words that betray the locality of the speaker.  Any person who has been five hundred miles from home cannot fail to have observed words that were used differently from the way in which he had been accustomed to use them, and he probably heard terms of expression that seemed strange to him.  In like manner, his own expressions sounded strange to those who heard him.  That which distinguished his speech from theirs and theirs from his would, in large part, be covered by the word “provincialism.”

Not only do we have local and sectional peculiarities of speech, but
we may be said to have national mannerisms.  Mr. Alexander Melville
Bell, the eminent
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elocutionist, relates that some years ago when residing in Edinburgh, a stranger called to make some inquiries in regard to professional matters.

“I have called on you, sir, for the purpose of,” etc.

“When did you cross the Atlantic?” I asked.

The stranger looked up with surprise amounting almost to consternation.

“How do you know that I have crossed the Atlantic?”

“Your manner of using the little word ‘sir’ is not heard in England or Scotland.”

This gentleman, Mr. Bell says, was one of the most eminent teachers of elocution in America, and his speech was perfectly free from ordinary local coloring, in all but the one little element which had escaped observation.

Which?

Much diversity of usage exists and some difference of opinion prevails concerning the proper expression to use when you are addressed, and fail to understand just what has been said.  Such interrogative rejoinders as “What?” “How?” “Which?” “Hey?” are plainly objectionable.  “Sir?” and “Madam!” once common, are no longer tolerated in society.  The English expression “Beg pardon” has found favor, but it is not wholly acceptable.  “Excuse me”
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is suggested by a writer on the subject.  It has no more syllables than “Beg pardon,” and is nearly equivalent in signification, but it is also subject to the objection that it is often used to imply a difference of opinion, as when a person makes a statement to which you take exception, you begin your reply with the expression, “Excuse me.”

Whatever is adopted will doubtless be a convenient contraction, like “Beg pardon,” which is a short way of saying, “I beg your pardon for failing to understand what you said;” or “Excuse me,” which is a condensation of “Excuse me for not fully grasping your meaning.”

Wordsimproperly used

Commodious—­Convenient

A word of caution in the use of the smaller dictionaries is necessary.  The most elaborate definition often fails to give an adequate idea of the signification of a term unless it is accompanied with one or more quotations illustrating its use.  The small dictionaries give only the briefest definitions, without illustration, and therefore should be interpreted with caution.