71. Purpose and propose: these two words, which are often confounded, are entirely distinct in meaning. To purpose means to intend; to propose means to offer a proposition.
72. Directing and addressing letters: Directing designates the persons to whom, and the place to which the letter, as a parcel, is to be sent; addressing refers to the individual to whom, as a communication, it is written. A letter addressed to the President, may be directed to his secretary.
73. “Who do you think I saw yesterday?” say, Whom.
74. A popular proverb is expressed in the following language: “Of two evils choose the least;” say, the less. Of no less than three evils can a person choose the least.
75. Exaggerate: pronounce exad-gerate, and do not sound agger as in dagger.
76. Ladies School: the usual form, but not correct; write, Ladies’ School. The apostrophe (’) is thus used after nouns in the plural, and indicates possession. In the singular, it is placed before the s, as, The lady’s school.
77. The following equivocal notice is said to swing out on a sign-board somewhere in the Western country: “Smith & Huggs—Select School.—Smith teaches the boys, and Huggs the girls.” Huggs needs correction!
78. “He keeps a chaise:” pronounce it shaze, and not shay; it has a regular plural, chaises.
79. “The drought lasted a long time:” pronounce drought so as to rhyme with sprout, and not drowth.
80. “The two friends conversed together for an hour:” omit together, as the full meaning of this word is implied in con, which means with, or together, or in company.