DR. BLAIR, in his Lectures upon The English
Language,' says :-The great source of a loose
style is the injudicious use of synonymous terms.
If we examine the style of most of the periodical
and light literature of the day, we shall soon be
convinced of the truth of this assertion.
For one
fault in construction of idiom, we shall find at
least twenty incorrect applications of words. The
want of a critical knowledge of verbal distinctions
is obviously the cause of these errors. But
though the foundation of this knowledge should
undoubtedly be laid at an early stage of the
study of language, and before the habit of using
words in a loose way has become inveterate, it
appears to be generally considered unnecessary
for the young student, and is either neglected
for other pursuits, or else is wholly excluded from