Recent Exemplifications of False Philology

Recent Exemplifications Of False Philology by Fitzedward Hall surveys the way 19th-century writers and scholars misapply philology and grammar to the English language. The work offers a rigorous critique of modern prescriptivism, especially of the attitudes expressed in Words and Their Uses, arguing that usage, history, and analogy should govern linguistic change rather than authorities who claim absolute correctness. Hall defends the legitimacy of lexical and syntactic forms grounded in long-standing practice, tracing the evolution of words from Greek, Latin, and French roots and illustrating how shifts in meaning often arise through common usage rather than impervious rules. The book is a mosaic of examples, quotations, and analyses of terms such as apartment, curious, commence, militate, repudiate, and many others, showing that apparent “monsters” may have solid philological pedigree. Throughout, Hall emphasizes careful, evidence-based study of linguistic history and cautions against overconfident judgments detached from the annals of usage. Ultimately, the volume defends a flexible, usage-driven approach to language, urging scholars to consult past usage before dismissing linguistic innovations.