160. In order to facilitate phrasing, hooks, initial or final, are sometimes elided. Under this principle, the w at the beginning of well, willing and week is frequently omitted.

Exercise

Write the following phrases, omitting the w:

as (w)ell as

as (w)ell as it should be

as (w)ell as you may

I am willing

it is (w)ell enough (well

downward) it is (w)ell known (well

downward)

it may as (w)ell

it might as (w)ell

las(t) (w)eek

next (ns) (w)eek

such as are (w)illing (are

downward) this (w)eek very (w)ell

"r" hook omitted and implied.

*See Paragraphs 255-263, **See Paragraphs 269-272.

161. To facilitate a junction, the r hook is frequently elided or imperfectly expressed, as in the phrases it is perhaps

in which consideration

162. Sometimes, in consequence of the elision of the r hook, the consonant to which it belongs assumes an imperfect and apparently ambiguous form. Thus mr in the midst of a phrase takes frequently the form of mp by reason of the omission of the r hook, as in much more

vr, with the hook omitted in the midst of a phrase, has the appearance of the consonant stroke w, as in the phrase there is very little

thr, with the hook omitted under similar circumstances, looks like the consonant stroke z, as in the phrases he is therefore

which is therefore

For the sake of brevity, these apparent anomalies are tolerated, because in practice no confusion or illegibility results.

Exercise

Write the following phrases, omitting the r hook as indicated :

he is the(r)efore he is ve(r)y likely it is thei(r) matter it is ve(r)y likely it is ve(r)y little

it is ve(r)y strange much mo(r)e much mo(r)e important so ve(r)y little which is the(r)eby

"n" hook elided.

163. The n nook is occasionally elided for the sake of securing a convenient junction.

Exercise

Write the following phrases, omitting the n hook as indicated:

all that has bee(n) said

America(n) people

dow(n) there

has bee(n) able

has bee(n) there

it has bee(n) suggested

Norther(n) Democracy

upo(n) their upo(n) them upo(n) themselves upo(n) those upo(n) those who woma(n)'s rights wome(n)'s rights

164. In the word can, the n may frequently be elided for the sake of phrasing.*

Exercise

Write the following phrases, omitting the n in con:

ca(n) be ca(n) only be ca(n) there be ca(n) they do ca(n) this be ca(n) you ca(n) you go ca(n) you receive ca(n) you remember

it ca(n) be

it ca(n) never be

there ca(n) be

this ca(n) only be

what ca(n) they do

what ca(n) they remember

which ca(n) be

you ca(n) generally

you ca(n) now