_ in the United States of America. 447 
tors brought it from England, yet it has in so many instances depart. 
ed from the English standard, that our scholars should lose no time in 
endéavouring to restore it to its purity, and to prevent future corrup- 
This, it is obvious, is to be effected, in the first place, by care- 
fully noting every unauthorised word and phrase ; or (as Dr. Franklin 
many years ago recommended, in his letter to Mr. Webster on this 
subject*) by “‘ setting a discountenancing mark” upon such of them, 
as are not rendered indispensably necessary by the peculiar circum- 
stances of our country; and, even if we should continue to have a 
partiality for some of those expressions, and should choose to retain 
them, it will always be useful to ‘now them. By knowing exactly 
what peculiar words are in use with us, we should, among other 
advantages, have it in our power to expose the calumnies of some pre-- 
judiced and ignorant writers, who have frequently laid to the charge 
of our countrymen in general the affected words and phrases of a few 
conceited individuals ;—-words and phrases, which are justly the sub- 
ject of as much ridicule in Amerioa, as they are in Great Britain 
As a general rule also, we should undoubtedly avoid all those words 
which are noticed by English authors of reputation, as expressions 
with which they are unacquainted ; for although we might produce - 
some English authority for such words, yet the very circumstance of 
their being thus noticed by well educated Englishmen, is a proof that 
they are not used at this day in England, and, of course, ought not 
to be used elsewhere by those who would speak correct English. 
With a view to this important object I have taken some pains to 
make a collection of words and phrases, which I offer to the .Acad- 
eececcncersocoesnengaesesete® , 
* See the word Improve in the annexed Vocabulary. 
