Transcriber's Notes: This version of this manual uses the unicode character set. Ifyou are unable to see some of the characters, or if they appear odd, youmay need to use the Latin-1 version of the text.
While unicode is fairly complete, it does not have every possiblecharacter. In the case of this book, it is missing the characters with atack (⊥) above them. For these characters, they are represented as [+x]where x is the character.
Containing a Careful Selection of Words in the English Language MostCommonly Mispronounced, together with their Pronunciation as Given bythe Best Authorities in England and America
BY
Superintendent of Schools, Savannah, Ga.
BOSTON, U.S.A.
GINN & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS
The Athenæum Press
iiCopyright, 1904
By OTIS ASHMORE
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
94.10
Nothing so quickly or so certainly reveals the character of ourculture and early associations as our speech. The persistence ofhabits formed in youth, especially bad habits of pronunciation, iswell known, and the correction of such faults in adult life is amatter of considerable care and effort.
This manual has been prepared for practical use in the school-roomand for the use of families and individuals who value a correctpronunciation of the English language.
Several important features of this manual have justified its preparation.First, the number of words presented has been limitedto those most frequently mispronounced, thus reducing the book toa practical working field at small cost. Many of the words inmost books on orthoepy are very rarely mispronounced, and theyserve only to cumber the work. Those who desire an exhaustivereference book should consult the dictionaries. Second, the planof exhibiting the weight of authorities where authorities differ isof great practical value. In these cases the typography and thearrangement are such as to prevent confusion. It is certainlydesirable to know the weight of authority that prefers one oftwo or more authorized pronunciations. A glance at the page willshow at once what company we keep. Third, the drill columns ofunmarked words in the back of the book will be appreciated byevery teacher. The attempt to teach orthoepy without much drilland practice is of little use. It is not enough to tell pupils howwords are pronounced; they must be drilled by abundant practicein order to fix the correct pronunciation in the memory. Underthe head of "How to Use the Book" this use of the drill columnsis fully illustrated. Fourth, in case of those words about whoseivpronunciation there is no difference of opinion among the authoritiesthe fact is indicated by a star opposite these words. It isa source of much satisfaction to know that many words, as albumen,address, coadjutor, divan, horizon, harass, idea, incisive, inquiry,leisure, opponent, etc., have only one authorized pronunciation, andthat all other pronunciations are without any authority whatever.
There is another class of words concerning whose pro