INTRODUCTION.

HAVING been frequently solicited, during my travels as a publick Lecturer, to collect and publish a list of incorrect phrases or vulgarisms, peculiar to various sections of our Country, I have in the following pages, introduced some of the most important that have come under my observation. I have recently added several to my former list, of a new and interesting kind. For these, I am indebted to a valuable treatise on this subject, by J. Pickering. As this work is out of print, I have taken the liberty to introduce a number of phrases, which had never before come under my observation; and have given credit for them, by placing a star before each paragraph. At the close of these vulgarisms, I have introduced between three and four hundred words, which a majority of persons are in the daily habit of pronouncing contrary to analogy, and the best usage. This selection has been made from Walker's Dictionary, and no words have been introduced of which the pronunciation has not been fully established, by the practice of the first speakers in Europe and America, for it is the established practice of the best speakers, that forms the standard of pronunciation as well as of Grammar.

Had a collection of this kind been put in my hand when a boy, I am confident that it would have been of great utility. Those words which were allowed two modes of pronunciation in Walker, have in this work had a preference given to the former, with the exception of the word patent, which I believe is pronounced in this work, when an adjective, agreeably to the best usage.

As all have not leisure or inclination, to peruse a volume of six or eight hundred pages, with that care which is necessary to enable them to become critically acquainted with the pronunciation of their own language, I have compiled the following work for their

benefit.

Correct pronunciation may truly be considered one of the first marks of a well educated lady or gentleman. If a vulgar pronunciation designates the illiterate and ill bred; so perhaps nothing more readily distinguishes the scholar, than a correct and fashionable pronunciation. In almost every section of our Country, there are publick speakers, both in the pulpit, in the senate, and at the bar, who are acknowledged as standards of taste and correctness, in pronunciation. These should be attentively observed. Their very looks, tones and gestures, should be noticed, and their pronunciation carefully recollected.

VULGARISMS.

Ary one, and nary one, instead of either and neither; as, Ary one of them will do it.

In, is used for ing; as, Cunnin, for cunning.

As, for so; as, This is not as good as that. From, for of; as, This is Mr. B. from Montreal. By, for at; as, I shall be there by 4 o'clock. Says I, for said I, is a common errour. We frequently hear the word jest, used for just; and sich for such; as, He has jest sich a

book.

Good, is frequently used for great; as, He had a good many scholars.

Viz. is improperly used for namely, according to Walker.
Site, instead of number or quantity; as, What a site of people.
Made out, for succeeded in; as, I made out to get it.

Sause, for vegetables; as, I prefer potatoes to any other sauce. Guess, for imagine, suppose, think, believe. The great abuse of this word, is in guessing about things that are well known; as, I guess the wind has changed.

Nicely, for well; as, How is your sister's health? thank you,

Poorly, for ill; as, My friend is very poorly.

To, for at; as, I have been to Philadelphia.

In, for into; as, Let me get in the stage.

Nicely, I

* Near, for to, or at; as, The minister near the Court of St. James.

* Over, for under; as, He wrote over the signature of Junius. Lengthy for longer, diffuse or prolix; as, It was a lengthy

*

sermon.

*Handsome. This word should generally be applied to the human countenance. Therefore we should not say, This is a handsome piece of beef.

Cash Store. This sign is to be found only in this Country. Foreigners eagerly inquire what this sign signifies.

*Wilt, for wither; as, The leaves wilt. Wilt is not in any dic tionary.

Muggy, for damp, close; as, This is a muggy morning.

Span, for pair; as, A span of horses.

*

Be, instead of am; as, Be you going? I be.

Calculate, for intend, expect, suppose, think; as, I calculate to ga I should admire to go, instead of, I should be pleased to go. Awful, for disagreeable; as, An awful looking man.

Curious, for excellent; as, Curious cider.

* Balance for remainder; as, The balance of the bill.

Musical, for humorous; as, A musical fellow.

Like, for as; as, Like he does.

Mighty, for very; as, Mighty good.

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Learnt, for learned, and proven, for proved, are common errours. Reckon, for imagine, suppose, or think; as, I reckon I shall go. It is remarked by all who travel, that the Virginians reckon, and the New-England people guess.

*Social, for society; as, A social library.

Tidy, for neat, cleanly; as, A tidy girl.

Ugly, for ill-tempered or wicked; as, An ugly man.
Big, for large; as, A big man.

Seldom ever, for seldom or never; as, I seldom ever go.
Have got to go, for I must go, is a common errour.

Clever. No word is more improperly applied, according to its definition, than this. Clever signifies capacity, and not goodness of disposition, or integrity. Therefore it is correct English to say, He is a clever fellow; but I am sorry to say, he is a very great rogue.

*River. We should place the name after the river; as, The river Potomac, not the Potomac river.

*Tarry, for stay, or stop; as, Will you tarry this evening? The verb tarry is obsolete in England. It would seem. Tough, for hard, or difficult; as, Tough times.

*Would for should, is a common errour; as,

Tight match, for with difficulty; as, I got it; but it was a tight match.

*Has arrived, for is arrived, is a common errour.

*At is sometimes improperly used for by; as, Sales at auction. *The adjective derogatory, should never close a sentence, but the word degrading should be used in its stead.

Yon, for that; as, yon man, yon house.

Hack, for coach, or hackney coach; as, Call for a hack.

Chirk, for comfortable; as, He is quite chirk.

Dint for force; as, By dint of argument. By dint of study. This is truly a low expression.

Plenty, for plentiful; as, The article is plenty in the market.

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VOCABULARY.

Extraordinary, eks-tror'-dè-nâ-rè. a. Insidiously, in-sid-e-is-lè. ad.