COMPOUND WORDS There is still great lack of uniformity in the manner of writing compound words. The modern tendency is to use fewer hyphens. A good unabridged dictionary should be consulted in doubtful cases. As a general rule, words are written separate when they are used in regular grammatical relation. A difference in meaning is shown by the use of the hyphen. Compare the following sentences: I. 1. That is evidently a poor farm. 2. The red coat is hanging on the wall. 3. People who live in glass houses should never throw stones. 4. Judge Harvey has issued a restraining order in this case. I. The widow Simpson has been sent to the poorfarm. 2. The red-coat hirelings began to run. 3. Many of the glasshouses have been compelled to close since the beginning of the great war. 4. I found farmer Brown re-straining the milk. The following rules represent general usage: I. Ex and vice denoting a title should be followed by a hyphen; as, ex-mayor, vice-president. 2. Step and great denoting relationship should be followed by a hyphen; as, step-son, great-uncle. 3. Rate and hand joined to a number should be preceded by a hyphen; as, first-rate, second-hand. 4. The parts of compound adjectives, also compound numerals, should be separated by hyphens. (See Exercise 16.) LETTER WRITING Perhaps ninety percent of the world's business is done by correspondence. This fact alone justifies the statement that a knowledge of letter writing is not only desirable, but absolutely essential to those who would attain the highest degree of success in a business career. Such a knowledge fits one for the more responsible positions, and the richest rewards come to those having the greatest capacity for assuming responsibility. To be a competent correspondent one must have a good English education, a good general knowledge of the everyday affairs of life, a thorough knowledge of the subjectmatter of the letters he has to write. Not one of these is a “natural gift" with which people are born. All of them can be acquired by the student who does not already possess them. It is true that after pursuing the same course of study, no two students of a class will possess the same degree of ability; but the fact remains that anyone of ordinary intelligence can become at least a passably good correspondent. There is one feature of letter writing upon which all can become thoroughly proficient. That is the mechanical arrangement, the proper form of the letter. It is this that carries the first impression to the recipient of your letter. FIRST LESSON The Paper The size of the paper most widely used for business letters is about 82 by II inches. The quality and color vary, but good taste seems to call for white unruled, with a surface sufficiently smooth to prevent ink from blurring. It is customary among business men to use printed stationery containing all the information called for in the heading of a letter, except the date. These printed sheets are called letter-heads. If a letter contains more than one sheet, plain paper, usually called second sheets, is used for the second and subsequent sheets. Only one side of the sheet is used. Parts of a Letter There are six parts of a letter: The heading, the address, the salutation, the body, the complimentary close, the signature. The Heading The heading of a letter contains the address of the writer and the date when the letter is written. It is placed on the upper right-hand part of the first page. It should be placed so as to extend approximately to the right-hand margin of the letter. The heading may occupy one, two, or three lines, the choice being decided by length and appearance. The date, containing the month, the day of the month, |