Orthography, Etymology, and Punctuation Embodying The Essential Facts of the English Language A Text-book and Book of Reference Private Students By S. R. Winchell, A.M. CHICAGO A. FLANAGAN COMPANY PREFACE. IT has been the aim of the author of this little manual to present in a concise form the essential facts concerning the language we use in speaking and writing. An effort has been made at every step to set forth essential facts, not theories; to be concise, and yet thorough; to avoid being led into writing a treatise, and yet to give a sufficient number of details to render the work complete for practical uses. It has not been deemed advisable to cumber the pages of this little volume with all the various theories, forms, and exceptions which may be found even in several of the leading authorities on the subject of which the volume treats, but the one authority closely adhered to throughout has been Webster's International Dictionary. This work is so generally accepted by American schools and writers as the guide for pronunciation and spelling, that no attempt has been made to present the points of difference between this and other eminent authorities. As an aid and guide to teachers who use the book with classes, frequent exercises have been introduced, which should be supplemented by others of a similar nature prepared by the teacher, or by the class under the direction of the teacher. Too much drill on the sounds of the letters, the spelling and pronouncing of words, and the punctuation of sentences can hardly be possible. These drills should be both oral and written. By making much of them in a school, they become exceedingly interesting and profitable. Part IV, on Punctuation, presents the essentials of correct punctuation,-illustrated by numerous examples. It is almost superfluous to say that John Wilson's "Treatise on Punctuation" is the most complete work of the kind in the English language; but it was published many years ago, and is now considerably behind the times. A very valuable hand-book is that of Marshall T. Bigelow, which presents in concise form the principles set forth by Wilson. Another work, interesting and logical, is by F. Horace Teall, entitled "Punctuation," published by D. Appleton & Co. But the latest work, and therefore more nearly in conformity with present usage, as well as extremely fresh, original, and free from technicalities and rules, is an anonymous treatise entitled "Why We Punctuate." These and numerous other works have been consulted in the preparation of this volume, and examples and illustrations have been freely drawn from them. S. R. W. EVANSTON, ILL. |
