correspondence and writing, 2,000, we find that a great many people who
pass in society as being polished, refined and educated use less, for
they know less. The greatest scholar alive hasn't more than four thousand
different words at his command, and he never has occasion to use half the
number.

In the works of Shakespeare, the most wonderful genius the world has ever
known, there is the enormous number of 15,000 different words, but almost
10,000 of them are obsolete or meaningless today.

Every person of intelligence should be able to use his mother tongue
correctly. It only requires a little pains, a little care, a little study
to enable one to do so, and the recompense is great.

Consider the contrast between the well-bred, polite man who knows how to
choose and use his words correctly and the underbred, vulgar boor, whose
language grates upon the ear and jars the sensitiveness of the finer
feelings. The blunders of the latter, his infringement of all the canons
of grammar, his absurdities and monstrosities of language, make his very
presence a pain, and one is glad to escape from his company.

The proper grammatical formation of the English language, so that one may
acquit himself as a correct conversationalist in the best society or be
able to write and express his thoughts and ideas upon paper in the right
manner, may be acquired in a few lessons.

It is the purpose of this book, as briefly and concisely as possible, to
direct the reader along a straight course, pointing out the mistakes he
must avoid and giving him such assistance as will enable him to reach the
goal of a correct knowledge of the English language. It is not a Grammar