A COMPANION TO "Don't." A Manual for Guidance in the Use of Correct Words and Phrases in Ordinary Speech. BY CRITIC.pd. I Fallows, Samuel NEW YORK: D. Appleton & Co., 1, 3, & 5 Bond Street. 1886. Say "a his The plea for DISCRIMINATE in the use of A and AN. A should be used before words beginning with an aspirated h, when the accent falls on the second syllable, and not an. torical novel," "a heroic act." this usage among us, although it may not always be euphonious, is based on the fact that in America the h is properly aspirated, while in England, where the h is often suppressed, an is generally employed. The article should be repeated in such sentences as, "The knife had an elegant handle and rough-looking blade"; a rough - looking blade; "it had a rough-looking handle and elegant blade"; an elegant blade; “it was a rough and inelegant remark"; an inelegant remark. Discriminate between ABILITY and CAPACITY. Capacity is the power of receiving and retaining knowledge with ease. Ability is the power of applying knowledge to practical purposes. Capacity implies power to conceive, ability the power to execute designs. Capacity is shown in quickness of apprehension; ability in something actually done. Discriminate in the use of ABORTIVE. Don't say, "A man abortively tried to steal some books"; use unsuccessfully, or in vain. Abor tive is used in respect to failure of plans, "The scheme was abortive." not of acts. Discriminate between ABOVE and FOREGOING. Don't say, "The above statement"; say, "The foregoing statement." Discriminate between ABOVE and MORE THAN. Don't say, "Above a mile distant"; say, "more than a mile distant." Discriminate between ABOVE and BEYOND. Don't say, "Above his strength"; say, "Beyond his strength." Discriminate between ACCORD and GIVEN. Don't say, "The information was accorded him"; say, "The information was given him." Discriminate between ADAPT and DRAMATIZE. To adapt a play is to modify its form or |