Page:Hill's manual of social and business forms.djvu/104

62 Onomatopœia is the use of such word or words as by their sound will suggest the sense, as crash, buzz, roar, etc. Motion is thus easily imitated, as is also sound, and even the reflections and emotions.

General Summary.

Dr. Blair's system of rhetoric sums up the most important qualities of style in the six following terms, being thus condensed by Kerl:

Laws of Language.

The following rules by Dr. Campbell, in reference to the construction of sentences and choice of words will be found of service.

Specific Directions.

—One or more sentences form a paragraph. When a deviation or change is made in the subject a new paragraph is commenced. The first line of each paragraph in writing should commence about one inch from the left side of the sheet. Preserve a space half an inch in width between the left of the writing and the edge of the sheet. Write as close to the right edge of the sheet as possible. When lack of space prevents thecompletion of a word on the line, place the hyphen (-) at the end of the line and follow with the remaining syllables on the next line. Words may be divided, but never divide syllables.

Rules of Construction.

1. The principal words in a sentence should be placed where they will make the most striking impression.

2. A weaker assertion or argument should not follow a stronger one.

3. The separation of the preposition from the noun which it governs, should be avoided.

4. Concluding the sentence with an adverb, preposition, or other insignificant word lessens the strength of the sentence.

—Young writers will find it well to prepare a memorandum of the subjects they wish to treat on a separate slip of paper, and the points they wish to make relating to each subject. Having the subjects clearly fixed in the mind, they should commence with the least important and follow through to the end, considering the most important at the close.