _were_ (_was_) never to be his.” “Fame or the emoluments of valor could never be his.” And this sentence to show the change of one of the subjects: “Neither the halter nor bayonets _are_ (_is_) sufficient to prevent us from obtaining our rights.” “Neither the halter nor the bayonet _is_ sufficient to prevent us from obtaining our rights.”

Collective Nouns

Collective nouns, like _army, committee, class, peasantry, nobility, _are, grammatically, singular, but they are often so modified by their surroundings as to convey a plural idea, and when so modified the verb must be plural. When the collective noun conveys the idea of unity, the verb must be singular.

“The army _was_ disbanded.”

“The council _were_ divided.”

“A number of men and women _were_ present.”

“The people _rejoice_ in their freedom.”

“The peasantry _go_ barefoot, and the middle sort _make_ use of wooden shoes.”

“The world _stands_ in awe of your majesty.”

“All the world _are_ spectators of your conduct.”

Weights, Measures, and Values

The names of weights, measures, and values, when considered as wholes, require singular verbs, and when considered as units require verbs in the plural.

“There _is_ twenty shillings in my purse,” meaning one pound in value. “There _are_ twenty shillings in my purse,” meaning twenty separate coins, each being a shilling. “Sixty-three gallons _equals_ a hogshead.” “Ten tons of coal _are_ consumed daily.”

Titles of Books

Whether the form be singular or plural, the title is considered a unit, and requires a verb in the singular; as, “‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’ _was_ written by Shakespeare.” “Dr. Holmes’s _American Annals was_ published in 1805.”

Whereabouts

“The whereabouts of his cousins _were_ not known to him.” The plural form of this word is misleading. The verb should be _was._

Phenomena, Effluvia

“A strange phenomena,” “A disagreeable effluvia” are incorrect forms not infrequently met with. Both words are plural, and require plural verbs and also the omission of the article _a._

You was

This very incorrect form is often employed by those who know better, and who use it, seemingly, out of courtesy to the uneducated people with whom they are brought in contact. If it be a courtesy, it is one that is “more honored in the breach than in the observance.”

Those who use the expression ignorantly are not likely to read this book, or any other of a similar character, and need scarcely be told that _was_ should be _were_.

INDEX

A, An, 181. Aberration of intellect, 87. A 1,83. A hundred others’ woes—Pronouns, 126. Ability, Capacity, 27. About, Almost, 28. About, Around, 95. Above, More than, Preceding, 111. Above, Foregoing, 87. Above up, 180. Acceptance, Acceptation, 28. Access, Accession, 28. Accident, Injury, 28. Accord, Give, 86. Accordance of Verb with Subject, 198. Collective Nouns, 203. Compound Subjects, 200. Each, Every, No, Not, 201. Interrogative sentences, 199. Or, Nor, As well as, But, Save, 201. Phenomena, Effluvia, 204. Poetical Construction, 201. Singular in Meaning, 200. Subject after the Verb, 199. Titles of Books, 204. Weights, Measures, and Values, 203. Whereabouts, 204. You was, 204. Acoustics, Ethics, Politics, 143. Act, Action, 86. Adherence, Adhesion, 36. Adjective or Adverb, 150. Adopt, Take, 37. Adverbs, 150. Adverbs for Relative Pronouns, 140. Advise, Persuade, 52. Affect, Effect, 37. After _of—_Possessive case, 127. After _than_ and as—Pronouns, 132. After that, 159. After the Imperative—Pronouns, 132. After verbs— Participles, 171. After the verb To be—Pronouns, 131. After verbs and prepositions—Pronouns, 130. Again, Against, 115. Aggravate, Exasperate, 37. Agreeably disappointed, 77. Agreement with Antecedent—Pronouns, 133. Ain’t, 119. Alex. Melville Bell, 24. Alienate, Antagonize, Oppose, 32. Alighted, Lit, Lighted, 88. All, Is that all? 108. All of, 180. All, Whole, 41, 51. Alleviate, Relieve, 37. Allow, Guess, Reckon, Calculate, 56. Allowed, Said, 87. Allude to, Refer to, 77. Almost, About, 28. Almost, Most, Very, 30. Alms, Odds, Riches, 145. Alone, Only, 113. Alternative, 87. Alternation, 87. Alumna, Formula, 144, Alumnus, Terminus, Cactus, 143. Ambiguity—Pronouns, 135. Among the rest, 78. Among, Between, 175. Amount, Number, 32. Analysis, Crises, 143. And, To—Try and, 117. Anglicized Words, 20. Angry, Mad, 30. Animalcules, not Animalculae, 148. Anniversary, 87. Answer, Reply, 32. Antagonize, Alienate, Oppose, 32. Anticipate, Expect, 32. Any, At all, 32. Anyhow, 81. Anyways, Somewheres, Thereabouts, 78. Apart, Aside, 78. Apparent, Evident, 33. Appendix, Index, 148. Appointed you and _I—_after verbs and prepositions, 130. Appreciate highly, 189. Apprehend, Comprehend, 105. Archimedes’ Screw, 125. Argue, Augur, 98. Around, About, 95. Articles, 181. A, An, 181. Interchanged, 184. Omitted, 182. Redundant, 183. Titles—The Reverend, 182. _As_ after _Equally,_ 190. As... as, 162. As, Like, 88. As... so, 163. As soon as, Directly, Immediately, 77. As, That, 70. As though, As if, 160. As well as, Or, Nor, But, Save, 201. Ascend up, 189. Aside, Apart, 78. Asparagus, Sparrowgrass, 34. Assets, Alms, Scissors, 145. Assure, Promise, 34. At all, Any, 32. At, To, 176. At you, 114. Attacked, Burst, Drowned, 108. Aware, Conscious, 39. Away, Way, 41. Awful, 81. Awkward construction—Participles, 172.

Back up, Support, 82. Badly, Greatly, 114. Bad toothache, 70. Balance, Remainder, 60. Bandits, Banditti, 148. Barbaric, Barbarous, 98. Barbarisms, 20. Beaus, Tableaux, Chateaux, 147. Beautifully, Beautiful, 70. Because, Reason, 156. Been to, 190. Beg, Beg leave, 71. Beg pardon, Which? 26. Begin, Commence, 38. Behave, 60. Bell, Alex. Melville, 24. Besides, 49. Beside, Besides, 108. Better, Best, 61. Between, Among, 175. Between you and _I—_After verbs and prepositions, 130. Black Oxide of Manganese, 36. Bombastic Language, 18. Both, 190. Both, Both of, 72. Both, Each, 72. Bound, 61. Bountiful, Plentiful, 108. Brace, Pair, Couple, 147. Bravery, Courage, 116. Bring, Fetch, Carry, 44. Brooks’s Arithmetics, 125. Brothers, Brethren, 149. Bryant’s list, 16. Bulk, 82. Burglarize, 82. Burst, Attacked, Drowned, 108. But, Except, 157. But, If, 157. But, Only, Except, 157. But, Or, Nor, Save—As well as, 201. _But_ superfluous, 158. But that, 158, 190. But that, But what, 82, 157. But that, 157. But that, Than that, 158. But what, 160. But what, But that, 82, 157. By, In, 175. By, With, 177.

Calculate, 83. Calculate, Guess, Reckon, Allow, 56. Calculated, Liable, 83. Calligraphy, 68. Came across, Met with, 109. Campbell’s law, 20. Can, Could, Will, 115. Can but, Cannot but, 68. Cannot by no means, 196. Can’t and Couldn’t, 120. Can’t do nothing, 196. Cantos, Heroes, 145. Capacity, Ability, 27. Carry, Bring, Fetch, 44. Case forms—Pronouns, 129. Casualty, Casuality, 68. Character, Reputation, 44. Chauncey Depew and Eli Perkins, 65. Cheap, Low-priced, 30. Cherubim, Seraphim, 142. Choice of prepositions, 175. Choice of relatives—Pronouns, 138. Choice of words, 15. Chrysalis, Analysis, 143. Chuck-full, 74. Clearness—Participles, 172. Clever, Smart, 85. Climax, 112. Climb down, 103. Collective nouns, 203. Collective nouns—Pronouns, 135. Commence, Begin, 38. Commenced to write, 107. Commercial slang, 23. Commodious, Convenient, 26. Common, Mutual, 28. Common slang, 23. Complected, 69. Complete, Finished, Through, 39, 99. Compound subject, 200. Comprehend, Apprehend, 105. Conclusion, End, 39. Conjunctions, 156. Conscious, Aware, 39. Contemplate, Propose, 75. Contemptible, Contemptuous, 52. Continual, Continuous, 39. Continually, Perpetually, 52. Contractions, 118. Convenient, Commodious, 26. Convict, Convince, 40. Correlatives, 162. Could, Can, Will, 115. Couldn’t, Can’t, 120. Couple, Pair, Brace, 147. Couple, Several, 76. Courage, Bravery, 116. Criterion, Datum, 144. Crowd, 74. Cunning, 59. Cupfuls— Plural compounds, 147. Curious, 59. Custom, Habit, 40. Customer, Patron, 93. Cute, 59. Cut in half, 98.

Daren’t, Dursen’t, 123. Data, Strata, 144. Datum, Phenomenon, 144, 204. Deface, Disfigure, 43. Defect, Fault, 45. Degrade, Demean, 43. Depot, Station, 43. Description, Kind, 44. Didn’t, Don’t, 120. Dies, Dice, 149. Differ among themselves, 192. Different, 191. Differ with, From, 175. Different from, to, than, 75, 176. Directly, Immediately, As soon as, 77. Disfigure, Deface, 43. Disremember, 69. Dispense, Dispense with, 75. Dock, Wharf, 52. Don’t and Didn’t, 120. Don’t want none, 195. Double negatives, 194. Double possessives, 126. Doubt not but, 160. Dreadful solemn— Adjective or adverb? 152. Drive, Ride, 76. Drowned, Attacked, Burst, 108. Dry, Thirsty, 75. Due, Owing, 71. Dursent, Daren’t, 123. Dutch, German, 75.

Each, Both, 72. Each, Every, 71. Each, Every, No, Not, 201. Each other, One another, 46. Each other’s eyes—Pronouns, 126. Each... _their—_Agreement with antecedent, 134. Effect, Affect, 37. Effluvia, Phenomena, 144, 204. Either, Neither, 47, 163. Either the... or the, 159. Elder, Older, 91. Eli Perkins and Chauncey Depew, 65. Ellipsis, Analysis, 143. Else ...besides, 49. Else than, Other than, 159. Emigrants, Immigrants, 78. Empty, 86. End, Conclusion, 39. Endorse, Indorse, 84. End up, 192. Enjoy, 86. Enjoyed poor health, 36. Equally as well, 190. Evacuate, Vacate, 75. Ever, Never, 72. Every confidence, 67. Every, Each, 71. Every, Each, No, Not, 201. Everybody else’s, 128. Everybody... _they—_Agreement with antecedent, 134. Every once in awhile, 73. Everywheres, 190. Evident, Apparent, 33. Exasperate, Aggravate, 37. Except, But, 157. Except, But, Only, 157. Except, Unless, Besides, 161. Exceptionable, Exceptional, 73. Excuse me—Which? 26. Expect, Anticipate, 32. Expect, Suspect, Suppose, 110.

Factor, 112. Farther, Further, 45. Fathers-in-law—Plural compounds, 147. Fault, Defect, 45. Favor, Resemble, 59. Feel like, 190. Feels badly—Adjective or adverb? 151. Female, Woman, 73. Fetch, Bring, Carry, 44. Few, 191. Few, Little, 46. Fewer, Less, 73. Fictitious writer, 62. Fine writing, 8. Finished, Complete, Through, 39, 99. Fire, Throw, 78. First, Firstly, 62. First, Former, 61. First-rate, 62. First two, 79. Fish, Fly, 148. Fix, In a, 53. Fix, Mend, Repair, 62. Fly, Flee, 53. Flys, Fishes, 148. Foregoing, Above, 87. Foreign words, 9. Former, First, 61. Formulas, Larvas, Stigmas, 144. For to see, 189. Frederick the Great’s Kindness—Nouns in apposition, 127. From hence, thence, whence, 180. From, Of, 104, 176. Funny, 56. Further, Farther, 45. Future, Subsequent, 79.

Gent’s pants, 79. German, Dutch, 75. Get, Got, 54. Give, Accord, 36. Good deal, Great deal, 57. Good piece, Long distance, 110. Good usage, 19. Good, Well, 158. Got to, Must, 115. Governor, the old man, 97. Great big, 98. Great deal, Good deal, 57. Greatly, Badly, 114. Grouse, Quail, Snipe, 149. Grow, Raise, Rear, 113. Guess, Reckon, Calculate, Allow, 56. Gums, Overshoes, 56.

Habit, Custom, 40. Had better, Would better, 57. Had have, 192. Had ought to, 193. Hadn’t, Haven’t, Hasn’t, 121. Haint, Taint, 121. Hangs on, Continues, 115. Have got, 188. Have saw, Has went, 114. Haven’t, Hasn’t, Hadn’t, 121. Haply, Happily, 114. Happen, Transpire, 65. Has went, Have saw, 114. Hate, Dislike, 116. Healthy, Wholesome, 52. Healthy, Healthful, 112. Hearty meal, 98. He is no better than _me— _After _than_ and as, 133. Help but be, 191. Heroes, Cantos, Stuccoes, 145. Herrings, Trout, Pike, 149. He’s, She’s, It’s, 123. Hey? Which? 25. Hire, Lease, Let, Rent, 88. His, One’s, 50. His or her—Needless pronouns, 136. Hope, Wish, 99. House, Residence, 43. _How_ for _by which— _Adverbs for relative pronouns, 140 How, That, 154. Hung, Hanged, 112.

I am _him_-Case forms, 129. Idea, Opinion, 113. If, But, 157. If, Whether, 58. Ill, Sick, 107. Illy, Ill, 58. Immediately, Directly, As soon as, 77. Immigrants, Emigrants, 78. Implicit, 58. I’m, You’re, He’s, She’s, It’s, We’re, They’re, 123. In a fix, 53. In, By, 175. In, Into, 85, 176. In, Of, 177. In, On, 177. In our midst, 84. In respect of, To, 176. In so far, 188. Inaugurate, 109. Incomplete Infinitive, 168. Index, Appendix, 148. Individual, 58. Indorse, Endorse, 84. Infinitive, 166. Infinitive, Incomplete, 168. Infinitive needed—Supply _To,_ 166. Infinitive unnecessary—Omit “To,” 167. Informed, Posted, 86. Injury, Accident, 28. Interchanged Articles, 184. Interrogatives—Pronouns, 130. Interrogative sentences, 199. Into, In, 85, 176. Introduce, Present, 105. “Is building,” 173. Isn’t, 121. It’s, He’s, She’s, 123. It is _me—_Case forms, 129.

John and Mary’s sled—Double possessives, 126. Journal, 68. Junius’s letters, 125. Juntos, Heroes, Virtuosos, 145. Just going to, 85.

Kind, Description, 44. Kind of, 85. Kind of a, 191. Knights Templars, 147. Know as, Know that, 58. Knowing, 85.

Last, Latest, 59. Lay, Lie, 69. Lead a dance, 117. Learn, Teach, 88. Lease, Let, Rent, Hire, 88. Leave, Quit, 83. Lend, Loan, 88. Less, Fewer, 73. Lest, That, 159. Let it alone, Leave it alone, 83. Let, Lease, Rent, Hire, 88. Let you and _I_ try it—After the Imperative, 132. Let’s, 123. Liable, Calculated, 83. Lie, Lay, 69. Lighted, Lit, Alighted, 88. Like, As, 88. Like, Love, 29. List of Principal Correlatives, 162. Lit, Lighted, 88. Little, Few, 46. Little piece, Short distance, 67. Little bit, 74. Loan, Lend, 88. Look and see, 187. Look at here, 187. Lot, Number, 116. Love, Like, 29. Low-priced, Cheap, 30. Luck, 84.

Mad, Angry, 30. Make, Manufacture, 65. Make way with, 84. Mayn’t, Mustn’t, Mightn’t, Oughtn’t, 122. Mayst, Mightest, 123. Means, Alms, Headquarters, 146. Measures, Weights, Values, 203. Memorandum, Datum, 144. Mend, Fix, Repair, 62. Mention, Allude to, Refer to, 77. Men’s and boys’ shoes, 124. Men, women, and children’s shoes—Double possessives, 126. Met with, Came across, 109. Mightn’t, Mustn’t, Mayn’t, Oughtn’t, 122. Mightst, Mayst, 123. Mighty, Very, 104. Misplaced relatives—Pronouns, 141. Mixed pronouns, 136. More than, Above, Preceding, 111. More than, Over, 155. More, Worse, 42. Mosquitoes, Heroes, Halos, 145. Most, Almost, Very, 30. Musselmans, Dragomans, 145. Mustn’t, Mayn’t, Mightn’t, and Oughtn’t, 122. Mutual, Common, 28. Myself, 29.

Nasty, Nice, 89. Near, Nearly, 89. Need, Want, 40. Needless Articles, 183. Needless Prepositions, 180. Needless Pronouns, 136. Negatives, 194. Negligence, Neglect, 29. Neighborhood, Region, 42. Neither, Either, 47, 163. Neither... nor, Either, 163. Never, Ever, 72. Never... nor (or or), Either, 163. Never, Not, 29. News, 142. New beginner, 191. New Words, 21. Nice, Nasty, 89. Nicely, 89. No, Each, Every, Not, 201. No... no, 154, 196. No, Not, 154. No good, No use, 89. No more than I could help, 111. No use, No good, 89. Nor... no, 197. Nor, Or— Pronouns, 135. Nor, Or, As well as, But, Save, 201. Nor... not, 197. None, Singular or plural, 51. Not... hardly, 196. Not impossible but, 160. Not... neither, Either, 163. Not, Never, 29. Not... or (or _nor),_ Either, 163. Not... no, 197. Noted, Notorious, 94. Nothing like, 94. Nothing... nor, 196. Notorious, Noted, 94. Nouns in Apposition—Possessive Case 126. Nouns, Plural-Possessive Case, 125. Nouns, Singular—Possessive Case, 125. Nowhere near so, 94. Nucleus, Terminus, Fungus, 143. Number, 142. Number, Amount, 32. Number, Lot, 116. Number, Quantity, 38.

O, Oh, 90. Observe, Say, 90. Obsolete Words, 20. Odds, Alms, Riches, 145. Of any, Of all, 90. Of, From, 104,176. Of, In, 177. “Of” redundant, 169. Of, With, 176. Off of, 189. Older, Elder, 91. Omission of Article, 182. Omit the Possessive, 170. Omission of Preposition, 179. Omit “Of,” 169. Omit “To,” 167. Omitted Relatives—Pronouns, 141. On, Over, Upon, 104. One another, Each other, 46. One... they—Agreement with Antecedent, 134. One’s, His, 50. Only, 91. Only, Alone, 113. Only, Except, But, 157. Onto, Upon, 92. Opens up, 191. Opinion, Idea, 113. Oppose, antagonize, Alienate, 32. Or. Nor, As well as, But, Save, 201. Or, Nor— Pronouns, 135. Other, 49. Other... besides, 49. Other than, 159. Other than, Otherwise than, 48. Otherwise than, Otherwise but, 159. Ottomans, Mussulmans, 145. Ought, Should, Would, 102. Oughtn’t, Mustn’t, Mayn’t, Mightn’t, 122. Outstart, 92. Over and Above, More than, 92. Over, More than, 155. Over, On, Upon, 104. Over with, 110. Overflown, Overflowed, 110. Overlook, Oversee, 95. Overshoes, Gums, 56. Overworked Expressions, 13. Owing, Due, 71. Oxide of Manganese, Black, 36.

Pair, Couple, Brace, 147. Pants, Gent’s, 79. Pappy, the Old Man, 97. Parenthetical Expressions—Pronouns, 133. Part, Portion, 30. Partake, Ate, 105. Participles, 169, After Verbs, 171. Awkward Construction, 172. Clearness, 172. “Is building,” 173. “Of” redundant, 169. Omit the Possessive, 170. Place of, 171. Party, Person, 93. Patron, Customer, 93. Peas, Pease, 149. Pell-mell, 155. Pennies, Pence, 149. Per, 93. Peradventure, Perchance, 93. Performers, 93. Period, Point, 94. Perpetually, Continually, 52. Person, Party, 93. Perspire, Sweat, 86. Persuade, Advise, 52. Peruse, 78. Pet Words, 12. Phenomena, Data, Effluvia, 144, 204. Place of Participles, 171. Plead, Pleaded, 94. Plenty, Plentiful, 95. Plural Compounds, 147. Plural Nouns, 125. Pocket-handkerchief, 188. Poet, Poetess, 73. Poetic Terms, 9. Poetical Construction, 201. Point, Period, 94. Politics, Acoustics, Ethics, 143. Portion, Part, 30. Position of Correlatives, 164. Position of Preposition, 178. Possessive Case, 124. After of, 127. Double possessives, 126. Nouns, Singular, 125. ” Plural, 125. ” in apposition, 126. Pronouns, 126. Somebody else’s, 127. Postal, 31. Posted, Informed, 86. Powerful sight, 105. Practical, Practicable, 31. Preceding, Above, More than, 111. Predicate, 31. Prefer than, 31. Preferred before, to, 176. Prejudice, 33. Prepositions, 174. All of, 180. At, To, 176. Between, Among, 175. By, In, 175. Choice, 175. Differ with, from, 175. Different from, to, than, 176. From hence, 180. In, Into, 176. In, On, 177. In respect of, to, 176. Needless prepositions, 180. Of, In, 177. Of, From, 176. Omission of prepositions, 179. Position, 178. Preferred before, to, 176. To, With, 177. Up above, 180. With, By, 177. With, Of, 176. With, To, 178. Present, Introduce, 105. Presume, Think, Believe, 33. Pretend, Profess, 33. Pretty, Very, 116. Preventative, Preventive, 33. Previous, Previously, 33. Profess, Pretend, 33. Promise, Assure, 34. Pronouns, 129. Adverbs for Relative Pronouns, 140. After _than_ and as, 132. ” the Imperative, 132. ” To be, 131. ” Verbs and Prepositions, 130. Agreement with Antecedent, 133. Ambiguity, 135. Case Forms, 129. Choice of Relatives, 138. Collective Nouns, 135. Interrogatives, 130. Misplaced Relatives, 141. Mixed, 136. Needless, 136. Omitted Relatives, 141. Or, Nor, 135. Parenthetical expressions, 133. Silent Predicate, 132. The one, the other, 141. Uniform Relatives, 137. _ Which_ and who after and, 140. Pronouns—Possessive Case, 126. Pronouns—Personal and Relative, 129. Proper Names—Plurals, 146. Propose, Purpose, 34. Proposal, Proposition, 37. Propose, Contemplate, 75. Prospectus, Terminus, Apparatus, 148. Proved, Proven, 38. Providing, Provided, 37. Provincialisms, 24. Pupil, Scholar, 107. Purity of Diction, 19. Purpose, Propose, 34.

Quail, Grouse, Woodcock, 149. Quantity, Number, 38. Quite, Very, Rather, 153. Quite a few, 38. Quit, Leave, 83.

Raise, Grow, Rear, 113. Rarely, Rare, 42. Rather than, Other than, 159. Real, Really, 42. Real good, 155. Rear, Raise, Grow, 113. Reason, Because, 156. Receipt, Recipe, 42. Reckon, Guess, Calculate, Allow, 56. Recollect of, 187. Redundancy, 185. Redundant Article, 183. Redundant Negatives, 195. Refer to, Allude to, 77. Region, Neighborhood, 42. Relieve, Alleviate, 37. Remainder, Balance, 60. Remit, Send, 43. Rent, Lease, Let, Hire, 88. Repair, Fix, Mend, 62. Reply, Answer, 32. Reputation, Character, 44. Requisite, Requisition, Requirement, 106. Resemble, Favor, 59. Residence, House, 43. Restaurant French, 10. Revolting, 96. Reverend, 182. Riches, Alms, Odds, 145. Ride, Drive, 76. Right, Right here, Just here, 99. Right smart, 73. Rise up, 192. Round, Square, 63.

Said, Allowed, 87. Same as, Same that, 105. Save, But, Or, Nor, As well as, 201. Say, Observe, 90. Says, States, 63. Scholar, Pupil, 107. Section, Region, 106. Seeming Paradox, 191. Seldom or ever, 106. Send, Remit, 43. Seraphim, Cherubim, 142. Set, Sit, 80. Settle up, down, 188. Several, Couple, 76. Sewage, Sewerage, 106. Shall, Will, Should, Would, 100. Shall you? Will you? 102. She’s, He’s, It’s, 123. Should, Would, Ought, 102. Should, Would, Shall, Will, 100. Shouldn’t and Wouldn’t, 122. Sick, Ill, 107. Sight, Many, 74. Silent Predicate—Pronouns, 132. Single, The first, 79. Singular Nouns, 125. Singular in Meaning, 201. Sink down, 192. Sit, Set, 80. Slang, 22. Slang, Commercial, Common, and Society, 23. Smart, Clever, 85. Smell of, 192. Smells sweetly—Adjective or Adverb? 151. Sociable, Social, 106. Society Slang, 23. So... as, 163. So far, That far, 154. So nice, 155. So, Such, 152. Solos, Heroes, Octavos, 145. Some better, 98. Some means or another, 48. Somebody else’s, 127. Somewheres, Anyways, Thereabouts, 78. Sparrowgrass, Asparagus, 34. Specialty, Speciality, 106. Square, Round, 63. Stand a chance, 110. States, Says, 63. Station, Depot, 43. Stay, Stop, 63. Stilts, 18. Stop, Stay, 63. Strata, Data, 144. Subject after the verb, 199. Subsequent, Future, 79. Subtile, Subtle, 63. Such as you and _me— _After than and as, 133. Such, So, 152. Summerish, Winterish, 99. Summons, 64. Supply “To,” 166. Support, Back up, 82. Sweat, Perspire, 86.

Tableaux, Beaus, Plateaus, 147. Tactics, Acoustics, 143. Taint, Haint, 121. Take, Adopt, 37. Talented, 103. Taste, 7. Tasty, Tasteful, 64. Team, 64. Teach, Learn, 88. Terminus, Radius, Focus, 143. Than, 48. _Than_ ambiguous, 158. Thanks, I thank you, 115. That, As, 70. That, But, 157. That far, Thus far, 154. That, Lest, 159. That omitted, 158. That, that, 157. The father he died—Needless pronouns, 136. The first, Single, 79. The Honorable, the Reverend, 182. The Infinitive, 166. The Miss Browns—Titles, 146. The Old Man, 97. The one, the other—Pronouns, 141. Them books, 137. Thereabouts, Somewheres, Any ways, 78. These kind, Those kind, 47. These sort, Those kind, 64. These, Those, 62. They’re, We’re, You’re, 123. Think for, 192. Thirsty, Dry, 75. This much, 154. This twenty years, These kind, 47. Those kind, These sort, 64. Through, Finished, Complete, 39, 99. Throw, Fire, 78. Titles of Books, 204. Titles—The Reverend, the Honorable, 182. Titles with Proper Names, 146. To always find—The Infinitive, 166. To, With, 177, 178. To, At, 176. Transpire, Happen, 65. Trite Expressions, 12. Truth, Veracity, 67. Try and, Try to, 117. Try the experiment, 67. Two foot, These kind, 48. Two Negatives, 194.

Ugly, 67. Unbeknown, 68. Underhanded, 68. Under the weather, Ill, 115. Unexampled, 96. Uniform Relatives—Pronouns, 137. Unless, Without, 41. Up above, 180. Upon, On, Over, 104. Utter, Express, 96.

Vacate, Evacuate, 75. Valuable, Valued, 97. Values, Weights, Measures, 203. Veracity, Truth, 67. Very, Most, Almost, 30. Very much of, 153. Very pleased, 97. Very, Pretty, 116. Very Vulgar Vulgarisms, 13. Vicinity, Neighborhood, 97. Vulgarisms, 13.

Want, Need, 40. Wasn’t, 122. Way, Away, 41. Ways, way, 41. Weights, Measures, and Values, 203. Well, Good, 153. Weren’t, 122. We’re, They’re, You’re, 123. Wharf, Dock, 52. Wharf, Wharves, 149. What for _that,_ 137. What? Which? Hey? 25. Whereabouts, 204. _Where_ for _in which—_Adverbs for Relative Pronouns, 140. Whether, If, 58. Whether... Whether, 160. Which? 25. Which? Beg pardon, 25. Which for _who,_ 137. Which? What? 25. Which and _who_ after _and—_Pronouns, 140. Who should I see—Interrogatives, 131. Whole, All, 41, 51. Wholesome, Healthy, 52. _Whom_ do you think he is—Interrogatives, 131. Why, 187. Widow woman, 186. Will, Could, Can, 115. Will, Shall, Should, Would, 100. Will you? Shall you? 102. Winterish, Summerish, 99. Wish, Hope, 99. With, By, 177. With, Of, 176. With, To, 177, 178. Without, Unless, 41. Woman, Female, 73. Words, Anglicized, 20. Words Improperly Used, 26. Words, New, 21. Words, Obsolete. 20. Words to be avoided, 18. Worse, More, 42. Would better, Had better, 57. Would Should, Ought, 102. Would, Should, Shall, Will, 100. Wouldn’t, Shouldn’t, 122.

You are _him—_Case Forms, 129. You’re, We’re, They’re, 123. You was, 204.

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ETIQUETTE

By Agnes H. Morton

There is no passport to good society like good manners. Even though a person possess wealth and intelligence, his success in life may be marred by ignorance of social customs. A perusal of this book will prevent such blunders. It is a book for everybody, for the select sets as well as for the less ambitious. The subject is presented in a bright and interesting manner, and represents the latest vogue.

LETTER WRITING

By Agnes H. Morton

Why do most persons dislike letter writing? Is it not because they cannot say the right thing in the right place? This admirable book not only shows by numerous examples just what kind of letters to write, but by directions and suggestions enables the reader to become an accomplished original letter writer. There are forms for all kinds of business and social letters, including invitations, acceptances, letters of sympathy, congratulations, and love letters.

QUOTATIONS

By Agnes H. Morton

A clever compilation of pithy quotations, selected from a great variety of sources, and alphabetically arranged according to the sentiment. In addition to all the popular quotations in current use, it contains many rare bits of prose and verse not generally found in similar collections. An important feature of the book is the characteristic lines from well known authors, in which the familiar sayings are credited to their original sources.

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It is a comparatively easy task to fill a book with a mass of uninteresting statistical matter. It is quite another thing to get together a vast accumulation of valuable material on all conceivable subjects. This book is thoroughly up to date, and embraces many subjects not usually found in works of this kind. It contains information for everybody, whether it pertains to health, household, business, affairs of state, foreign countries, or the planets, and all most conveniently indexed.

A DICTIONARY OF MYTHOLOGY

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The average person dislikes to look up a mythological subject because of the time occupied. This book remedies that difficulty because in it can be found at a glance just what is wanted. It is comprehensive, convenient, condensed, and the information is presented in such an interesting manner as when once read to be always remembered. A distinctive feature of the book is the pronunciation of the proper names, something found in few other works.

SLIPS OF SPEECH

By John H. Bechtel

Who does not make them? The best of us do. Why not avoid them? Any one inspired with the spirit of self-improvement can readily do so. No necessity for studying rules of grammar or rhetoric when this book can be had. It teaches both without the study of either. It is a counsellor, a critic, a companion, and a guide, and is written in a most entertaining and chatty style.

HANDBOOK OF PRONUNCIATION

By John H. Bechtel

What is more disagreeable than a faulty pronunciation? No other defect so clearly shows a lack of culture. This book contains over 5,000 words on which most of us are apt to trip. They are here pronounced in the clearest and simplest manner, and according to the best authority. It is more readily consulted than a dictionary, and is just as reliable.

PRACTICAL SYNONYMS

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Any one with the least desire to add to his vocabulary or to improve his choice of words should have a copy of this book. It is designed mainly to meet the wants of busy merchants or lawyers, thoughtful clergymen or teachers, and wide-awake school-boys or girls who are ambitious to express the thoughts of the mind in more fitting phrases than they are at present capable of doing.

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THE DEBATER’S TREASURY

By William Pittenger

There is no greater ability than the power of skillful and forcible debate, and no accomplishment more readily acquired if the person is properly directed. In this little volume are directions for organizing and conducting debating societies and practical suggestions for all who desire to discuss questions in public. There is also a list of over 200 questions for debate, with arguments both affirmative and negative.

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Few persons can punctuate properly; to avoid mistakes, many do not punctuate at all. A perusal of this book will remove all difficulties and make all points clear. The rules are clearly stated and freely illustrated, thus furnishing a most useful volume. The author is everywhere recognized as the leading authority upon the subject, and what he has to say is practical, concise, and comprehensive.

ORATORY

By Henry Ward Beecher

It must be conceded that few men ever enjoyed a wider experience or achieved a higher reputation in the realm of public oratory than Mr. Beecher. What he had to say on this subject was born of experience, and his own inimitable style was at once both statement and illustration of his theme. This volume is a unique and masterly treatise on the fundamental principles of true oratory.