10. Errors in the Use of Figurative Language,

11. Critical Examination of Passages,

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RUDIMENTS

OF

ENGLISH COMPOSITION.

INTRODUCTION.

COMPOSITION is the art of expressing ideas in written language.

To compose correctly, it is necessary to have a practical knowledge of Spelling, Punctuation, and the Structure and Arrangement of Sentences, including the Use of Words.

To compose with perspicuity and elegance, it is also necessary to have a practical knowledge of the various qualities of Style, and of the use of Figurative Language.

To be able to write with facility, it is further necessary to have considerable practice in Original Composition.

PART I.

SECTION I-SPELLING.

Spelling is the art of expressing words by their proper letters.

Letters are of two forms, capitals and small letters.

1. CAPITAL LETTERS.

CAPITAL LETTERS are used in the following situations :

I. The first word of every sentence.

II. The first word of every line of poetry.

III. The first word of a quotation in a direct form. IV. The names of the Supreme Being, and pronouns that refer to Him.

V. Proper names, and adjectives derived from proper names.

VI. The names of the days of the week, and of the months of the year.

VII. Any very important word; as, the Reforma

tion.

VIII. The chief words in the title of a book.
IX. The pronoun I, and the interjection O.
X. Generally the name of an object personified.
XI. Single letters forming abreviations; as, M.A.

Exercise 1.

Correct the errors in the use of Capital Letters in the following

passages:

I. The love of praise should be kept under proper subordination to the principle of duty. in itself, it is a useful motive to action; but when allowed to extend its influence too far, it corrupts the whole character. to be entirely destitute of it, is a defect; To be governed by it, is depravity.

How many clear marks of benevolent intention appear everywhere around us! what a profusion of beauty and ornament is poured forth in the face of nature! what a magnificent spectacle presented to the view of man! what a supply contrived for his wants!

II. Restless mortals toil for nought;
bliss in vain from earth is sought;
bliss, a native of the sky,

never wanders. mortals, try;

there you cannot seek in vain,
for to seek her is to gain.

III. An ancient heathen king, being asked What things he thought most proper for boys to learn, answered: "those which they ought to practise, when they come to be men." a wiser than this heathen monarch has taught the same sentiment: "train up a child in the way he should go, and, when he is old, he will not depart from it."

IV.

There lives and works

a soul in all things, and that soul is god.
the lord of all, himself through all diffused,
sustains, and is the life of all that lives.

these are thy glorious works, parent of good!
almighty! thine This universal frame!

V. Our fields are covered with herbs from holland, and roots from germany; with flemish farming, and swedish turnips; our hills with forests of the firs of norway. the chestnut and the poplar of the south of europe adorn our lawns; and below them flourish shrubs and flowers, from every clime, in great profusion. arabia improves our horses, china our pigs, north america our poultry, and spain our sheep.

VI. We left home on monday morning, arrived at liverpool on tuesday, went to manchester, by the railway, on wednesday, and reached this place on thursday evening. Blessed that eve!

the sabbath's harbinger, when, all complete,
in freshest beauty, from jehovah's hand,
creation bloom'd; when eden's twilight face
smiled like a sleeping babe.

VII. The first monarch of great britain and ireland, after the revolution of 1688, was william the third. the reign of his successor, queen anne, was rendered remarkable by the victories of the duke of Marlborough on the continent of europe, and the union between england and scotland.