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HINTS ON LETTER-WRITING.

THE ability to write a good letter is by no means a common accomplishment, even among educated people ; why this should be so, it is not easy at first sight to discern. Part of the bad letter-writing must no doubt be charged on sheer carelessness; many people never taking the time or trouble to compose and write a letter properly. But the larger portion must probably be attributed to want of proficiency in those subsidiary arts, on which the art of letter-writing depends.

Four things may be said to be absolutely necessary to the production of a good letter :—

(1). Suitable matter.
(2). Correct grammar.
(3). Appropriate style.
(4). Legible writing.

To start with, the writer must have "something to say" which is worth saying; and this, when once obtained, must be expressed in a grammatical and otherwise suitable form, and set forth in a legible hand. This is really about the sum of the necessary requirements. Many people, however, labour under the idea that the chief thing in writing is to express themselves in high-sounding phraseclogy. This is, of course, an egregious mistake. What is wanted to be done is simply this: to communicate to our correspondent in writing what we should wish to say to him if he were present. In taking up your pen, therefore, do not lay aside the natural qualities belonging to you, and assume the rôle of a "fine writer." Be yourself. Polish your style somewhat, and of course remove the common defects of conversational form; but firmly refrain from

any attempt to employ long words or unusual forms of expression. Call a spade a spade, and not "an agricultural implement." Do not follow the example of the M.P., who asked a witness before a committee, "What is the ordinary beverage of the industrial population in your locality?" when he wanted to know what the working people in the witness's district commonly drank. Mr. Punch has ridiculed this affectation very effectively, in the announcement that "the animal of the canine species has returned to the rejected substance, and the porcine pachyderm after ablution to volution in lutulent matter!" Be natural-not artificial. Write as you would speak. Let the novelty of your ideas, rather than the eccentricity of your style, bespeak the attention. of your reader.

Letters may be roughly classified in three divisions: (1). Familiar letters.

(2). Business letters.

(3). Literary letters.

And the styles in which we express our ideas should vary according as the communication we are writing is of one or other of these three kinds.

In familiar correspondence between friend and friend, the matter is most usually of a narrative order. In such cases we should express ourselves naturally, clearly, and much in the same way as we should if actually talking to our correspondent. If this rule be followed we shall rarely weary him. Forbear writing very long letters unless the circumstances of the case warrant it; even letters of but moderate length should not be written too frequently, or without adequate cause. One must look at the letter from one's correspondent's point of view no less than from one's own position.

Letters of a Business character should be briefer and more concise than Familiar letters. The diffuse conversational style is out of place here, and although it is not necessary to be telegraphically curt, the writer ought to lop off all redundant, roundabout words and phrases, and go straight to the point. In business,

remember "time is money," and set forth your statements in such form and arrangement that your correspondent may seize your meaning in the shortest space of time. If you require him to answer a series of questions, do not scatter them throughout the letter, but gather them together in one place, and number each, so that he may be able to reply without being obliged to write them all over again.

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In all letters, but especially in business letters, facts and figures must be accurately stated. Make sure of the right address, both your own and your correspondent's. Make sure of the right date. When you use "to-morrow" yesterday," or "this evening," insert the name of the day you mean; your correspondent may note your date, and your date may be accurate, but he may easily forget that your letter has taken a day to reach him, and thus give to your "to-morrow a meaning you do not intend, or he may mistake the date. By inserting the day (Wednesday, or otherwise,) you keep everybody right.

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A long letter, especially one of a business character should be broken up into paragraphs and placed under appropriate heads. By doing this, your correspondent will be able to understand and to refer to it with greater facility. Nothing is more annoying than to be compelled to wade through a mass of epistolary matter in order to find something which we know it to contain. Put your correspondent in a position to lay his finger on the point at once. If your writing occupies more than one sheet, or even if it extend to more than two pages of note paper, each side or page should be numbered. Long letters are best written on quarto or foolscap paper, with a good margin at the left hand, in which the headings may be placed if thought desirable. This allows your correspondent room for annotation, and is a very great convenience.

Never sit down to write a long or important letter without having fixed on a plan or arrangement. Before you begin, settle clearly in your own mind the matters you intend to write about, and what you intend to say

about them. This is not an easy task for inexperienced people at first, but a little practice will give facility. Although somewhat paradoxical, it is nevertheless true, that long letters are often easier to write than short ones, the reason being, that to condense what we have to say, and to omit unimportant details, requires a considerable expenditure of time and skill.

It is a good plan to set down upon paper a list of matters to be mentioned. Arrange the whole in proper order, separating those which are dissimilar and grouping together such as are alike in nature.

Letters are often written between men interested in science or literature. Such letters are of a higher class than either of the two classes already mentioned. They are more in the nature of literary than epistolary efforts, although they may not at the moment be intended for the public eye. The rules of formal literary composition apply to these with greater force, perhaps, than to the two former kinds. In all three, however, the fundamental rules of composition and style must be observed; and accordingly we devote the following section to their treatment.

In borrowing a phrase or passage from an author, be careful to quote the exact words, and see to it that your application does no violence to the context you have borrowed them from-unless, of course, you obviously propose a new application of them for humorous effect. An incorrect quotation misrepresents an author if he be dead, libels him if he be living. A more gross injustice still is to ascribe to one man the sentiments expressed by another, as is sometimes done by speakers and writers in haste or carelessness, or through fickleness of memory. When uncertain of the phrase it is desired to quote, or its authorship, neither should be given; unless it can be verified before putting pen to paper. If this cannot be done, a paraphrase will convey the general idea, and a candid statement should be made that the writer is in doubt as to the authorship of the passage referred to. Quotations, in order to impress, should be novel. Some, used daily by literary scribblers

and beginners, have done duty for ages, and in spite of their hoary appearance, their sententiousness, and truth, have by familiarity bred contempt. On the other hand, brand-new quotations, or such as have been resuscitated from dead and forgotten works, should be employed but sparingly, lest it be thought that the writer is endeavouring to air his knowledge and research. The interlarding of compositions in one's own tongue with quotations from a foreign language is very offensive to people that do not understand them. A writer who indulges in this practice gains more credit for his conceit and vanity than for his learning, as a quotation may be got from a book of reference by one who has not a smattering of the language he professes to understand.

An affected idea prevails amongst many persons of education, that it is evidence of vulgarity to write in neat and legible characters. They therefore inflict upon their correspondents a style of penmanship which it is difficult and sometimes impossible to decipher. Writers of this class disgrace themselves and insult the receivers of their communications. This statement needs no argument to a well-informed and reasonable mind. When we write, we should remember that someone is to read and understand. The handwriting should be as plain as the meaning of the words employed. Think before writing, and, having written, let the words stand without emendation; and, above all, let your signature be bold and legible, not a mystical, slovenly scrawl.

Never cross a letter; seldom add a postscript. Do not categorically repeat questions which you are required to answer, unless in business letters of an extremely formal nature, or letters on legal matters. If you speak of yourself in the third person, do so throughout the note; do not change from the third to the first person. If your letter contains an important enclosure, it should be sealed with wax. If it be of an exceptionally important nature, you ought to send it registered. Should its purport relate to your own business exclusively, and a

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