252. He is a mere cipher; never spell cipher with a y.
253. I was necessitated to do it; a vile expression, and often made worse by necessiated being used. Say, I was obliged, or compelled, to do it.
254. Gibbon wrote the "Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire;" pronounce rise, the noun, so as to rhyme with price; rise, the verb, rhymes with prize.
255. Have you been to the National Gallery? Never pronounce national as if it were written nay-shun-al, a very common error, and by no means confined to uneducated persons.
256. I bought a new umbrella; beware of pronouncing umbrella, umberella, or umbereller, both very common errors.
257. He is a supporter of the government; beware of omitting the n in the second syllable of government. A very common practice.
258. He strenuously maintained the contrary; never place the accent on the second syllable in contrary. In the ancient and time-honored ditty, however, of
"Mistress Mary,
Quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?"
a ballad with which we are all more or less familiar, the word "contrary" is accented on the second syllable, so as to rhyme with the name of the venerable dame to whom these memorable lines were addressed.
259. "Received this day of Mr. Brown, ten pounds;" say, "Received this day from", &c.