6. In the newspaper or book that you are reading, every time you meet a new word make it yours. Look up the meaning in the dictionary until you are sure that you know how to use the word. At the first opportunity, employ it in your conversation or writing. Sooner or later “dope” and the eternal “damn” will have ceased to fill in endless crevices in your talk and their places will have been taken by incisive words. You will awake to find that you are expressing yourself more easily and plainly. On the other hand, every word you pass over or for which you merely consult the dictionary, is a tool cast aside in your building of an officer. Every bit of slang or profanity which now crowds out the appropriate word will later rise up and clog your thought at a time when you are making your utmost endeavor to put into clear, forceful English your plan of action or your order. AS TO PHRASES AND CLAUSES. Remember to place phrases and clauses nearest the words they modify. Captain George will divide the tools equally among the battalions _which are fit for felling timber_. The change of the italicized clause to its proper position next the word _tools_, gives the intended meaning. AS TO SENTENCES. 1. Use the short complex sentence; such as:— An attack is expected tomorrow from strong hostile forces whose advanced troops are near FORT MONTGOMERY. The enemy’s infantry disappeared to the south as soon as our advance cavalry came over the hill. The use of _when_, _since_, _because_, _where_, _whenever_, _although_, _after_, _till_, _until_, _as_, _so long as_, _now that_, _whence_, _whither_, _inasmuch as_, _that_, _in order that_, _so that_, and _lest_, with the finite form of the verb is a good construction to practice. Notice how compact and explicit is the following:— Lest the enemy should turn your flank, keep veering to the east. Try to put this same thought into twelve words by means of a different construction. 2. When you start with one kind of construction, keep it up unless there be some good reason to change it. If you begin with the past tense and third person, have the past tense and third person continue throughout the sentence or sentences. It is reported that extensive preparations are being made in the vicinity of CAMBRAI and the enemy has stored railroad material there. It is reported that the enemy has made extensive preparations at CAMBRAI and has stored railroad material there. Which sentence reads along with less break? Again, It is advisable to advance part of the ammunition columns and that the division should follow at 200 yards. Better, It is advisable to advance part of the ammunition columns and to have the division follow at 200 yards. Now that specific guides have been posted near the grammatical turns of the road, let us look at two general rules covering everything we do.