Division of Words | Page 3

use of the English language would
appear to be primarily the work of scholars, and the adoption of such
innovations would seem to belong to the book printer rather than to the
commercial printer. The public mind as a whole is conservative. It is
not hospitable to changes and does not soon become aware of them,
much less familiar with them. The commercial printer makes his appeal
to the mind of the general public. He will do well to use a vehicle
familiar, intelligible, and acceptable to it.
Correct spelling is mainly a matter of habit and observation. To a
certain extent it is a matter of careful pronunciation, but this is not
always a safe or even a possible guide. The vowels preceding or
following the one on which the primary accent falls, sometimes called
obscure vowels, are so slurringly pronounced that even a pedantic
precision will hardly make it possible to indicate clearly which vowel is
used. The writer remembers seeing an examination paper written by a
fourth year medical student in which the word fever was spelled fevor.

A moment's thought will show that so far as pronunciation is concerned
the word might be spelled fevar, fevir, fevor, fever, or fevur without any
appreciable difference. The correct spelling is merely a matter of
observation.
The author has on his desk at the moment of writing these lines half a
dozen good books, each containing a set of rules for spelling. From
these it would be easy to compile a set of fairly good rules. Each of
these rules, however, has exceptions, in some cases quite numerous. To
remember these rules with their exceptions would be a considerable
mental task and to apply them would be cumbrous and time consuming.
The effort would probably resolve itself into an actual learning of the
words which present difficulties. The best way to become a good
speller is to form the habit of careful reading, observing the form of
every word as it passes before the eye and so unconsciously fixing it in
the memory. The dictionary should be consulted whenever there is any
doubt.
If you are to write a word, call up a mental picture of it, and if the
picture is not perfectly clear go to the dictionary and fix a correct image
of it in your mind. Be careful to pronounce every word you use as
correctly as possible and you will get all the aid pronunciation can give
you. Careless speaking and careless reading are the two great sources
of incorrect spelling.
The following tables will be found useful in settling practice with
regard to certain troublesome classes of words.
I
American usage tends to the termination _-ize_ where English usage
often sanctions _-ise_. Use the termination _-ise_ in
advertise advise appraise apprise (_to inform_) arise chastise
circumcise comprise compromise demise devise disfranchise disguise
emprise enfranchise enterprise exercise exorcise franchise improvise
incise merchandise premise reprise revise rise supervise surmise
surprise

Use the termination _-ize_ or _-yze_ in
aggrandize agonize analyze anatomize anglicize apologize apostrophize
apprize (_to value_) authorize baptize brutalize canonize catechize
catholicize cauterize centralize characterize christianize civilize
colonize criticize crystallize demoralize dogmatize economize
emphasize epitomize equalize eulogize evangelize extemporize
familiarize fertilize fossilize fraternize galvanize generalize gormandize
harmonize immortalize italicize jeopardize legalize liberalize localize
magnetize memorialize mesmerize metamorphize methodize minimize
modernize monopolize moralize nationalize naturalize neutralize
organize ostracize paralyze particularize pasteurize patronize
philosophize plagiarize pulverize realize recognize reorganize
revolutionize satirize scandalize scrutinize signalize solemnize
soliloquize specialize spiritualize standardize stigmatize subsidize
summarize syllogize symbolize sympathize tantalize temporize
tranquilize tyrannize universalize utilize vaporize vitalize vocalize
vulcanize vulgarize
II
Use the termination _-ible_ in the following words:
accessible admissible appetible apprehensible audible cessible
coercible compatible competible comprehensible compressible
conceptible contemptible contractible controvertible convertible
convincible corrigible corrosible corruptible credible decoctible
deducible defeasible defensible descendible destructible digestible
discernible distensible divisible docible edible effectible eligible
eludible enforcible evincible expansible expressible extendible
extensible fallible feasible fencible flexible forcible frangible fusible
gullible horrible illegible immiscible impassible intelligible irascible
legible miscible negligible partible passible (_susceptible_) perceptible
permissible persuasible pervertible plausible possible producible
reducible reflexible refrangible remissible reprehensible resistible
responsible reversible revertible risible seducible sensible tangible
terrible transmissible visible

In all other cases use _-able_.
III
The following nouns end in _-er_.
abetter abstracter accepter adapter adviser affirmer aider almoner
annoyer arbiter assenter asserter bailer caster censer (vessel) concocter
condenser conferrer conjurer consulter continuer contradicter contriver
convener conveyer corrupter covenanter debater defender deliberater
deserter desolater deviser discontinuer disturber entreater exalter
exasperater exciter executer (_except in law_) expecter frequenter
granter idolater imposer impugner incenser inflicter insulter interceder
interpreter interrupter inviter jailer lamenter mortgager (_except in
law_) obliger obstructer obtruder perfecter perjurer preventer
probationer propeller protester recognizer regrater relater respecter
sailer (_ship_) sorcerer suggester supplanter upholder vender
The following nouns end in _-or_.
abbreviator abductor abettor (_law_) abominator abrogator accelerator
acceptor