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An Essay on Criticism
An Essay on Criticism

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of An Essay on Criticism is here in full — 150 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/30 · 5 lines
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Learn, then, what morals critics ought to show, For 'tis but half a judge's task to know.
'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.
Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.
'Tis not enough your counsel still be true; Blunt truths more mischief than nice falsehoods do; Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown proposed as things forgot.
Without good breeding truth is disapproved; That only makes superior sense beloved.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

An Essay on Criticism

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of An Essay on Criticism is here in full — 150 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/30 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Learn, then, what morals critics ought to show, For 'tis but half a judge's task to know.
/lɜːrn ðen wʌt ˈmɔːrəlz ˈkrɪtɪks ɔːt tuː ʃoʊ fɔːr tɪz bʌt hæf ə ˈdʒʌdʒɪz tæsk tuː noʊ/
Line 2
'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.
/tɪz nɑːt ɪˈnʌf teɪst ˈdʒʌdʒmənt ˈlɜːrnɪŋ dʒɔɪn ɪn ɔːl juː spiːk let truːθ ənd ˈkændər ʃaɪn ðæt nɑːt əˈloʊn wʌt tuː jɔːr sens ɪz duː ɔːl meɪ əˈlaʊ bʌt siːk jɔːr ˈfrendʃɪp tuː/
Line 3
Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.
Line 4
'Tis not enough your counsel still be true; Blunt truths more mischief than nice falsehoods do; Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown proposed as things forgot.
/tɪz nɑːt ɪˈnʌf jɔːr ˈkaʊnsəl stɪl biː truː blʌnt truːθs mɔːr ˈmɪstʃəf ðæn naɪs ˈfælshʊdz duː men mʌst biː tɔːt æz ɪf juː tɔːt ðem nɑːt ənd θɪŋz ənˈnoʊn prəˈpoʊzd æz θɪŋz fərˈɡɑːt/
Line 5
Without good breeding truth is disapproved; That only makes superior sense beloved.
/wɪˈθaʊt ɡʊd ˈbriːdɪŋ truːθ ɪz ˌdɪsəˈpruːvd ðæt ˈoʊnli meɪks suːˈpɪriər sens bɪˈlʌvd/

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

candor noun US /ˈkændər/

ability to make judgments free from discrimination or dishonesty

From this reading “'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.”

critics noun US /ˈkrɪtɪks/

plural of “critic” — a person who is professionally engaged in the analysis and interpretation of works of art

From this reading “Learn, then, what morals critics ought to show, For 'tis but half a judge's task to know.”

critique noun US /krəˈtiːk/

an essay or article that gives a critical evaluation (as of a book or play)

From this reading “Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.”

disapproved verb US /ˌdɪsəˈpruːvd/

past form of “disapprove” — consider bad or wrong

From this reading “Without good breeding truth is disapproved; That only makes superior sense beloved.”

falsehoods noun US /ˈfælshʊdz/

plural of “falsehood” — a false statement

From this reading “'Tis not enough your counsel still be true; Blunt truths more mischief than nice falsehoods do; Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown proposed as things forgot.”

judge's noun US /ˈdʒʌdʒɪz/

possessive form of “judge” — a public official authorized to decide questions brought before a court of justice

From this reading “Learn, then, what morals critics ought to show, For 'tis but half a judge's task to know.”

persisting adjective US /pərˈsɪstɪŋ/

relentless and indefatigable in pursuit or as if in pursuit

From this reading “Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.”

truths noun US /truːθs/

plural of “truth” — a fact that has been verified

From this reading “'Tis not enough your counsel still be true; Blunt truths more mischief than nice falsehoods do; Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown proposed as things forgot.”

All words in this reading · 103

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Learn, then, what morals critics ought to show, For 'tis but half a judge's task to know.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading 'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.

allowverbUS /əˈlaʊ/

make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen

From this reading 'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.

aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading 'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.

alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading 'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading 'Tis not enough your counsel still be true; Blunt truths more mischief than nice falsehoods do; Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown proposed as things forgot.

Beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

belovedadjectiveUS /bɪˈlʌvd/

dearly loved

From this reading Without good breeding truth is disapproved; That only makes superior sense beloved.

BluntadjectiveUS /blʌnt/

having a broad or rounded end

From this reading 'Tis not enough your counsel still be true; Blunt truths more mischief than nice falsehoods do; Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown proposed as things forgot.

breedingnounUS /ˈbriːdɪŋ/

elegance by virtue of fineness of manner and expression

From this reading Without good breeding truth is disapproved; That only makes superior sense beloved.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Learn, then, what morals critics ought to show, For 'tis but half a judge's task to know.

candornounUS /ˈkændər/

ability to make judgments free from discrimination or dishonesty

From this reading 'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.

counselnounUS /ˈkaʊnsəl/

a lawyer who pleads cases in court

From this reading 'Tis not enough your counsel still be true; Blunt truths more mischief than nice falsehoods do; Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown proposed as things forgot.

criticsnounUS /ˈkrɪtɪks/

plural of “critic” — a person who is professionally engaged in the analysis and interpretation of works of art

From this reading Learn, then, what morals critics ought to show, For 'tis but half a judge's task to know.

critiquenounUS /krəˈtiːk/

an essay or article that gives a critical evaluation (as of a book or play)

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

diffidencenoun

lack of self-confidence

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

disapprovedverbUS /ˌdɪsəˈpruːvd/

past form of “disapprove” — consider bad or wrong

From this reading Without good breeding truth is disapproved; That only makes superior sense beloved.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading 'Tis not enough your counsel still be true; Blunt truths more mischief than nice falsehoods do; Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown proposed as things forgot.

doubtnounUS /daʊt/

the state of being unsure of something

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

dueadjectiveUS /duː/

owed and payable immediately or on demand

From this reading 'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading 'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.

errorsnounUS /ˈerərz/

plural of “error” — a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

falsehoodsnounUS /ˈfælshʊdz/

plural of “falsehood” — a false statement

From this reading 'Tis not enough your counsel still be true; Blunt truths more mischief than nice falsehoods do; Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown proposed as things forgot.

fops

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Learn, then, what morals critics ought to show, For 'tis but half a judge's task to know.

forgotverbUS /fərˈɡɑːt/

inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering

From this reading 'Tis not enough your counsel still be true; Blunt truths more mischief than nice falsehoods do; Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown proposed as things forgot.

friendshipnounUS /ˈfrendʃɪp/

the state of being friends (or friendly)

From this reading 'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading Without good breeding truth is disapproved; That only makes superior sense beloved.

halfadjectiveUS /hæf/

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading Learn, then, what morals critics ought to show, For 'tis but half a judge's task to know.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading 'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading 'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.

joinverbUS /dʒɔɪn/

become part of; become a member of a group or organization

From this reading 'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.

judge'snounUS /ˈdʒʌdʒɪz/

possessive form of “judge” — a public official authorized to decide questions brought before a court of justice

From this reading Learn, then, what morals critics ought to show, For 'tis but half a judge's task to know.

judgmentnounUS /ˈdʒʌdʒmənt/

an opinion formed by judging something

From this reading 'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Learn, then, what morals critics ought to show, For 'tis but half a judge's task to know.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

LearnverbUS /lɜːrn/

gain knowledge or skills

From this reading Learn, then, what morals critics ought to show, For 'tis but half a judge's task to know.

learningnounUS /ˈlɜːrnɪŋ/

the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge

From this reading 'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading 'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

makesnounUS /meɪks/

plural of “make” — a recognizable kind

From this reading Without good breeding truth is disapproved; That only makes superior sense beloved.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading 'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.

MennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading 'Tis not enough your counsel still be true; Blunt truths more mischief than nice falsehoods do; Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown proposed as things forgot.

mischiefnounUS /ˈmɪstʃəf/

reckless or malicious behavior that causes discomfort or annoyance in others

From this reading 'Tis not enough your counsel still be true; Blunt truths more mischief than nice falsehoods do; Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown proposed as things forgot.

moralsnounUS /ˈmɔːrəlz/

motivation based on ideas of right and wrong

From this reading Learn, then, what morals critics ought to show, For 'tis but half a judge's task to know.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading 'Tis not enough your counsel still be true; Blunt truths more mischief than nice falsehoods do; Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown proposed as things forgot.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading 'Tis not enough your counsel still be true; Blunt truths more mischief than nice falsehoods do; Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown proposed as things forgot.

needsadverbUS /niːdz/

in such a manner as could not be otherwise

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

niceadjectiveUS /naɪs/

pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance

From this reading 'Tis not enough your counsel still be true; Blunt truths more mischief than nice falsehoods do; Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown proposed as things forgot.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading 'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading Without good breeding truth is disapproved; That only makes superior sense beloved.

oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading Learn, then, what morals critics ought to show, For 'tis but half a judge's task to know.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

pastnounUS /pæst/

the time that has elapsed

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

persistingadjectiveUS /pərˈsɪstɪŋ/

relentless and indefatigable in pursuit or as if in pursuit

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

pleasurenounUS /ˈpleʒər/

a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

positiveadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːzətɪv/

characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

proposedverbUS /prəˈpoʊzd/

past form of “propose” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something

From this reading 'Tis not enough your counsel still be true; Blunt truths more mischief than nice falsehoods do; Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown proposed as things forgot.

seekverbUS /siːk/

try to get or reach

From this reading 'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.

seemingadjectiveUS /ˈsiːmɪŋ/

appearing as such but not necessarily so

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

sensenounUS /sens/

a general conscious awareness

From this reading 'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.

shineverbUS /ʃaɪn/

be bright by reflecting or casting light

From this reading 'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.

showverbUS /ʃoʊ/

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading Learn, then, what morals critics ought to show, For 'tis but half a judge's task to know.

silentadjectiveUS /ˈsaɪlənt/

marked by absence of sound

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

SomeadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

speakverbUS /spiːk/

express in speech

From this reading 'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading 'Tis not enough your counsel still be true; Blunt truths more mischief than nice falsehoods do; Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown proposed as things forgot.

superioradjectiveUS /suːˈpɪriər/

of high or superior quality or performance

From this reading Without good breeding truth is disapproved; That only makes superior sense beloved.

sureadjectiveUS /ʃʊr/

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

tasknounUS /tæsk/

any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted

From this reading Learn, then, what morals critics ought to show, For 'tis but half a judge's task to know.

tasteverbUS /teɪst/

To perceive flavor through the mouth.

From this reading 'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.

taughtverbUS /tɔːt/

inflected form of “teach” — impart skills or knowledge to

From this reading 'Tis not enough your counsel still be true; Blunt truths more mischief than nice falsehoods do; Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown proposed as things forgot.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading 'Tis not enough your counsel still be true; Blunt truths more mischief than nice falsehoods do; Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown proposed as things forgot.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading 'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading 'Tis not enough your counsel still be true; Blunt truths more mischief than nice falsehoods do; Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown proposed as things forgot.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Learn, then, what morals critics ought to show, For 'tis but half a judge's task to know.

thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading 'Tis not enough your counsel still be true; Blunt truths more mischief than nice falsehoods do; Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown proposed as things forgot.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

tisnounUS /tɪz/

plural of “ti” — a light strong grey lustrous corrosion-resistant metallic element used in strong lightweight alloys (as for airplane parts); the main sources are rutile and ilmenite

From this reading Learn, then, what morals critics ought to show, For 'tis but half a judge's task to know.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Learn, then, what morals critics ought to show, For 'tis but half a judge's task to know.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading 'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.

trueadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading 'Tis not enough your counsel still be true; Blunt truths more mischief than nice falsehoods do; Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown proposed as things forgot.

truthnounUS /truːθ/

a fact that has been verified

From this reading 'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.

truthsnounUS /truːθs/

plural of “truth” — a fact that has been verified

From this reading 'Tis not enough your counsel still be true; Blunt truths more mischief than nice falsehoods do; Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown proposed as things forgot.

unknownadjectiveUS /ənˈnoʊn/

not known

From this reading 'Tis not enough your counsel still be true; Blunt truths more mischief than nice falsehoods do; Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown proposed as things forgot.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Learn, then, what morals critics ought to show, For 'tis but half a judge's task to know.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

WhopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

WithoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Without good breeding truth is disapproved; That only makes superior sense beloved.

wrongadjectiveUS /rɔːŋ/

not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth

From this reading Be silent always, when you doubt your sense; And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence: Some positive persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong will needs be always so; But you, with pleasure, own your errors past, And make each day a critique on the last.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading 'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading 'Tis not enough, taste, judgment, learning, join; In all you speak, let truth and candor shine: That not alone what to your sense is due All may allow, but seek your friendship too.

Chapter 3 of An Essay on Criticism by Alexander Pope holds 150 sentences, grouped into 30 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 3 of An Essay on Criticism contain?

Chapter 3 holds 150 sentences of An Essay on Criticism, unabridged, divided into 30 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of An Essay on Criticism by Alexander Pope exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 150 sentences, grouped into 30 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

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Work through the 30 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

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Vocabulary met early in An Essay on Criticism

Words and structures a reader meets early in An Essay on Criticism, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Greater
A word that appears in the opening chapter of An Essay on Criticism; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Skill
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Appear
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Writing
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