WORD-MAKING.

Each word is intended to represent an idea, and the syllable which contains the fundamental
meaning or main idea is called the root of the word; the root meaning may be modified by
prefixing a word showing relation, or by suffixing or placing after the root a word.

Roots (Latin) .

-cede, -ceed, -cess, to go; as,

proceed,

-ceive, -cept, to take; receive.

-clude, -clus, to shut; include.

-cur, -curs, to run; incursion, -diet, to say, speak; ■predict.

-duce, -duct, to lead; induce.

-fer, to bear, carry; transfer.

-fuse, to pour; infuse.

-ject, to cast; inject.

-late, to bear, carry ; translate,

-port, to carry; export.

-scribe, -script, to write; in

scribe.

-tract, to draw; attract.

-vene, -vent, to come; con

vene.

Prefixes (end to correspond with the following letter).

a- (ab-, abs-), from, away;

avert.

ad- (ac-, af-, ag-, al-, an-, ap-,

ar-, as-, at-), to; adhere.

ante-, before; antecedent.

anti-, ant-, opposite to; ant

arctic.

con- (co-, col-, com-, cor-),

en- (em-), in-, to make; en

snare, enrich.
ex- (e-, ec-, ef-), out; expel.

in- (ig-, il-, im-, ir-), in; before

adjs., not.

inter-, between; intervene.

Suffixes.

-age, place, cost, or state of.

-al, relating to

-ard, -ist, -or, one who.

-less, without; fearless.

-ate, to make; having.

-ness, -ce, -cy, -ity, -ty, state

-ed, did, possessed of. or quality of being.

-ful, -ous, -y, full of; glorious,

-fy, -ize, to make.

CORRECTION OF COMMON ERRORS OF SPEECH.

1. A pronoun must denote the same number as the noun or nouns for which it stands, — a rule
often broken after any, each, every. Let every boy take his (not their) books. Let any man
answer if he (not they) can. Let each man strive to do his best. Let John or Arthur bring his (not
their) slate; but, Let John and Arthur bring their slates.

2. Use the objective form of the pronoun for the object only, of a verb or preposition; but use
the nominative form for the subject and for the predicate-nominative. He and I (not him and
me) fell. It was she or he (not her or him); for was, were, is, are, never have an object. Was it
they (not them)? He is wiser than / (not me) [am]. It is I (not me) ; but, He told you and me (not
/). Between him and me (not 7). Let you and me (not I) go. Them that love me I will love.

3. The noun and its adjective must denote the same number. This (not these) kind; that (not
those) sort; these means; these (not this) five weeks ; six feet over ten cords of wood (not, six
foot over ten cord) .

4. A verb and its subject or subjects must denote the same number. Were (not was) you at
school? The men were (not was) at home. Those are (not them) my sentiments. Are (not is)
your folks well? Where are (not is) my shoes? The boat with all her passengers was lost. Every
one of my papers was burned.

5. An adverb should not be used as an adjective to express quality; The rose smells sweet (not
sweetly). Nor an adjective as an adverb to express time, place, degree, or manner; Come
quickly (not quick); Read carefully and correctly (not careful and correct). Place an adverb
where it will most clearly express the meaning, especially the adverb only: but never place an
adverb between the parts of an infinitive; To study carefully (not, To carefully study).
6. Do not use had before the comparative better or rather. Change the form of expression, or
use would. He would (not had) better stay. I would (not had) rather read my book than write a
letter.

7. Use prepositions correctly. Different from (not to or than) ; between two ; among three. Into
implies entrance or motion; He dropped into the sea ; but, He is in the house.

8. The plural of nouns ending in s, ch, sh, x, is formed by annexing es to the singular ; as, glasses,
watches, bushes, foxes, —y after any letter but a, e, o, u, is changed to i before -es ; as, berry,
berries, —calf, knife, life, sheaf, thief, wife, change f to v before -es ; as, cal/, calves.

9. Do not use the past tense for the past participle, nor the past participle for the past tense;
have gone (not, have went) ; but, I did (not, I done) it. Learn well the past tense and past
participle of the verbs lie, sit, rise, and do not confuse them with those of the verbs lay, set,
raise.