The Verbalist
A Manual Devoted to Brief Discussions of the Right and the Wrong Use of Words and to Some Other Matters of Interest to Those Who Would Speak and Write with Propriety.
The Verbalist is a manual of English usage by Alfred Ayres, the pen name of the American journalist Thomas Embley Osmun. Its entries, arranged alphabetically from "Ability" onward, take up the words and phrases that careful speakers and writers of the late nineteenth century argued about: pairs easily confused, idioms judged vulgar, pompous substitutes for plain words, and slips of grammar caught in newspapers, sermons and the books of respected authors. Ayres states his preferences with brisk confidence and plenty of examples, and some of his rulings have since been overturned by usage. Read today, it is both a practical guide to clear English and a record of what a Victorian purist thought worth correcting. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Verbalist
The Verbalist by Alfred Ayres can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Verbalist online?
Yes. The Verbalist opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Verbalist free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Verbalist is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Verbalist in the public domain?
Yes. The Verbalist by Alfred Ayres is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Verbalist?
About 4 h 22 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Verbalist?
The Verbalist by Alfred Ayres is filed under "Classics" in the Vinteuil library.
