Grammar is divided into four parts;
- ORTHOGRAPHY,
- ETYMOLOGY,
- SYNTAX,
- PROSODY.
ORTHOGRAPHY teaches the nature and powers of letters, and the just method of spelling words.
ORTHOGRAPHY means word-making, or spelling. It teaches us the different kinds and sounds of letters, how to combine them into syllables, and syllables into words.
As this is one of the first steps in the path of literature, I presume you already understand the nature and use of letters, and the just method of spelling words. If you do, it is unnecessary for you to dwell long on this part of grammar, which, though very important, is rather dry and uninteresting, for it has nothing to do with parsing and analyzing language. And, therefore, if you can spell correctly, you may omit Orthography, and commence with Etymology and Syntax.
Orthography treats, 1st, of Letters, 2ndly, of Syllables, and 3dly, of Words.
I. LETTERS. A letter is the first principle, or least part, of a word.
The English Alphabet contains twenty-six letters.
They are divided into vowels and consonants.