d _is
traveling_."

When a verb has both a singular and a plural nominative, separated by
_or_, its number agrees with that of the _nearer_: as, "the cup or his
_billiards were_ his ruin;" or, "his billiards or the _cup was_ his ruin."

Custom--which, when _crystallized_, becomes grammar--allows expressions
like "The linen _tears_," and "The meadow _plows_ well," although they
should not be frequently employed, and should be more seldom coined.

A fruitful source of mistakes in language, is in the linking together of
two or more inappropriate tenses, or in the misuse of one. Many among the
learned and refined commit blunders of these kinds. A few corrected
examples of such are here given:

"His text was, that God _was_ love;" the sentence should be written, "His
text was, that God _is_ love."

"The Lord _hath given_, and the Lord hath taken away;" say, "The Lord
_gave_, and the Lord hath taken away."

"They _arrived_ before we left the city:" say, "they _had arrived_."

"All the brothers _have been_ greatly indebted to their father:" say,
"_are indebted_."

"This painting _was preserved and exhibited_ for the last century:" say,
"_has been_ preserved and exhibited."

"It was the last act he intended _to have performed_." say, "_to
perform_."

"He _drinks_ wine at dinner," means that such is his habit; "he _is
drinking_ wine at dinner," refers to one particular time and occasion.

Adverbs are often inelegantly used instead of adjectives; as, "the _then_
ministry," for "the ministry of that time."

Of the phrases "_never_ so good," or, "_ever_ so good," as to whether one
is preferable to the other, authority is divided. Modern usage inclines to
the latter, while ancient preferred the former, as in the Scriptural
expression, "charm he _never_ so wisely."

_Yea_ and _nay_ are not equivalent to _yes_ and _no_; the latter are
directly affirmative and negative, while the former are variously
employed.

Of prepositions, it has been frequently said, that no words in the
language are so liable to be incorrectly used. For example, "The love _of_
God," may mean either "His love to us," or, "our love to Him."

Many more of these particles are inelegantly, if not ambiguously used.
Instead of "the natives were a different race _to_ what they are now,"
say, "different _from_."

"He was made much _on_ in the country:" say, "made much _of_."

"In compliance _of_ your request:" say, "in compliance _with_."

"He doub