APPENDIX.

PERSPICUITY is the fundamental quality of style: a quality so essential in every kind of writing, that for the want of it nothing can atone. It is not to be considered as merely a sort of negative virtue, or freedom from defect. It has higher merit: it is a degree of positive beauty. We are pleased with an author, and consider him as deserving praise, who frees us from all fatigue of searching for his meaning: who carries us through his subject without any embarrassment or confusion: whose style flows always like a limpid sream, through which we see to the very bottom.

Authors sometimes plead the difficulty of their subject, as an excuse for the want of perspicuity. But the excuse can rarely, if ever, be admitted. For whatever a man conceives clearly, he may, if he will be at the trouble, put it into distinct propositions, and express it clearly to others; and upon no subject ought any man to write, where he cannot think clearly. His ideas may, very excusably, be on some subjects incomplete or inadequate; but still, as far as they go, they ought to be clear; and wherever this is the case, Perspicuity, in expressing them, is always attainable.

The study of perspicuity and accuracy of expression, consists of Three Parts: and requires attention, First, to Single Words and Phrases; Secondly, to the Construction of Sentences; and Thirdly, to the Great Principle which decides the propriety of language. If words are properly chosen, correctly arranged, and conformable to present established usage, it is impossible that the sense can be ambiguous.

PART I.

Of Perspicuity and Accuracy of Expression,

With respect to Single Words and Phrases.

THESE qualities of style, considered with regard to words and phrases, require the following properties:

PURITY, PROPRIETY,

AND

PRECISION.*

CHAPTER I.

OF PURITY.

See Vol. ii. Part 5. Exercises. Chap. 1.

PURITY of style consists in the use of such words, and such constructions, as belong to the idiom of the language which we speak; in opposition to words and phrases that are taken from other languages, or that are ungrammatical, obsolete, new-coined, or used without proper authority. All such words and phrases as the following, should be avoided : Quoth he; I wist not; erewhile; behest; self-same; delicatesse, for delicacy; politesse, for politeness; hauteur, for haughtiness; incumberment, connexity, martyrized, for encumbrance, connexon, martyred.

Foreign and learned words, unless where necessity requires them, should never be admitted into our composition. Barren languages may need such assistance, but ours is not one of

Purity requires that those words only shall be employed, which are of classical autho rity: Propriety, that, of classical words, those shall always be selected, which are best adapted to express the meaning; Precision, that no more words shall be introduced, than are necessary to convey the sense. Classical authority consists of speakers and writers, who are deservedly in high estimation: speakers, distinguished for their elocution, and per suasive eloquence; writers, eminent for correct taste, solid matter, and refined manner.

these. A multitude of Latin words, in particular, have, of late, been poured in upon our language. On some occasions, they give an appearance of elevation and dignity to style; but they often render it stiff and apparently forced. In general, a plain, native style, is more intelligible to all readers: and by a proper management of words, it can be made as strong and expressive as this Latinised English, or any foreign idioms CHAPTER II.

OF PROPRIETY.

See Vol. ii. Part 5. Exercises. Chap. 2.

PROPRIETY of language, is the selection of such words as the best usage has appropriated to those ideas, which we intend to express by them; in opposition to low expressions, and to words and phrases which would be less significant of the ideas that we mean to convey. Style may be pure, that is, it may be strictly English, without Scotticisms or Gallicisms or ungrammatical, irregular expressions of any kind, and may, nevertheless, be deficient in propriety; for the words may be ill chosen, not adapted to the subject, nor fully expressive of the author's sense.

To preserve propriety, therefore, in our words and phrases, we must avoid low expressions; supply words that are wanting; be careful not to use the same word in different senses; avoid the injudicious use of technical phrases, equivocal or ambiguous words, unintelligible expressions, and all such words and phrases as are not adapted to our meaning.

1. Avoid low expressions: such as, "Topsy turvy, hurly burly, pellmell; having a month's mind for a thing; currying favour with a person; dancing attendance on the great," &c.

"Meantime the Britons, left to shift for themselves, were forced to call in the Saxons for their defence." The phrase "left to shift for themselves," is rather a low phrase, and too much in the familiar style to be proper in a grave treatise.

2. Supply words that are wanting. "Arbitrary power I look upon as a greater evil than anarchy itself, as much as a savage is a happier state of life, than a slave at the oar:" it should have been, "as much as the state of a savage, is bappier than that of a slave at the oar." "He has not treated this subject liberally, by the views of others as well as his own;""By adBerting to the views of others," would have been better.

"This generous action greatly increased his former services;" it should have been, "greatly increased the merit of his former services."By the pleasures of the imagination or fancy, (which I shall use promiscuously,) I here mean," &c. This passage ought to have had the word "terms" supplied, which would have made it correct; "terms which I shall use promiscuously."

It may be proper in this place to observe, that articles and prepositions are sometimes improperly omitted; as in the following instances: "How immense the difference between the pious and profane!" "Death is the common lot of all of good men and bad." They should have bad the article and preposition repeated: "How immense the difference between the pious and the profane!" "Death is the common lot of all; of good men and of bad."

The repetition of articles and prepositions is proper, when we intend to point out the objects of which we speak, as distinguished from each other, or in contrast; and when we wish that the reader's attention should rest on that distinction; as, "Our sight is at once the most delightful, and the most useful of all our senses."

3. In the same sentence, be careful not to use the same word too frequently, nor in different senses. "One may have an air which proceeds from a just sufficiency and knowledge of the matter before him, which may naturally produce some motions of his head and body, which might become the bench better than the bar."

The pronoun which is here thrice used, in such a manner as to throw obscurity over the sentence.

"Gregory favoured the undertaking, for no other reason than this, that the manager, in countenance, favoured his friend." It should have been," resembled his friend."

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Charity expands our hearts in love to God and man : it is by the virtue of charity that the rich are blessed, and the poor supplied." In this sentence, the word" charity" is improperly used in two different senses: for the highest benevolence, and for almsgiving.

4. Avoid the injudicious use of technical terms. To inform those who do not understand sea phrases, that, "We tacked to the larboard, and stood off to sea," would be expressing ourselves very obscurely. Technical phrases not being in current use, but only the peculiar dialect of a particular class, we should never use them but when we know they will be understood.

5. Avoid equivocal or ambiguous words. The following senten