please, to encourage and aid the mind in the exercise of its faculties. The first kind of composition appeals primarily to the understanding. Its sphere is Science in its widest acceptation, as including History as well as Philosophy, and it requires perspicuity as its prominent quality. The second kind of composition seeks to influence the will. Its proper domain is Oratory, and its distinguishing quality is energy. The third kind of composition works upon the imagination. It includes Poetry, and all kinds of imaginative writing, whether in prose or in verse; and, without detriment to the other qualities, it must pre-eminently be characterized by grace. This division is exhibited in the following table : It will be understood that these qualities of style do not exclusively belong to the kinds of writing against which they are placed. It is, for example, desirable that the expositions of Science should be energetic and graceful, as well as perspicuous; it is indispensable that Oratory and Poetry should be perspicuous as well as graceful and energetic. This classification is intended to show only the outstanding or primary qualities of the different kinds of composition respectively. 8. We now proceed to examine the special qualities of language and of construction which conduce to these general qualities of style. Chapter II.-Language. 9. In regard to Language, or the choice of words, upon which much of the charm of style depends, there are four qualities to be aimed at,-1. Accuracy; 2. Simplicity; 3. Conciseness; 4. Purity. 1. ACCURACY. 10. Of these qualities of language, Accuracy is the most important. It claims the first attention. It is the last to be sacrificed. It is that quality of language which makes it the precise counterpart of the thought. The words employed by a writer may fail in simplicity; they may be abstruse or rare : his words may fail in conciseness; they may be too numerous for the thought: his words may fail in purity; they may be harsh-sounding or unidiomatic. In all these respects he may lose something, and yet his meaning may be quite intelligible. But if he fail in Accuracy, he fails in everything. Accuracy is the indispensable quality of language, without which all other qualities go for nothing, and merely conceal the fundamental weakness. In this particular, too, the taste as well as the judgment must be satisfied. The inaccuracy may be so apparent that the writer's meaning can be gathered notwithstanding. He may speak of the "invention" of electricity, or any other power of nature; he may speak of the "discovery" of the telescope, or any other mechanism of art. Yet his error may fail to mislead us. But in this case, correctness is preserved rather by the reader's acuteness than by the writer's precision. And a writer who perpetrates such mistakes of language, is not likely to inspire his readers with much respect for his intelligence, or confidence in his accuracy of thought; and so far he has failed. 66 11. Inaccuracy may consist (I.) in the use of the wrong word in a certain connexion. It is wrong, for example, to say that "Queen Mary's actions admit of no alleviation." Actions may admit of "excuse or apology; "guilt" may admit of alleviation. But it is obviously wrong to connect alleviation, or relieving of a burden, with actions which, when performed, cannot be changed. We have other examples of improper combinations in the following sentences :— "Social reformers assert that our deficiencies in this respect are being gradually improved." "Deficiency" means the want of something; to "improve" means to make better. We cannot make the want of a thing better. We may "remove" it, or "supply" it. Shortly before the fire, the librarian had lent to different people a quantity of the most valuable books." A "quantity" means a single mass; and this could not be lent to different people. It should be " a number of the most valuable books." A "The attempt was found to be impracticable." "Impracticable" means impossible of accomplishment. "scheme" may be impracticable. A "design" may be impracticable. But if an "attempt" be not made, it is no attempt at all. An "attempt" may be futile, or fruitless, or unsuccessful; but it is a contradiction in terms to speak of it as impracticable. 12. Mistakes often arise from the misuse of prepositions, conjunctions, and other words which are apparently of trivial importance. It is not positively inaccurate to say, "God made the country, and man made the town," for the antithesis is so direct that it is unaffected by the conjunction "and;" but it would have been more accurate to have used the conjunction "but." Certain verbs and adjectives require to be followed by certain prepositions, and mistakes frequently occur in their misuse. We should say, to agree with, to differ from, to rely upon, to be dependent upon, to be independent of, etc., etc. The mistakes of most frequent occurrence in this connexion, consist in making one preposition the complement of two different or contrasted words. It is wrong to say, "He was a man with whom he agreed on a few subjects, but differed on many." "Differed" must be followed by "from." We should therefore say, "with whom he agreed on a few subjects, from whom he differed on many." In like manner it is improper to say, "Such were the difficulties with which the question was involved.-(For with, read in.) "Napoleon sought to engraft himself to an old imperial "For this difference, no other general cause can be assigned 13. Inaccuracy may consist (II.) in the use of an equivocal word. An equivocal word is a word which admits of being taken in more senses than one. Equivocation in language, corresponds with ambiguity in construction. When there is any doubt about the connexion in which a member of a sentence is to be taken, it is ambiguous; when a word admits of several meanings, and it is doubtful which meaning is to be attached to it, it is equivocal. The following are examples of equivocation: "The Queen did not want solicitation to consent to the measure." The word "want" may imply either that she did not desire solicitation, or that she was not without it. "Henry had been from his youth attached to the Church of Rome." This may mean either that he had been fond of the church, or that he had been a member of it. "Exactly at eight, the mother came up, and discovered that "Discovered" may It may "The minister's resignation, in these circumstances, cannot be too highly praised." Does this mean his having resigned his office, or his being resigned to his fate? "Retirement" would imply the one meaning, "submission" the other. If the former is intended, say "the minister's resignation of his office;" if the latter, say resignation exhibited by the minister." "the 14. Inaccuracy may consist (III.) in the use of an improper synonyme. Synonymes are words which agree in their general meaning, but differ in their special applications. "Discovery" and "invention" have in common the idea of presenting for the first time; but discovery is applied to making known what previously existed, as a principle or object; invention, to constructing what did not previously exist. We speak of the discovery of electricity, and the invention of the telegraph. But it is wrong to say that the steam-engine was discovered, or that the circu lation of the blood was invented. The following are additional examples : "Many people believe that there are good grounds for questioning the authenticity of Ossian's poems." A work is authentic when it states what is true. When it is really the work of the author to whom it is ascribed, it is genuine. Genuineness should be used instead of authenticity in this sentence. "If I am exposed to continuous interruptions, I cannot pursue a perpetual train of thought." Perpetual refers to repeated acts, continuous means uninterrupted. The two words should therefore be transposed. "A child is educated in the grammar of a language, and instructed to speak it correctly." "Education" is a comprehensive word, implying the whole course of mental training; and it is therefore improper to apply it, or the verb to "educate," to a particular branch of instruction, as grammar. "Instruction," again, is applied to communicating the theory of a subject. The proper word to apply to the practice is to "teach." We ought therefore to say, "a child is instructed in the grammar of a language, and taught to speak it correctly." "Wholesome food and healthful exercise make healthy children." These words are correctly used. "Wholesome" is applied to objects, "healthful" to acts, and "healthy" to states. "I have persuaded him that he is wrong." "Persuasion" refers to the will, and leads to action. The proper words to use, with reference to understanding, are "conviction" and "convince." We "persuade" a person to do a thing; we "convince him that he is wrong." The shades of meaning in the following synonymes may be examined: To promote, to forward. Inconsistent, incongruous. Enemy, antagonist. |