Study Tech 1889

“Always note a new word, with a view to ascertaining its precise meaning and use.

 

“Make constant use of a dictionary. It is a practice of many great scholars never to allow a word to pass without an examination, if there is the least doubt about its origin,pronunciation, meaning or spelling.

 

“Study etymology. It is useful to trace out the origin, composition, and  primary meaning of words.

 

“Avoid obsolete words, or such as were once in good use, but have ceased to be employed by the best writers.

 

“Avoid all technical terms, or such as belong to special arts or sciences.

 

“Propriety consists of using words in their proper sense.”

 

Elements of Composition and Rhetoric

 

by Virginia Waddy

Copyright 1889