When Harrison encountered students with poor classics preparation in the lecture hall, he insisted that language fundamentals not be neglected, even at the expense of developing more advanced concepts.
This proclivity earned him a frequent invocation by the students of their dysphemism, "Old Gess's humbuggery."

Harrison once lamented to a successor, "I suspect you'll have a lot such as mine; you will spend your life clearing the ground and laying foundations, mostly out of sight, on which more fortunate men shall build."
Broadus states that he thereby asserted that education only worked its way from higher to lower.
Graduate teachers were proven incrementally more skillful.
Each cohort in turn sent up students who were more qualified in the basics.
Thus, Harrison and colleagues could gradually raise the standard of expertise in each field.
One younger colleague affirmed, "I hardly know how we could get on at all if it were not for what Dr. Harrison did before us."

His earliest published work, Geography of Ancient Italy and Southern Greece, illustrates his emphasis on fundamentals.
In the syllabus, Harrison included history, in order to show that the physical and historical peculiarities of Italy and Greece contributed to the character of the people and the formation of their languages.
He was forced to condense the material to reduce printing costs, but the enterprise still lost money.
As Broadus opined, the profitable business of publishing proved not to be his strong suit.

Harrison also explored new concepts in his discipline.
The modern Science of Language had recently begun in Germany, seeking to expand the academic study of Latin and Greek usage beyond that of elemental facts, expanding the discipline with "rational explanation and philosophical systemization."
Harrison supported the advance of this scientific approach in American comparative grammar, eventually applying its principles to the striking similarities between the ancient Sanskrit language of India and that of Latin and Greek.

According to Prof. Basil Gildersleeve and biographer Merrow E. Sorley, Harrison's keen interest led him to promote several innovative principles even before they were taken up by the German or English schools.
Harrison's own Exposition of Latin Grammar was described as "an excellent work" by German Prof. Georg Curtius, the preeminent scholar in the study of comparative grammar at the time.
Curtius' own work on the subject followed six years after Harrison's material was first printed for use in an 1839 University of Virginia classroom.

Harrison's later Treatise on Greek Prepositions was said to be a prime example of his philosophical, inductive approach.
Broadus maintained in 1870 that the work made its author a decidedly eminent contributor in the field of philology.
 While Harrison's colleagues had praise for these works, their very specialized nature limited the circle of interested readers, and sales barely covered expenses.

Finally, Harrison was able to use his medical studies to articulate the relationship of vocal anatomy to language patterns. “
To see the Professor exemplifying with his own organs the mode of formation of palatals, linguals, and labials was a standing amusement" to both students and colleagues.
When Harrison encountered students with poor classics preparation in the lecture hall, he insisted that language fundamentals not be neglected, even at the expense of developing more advanced concepts. This proclivity earned him a frequent invocation by the students of their dysphemism, "Old Gess's humbuggery."
Harrison once lamented to a successor, "I suspect you'll have a lot such as mine; you will spend your life clearing the ground and laying foundations, mostly out of sight, on which more fortunate men shall build." Broadus states that he thereby asserted that education only worked its way from higher to lower. Graduate teachers were proven incrementally more skillful. Each cohort in turn sent up students who were more qualified in the basics. Thus, Harrison and colleagues could gradually raise the standard of expertise in each field. One younger colleague affirmed, "I hardly know how we could get on at all if it were not for what Dr. Harrison did before us."
His earliest published work, Geography of Ancient Italy and Southern Greece, illustrates his emphasis on fundamentals. In the syllabus, Harrison included history, in order to show that the physical and historical peculiarities of Italy and Greece contributed to the character of the people and the formation of their languages. He was forced to condense the material to reduce printing costs, but the enterprise still lost money. As Broadus opined, the profitable business of publishing proved not to be his strong suit.
Harrison also explored new concepts in his discipline. The modern Science of Language had recently begun in Germany, seeking to expand the academic study of Latin and Greek usage beyond that of elemental facts, expanding the discipline with "rational explanation and philosophical systemization." Harrison supported the advance of this scientific approach in American comparative grammar, eventually applying its principles to the striking similarities between the ancient Sanskrit language of India and that of Latin and Greek.
According to Prof. Basil Gildersleeve and biographer Merrow E. Sorley, Harrison's keen interest led him to promote several innovative principles even before they were taken up by the German or English schools. Harrison's own Exposition of Latin Grammar was described as "an excellent work" by German Prof. Georg Curtius, the preeminent scholar in the study of comparative grammar at the time. Curtius' own work on the subject followed six years after Harrison's material was first printed for use in an 1839 University of Virginia classroom.
Harrison's later Treatise on Greek Prepositions was said to be a prime example of his philosophical, inductive approach. Broadus maintained in 1870 that the work made its author a decidedly eminent contributor in the field of philology.  While Harrison's colleagues had praise for these works, their very specialized nature limited the circle of interested readers, and sales barely covered expenses.
Finally, Harrison was able to use his medical studies to articulate the relationship of vocal anatomy to language patterns. “To see the Professor exemplifying with his own organs the mode of formation of palatals, linguals, and labials was a standing amusement" to both students and colleagues.
Gessner Harrison