Used good.
….PREFACE
THE Compiler of this book has been an Examiner in English
Language and Literature for School Certificate and other
examinations for over ten years, in the course of which he
has marked the work of many thousands of candidates. Year
after year in examination after examination he has found
errors that recur in a considerable proportion of the
scripts. Some of these concern grammar, phrasing, or
matters of what may be called mechanical technique; others
go deeper. Here he has brought together the most common
of such errors--while realizing that, of course, there are
countless other points not mentioned on which candidates
can and do go wrong.
The assumption is that pupils who use this book have
undergone a systematic course in English, and have reached
the stage when they will shortly be sitting for a School
Certificate or Matriculation Examination. Few, therefore, if
any of the points dealt with will be new to a pupil-who,
however, is now reminded of them. In many instances the
compiler has confined himself to stating as shortly as possible
what should or should not be done. In other instances it
has been thought desirable to enter into some explanation,
and to give examples.
If here and there a point mentioned appears unnecessary,
because it is one about which a teacher has amply warned
his class,, or on which it may scem that no intelligent and
well-taught pupil can go wrong, the compiler hopes that
teacher or pupil, instead of feeling irritation, will be con-
tent to pat himself on the back, and pass on to another point
less trite.
Three blank pages at the end of the book may be found
useful for writing in additional notes or examples.Â