Practical exercises in english - Huber Gray Buehler 2004
Chapter III. Of nouns
How to Form the Possessive Case. [10]—As a rule, the possessive of nouns in the SINGULAR number is formed by adding an apostrophe and "s" ('s): as, "The boy's coat." Often the pronunciation of the added "s" makes a new syllable; and if this additional syllable makes an unpleasant sound, the possessive is indicated by the apostrophe alone ('): as, "For goodness' sake." The putting in or the leaving out of the "s" in such cases is chiefly a matter of taste. If the "s" is sounded, it is always written; and whenever there is doubt, it is well to follow the regular rule: as, "Horace's odes," "Charles's ball," "Dickens's David Copperfield."
In the PLURAL number, when the nominative plural ends in "s," the possessive case is formed by adding an apostrophe alone ('). If the nominative plural does not end in "s," an apostrophe and an "s" ('s) are both added, as in the singular: as, "Men's and boys' shoes."
The possessive case of COMPOUND nouns and expressions used as compound nouns is formed by adding the proper sign of the possessive to the end of the compound: as, "That is my sister-in-law's pony," "This is the Prince of Wales's palace."
[10] "Foundations," pp. 41-43.
Exercise VII. [11]
1. Write the possessive case, singular and plural, of: Actor, king, fairy, calf, child, goose, lady, monkey, mouse, ox, woman, deer, eagle, princess, elephant, man, witness, prince, fox, farmer, countess, mouth, horse, day, year, lion, wolf, thief, Englishman.
2. Write the possessive case of: James, Dickens, his sister Mary, Miss Austen, the Prince of Wales, Frederick the Great, Harper and Brothers, father-in-law, Charles, Jones, William the Conqueror, Henry the Eighth, man-of-war, Douglas, Eggleston and Company.
Use and Misuse of the Possessive Case. [12]—It is sometimes a question whether to use the possessive form or the preposition of. "As a general rule, the possessive case should be confined to cases of possession." [13]
[11] To the teacher. — To have its full value this should be given as a dictation exercise.
[12] "Foundations," pp. 43-44.
[13] Ibid., p. 44.
Exercise VIII.
Express relation between the words in the following pairs by putting one of them in the possessive case or by using the preposition "of," as may seem best: —
Charles the Second, reign; witness, testimony; horse, hoof; the President, public reception; Partridge, restaurant; aide-de-camp, horse; General Armistead, death; Henry the Eighth, wives; Napoleon, Berlin decree; teacher, advice; eagle, talons; enemy, repulse; [14] book, cover; princess, evening gowns; France, army; Napoleon, defeat; Napoleon, camp-chest; Major Andre, capture; Demosthenes, orations; gunpowder, invention; mountain, top; summer, end; Washington, sword; Franklin, staff; torrent, force; America, metropolis; city, streets; strike, beginning; church, spire; we (our, us), midst; year, events; Guiteau, trial; sea, bottom; Essex, death; Adams, administration; six months, wages; world, government.
[14] There is, properly, no "objective possessive" in English corresponding to the "objective genitive" in other languages. It seems best to say "The siege of Paris," rather than "Paris's siege."
Exercise IX.
Distinguish between the following: —
1. The President's reception. The reception of the President.
2. Mother's love. Love of mother.
3. A sister's care. Care of a sister.
4. A brother's picture. The picture of a brother.
5. Clive's reception in London. The reception of Clive in London.
6. Charles and Harry's toys. Charles's and Harry's toys.
7. Let me tell you a story of Doctor Brown (Brown's).
Exercise X.
Correct the following, giving the reason for each correction: —
1. A dog and a cat's head are differently shaped.
2. Whose Greek grammar do you prefer—Goodwin or Hadley?
3. It is neither the captain nor the manager's duty.
4. I consulted Webster, Stormonth, and Worcester's dictionary.
5. I like Hawthorne better than Irving's style.
6. John, Henry and William's nose resembled one another.
7. The novel is one of Scott.
8. I have no time to listen to either John or Joseph's talk.
Singular and Plural. [15]—In modern English most nouns form the plural by adding "s" to the singular. The following variations from this rule are important: —
1. When the added sound of "s" makes an additional syllable, "es" is used: as, box, boxes; church, churches.
2. Nouns ending in "o." If the final "o" is preceded by a vowel, the plural is formed regularly, i.e., by adding "s": as, cameo, cameos. If the final "o" is
preceded by a consonant, the tendency of modern usage is to form the plural by adding "es": as, hero, heroes; potato, potatoes. The following common words, however, seem still to form the plural by adding "s" alone: —
canto lasso proviso torso
duodecimo memento quarto tyro
halo octavo solo
junto piano stiletto
3. Nouns ending in "y." If the "y" is preceded by a vowel, the plural is regular: as, valley, valleys.
If the "y" is preceded by a consonant, "y" is changed to "i" and "es" is added to form the plural: as, lady, ladies; city, cities.
4. Proper nouns are changed as little as possible: as, Henry, Henrys; Mary, Marys; Cicero, Ciceros; Nero, Neros.
5. Most compound nouns form the plural by adding the proper sign of the plural to the fundamental part of the word, i.e., to the part which is described by the rest of the phrase: as, ox-cart, ox-carts; court-martial, courts-martial; aide-de-camp, aides-de-camp.
Note the difference between the plural and the possessive of compound nouns, — forms which are often confounded. See page 16.
6. Letters, figures, and other symbols are made plural by adding an apostrophe and "s" ('s): as, "There are more e's than a's in this word"; "Dot your i's and cross your t's."
7. Some nouns have two plurals, which differ in meaning: —
Singular. Plural.
brother brothers (by birth), brethren (of a society).
die dies (for coining or stamping), dice (for play).
fish fishes (separate fish), fish (collective).
index indexes (in books), indices (in algebra).
penny pennies (separate coins), pence (sum of money).
shot shots (discharges), shot (balls).
staff staves (poles), staffs (bodies of assistants).
[15]"Foundations," pp. 45-47.
Exercise XI. [16]
Write the plural of: Lash, cage, race, buffalo, echo, canto, volcano, portfolio, ally, money, solo, memento, mosquito, bamboo, ditch, chimney, man, Norman, [17] Mussulman, city, negro, baby, calf, man-of-war, attorney, goose-quill, canon, quail, mystery, turkey, wife, body, snipe, knight-errant, [17] donkey, spoonful, aide-de-camp, Ottoman, commander-in-chief, major-general, pony, reply, talisman, court-martial, father-in-law, court-yard, man-trap, Brahman, journey, Henry, stepson, deer, mouthful, Miss Clark, [18] Mr. Jones, Dr. Brown, Dutchman, German, forget-me-not, poet-laureate, minister-plenipotentiary, hero, fish, trout, Mary, George, bill-of-fare.
[16] To The teacher. —To have its full value this should be given as a dictation exercise.
[17] Consult a dictionary for this and similar nouns.
[18] Proper names preceded by a title are made plural by changing either the name or the title, and using "the" before the expression. We may say "the Miss Smiths" or "the Misses Smith," "the Doctors Young" or "the Doctor Youngs."
Exercise XII.
Distinguish between: —
1. Two dice (dies) were found in the prisoner's pockets.
2. He was always kind to his brothers (brethren).
3. How many shot (shots) did you count?
4. He carried two pailfuls (pails full) of water up the hill.
5. I have two handfuls (hands full) of gold-dust.
6. He gave the beggar six pennies (pence).
7. There are serious errors in the indexes (indices) in this new Algebra.
8. Ten shot (shots) were fired from the gun in fifteen minutes.
Exercise XIII.
Which of the following forms should be used? Consult Hill's "Foundations," pp. 45-47: —
1. The members of the committee were greatly alarmed at this (these) news.
2. Tidings was (were) brought to them of the massacre on Snake River.
3. The endowment of the college was greatly increased by this (these) means.
4. The widow's means was (were) at first large, but it was (they were) soon exhausted by the prodigality of her son.
5. The assets of the company are (is) $167,000.
6. The dregs in the cup was (were) found to be very bitter.
7. The eaves of the new house are (is) thirty-two feet above the ground.
8. Athletics are (is) run into the ground in many schools.
9. Politics is (are) like a stone tied around the neck of literature.
10. The nuptials of Gratiano and Nerissa were (was) celebrated at the same time as those (that) of Bassanio and Portia.
11. Ethics are (is) becoming more and more prominent in the discussions of political economists.
12. Have you seen my pincers? I have mislaid it (them).
13. The proceeds was (were) given to the hospital.
14. His riches took to themselves (itself) wings.
15. This (these) scissors is (are) not sharp.
16. Please pour this (these) suds on the rose plants in the oval flowerbed.
17. His tactics was (were) much criticised by old generals.
18. The United States has (have) informed Spain that it (they) will not permit Spanish interference in the affairs of Central America.
Nouns of Foreign Origin. [19] —The following is a list of nouns of foreign origin in common use which have peculiar number forms: —
[19] "Foundations," pp. 47-48.
Exercise XIV. [20]
1. Write the plural of: Alumna, analysis, beau, cherub, crisis, curriculum, genus, genius, hypothesis, nebula, oasis, parenthesis, phenomenon, synopsis, seraph, stratum, tableau.
2. Write the singular of: Alumni, curricula, data, bacteria, cherubim, oases, phenomena, seraphim, strata, theses.
Gender. —The following nouns of different genders are sometimes confounded or otherwise misused: —
Masculine. Feminine.
abbot abbess
actor actress
bachelor spinster, maid
buck doe (fallow deer)
bullock heifer
czar czarina
drake duck
duke duchess
earl countess
Francis Frances
gander goose
hero heroine
lion lioness
marquis, marquess marchioness
monk nun
ram ewe
stag, hart hind (red deer)
sultan sultana
tiger tigress
wizard witch
[20] To the teacher. — To have any value this must be given as a dictation exercise.
Exercise XV. [21]
1. Write the feminine word corresponding to: Abbot, actor, bachelor, buck, bullock, czar, duke, drake, earl, Francis, hero, lion, marquis, monk, ram, stag, sultan, hart, tiger.
2. Write the masculine word corresponding to: Spinster, duck, doe, Frances, goose, heifer, ewe, hind, witch.
[21] To the teacher. — This should be used as a dictation exercise.
Exercise XVI.
Correct the following sentences: —
1. The marquess was the executor of her husband's estate.
2. He married a beautiful actor.
3. The tiger broke from its cage.
4. The duck was pluming his feathers after his swim, and the goose had wandered from his companions across the meadows.
5. The baby girl in "The Princess" may be called the real hero of the tale.
Abbreviations. — For the following exercise consult Hill's Foundations of Rhetoric, pp. 49-50.
Exercise XVII.
Which of these words are in good use? —
Pianist, harpist, poloist, violinist, phiz, ad, co-ed, curios, exam, cab, chum, gent, hack, gym, pants, mob, phone, proxy, photo, prelim, van, prof, varsity.
Misused Nouns. [22] — Many errors in English consist in using words in senses which are not authorized. Sometimes the use of a word in a wrong sense makes the speaker's meaning obscure. Sometimes it makes him seem ridiculous, as when a person of the writer's acquaintance told a friend to clean an oil-painting by washing it in "torpid" water. In every case the misuse of a word leaves an unpleasant impression on the mind of a cultivated person, and, like all bad English, should be avoided as we avoid bad manners. In the following definitions and exercises a few nouns [23] are selected for study. The distinctions given are not always observed by reputable authors, but they indicate the tendency of the best modern usage.
I. A resemblance in sense misleads. [24]
House, home. — A house is a building. Home means one's habitual abode, "the abiding place of the affections." It may or may not be in a house, and it may include the surroundings of a house.
Person, party. — A person is an individual, a party is a company of persons, or, in legal usage, a person who is concerned in a contention or agreement.
Series, succession. — A series is a succession of similar things mutually related according to some law. Succession is properly used of several things following one after the other; it denotes order of occurrence only, and does not imply any connection.
Statement, assertion. — A statement is a formal setting forth of fact or opinion; an assertion is simply an affirmation of fact or opinion.
Verdict, testimony. — A verdict is a decision made by a number of men acting as a single body. Testimony is an expression of individual knowledge or belief.
The whole, all. — The whole is properly used of something which is considered as one thing. When a number of persons or things are spoken of, the proper word is all.
[22] To the teacher. — It may not be desirable to drill pupils on all the words whose meanings are discriminated here and in chapters V. and VI. In that case it will be easy to select for study those words which the pupils are most likely to misuse. The words discriminated in this book are for the most part those which are mentioned in the "Foundations of Rhetoric," and they have been arranged in the same order. A few other words often misused by my pupils have been added.
[23] For misused verbs and adjectives see pages 92 and 119. [24] "Foundations," pp. 50-53.
Exercise XVIII.
Tell the difference in meaning between the following: —
1. Mr. Roscoe has no house (home).
2. The hotel clerk says he expects three more parties (persons) on the six o'clock train.
3. There are three persons (parties) concerned in this contract.
4. A succession (series) of delays.
5. This morning's papers publish an assertion (a statement) by Mr. Pullman, which throws new light on the strike.
Exercise XIX.
Insert the proper word in each blank, and give the reason for your choice. —
House, home.
1. Whenever a tramp comes to our ——, the dog is untied.
2. His new —— will be finished in November.
3. Mr. S. owns a beautiful —— and has a happy ——.
4. One can build a very good —— for $6000.
5. ——s are built to live in, not to look on.
Party, person.
6. There is another —— coming on the evening train, but he will leave to-morrow.
7. A cross-looking —— alighted from the stage-coach and entered the inn.
8. The cause of both ——s shall come before the court.
9. Is the —— that wants a carriage at dinner or in his room?
10. He is attached to the king's ——.
11. Who was that fat old —— who kept us all laughing?
Series, succession.
12. The —— of Presidents is a long one.
13. This stamp belongs to the —— of 1864.
14. A —— of calamitous events followed this mistake in policy.
15. A —— of accidents prevented the sailing of the yacht.
Statement, assertion.
16. The last —— of the bank has been examined.
17. —— unsupported by fact is worthless.
18. The Declaration of Independence contained a clear —— of grievances.
19. The orator's —— was shown to be false.
Verdict, testimony.
20. The —— of history is that Christianity has improved the condition of women.
21. Let us await the —— of the public.
22. The early Christian martyrs sealed their —— with their blood.
23. The —— of those who saw the murder was contradictory.
The whole, all.
24. —— (of) the dishes came tumbling to the floor.
25. Tell —— (the) truth.
26. Then you and I and —— of us fell down.
27. Washington was respected by —— (the) people.
28. We sold —— (of) our apples at sixty cents a bushel.
29. He has already packed —— of his books.
30. —— (the) adornments took an appropriate and sylvan character.
31. He readily confided to her —— (the) papers concerning the intrigue.
32. In the afternoon —— of them got into a boat and rowed across the lake.
II. A resemblance in sound misleads. [25]
Acceptance, acceptation. — Acceptance is the "act of accepting"; also "favorable reception": as, "The acceptance of a gift," "She sang with marked acceptance." Acceptation now means "the sense in which an expression is generally understood or accepted."
Access, accession. — Access has several meanings authorized by good use: (1) outburst; (2) admission; (3) way of entrance. Accession means (1) the coming into possession of a right; or (2) an addition.
Acts, actions. — "Acts, in the sense of 'things done,' is preferable to actions, since actions also means 'processes of doing.'"[26]
Advance, advancement. — Advance is used in speaking of something as moving forward; advancement, as being moved forward.
Allusion, illusion, delusion. — An allusion is an indirect reference to something not definitely mentioned. Roughly speaking, an illusion is an error of vision; delusion, of judgment. "In literary and popular use an illusion is an unreal appearance presented in any way to the bodily or the mental vision; it is often pleasing, harmless, or even useful … A delusion is a mental error or deception, and may have regard to things actually existing, as well as to illusions. Delusions are ordinarily repulsive and discreditable, and may even be mischievous."[27]
Avocation, vocation. — "Vocation means 'calling' or 'profession'; avocation, 'something aside from one's regular calling, a by-work.'"[28]
Completion, completeness. — Completion is "the act of completing"; completeness is "the state of being complete."
Observation, observance. — Observation contains the idea of "looking at"; observance, of "keeping," "celebrating." "We speak of the observation of a fact, of a star; of the observance of a festival, of a rule."[29]
Proposal, proposition. — "A proposal is something proposed to be done, which may be accepted or rejected. A proposition is something proposed for discussion, with a view to determining the truth or wisdom of it."[30]
Relationship, relation. — Relationship properly means "the state of being related by kindred or alliance": as, "A relationship existed between the two families." Relation is a word of much broader meaning. It does not necessarily imply kinship.
Solicitude, solicitation. — Solicitude is "anxiety"; solicitation is "the act of soliciting or earnestly asking."
Stimulation, stimulus, stimulant. — Stimulation is "the act of stimulating or inciting to action"; stimulus, originally "a goad," now denotes that which stimulates, the means by which one is incited to action; stimulant has a medical sense, being used of that which stimulates the body or any of its organs. We speak of ambition as a stimulus, of alcohol as a stimulant.
[25] "Foundations," pp. 53-56.
[26] A.S. Hill: Principles of Rhetoric, revised edition, p. 18.
[27] The Century Dictionary.
[28] A.S. Hill: Principles of Rhetoric, revised edition, p. 39.
[29] A.S. Hill: Principles of Rhetoric, revised edition, p. 39.
[30] The Century Dictionary.
Exercise XX.
Tell the difference in meaning between—
1. The acceptance (acceptation) of this word is doubtful.
2. The acts (actions) of Napoleon were carefully observed.
3. The colonel's advance (advancement) was not long delayed.
4. Literature has been Dr. Holmes's avocation (vocation).
5. The list of African dialects is approaching completeness (completion).
6. The completion (completeness) of this new dictionary of the Latin language will make scholars glad.
7. The professor advised me, when I went to Rome, to be especially careful in my observation (observance) of the religious ceremonies of Passion Week.
8. This proposal (proposition) made both Republican and Democratic senators indignant.
9. His mother's solicitude (solicitation) induced Washington when he was a boy to give up his intention of going to sea.
10. Shall I give your son a stimulus (stimulant)?
Exercise XXI.
Insert the proper word in each blank, and give the reason for your choice: —
Acceptance, acceptation.
1. The word "livery" is used in its original ——.
2. This is a true saying and worthy of ——.
3. The —— of a trust brings grave responsibility.
4. He sent to the President a formal —— of the position.
5. The assertion finds —— in every rank of society.
6. In its common —— "philosophy" signifies "the search after wisdom."
7. The probability of this theory justifies its full ——.
Access, accession.
8. We are denied —— to the king.
9. An —— of fever occurred at nightfall.
10. The emperor at his —— takes an oath to maintain the constitution.
11. —— to the outer court was through a massive door.
12. The only —— which the Roman Empire received was the province of Britain.
13. A sudden —— of violent, burning fever had laid Peter's mother-in-law prostrate.
14. Victoria married after her —— to the throne.
15. This allusion led to a fresh —— of feeling.
Act, action.
16. I cannot do so cruel an ——.
17. Another mode of —— was proposed by Henry Clay.
18. The fifth book of the New Testament records the ——s of the Apostles.
19. To attempt resistance would be the —— of a madman.
20. The monkey imitates the ——s of its master.
Advance, advancement.
21. The —— of the expedition was impeded by bad roads.
22. —— in the army is slow.
23. The Don and his companions, in their eager ——, had got entangled in deep glens.
24. My old position offered no hope of ——.
25. His hopes of —— in England failing, Swift returned to Ireland.
Allusion, illusion, delusion.
26. There were two ——s in his sermon to the riots.
27. The cleverest, acutest men are often under an (a) —— about women.
28. Longfellow's "Footsteps of Angels" contains ——s to the death of his wife.
29. Our judgment of people is liable to be warped by ——s of the imagination.
30. Those other words of —— and folly, Liberty first and Union afterward.
Avocation, vocation.
31. Surgeons in the army are allowed by the enemy to pursue their —— unmolested.
32. The young lawyer, surrounded by his law-books, took up his —— with enthusiasm.
33. Let your base-ball be a pastime, not a trade; let it be your ——, not your ——.
34. Heaven is a pious man's ——, and therefore he counts earthly employments — —s.
35. It seems that after his return, his disciples left him and returned to their ordinary ——s.
Completion, completeness.
36. The —— of the railroad was celebrated by a general illumination in the village.
37. The comfort of passengers is secured by the —— of the equipment of the steamers of this line.
38. We hope for the —— of our new building by September.
39. We were surprised at the —— of the collection of minerals.
Observation, observance.
40. The —— of a few simple rules of health would have prolonged his life.
41. The North American Indian has great powers of ——.
42. He insisted on the prompt —— of the regulations.
43. The Pharisees were strict in their —— of religious festivals.
44. He is arranging for a careful —— of the eclipse.
Proposal, proposition.
45. I submit two ——s for consideration by the assembly.
46. The —— that each of us relinquish something was accepted.
47. Sealed ——s for building the cottage were handed in by three contractors.
48. He made a —— of marriage to her.
49. I dissent from that ——.
50. A nation dedicated to the —— that all men are created equal.
Solicitude, solicitation.
51. He made frequent —— for money and clothes.
52. My mother watched over my infancy with tender ——.
53. Coriolanus yielded at the —— of his mother.
Stimulus, stimulant, stimulation.
54. He worked hard under the —— of a desire to get rich.
55. The providential —— of conscience is always present.
56. The doctor came and administered a gentle —— to the patient.
III. Additional nouns sometimes misused. [31]
Ability, capacity. — Ability is the power of doing; capacity, the power of containing, of understanding, of acquiring.
Adherence, adhesion. — Adherence is used of moral relations, adhesion, of physical connection. We speak of the adhesion of glue to wood, of a man's adherence to the principles of his party.
Amount, quantity, number. — Amount means "sum total," and is used of numbers or quantities; quantity is used of things which are measured; number, of things which are counted.
Argument, plea. — "Plea (in the legal sense) is properly used of the pleadings or the arraignment before a trial, not of the argument at a trial. A plea is always addressed to the court; an argument may be addressed either to the court or to the jury. A similar remark applies to the verbs plead and argue."[32]
Balance, rest, remainder. — Balance, meaning "the difference between two sides of an account," is a commercial term, and cannot properly be used for rest or remainder. Rest is used of persons or things, and of large as well as of small parts. Remainder is used only of things, and denotes a comparatively small part.
Centre, middle. — The centre is a point, or a definite place; the middle is a line, or a space, and is less definite than centre.
Character, reputation. — Character is what a man is; reputation is the prevailing opinion of his character.
Complement, compliment. — A complement is a "full quantity or number" or "that which is needed to complete"; a compliment is "an expression of praise."
Conscience, consciousness. — Conscience is that within us which distinguishes right from wrong. Consciousness is the state of being aware of one's existence, thoughts, and surroundings.
Council, counsel. — A council is "a body of persons convened for consultation." Counsel denotes "advice," or "a person, as a lawyer, engaged to give advice."
Custom, habit. — Custom denotes the frequent repetition of the same act, and may be used of a number of persons taken together. Habit is the effect of custom in a person. Custom is voluntary; habit is involuntary, often uncontrollable, sometimes unconscious.
Deception, deceit. — Deception is "the act of deceiving"; deceit is "deceitfulness," a trait of character; or a "trick," an "artifice."
Egoists, egoism, egotism. — "The disciples of Descartes were egoists, the ego being the basis of their philosophy." Egoism is the name of their system. Egoism is sometimes used also in the sense of undue admiration of self, the outward expression of which is egotism. But "egotism, in the sense of 'self-worship,' is preferable to egoism, since egoism also designates a system of philosophy."[33]
Emigration, immigration. — Emigration is the moving out from a country; immigration, the moving into it. Foreigners who come to live in America are emigrants from their fatherland, immigrants to America.
Enormity, enormousness. — "Enormity is used of deeds of unusual horror; enormousness, of things of unusual size. We speak of the enormity of C^sar Borgia's crimes, of the enormousness of the Rothschilds' wealth."[34]
Esteem, estimate, estimation. — Esteem as a noun seems to be going out of use; the word now commonly used in the sense of "opinion" or "regard" is estimation. An estimate is "an approximate judgment, based on considerations of probability, of the number, amount, magnitude, or position of anything."
Falsity, falseness. — "Falsity, in the sense of 'non-conformity to truth,' without any suggestion of blame, is preferable to falseness, since falseness usually implies blame."[35]
Identity, identification. — Identity is "the state of being the same." Identification denotes "the act of determining what a given thing, or who a given person, is."
Import, importance. — Import, in the sense of "meaning," must be distinguished from importance, "the quality of being important."
Invention, discovery. — We invent something new, contrived or produced for the first time. We discover what existed before, but remained unknown.
Limit, limitation. — Limit, in the sense of "bound," is preferable to limitation, since limitation also means "the act of limiting," or a "restriction."
Lot, number. — Lot denotes "a distinct part or parcel": as, "The auctioneer sold the goods in ten lots." The word does not mean "a great number"; therefore it is improperly used in the sentences: "He has lots of money," and "I know a lot of people in New York."
Majority, plurality. — A majority is more than half the whole number; a plurality is the excess of votes given for one candidate over those given for another, and is not necessarily a majority when there are more than two candidates.
Negligence, neglect. — "Negligence is used of a habit or trait; neglect, of an act or succession of acts."[36]
Novice, novitiate. — Novice properly means one who is new in any business or calling; novitiate, the state or time of being a novice.
Organism, organization. — An organism is a "living body composed of a number of essential parts." Organization denotes "the act of organizing," or "an organized body of persons," as a literary society.
Part, portion. — "Part is the general word for that which is less than the whole: as, the whole is equal to the sum of all its parts.............................. Portion is often used in a stilted way where part would be simpler and better; portion has always some suggestion of allotment or assignment: as, this is my portion; a portion of Scripture. 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.'"[37]
Plenty, abundance. — Plenty is enough; abundance, more than enough.
Produce, product, production. — Produce is always collective, and is used only of raw products: as, the produce of the soil, of the flock. Product denotes the result of some operation, usually physical labor. Production, meaning "the act of producing," is also applied to a work of literature or art, as a book, a statue, or a painting. "Product, in the sense of 'thing produced,' is preferable to production, since production is also used in an abstract sense."[38]
Prominence, predominance. — Prominence means "a standing out from something, so as to be conspicuous." Predominance denotes "ascendency," "a superiority in strength or influence," "an over-ruling." There may be many prominent traits in a person's character; there can be only one predominant trait.
Receipt, recipe. — "Receipt, in the sense of 'formula for a pudding, etc.,' is preferable to recipe, since recipe is commonly restricted to medical prescriptions."[38]
Relative, relation. — "Relative, in the sense of 'member of a family,' is preferable to relation, since relation is also used in an abstract sense."[38]
Requirement, requisite, requisition. — A requirement is something required by a person or persons. A requisite is something required by the nature of the case. A requisition is an authoritative demand or official request for a supply of something.
Resort, recourse, resource. — Resort denotes "the act of going to some person or thing"; or "that which is resorted to or habitually visited." Recourse means "resort for help or protection." Resource denotes "something which is a source of help or support."
Secreting, secretion. — Secreting is the act of hiding; secretion, a physiological process or fluid.
Sewage, sewerage. — Sewage means the contents, sewerage, the system, of sewers.
Situation, site. — "Situation embraces all the local aspects and relationships [39] in which a thing is placed. The site is confined to the ground on which it is erected or reposes."[40]
Speciality, specialty. — "Speciality, in the sense of 'distinctive quality,' is preferable to specialty, since specialty is also used in the sense of 'distinctive thing.'"[411
Union, unity. — Union is "the joining of two or more things into one." Unity means "oneness," "harmony."
Visitant, visitor. —Visitant was formerly used to denote a supernatural being; visitor, a human one. Visitant seems now to be going out of use, visitor being used in both senses.
[31] "Foundations," p. 56. If it seem undesirable to drill pupils on all the words which are here discriminated, the teacher may select those words which they are most likely to misuse. See note 2, p. 22.
[32] A.S. Hill: Principles of Rhetoric, revised edition, p. 40.
[33] A.S. Hill: Principles of Rhetoric, revised edition, p. 19.
[34] Ibid., p. 38.
[35] A.S. Hill: Principles of Rhetoric, revised edition, p. 19.
[36] Ibid., p. 39.
[37] The Century Dictionary.
[38] A.S. Hill: Principles of Rhetoric, revised edition, p. 19.
[39] Is "relationships" the proper word here?
[40] Smith's Synonyms Discriminated.
[41] A.S. Hill: Principles of Rhetoric, revised edition, p. 19.
Exercise XXII.
Tell the difference in meaning between—
1. He is a person of great ability (capacity).
2. A good character (reputation) is a precious possession.
3. The man seemed to be without conscience (consciousness).
4. The counsel (council) was not wise.
5. It is John's custom (habit) to speak slowly.
6. Her deceit (deception) amazed me.
7. This man is an egoist (egotist).
8. The government does not encourage immigration (emigration).
9. In Mr. E.'s estimate (estimation) the cost of lumber and paint is low.
10. It was only yesterday that I heard of the identification (identity) of the men who robbed Mr. Jones and Mr. Smith.
11. Mr. Gladstone's remark at the banquet was an utterance of great import (importance).
12. This is a remarkable discovery (invention).
13. Calhoun was nominated by a majority (plurality).
14. His death was caused by his own neglect (negligence).
15. The privileges of a novice (novitiate) are not many.
16. What a queer organism (organization)!
17. The expedition has plenty (an abundance) of provisions.
18. He proposes to lay a tax on all English produce (products, productions).
19. He quickly attained prominence (predominance) in the committee.
20. Please copy this receipt (recipe).
21. My relatives (relations) here are charming.
22. Wanted, a boy to do light work in a first-class store. Ability to read and write is a requirement (requisite).
23. The sewage (sewerage) of inland cities presents problems of great difficulty.
24. The site (situation) of the temple is not known.
25. Unity (union) of religious denominations is hoped for by many.
Exercise XXIII.
Insert the proper word in each blank, and give the reason for your choice: —
Ability, capacity.
1. The —— of the room is not great.
2. They gave, each according to his ——.
3. What is —— but the power of doing a thing?
4. Let me drink of Thee according to my ——. (From a prayer.)
5. Some students do not have —— to master Greek; but what most need is —— to work persistently.
6. My father does not think Judge X. has much—as a lawyer.
Adherence, adhesion.
7. The —— of the parts which were cemented together is still perfect.
8. He showed an obstinate —— to false rules of conduct.
9. Marks on the blackboard depend on the —— of chalk to the slate.
10. Professor A.'s —— to the doctrines of Adam Smith is seen in his last book.
Amount, number, quantity.
11. Our monthly expenditures vary in ——.
12. You could see any —— of cabs standing in front of the theatre.
13. A great —— of books and papers covered the table.
14. Gulliver asked the king of Lilliput for a large —— of iron bars and a considerable —— of rope.
15. What —— of paper is needed for one issue of Harper's Weekly?
16. Such a (an) —— of sheep as we saw to-day!
17. There is a large —— of silver bullion in the Treasury waiting to be coined.
Argument, plea.
18. Every whisper in the court-room was hushed as Mr. N. rose before the jury and began his—in behalf of the prisoner.
19. The —— of Smith, when arraigned before the court, was that he had acted in self-defence.
20. The only —— available with an east wind is to put on your overcoat.
Balance, remainder, rest.
21. The —— of the hour is spent in the study of some poem.
22. I have a —— at my banker's.
23. The —— of the boys went home.
24. For the —— of the week we stayed at home.
25. The account shows a —— of $12.46.
26. Give John and Horace four of the six apples; you may have the ——.
27. Give the —— of our dinner to Tommy, our cat.
Centre, middle.
28. There is a crack running down the —— of the wall.
29. A table stood in the —— of the room.
30. A path runs through the —— of the park.
31. In the —— of the garden was a fountain.
32. He parts his hair in the ——.
33. The arrow struck the —— of the target.
Character, reputation.
34. This man has an excellent —— for honesty.
35. Every one admires the —— of Washington.
36. Mr. Arnold won great —— as a critic.
37. Oh, I have lost my ——.
38. The outlaws of Yorkshire were men of loose ——.
39. A distinguished general may lose his —— through a single blunder.
40. —— is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deserving.
Complement, compliment.
41. Present my ——s to your father.
42. The ship has its —— of stores.
43. The —— of an angle is the difference between the angle and a right angle.
44. "True friendship loathes such oily ——."
45. In the sentence, "He is ill," "ill" is the —— of the verb "is."
46. "This barren verbiage, current among men, Light coin, the tinsel clink of ——."
Conscience, consciousness.
47. The —— of the purity of his motives consoled him for his unpopularity.
48. My —— hath a thousand several tongues.
49. I felt a shock, I saw the car topple over, and then I lost ——.
Council, counsel.
50. "No man will take ——, but every man will take money; there fore money is better than ——."—Swift.
51. The members of the cabinet form a sort of secret —— of the President.
52. Webster was one of the —— in the trial of the Knapps for the murder of Captain White.
Custom, habit.
53. De Quincey acquired the —— of using opium from first using it to relieve neuralgic pains.
54. Dancing round a May-pole is a —— many hundreds of years old.
55. As his —— was, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath.
56. Man is a bundle of ——s.
57. Those national ——s are best which lead to good ——s among the people.
58. A loose life brings a man into ——s of dissipation.
59. It was the —— of Scotch Highlanders to go bareheaded.
60. It is a good —— to rise early, because this will soon become a ——.
Deception, deceit.
61. He was guilty of a long course of ——.
62. Her character would be charming if it were not for her ——.
63. He won my confidence by base ——.
64. Deceivers seldom profit by their ——.
65. —— Is of the very nature and essence of sin.
Egotist, egoist.
66. He is an ——, for he is always talking about himself.
67. ——s are the pest of society; they are always obtruding their ailments on others.
Emigration, immigration.
68. The increase in Chinese —— is a matter for serious consideration by the United States Senate.
69. The Chinese government encourages —— to America.
70. —— is one cause of the rapid growth of our population.
71. The —— of the French nobility at the time of the French Revolution was a political blunder.
Enormity, enormousness.
72. The —— of the cost of the civil war startles the student of history.
73. Burke drew such a vivid picture of the —— of the Nabob of Arcot's crimes that ladies in the audience fainted.
74. Visitors do not at first realize the —— of St. Peter's, at Rome.
Esteem, estimate, estimation.
75. In what —— is he held by his townsmen?
76. In my —— she is the best of women.
77. We can form an —— of the amount of water in the air.
Falseness, falsity.
78. We have already seen the —— of that hypothesis.
79. Arnold was despised for his ——.
80. Piety is opposed to hypocrisy and ——.
81. The prince is in danger of betrayal through the —— of his servant.
82. The —— of this reasoning is evident.
Identity, identification.
83. The bodies were so disfigured that their —— was difficult.
84. In no form of government is there absolute —— of interest between the people and their rulers.
Import, importance.
85. He heard the tolling of the bell and trembled at its ——.
86. The oath of the President contains three words, all of equal ——; namely, that he will "preserve, protect, and defend" the Constitution.
87. He was engaged in business of the highest ——.
88. You misunderstood the —— of my remarks.
Invention, discovery.
89. Newton's —— of the law of gravitation.
90. The —— of the telescope was made by Galileo.
91. The —— of the properties of the magnetic needle is said to have been made by the Chinese; also, the —— of gunpowder.
92. The —— of the circulation of blood was made by Harvey.
93. The steam-engine is one of the greatest ——s of this age.
94. The —— of the telephone is claimed by several persons.
Limit, limitation.
95. All kinds of knowledge have their ——s.
96. Titus Quintius was appointed to the command of the army without any ——s.
97. Athens insisted upon —— of the right to vote.
98. The prisoners were free to roam within certain ——s, but their employments were subject to ——.
Majority, plurality.
99. If A has 21 votes, B 18, and C 10, A is elected by a ——, not a ——.
100. Smith had 37 of the 52 votes, a good ——.
101. Jones had 20 votes, Smith 14, and Brown 11; Jones therefore was elected by a safe ——.
Negligence, neglect.
102. "Without blame
Or our —— we lost her as we came."—Comus.
103. Through —— to do what ought to be done we soon acquire habits of ——.
104. Rescue my poor remains from vile ——.
105. The gate has fallen from its hinges, the wooden steps are rotted, and the house shows similar signs of ——.
106. —— is a grave fault.
Novice, novitiate.
107. For most men a —— of silence is profitable before they enter on the business of life.
108. I am young, a —— in the trade.
109. It was in this abbey that I served my ——.
110. When I was a —— in this place, there was here a pious monk.
Organism, organization.
111. Germs of microscopic ——s exist abundantly on the surface of all fruits.
112. Lieutenant Peary has completed the —— of his arctic expedition.
113. The Jacobin club was a political ——.
114. What a complex —— the human body is!
Part, portion.
115. A —— of my work is done.
116. The younger —— of the community.
117. The priests had a —— of land assigned them by Pharaoh.
118. The whole is equal to the sum of all its ——s.
119. Each received his —— of the estate.
120. The lower ——s of his body were cold.
121. "This," said he, "is a —— of the true cross."
Plenty, abundance.
122. If you do not waste your money, you will have —— for your expenses.
123. They did cast in of their ——; but she of her want.
124. The expedition has —— of provisions, but none to spare.
125. Last year there was —— of corn; it was estimated that we had enough to feed the whole nation for two years.
Produce, product, production.
126. The manufacturers brought their ——s to market.
127. The farmers bring their —— to town or haul it to the nearest railway station.
128. The apple is especially an American ——.
129. Lowell's "Commemoration Ode" is a noble ——.
130. Great Britain exports chiefly manufactured ——.
131. The component elements of —— are labor and capital.
Prominence, predominance.
132. The Indian race is marked by a —— of the cheek-bones.
133. The English settlers were prominent (predominant) in the New World.
134. "Childe Harold" brought Byron into —— as a poet.
135. As a man Byron had many prominent (predominant) faults; it is not easy to say which one was prominent (predominant).
Recipe, receipt.
136. Please send me your —— for making chocolate ice-cream.
137. Paracelsus furnished a —— for making a fairy, but had the delicacy to refrain from using it.
138. He gave me a —— for a liniment, which he said was excellent for sprains.
Relative, relation.
139. He has no —— in this part of the country.
140. I am the nearest —— he has in the world.
Requirement, requisition, requisite.
141. One of the ——s in a great commander is coolness.
142. The ——s for admission to college vary.
143. One of the ——s in a United States minister to France is that he be wealthy, for the salary paid is insufficient to defray the expenses of the minister's social obligations.
144. That locomotive engineers be not color-blind is a just ——.
145. The wars of Napoleon were marked by the enormous ——s which were made on invaded countries.
Resort, Resource, Recourse.
146. The woods were her favorite—.
147. The United States has unlimited—s.
148. Asheville has long been a—of wealthy society people.
149. When women engage in any art or trade, it is usually as a last ——.
150. General Lee had—to stratagem.
Secretion, secreting.
151. Jailers are watchful to prevent the —— of poison in letters sent to condemned prisoners.
153. Saliva is a ——.
Sewage, sewerage.
153. The water of rivers that have received —— is not good to drink.
154. The vast and intricate —— of Paris is described by Victor Hugo in "Les Miserables."
Situation, site.
155. The —— of Samaria is far more beautiful than the —— of Jerusalem, though not so grand and wild.
156. Dr. Schliemann made excavations to discover the —— of Troy.
157. Our school buildings have a fine ——.
158. Has the —— of Professor Richard's house been fixed?
159. One of Nebuchadnezzar's temples is thought to have stood on the —— of the Tower of Babel.
Specialty, speciality.
160. It is the —— of vice that it is selfishly indifferent to the injurious consequences of actions.
161. Diseases of the throat are Dr. Hall's ——.
162. Fountain-pens a ——.
163. "Toughness" is the —— of Salisbury iron; there fore Salisbury iron is much in demand for car-wheels.
Union, unity.
164. How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in ——.
165. The —— of soul and body is ended by death.
166. In the temper of Lord Bacon there was a singular —— of audacity and sobriety.
167. This composition lacks ——; the writer treats of several distinct subjects.
Exercise XXIV.
Tell why the italicized words in the following sentences are misused, and substitute for them better expressions: —
1. The West End Railway Company is the factor[42] which can remedy all this.
2. Addison's "Cato" was a success.
3. Decoration Day is a fitting observance of those who gave their lives for their country.
4. At the end of each day the teams[43] are so broken up that they have to go into the repair-shop, where the carpenter and blacksmith are able to fix any part of them.
5. The majority of the news is unfavorable.
6. Search-lights would be an indispensable factor in a night attack.
7. Bishop Hatto lived in a country where all the productions were spoiled by the weather.
8. The whole of the stupid boys in Germany struggle to pass this test.
9. The police are looking for the guilty parties.
10. A lot of men from the country came to town to see the circus.
11. In the shed is a mixture[44] of oars, seats, sails, rudders, booms, and gaffs.
12. They had to take the balance of his arm off.
13. Addison's essays were a great factor in improving the morals of his age.
14. General Manager Payson Tucker at once sent detectives to the scene, and every effort will be made to secure the guilty parties.
15. For a few days Coxey's army was a success as a show.
16. If it were not for him and a few others of his ilk the matter would have been settled long ago.
[42] "Foundations," p. 51.
[43] Ibid., p. 52.
[44] Consult a good dictionary.
Exercise XXV. [45]
Illustrate by original sentences the correct use of these words: —
Home, party, series, statement, verdict, acceptation, actions, advance, advancement, avocation, completion, allusion, illusion, observation, observance, proposal, proposition, solicitude, solicitation, stimulus, stimulant, capacity, adherence, adhesion, amount, quantity, number, centre, middle, character, complement, compliment, conscience, consciousness, council, counsel, custom, habit, deception, deceit, egoist, emigration, immigration, enormity, enormousness, esteem, estimate, falsity, falseness, import, invention, discovery, limitation, majority, plurality, negligence, neglect, novitiate, organization, organism, produce, product, production, prominence, predominance, recipe, requirement, requisition, requisite, resort, resource, secretion, sewage, sewerage, situation, site, speciality, specialty, union, unity.
[45] To the teacher. — It is easy to underestimate the difficulty which this exercise presents to pupils. In assigning the lesson care must be taken not to call for more of this kind of work than can be done well. Constructing a sentence to illustrate the correct use of a word is a valuable exercise, but it is a difficult one; and persons who know the correct use of a word may be put to their wit's end to illustrate that use. It will be well to assign this exercise little by little, while the class works through the definitions and exercises on pages 23-41; or else to select from the list the words on which the class needs most drill. With some pupils it may be wise to omit the exercise entirely.