In the preparation of this little work the writer has kept one end in view, viz.: To make it serviceable for those for whom it is intended, that is, for those who have neither the time nor the opportunity, the learning nor the inclination, to peruse elaborate and abstruse treatises on Rhetoric, Grammar, and Composition. To them such works are as gold enclosed in chests of steel and locked beyond power of opening. This book has no pretension about it whatever,—it is neither a Manual of Rhetoric, expatiating on the dogmas of style, nor a Grammar full of arbitrary rules and exceptions. It is merely an effort to help ordinary, everyday people to express themselves in ordinary, everyday language, in a proper manner. Some broad rules are laid down, the observance of which will enable the reader to keep within the pale of propriety in oral and written language. Many idiomatic words and expressions, peculiar to the language, have been given, besides which a number of the common mistakes and pitfalls have been placed before the reader so that he may know and avoid them.
The writer has to acknowledge his indebtedness to no one in particular, but to all in general who have ever written on the subject.
The little book goes forth—a finger-post on the road of language pointing in the right direction. It is hoped that they who go according to its index will arrive at the goal of correct speaking and writing.
在撰写这部小作品的过程中，作者始终秉持着一个宗旨，即：使其能够为预期的读者所用，也就是为那些既没有时间也没有机会、既没有学识也没有兴趣去研读关于修辞学、语法和写作的详尽深奥论著的人服务。对于这类人来说，这类著作就如同被装在坚固铁箱里、锁得无法打开的金子一样毫无用处。而这本书则完全没有此类企图——它既不是关于修辞学的指南，详述了风格的教义；也不是充满随意规则和例外情况的语法书。它仅仅是一次努力，旨在帮助普通大众用日常的、平常的语言恰当地表达自己。书中确立了一些宽泛的规则，遵守这些规则将使读者能够在口头和书面语言中保持得体。书中还提供了许多该语言特有的习语词汇和表达方式，此外，还列举了许多常见的错误和陷阱，以便读者知晓并避免它们。
这位作者不得不承认，他并非特别感激某个人，而是对所有一直以来都对该主题进行过研究的人表示感谢。
这本小书问世了——它就像语言道路上的一座路标，指引着人们朝着正确的方向前行。希望那些依照其指引前行的人们能够达成正确说话和写作的目标。