1. A great increase of speed in writing is effected by the use of connective vocal signs. A similar advantage is gained by connecting several words into the same outline. Such phrases as of the, on the, to the, to a, of it, with it, it is, etc., may be written without taking the pen from the paper; and, in some cases, even longer phrases may be so treated, as, for instance, at this time, in that way, at one time, in such a way.

They rather increase than lessen the legibility of the writing, when judiciously employed.

2. Phrase signs should be employed for phrases only, or for words closely connected in the sentence; either a grammatical or rhetorical pause between words should lead the writer to separate them in writing.

The following phrases are given as examples; but if proper attention be paid to pauses, the writer may increase their number indefinitely: -

In truth, in fact, in fine, in short, in general, in particular, no doubt, of course, as it were, to be brief, to be sure, without doubt, without question, beyond question, in the mean time, in a word, by chance, for the most part. For further examples see Reading Exercise 5.

3. Whether the words of a phrase should be united in writing depends very much upon the convenience of the joining. When the words unite without an angle, as is often the case, it adds greatly to the facility of the writing. Such is the case in the following phrases: ought to be, ought to do, at the, to them, from this, from that, from them, etc. But it will be found inconvenient to join more than two letters without an angle; this is sometimes necessary in word outlines, but should be avoided in phrases generally.

4. Very common phrases may omit the vowels often, where it would not be admissible if the words stood alone. The first word should, however, be fully vocalized, and no vowel omitted that would leave the phrase obscure. Phrases commencing with he, we, you, and some other words, omit the first vowel. See Reading Exercise 5.

5. But if the first word contain an unconnected vowel, the vowel of the second word should be written; as in, to it, to invest, from this, etc.

Remark. - Students frequently commence by making their phrases too long. Two or three words only should constitute a phrase in most cases; yet four, five, or more may be sometimes employed. It is better, however, to make the phrases too short than too long; and especially, where the words are dissociated in sense, they should not be made into long phrases.

Exercise 22.

As good. As great. As if. As it may be. As it should be. As long as. Can be. Cannot be. For instance. For it should be. For the. For which. From me. Have been. He has been. He has not. He should. He was. He will. I believe. I can do. I will not. I may say. If there is. If this is so. In a. In the. In any. In no way. In such. At that time. In the world. It is not necessary. It seems to be. It ought to be. It would not be. Learned friend. More than. My brethren. Of the. Of them. On account. On the. Or the. Ought not to be. Ought to have. Public service. Shall be. Should be. So as to be. So that. It is impossible. The present time. The first. The way. The truth. The chance. Take place. Take care. That the. That we. There are. There is. There were. They have. They will be. To be. To do. To have done. To the. We are. We may. We have. We wish. What is the? When we. When they. Which you know. Which will be. Will be done. Will they? With this. With that. With our. With reference to. Would be. Would you? Would they? You are. You had been. You were. You will be. Your own. Yours truly.

In order to love mankind, expect but little from them. We dwellers in this world of error are like men walking through the streets of a city on a foggy morning. Every one imagines that immediately around himself there is little or no fog, but around others, at a little distance from him, be perceives it to be thick and blinding. In the day of wooden ploughs, the great danger was in going too fast and knowing too much; now, the difficulty is to go fast enough and know enough. Be not dismayed or unmanned when you should be bold, daring, unflinching, and resolute. The cloud whose threatening murmurs you hear with fear and dread is pregnant with blessing, and the frown whose sternness now makes you shudder and tremble, will, ere long, be succeeded by a smile of bewitching sweetness and benignity: