Do not, therefore, make the mistake of always taking the largest possible breath.

Reserve this for the climaxes, and inhale according to the requirements of the phrase and its dynamics.

The constant taking of too much breath is a common mistake, but trying to sing too long on one breath is another.
THE INITIAL USE OF BREATH FORCE The breath force when properly employed seems to be expended in starting the vibrations in the larynx; the vibrations are then transmitted to the air in the resonance cavities, and there the perfected tone sets the outer air in motion, through which the tone vibrations are conveyed to the ear of the listener.
RESERVE BREATH POWER The correctly trained singer or speaker will never allow the breath power to be exhausted.

Some breath should be taken in at every convenient interval between the words, according to the punctuation, but never between syllables of a word; this is correct phrasing.

In this way the lungs are kept nearly full, and breathing is at its best.
The chief cause of breath exhaustion is _wasted_ breath.