FOR THE ENRICHMENT OF CONVERSATION WRITING, AND PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPILED BY EDWIN HAMUN CARR G. P. PUTNAMS SONS NEW YORK LONDON fmfcfcerbocfcet Go ANY PERSON WHO RECOGNIZES HEREIN ONE OF His OWN ORIGINAL PHRASES Foreword FOREWORD So far as I know, there is no book which is distinctively a phrase book. Because of this fact, I have for years been collecting phrases from all sources. Whenever and wherever I have found in any volume, magazine, newspaper, or during conversation, a distinctive phrase I have made a note of it. This volume is the result of an endeavor to classify these phrases so that the reader may secure a synonymous phrase as, in a book of synonyms, he secures a synonymous word. It would be difficult for me to give credit for every phrase found in this book. In fact, it would be impossible to determine who are the authors of the larger number of our English phrases. I have, however, found in certain books a number of phrases so distinctive and characteristic that it is only proper to give due credit to the authors. The novels of Dumas have supplied a great number of phrases for conversation, and I have found good material also in the correspondence of Mrs. Hannah More. Foreword Many general phrases have been derived from the writings of Thackeray, and the Essays of Samuel McCord Crothers. For sermonic phrases I have found the writings of the Rev. Thomas Guthrie, D. D., and the Rev. J. H. Jowett, D. D., particularly helpful. Men who have ability to make new phrases may be pleased to have at hand a book of this kind. The clergyman who begins his every observa tion with It seems to me and continues Along that line, will find here a variety of prefatory and introductory phrases.Teachers who make a habit of adding new words and new phrases to their speech will doubtless find good browsing here. There is perhaps no more difficult letter to write than one of condolence. A number of phrases are given under this designation, in order to assist in this most difficult and yet most blessed task. Since we talk in phrases as well as in words, every home needs a phrase book as well as a dictionary. I wish to make grateful acknowledgment to James Baldwin, author of The Book Lover, and to Miss Isobel Stevenson, of the New York . City Public Library, for valuable suggestions con vi Foreword cerning the arrangement of the book, and to Prof. Charles Knapp, of Barnard College, New York City, for assistance concerning the Foreign Phrases. E. H. a vfc Using the Phrases USING THE PHRASES The entire volume should be perused for phrases which appeal to ones taste. These should be marked and memorized, and it will be noticed that they will spring spontaneously to the lips or pen. A suggestion for a determined effort to use the phrases may be found in R. L. Stevensons practice of inventing a conversation. He says in his VaiUma Letters, vol. L, p. 105 Though I write so little, I pass all my hours of field-work in continual converse and imaginary correspondence. I scarce pull up a weed, but I invent a sentence on the matter to yourself it does not get written but the intent is there, and for me in some sort the companionship. To-day, for instance, we had a great talk. I was toiling, the sweat dripping from my nose, in the hot fit after a squall of rain methought you asked me frankly, was I happy. Happy said I I was only happy once that was at Hyfcres. Contents CONTENTS PAGE I. PHRASESFOR CONVERSATION . i COMPLIMENTARY OF THINGS . . 3 CORDIALITY 4 COURTESY . . . ... 5 CONVENTIONAL .... 7 AT WEDDINGS .... 7 APOLOGETIC .... 7 CONDOLENCE .... 8 ON LEAVING A HOST ... 8 ON BEING INTRODUCED . . 9 CONGRATULATORY . . . .10 COMMENDATORY OF PERSONS . . 10 CRITICAL OF PERSONS ... 14 DISSENT .18 INQUIRY 20 PREFATORY 21 RESPONSE 28 TACTFUL RESPONSE .... 36 See GENERAL PHRASES xi Contents . PAGE IL GENERAL PHRASES FOR SPEECH AND WRITING 39 CONVERSATION 41 COMMENDATORY OF THINGS . . 41 CRITICAL OF THINGS .... 42 DESCRIPTIVE OF PERSONS .....