NOTE XVII.—­The false syntax of articles properly includes every passage in which there is any faulty insertion, omission, choice, or position, of this part of speech.  For example:  “When the verb is a passive, the agent and object change places.”—­Lowth’s Gram., p. 73.  Better:  “When the verb is passive, the agent and the object change places.”  “Comparisons used by the sacred poets, are generally short.”—­Russell’s Gram., p. 87.  Better:  “The comparisons,” &c.  “Pronoun means for noun, and is used to avoid the too frequent repetition of the noun.”—­Infant School Gram., p. 89.  Say rather:  “The pronoun is put for a noun, and is used to prevent too frequent a repetition of the noun.”  Or:  “The word PRONOUN means for noun; and a pronoun is used to prevent too frequent a repetition of some noun.”

IMPROPRIETIES FOR CORRECTION.  FALSE SYNTAX UNDER RULE I.

[Fist][The examples of False Syntax placed under the rules and notes, are to be corrected orally by the pupil, according to the formules given, or according to others framed in like manner, and adapted to the several notes.]

EXAMPLES UNDER NOTE I.—­AN OR A.

“I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel.”—­Hosea, vi, 10.

[FORMULE.—­Not proper, because the article an is used before horrible, which begins with the sound of the consonant h.  But, according to Note 1st, under Rule 1st, “When the indefinite article is required, a should always be used before the sound of a consonant, and an, before that of a vowel.”  Therefore, an should be a; thus, “I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel.”]

“There is an harshness in the following sentences.”—­Priestley’s Gram., p. 188.  “Indeed, such an one is not to be looked for.”—­Blair’s Rhet., p. 27.  “If each of you will be disposed to approve himself an useful citizen.”—­Ib., p. 263.  “Land with them had acquired almost an European value.”—­Webster’s Essays, p. 325.  “He endeavoured to find out an wholesome remedy.”—­Neef’s Method of Ed., p. 3.  “At no time have we attended an Yearly Meeting more to our own satisfaction.”—­The Friend, v, 224.  “Addison was not an humourist in character.”—­Kames, El. of Crit., i, 303.  “Ah me! what an one was he?”—­Lily’s Gram., p. 49.  “He was such an one as I never saw.”—­Ib. “No man can be a good preacher, who is not an useful one.”—­Blair’s Rhet., p. 283.  “An usage which is too frequent with Mr. Addison.”—­Ib., p. 200.  “Nobody joins the voice of a sheep with the shape of an horse.”—­Locke’s Essay, p. 298.  “An universality seems to be aimed at by the omission of the article.”—­Priestley’s