Passion to Learn

Who and whom are used in relation to persons, and which in relation to
things. But it was once common to say, "the man which." This should now
be avoided. It is now usual to say, "Our Father who art in heaven,"
instead of "which art in heaven."

Whose is, however, sometimes applied to things as well as to persons. We
may therefore say, "The country whose inhabitants are free."

Thou is employed in solemn discourse, and you in common language. Ye
(plural) is also used in serious addresses, and you in familiar
language.

The uses of the word it are various, and very perplexing to the
uneducated. It is not only used to imply persons, but things, and even
ideas, and therefore in speaking or writing, its assistance is
constantly required. The perplexity respecting this word arises from the
fact that in using it in the construction of a long sentence, sufficient
care is not taken to insure that when it is employed it really points
out or refers to the object intended. For instance, "It was raining when
John set out in his cart to go to market, and he was delayed so long
that it was over before he arrived." Now what is to be understood by
this sentence: Was the rain over? or the market? Either or both might be
inferred from the construction of the sentence, which, therefore, should
be written thus: "It was raining when John set out in his cart to go to
market, and he was delayed so long that the market was over before he
arrived."

Rule--After writing a sentence always look through it, and see that
wherever the word it is employed, it refers to or carries the mind back
to the object which it is intended to point out.

The general distinction between this and that may be thus defined: this
denotes an object present or near, in time or place; that something
which is absent.

These refers, in the same manner, to present objects, while those refers
to things that are remote.

Who changes, under certain conditions, into whose and whom; but that and
which always remain the same, with the exception of the possessive case,
as noted above.

That may be applied to nouns or subjects of all sorts; as, the girl that
went to school, the dog that bit me, the opinion that he entertains.

The misuse of these pronouns gives rise to more errors in speaking and
writing than any other cause.

When you wish to distinguish between two or more persons, say: "Which is
the happy man?" not who--"Which of those ladies to you admire?"

Instead of "Whom do you think him to be?" say, "Who do you think him to
be?"

Whom should I see.

To whom do you speak?

Who said so?

Who gave it to you?

Of whom did you procure them?

Who was he?

Who do men say that I am?

Self should never be added to his, their, mine or thine.

Each is used to denote every individual of a number.

Every denotes all the individuals of a number.

Either and or denote an alternative: "I will take either road, at your
pleasure;" "I will take this or that."

Neither means not either, and nor means not the other. Either is
sometimes used for each--"Two thieves were crucified, on either side
one."

"Let each esteem others as good as themselves," should be, "Let each
esteem others as good as himself."

"There are bodies each of which are so small," should be, "each of which
is so small."

Do not use double superlatives, such as most straightest, most highest,
most finest.

The term worser has gone out of use; but lesser is stilt retained.

The use of such words as chiefest, extreamest, etc., has become
obsolete, because they do not give any superior force to the meanings of
the primary words, chief, extreme, etc.

Such expressions as more impossible, more indispensable, more universal,
more uncontrollable, more unlimited, etc., are objectionable, as they
really enfeeble the meaning which it is the object of the speaker or
writer to strengthen. For instance, impossible gains no strength by
rendering it more impossible. This class of error is common with persons
who say, "A great large house," "A great big animal," "A little small
foot," "A tiny little hand."

Here, there and where, originally denoting place, may now, by common
consent, be used to denote other meanings, such as, "There I agree with
you," "Where we differ," "We find pain where we expected pleasure,"
"Here you mistake me."

Hence, whence and thence, denoting departure, etc., may be used without
the word from. The idea of from is included in the word
whence--therefore it is unnecessary to say "From whence."

Hither, thither and whither, denoting to a place, have generally been
superseded by here, there and where. But there is no good reason why
they should not be employed. If, however, they are used, it is
unnecessary to add the word to, because that is implied--"Whither are
you going?" "Where are you going?" Each of these sentences is complete.
To say, "Where are you going to?" is redundant.

Two negatives destroy each other, and produce an affirmative. "Nor did
he not observe them," conveys the idea that he did observe them.

But negative assertions are allowable. "His manners are not impolite,"
which implies that his manners are in some degree marked by politeness.

Instead of "Let you and I." say "Let you and me."

Instead of "I am not so tall as him," say "I am not so tall as he."

When asked "Who is there?" do not answer "Me," but "I,"

Instead of "For you and I," say "For you and me."

Instead of "Says I," say "I said."

Instead of "You are taller than me," say "You are taller than I."

Instead of "I ain't," or "I arn't," say "I am not."

Instead of "Whether I be present or no," say "Whether I be present or
not."

For "Not that I know on,"' say "Not that I know."

Instead of "Was I to do so," say "Were I to do so."

Instead of "I would do the same if I was him," say "I would do the same
if I were he."

Instead of "I had as lief go myself," say "I would as soon go myself,"
or "I would rather."

It is better to say "Six weeks ago" than "Six weeks back."

It is better to say "Since which time," than "Since when,"

It is better to say "I repeated it," than "I said so over again."

Instead of "He was too young to have suffered much," say "He was too
young to suffer much."

Instead of "Less friends," say "Fewer friends." Less refers to quantity.

Instead of "A quantity of people," say "A number of people."

Instead of "He and they we know," say "Him and them."

Instead of "As far as I can see," say "So far as I can see."

Instead of "A new pair of gloves," say "A pair of new gloves."

Instead of "I hope you'll think nothing on it," say "I hope you'll think
nothing of it."

Instead of "Restore it back to me," say "Restore it to me."

Instead of "I suspect the veracity of his story," say "I doubt the truth
of his story."

Instead of "I seldom or ever see him," say "I seldom see him."

Instead of "I expected to have found him," say "1 expected to find him."

Instead of "Who learns you music?" say "Who teaches you music?"

Instead of "I never sing whenever I can help it," say "I never sing when
I can help it."

Instead of "Before I do that I must first ask leave," say "Before I do
that I must ask leave."

Instead of saying "The observation of the rule," say "The observance of
the rule,"

Instead of "A man of eighty years of age," say "A man eighty years old."

Instead of "Here lays his honored head," say "Here lies his honored
head."

Instead of "He died from negligence," say "He died through neglect," or
"in consequence of neglect."

Instead of "Apples are plenty," say "Apples are plentiful."

Instead of "The latter end of the year," say "The end, or the close, of
the year."

Instead of "The then government," say "The government of that age, or
century, or year, or time."

Instead of "A couple of chairs," say "Two chairs."

Instead of "They are united together in the bonds of matrimony," say
"They are united in matrimony," or "They are married," '.

Instead of "We travel slow," say "We travel slowly."

Instead of "He plunged down into the river," say "He plunged into the
river."

Instead of "He jumped from off the scaffolding," say "He jumped off the
scaffolding."

Instead of "He came the last of all," say "He came the last."

Instead of "universal," with reference to things that have any limit,
say "general," "generally approved," instead of "universally approved,"
"generally beloved," instead of "universally beloved."

Instead of "They ruined one another," say "They ruined each other,"

Instead of "If in case I succeed," say "If I succeed."

Instead of "A large enough room," say "A room large enough."

Instead of "I am slight in comparison to you," say "I am slight in
comparison with you."

Instead of "I went for to see him," say "I went to see him."

Instead of "The cake is all eat up," say "The cake is all eaten."

Instead of "Handsome is as handsome does," say "Handsome is who handsome
does."

Instead of "The book fell on the floor," say "The book fell to the
floor."

Instead of "His opinions are approved of by all," say "His opinions are
approved by all."

Instead of "I will add one more argument," say "I will add one argument
more," or "another argument."

Instead of "A sad curse is war," say "War is a sad curse."

Instead of "He stands six foot high," say "He measures six feet," or
"His height is six feet."

Instead of "I go every now and then," say "I go sometimes (or often)."

Instead of "Who finds him in clothes," say "Who provides him with
clothes."

Say "The first two," and "the last two" instead of "the two first" "the
two last."

Instead of "His health was drank with enthusiasm," say "His health was
drunk enthusiastically."

Instead of "Except I am prevented," say "Unless I am prevented."

Instead of "In its primary sense," say "In its primitive sense."

Instead of "It grieves me to see you," say "I am grieved to see you."

Instead of "Give me them papers," say "Give me those papers."

Instead of "Those papers I hold in my hand," say "These papers I hold in
my hand."

Instead of "I could scarcely imagine but what," say "I could scarcely
imagine that."

Instead of "He was a man notorious for his benevolence," say "He was
noted for his benevolence."

Instead of "She was a woman celebrated for her crimes," say "She was
notorious on account of her crimes."

Instead of "What may your name be?" say "What is your name?"

Instead of "I lifted it up," say "I lifted it."

Instead of "It is equally of the same value," say "It is of the same
value," or "equal value."

Instead of "I knew it previous to your telling me," say "I knew it
previously to your telling me."

Instead of "You was out when I called," say "You were out when I
called."

Instead of "I thought I should have won this game," say "I thought I
should win this game."

Instead of "This much is certain," say "Thus much is certain," or "So
much is certain."

Instead of "He went away as it may be yesterday week," say "He went away
yesterday week."

Instead of "He came the Saturday as it may be before the Monday,"
specify the Saturday on which he came.

Instead of "Put your watch in your pocket," say "Put your watch into
your pocket."

Instead of "He has got riches," say "He has riches."

Instead of "Will you set down?" say "Will you sit down?"

Instead of "No thankee," say "No, thank you."

Instead of "I cannot do it without farther means," say "I cannot do it
without further means."

Instead of "No sooner but," or "No other but," say "than."

Instead of "Nobody else but her," say "Nobody but her."

Instead of "He fell down from the balloon," say "He fell from the
balloon."

Instead of "He rose up from the ground," say "He rose from the ground."

Instead of "These kind of oranges are not good," say "This kind of
oranges is not good."

Instead of "Somehow or another," say "Somehow or other."

Instead of "Will I give you some more tea?" say "Shall I give you some
more tea?"

Instead of "Oh, dear, what will I do?" say "Oh, dear, what shall I do?"

Instead of "I think indifferent of it," say "I think indifferently of
it."

Instead of "I will send it conformable to your orders," say "I will send
it conformably to your orders."

Instead of "To be given away gratis," say "To be given away."

Instead of "Will you enter in?" say "Will you enter?"

Instead of "This three days or more," say "These three days or more."

Instead of "He is a bad grammarian," say "He is not a grammarian."

Instead of "We accuse him for." say "We accuse him of."

Instead of "We acquit him from," say "We acquit him of."

Instead of "I am averse from that," say "I am averse to that."

Instead of "I confide on you," say "I confide in you."

Instead of "As soon as ever." say "As soon as."

Instead of "The very best," or "The very worst," say "The best or the
worst."

Avoid such phrases as "No great shakes," "Nothing to boast of," "Down in
my boots," "Suffering from the blues." All such sentences indicate
vulgarity.

Instead of "No one hasn't called," say "No one has called."

Instead of "You have a right to pay me," say "It is right that you
should pay me."

Instead of "I am going over the bridge," say "I am going across the
bridge."

Instead of "I should just think I could," say "I think I can."

Instead of "There has been a good deal," say "There has been much."

Instead of "The effort you are making for meeting the bill," say "The
effort you are making to meet the bill."

To say "Do not give him no more of your money," is equivalent to saying
"Give him some of your money." Say "Do not give him any of your money."

Instead of saying "They are not what nature designed them," say "They
are not what nature designed them to be."

Instead of saying "I had not the pleasure of hearing his sentiments when
I wrote that letter," say "I had not the pleasure of having heard," etc.

Instead of "The quality of the apples were good," say "The quality of
the apples was good."

Instead of "The want of learning, courage and energy are more visible,"
say "is more visible."

Instead of "We die for want," say "We die of want."

Instead of "He died by fever," say "He died of fever."

Instead of "I enjoy bad health," say "My health is not good."

Instead of "Either of the three," say "Any one of the three."

Instead of "Better nor that," say "Better than that."

Instead of "We often think on you," say "We often think of you."

Instead of "Mine is so good as yours," say "Mine is as good as yours."

Instead of "This town is not as large as we thought," say "This town is
not so large as we thought."

Instead of "Because why?" say "Why?"

Instead of "That there boy," say "That boy."

Instead of "The subject-matter of debate," say "The subject of debate."

Instead of saying "When he was come back," say "When he had come back."

Instead of saying "His health has been shook," say "His health has been
shaken."

Instead of saying "It was spoke in my presence," say "It was spoken in
my presence."

Instead of "Very right," or "Very wrong," say "Right" or "Wrong."

Instead of "The mortgagor paid him the money," say "The mortgagee paid
him the money." The mortgagee lends; the mortgagor borrows.

Instead of "I took you to be another person," say "I mistook you for
another person."

Instead of "On either side of the river," say "On each side of the
river."

Instead of "There's fifty," say "There are fifty."

Instead of "The best of the two" say "The better of the two,"

Instead of "My clothes have become too small for me" say "I have grown
too stout for my clothes."

Instead of "Two spoonsful of physic," say "Two spoonfuls of physic."

Instead of "She said, says she," say "She said."

Avoid such phrases as "I said, says I," "Thinks I to myself," etc.

Instead of "I don't think so," say "I think not."

Instead of "He was in eminent danger," say "He was in imminent danger."

Instead of "The weather is hot," say "The weather is very warm."

Instead of "I sweat," say "I perspire."

Instead of "I only want two dollars," say "I want only two dollars."

Instead of "Whatsomever," say "Whatever," or "Whatsoever."

Avoid such exclamations as "God bless me!" "God deliver me!" "By God!"
"By Gosh!" "Holy Lord!" "Upon my soul!" etc., which are vulgar on the one
hand, and savor of impiety all the other, for--"Thou shalt not take the
name of the Lord thy God in vain."

ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN A NUTSHELL