CHAP. XXI.

General Directions for Spelling and Writing true English.

A1

LL the Rules that can poffibly be given, for fpelling English Words aright, can never make the Scholar perfect in this Work, without diligent Obfervation of every Word in the Books which he reads; and by this Means alone Thousands have at tain'd a good Degree of Skill in it: yet confiderable Affiftance towards this Art, may be given to Children, and those that are unlearned, by fome general Methods, and fome particular Rules.

The General Directions for true Spelling, are these.

ift Direction. Pronounce the Word plain, clear, diftinct, Syllable by Syllable; give the full Sound to every Part of it, and write it according to the longest, the hardeft, and harfheft Sound in which the Word is ever pronounced; as, A-pron, not Apurn; Cole-wort, not Collut, &c.

The

The reafon of this Rule is this: Moft Words were originally pronounced as they are written; but the Pronunciation being fomething long and rough, difficult and uneafy, they came to be pronounced in a more fhort and easy way for Converfation, by the leaving out fome Let-. ters, and foftening the Sound of others: So, for inftance, join is pronounced jine; Purfe is pronounced Pus; half is pronounced baf; Marri-age Marrage, Na-ti-on Nafhun, Vic-tu alls Vittles: But the way of writing thefe Words remains ftill the fame.

2d General Direction. When Scholars begin to read pretty well, let the Mafter take their Books out of their Hands, after they have read their Leffons, and then ask them to spell the easier, or the harder Words of it, fuch as he judges fuitable to their Capacities or their Improvement.

Two Scholars, when they have read their own Leffons, may ask each other to spell the Words of them, and thus improve themselves; or any

two

two Perfons of advanced Years, who are fenfible of their own Defects.

3d General Direction. Let there be a Spelling Exercife appointed twice a week, at leaft, for the whole School; and, by degrees, let the Master ask them to fpell every Word in fome well-collected Catalogues, and the Tables in this Book; and let them be encouraged by gaining fuperior Places in their Rank, as Captain, Lieutenant, &c. according as they spell most Words right.

Two or three Scholars may use thefe Tables of Words in a fort of Sport or Play, and when they ask each other to spell them, he that miffes not one in ten or twenty, fhall gain a Pin, or two Pins, or a Marble, or what other Toy they think proper, never exceeding the Value of a Farthing.

4th General Direction. When Scholars begin to write well, let feveral of them be appointed to write a Page, or a Column, out of thefe, or any other Tables of Words, and fometimes out of the Bible, or any other Book, and well obferve how every Word

Word is fpelt: Then let the Master take all their Books and Papers away, and himself, or one of the best Scholars, read and pronounce all the Words diftinctly, and let all the reft write them down, and be encouraged, or reproved, according to the Number of Faults.

Any two Perfons may do this for their own Improvement: and the Reason why I give this Direction, is, because once writing a Line impreffeth it more upon the Memory, than three or four Readings.

5th General Direction. Read over the Chapters of this Book, from the third to the tenth, with Diligence, and remark how the Vowels and Confonants are founded in different fort of Words, English or Foreign; and learn to write them accordingly: Obferve where they keep their proper Sound, and where they change it.

Take particular Notice alfo, what Lettes are filent, and not pronounced at all; and remember to put in those Letters in Writing, tho you leave them out in Reading.....

し

6th General Direction. In your younger Years efpecially, take all proper Opportunities for Writing, and be careful to fpell every Word true: this may be done by the help of fome fmall English Dictionary, where the Words are put down in the Order of the Alphabet; and if you doubt of the fpelling of any Word, write it not without firft confulting the Dictionary.

The best Dictionary that I know for this Purpofe, is entitled, A New English Dictionary, &c. By J. K. The 2d Edition. 1713. In a fmall Octavo.

CHA P. XXII.

Particular Rules for Spelling and Writing true English.

A

GREAT part of the English Tongue is fo irregular in the Letters and Compofition of it, that it would require almoft as many Rules to fpell by, as there are Words to be fpell'd: