If anybody calls, let him wait.
=Exceeding, Exceedingly.=--“He was exceeding kind to me.” Say
_exceedingly kind_. “She was exceeding careful.” Say _exceedingly
careful_.
=Except=, =Unless=, are often used confusedly. “I shall go except I am
ill.” Say “unless I am ill.” “I saw them all unless two or three.” Say
“except two or three.” The correct usage is easily learned by observing
that _except_ should be used as a preposition, _unless_ as a
conjunction.
=Fall.=--We fall _under_ reproach, notice, censure, etc. We fall _from_
our friends, _from_ virtue; we fall _upon_ our enemies, _among_ evil
associations, _into_ bad habits.
=Farther, Further.=--_Farther_ refers to space; _further_ to time,
degree, and extensions of thought. The distinction is not a necessary
one, but it is now very generally observed.
=Fewer, Less.=--_Fewer_ relates to numbers, _less_ to quantities. “No
man had less friends,” should be fewer friends. But say _less_ money,
_less_ strength, etc.
=Few, Little, Many, Much.=--_Few_ and _many_ refer to number; _little_
and _much_ to quantity. In speaking of articles that are rated by
counting, use _few_ and _many_; in speaking of articles which are rated
by measure, use _little_ and _much_. “A few potatoes,” “so many days.”
=First.=--“The _two first_” should be “the _first two_.” There can be
only one first.
=Fluent, Fluently.=--“He speaks very fluent.” Say _very fluently_.
=Forward=, _backward_, _toward_, _upward_, _onward_, _downward_,
_hitherward_, _thitherward_, _afterward_, _heavenward_, _earthward_,
etc., should be written without the final _s_ which is often added to
them.
=Funeral obsequies.=--Say _obsequies_. The sense of _funeral_ is
contained in this word. It would be as proper to speak of a “wedding
marriage-ceremony” as of “funeral obsequies.”
=Generally=, _always_, _never_, _often_, _rarely_, _seldom_,
_sometimes_, are adverbs which generally come before the verb.
=Gentleman friend, Lady friend.=--Instead of “my gentleman friend,” say
“my friend Mr. ----.” Instead of “my lady friend,” say “my friend Miss
----,” or Mrs. ----.
=Gentleman, Lady.=--These titles have been applied without
discrimination till they have lost almost all the meaning they once had.
Many persons have ceased to use them entirely, and employ _man_ and
_woman_ as good enough titles for anybody. There are no nobler titles
than _man_, _woman_; no higher expressions for qualities of grace or
virtue than _manly_, _womanly_.
=Get.=--“I am afraid Mary is getting crazy.” Say “is growing,” or “is
becoming crazy.” “John got left by the train.” Say “was left.” We _get_
anything that we come in possession of. We may also _get_ a disease. But
_get_ must be followed by a noun as its object.
=Good for Well.=--“He can do it as good as any one else can.” Say _as
well_.
=Got.=--I have a pen. Not I have _got_ a pen.
=Gratuitous.=--“That is a gratuitous assumption.” It is better to say
“unfounded,” “unreasonable,” or “unwarranted.”
=Guess.=--_Guess_ is commonly used in the United States to mean
_think_, as in “I _guess_ you are right” for “I _think_,” etc.
=Had ought.=--Provincial and incorrect. _Had_ or any form of the verb
_to have_ cannot correctly be used as an auxiliary with _ought_. Use
_should_ or _ought not_. Not “He _hadn’t ought_ to have gone,” but “He
_should not_ have gone.”
=Hain’t.=--A vulgarism. There is no such contraction for _have not_ or
_has not_.
=Hang, Hanged.=--The verb _hang_ has two forms for the past participle,
_hanged_ and _hung_. _Hanged_ is used for persons; _hung_ for other
objects. “The man was _hanged_.” “The coat was _hung_ on the rack.”
=He, Him.=--It is him whom.--“It is him whom you said it was.” Say “it
is he.”
=Healthy, Healthful.=--That is _healthy_ which is in good health; that
is _healthful_ which promotes health. “Bread and milk is a healthful
food which makes healthy children.”
=I and Me.=--“They went with James and I.” Say “with James and me.”
=If I was.=--Use the subjunctive in all cases where the conditions are
contrary to fact. “If I _were_ you, I should go.” “If I _were_ a man, I
should practice law.” I am not you, and I am not a man. Use the
indicative in cases of uncertainty. “If I _was_ in town that day, I did
not see you.” I am uncertain as to whether I was or not.
=In, Into.=--Use _in_ to signify rest in a place; use _into_ to signify
motion toward a place. “He was standing with his hands _in_ his
pockets.” “I put my hands _into_ my pockets.” “I came _in_ an
automobile.” “The stranger walked _into_ the room.”
=Indeterminate possessive.=--“Every child should obey their parents.”
Say “his parents.” “No one should incur censure for being careful of
their good character.” Say _his_, or _her_ if talking more particularly
of women. “Let each of us mind their own business.” Say “his own
business.” _Their_ is frequently used improperly, as a substitute. In
such cases, _his_ or _her_ should be used, according as the object most
prominent in the expression, or in the speaker’s thought, is masculine
or feminine. In cases of doubt or indifference, use _his_. In the
nominative we may say _one_. But in the possessive and objective we must
say _his_, _him_ or _her_.
=Indifferent, indifferently.=--“He was indifferent honest.” Say
“_indifferently honest_.”
=Infinitive.=--See Split Infinitive.
=Ingenuous, Ingenious.=--_Ingenuous_ is simple, honest, open,
unaffected. _Ingenious_ is skillful, versatile, ready in contriving.
=Jew, Hebrew, Israelite.=--A _Jew_ is a member of the Hebraic division
of the Semitic race; in consequence _Hebrew_ is the linguistic name of
the _Jews_. Historically, under the theocracy, they were known as
_Hebrews_; under the monarchy, as _Israelites_; and during foreign
domination, as _Jews_. The modern representatives of this stock call
themselves _Hebrews_ in race and language, and _Israelites_ in religion,
but _Jews_ in both senses.
=Jewelry, Jewels.=--_Jewelry_ is a collective noun, and _jewels_ is a
plural noun. In nice usage the term _jewelry_ designates the stock of a
jeweler; _jewels_, the articles of adornment worn by a lady.
=Join issue and Take issue.=--In nice usage, “_join_ issue” means to
_admit the right of the denial of a statement_. “_Take_ issue” means
merely _to deny_.
=Kind of= should not be used for _somewhat_. Instead of “I am _kind of_
tired,” one properly says, “I am _somewhat_ tired.”
=Kind of a.=--A is superfluous in such constructions as, “What _kind_ of
man is he?” (not “kind of _a_”). The same rule applies to _sort_.
=Kind and Kinds.=--See _These_ and _This_.
=Know, Knew, Known.=--“I knowed it.” Say “I knew it.” “I have knowed it
all along.” Say “I have known it.”
=Latter end.=--“I expect to get through by the latter end of the week.”
Say “by the end of the week.” “The latter end of that man shall be
peace.” Say “the end of that man.”
=Learn, Teach.=--These words are often confounded. The pupil _learns_,
the instructor _teaches_. One person cannot _learn_ another, but must
_teach_ him.
=Leave, Lief.=--Say “give me leave to tell you,” not _lief_. But “I
would as lief do it as not,” not _leave_.
=Leisure upon one’s hands.=--“If you have any leisure upon your hands.”
Say “if you are at leisure.”
=Lend, Loan.=--“Loan me five dollars.” Say “lend me five dollars.” The
money having been lent him, the borrower has obtained a _loan_ of that
sum, or has borrowed it.
=Lengthways, Sideways, Otherways.=--These forms are erroneous. Say, and
write, _lengthwise_, _sidewise_, _otherwise_.
=Lie, Lay.=--Distinguish between the verbs:--lie--to tell lies
_Present Tense_--He lies like truth.
He is lying.
_Past Tense_--But he lied unto him.
Wherefore have ye lied to me?
Why have you been lying to me?
lie--to lie down
_Present_--The dog lies under the table.
The dog is lying under the table.
_Past_--He lay upon the bed.
He has lain there for hours.
He has been lying there for hours.
lay--to put a thing down
_Present_--The boy lays his books on the table.
The boy is laying his books on the table.
_Past_--He laid his head upon the block.
The hen has laid an egg.
The hen has been laying all the winter.
=Liable, Apt.=--_Apt_ means fit, ready, quick to do a thing, or to be
subjected to certain conditions. It generally implies willingness.
_Liable_ signifies bound to duties, subject or exposed to inconveniences
or dangers, and implies no regard to the will of its subject. “John will
be apt to catch the fever if he goes into that house,” should be “John
will be liable,” etc. A person who is studious may be spoken of as _apt_
to learn, and _liable_ to become dyspeptic.
=Like.=--“We don’t do that like you do.” Say “as you do.” This misuse of
_like_ is common with English women novelists. _As_ should be used when
a verb follows, or is understood to follow. Where no verb is implied,
_like_ may be employed.
=Like for As.=--Like should not be used as a conjunction. Say: “Do as I
do,” not, “do like I do,” or, “do like me.”
=Like, Love.=--_Love_ is often used instead of _like_, and is thereby
made to lose all its force. We _love_ what the heart goes out to, that
for which we entertain a fond and lasting affection. We _love_ wives,
husbands, parents, children, near friends. We _like_ what we have a
taste for, what pleases us in passing, or what is generally agreeable to
us, as acquaintances, sweetmeats, pleasant weather, music, painting,
reading. We regret for a long time the loss of what we _love_, we soon
cease to be troubled at missing what we _like_.
=Limb.=--“She fell, and bruised her limb.” Say what limb. The arm is a
limb, as well as the leg. The foolish shame which avoids mentioning the
leg by name, is not modesty, but prudery.
=Lit.=--Not to be used for _lighted_. Instead of saying “He _lit_ the
gas,” say “he _lighted_ the gas.” Do not say “He _lit_ on his feet,” but
“he _lighted_ on his feet.”
=Locate.=--“I shall locate in Iowa.” Say _settle_. _Locate_ has acquired
a certain technical currency. The purchaser of land warrants _locates_
by selecting a particular tract to claim under it. _Place_, _settle_,
_fix_, _establish_, can be substituted for it in most cases, and are
better.
=Mad.=--Should not be used for _angry_.
=Mail man.=--An inelegant form for _postman_.
=Me being.=--“Me being absent, the young folks lived high.” Say “I being
absent,” or “while I was absent,” or “during my absence.”
=Me, I.=--“Is it me you mean?” Say “is it I?” or “do you mean me?”
=Me, My.=--“In consequence of me neglecting.”--“The horse got away in
consequence of me neglecting to fasten the gate.” Say “in consequence of
my neglecting,” etc.
=Monstrous.=--_Monstrous_ does not mean large. It means _ill-formed_,
_misshapen_, deviating from the course of nature, of a character to
inspire unpleasant feelings. But an object so unusually large as to
appear terrible may be figuratively styled _monstrous_.
=More--than=, not _more--as_. “He was _more_ beloved but not so much
admired _as_ his brother.” This sentence must be recast.
“He was _more_ beloved _than_ his brother, but not so much admired.” Or,
“Though not so much admired as his brother, he was more beloved.”
=Mortgagor, Mortgagee.=--The _mortgagor_ is the debtor, who pledges the
property which is in mortgage. The _mortgagee_ is the creditor, to whom
the mortgage is made.
=Most.=--Not to be used for _almost_; as “He is here _most_ every day.”
=Mutual.=--Does not mean _common_, but _reciprocal_. “We may have a
_common_ friend, but a _mutual_ dislike”; that is, a dislike for each
other.
=Myself.=--Not to be used for _I_. Do not say “John and _myself_ are
friends”; but “John and _I_,” etc.
=Near, Nearly.=--“I lost _near_ twenty pounds.” Say “_nearly_ twenty
pounds.”
=Neither for Either.=--“That is not the case, neither.” Say “either.”
The double negative is wrong.
=Neither, Nor.=--Negatives other than neither may take _or_ or _nor_ as
their correlative. With subjects connected by “either--or,”
“neither--nor,” the verb must be singular:--
Neither he nor his brother _were_ trained for the ministry.
should be
Neither he nor his brother _was_ trained for the ministry.
Either the master or his servant was responsible.
Neither ignorance nor negligence has been the cause of his ruin.
=New beginner.=--Say _beginner_. When one begins anything, he is new at
it of course.
=Nice.=--A very generally misused word. Properly _nice_ means
_delicate_, _discriminating_, _fastidious_. The works of a watch show
_nice_ construction; a man may be _nice_ in his manners. The word should
not be used to mean _agreeable_ or _charming_ as “I had a _nice_ time.”
=Nicely.=--Do not use _nicely_ for _well_, as “The sick man is doing
_nicely_.”
=Nobody else.=--“There was nobody else but him.” Omit _else_.
=No for Not.=--“I cannot tell whether this is correct or _no_,” is
wrong. Say, “I cannot tell whether this is correct or _not_.”
=None=, is the same as no one, and is properly singular. It is, however,
used in both numbers, according as the context seems to make
appropriate.
=Not as I know of.=--Incorrectly used for _not that I know of_.
=Not me.=--“Who made that noise?” “Not me.” Say “not I.” “It wasn’t me.”
Say “it wasn’t I.” The use of _me_ is defended by some writers.
=Not only--but also.=--Correlatives must be placed immediately before
the words connected.
“He _not only_ lent me his horse _but also_ sent his carriage.”
“He lent me _not only_ his horse _but also_ his carriage.”
=Number, Quantity.=--_Number_ should be used in speaking of objects
that are counted, _quantity_ with those that are measured. _Much_,
_little_, and _less_, answer to quantity, and _many_, _few_, and
_fewer_, to numbers; _more_ answers to both.
=Of.=--“A child of four years old.” Say “a child four years old,” or “a
child of four years.”
=Off of.=--“There were ten yards of the cloth before I cut this piece
off of it.” Say “before I cut this piece off it,” or “from it.”
=One.=--_One_ is the only singular personal pronoun of common gender.
“_One_ must not forget _one’s_ duty to _one’s_ country.” This frequent
repetition is disagreeable.
“No man must forget his duty to his country.”
“A man must not forget his duty to his country.”
=Only= is best placed immediately before the word it modifies. In case
there can be no ambiguity it may be placed immediately after the word it
modifies.
_Only_ I wrote to him to-day. (No one else wrote.)