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e words must be sought in text-books on grammar and rhetoric, where the subject will be found treated with a more particular attention, and at greater length, than is possible in a book of the character of this. Briefly and generally, in the first person, a mere intention is indicated by shall, as, I shall go; whereas will denotes some degree of compliance or determination, as, I will go--as if my going had been requested or forbidden. In the second and the third person, will merely forecasts, as, You (or he) will go; but shall implies something of promise, permission or compulsion by the speaker, as, You (or he) shall go. Another and less obvious compulsion--that of circumstance--speaks in shall, as sometimes used with good effect: In Germany you shall not turn over a chip without uncovering a philosopher. The sentence is barely more than indicative, shall being almost, but not quite, equivalent to can. _Win out_. Like its antithesis, "lose out," this reasonless phrase is of sport, "sporty." _Win_ for _Won_. "I went to the race and win ten dollars." This atrocious solecism seems to be unknown outside the world of sport, where may it ever remain. _Without_ for _Unless_. "I cannot go without I recover." Peasantese. _Witness_ for _See_. To witness is more than merely to see, or observe; it is to observe, and to tell afterward. _Would-be_. "The would-be assassin was arrested." The word doubtless supplies a want, but we can better endure the want than the word. In the instance of the assassin, it is needless, for he who attempts to murder is an assassin, whether he succeeds or not. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Write It Right, by Ambrose Bierce *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WRITE IT RIGHT *** ***** This file should be named 12474.txt or 12474.zip ***** This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: http://www.gutenberg.net/1/2/4/7/12474/ Produced by Clare Boothby, Ben Harris and PG Distributed Proofreaders Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will be renamed. Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and distributing Pro
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