"Hail, holy love! thou word that sums all bliss!
Gives and receives all bliss: fullest when most
Thou givest; spring-head of all felicity!"
—Pollok, C. of T., B. v, 1, 193.
CHAPTER XIII.—GENERAL RULE.
The following comprehensive canon for the correction of all sorts of nondescript errors in syntax, and the several critical or general notes under it, seem necessary for the completion of my design; which is, to furnish a thorough exposition of the various faults against which the student of English grammar has occasion to be put upon his guard.
GENERAL RULE OF SYNTAX.
In the formation of sentences, the consistency and adaptation of all the words should be carefully observed; and a regular, clear, and correspondent construction should be preserved throughout.
CRITICAL NOTES TO THE GENERAL RULE.
CRITICAL NOTE I.—OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH.
Words that may constitute different parts of speech, must not be left doubtful as to their classification, or to what part of speech they belong.
CRITICAL NOTE II.—OF DOUBTFUL REFERENCE.
The reference of words to other words, or their syntactical relation according to the sense, should never be left doubtful, by any one who means to be understood.