Corpus of Modern Scottish Writing (CMSW) - www.scottishcorpus.ac.uk/cmsw/ Document : 155 Title: Scotticisms, Vulgar Anglicisms, and Grammatical Improprieties Corrected, With Reasons for the Corrections Author(s): Mitchell, Hugh SCOTTICISMS, VULGAR ANGLICISMS, AND GRAMMATICAL IMPROPRIETIES CORRECTED, WITH REASONS FOR THE CORRECTIONS being a COLLECTION upon a NEW PLAN Alphabetically arranged, and adapted to the uſe of Academies, Men of Buſineſs, and Private Families By HUGH MITCHELL, A. M. MASTER OF THE ENGLISH AND FRENCH ACADEMY. GLASGOW. GLASGOW: PRINTED BY FALCONER & WILLISON, FOR THE AUTHOR And ſold by the Bookſellers in Town and Country. 1799 TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS. Page 45. line 12. inſtead of if it means, read if it mean. Page 47. line 13. the firſt indeed ſhould be in Italics. Page 77. line 1. read ſparſe inſtead of ſparce. Page 85. line 4. from the bottom, leave out an before equivalent. PREFACE. THE education of youth, in Scotland, generally ends where it ought to begin. Boys are ſent to the Latin School not only before they are acquainted with the grammatical principles of their own language, but even before they can read it either with accuracy or eaſe. Having ſpent eight or ten years in ſtoring their memories with Latin and Greek words, and in getting a ſuperficial knowledge of the philoſophy which is taught in the Univerſities, they flatter themſelves that they have received a liberal education. Theſe learned ſtriplings, however, when they become capable of ſound reflection, readily diſcover, that the labour they have beſtowed is almoſt as unprofitable as it has been unpleaſant. Sequeſtered from the world for ſo great a length of time, and but little accuſtomed to its manners, habits and affairs, they have the mortification to find themſelves better qualified for the caverns of a wilderneſs than for the ſociety of men. They have learned a great deal, it is true, but they have ſtill to learn that which is moſt eſſential, and which, in reality, is the only ſolid foundation of every other branch of Literature ; and it will be fortunate, if, at laſt, they ſhall diſcover this important truth; That, to an Engliſhman, the Engliſh language is of more value than all the other languages in the world, dead or living, taken together. The reaſon is obvious. This alone is the language in which an Engliſhman thinks, and arranges his thoughts, and ſpeaks, and tranſacttts the affairs of life. No reflection is here intended againſt the uſefulneſs of a claſſical education; the reflection regards only the manner in which it is conducted. That the order of nature has been perverted, and that the dictates of common ſenſe have been violated by the practice which has long obtained, and continues to obtain, muſt be evident to every enlightened man. Let Parents and Teachers return to the path which has been ſo long abandoned. Let them return to nature. Let them liſten to her voice, and reſpect her counſels. Let a ſure baſis be laid for the ſuperſtructure intended to be raiſed upon it.Let boys be thoroughly initiated in the grammatical principles of their own tongue, and they will not only proſecute other ſtudies with more alacrity, pleaſure and eaſe; but they will make greater proficiency in two, than otherwiſe they can do in three years. If, to begin the grammar of the Engliſh and Latin, at the ſame time, be a taſk too hard for the generality of grown perſons, how much more ſevere muſt it be for boys whoſe application is often unſteady, and. whoſe underſtandings are immature? Juſtice and mercy are duties which parents owe their children. But where is the juſtice or the mercy in putting boys to learn two, things at once, each of which is ſufficicent to engroſs all their time and application? Where is the juſtice or the mercy in allowing them to be, almoſt everyday, threatened or whipped into an attempt of impoſſibilities? Early and deep-rooted antipathies are not ſoon nor eafily conquered; and it is a well known fact, that ſome, who have been thus treated, have contracted ſo ſtrong an averſion to Literature of every kind, that even the moſt complete conviction of its utility has never been able to ſubdue.* * Upon the ſubject before us, Biſhop Lowth, in the preface to his Engliſh Grammar, makes the following excellent observations. "Univerſal Grammar cannot "be taught abſtractedly: it muſt be done with reference "to ſome Language already known; in which the terms "are to be explained, and the rules exemplified. The "learner is ſuppofed to be unacquainted•with all, but his native tongue; and in what other, conſiſtently "with reafon and common ſenſe, can you go about to "explain it to him? When he has a competent know"ledge of the main principles of Grammar: in general, "exemplified in his own Language; he then will apA perſuaſion that ſomething might yet be done, to reconcile Parents and Teachers to that plan of education which reaſon has pointed out, has given birth to the following Compilation. In drawing it up, the "ply himſeif with great advantage to the ftudy of any "other. To enter at once upon the Science of Gram"mar, and the ſtudy of a foreign Language, is to en"counter two difficulties together, each of which would "be much leſſened by being taken ſeparately and in its "proper order. For theſe plain reaſons, a competent "grammatical knowledge of our own language is the "true foundation, upon which all Literature, properly "ſo called, ought to be raiſed. If this method were "adopted in our Schools; if children were firſt taught " the common principles of Grammar, by ſome ſhort "and clear Syſtem of Engiſh Grammar, which happily by its ſimplicity and facility is perhaps fitter than that "of any other language for ſuch a purpoſe; they would "have ſome notion of what they were going about, "when they ſhould enter into the Latin Grammar; would hardly,be engaged ſo many years, as they "now are, in that moſt irkſome and difficult part of "literature, with ſo much labour of the memory, and "with ſo little aſſiſtance of the underſtanding." Compiler has availed himſelf of every thing he could find, ſuited to his purpoſe, in productions of the ſame kind; although, upon peruſal, it will appear, that a very conſidenable, and, it is preſumed, not the leaſt uſeful proportion, both of examples and corrections, is entirely his own. In the department of Scotticiſms, he has judged it proper, for obvious reaſons, altogether to omit thoſe nurnberleſs uncouth Vulgariſms which are peculiar to the lower claſs of people in Scotland. He has confined himſelf to ſuch colloquial words and phraſes, as prevail among the middle claſs, and, into which, through inadvertence, even thoſe who have had a liberal education, are ſometimes apt to fall. This Collection was deſigned chiefly as a Supplement to the Engliſh Grammars which are taught in Scotland; and, therefore, to peruſe it with advantage, preſuppoſes a competent knowledge, at leaſt, of the principles of Grammar. Vulgar words and phraſes muſt be known to be ſo before they can be avoided; and the Compiler has long been of opinion, that a copious and well ſelected liſt of ſuch words and phraſes with their corrections,either prefixed or ſubjoined to Engliſh Grammars, would, in this country, be a great improvement. To thoſe Teachers who may chuſe to introduce this Collection into their Schools, he takes the liberty of recommending the following manner of uſing it. In the firſt courſe, boys might confine themfelves entirely to the Scotticiſms and Vulgar Angliciſms; and in the laſt, they might paſs over theſe, and confine themſelves entirely to the Grammatical Improprieties. This might be done once or twice every week, without interfering materially with their other ſtudies. It would be an agreeable and uſeful variety; and, under the conduct of ſkilful Teachers, boys might become tolerable proficients in the courſe of four and twenty or thirty leſſons. Thoſe whoſe leiſure permits and whoſe inclination leads them to cultivate this branch of Literature, will, no doubt, diſcover ſeveral miſtakes and inaccuracies, which, though obvious to them, may yet have eſcaped the Compiler's obſervation. The friendly communications of ſuch men, refpecting either the plan or the execution of the following little work, will be thankfully received and carefully attended to. DIRECTIONS Neceſſary to be obſerved in peruſing the following Compilation. The faulty word or phrafe comes firſt in each paragraph, is printed in Italic characters, and cloſes with a full ſtop. The correction immediately follows, and is diſtinguiſhed from the faulty word or phraſe, by a daſh before and another after it. In ſome inſtances, it was found neceſſary to depart from this rule, but a ſlight peruſal will prevent the Reader from falling into any miſtakes. In thoſe examples, where the Reaſons for the Corrections are obvious, or not difficult, the Reaſons have been omitted. The Abbreviations are as follow. Sc. means Scotticiſm. Sc. L. Term or phraſe in Scotch Law. Vulg. Eng. Vulgar Engliſh or Angliciſm. Gall. Galliciſm or French idiom. Thoſe phrafes, which are not diſtinguiſhed by abbreviations, are, for the moſt part, Grammatical Improprieties. SCOTTICISMS, VULGAR ANGLICISMS, &c. A. IT is abſolutely impoſſible — It is impoſſible. — Abſolutely is redundant.Abſolutely means completely. Impoſſibilities admit not of degrees. All impoſſibilities are equally abſolute. "It is almoſt impoiſſible," is, for the ſame reaſons, an exceptionable phraſe. See, merely, ſimply, utterly.' What ails him? Sc. — What is the matter with him? — What ails him at it? Sc. — What are his objections to it? — He has been ailing for ſome time; Vulg. Eng. — Sickly; in bad health. — It is ten years ago ſince he died. This ſeems to be a Galliciſm. "Il-y-a dix ans qu'il èſt mort." It ought to be — It is ten years ſince he died, or, he died ten years ago. — I aſked at him; Sc. — I aſked of him; I aſked him — At never means of. The prepoſition amongst ſeems, even by correct writers, to be uſed indiſcriminately before a vowel or a conſonant. A good ear, however, is hurt with amongst before a conſonant, or double initial conſonants; nor is the pronunciation leſs painful to the organs of ſpeech, than diſguſtful to the ear. This can eaſily be remedied by uſing amongst before words beginning with a vowel, or h mute; and among, before words beginning with a conſonant; as, amongst us; amongst honourable men; among brethren. The ſame remarks are applicable to while, whilſt; amid, amidſt. I allege it is ſo; Sc. — I ſuppoſe; I conjecture. — To allege, in Engliſh, is to affirm, to declare, or to plead an excuſe. Aid-de-camps ; Sc. — Aids-de-camp. — See Conſin-germans. He transferred the eſtate to him allenarly; Sc. — The eſtate ſolely to him. It cannot be wondered at, that &c. A harſh combination. It ought to be — It is no wonder that; or, we need not wonder that, &c. — Anent this matter; Sc. — In regard to, with regard to, concerning. — I have paid the taylor's account; Sc. — Bill. — Account for Bill, is ſometimes uſed by Shakeſpeare; but account, in this ſenſe, is now become obſolete. As, in the following, and in ſimilar ſentences, is improperly uſed inſtead of that, in which. "There was ſomething ſo amiable, and yet "ſo piercing in his looks as it inſpired one at "once with love and terror."—That it inſpired.— "In the order, as they lie in the preface." — In the order, in which.— Almoſt nothing. — Very little; little or nothing. — Almoſt never. — Very ſeldom, ſeldom or never. — Annual rent; Sc:. — Intereſt, annual intereft. — It is more common to ſay, the rent of land; the intereſt of money. He came again him; Iriſh and vulg. Eng. — Againſt. — The man who has no rule over his own ſpirit poſſeſſes no antidote againſt poiſons of any ſort. He lies open to every inſurrection of ill-humour, and every gale of diſtreſs. Whereas he who is employed in regulating his mind, is making proviſion againſt all the accidents of life. He is erecting a fortreſs into which, in the day of ſorrow, he can retreat with ſatisfaction. — The man who has no rule over his own ſpirit, poſſeſſes defence againſt dangers of any ſort. He lies open to every infurrection of ill-humour, and every invaſion of diſtreſs. Whereas he who is employed in regulating his mind, is making proviſion againft all the accidents of life. He is erecting a fortreſs into which, in the day of danger, he can retreat with ſafety. — In the former, though the imagery is rich, yet the figures are diftorted. It is a rule, in figurative language, that the parts ſhould exactly correſpond to one another. I have nothing ado;; Sc. — To do. — Ado is a noun, and ſignifies buſineſs, buſtle, difficulty. "Much ado about nothing," is Engliſh: but we cannot ſay, "I have nothing buſineſs, I have no"thing buſtle." To appreciate. — To appraiſe. — Some Scotch people pronounce the latter, as if it were written apprize. He ſtuck among the ſnow, among the clay. — In the ſnow, in the clay. — Among, in good Engliſh, relates to that which may be numbered. Arles; Sc. — Earneſt. — Money given in token that a bargain is ratified. I loſt altogether, in money and jewels, about four thouſand pounds. — In all. — Altogether means completely, without limitation or exception. To adduce evidence; Sc. L. — To bring, to produce evidence, — He was raiſed to the dignity of a Baronet. — The dignity of Baronet. — Unbecoming the dignity of a Baronet, is Engliſh. He is a better ſoldier than a Scholar. — Than ſcholar. — Agreeable to order; conformable to your requeſt, I have ſent you &c. — Agreeably; conformably*. — The uſing of the adjective inſlead of the adverb is a very common error. No body ſays, "He acted prudent. He ſpoke wiſe:" and -yet each of theſe is as good as, "Agreeable to order; conformable to your requeſt, I have ſent you" &c. All his friends and acquaintances. — Acquaintance. — At leaſt, few good writers, now, uſe the plural termination. An hoſt, an houſe, an huſband, an hundred, an herald — A hoſt, a houſe, &c. — Where initial h ought to be pronounced, it is improper to write an inſtead of a. Yet this impropriety often occurs in the Spectator, and ſometimes in later productions of genius and taſte. For the ſame reaſon, the following and ſimilar aſſociations are incorrect: "A child of an year old. * Adverbs ending with ly are generally formed from adjectives. They ſhow how, that is, in what manner, a perſon or thing is, acts or ſuffers: Hence, they have been called adverbs of quality. An youth of brilliant talents." It ſhould be, — A child of a year old. A youth &c. — In the following, and in ſentences of ſimilar conſtruction, the article is too far ſeparated from the noun to which it belongs. "I never rode ſo ill a going horſe. The buſineſs was of a quite contrary nature." Both vulg. Eng. Better thus. — I never rode ſo ill going a horſe. The buſineſs was of quite a contrary nature. — Half an hour after ten ; Sc. — Half an hour paſt ten, half paſt ten. — Yet Gibbons, in his Letters, frequently uſes after inſtead of paſt. Averſe to, averſe from; are now deemed equally good: though the latter phraſe is certainly more analogous to the Latin word whence averſe is derived. The attempt, however laudable, was found to be impracticable. — The buſineſs, however laudable the attempt, was found to be impracticable. — One may attempt what is not practicable. We began at here, and they left off at there. — Scotch and Iriſh. — We began here, and left off there. — See here. 120 yds. a 4s. pr. yard. — 120 yards at 4s. a yard. — Words of one ſyllable cannot be abbreviated, becauſe they cannot be divided: and yard, at, and per are monoſyllables. A man muſt be much hurried, indeed, when he is obliged to begin his letter with "Dr. Sr." inſtead of, "Dear Sir," and to conclude it with, I am your mo: obedient, humble ſervant," inflead of, "I am your moſt obedient," &c. The Latin prepoſition per, ſhould be diſmiſſed as an impertinent intruder, and a put in its place. — See ultimo. B. I, thou, he, ſhe, we, they behoved to depart. — It behoved me, thee, him, her, us, them to depart. — To behove is always monoperſonal, and muſt have it before it. The verb is now uſed chiefly in the ſolemn ſtyle. In familiar diſcourſe, and in epiſtolary writing, its place may be ſupplied by was obliged. "I was obliged, thou waſt. obliged," &c. I would die before I would break my word; Sc. — Rather than break. — Man and Beaſt ſometimes comprehend the whole animal creation. "That there may be food for "Man and Beaſt." Upon occaſions, Beaſt denotes an animal diſtinguiſhed from Man, fiſhes, inſects and birds. In Scotland, Beaſt is frequently applied to birds, inſects and fiſhes; as, "The cock is a noiſy beaſt; the ſpider is a "loathſome beaſt; the shark is a terrible beaſt." — Better; Animal, or creature, inſtead of beaſt, in theſe, and in ſimilar phraſes. Give me a bit bread, a bit paper; Sc .— A bit of bread, a bit of paper. — The beſt of the two; nonſenſe. In comparing only two objects, the comparative degree ought to be uſed; in comparing three or more, the ſuperlative: as, "The better of the two, the beſt "of the three, the beſt of the four," &c. And now, O Lord God, thy words be true. — Are true. — Be, in the indicative, is now become obſolete. He was invited to Mr. G.'s burial; Sc. — Funeral. — The former means the act of burying; the latter, the pomp or proceſſion with which the dead are carried. I have been badly for ſome time; Sc. — In bad health, ill, ſickly. — This was done very bad; Vulg. Eng. — Badly.; — See agreeable. There is mutton on the by-table; Sc — Sideboard. — Three months by-gone; Sc. — Three months paſt. — Butter and bread; cheeſe and bread;; Sc. — Bread and butter; bread and cheeſe. — Bread often means ſubſiſtence in general; and therefore in theſe, and in all ſimilar phraſes, bread has the precedency. "Put me, I pray thee, into one of "the prieſts' offices, that I may eat a piece of "bread;" that is, "That I may live comfort"ably." If, inftead of a piece of bread, he had aſked a bottle of milk, or a comb of honey, the petitioner would have been laughed at, or his petition miſunderſtood. He bid me go there; Vulg. Eng. — He bade me go thither. — The preſent, inſtead of the paſt time, is an impropriety which we frequently meet with in the Spectator. Parnell, in his Hermit, has fallen into it, no fewer than three times! Nature, in ſilence, bid the world repoſe. A ready warning bid them part in peace. He ſpoke; and bid the welcome table ſpread. — Bade inſtead of bid in each of theſe lines. — But, in the following, and the like phrafes, is improperly uſed inftead of that, than. "'Tis ten to one but it will happen." — That it will happen. — "The full moon was no ſooner up, and ſhin"ing in all its brightneſs, but he opened the gates "of paradiſe." — Than he opened. — "The reaſon of my going to live in the coun"try is, becauſe I have had bad health." — The reaſon of my going to the country is that I have had bad health; or, my having had bad health. — The clock, the watch, is behind, before ; Sc. — Slow, faſt. — The prepoſitions below and under are not ſtrictly ſynonymous. Below means lower in place, inferior in excellence, unworthy of. — Under has ſeveral meanings; one of which is beneath, ſo as to be covered or hidden. ""He found the caſket "below the bed. He hid his gold below the "ground;" are therefore improper phraſes. Better — Under the bed; under ground. He arrived behind the time. — Too late, after the time. — Behind generally relates to place. Between and among cannot be uſed indiſcriminately. Between, ought to be uſed when only two perſons or things are ſpoken of; among, when we ſpeak of more than two; as,"The money"was divided between two, and the jewels among "three." The better ſort; the better ſort of people;* a groſs abuſe of language. Phraſes, in their uſual acceptation, moſt degrading to human nature, and current only where man never knew his rights, or never aſſerted them. The better ſort, when we ſpeak of rational creatures, implies a compariſon in regard only to public utility and moral excellence; and therefore is not neceſſarily connected with a laced coat and five thouſand pounds * It were eaſy to convince any one who is willing to make ufe of his reaſ-on, that, in the Engliſh tongue, there are, at leaſt, five hundred words and phraſes which can have no claim to a place in the language of man. a-year. Phraſes, ſimilar to the above-mentioned, have, probably, found their way into every language. It is not preſumed to ſuggeſt any other correction than that of Pope: "WORTH makes the MAN, and want of it, the fellow." It is bleeding; Sc. — It bleeds. — He has been blooded. — Bled. — Broil it on the brander; Sc. — Gridiron. — For thy ſake, I have born reproach. — Borne.— Born and borne, are, by force, uſed indiſcriminately: yet they differ as well in meaning, as in pronunciation. Born, without e, is proper in "She has born a child." Borne, with e, in "He has borne the burden and heat of the day." The o in born takes the ſound of o in God; in borne, it founds like o in ſole. C. To play cards . — To play at cards. — In this phraſe, and in ſimilar ones, to play is not an active verb. No body ſays, "to play tennis, bowls, dice." To caſt up a fault to one; Sc. — To upbraid one with a fault. — To caſt out with a perſon; Sc. — To quarrel with, to be at variance with. — To fall out with a perfon, is Engliſh, but it is far from being elegant. I ſhall not ſee him for a twelve month to come. — I ſhall not ſee him for a twelve month. — The verb ſee, being in the future, makes to come ſuperfluous. — See paſt A pound, a ſtone, of candle; Sc. — Candles. — He made me the compliment of a ſilver ſnuffbox; Sc. — The preſent. — A compliment is the act or expreſſion of civility; a preſent is a gift. At length Eraſmus, that great injur'd name, (The glory of the prieſthood, and the ſhame,) Curb'd the wild torrent of a barb'rous age, And drove thoſe holy Vandals off the ſtage. — Stemm'd the wild torrent. — We ſtem the torrent, and curb the ſteed. — See antidote. "I cannot walk no further; I cannot eat no more," are phraſes very common among the lower claſs of people in Scotland. The firſt is the ſame as, "I can walk ſome further" the laſt, the ſame as, "I can eat ſome more." In the Engliſh language, two negatives make an affirmative. I would not do it on, or for, any conſideration. — I would not do it on any account. — Hooker ſometimes uſes conſideration for account; but, in this ſenſe, it ſeems now to have become obſolete. The Synod being conſtiute; Sc. and Vulg. Eng. — Conſtituted. — Was, being, been, have, having and had, ought generally to be followed by the paft participle; not by the paſt of the indicative. This rule has, in very many inſtances, been tranſgreſſed even by good writers.* To codeſcend upon the principal facts; Sc. L. — To ſpecify, to ſtate. — * I have choſe; Locke. — Choſen. — He would have ſpoke; Milton. — Spoken. — The ſun has roſe; Swift. — Riſen. Mr Miſſon has wrote; Addiſon. — Written. — Have ſprang; Atterbury. — Sprung.— Have ran; Pope. — Run. — Have aroſe; Dryden.— Ariſen. — Has been ſhook; Bolingbroke. — Shaken. — Has befell; Gay. — Befallen. — Have took; Shakeſpeare. — Taken. — No body ſays, "To be bite; I have draw; thou hadſt ſaw; he had been. "ſlew; they had gave:" yet each of theſe is as good as any of the phraſes abovementioned. He and I are couiſin-germans; Sc. — Couſins-german. — We ſhould likewiſe ſay, courts martial, not court martials. In theſe phraſes, German and Martial are adjectives; and therefore have no plural termination. To crave a man for a debt; Sc. — To dun a man, to demand payment of him — To crave a debt, to crave payment, is Engliſh. The work was execute conform to the plan; Sc. — Was executed conformably. — See conſtitute, agreeable. Cut out your hair and get a wig. — Cut off your hair. — The cutting out of one's hair ſuggeſts a moſt painful operation; nor could it be effectually done without the aid of a ſcalping knife. He is cripple; Sc. — Lame. — Cripple is ſometimes a noun, but never an adjective. To cognoſce a cauſe; Sc. L. — To take cognizance of. — I cauſed him to do it; Sc. — I made him do it. — Chimney, in England, is the fire place, or the paſſage for the ſmoke; but never means, as in Scotland, the grate or frame that holds the fire. To compete; Sc. — To contend, to be a competitor. — Competition is Engliſh. Cautioner; Sc. — Caution. — Surety. — Bail. — Corn the horſes; Sc. — Feed. — To corn, is to ſprinkle with ſalt. Complainer; Sc. L. — Complainant, Plaintiff. — A complainant is one who begins a law-ſuit. A complainer, in Engliſh, is a murmurer, one not ſatisfied with his condition. Give me a clean plate. — Give me a plate. — The former implies the apprehenſion, that a plate may be brought to table which is not clean. In Scotland, the phraſe is very common. The French ſay, "Donnez nous dès aſſièttes blanches." A coarſe day; coarſe, weather; Sc. — Bad. — Yet we may ſay, "A fine day," and "fine weather." — See note under pretty. Cloſe the door; Sc. — Shut. — Cloſe the gate, is proper; becauſe gate means a two leaved or double door. Was you crying on me? — Were you calling on me? — In the former, was you, is Scotch and vulgar Engliſh; and crying, a Scotticiſm. In this our day of proof, our land of hope, The good man has his clouds that intervene; Clouds that may dim his ſublunary day, But cannot conquer. — Darken. — "Clouds conquering a ſublunary day," is evidently a diſtorted figure. — See antidote. D. To depone, (to make oath.) Sc. L. — To depoſe. — The deponent is Englifh. Some Scotch lawyers pronounce deponent as if it were accented on the firſt ſyllable. The defender ; Sc. L. — The defendant. — Diſpoſition; Sc. L. — Conveyance. — The King has been pleaſed to confer on them the title of Dukes. — The title of Duke. — When a man does not hear well, the Scotch think it genteel to call him dull rather than deaf. But dull means ſtupid. Yet "dull of hearing" is Engliſh. He diſcharged me from entering his houſe; Sc. — He forbade me to enter his houſe. — He is diſcreet to every body; Sc. — Civil. — Diſcreet, means prudent; and diſcretion, prudence. To draw the table; Sc. — To take away, to clear the table. — Debitor; Sc. — Debtor. — Debit me with it. — Put it to my account. — To demit an office; Sc. — To reſign. — Demiſſion. — Reſignation. — To demit, in Engliſh, is to depreſs; demiſſion is degradation. The enemy was defeat; Sc. and Vulg. Eng. — Defeated. — See conſtitute. Direct to me at Mr. Williamſon's, merchant, Edinburgh. — Addreſs. — After deducing the ſum paid; Sc. — After deducting, or, after having deducted. — To deburſe money; Sc. — To diſburſe. — Deburſement. — Diſburſement. — Give me a drink of beer; Sc. — Give me a draught of beer. — Drink, when uſed as a noun, means "liquor of any particular kind;" as, wine, rum, gin, &c. Draught means "the act of drinking," or, a quantity of liquor drunk at "once." Draught inſtead of drink, ſhould be uſed in the above faulty phraſe and in all ſimilar ones; as, "a draught of beer, a draught of wine," &c. He dare not do it; Sc. and Vulg. Eng. — He dares not do it. — A title, given to a man beſides his name and ſurname, ſhewing his eſtate, degree, occupation and place of reſidence, is, in Scotland, called his deſignation; in England, his addition. "His name "is Mr. Grant; his addition, merchant in Liver"pool." Deſuetude ; Sc. L. — Diſuſe. — To decern; Sc. L. — To decree. — Decreet. — Decree, deciſion. — Decreet, like deponent, is, by many Scotch people, pronounced as if the accent were on the firſt ſyllable. An oaken deal; Sc. — A plank. — Deals are made of fir, not of oak. Doer; Sc. L. — Agent. — But doer, in this ſenſe, is likely ſoon to go into diſuſe. Sheriff-depute; Sc. — Deputy-Sheriff. — Galileo diſcovered the teleſcope; Hervey invented the circulation of the blood. — Galileo invented the teleſcope; Hervey diſcovered &c. — Their intereſts were dependent upon, and inſeparably connected with, each other. — Their intereſts were inſeparably connected with each other. — If the intereſts of more than two perſons be meant, one another would be better than each other. He ſlipped a foot, and fell down. — His foot ſlipped, and he fell. — To fall down, ſeems to be as bad as to aſcend up. Yet both are ſometimes uſed by good writers. E. As the diſtributive pronominal adjectives each, either, every one, muſt agree with their verbs and nouns in the ſingular number only, the following, and the like ſentences, are faulty. "Each of theſe experiments have ſomething "peculiar in them." — Each of theſe experiments has ſomething peculiar in it.— "It is requiſite, that the language of an heroic "poem ſhould be both perſpicuous and ſublime. "In proportion as either of theſe two qualities are "wanting, the language is imperfect." — In proportion as either of theſe two qualities is wanting — Inſtead of an heroic &c. it ſhould be a heroic. See an. "It is obſervabie that every one of the letters "bear date after his baniſhment, and contain a "complete narrative of all his ſtory afterwards." — Bears — contains.— Every is fometimes improperly uſed inſtead of each. "We ſhould ſee the ſame concatenation "and ſubſerviency, the ſame neceſſity and uſeful"neſs, the ſame beauty and harmony in all and "every of its parts, as what we diſcover in the "body of every ſingle animal." — In all and each of its parts. — Each other and one another ought not to be uſed indiſcriminately. The former, ſhould be uſed only when we fpeak of two perſons or things; the latter, when we ſpeak of more than two. If this diſtinction be juſt, the following, and ſimilar ſentences are improper. "James and John are "perpetually quarreling with one another." "It "is the duty of Chriſtians to love each other'' "The ſeveral members muſt be ſo agreeably unit"ed, as mutually to reflect beauty upon each "other." — See between, among. Enough and enow are not ſynonvmous. Enough relates to quantity, which is ſingular, and enow, to number, which is plural. "I think," ſays Addiſon, "there are at Rome enow modern works of "architecture." This diſtinction, though proper, is not generally attended to. Thoſe of the clergy, whoſe income is leſs than a hundred pounds a year, have been exeemed from the hair-powder tax; Sc. — Exempted. To except to, to except againſt, ſeem now to be equally good. To extinguiſh a debt; Sc. — To pay it off gradually. — To extinguiſh a bond. — To cancel. — It cannot be evited; Sc. — Avoided, ſhunned. — She eat little yeſterday, and has eat nothing today; Vulg. Eng. — She ate little yeſterday, and has eaten nothing to-day. — The former is as bad as, "She drinks little yeſterday, and has drink "nothing to-day." In no event. — In no caſe.— It is equally the ſame; Sc. and Vulg. Eng.— It is the ſame, it is all one.— Either, in the following, and the like expreſſions, is improperly uſed instead of each, both. "The King of Iſrael, and Jehoſhaphat, ſat either of them on his throne." — Each of them. — "On either ſide of the throne." — On each ſide, on both ſides.— Experimental eſſays. — Tracts. — The former ſeems to be the ſame as, "Experimental experiments." To engroſs in the minutes. — To enroll in the record. — To engroſs, in Engliſh, is to copy in a large hand; and a minute is the firſt draught of any agreement between parties. The wheels of the ſpiritual engine have exerted themſelves with perpetual motion. — Have perpetually revolved; or, have circulated with perpetual motion. — See antidote. His extraordinary beauty was ſuch that it ſtruck obſervers with admiration. — His beauty was ſuch, or, ſuch was his beauty, that it ſtruck &c. — Extraordinary is ſuperfluous. F. Forenoon and afternoon are nouns. Each of them is compounded of a noun and prepoſition. Forenoon is evidently the contraction of before noon. To ſay, "I ſhall ſee you in the before noon," ſounds oddly; yet, were we not accuſtomed to it, "I ſhall ſee you in the "afternoon," would appear not leſs ſo. Did not cuſtom conſecrate improprieties, perhaps, "I ſhall "ſee you before noon," inſtead of "in the forenoon;" "I ſhall ſee you after-noon," inſtead of, "In the after-noon," would be an amendment. The foreſman of the work; Sc. — Foreman, overſeer. — To accuſe one for a crime; Sc. — Of a crime. — The horſe has fell; Vulg. Eng. — Has fallen. — See conſtitute. He wrote a letter in my favours. — Favour. — But, "I received your favours (letters) of the "firſt and third current," is Engliſh. He is flitted to George's Square; Sc. — He has moved, or, has removed. — To flit, ſeems properly applicable to the migration of birds. Freſh weather; Sc. — Soft, open weather. — For ordinary; Sc. — Ordinarily, uſually, commonly. — Fleſher; Sc. — Butcher. — I found him not at home; found him from home. Ambiguous expreſſions. Though my meaning is, that he was not at home when I ſought him, or, that I found him not at all; yet the expreſſions may imply, that I found him ſome where, but not at home. They ought to be — I did not find him at home; he was from home; or, he was not at home. — A faint; Sc. — A ſwoon, a fainting fit. — Faint is never a noun. The enemy fly. — Flee.* — No body ſays, "The "enemy flew; the enemy have flown;" yet either of theſe is as good as "The enemy fly;" becauſe flew and flown, are the preterit and paſt participle of "to fly." To fly ſeems applicable only to animals that have wings, except when the verb is uſed in a figure; as, "He flies," or, "flew into "a paſſion." If the foregoing remarks be juſt, the following, and ſimilar ſentences, are faulty: "They ſhall flee as the eagle that haſteth to "eat." — Fly. — "Now haunts the cliff, now traverſes the lawn, "And flies the hated neighbourhood of Man." — Flees. — * In the opinion of Doctor Lowth, to flee, is the ſame as the Latin fugere; and to fly, the ſame as volare.: He fevered; he took a fever. — He had a fever, he was taken, or ſeized, with a fever. — In Scotland, friend and relation are often uſed indiſcriminately. But one may be my friend who is not my relation, and my relation who is not my friend. A relation is a kinſman or kinſwoman. A friend is one who has done me good, or wiſhes to do it. The altar ſhall be four ſquare — The altar ſhall be ſquare. — Four is redundant. Every ſqare is a four-ſided figure. He ſits at the foot of the table; Sc. — Lower end. — See head. I find no pain; Sc. — I feel no pain.— I feel a ſweet ſmell — I ſmell a ſweet, or, an agreeable ſmell. — To feel a ſmell ſeems to be as bad as to ſee a ſound: yet St. John in Rev. i. 12. ſays, "I turned to ſee the voice that ſpake with me." St. John loves figurative language; and perhaps ſome critics may here diſcover a bold perſonification. To call for a perſon. — On. — To call for, is to demand; to call on, is to viſit. He will be the better for a ſleep. — Of a ſleep. — The former ſeems to be preferable to the latter. For, ſometimes means in conſequence of; by means of. He is Lord M.'s factor; Sc. — He is Lord M.'s ſteward. — A factor is an agent in mercantile affairs. To follow out a plan; Sc. — To carry on, to execute a plan. — It is froſt; Sc. — It freezes. — The froſt is ſlippery; Sc. — The ice is ſlippery — Froſt is that ſtate of the atmoſphere which changes water into ice. A bunch of flowers, is, in Scotland, called a flower; in England, a noſegay. Ten minutes from twelve. — Ten minutes to twelve; or, it wants ten minutes of twelve. — In Scotland moſs is often called fog. In England, fog is miſt; and moſs, a kind of vegetable that grows on trees and ſtones. From hence; from thence; from whence. From, in each of theſe phraſes, is ſuperfluous. From hence, is the ſame as, from from this place, from from this time, from from this cauſe. From thence,* the ſame as, from from that place, time, or cauſe. From whence, the ſame as, from from what, or which place, time, or cauſe. He left his fortune to his brother, and, failing him and his heirs, to his couſin; Sc. L. — In default of him; or, on failure of him and his heirs. — I have paid my ſervant his fee. — Wages. — Fee, in Engliſh, has various meanings; as, gratification, and ſometimes reward: but never means wages or ſtated pay for ſervice. Fees, according to Doctor Johnſon, "are paid to Lawyers, Phyſicians, and to ſome perſons in office, but not to ſervants." — See Dictionary. The diſtinction is ſomewhat invidious. On earth, as in heaven, every man ought to be rewarded according to the fruit of his doings. You would often take him for every thing that he is not; for a fellow quite ſtupid, for he hears nothing; for a fool, for he talks to himſelf; for a proud man, for he looks full upon you, and takes no notice of your ſaluting him. — You would often * It may be remarked, that the tranſlators of the Bible have uſed from thence, at leaſt, one and thirty times. take him for every thing that he is not — For a fellow quite ſtupid, becauſe he hears nothing; for a fool, becauſe he talks to himſelf, &c. — The uſing of the ſame word in the ſame ſentence, in different ſenſes, is a great impropriety. For is ſometimes a prepoſition, and ſometimes a conjunction. In the foregoing faulty paſſage, it is uſed thrice as a conjunction, and four times as a prepoſition. — See ſucceed. G. Teaching us that, denying ungodlineſs and worldly luſts, we ſhould live ſoberly, righteouſly and godly, in this preſent world. — Piouſly, godlily. — In the former, the adjective godly is improperly uſed inſtead of the adverb. If the latter correction ſeem uncouth to the ear, it is probably owing to our not being accuſtomed to it. — See agreeable. Gentlemanly; Sc. — Gentlemanlike. Gentlemanly is Engliſh, but is rejected by thoſe who aim at elegance in compoſition. The far greateſt part; a phraſe very often improper: allowable only when a whole is divided into three or more unequal parts. But when a whole, or any diviſion of a whole, conſiſts of only two unequal parts, the phraſe ought to be; the greater, or, the far greater part. This rule, though ſtrictly grammatical, is ſometimes violated even by good writers. Gear, in England, is furniture, accoutrements, dreſs; but never means, as in Scotland, wealth or riches. Addiſon uſes it to fignify dreſs; "I "long to be in my old plain gear again." The word, in this ſenſe, is now become antiquated and ſomewhat ludicrous. General and univerſal are not ſynonymous. General extends to many, to the moſt; univerſal extends to all without exception or limitation. Goat milk, aſs milk; Sc. — Goats' milk, aſſes' milk. — Gravy and ſauce are not the ſame. Gravy is the juice of meat; ſauce, an artificial compoſition. The poor boy was ill guided; Sc. — Ill uſed.— To give one a hat; Sc. — To make a bow to any one. — To give one a hat, in Scotland, does not imply, making the preſent of a hat to any perſon, but only pulling it off as a mark of reſpect. H. How ſoon as, or, ſo ſoon as I go home, I will ſend it. — As ſoon as. — So ſoon as, is Engliſh, in negative ſentences. "He did not arrive ſo ſoon as I expected." Sampſon has been a ſtrong man, or he could not have done what he did. — Sampſon muſt have been. — A ſecond-handed book; Sc. — A ſecond-hand book. — It hurted me. I am much hurted; Scotch and Iriſh. — Hurt. — To hurt is not a regular verb. In Scotland, and in ſome parts of the north of England, a ſheep of a year old is called a hog. But a hog is a ſwine. To homologate; Sc. — To ratify, to confirm. — I have no fault to him. — I find no fault with him. In moſt parts of Scotland, an inſtrument to cut corn is called a hook. — A ſickle. Yet reaping-- hook is Engliſh. Come here; go there; where ſhall I go? — Hither; thither; whither. — Here, means in this place; there, in that place; where, in which, or what place. Hither, to this place; thither, to that place; whither, to which or what place. This here man; that there woman; Vulg. Eng. This man; that woman. — I ſold it for half nothing. — I ſold it far under its value. — Half nothing, if it means any thing, muſt mean leſs than nothing. They know how to write as well as him, but he is a much better grammarian than them. — "They know how to write as well as he," that is, "as well as he knows, but he is a much better. "grammarian than they;" that is "than they "are." — Though ſhe is not ſo learned as him, ſhe is as much beloved and reſpected. — Not ſo learned as he. — The conjunctions as and than, in the foregoing, and ſimilar ſentences, have no government of caſes; and therefore the noun or pronoun muſt agree with the verb, or be governed by the verb, or by the prepoſition expreſſed or underſtood. I had* rather coin my heart, And drop my blood for drachmas,than to wring From the hard hands of peaſants their vile traſh, By any indirection. — I would rather coin. — A coach and ſix horſe; Sc. Horſes. Horſe, when plural, means cavalry; as, a "troop of "horſe." He went to the country laſt harveſt. — Autumn. — A good harveſt, meaning a plentiful crop, is Engliſh. Hard fiſh. — Dried, or, ſalt fiſh. — He ſits at the head of the table. — Upper end, See foot. * Dr. Lowth has well obſerved, "that the verb had, in the "common phraſe, I had rather, is not properly uſed either as an "active or as an auxiliary verb; that, being in the paſt time, it "cannot in this caſe be properly expreſſive of time preſent; and "that it is by no means reducible to any grammatical conſtruc"tion. In truth, it ſeems to have ariſen from a mere miſtake, "in reſolving the familiar and ambiguous abbreviation, I'd ra"ther, into I had rather, inſtead of I would rather." Inkholder. — Inkhorn is Engliſh: yet a ſilver inkhorn and a golden candle-ſtick ſeem to be an abuſe of language. Perhaps, in antient times, veſſels for holding ink had commonly been made of horn. The Scotch term is the better of the two: becauſe, of what materials ſoever a veſſel for holding ink is made, it is very properly called an inkholder. He implimented his promiſe; Sc. — He fulfilled, he performed. — Is he in? — Within. — "Is he in the houſe?" is Engliſh. Indeed no; Sc. — No, indeed. — Incommodities ; Gall. — Inconveniencies. I can inſtruct what I ſay; Sc. — I can prove. — Vivacity is often promoted by preſenting a ſenſible object to the mind, inſtead of an intelligible one. — Inſtead of an intellectual one. — Indweller and indwelling are Scotch words; Dweller and dwelling are Engliſh. Yet we meet with indwelling ſin, and indwelling corruption, in the works of Dr. Owen, and in thoſe of ſome other Engliſh Divines. Interlocuter; Sc. L. — Interlocutory ſentence. — An Interlocutor, in Engliſh, is one who takes a part in a written dialogue. Come in to the fire; Sc. — Come near, or, ſit by the fire. — An independent man; a man of an independent fortune. — A rich man; a man in eaſy circumſtances. — Independent means "not relying on another." To ſay that a man is independent becauſe he is rich, is, at once, unphiloſophical, and an abuſe of words. The rich man is commonly the moſt dependent. He "relies upon others" for almoſt every thing he needs.* The ſavage, * It is admitted, that the man, who, by honeſt induſtry, has become rich, may, in a very limited ſenſe, be called independent. But if his heir ſhould be a ſot, a fop, or an epicure; if, by intemperance, he ſhould render himſelf a prey to the gout or the, ſtone; is it poſſible that any being, able and willing to exerciſe his reaſon, can believe a creature, of any of theſe deſcriptions, to be an independent man? The meaning of words is often incompatible with the nature of the things which they are intended to repreſent. For inſtance, the idea commonly annexed to the word independent, has created a diſtinction between the uſeful and the uſeleſs part of mankind which nature and truth have not eſtabliſhed, and which reaſon cannot approve. The diſtinction between dependent and independent was contrived by knaves, and has been adopted only by ſycophants and fools. who traverſes the foreſt in queſt of the means of ſubſiſtence, has, indiſputably, a better claim to the epithet. A man of an independent ſpirit is philoſophical, and is ſtrictly applicable to him, who, unfettered by the prejudices of cuſtom, authority, example and education, dares, in all matters, to think and judge for himſelf. — See note under better ſort. He is ten years old next May; Sc. — He was nine years old laſt May, or, he will be ten years old next May. — He was in uſe to walk every day; Sc. — He was uſed to walk, or, he was wont to walk every day.- For ever in this humble cell, Let thee and I, my fair one, dwell.— Let thee and me. — Let is an active verb, and governs the noun or pronoun in the accuſative. Nobody would ſay, "Let I go away, and let he come "in my place." I ken him well enough; Sc. — I know him. — In modern poetry, to ken is to deſcry, to ſee at a diſtance. To ken a woman to her tierce is, in Scotland, to ſerve the widow on a brief to the liferent of the third part of the lands in which her huſband died enfeoffed. A tea kitchen; Sc. — A tea urn. Kindle a fire, is Scotch. Make a fire is Engliſh. L. He learned me to read and write; Sc. and vulg. Eng. — He taught me. — The ſcholar learns, the maſter teaches. To liberate; Sc. L. — To ſet at liberty. — When a ſtranger, in Scotland, calls on a perfon upon buſineſs, if the perfon is not at home, the ftranger is aſked, to leave his name. "Pleaſe "to leave your name, Sir." In England, the queſtion would be, "Who ſhall I ſay was calling, "Sir?" Of the two, the Scotch phraſe is the more grammatical. An Iriſh ſtudent, at the Univerſity of Glaſgow, being deſired to leave his name, exclaimed, "By — I cannot do that, "becauſe I may have need of it afterwards." He was loſt in the river. — Drowned. — If the body be not found, the perfon may be ſaid to be loſt. Many of the Scotch, eſpecially of thoſe who live on the coaſt, pronounce drowned as if it were ſpelled drownded. The lowe of oxen. — The lowing of oxen. — Lowe is a hill, or heap. Lowing is the preſent participle of the verb to lowe, uſed as a noun. I have ſent my linens to be waſhled; Sc. — Linen. — Linen has no plural termination. To labour the ground. — To till the ground. — To labour is applicable to any kind of work, as well as to the huſbandry of the plough. No leſs than a hundred men. — Fewer. — Little ſeems properly applicable to quantity; and few, to that which may be numbered. "There were "no leſs men on the one ſide than on the other," would ſound oddly. You may lay your account with oppoſition. — You may expect oppoſition; you may reckon upon it. — The libel; Sc. L. — The indictment. — A libel, in Engliſh, is a defamatory writing. Every lawful day; Sc. — Week day.— See Whit-- ſunday. He is ſtill in life; Sc. — He is ſtill alive. — The former ſeems to be a Galliciſm; " Il èſt encore "en vie." A land of houſes. — A houſe. — He lives in the third flat of Mr. G.'s land. — In the third ſtory of Mr. G.'s houſe. — He lays in bed; Vulg. Eng. — Lies. — He laid in bed till ten o'clock. — Lay. — Theſe faulty phraſes are common in many parts of the Thirteen United States. M To Mandate; Sc. — To commit to memory, to get by heart. — Mandate is Engliſh, but is always uſed as a noun. He was made do it. — He was made to do it. — To meet another's idea; to follow up an idea; to make up one's mind; to overhale an accompt; to ſmell out a deſign; to turn a matter in one's mind; to dance attendance on the great; to ſee with half an eye; to cut a figure; to curry favour with any one; to caſt about for expedients; in the name of wonder; the thread of our hiſtory; by dint of argument; and the ſpur of the occaſion, ſeem to be low expreſſions; allowable only in familiar diſcourſe, and perhaps in epiſtolary writing. Mr. N. is about to marry a wife; the propriety of this expreſſion is doubtful. It ſhould ſeem to imply, that Mr. N. is about to marry a woman who is already married to another man. Perhaps it were better to ſay, "Mr. N. is about to marry," leaving out a wife. A married wife. — A wife, a married woman. — The former ſeems to imply, that a woman may be a wife who is not married. He is married on Miſs D; Sc. — Married to. — On never means to. The lady was misfortunate; Sc. — Unfortunate. — I will ſee you the morn; Sc. — To-morrow. — Morn is Engliſh, but it means the firſt part of the day, "the morning" and is uſed chiefly in poetical language. In old Engliſh, and in Scotch, meat like bread means food in general. In modern Engliſh it means fleſh meat. To militate againſt a doctrine. — To make againſt a doctrine. — To maltreat; Sc. — To treat ill, to abuſe, — Give me it, ſhow me it; Sc. — Give it me, ſhow it me. — The former is Scotch, the latter Englifh. The French and Engliſh conſtruction of theſe phraſes is the ſame. The French ſay, "Donnez "le moi; montrez le moi." Maſk the tea, is Scotch; infuſe the tea, is Engliſh. The project, the experiment, miſgave. — Failed, miſcarried. — To miſgive is an active verb, and takes the pronoun after it; as, "My mind miſ"gives me. His heart miſgave him." Double comparatives and ſuperlatives ought to be avoided: ſuch as, "Silver is more finer than "tin." "Nothing is more ſweeter than liberty." "The moſt pureſt gold is not to be compared to wiſdom." "After the moſt ſtraighteſt ſect of our "religion I lived a Phariſee." It ſhould be — "Finer, or more fine." "Sweeter, or more "ſweet." Pureſt, or moſt pure." "Straiteſt, "or moſt ſtrait." — "The moſt Higheſt." "High"er than the Higheſt,"though violations of grammatical propriety, may be admitted, as the phraſes are excluſively applicable to the Supreme Being. But the firſt line of the three following ones, like him who ſpoke it, defies correction: And in the loweſt deep, a lower deep Still threat'ning to devour me, opens wide, To which the hell I ſuffer ſeems a heaven. Mortification: Sc. — Donation, endowment. — Mortifier. — Donor. — "We have lately got a mortification here," (at Aberdeen,) ſaid a northern Burgeſs to a gentleman from England. "I am "very ſorry for it," ſaid the Engliſhman; the other ſtared, and added; "Yes, a very conſider"able mortification, an old miſer died the other "day, and left us ten thouſand pounds to build a hoſpital." "And call you that a mortification?" ſaid the ſtranger." "Yes," replied the Scotchman, "and we think it a very great one." "Mortifier is not an Engliſh word, though mortification is; but the latter never means, as in Scotland, "A fund bequeathed for a charitable purpoſe." I am going to my dinner; to my ſupper; to my bed; Sc. — To dinner; to ſupper; to bed. — I do not mind the ſtory you told me yeſterday; Sc. — Remember. — To mind, in Engliſh, is to attend to, to put in mind. "Troth, Sir," ſaid a young Scotch enſign to his commanding officer, "I do not mind your order." "Not mind my "order!" ſaid his fuperior, (who was an Englifhman,) "By G— I will make you mind my orders, "and obey them too." It is not every conjecture which calls with equal force upon the activity of honeſt men: but critical exigencies now and then ariſe, and I am miſtaken if this be not one of them. — And I miſtake it, if this be not one of them. — "If I am "not miſtaken," inſtead of, "If I miſtake not," is a very common error. If I am not miſtaken means, "If I am underſtood." If I miſtake not, means, "If I think, or judge, rightly." His buckles were not marrows; Sc. — Fellows. — Fellow, when we ſpeak of inanimate objects, fignifies "One like another." Well, there's no matter; Sc. — Well, no matter, or; it is no matter. — Many, in the ſouth of Scotland, ſay, "it is a matter," when they mean quite the contrary. "I promiſed to ſee you laſt Thurſday," ſays James to John, "but was prevented." "It "is a matter," replies John. Since the time that reaſon began to dawn, thought, timing our waking hours, has been active in every breaſt, and the current of ideas has been always moving. — Flowing. — A moving current is neither an elegant nor an animated figure. — See antidote. It is merely impoſſible that a thing ſhould be, and not be, at the ſame time. — It is impoſſible &c. — Merely, connected with impoſſible, is worſe than redundant. Merely ſignifies "fuch a thing, and "nothing elfe." The faulty expreſſion, therefore, ſeems to imply, that all things are poſſible, except, "That a thing ſhould be, and not be, at the fame time." — See abſolutely, ſimply, utterly. This performance is much at one with the other; Vulg. Eng. — This performance is of the fame value as the other. — He is our mutual benefactor, and deſerves our reſpect and obedience. — Common benefactor. — He muſt do it; it behoved him to do it; though each of them implies obligation, yet the phraſes ſhould not be ufed indiſcriminately; The former can relate only to the preſent time; the latter, only to the paſt. "He muſt do it" is the ſame as, "It is his duty," or, "his buſineſs to do it." "It behoved him to do it," is equivalent to, "It "was his duty," or, "his buſineſs to do it." N. To narrate; Sc. — To relate. — Narration and narrative are Engliſh. Never, in the two following, and the like ſentences, is. improperly uſed inſtead of not, and ever. "Is there never a woman among the daughters "of thy people, that thou goeſt to take a wife of "the uncircumciſed Philiſtine?" — Is there not a woman, is there not one woman? — "If I waſh myſelf in ſnow water, and make myſelf never ſo clean." — Ever ſo clean. — In the north of Ireland, never, inſtead of not, is very common. Nonjurant; Sc. — Nonjurer, nonjuring. — I ſhall notice a few circumſtances. — I ſhall take notice of, or, I ſhall mention a few circumſtances. — Notar public; Sc. — Notary. — Notour. — Notorious. Neither in this world, neither in the world to come. — Neither in this world, nor in the world to come. — As or follows either in the ſame ſentence, or member of a ſentence; ſo nor muſt ſollow neither. In the poetic ſtyle, however, nor and or frequently, and not inelegantly, ſupply the places of neither and either; as, —— Know that the church Is with omnipotence entrench'd around, Nor ſhall the powers of hell, nor waſtes of time, Or vanquiſh, or deſtroy. Next is neareſt, both ſuperlatives of near. The Scotch ſometimes uſe next, not as if it meant the neareſt, but that which comes immediately after the neareſt. They ſeldom ſay Monday next, though they mean the neareſt Monday; calling it Monday firſt, which means the ſame thing as Monday next. Yet they will not ſay, year firſt, month firſt, inſtead of next year, next month. She wore a white ſilk napkin on her head, Handkerchief. — A napkin, in modern Engliſh, — is a cloth uſed at table to wipe the hands. No, inftead of not, is, in familiar diſcourſe, very commonly uſed by all ranks of people in Scotland. "This is no a good day." "I have walked forty "miles, and yet am no wearied." Whether I will or no. — Whether I will or not: — In the former, the adjective is improperly uſed inſtead of the adverb. No body would ſay, "whether I will or will no." The helping verb, will, is the ellipſis before no; and therefore, in all ſimilar expreſſions, no immediately after will, is nonſenſe. O. If I had never ſo much in my offer, I would not do it. — If I had ever ſo much in my choice. — In the former, both never and offer are Scotticiſms. The offer is here ſuppoſed to be made not by me, but by another. "I made him the of"fer," is Engliſh. One cannot poſſibly help being delighted with the admiration of the men. Let one make what uſe of one's reaſon one will, one is ſtill highly pleaſed with it. — Suppoſing this to be the obſervation of a lady, ſhe ſhould expreſs herſelf in this manner: "We cannot poſſibly help being delighted. with "the admiration of the men. Let us make what "uſe of our reaſon we will, we are ſtill highly "pleaſed with it." — Or thus, "The women can"not poſſibly help being delighted with the ad"miration of the men. Let them make what "uſe of their reaſon they will, they are ſtill high"ly pleaſed with it. — The frequent repetition of the word one is deemed inelegant. Notwithſtanding of his illneſs; Sc. — Notwithſtanding his illneſs. Overly. — Superficial, careleſs. — To operate payment; Sc. — To force payment. — The following phraſes ſeem to be Galliciſms, in which of is improperly uſed inſtead of by, with, in, for, concerning, upon. "Richlieu profited of every circumſtance." — By— "The King of England was provided of every "ſupply." — With. — "He found the greateſt difficulty of writing." — In. — "I have not ſeen him of a long time." — For. — "It is ſituation chiefly which decides of the "fortunes and characters of men." — Concerning, upon. — To wait of you; to ſend of an errand; it happened of ſuch a day; nonſenſe. Of never ſigniſies upon. It ought to be; "To wait on," or, "upon you:" "to ſend on," or, "upon" &c. — The omiſſion of a point makes a great odds in the ſenſe; Sc. — A great change, a great alteration. — The works of the Lord are great, ſought out of all them that have pleaſure therein. — Sought out by all thoſe who have pleaſure in them. — Of, in good Engliſh, never means by. They were ſuppoſed to be the ſole and only inſtruments of his degradation. — The ſole inſtruments. — Sole means only; and therefore the one, or the other, muſt be ſuperfluous. To kill him off; Iriſh and vulg. Eng. — To kill him. — See up. He examined the account twice over. — He examined the account twice. — Over, in the former phraſe, and in ſimilar ones, is ſuperfluous. "Over and above, "over and beſides;" are alſo exceptionable expreſſions. No other perſon beſides Mr. L. has been here to-day. — No perfon beſides, or except Mr. L. has been here today. — Other, in the former, implies beſides, and is therefore redundant. May the happy meſſage be applied to us, in all the virtue, ſtrength and comfort of it. — May the happy meſſage be applied to us, in all its virtue, ſtrength and comfort. — Generoſity is a ſhowy virtue, which many perſons are very fond of. — Of which many perſons are very fond. — When it can be avoided, it is inelegant to end ſentences with of, from, by, it, or any other inconſiderable words. Ornate Latin. — Elegant. — Ornate Latin, if it mean any thing, would, in Engliſh, mean Latin with more ornament than is conſiſtent with ſimplicity. Get you ſtraw where you can find it, yet not ought of your work ſhall be diminiſhed. — Aught. — Ought, is the paſt time of owe; aught, means any thing. On and upon cannot be uſed indiſcriminately. We ſay, "Put on your hat," not "Put upon your "hat." "Put on the ſaddle," not "Put upon the "ſaddle." We may always uſe on for upon, but not always upon for on. Upon is always a prepoſition, and governs the noun or pronoun in the accuſative. On is ſometimes a prepoſition, and ſometimes an adverb. It is an adverb in "Put "on your hat;" and a prepofition in, "Put your. "hat on your head." P. The child took the pox; Sc. — The child was. ſeized with or, was taken ill of, the ſmall pox. — Within thefe four years paſt, the price of every thing has been enhanced. — Within theſe four years, the price &c. — The verb to enhance, being in the preterit, makes paſt redundant in this ſentence, and in all ſimilar ones. See to come. He lives preſently in Edinburgh. — At preſent. — The fact was proven; his farm is greatly improven; he pled his own cauſe. — Proved; improved; pleaded. — To prove, and to plead are not irregular verbs. I am afraid, that in place of the parliament's diſmiſſing the army, the army will diſmiſs the parliament, as they have done heretofore. — Inſtead of. — In place of, for inſtead of, is a colloquial idiom, not only in Scotland, but in many parts of England. In the place of is Engliſh, when place is ſpoken of without a figure; as, "He came in the "place of his father." "The pronoun is ſo cal"led, becauſe it ſtands in the place of a noun." To pleniſh; Sc — To furniſh. — Pleniſhing. — Furniture. — A gentleman's pleaſure grounds are, in Scotland, called his policy. But policy, in this ſenſe, is not Engliſh, and is peculiar to Scotland. Park and encloſure are, by many Scotch people, uſed indiſcriminately. Every park is an encloſure, but every encloſure is not a park. A park is a piece of ground encloſed for the purpoſe of keeping deer, and other beaſts of the chaſe. A pocket-proſpect; Sc. — A pocket-perſpective. —A proſpect, in Engliſh, means a view of diſtant objects, or a ſeries of objects open to the eye; but never means a glaſs through which objects are viewed. To pull up by the roots; Sc. — To pluck up.— To pull a flower. — To pluck a flower. — One may pull a flower without plucking it. Plucking ſeems to imply ſeparation. He enjoys a penſion of two thouſand pounds ayear. A penſion, according to Dr. Johnſon, is "an allowance made to any one without an equi"valent." Reward, inſtead of penſion, would be better; becauſe reward means recompence for "having done good." See note under better ſort. In Scotland, potage is food made of meal boiled in water, or milk, to a certain conſiſtency. In England, the word is ſomewhat antiquated, and when in uſe, it meant broth or food made byboiling meat in water. Previouſly to the arrival of the courier. — Previous, before.— The preſes, or, præſes of a meeting; Sc. — Chairman, preſident. — A proceſs; Sc. L. — A law ſuit, an action at law. — Propoſe, is often, both in ſpoken and written language, very improperly uſed inſtead of purpoſe. The two following ſentences may ſerve as examples. "I propoſe going to Edinburgh next week." — Purpoſe.— "In treating this ſubject it is propoſed "to obſerve the following method." — It is purpoſed. — To propoſe, is to offer any thing to conſideration. To purpoſe, is to intend, to reſolve. The pannel; Sc. L. — The priſoner at the bar. — Panel, from the French paneau, a ſquare, is a ſchedule containing the names of the Jurors whom the Sheriff provides to paſs upon a trial. Hence, the Jury is ſaid to be empannelled. The purſuer; Sc. L. — The plaintiff, the proſecutor. — Pouch is uſed, in Scotland, and was uſed, in old Engliſh, for pocket. Pouch for pocket is gone into diſuſe in England. A pocket is inſerted in the clothes, a pouch is not. A prognoſtication in Scotland, is, in England, called an almanack. A piece bread, a piece cheeſe; Sc. — A piece of bread, a bit of bread, &c. — Pretty and handſome are not ſynonymous. Johnſon ſays, that pretty, is beautiful without digni"ty," and that handſome, is "beautiful with dig"nity." Few words, in ſo ſhort a time, have undergone a greater variation of meaning. Not long ago, pretty, was applied to a man of a fine ſhape or figure; and handſome, to him, who had a beautiful face. A man who had not a beautiful face might be a very pretty man. At preſent, in Scotland, as well as in England, a very pretty man," is fometimes ſaid of him who is agreeable or well accompliſhed.* * From a correſpondence between Lord Oxford and Dean Swift it appears, that ſomething like the outlines of a plan had been projected for regulating our grammar and pronunciation; but the Miniſtry, about that time, were too deeply engaged in war, in ſchemes of finance, and in adjuſting the balance of power, to have leiſure to fix a ſtandard of the Engliſh language. The project has never since been reſumed. Queer, in Engliſh, means odd, ſtrange, ſingular. — In Scotland, it is uſed in the ſenſe of witty, humorous, comical. But a man may be queer who has not wit, and one may have wit without being queer. R. Readily is often, in Scotland, improperly uſed inſtead of probably, likely, naturally. The following ſhort and familiar examples may ſerve as a caution againſt ſimilar improprieties. "You will readily find him at home." — Probably. — "He will not readily do that." — He is not likely to do that. "One would readily imagine." — Naturally. — There is no remeed; Sc. — Remedy.— To reſtrict; Sc. — To limit, to confine. — Reſtriction is Engliſh. To reſtrict is uſed by Arbuthnot, but ſeems now to be gone into diſuſe. The child roars; Sc. — Cries. — To roar, is to make a very great noiſe. The ſea roars, the lion roars; and a man may perhaps be ſaid to roar when he utters the loud voice of anguiſh or rage. I reckon it will rain to-day; I reckon my friend has forgot his appointment; Sc. — I conjecture; I am of opinion; I apprehend. — See I'm thinking. Relevant; Sc. L. — Sufficient, valid. — Relevancy of the libel; Sc. L. — Legal amount of the indictment. — In the former, both relevancy and libel are Scotticiſms.—See libel. He has paid all that he reſled me; Sc. — Owed. — Roaſted cheeſe; Sc. — Toaſted cheeſe. — To roaſt, is to dreſs meat by turning it round before the fire. The bond has been regiſtrate; Sc. L. — Regiſtered. — See conſtitute. "He raiſed levies," is uſed by the elegant Dr. Goldſmith. It is the ſame as, "He levied "levies." It ought to be, " He raiſed," or, "he levied, troops." Diſputing ſhould always be ſo managed, as to remember, that the only end of it is truth. — So managed, as to remind us. — There are no words which the Scots are more apt to miſapply than ſhall and will; although it ought to be acknowledged, that, in ſome inſtances, the ſhades of diſtinction between them are ſo minute as to be ſcarcely difcernible. The following ſketch may be of uſe. Shall, in the firſt perfon ſingular and plural, fortells or declares; as, "I ſhall, or, we ſhall, go." In the ſecond and third perfons, ſhall promiſes, commands, or threatens; as, "Thou "ſhalt, or, you ſhall, go." "He or ſhe ſhall, or, "they ſhall, go." But, in negative fentences, ſhall forbids; as, "Thou ſhalt not, or, you ſhall "not, go." "He or ſhe ſhall not, or, they "ſhall not, go." Will, on the contrary, in the firſt perfon, reſolves or promiſes; as, "I will, or, we will, "go." Will in the ſecond and third perſon only fortells, as, "Thou wilt, or, you will, go. He or "ſhe will, or, they will, go." The application of ſhall and will in the third perſon, is accurately and elegantly illuſtrated in the following examples from the Scripture: "Whoſoever will be "great among you, ſhall be your miniſter; and "whoſoever of you will be the chiefeſt, ſhall be "ſervant of all." "Whoſoever will ſave his life "ſhall loſe it; and whoſoever will loſe his life for "my ſake, ſhall find it." Theſe remarks concerning ſhall and will, muſt be underſtood of explicative ſentences; for, when. the ſentence is interrogative, the reverſe generally takes place; thus, "I ſhall go; you will go;" expreſs event only: but, "Will you go?" implies intention: and "ſhall I go?" refers to the will of another. But, "He ſhall go," and, "ſhall he "go?" both imply will; expreſſing or referring to a command.* Severals are of opinion; Sc. — Several. — Several, being an adjective, in this phraſe, and in all ſimilar ones, can have no plural termination. When a noun, it means any encloſed or ſeparate place; but, in this fenfe, it ſeems to have become obſolete. * Inanimate objects, being incapable of volition or conſtraint, are ſpoken of in the third perſon only; and, in this caſe, ſhall promiſes, and will declares or foretells; thus, "His words "ſhall always be freſh in my memory." "All my care ſhall be "employed about it." " It will rain to-day." " It will be neceſſary to examine into this affair." But when inanimate objects are perſonified, ſhall and will follow the rules laid down in the text. The young woman thought ſhame; Sc. — Was aſhamed. — A houſe to ſet; a common and very obnoxious Scotticiſm. — A houſe to let, a houſe to be let.— To ſet, in modern Engliſh, never ſignifies to put to hire, or, to grant to a tenant. Still and on, is a phraſe very common among the middle claſs of people in the weſt of Scotland. "He ſpoke at great length upon the, ſubject, yet "ſtill and on his arguments did not reach convic"tion." — "He ſpoke at great length upon the "fubject, yet ſtill his arguments" &c. or, "yet "after all," leaving out ſtill and on, "his argu"ments did not reach conviction." He behaved, in every reſpect, ſuitable to the occaſion. — Suitably. — See agreeable. To ſummons; Sc. L. To ſummon. — Summons is a noun, but never a verb. — He ſummonſed. — He ſummoned. — To ſuccumb under the preſſure of misfortunes. — To ſink under the preſſure. — "I have got a ſeed in my throat," is a phraſe very common among the Scots. They miſtake a piece of the huſk for the ſeed. A ſore head; Sc. — A head-ach. — Sore eyes.— Weak eyes, or a complaint in the eyes, is preferable. Sore ſeems to imply excoriation. The clock, the watch, is ſtanding; Sc. — .Stopped. — See clock; He ſtands upon ſecurity, and will not liberate him, till it be obtained in courſe of law; Sc. and vulg. Eng. — He inſiſts upon ſecurity, and will not ſet him at liberty till it be obtained &c. — See liberate. Storm, in Engliſh, means any violent commotion of the elements; as, of air and water; air and hail; air and ſnow. When the commotion ceaſes the ſtorm is over. Scotland is, perhaps, the only country on the globe that is bleſſed with lying ſtorms, and mild ſtorms. If the ſnow continue long on the ground, it is a lying ſtorm. If the ſnow melt away gradually, it is a mild ſtorm. In Scotland, ſpice is often uſed for pepper, and corn for oats. But pepper, cloves, cinnamon, &c. are different kinds of ſpice; and oats, barley, wheat and rye, are different kinds of corn. Corn, (meaning grain,) has no plural. When plural, it means hard and painful excreſcences in the feet. In ſome parts of Scotland, the farmers will ſay, "The rain has laid flat all their corns." The ſuperplus; Sc.—The ſurplus, the overplus. — Sweet butter. — Freſh butter. — Salt butter, if well cured and kept, is ſweet. It is ſimply impoſſible. — It is impoſſble. Simply means, "artleſsly, merely, fooliſhly." Simply, in the meaning of any of theſe words, is evidently inapplicable to impoſſible. Fooliſhly impoſſible, would be a fooliſh expreſſion. Simply impoſſible is not leſs ſo. — See abſolutely, merely, utterly. Sinecure, Johnſon defines to be "An office "which has revenue without any employment." Yet he ſays, that office means "buſineſs, agency; "public charge or employment." Sinecure, therefore, according to Johnſon, is "an employment "which has revenue without any employment."* Dictionary-writers are, no doubt, obliged to ex* Although the term ſinecure, in its uſual acceptation, cannot be defined without contradicting reaſon, yet it may be explained without violating the rules of ſpeech. A ſinecure is, "The "receiving of money without doing any thing for it." — See note under better ſort. plain words according to their uſual acceptation; and, in this reſpect, Johnfon has generally been correct. I am ſome better; Sc. — Something, or, ſomewhat better. —. Deſire my ſervant to ſpeak to me; bid my ſervant ſpeak to me; Sc. — Tell my ſervant that I want to ſpeak to him. — A Scotch Gentleman and his ſervant having alighted at a tavern in Briſtol, and miſſing his ſervant, ſaid to the oſtler, "Bid "my ſervant ſpeak to me?" "Yes," replied the oſtler, "but what ſhall I bid him ſay?" For my ſhare I ſcorn a ſycophant; Sc. — For my part. — To ſhear wheat; Sc. — To reap. — I have ſhorn my wheat. — Reaped. — A ſhearer, in Engliſh, is one who cuts with ſhears. "A ſheep before her "ſhearers is dumb." All his ſubjects were ſold to pay his debts. — Effects. — The ſubjects of the defunct; Sc. L. — The effects of the deceaſed. — In the former, both ſubjects and defunct are Scotticiſms. We arrived in ſafety; Sc. — We arrived ſafe. — His writing is ſparce; Sc. — Looſe. — His apology was not ſuſtained; Sc. — Admitted. — He will repent it ſome day; Sc. — One day. — The ſhip is at the ſhore; Sc. — Quay, wharf. — The ſhore is the coaſt of the ſea. But a quay, or, wharf, is not to be found on every part of the ſhore. A ſtammering horſe; Sc. — A ſtumbling horſe. — To ſtammer, is to ſpeak confuſedly, or with heſitation. "A ſtammering man" is Engliſh. To ſweat. — To perſpire. — The latter certainly expreſſes the ſame idea in a more delicate manner. He will always be with you, to ſupport and comfort you, and, in ſome meaſure, to ſucceed your labours; and he will alſo be with all his faithful miniſters, who ſhall ſucceed you in his ſervice. — To proſper your labours. — In the fore-- going paſſage ſucceed is improperly uſed — in different ſenſes. — See for. Where do you ſtay? Sc.—Lodge, live, dwell.— A ſhirt is a man's under garment; a ſhift is a woman's. Many of the Scotch uſe ſhirt for both. They ſat us down at the Star Inn. — They ſet us down. — Sat is the preterit of ſit. I ſeed him yeſterday; Scotch, Iriſh and vulg. Engliſh. — I ſaw him. — He has a bad ſtomach. — Appetite; in modern Englifh. — Shakeſpeare, once or twice, uſes ſtomach in the ſenſe of appetite: but ſtomach inſtead of appetite is become rather ludicrous. He was obliged to ſeek his meat. In this phraſe both ſeek and meat are Scotticiſms. It ought to be, — He was obliged to beg his bread. — The phraſe is degrading to human nature, a reproach to reaſon, and a diſgrace to the language of any country. It is not eaſy to conceive how beggary can, as a profeſſion, exiſt under any form of government that deſerves the epithets of free, happy, and glorious. His ſon ſubſiſts him. — ,Supports, maintains.— Yet Sterne, in the ſtory of Le Fevre, ſays, "With "a ſon to ſubſiſt as well as himſelf, out of his "pay." Many Scotch people, inſtead of heark ye, ſay hear ye; ſpeak to me ; but ſpeak; expreſſing quite the contrary of what they mean. To a lady who had been bred in England, a Scotch gentleman ſaid, with a ſtrong emphaſis, "But ſpeak, Madam; "ſpeak to me." She anſwered, "Speak! why "ſhould I ſpeak?" He ſubſtituted others in their place. The accuracy of this expreſſion is very doubtful. To ſubſtitute, ſignifies "To put in the place of another." The doubtful expreſſion ſeems to imply, "He "put in their place others in their place." "He "ſubſtituted others," leaving out, "In their "place," might perhaps be an amendment. For the ſame reaſon, "in my place;" "In thy place;" "In his place;" &c. connected with the verb ſubſtitute, ſeem to be inaccurate expreſſions. T. If I miſtake, not, I think this muſt be the houſe. — If I miſtake not this muſt be the houfe. — In the former phrafe, and the like ones, I think is ſuperfluous. I think is implied in, "If I miſtake not." I'm thinking, inſtead of I ſuppoſe, I conjecture, is very common in Scotland. He is not at "home, I'm thinking." "Peter has ſettled ac"counts with his merchant, I'm thinking." — See reckon. Allege. It is not eaſy for him to ſpeak three ſentences together — Succeſſively. — The manner of it was thus. It was thus, or, the manner of it was this. — Thus, means in this manner. Go up the turnpike-ſtair. — The winding ſtair. — A turnpike, in Engliſh, is a ſort of gate. I would have you to know. — I would have you know. — The former is Engliſh, but is uſed only in jocular, or very familiar diſcourſe. The Reverend D. C. is tranſported from Glaſgow to Edinburgh. — Tranſlated. — A Scotchman. ſaid to an Englifhman, "Do you know that your old acquaintance, Mr. N. is tranſported." "Poor "man," replied the Engliſhman, "I am very "ſorry for it; he was in his right wits when I "ſaw him laſt." I am the more impatient of pain, that I have long enjoyed good' health. — As I have long enjoyed, or, becauſe I have long enjoyed. — That is ſometimes uſed by Cowley inſtead of becauſe; but, in this ſenſe, it is now gone into diſuſe. The hogſhead is topped. — Tapped, ſet abroach.— God ſeems, by the commiſſion he then gave to Satan, to try experiments upon Job. — To make experiments. — To try experiments ſeems to be no better than "To try trials." They fell both dead upon the field together. — They fell both dead upon the field; or, they fell dead upon the field together. — When both and together occur in the ſame ſentence, or member of a ſentence; the one or the other muſt be redundant. For the ſame reaſon jointly together, — is an exceptionable phraſe. A contract, between a proprietor of lands or houſes and a tenant for the uſe of them, is, in Scotland, called a tack; in England, a leaſe. A tenible argument; Sc. — Good, valid, concluſive. — He hindered me to do it; Sc. He hindered me from doing it. — He is thirty years old or thereby; Sc. — Thereabout, thereabouts. — Thereby, — ſignifies by that means; as, "Acquaint now thyſelf with him, and "be at peace; thereby good ſhall come unto thee." Timeous notice. — Timely notice. — Timeous is uſed by Bacon, but the word is now become obſolete. He was no longer able to go through the buſineſs with that vigour as he wished. — He was no longer able to go through the buſineſs with ſuch or, with ſo much vigour; or, with that vigour he wiſhed. — They gained five ſhillings the piece; Sc. — Apiece, each. A tradeſman, in Scotland, is one who works with his hands at a trade. — In England, it means a ſhopkeeper, whether he works with his hands or not. He has been very tender for ſome time; Sc. — Sickly, weakly, infirm, valetudinary. — See unwell. Both the ſugar and the rum are dear. — Both ſugar and rum; without the article. — If any particular ſort of ſugar or rum be meant, the article might be proper. Mr. R.'s church is always throng. — Full, crowded, much thronged. — Throng is never an adjective. I mind none of them things; Iriſh, and vulg. Eng. — Theſe, or thoſe things. The lion tore the aſs to pieces. — In pieces. — He has got the cold, the fever; Sc. — A cold, a fever. — If any particular cold or fever be epidemical, and generally known, the definite article may be prefixed. He thinks long for ſummer; Sc. — He longs for ſummer. — He thinks long when alone. — He thinks the time long, or, he wearies, when alone. — She had not been four hours at ſea when ſhe turned, or, fell ſick. — When ſhe became ſick, grew ſick. — In the former both turned and fell are Scotticiſms. A man with a timber leg; Sc. — A wooden leg. — Say the grace; go to the ſchool; to the church; to the bed; Sc. — Say grace; go to ſchool; to church; to bed. — He ſpeaks, he walks, through his ſleep. — He ſpeaks, he walks, in his ſleep.— Through eternity; through all eternity; through all the ages of eternity; are expreſſions common enough both from the pulpit and the preſs. It is not eaſy to correct them. It may however be remarked, that through when it relates to time, implies only a limited duration, and therefore cannot be applicable to eternity. All before ages ſeems to be equally unphiloſophical; becauſe all ſuppoſes the ages of eternity to be numbered, or capable of being numbered. Perhaps, in eternity, leaving out through all the ages of, might be an amendment. By the puniſhing criminals for flagitious crimes, others are deterred from committing of the like offences. — By the puniſhing of criminals for flagitious crimes, others are deterred from the committing of the like offences. — Or thus; By puniſhing criminals for flagitious crimes, others are deterred from committing the like offences. — When the preſent participle becomes a noun, it requires an article before it, and the ſign of the genitive after it. If it be a pure participle, both the article before it, and the ſign of the genitive after it, muſt be omitted. He has annexed a ſecret pleaſure to the idea of any thing that is new or uncommon, that he might encourage us in the purſuit of knowledge. — He has annexed a ſecret pleaſure to the idea of any thing which is new or uncommon, that he might encourage us &c. — The impropriety, in the former ſentence, is the uſing of that in different ſenſes. Is it good ſenſe, or good grammar, to ſay, "That that law is binding that cannot be under"ſtood?" In this example, that is uſed in all the parts of ſpeech of which it is ſuſceptible. The firſt is a conjunction; the ſecond, a demonſtrative pronominal adjective; and the laſt, a relative pronoun. That that, though a harſh aſſociation, cannot always be avoided; but that, after binding, ſhould be which. — See for. "Since the time that Homer wrote, no poet has "excelled Milton." Similar forms of ſpeech frequently occur in our beſt writers. The accuracy of the above fentence is queſtionable. Since, when uſed as an adverb of time, means from the time, or, from that time. That before Homer, if it be not regarded as an expletive, muſt be an equivalent to when, or, at which time. The complete reſolution of the ſentence would be this: "From the time the time at which time Homer "wrote," &c. which ſurely is not elegant Englifh. Better thus — "From the time in which Homer "wrote" &c. or, better ſtill, "Since Homer wrote, "no poet has excelled Milton." That, it may be further remarked, cannot, with any propriety, be uſed as an adverb of time. — See the preceding paragraph. Where two objects are contraſted, this relates to the nearer, and that, to the more diſtant object. The rule is ſtrictly applicable to their plurals; yet the Scots, often, and the English, ſometimes, confound theſe and thoſe. The rule however is clear, and admits of no exception. Whereever the ſingular would be this, the plural muſt be theſe; and wherever the ſingular would be that, the plural muſt be thoſe. "Theſe flowers, which I "hold in my hand, are beautiful," is Engliſh; becauſe in the ſingular, it would be "This flower "which I hold" &c. " Thoſe flowers which he "holds in his hand, are beautiful," is proper; becauſe in the ſingular it would be, "That flower "which he holds in his hand is beautiful." The twentieth and fourth verse, of the hundredth thirtieth and ninth Pſalm. — The twenty fourth verſe of the hundred and thirty ninth pſalm. — He appointed Meſſrs. A. B. and D. C. the tutors and curators of his children; Sc. — Guardians. — In England, a tutor ſuperintends a perſon's education; a curator, is a ſuperintendant in general. I ſhall ſee you in the ſummer; in the harveſt; in the winter; Sc. — In ſummer; in autumn; in winter. U. I have been unwell for ſome time; Sc. — I have not been well, have been ſickly, valetudinary. — To uſe diligence; Sc. — To ſue, to proſecute by law. His public character is undeniable. — Unexceptionable. — An undeniable character may be a very bad one. To kill him up, or, off; Iriſh and vulg. Eng. — To kill him. — Up and off are evidently ſuperfluous. The contrct was unformal; Sc. — Irregular, not according to form. — I received your letter the 24th ultimo. — The 24th laſt month. — In elegant companion, and even in epiſtlolary writing, if the meaning can be as clearly conveyed in Engliſh, Latin words, phraſes, and abbreviations, ought to be avoided. We the under ſubſcribers; Sc. — Subſcribers, underſigned. — Sub, means under, and therefore under, prefixed to ſubſcribers, is ſuperfluous. It is utterly impoſſible. — It is impoſſible. — Utterly, means "fully, completely, perfectly." The former, ſeems to imply, "That ſome impoſſibilities are leſs complete, or leſs perfect than others," which is abſurd. Quite impoſſible, and altogether impoſſible, are, for the ſame reaſon, exceptionable phraſes. — See abſolutely, merely, ſimply. V. During the vacance; Sc. — Vacation. — Vacance is French, and means "A port or employment "when it is unſupplied." Vacation is Engliſh, and means "Receſs from ordinary buſineſs; "time of leiſure." He is verſant in all polite learning; Sc. Converſant, in, or, with, all polite learning. — A vocable; Sc. — A word. — The boy has loſt his vocables. — Vocabulary. — Britain is able not only to conſume her own production of vivres, but needs alſo a ſupply from abroad. — Victuals, provifions. — Vivres is a French word. Eclat, apropos, belles lettres, douceur, bon mot, eclairciſſement, and about forty other French words and phraſes, have, without the ſmalleſt neceſſity, been introduced into the Engliſh language. The French have been very ſparing in taking Engliſh words in exchange. W. In our moſt elegant writers, many combinations of words occur, that offend the ear and torture the organs of ſpeech. Hume, Robertſon and Gibbons with their which ſome think, and which ſome ſay; and Smollet, with his terrible ſhed ſuch ſeas of blood. The laſt of theſe, no Frenchman, nor Italian, could be taught to pronounce. The French will not ſay y-a-il, though much more eaſily pronounced than any of the foregoing combinations. The painful and diſguſting yawn occaſioned by ch before words beginning with s, might, in moſt inſtances, be avoided, by uſing that inſtead of which. I wrote him laſt week. — I wrote to him. — "I "wrote him a letter," is Engliſh. I will not go without I am paid for it; Sc. — Unleſs. — He is a widow; Sc. — Widower. — A widower, is a man who ſurvives his wife; a widow, is a woman who ſurvives her huſband. An old wife. — An old woman. — We never ſay, "An old huſband." What's your will? A phraſe very common in Scotland, and very ridiculous in England. It ought to be, — What would you have? What do you want? or, what were you ſaying? — His whole friends forſook him; Sc. — All his friends. — Whole ſeems properly applicable to quantity, and all, to number. The whole ſpeeches. — All the ſpeeches. — Yet "The whole proceedings" is Engliſh, becauſe they form one whole, the parts of which are naturally connected with one another. "Againſt Whitſunday next, pay to me, or or"der," & c. — Whitſuntide. — In the book of Common Prayer, Whitſunday is the firſt Sunday of Whitſun week, and is, therefore, an improper day to make or receive payments. In Scotland, Sunday is not a lawful day. — See lawful. A writer; Sc. — A ſcrivener, or attorney. — In England, a writer is an author;; but the word never means, as in Scotland, a perfon who tranſacts buſineſs for another in matters of law. In Aberdeen, a ſcrivener is called an advocate. Wrongous impriſonment; Sc. — Wrongful, unjuſt, injurious. — He wared his money to advantage; Sc. — He laid out. — Oft have I ſeen a timely parted ghoſt. Of aſhy ſemblance, meagre, pale, and bloodleſs, Being all deſcended to the lab'ring heart, Who in the conflict that it holds with death, Attracts the ſame for aidance 'gainſt the enemy. — "Which in the conflict that it holds;" or, if the ghoſt muſt be perſonified; "Who in the conflict "that he, (and why not ſhe?) holds with death." — The ſcene was new, and he was ſeized with wonderment at all he ſaw; vulg. Eng. — Wonder. — Robert is in the ſame predicament with William. — Robert and William are in the ſame predicament. — "Do you know who you ſpeak to?" "Who ſhould I ſee on the lid of it but the Doctor." "Laying the ſuſpicion upon ſomebody, I know "not who, in the country." — It ſhould be whom in each of theſe.examples. — In England, as well as in Scotland, the nominative of this pronoun, inſtead of the accuſative, is very common in familiar converſation. In written language, this impropriety is quite inexcuſable. Every thing ſucceeds to a wiſh; Sc. and vulg. Eng. — As one would wiſh, or, according to our wiſhes. — I went to bed whenever I heard the clock ſtrike ten. — When, or as ſoon as, I heard. — Whenever means at whatever time; as, "Whenever you a"wake me, I will riſe." I never witneſſed any thing ſo ridiculous. — Beheld, ſaw. — To witneſs, in England, generally, means to bear teſtimony. In the three following paſſages, the indicative mode is improperly uſed inftead of the ſubjunctive: "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canſt make me "clean." — If thou will. — "If thou wouldſt ſeek unto God betimes, and "make thy ſupplication." — If thou would. — "Was I as plump as ſtall'd theology, "Wiſhing would waſte me to this ſhade again; "Was I as wealthy as a ſouth ſea dream, "Wiſhing is an expedient to be poor." — Were I as plump. — Were I as wealthy. In the following examples the ſubjunctive is improperly uſed inſtead of the indicative. "Thou, Stella, wert no longer young, "When firſt for thee my harp I ſtrung." "Before the heavens thou wert." In both examples it ſhould be — Waſt inſtead of wert. — It may not be improper here to remark that, Though, if, whether, except, unleſs, &c. generally require the ſubjunctive mode after them; yet when the ſentence does not imply ſuppoſition or doubt, theſe conjunctions admit of the indicative; as, "Though he is rich he is not independent." There is ſome difficulty, and often much ambiguity, in the uſe of To want. When uſed as an active verb, it generally ſignifies "To be with"out," or, "to be deficient in, ſomething neceſ"ſary or deſirable;" as, "The army wanted both. "food and clothing," that is, "the army was de"ficient both in food and clothing." Sometimes it ſignifies " To wiſh for;" as, "They wanted "her company." When it is uſed as a neuter verb, its general ſignification ſeems to be, "To "be improperly abſent;" "To be miſſed;" as, "Part of the price is wanting." "A caſting vote was wanting." If the preceding remarks and illuſtrations be juſt, it would be improper to ſay, "When the plague raged in London, we wanted "it in Scotland." — It ſhould be, "We had it not," or, "were without it," &c. — A Scotchman will ſay, "I never want a cold, a head-ach." An Engliſhman would ſay, "I am never free from a "cold," or, "never without a cold." A plague, a cold and a head-ach are not conſidered either as neceſſary or as deſirable viſitations. If I fall into the pond I will be drowned; Sc.— I ſhall be drowned. — The Scotch phraſe may imply, "I am reſolved," or, "am willing to be "drowned." "If you fall into the pond you will "be drowned," is Engliſh. No colloquial idiom, in Scotland, is more common than will I? inſtead of ſhall I? — "Will I ſee "you to-morrow?" If I ſay to any perſon, "Will "I ſee you to-morrow?" His anſwer ſhould be, "It is impoiſſible for me to be ſure whether you "will, or will not, ſee me to-morrow; for that "you alone can know." An Engliſhman aſks his neighbour, "Will you fee me to-morrow?" or, "Shall I ſee you to-morrow?" but the moſt illiterate Engliſhman never ſays, "Will I ſee you tomorrow?" What way, inſtead of how, is common throughout Scotland. "What way did it happen?" "What way will I do this?" "What way will I "do that?" In the two latter, both what way, and will are Scotticiſms. Y. At four years old, a child eaſily learns the pronunciation of a foreign language; Sc. — At the age of four years; or, when four years old; or, a child of four years, &c.— He was born in the year forty-five. — In forty-five; in 1745; or in the year 1745. — A yard is an encloſure near a houſe; but is never uſed, in England, to ſigniſy a garden. A farmer may keep, in his yard, hogs and poultry; but the garden is ſet apart for other purpoſes. I ſaw him yeſternight; Sc. — Laſt night. — Yeſternight is Engliſh, but is now become obſolete. Yet we fay, "I ſaw him yeſterday." — See note under pretty. You was, inſtead of, you were, is common both in England and in Scotland. "You is very "good," would ſound oddly. "You was very "good," is equally ungrammatical. THE END.