Over Ten Thousand Useful Phrases: Study Tips
Help with Vocabulary, Creative & Business Writing, and Speeches
Words without thought are dead sounds; thoughts without words are nothing.
To think is to speak low; to speak is to think aloud.
--Max Muller
First examine this publication in a general way to grasp its character, scope, and
purpose. Carefully note the following plan of classification of the
various kinds of phrases, and choose for initial study a section which you
think will be of the most immediate value to you.
Table of Contents:
There are many advantages in keeping before you a definite purpose in your
study of this publication. A well-defined plan will act as an incentive to
regular and systematic effort, and incidentally develop your power of
concentration.
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It is desirable that you set apart a certain convenient time each day for
this study. Regularity tends to produce maximum results. As you progress
with this work your interest will be quickened and you will realize the
desirability of giving more and more time to this important subject.
When you have chosen a section of this publication which particularly appeals to
you, begin your actual study by reading the phrases aloud. Read them
slowly and understandingly. This tends to impress them more deeply upon
your mind, and is in itself one of the best and most practical ways of
acquiring a large and varied vocabulary. Moreover, the practise of
fitting words to the mouth rapidly develops fluency and facility of
speech.
Few persons realize the great value of reading aloud. Many of the foremost
English stylists devoted a certain
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period regularly to this practise.
Cardinal Newman read aloud each day a chapter from Cicero as a means of
developing his ear for sentence-rhythm. Rufus Choate, in order to
increase his command of language, and to avoid sinking into mere empty
fluency, read aloud daily, during a large part of his life, a page or more
from some great English author. As a writer has said, "The practise of
storing the mind with choice passages from the best prose writers and
poets, and thus flavoring it with the essence of good literatures, is one
which is commended both by the best teachers and by the example of some of
the most celebrated orators, who have adopted it with signal success."
If you choose to print this publication, then this study should be pursued with pencil in hand, so that you may readily
underscore phrases which make a special appeal to you. The free use of a
pencil in marking significant parts of a book or publication is good evidence of
thoroughness. This, too, will facilitate your work of subsequent review.
The habit of regularly copying, in your own handwriting, one or more pages
of phrases will be of immense practical value. This exercise is a great
aid in developing a facile English style. The daily use of the pen has
been recommended in all times as a valuable means of developing oral and
literary expression.
A helpful exercise is to pronounce a phrase aloud and then fit it into a
complete sentence of your own making. This practice gives added facility
and resourcefulness in the use of words.
As an enthusiastic student of good English, you should carefully note
striking and significant phrases or literary expressions which you find in
your general reading. These should be set down in a note-book reserved for
this exclusive purpose. In this way you can prepare many lists of your
own, and thus greatly augment the value of this study.
The taste for beauty, truth, and harmony in language can be developed by
careful study of well-selected phrases and literary expressions as
furnished in this publication. A good literary style is formed principally by
daily study of great English writers, by careful examination of words in
their context, and by a discriminating use of language at all times.
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Table of Contents:
Public Domain:
Originally written by Greenville Kleiser (1917): Formerly instructor in Public Speaking at Yale Divinity School, Yale University; Author of "How To Speak In Public," "How To Develop Power and Personality In Speaking," "How To Develop Self-Confidence in Speech and Manner," "How To Argue and Win," "How To Read and Declaim," "Complete Guide To Public Speaking," Etc...
--- Parts of this publication have been modified by an eKibitzer in an effort to modernize the content and maintain its usefulness in today's society.
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Last Modified: July 29th, 2006
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