to determine as well as you can whether the letters would be likely to make a good impression on busy business men who want capable boys and girls to work for them. The following points should be considered in each case:

a. Did the writer say just enough and no more?

b. In writing about himself did he seem to be bragging? c. Does the letter seem stiff and formal, or is it written in a free and easy style?

In addition to these questions there is one more. It is very difficult for a group of young people to read directions for doing a certain thing without all doing the thing the same way. Most of the letters in this case, for example, are likely to sound very much alike. If there are any letters, however, that are suitable in other respects and yet are somewhat different from the others, you should mention this fact and have them written on the blackboard, for they are deserving of praise.

After this criticism of the substance of many of the letters, a few will be copied on the blackboard and criticized as to form. Consider the following points:

a. Are the heading, the address, the salutation, the complimentary close, and the signature properly punctuated and in good form?

b. Does the writer know what a sentence is, and has he properly punctuated each one at the end? c. Has the writer used punctuation marks within the sentence according to the rules you recently learned? d. Has he correctly used capital letters?

e. Is the penmanship good? You can determine this by appointing a committee from among yourselves to examine the letters carefully and decide which letters are written in a clear, rapid hand and which are not.

A CAUTION ABOUT CAPITAL LETTERS

206. It is probable that some of you have written sentences like this: I am a graduate of a Grammar School or of an Elementary School. If so, why did you use capital letters at the beginning of grammar, or elementary, school? These words do not mean any particular school, and therefore they should be begun with small letters. If, however, you should write I am a graduate of the Third Ward Grammar School or I am a graduate of the Longfellow Grammar School, capital letters are correct, for in these cases you use the name of a particular school. The same rule applies in the case of high schools.

GROUP WORK

207. Get some more "Help Wanted" advertisements, or, if you prefer, advertisements of a different kind, and write answers to them, working at the blackboard in groups as you have done formerly. This work will be kept up for a number of days, so that everybody may have the experience of writing under the supervision of others.

Everything that you have learned heretofore about correct grammar, spelling, the meaning of words, and punctuation should be kept in mind and used if necessary.

care.

TWO INCORRECT PHRASES

208. Have you formed the habit of improving your English whenever you can? It takes constant For example, since you have been studying this book you have doubtless used such expressions as I'm kind of tired and I'm sort of tired. Now it is clear that you may speak of a kind of animal or a kind of tree, because there are different kinds of animals and trees; but what can kind of tired, or sort of tired possibly mean? How many kinds of "tired" are there? When you use these phrases you mean somewhat tired or rather tired. And if you mean that, why not say it?

SLANG

209. Probably you use slang sometimes, too. There are two kinds of slang-the kind that means nothing and the kind that means something. At the time this book was being written, people who did n't have the ability to say what they meant, were always saying, "What do you know about that?" and "I should worry." The objections to these remarks are that they mean nothing, and that they weary the hearer from their frequent repetition -they become mere tiresome rigmaroles. On the other hand, certain slang expressions seem to be used to mean only one thing, and these are distinctly better than the others. "Ring off" and "Your wires are crossed" are among them; they have definite meaning, and are very effective, though, it must be confessed, by no means polite. It

is clear, too, that they grow out of our daily lives, for they are telephone slang. In time they may be in better use than at present. If you must use slang, try to use it only when you are sure that it means something.

SOME DIFFICULT WORDS

210. Do you ever use such expressions as most always? This is a mistake; you should say almost always. That is, you should use almost in the sense of nearly, but you should never use most in the sense of nearly.

It is more than likely that you sometimes use such expressions as a grand dinner or a splendid supper. Or perhaps you say We had a grand time, or We had a splendid time, or We had an elegant time. If you use such expressions, you are misusing words.

Grand means big, imposing. So when you say a grand dinner you are saying a big or imposing dinner, although it is plain that you mean merely a delicious dinner. It is correct to speak of a grand mountain or a grand storm at sea, but to speak of a grand dinner or a grand supper is absurd.

Splendid means shining, showy. If you speak of a splendid supper or a splendid arithmetic lesson, do you mean a shining supper or a shining arithmetic lesson? It is correct to speak of a splendid sunset or a splendid necklace, but some of the common uses of the word splendid are very foolish indeed.

Elegant means made beautiful by art, by good taste. Thus you may speak of an elegant costume if you

mean that the dressmaker has beautified it by her skill and taste; but when you say an elegant time, you mean merely an enjoyable or a pleasant time.

The following sentences contain correct uses of the forms of these words. Tell why:

1. The capitol at Washington is one of the grandest buildings in the world.

2. Daniel Webster was a grand man.

3. The grandeur of the Rocky Mountains is plain to the dullest minds.

4. The splendid queen took her seat upon the throne. 5. The sky was unusually splendid that night.

6. The ball had all the splendor of an oriental court. 7. He was a person of very elegant manners. 8. Elegance characterized every part of my aunt's home. 9. The writings of some authors are very plain and simple, while those of others are extremely elegant.

Grand, splendid, and elegant are not words that you have frequent occasion to use; when you do use them, be sure that you use them correctly.

SOME MORE LETTERS OF FRIENDSHIP 211. Since doing your last group work you have learned something of two incorrect phrases, the nature of slang, and how to use certain difficult words. In the future, when you write, you should be very careful to make use of the information you have just gained. Even in writing to your most intimate friends, you should take just as much care as if you were writing compositions in school.

This is a good place to write some letters of friendship. If you were talking with one of your friends