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PREFACE

In ELEMENTARY ENGLISH the authors have endeavored to include all that is essential to cover adequately an elementary course of study in grammar, composition, and corrective English.

The spirit which has actuated them in preparing the portion of the book dealing with grammar is that which is common to progressive teachers of English to-day and which is characterized by the idea that formal grammar should be used for the purpose of helping to form correct habits of spoken and written expression. If the grammar taught in the elementary school is to function, it is necessary to restrict it to the simple forms and principles. These principles have been developed inductively and supplemented by a large number of exercises intended to give the pupil abundant opportunity for application.

Since people talk much more than they write, a textbook on composition should be replete with material and suggestions for the development of oral expression. In the present work much emphasis has been placed upon oral composition not only as an aid to correct speech but also as a preparation for written composition, and a close relationship between the two has been maintained.

The subject matter has been prepared with the aim of making self-expression possible by furnishing the pupil ample opportunity and suggestion for speaking and writing about those things in which he is interested and in respect to which he has had actual experience. It is hoped that the

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