distinct from the noun.  Thus, too, when a noun is used adjectively, it should remain separate from the noun it modifies; as, a gold ring, a silver buckle.  When two numerals are employed to express a number, without a conjunction between them, it is usual to connect them by a hyphen; as, twenty-five, eighty-four:  but when the conjunction is inserted, the hyphen is as improper as it would be between other words connected by the conjunction.  This, however, is a common abuse; and we often meet with five-&-twenty, six-&-thirty, and the like.”—­Ib., p. 376.  Thus far Churchill:  who appears to me, however, too hasty about the hyphen in compound numerals.  For we write one hundred, two hundred, three thousand, &c., without either hyphen or conjunction; and as five-and-twenty is equivalent to twenty-five, and virtually but one word, the hyphen, if not absolutely necessary to the sense, is certainly not so very improper as he alleges. “Christian name” is as often written without the hyphen as with it, and perhaps as accurately.

IMPROPRIETIES FOR CORRECTION.

ERRORS IN THE FIGURE, OR FORM, OF WORDS.

UNDER RULE I.—­OF COMPOUNDS.

“Professing to imitate Timon, the man hater.”—­Goldsmith’s Rome, p. 161.

[FORMULE.—­Not proper, because the compound term manhater is here made two words.  But, according to Rule 1st, “Words regularly or analogically united, and commonly known as forming a compound, should never be needlessly broken apart.”  Therefore, manhater should be written as one word.]

“Men load hay with a pitch fork.”—­Webster’s New Spelling-Book, p. 40.  “A pear tree grows from the seed of a pear.”—­Ib., p. 33.  “A tooth brush is good to brush your teeth.”—­Ib., p. 85.  “The mail is opened at the post office.”—­Ib., p. 151.  “The error seems to me two fold.”—­Sanborn’s Gram., p. 230.  “To pre-engage means to engage before hand.”—­Webster’s New Spelling-Book, p. 82.  “It is a mean act to deface the figures on a mile stone.”—­Ib., p. 88.  “A grange is a farm and farm house.”—­Ib., p. 118.  “It is no more right to steal apples or water melons, than money.”—­Ib., p. 118.  “The awl is a tool used by shoemakers, and harness makers.”—­Ib., p. 150.  “Twenty five cents are equal to one quarter of a dollar.”—­Ib., p. 107.  “The blowing up of the Fulton at New York was a terrible disaster.”—­Ib., p. 54.  “The elders also, and the bringers up of the children, sent to Jehu.”—­SCOTT:  2 Kings, x, 5.  “Not with eye service, as men pleasers.”—­Bickersteth, on Prayer, p. 64.  “A good natured and equitable construction of cases.”—­Ash’s Gram., p. 138.  “And purify your hearts, ye double minded.”—­Gurney’s Portable Evidences, p. 115.  “It is a mean spirited action to steal; i. e. to steal is