APPENDIX.

PERSPICUITY is the fundamental quality of style:

a quality so essential in every kind of writing, that for the want of it nothing can atone. It is not to be considered as merely a sort of negative virtue, or freedom from defect. It has higher merit: it is a degree of positive beauty. We are pleased with an author, and consider him as deserving praise, who frees us from all fatigue of searching for his meaning; who carries us through his subject without any embarrassment or confusion; whose style flows always like a limpid stream, through which we see to the very bottom.

Authors sometimes plead the difficulty of their subject, as an excuse for the want of perspicuity. But the excuse can rarely, if ever, be admitted. For whatever a man conceives clearly, he may, if he will be at the trouble, put it into distinct

propositions, and express it clearly to others and upon no subject ought any man to write, where he cannot think clearly. His ideas may, very excusably, be on some subjects incomplete or inadequate but still, as far as they go, they ought to be clear; and wherever this is the case, perspicuity, in expressing them, is always attainable.

The study of perspicuity and accuracy of expression, consists of Three Parts: and requires attention, First, to Single Words and Phrases ; Secondly, to the Construction of Sentences; and Thirdly, to the Great Principle which decides the propriety of language. If words are properly chosen, correctly arranged, and conformable to present established usage, it is impossible that the sense can be ambiguous.

PART I

Of Perspicuity and Accuracy of Expression,

With respect to Single Words and Phrases.

THESE qualities of style, considered with regard to words and phrases, require the following properties:

PURITY,

PROPRIETY,

AND

PRECISION*.

* Purity requires that those words only shall be employed, which are of classical authority: Propriety, that, of classical words, those shall always be selected, which are best adapted to express the meaning: Precision, that no more words shall be introduced, than are necessary to convey the sense. Classical authority consists of speakers and writers, who are deservedly in high estimation: speakers, distinguished for their elocution, and persuasive eloquence; 'writers, eminent for correct taste, solid matter, and refined manner.

CHAPTER I.

OF PURITY.

See Vol. II. p. 199.

PURITY of style consists in the use of such words, and such constructions, as belong to the idiom of the language which we speak; in opposition to words and phrases that are taken from other languages, or that are ungrammatical, obsolete, new-coined, or used without proper authority. All such words and phrases as the following, should be avoided: Quoth he; I wist not; erewhile; behest ; selfsame; delicatesse, for delicacy; politesse, for politeness; hauteur, for haughtiness; incumberment, connexity, martyrised, for encumbrance, connexion, martyred.

com

Foreign and learned words, unless where necessity requires them, should never be admitted into our position. Barren languages may need such assistance, but ours is not one of these. A multitude of Latin words, in particular, have, of late, been poured in upon our language. On some occasions, they give an appearance of elevation and dignity to style; but they often render it stiff and apparently forced. In general, a plain, native style, is more intelligible to all readers; and, by a proper management of words, it can be made as strong and expressive as this Latinised English, or any foreign idioms.