Chapter XXV: Appendix: Errors in the Use of Words

_All of_. Omit the _of_.

_Aggravate_. Does not mean _provoke_ or _irritate_.

_Among one another_. This phrase is illogical.

_And who_. Omit the _and_ unless there is a preceding _who_ to which this is an addition.

_Another from_. Should be _another then_.

_Anyhow,_ meaning _at any rate,_ is not to be used in literary composition.

_Any place_. Incorrect for _anywhere_.

_At_. We live _at_ a small place, _in_ a large one, and usually _arrive at,_ not _in_.

_Avocation_. Not to be confused with _vocation,_ a main calling, since _avocation_ is a side calling.

_Awful_ does not mean _very_.

_Back out_. An Americanism for _withdraw_.

_Balance_. Not proper for _remainder,_ but only for _that which makes equal_.

_Beginner_. Never say _new beginner_.

_Beside; besides_. The first means _by the side of,_ the second _in addition to_.

_Be that as it will_. Say, _be that as it may_.

_Blame on_. We may lay the _blame on,_ but we cannot _blame it on_ any one.

_But what_. Should be _but that_.

_Calculate_. Do not use for _intend_.

_Can_. Do not use for _may_. “_May_ I go with you?” not “_Can_ I go with you?”

_Clever_. Does not mean _good-natured,_ but _talented_.

_Demean_. Means to _behave,_ not to _debase_ or _degrade_.

_Disremember_. Now obsolete.

_Don't_. Not to be used for _doesn't,_ after a singular subject such as he.

_Else_. Not follow by _but_; say, “nothing else _than_ pride.”

_Expect_. Do not use for _think,_ as in “I _expect_ it is so.”

_Fetch_. Means to _go and bring,_ hence _go and fetch_ is wrong.

_Fix_. Not used for _arrange_ or the like, as “fix the furniture.”

_From_. Say, “He died of cholera,” not _from_.

_Got_. Properly you “have _got_” what you made an effort to get, not what you merely “have.”

_Graduate_. Say, “The man _is graduated_ from college,” and “The college _graduates_ the man.”

_Had ought. Ought_ never requires any part of the verb _to have_.

_Had rather, had better_. Disputed, but used by good writers.

_Handy_. Does not mean near _by_.

_In so far as_. Omit the _in_.

_Kind of_. After these two words omit _a,_ and say, “What kind of man,” not “What kind of _a_ man.” Also, do not say, “_kind_ of tired.”

_Lady_. Feminine for _lord,_ therefore do not speak of a “sales-lady,” “a man and his lady,” etc.

_Last; latter_. We say _latter_ of two, in preference to _last;_ but _last_ of three.

_Lay; lie_. We _lay_ a thing down, but we ourselves _lie_ down; we say, “He laid the Bible on the table,” but “He lay down on the couch;” “The coat has been laid away,” and “It has lain in the drawer.” _Lay, laid, laid_——takes an object; _lie, lay, lain_——does not.

_Learn_. Never used as an active verb with an object, a in “I _learned_ him his letters.” We say, “He _learned_ his letters,” and “I _taught_ him his letters.”

_Learned_. “A _learned_ man”——pronounce _learn-ed_ with two syllables; but “He has _learned_ his lesson”——one syllable.

_Like_. Do not say, “Do _like_ I do.” Use _as_ when a conjunction is required.

_Lives_. Do not say, “I had just as _lives_ as not,” but “I had just as _Lief_.”

_Lot_. Does not mean _many,_ as in “a _lot_ of men,” but one _division,_ as, “in that lot.”

_Lovely_. Do not overwork this word. A rose may be _lovely,_ but hardly a plate of soup.

_Mad_. We prefer to say _angry_ if we mean out _of temper_.

_Mistaken_. Some critics insist that it is wrong to say “I am mistaken” when we mean “I mistake.”

_Love_. We _like_ candy rather than _love_ it. Save Love for something higher.

_Most_. In writing, do not use _'most_ for _almost_.

_Mutual friend_. Though Dickens used this expression in one of his titles in the sense of common _friend,_ it is considered incorrect by many critics. The proper meaning of _mutual_ is reciprocal.

_Nothing Like_. Do not say, “Nothing _like_ as handsome.”

_Of all others_. Not proper after a superlative; as, “greatest of all others,” the meaning being “the greatest of all,” or “great above all others.”

_Only_. Be careful not to place this word so that its application will be doubtful, as in “His mother only spoke to him,” meaning “Only his mother.”

_On to_. Not one word like _into_. Use it as you would on and to together.

_Orate_. Not good usage.

_Plenty_. Say, “Fruit was plentiful,” not “plenty.”

_Preventative_. Should be _preventive_.

_Previous_. Say, “previously to,” not “previous to.” Also, do not say, “He was too previous”——it is a pure vulgarism.

_Providing_. Say, “_Provided_ he has money,” not “Providing.”

_Propose_. Do not confuse with _purpose_. One proposes a plan, but _purposes_ to do something, though it is also possible a _propose,_ or make a proposition, to do something.

_Quite_. Do not say, “Quite a way,” or “Quite a good deal,” but reserve the word for such phrases as “Quite sure,” “Quite to the edge,” etc.

_Raise; rise_. Never tell a person to “raise up,” meaning “raise himself up,” but to “rise up.” Also, do not speak of “raising children,” though we may “raise horses.”

_Scarcely_. Do not say, “I shall scarcely (hardly) finish before night,” though it is proper to use it of time, as in “I saw him scarcely an hour ago.”

_Seldom or ever_. Incorrect for “seldom if ever.”

_Set; sit_. We _set_ the cup down, and sit down ourselves. The hen _sits;_ the sun _sets_; a dress _sits_.

_Sewerage; sewage_. The first means the system of sewers, the second the waste matter.

_Some_. Do not say, “I am _some_ tired,” “I like it _some,_” etc.

_Stop_. Say, “Stay in town,” not “_Stop in town_.”

_Such another_. Say “another such.”

_They_. Do not refer to _any one,_ by _they, their,_ or _them;_ as in “If any one wishes a cup of tea, they may get it in the next room.” Say, “If any one … he may …”

_Transpire_. Does not mean “occur,” and hence we do not say “Many events transpired that year.” We may say, “It transpired that he had been married a year.”

_Unique_. The word means _single, alone, the only one_ so we cannot say, “very unique,” or the like.

_Very_. Say, “_very_ much pleased,” not “_very_ pleased,” though the latter usage is sustained by some authorities.

_Ways_. Say, “a long _way,_” not “a long _ways_.”

_Where_. A preposition of place is not required with where, and it is considered incorrect to say, “Where is he gone to?”

_Whole of_. Omit the _of_.

_Without_. Do not say, “Without it rains,” etc., in the sense of unless, except.

_Witness_. Do not say, “He witnessed a bull-fight”; reserve it for “witnessing a signature,” and the like.