OBS. This important art is to be acquired rather by means of the spelling-book or dictionary, and by observation in reading, than by the study of written rules. The orthography of our language is attended with much uncertainty and perplexity: many words are variously spelled by the best scholars, and many others are not usually written according to the analogy of similar words. But to be ignorant of the orthography of such words as are uniformly spelled and frequently used, is justly considered disgraceful. The following rules may prevent some embarrassment, and thus be of service to the learner. Monosyllables ending in f, l, or s, preceded by a single vowel, double the final consonant; as, staff, mill, pass: except if, of, as, gas, has, was, yes, is, his, this, us, thus. RULE II.-OTHER FINALS. Words ending in any other consonant than f, l, or S, do not double the final letter: except add, odd, ebb, egg, inn, err, burr. purr, butt, buzz, fuzz, and some proper names. RULE III.-DOUBLING. Monosyllables, and words accented on the last syllable, when they end with a single consonant preceded by a single vowel, double their final consonant before an additional syllable that begins with a vowel: as, rob, robber; permit, permitting. Exc.-X final, being equivalent to ks, is never doubled. RULE IV.—NO DOUBLING. A final consonant, when it is not preceded by a single vowel, or when the accent is not on the last syllable, should remain single before an additional syllable: as, toil, toiling; visit, visited; general, generalize. Exc.-But I and s final are usually doubled, (though per haps improperly,) when the last syllable is not accented: as, travel, traveller; bias, biassed. RULE V.FINAL LL. Primitive words ending in l, generally reject one 1, before ful, less, ly, and ness: as, skill, skilful, skilless; full, fully, fulness. OBS.-Words ending in any other double letter preserve it double before these terminations; as, blissful, oddly, stiffness, carelessness. RULE VI-FINAL E. The final e of a primitive word, is generally omitted before an additional termination beginning with a vowel: as, rate, ratable; force, forcible; rave, raving. Exc.-Words ending in ce or ge, retain the e before able or ous, to preserve the soft sound of c and g: as, peace, peaceable, change, changeable; outrage, outrageous. RULE VII.-FINAL E. The final e of a primitive word, is generally retained before an additional termination beginning with a consonant: as, pale paleness; lodge, lodgement. Exc.-When the e is preceded by a vowel, it is sometimes omitted; as, true, truly; awe, awful: and sometimes retained; as, rue, rueful; shoe, shoeless. RULE VIII-FINAL Y. The final y of a primitive word, when preceded by a conso nant, is changed into i before an additional termination: as, merry, merrier, merriest, merrily, merriment; pity, pitied, pities, pitiest, pitiless, pitiful, pitiable. Exc.-Before ing, y is retained to prevent the doubling of i; as, pity, pitying. Words ending in ie, dropping the e by Rule 6th, change i into y, for the same reason; as, die, dying. OBS.-When a vowel precedes, y should not be changed: as, day, days; valley, valleys; money, moneys; monkey, monkeys. RULE IX.-COMPOUNDS. Compounds generally retain the orthography of the simple words which compose them; as, hereof, wherein, horseman, recall, uphill, shellfish. Exc.-In permanent compounds, the words full and all drop one ; as, handful, careful, always, withal: in others, they retain both; as, full-eyed, all-wise, save-all. OBS.-Other words ending in l, sometimes improperly drop one 1, when taken into composition; as, miscal, downhil. This excision is reprehensible, because it is contrary to general analogy, and because both letters are necessary to preserve the sound, and show the derivation of the compound. Where is the consistency of writing, recall, miscal―inthrall, bethral-windfall, downfal-laystall, thumbstal waterfall, overfal-molehill, dunghil― windmill, twibil-clodpoll, enrol? [See Johnson's Dictionary, first Amer ican ed. 4to.] QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. LESSON I.-GENERAL DIVISION. What is English Grammar? Of what does Orthography treat? QUESTIONS ON ORTHOGRAPHY, LESSON II.-LETTERS. Of what does Orthography treat? What is a Letter? What is an articulate sound? How many letters are there in English? Repeat them. What is a vowel? What is a consonant? What letters are vowels? and what, consonants? When are w and y consonants? and when, vowels? How are the consonants divided? What is a mute? what consonants are mutes? What is a semivowel? what consonants are semivowels? LESSON III.-CAPITALS. What characters are employed in English? What distinction of form do we make in each of the letters? How many rules for capitals are there? and what are their heads? What says Rule 1st of titles of books?-Rule 2d of first words?-Rule 3d of names of Deity?-Rule 4th of proper names?-Rule 5th of objects personified?-Rule 6th of words derived?-Rule 7th of I and O?-Rule 8th of poetry?-Rule 9th of examples?-Rule 10th of chief words? LESSON IV.-SYLLABLES AND WORDS. What is a Syllable? What is a Word? Can the syllables of a word be perceived by the ear? What is a word of two syllables called? What is a word of three syllables called? What is a word of four or more syllables called? What is a diphthong? What is a proper diphthong?—an improper diphthong? What is a triphthong? What is a proper triphthong?—an improper triphthong? How are words distinguished in regard to species and figure? What is a derivative word? What is a simple word? What is a compound word? How do permanent compounds differ from others? What guide have we for dividing words into syllables? What are the special rules of syllabication? What is Spelling? LESSON V.-SPELLING. How is this art to be acquired? How many rules for spelling are there? and what are their heads? What says Rule 1st of final f, l, or s?-Rule 2d of other finals?—Rule 3d of the doubling of consonants?-Rule 4th against the doubling of consonants?-Rule 5th of final ll?-Rule 6th of final e?-Rule 7th of final e?-Rule 8th of final y?-Rule 9th of compounds? EXERCISES IN ORTHOGRAPHY. [Spelling is to be taught by example, rather than by rule. For oral exercises in this branch of learning, a spelling-book or vocabulary should be employed. The following examples of false orthography are inserted, that they may be corrected by the pupil in writing. They are selected with direct reference to the rules; which are at first indicated by figures. For it is evident, that exercises of this kind, without express rules for their correction, would rather perplex than instruct the learner; and that his ability to correct them without reference to the rules, must presuppose such knowledge as would render them useless.] EXERCISE I-CAPITALS. 1. The pedant quoted Johnson's dictionary of the english language, Gregory's dictionary of arts and sciences, Crabb's english synonymes, Walker's key to the pronunciation of proper names, Sheridan's rhetorical grammar, and the diversions of purley. 2. gratitude is a delightful emotion. the grateful heart at once performs its duty and endears itself to others. 3. What madness and folly, to deny the great first cause! Shall mortal man presume against his maker? shall he not fear the omnipotent? shall he not reverence the everlasting one? The fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom.' 4. xerxes the great, emperor of persia, united the medes, persians, bactrians, lydians, assyrians, hyrcanians, and many other nations, in an expedition against greece. 5. I observed that, when the votaries of religion were led aside, she commonly recalled them by her emissary conscience, before habit had time to enchain them. 6. Hercules is said to have killed the nemean lion, the ery. manthian boar, the lernean serpent, and the stymphalian birds. The christian religion has brought all mythologic stories and milesian fables into disrepute. 7. i live as i did, i think as i did, i love you as i did; but all these are to no purpose; the world will not live, think, or love as i do.-o wretched prince! o cruel reverse of fortune! o father Micipsa ! 8. are these thy views? proceed, illustrious youth, and virtue guard thee to the throne of truth! 9. Those who pretend to love peace, should remember this maxim: "it is the second blow that makes the battle." EXERCISE II-CAPITALS. 'time and i will challenge any other two,' said philip.-'thus,' said diogenes, 'do i trample on the pride of plato.'-' true,' re plied plato; but is it not with the greater pride of diogenes?' the father in a transport of joy, burst into the following words: 'o excellent scipio! heaven has given thee more than human virtue! o glorious leader o wondrous youth! epaminondas, the theban general, was remarkable for his love of truth. he never told a lie, even in jest. and pharaoh said to joseph, "say to thy brethren, 'do thislade your beasts, and go to the land of canaan.'" who is she that, with graceful steps and a lively air, trips over yonder plain? her name is health: she is the daughter of exercise and temperance. to the penitent sinner, a mediator and intercessor with the sovereign of the universe, appear comfortable names. the murder of abel, the curse and rejection of cain, and the birth and adoption of seth, are almost the only events related of he immediate family of adam, after his fall. on what foundation stands the warrior's pride, EXERCISE III-SPELLING. 1. Few know the value of a friend, til they lose him. Good men pas by offences, and take no revenge. Hear patiently, iff thou wouldst speak wel. 2. The business of warr is devastation and destruction. To er is human; to forgive, divine. A bad speller should not pretend to scholarshipp. 3. It often requires deep diging, to obtain pure water. Praise is most shuned by the praiseworthy. He that hoists too much sail, runs a risk of overseting. Of all tame animals the flatterrer is the most mischievous. 7. Wise men measure time by their improvment of it. 8. Nothing essential to happyness is unattainable. |