SLIPS OF
TONGUE AND PEN
BY
J. H. LONG, M.A., LL.B.
NEW YORK
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY
1888
_Authorized Edition._
CONTENTS:
PAGE.
COMMON ERRORS 1
GRAMMATICAL POINTS 32
GENERAL SUGGESTIONS UPON COMPOSITION 47
WORDS OFTEN CONFUSED, SYNONYMS, OPPOSITES 55
PREFER 80
OBJECTIONABLE WORDS AND PHRASES 84
NOTES ON PUNCTUATION 88
INDEX 93
COMMON ERRORS
Do not say, “The truth of that is _apparent_.” [Use _obvious_ or
_evident_. _Apparent_ or _seeming_ is opposed to _real_; _obvious_ or
_evident_, to _obscure_.]
Do not use _anticipate_ for _expect_. [_Anticipate_ means to reach
before, to take before, to forestall, as: “I anticipated all his
wishes.”]
Do not say, _all of them_, _both of them_, for _they_ [or _them_]
_all_, _both_, respectively.
Do not spell with _z_ _analyse_, _paralyse_, and other words derived
from the Greek luo, lusis.
Do not use _ale_, _tea_, _sugar_, &c., in the plural. [Instead of
saying, “I have excellent teas, ales and sugars,” say, “I have
excellent tea, ale and sugar, of various qualities] [or, at various
prices, &c.]”
Do not use _accord_ for _grant_ or _give_. [_Accord_, intransitive,
means to agree or harmonize; transitive, it means to give or grant; but
it carries with it the idea of great condescension, _e.g._: “Pallas
accords their vow.” In ordinary prose it should be employed but rarely.]
Do not use _accident_ for _wound_ or _hurt_. [_Accident_ means
misfortune or calamity, _e.g._: “In the railway accident the man was
badly injured.”]
Do not use _aggravate_ for _irritate_ or _vex_. [_Aggravate_ means to
render heavy or more difficult, _e.g._: “The guilt was aggravated by
the circumstances of the crime.”]
Do not use _alternation_ for _series_ or _succession_. [_Alternation_
is reciprocal succession, _e.g._: “The alternation of red and white
balls on the string produced a very pretty effect.”]
Do not use _alternative_ [in the plural] as equivalent to _things to be
chosen from or among_. [_Alternative_ is the choice itself, and should,
properly speaking, be restricted to a choice between two things,
_e.g._: “My alternative was escape or death.”]
Do not use _antiquarian_ [as a noun] for _antiquary_. [_Antiquarian_ is
an adjective.]
Do not use _abortive_ of acts. [It may be used of plans or attempts;
but it is, at the best, an inelegant word.]
Do not say, “The measures _adopted_ by Congress for the quelling of the
rebellion &c.” Say, “The measures decided upon or taken &c.” [_Adopted_
is correctly employed in such a sentence as, “The report upon ways and
means was adopted.”]
Do not say, “His _antecedents_ are bad.” Say, “His past history [or,
his reputation] is bad.”
Do not use _appreciate_ for _value highly_. [_Appreciate_ is to value
correctly or justly.] Say, therefore, “I prize [or value] that horse
highly;” not, “I appreciate &c.”
Do not say, _at auction_ but _by auction_.
Do not say, “The wind was _accompanied_ [or attended] _by_ rain &c.”
Use _with_ of things [unless personified]; _by_, of persons.
Do not use _anniversary_ of celebrations that are not yearly. Thus,
not, _a centennial anniversary_; but, _a centennial celebration_,
_festival_, &c.
Do not use _affable_ as an exact synonym for _kindly_ or
_good-natured_. [_Affable_ is properly applied to the bearing of
superiors towards inferiors, not to the bearing of equals towards
equals.]
Do not say, “Both are _alike_;” say, “They [or they two] are alike.”
_Both_ denotes union; _alike_, separation.
Do not say, “I am _afraid_ it will rain.” Say, “I _fear_ it will rain.”
Do not say, “That _admits of_ no doubt.” [Leave out the _of_.]
Do not say, “He _alludes_ [or refers] to Mr. Smith,” when you mean that
he merely names Mr. Smith. Say, “He means Mr. Smith.” [The real meaning
of _allude or refer to_ is to touch lightly upon, to call attention to,
delicately or indirectly.]
Do not say, “He went _around_ the world.” It should be, “He went round
&c.” [_Around_ denotes rest--“The shelves are around the room;” _round_
denotes motion.]
Do not say, “He remained there no longer than could be _avoided_.”
[Logically, it ought to be, _than could not be avoided_; but, as
this is a very inelegant expression, use some other form, _e.g._:
“He remained there no longer than was unavoidable,” or, “than was
necessary.”]
Do not say, “I went _all over_ the town,” for “I went _over all_ the
town.”
Do not use _above_ as an attributive adjective. Say, “the _foregoing_
[or _preceding_] paragraph,” not “the _above_ paragraph.”
Do not say, “He is as rich, or richer, _than_ my brother.” [It should
be, “He is _as_ rich _as_, or &c.” If preferred, the form of the
sentence may be changed, “He is as rich as my brother, or richer.”]
Do not say, “John and James _both_ are here.” It should be, “Both John
and James are here.”
Do not use _balance_ for remainder. [_Balance_ is the excess of one
thing over another, _i.e._, what will make them balance.]
Do not spell _benefited_ with two _t’s_.
Do not use _to beat_ for _to defeat_. _E.g._: “The army was beaten,” is
incorrect. [_Beat_ means to strike or hit.]
Do not say, _at best_, _at most_, _at least_ [the last two in reference
to quantity.] Use the article--at _the_ best &c.
Do not say, “He is _bound_ to go,” for, “He intends to go,” or, “He is
determined to go.”
Do not spell _bye_ in _by-the-bye_ without the _e_. [_Bye_ is an old
word meaning place. So _by-the-bye_ is by the place, _i.e._, passing by
the place, or digressing from the main subject. Still, it is customary
to write _by-law_, although _bye-law_ is sometimes seen. In _good-bye_
bye is, of course, a contraction for _be with ye_, _i.e._, “God be with
ye.”]
Do not use _banister_ for _baluster_ or _balustrade_.
Do not say, “He was killed _by_ a bullet.” Use _with_. [_By_ denotes
conscious agency; _with_, unconscious instrumentality. _By_ expresses
indirect; _with_, direct agency.] So, a man is killed _with_ an axe,
_by_ a man. When the unconscious instrument is personified, _by_ may be
used, _e.g._, “The man was struck _by_ lightning.”
Do not say, “He has a _bad_ cold, a _bad_ wound, &c.” Use some other
adjective--_severe_, _dangerous_, &c.
Do not say, “I wish very _badly_ to do so.” Use _very much_, _greatly_,
or some other adverbial expression.
Do not say, “I _beg_ to say &c.,” for “I beg _leave_ to say &c.”
Do not use _between_ of more than two objects. Use _among_. “I live
between Mr. Smith and Mr. Brown.” “I live _among_ friends.” [_Between_
is often incorrectly employed in such expressions as, “The distance
between each post was twenty feet.” There can be no distance _between
one_ thing. A different turn must be given to such a sentence; _e.g._:
“The distance from each post to the next one was &c.;” or, “The
distance between any two consecutive posts was &c.”]
Do not speak of _collecting_ a bill. The items or the various moneys
or amounts constituting a bill may be collected. [It is impossible to
collect one thing only.]
Do not use an infinitive as the object of _commence_ or _essay_. [There
is no necessity for using commence at all. _Begin_ is a much better
word.]
Do not use _condone_ for _atone for_ or _palliate_. [_Condone_ is
simply to forgive, as applied to things.]
Do not use _climax_ for _acme_ or _highest point_. [_Climax_ is a
ladder or gradual ascent, not the top of the ladder.]
Do not use _constantly_ for _often_ or _continually_. [_Constantly_
means firmly or steadfastly; as, “He kept his eyes fixed constantly on
the goal.”]
Do not use _celebrity_ for _celebrated person_. [_Celebrity_ means
renown; _e.g._: “A man of celebrity in Science.”]
Do not use _consequence_ for _importance_ or _moment_. [_Consequence_
means result.]
Do not say, “He is of a _capricious mind_.” Say simply, “He is
capricious.”
Do not use _claim_ for _assert_ or _say_.
Do not use _upon_ for _on_, after _to call_. _E.g._: “He called on [not
upon] me.”
Do not say, “I cannot _catch_ the train,” for “I cannot catch up to
[or, with] the train.”
Do not use _consider_ for _deem_ or _think_. [_Consider_ means to
ponder.]
Do not use _curious_ for _strange_ or _remarkable_.
Do not use _caption_ for _heading_. [_Caption_ means taking, or
capture.]
Do not use _citizen_ for _person_.
Do not use _circumstance_ for _event_ or _occurrence_. [A
_Circumstance_ is “something pertaining to a fact, but not essential
thereto.”]
Do not use _may_, _can_, _must_, _shall_, _will_, and other auxiliary
verbs _alone_, unless the form of the preceding principal verb may be
repeated without change after the auxiliary. _E.g._: “He did as well as
he _could_,” is incorrect. “He will do as well as he _can_,” is correct.
Do not use _couple_ for _two_, unless the persons or things spoken of
are joined, either literally or figuratively. Thus, speak of a _happy
couple_ [a man and wife], or of a _couple of handcuffs_, but not of a
_couple_ of dollars.
Do not use _calibre_ [figuratively] of things. It is applicable to
persons only.
Do not use _contention_ of an individual act: a _contest_, _struggle_,
_combat_. [_Contention_ implies habit or custom; _e.g._: “He displayed
a spirit of contention through all the negotiations.”]
Do not say, “He was _on_ the horns of a dilemma.” [_Dilemma_ means “two
enclosing positions terminating in what may be called horns.” Say,
therefore, “He was _between_ the horns of a dilemma;” or, “He was in a
dilemma.”]
Do not say, “In distinction [or contradistinction] _to_.” [Use _from_.]
Do not say, “It _would be desirable_ [or _advisable_] to go away.” Say,
“It _is_ desirable [or advisable] to go away.”
Do not use _demean_ for _bemean_. To _demean oneself_ is to behave
oneself; _to bemean oneself_ is to lower or disgrace oneself.
Do not say, “Goods of that _description_,” for “goods of that kind
or sort.” [Confine _description_ to the meaning of _explanation_ or
_recital_.]
Do not use _detect_ for _distinguish_, _see_, _make out_. [_Detect_
means to bring to light, to reveal, to expose.] Thus, “The criminals
were detected in their crime,” is correct. “The peasants could be
detected at once,” is incorrect.
Do not use _dangerous_ for _very ill_ or _in danger_.
Do not use _denuded_ as an exact equivalent of _bare_. [A thing cannot
be denuded of that which it has never had.]
Do not use _deprecate_ for _condemn_ or _censure_. [_Deprecate_ means
to beg off or pray exemption from. _E.g.:_ “I deprecate the infliction
of the death penalty upon the prisoner.”]
Do not say, “He died _with_ a disease.” [Use _of_.]
Do not use _directly_ for _as soon as_. [Say, “As soon as he came in,
he went out again;” not, “Directly he &c., &c.”]
Do not use _donate_ for _give_, unless the gift is princely in amount
or made with great ceremony.
Do not say _a dirt road_ for _a sand_ [or _earth or gravel_, &c.] road.
Do not use _divine_ [as a noun] for _clergyman_, _minister_,
_preacher_, &c.
Do not say, “That property has _depreciated in value_.” _Depreciate_
alone means to fall in value. _In value_ is therefore pleonastic.
[_Depreciate_ is either transitive (to bring down the value of)
or intransitive (to fall in value). The former is said to be the
preferable use, but the latter is the more common use.]
Do not say, “I _differ with_ you upon that point.” Say, “I _differ
from_ you &c.” [_Differ with_ is sometimes used for quarrel with, or
have a misunderstanding with. This use is, however, rather rare.]
Do not say, “He lives _some distance_ from here.” Say, “He lives _at
some distance_ &c.”
Do not use _differentiate_ for _distinguish_. [_Differentiate_ should
be confined to mathematical and other scientific expressions.]
Do not employ _expect_ for _think_ or _believe_. [_Expect_ means to
look forward to, and should be used only of the future.]
Do not say, “He has lost ever so many horses.” If used at all, the
expression should be, “_never so many_.”
Do not say _equally as well as_. Say, _equally well_, or _as well as_.
Do not say _equanimity of mind_, _anxiety of mind_, _unanimity of
mind_. That is, do not use compounds of _animus_ or _anima_ along with
_mind_, _temper_, _spirit_, _affection_, &c.; as such expressions are
pleonastic. [So, _unity_ or _agreement of mind_ is a better expression
than _equanimity of mind_.]
Do not say, “I have _every_ confidence in him,” for, “I have _the
greatest_ [or _entire_] confidence in him.”
Do not use _executed_ for _put to death_. [Laws or sentences are
_executed_ (_i.e._, carried out), and the criminal is hanged or shot or
otherwise killed.]
Do not use _enact_ for _act_. _To enact_ is to establish by law, to
decree, to perform. [So say, “A law was passed”--not enacted; but, “It
was enacted by law that all murderers should be put to death.”]
Do not use _endorse_ for _approve of_, _applaud_, _sanction_. Confine
the employment of _endorse_ to its ordinary commercial meaning.
Do not use _embrace_ for _comprise_.
Do not use _empty_ for _discharge_ or _flow into_ [of a river].
Do not say, “He _tried an experiment_.” [This is tautological, as
an experiment is a trial. The expression should be, “He made, or
performed, an experiment.”]
Do not say _on every hand_, for _on each hand_, or _on both hands_.
Do not use _either_, _neither_ and _whether_ of more than two persons
or things.
Do not follow _else_ with _but_. _Than_ is the proper word to use after
_else_.
Do not use _exemplary_ as an exact synonym for _excellent_.
[_Exemplary_ means giving an example, as in: “He inflicted exemplary
punishment.”]
Do not say, “I _experience_ great pleasure [or pain”]. Say, “I _feel_
&c.”
Do not use _excessively_ for _exceedingly_ or _very_.
Do not use _effluviums_ or _effluviae_ for effluvia [the plural of
effluvium.]
Do not confuse _few_ and _a few_. There is a great distinction in
meaning between the two. _E.g._: “_Few_ persons like Mr. Smith,” means
that _but few_ like him, _i.e._, that he is generally disliked. “_A
few_ persons like Mr. Smith,” means that some persons [perhaps all who
know him] like him. Therefore, _few_ should be followed by _and_; _a
few_ by _but_; _e.g._: “Few persons like Mr. Smith, _and_ these persons
would not like him did they know him well.” “_A_ _few_ persons like
Mr. Smith, _but_ more persons like Mr. Brown.”
Do not confuse _at fault_ with _in fault_. [_At fault_ is a hunting
phrase meaning “off the scent” (equivalent to at sea); _in fault_ is in
error.]
Do not say, “He _faithfully promised_ to do it.” [One may do a thing
faithfully, or may promise to do it faithfully; but one cannot
faithfully promise to do it.]
Do not use _future_ for _next_ or _subsequent_ [of the past]. Thus,
“The future career of Milton was &c.,” should be, “The after [or
subsequent] career of Milton was &c.” Again, “For the future the course
of Columbus was &c.,” should be, “Thenceforward [or _after this_, or
_thereafter_, or _subsequently_] the course of Columbus was &c.”
Do not say, “_Go and fetch_ it.” [_Fetch_ alone means _to go and
bring_. The expression is, therefore, pleonastic.]
Do not say, “I forbid you _from_ going.” Say, “I forbid you to go,”
or, “I forbid your going.” [With _prevent_ or _hinder_, however, use
_from_.]
Do not compare adjectives ending in _ful_. Say, “He showed more grace,”
or use some other expression in preference to “He was _more graceful_.”
[Of course, the adjective _full_ ought never to be compared. Instead
of saying “That jug is fuller than the other,” say, “That jug is _more
nearly full_ than &c.” A similar remark will apply to many other
adjectives (_entire_, _perfect_, &c.), the meaning of which admits of
no degrees or gradations.]
Do not use _female_ for _woman_.
Do not say _fall down_, _sink down_, _rise up_, _ascend up_, &c., as
the adverbs are implied in the verbs. Say _fall_, _sink_, _rise_,
_ascend_, &c.
Do not use _fix_ for _repair_, _arrange_, _set up_. [_Fix_ properly
means _to fasten firmly_, as, “He fixed a nail into the wall.”]
Do not spell the plural of _fly_, a carriage, _flies_. The correct form
is _flys_.
Do not use incorrect forms of _foreign adjectives_. Say, _naïfs men_,
_naïves women_, _naïfs features_, _i.e._, make the adjectives agree in
gender and number with its noun taken as a foreign word. [This rule
applies especially to French adjectives.]
Do not use the word _graphic_ of sound, or of anything but written or
pictured representation.
Do not use _going to_ or _just going to_, for _about to_.
Do not use _grow_ as a transitive verb. Say, “He cultivates [produces,
raises crops of, &c.] corn.”
Do not say, “He _grows small_;” for this involves a contradiction. Use
_decrease_, _diminish_, _become smaller_.
Do not use _get to_ for _attend_, _be at_, _be present at_, _go to_.
Do not use _gubernatorial_ for _governmental_.
Do not use _gratuitous_ for _asserted without proof_.
Do not say, “The thing is _no good_ [or _no use_].” Say, “The thing is
_of_ no good [_of_ no use].”
Do not say, “That is _one of the great_, _if not the greatest_
man I have ever seen.” This construction involves a grammatical
contradiction, as will be seen by supplying the ellipsis: “That is one
of the greatest [men], if not the greatest [man], I have ever seen.”
Do not say, “He gives no more than _he can help_.” [Logically, it ought
to be, “He gives no more than he cannot help;” but as this expression
is very awkward, use some other, _e.g._: “He gives no more than is
absolutely necessary,” “He gives only what he must give (or, is forced
to give, or, cannot avoid giving).”]
Do not use _humanitarian_ for _humane_. [The original and correct
meaning of _humanitarian_ is denying the divinity of Christ.]
Do not use, as an adverb, _hardly_ for _hard_. Say, “He struck the man
hard,” “He felt the blow hard” [not hardly]. _Hardly_ means scarcely.
Do not use the word _help-meet_ [one word]. Say, “He has a help meet
[fit] for him,” “He has a help-mate,” but not, “He has a help-meet.”
Do not use _high_ with _calibre_, when the latter has a figurative
meaning. Say, “A man of _large_ [or _great_] calibre.”
Do not use _have_ pleonastically, _e.g._: “I do not like to have you
go,” for, “I do not like your going,” or, “I do not like you to go.”
Do not say, “He reached a _higher stage of perfection_ than most men.”
[There can be no grades or stages in perfection. The sentence should
therefore be, “He came nearer perfection &c.” A similar remark applies
to all these other words (_entirety_, _totality_, _fulness_, &c.), the
meaning of which, from their very nature, admits of no gradations.]
Do not use _if_ for _whether_. Say, “I cannot tell whether [not _if_]
he will come or not.”
Do not use _invest_ for _buy_, without an object. Say, “He bought,”
_not_, “He invested in that.” _Invest_ is correctly used as follows:
“He invested a large sum of money in wheat.”
Do not use _idea_ for _opinion_. [_Idea_ is an image in the mind.]
Do not use _incorrect_, or _wrong_, or _bad_, with orthography,
orthoepy, calligraphy, &c. [The reason is obvious: _orthos_ means
correct, _kalos_ means beautiful. So say, _wrong spelling_, _incorrect
pronunciation_, _bad writing_, &c.]
Do not use _individual_ for _person_, unless you wish to emphasize
the idea of individuality, as is the case in the following sentence:
“We may condemn the association as a whole, whilst honoring the
_individuals_ that compose it.”
Do not use _infallible_ for _inevitable_. Say, “The inevitable [not,
the infallible] result was so and so.”
Do not use _inaugurate_ for _begin_. [To _inaugurate_ is _to install
in office_ with certain ceremonies. _Inaugurate_ should seldom be used
of things, unless personified. It is the proper word in the following
phrase: “To inaugurate a good and jovial year.”]
Do not use _implicit_ for _unbounded_ or _unlimited_, as it is used in,
“I have _implicit_ confidence in him.” [_Implicit_ properly means woven
into, expressed by implication, as opposed to _explicit_.]
Do not employ _item_ for _paragraph_ or _piece of news_.
Do not say, “I have not seen him _in_ six months, _in_ a year, &c.”
[Use _for_.]
Do not say _an illy equipped force_, for _an ill_ [or _badly_]
_equipped force_. There is no such word as _illy_: _ill_ being both
adverb and adjective. [In England, _ill_ (as adjective) is preferred to
_sick_: _sick_ having the meaning of _nauseated_. In America _sick_ and
_ill_ are almost interchangeable. Authority shows that _sick_, in the
sense of _ill_, is perfectly correct.]
Do not use _identified with_ for _prominent in_ or _closely connected
with_, as it is used in the following sentence: “He was _identified
with_ that movement.” _Prominently identified with_, is worse still.
[_To identify_ is, to prove to be the same, or to ascertain or certify
to the identity of. _E.g._: “The body was identified as that of Mr. H.”]
Do not use _if_ when there is no supposition or doubt. Do not say,
“_If_, in the main, I have so acted, my reason is &c.” [Say, “My reason
for having so acted is &c.”]
Do not employ _interested in_ for _concerned in_ or _taking part
in_. It is correct to say, “I am _interested in_ [_i.e._, _I take
an interest in_] works of art;” but it is not correct to say, “I am
_interested_ in wheat” [for, “I deal in wheat,” or, “I am engaged in
wheat-buying”].
Do not say, _in so far as_, for _so far as_, or _as far as_. [The _in_
is clearly superfluous. Of the two expressions, _so far as_ and _as far
as_, the first is greatly preferable.]
Do not speak of a _monthly_ or a _quarterly magazine_ as a _journal_.
[Etymologically, a _journal_ is a _daily newspaper_. The term _journal_
may, however, be applied to a weekly, a semi-weekly or a tri-weekly
publication.]
Do not use _jewelry_ of individual gems or other ornaments. Say, “His
stock of _jewelry_ was large;” but, “She wore magnificent _jewels_.”
[_Jewelry_ is a collective noun.]
Do not spell the plural of _Knight Templar_, _Knights Templar_ or
_Knight Templars_; it is _Knights Templars_. [_Templar_ is a noun in
opposition to _Knight_.]
Do not say, “The _lowest_ and the _highest_ house on the cliff,”
when referring to the position of the houses. Use _lowermost_ and
_uppermost_. _Lowest_ and _highest_ should be applied to dimensions
only.
Do not say, “He _left_ it alone,” for “He _let_ it alone.”
Do not say, “He _lit_ a fire.” Use _lighted_. [_Lit_ is sometimes
vulgarly employed as the past tense of _light_ (alight), to come down
upon, rest upon. Instead of saying, “The bird _lit_ upon the fence,”
say, “The bird _alighted_ upon the fence.”]
Do not use _leave_ (to quit) without an object, as it is used in “When
did you leave?” [Say, “When did you go away?” “When did you leave home,
town, &c.?”]
Do not say, “The _lay_ of the land is good,” for, “The _lie_ &c.” [The
use of _lie_ in this sense should be avoided for the same reason that
makes us avoid the use of _certain_, _any_, &c., _viz._, it is an
ambiguous word.]
Do not use _limited_ as exactly synonymous with _small_ or _short_, but
confine it to its strictly literal and original meaning of shortened,
_abbreviated_, _compressed within limits_; _e.g._: “He was granted
strictly _limited_ hours of recreation.”
Do not employ _loan_ as a verb. _Loan_ is properly used as a noun,
the corresponding verb being _lend_. Say, “He _lent_ me money, and
afterwards I effected [or made] a _loan_ for him.”
Do not say, “I speak _loud_,” for, “I speak _loudly_.” [Shakespeare
uses _loud_ for _loudly_, but _loudly_ is the correct prose form of the
adverb.]
Do not use _at length_ for _at last_, _finally_. [_At length_ means
fully, lengthily, as, “He reported the speech at length.”]
Do not use _myself_ and the other reflexive pronouns as nominatives,
except for emphasis. Do not say, “When the soldiers and _myself_ had
gone.” [Use _I_ instead of _myself_.]
Do not use _the masses_ for _the people_.
Do not say, “He is _more of a man_ than I am.” Use some other
expression: _more manly_, _better_, &c.
Do not say, “_I am mistaken_,” for, “_I mistake_, _I make a mistake_,
_I am incorrect_, &c.” [“_I am mistaken_” really means, “_I am
misunderstood_,” or “_taken wrongly_.”]
Do not spell the plural of _miasma_, _miasmæ_. It is _miasmata_.
Do not use _make_ for _gain_ or _earn_. [Say, “Does he earn much?”
“Will he gain much?” _not_, “Does he make much?” “Will he make much?”]
Do not use _novitiate_ for _novice_. [The _novitiate_ is the period
during which one is a _novice_.]
Do not say, “He merely _named_ the incident or occurrence.” [A person
or place may be named, but not an occurrence or event. The latter is
_mentioned_, _alluded to_, _described_.]
Do not say, “_No one_ was there,” for, “_not one_ was there.” [The
adjective _no_ was originally _no one_. Therefore, _no one_ is
pleonastic. The adverb _no_ is etymologically _not_ or _never_.
Therefore, such expressions as _no sooner_, _no more_ may be considered
correct, although _not sooner_, _not more_ are preferable. _Nobody_,
_no person_, &c., may often be advantageously used in place of _no
one_. To the employment of these there is no objection, as there is to
that of _no one_.]
Do not say, “_No_ gold _or_ silver.” Say, “No gold _nor_ silver.” [“No
gold or silver” would mean that gold and silver are the same thing.
If this meaning were intended, there ought to be a comma after gold,
or else “or silver” ought to be in parentheses; _e.g._: “No ancient
Mexicans, or Aztecs, or (_or Aztecs_) were to be seen.”]
Do not say, “_not as good_,” “_not as wise_.” [After _not_ use _so_.]
Do not say, “He _came near_ dying,” for “He almost died,” “He narrowly
escaped death,” &c.
Do not say, “No gold and no silver _are_ here.” Use the singular verb.
[The principle in this case is the same as in the case of _each_ and
_every_.]
Do not use _nasty_ for _disagreeable_.
Do not say, “I _never_ remember to have seen,” for, “I do not remember
ever to have seen.” [“I never remember to have seen,” really means, “I
always forget &c.”]
Do not use “next Sunday,” “next Monday,” &c., for _the Sunday, Monday_,
&c., _after next_. [_Next Sunday_ is the nearest Sunday.]
Do not say, “I _never_ committed the crime,” for, “I did _not_ commit
the crime;” _i.e._, do not use _never_ for _not_.
Do not say, “I do not think it is true,” for, “I think [or better,
_believe_] it is not true.”
Do not say, “He was _nothing like so_ good as his brother,” “He wrote
_nothing like so_ well as his brother.” [Use “_not nearly_.”]
Do not use _near_ for _nearly_. [Say, “He is not _nearly_ so rich as
&c.,” not, “He is not _near_ &c.”]
Do not use the expression _new beginners_ for _beginners_ alone.
Do not say _on the street_ for _in the street_. [A street is properly a
passage or space, not a roadway.]
Do not employ the self-contradictory expression _old news_.
Do not use _he_, _him_ and _his_, or _she_, _her_ and _hers_, for _one_
and _one’s_. Say, “When one learns _one’s_ lesson, _one_ &c.;” not,
“When one learns _his_ lesson, _he_ &c.” [Of course, _they_, _their_
and _them_ ought never to have _one_ as antecedent.]
Do not use _over and above_ for _more than_.
Do not use _over his signature_ for _under his signature_. [The latter,
which is the only correct form, means under the sanction of his
signature.]
Do not use _observe_ for _say_. [I _observe_ means I see or notice.]
Do not use _ovation_ as an exact synonym for _shouting_ and _cheering_.
_Ovation_ is applied correctly to great occasions, festivals, triumphs.
Do not say, “I have no _other_ purpose _than_ this.” Say, “I have no
purpose _other than_ this,” _i.e._, keep _other_ and _than_ together.
[A similar rule applies to comparatives in general and to many words
(_e.g._, _rather_) like _other_, which have a comparative form and
force. Therefore say, “Your house is larger than your cousin’s,” in
preference to, “That is a larger house of yours than your cousin’s.”]
Do not say _old veterans_, as the word _veterans_ implies length of
service. If “length of days,” as well as length of service, is to be
expressed, use _aged_ or some other word or phrase instead of _old_.
Do not, unless unavoidable, pluralize the indefinite pronoun _one_.
Prefer, “You have three good horses and I have two bad horses,” or,
“You have three good, and I have two bad horses,” to “You have three
good horses and I have two bad _ones_.”
Do not say, _among the others_, _among others_, _among the rest_. [A
person or thing cannot be _among_ other persons or things. Say, _along
with the others_, or _others_, or _the rest_.]
Do not use _proposition_ for _proposal_ or _offer_. Say: “I made the
_proposal_ to him; and he, in return, demonstrated the _proposition_
for me.” [_Proposal_, in the sense of _offer_, is preferable to
_proposition_, because it is shorter and unambiguous.]
Do not use _pocket-hand-kerchief_ and _neck-hand-kerchief_ for
_hand-kerchief_ or _neck-kerchief_ respectively.
Do not use _pretend_ for _claim_ or _assert_. Say, “He claimed [or
asserted] that he was correct.”
Do not use _preposterous_ for _absurd_. [_Preposterous_ properly means,
_putting the first last and the last first_. Besides, it is a longer
word than _absurd_.]
Do not use _previous_ and _subsequent_ as adverbs. Say: “He came
_previously_ [or _subsequently_] to your arrival.”
Do not use _partially_ for _partly_. [_Partially_ should be confined to
its meaning of _with partiality_, but is seldom employed.]
Do not use _people_ for _persons_ individually. Say, “There were three
persons [not, _people_] present.” [_People_ means a race or nation, or
else _persons_ collectively--the old word _folk_.]
Do not use a plural verb or pronoun with _each_ or _every_. Say: “Each
day and each hour [or, every day and every hour] _brings its_ cares.”
Do not use the _plural_ form of the noun in such cases as, “Men’s
_healths_ have suffered;” “The children’s _illnesses_ have increased.”
[The rule is, that a noun governing the possessive plural, should not
itself be in the plural, unless the sense requires it. This rule will
apply chiefly to abstract nouns: _virtue_, _sin_, &c. The sense will,
of course, require the plural in such an instance as, “The children’s
_hands_ were injured.”]
Do not use the _plural_ form in such compound adjectival expressions
as, calves’-_foot_ jelly, ten-_foot_ pole, twenty-_dollar_ watch.
Do not say, “All have rights and _privileges_.” [_Privilege_
(literally, _private law_) is some favor or advantage enjoyed by an
_individual_. So, all have _rights_; but all have not _privileges_.]
Do not use the present participle for the past participle or the
perfect participle. So, instead of saying, “After seeing him, I went
away;” say, “After having seen him,” &c.
Do not use _plastic_ of the person or hand that fashions, but of the
material fashioned. Say, “His plastic mind was easily impressed;” not,
“He moulded with his plastic touch the mind of his brother.”
Do not use _pell-mell_ of one person or thing.
Do not say, “_Providing_ he has the money, he will pay.” Use _provided_.
Do not use _presume_ for _think_ or _believe_. Do not say, “I presume
that is correct.”
Do not use _period_ for _point of time_. _Period_ means series of years
or duration. _E.g._: “The period between 1862 and 1882 was” &c.
Do not use _persuaded_ for _convinced_. One is _convinced_ by argument;
one is _persuaded_ by entreaty. One is persuaded; one’s reason,
convinced.
Do not use _quite_ before a noun. Do not say, “That is _quite_ a
house.” [_Quite_ may properly be used before an adjective (“He is
quite ill”): it then means _entirely_, _completely_; not _tolerably_,
_pretty_.]
Do not use _partake_ for _eat_ or _drink_. Say, “He ate some food and
drank some water,” not, “He _partook_ of food and water.” [_Partake_
means to share or share with; _e.g._: “Sit down, and partake of dinner
with me.”]
Do not use _per_ before English nouns: use _a_. _Per_ is correct before
Latin nouns. [Thus: “So much per-annum;” “so much _a_ year;” “_per_
capita,” or “a head.”]
Do not use the past tense for the perfect tense. Say, “He is the best
man I _have_ ever seen” [not, “I ever saw”].
Do not use _replace_ for _displace_. To _replace_ is to place again,
_i.e._, to restore [the same thing] to its former place. _Displace_ is
to put out of place, and therefore [often], to put one thing into the
place of another.
Do not say, “You have no _right_ to pay him so large a price;” meaning,
“You are not called upon [or, in duty bound]” &c.
Do not say, “It is _rarely_ that I see him.” [_Rarely_, adverb, should
be _rare_, adjective, after the verb to be.]
Do not use _recommend_ for _advise_ or _counsel_. “I _recommend_ you to
go away,” should be, “I advise you” &c.
Do not use _rendition_ for _performance_ or _rendering_ [of a reading,
piece of music, &c.]. _Rendition_ means _surrender_.
Do not say, “_Rev._ Mr. H. is here.” Say, “_The_ Rev. Mr. H. is here.”
Do not say, “This _road takes_ you to Paris.” Say, “This road _leads_
[or, _leads one_] to Paris.”
Do not use _remit_ for _send_. _Remit_ means to send back, to relax, to
surrender, to forgive. “To send a remittance,” is still worse than, “to
remit money.”
Do not use the adjective _scarce_ for the adverb _scarcely_. Say,
“Scarcely a bushel” [not, _scarce_].
Do not use _species_ for _kind_, unless in a scientific sense.
Do not say, “I _shall have_ pleasure in accepting your invitation.” Use
the present tense [“I have--or take--pleasure” &c.].
Do not say, _seldom or ever_, for _seldom or never_, or _seldom if
ever_.
Do not use _spare_ for _give_. _Spare_ means to _save_. So: “I cannot
spare you any more”, should be, “I cannot give you any more.”
Do not use _sensation_ for _exciting news_.
Do not use _since_ for _ago_. Say, “About a year _ago_;” not, “About a
year _since_.”
Do not say, “The business was very large, _so much so_ as to require”
&c. [Repeat the adjective: “_so large_ as to” &c.]
Do not use _summons_, as a verb, for _summon_. Say, “He was _summoned_
[not _summonsed_] to court.”
Do not say, “He is _such another_ man as his brother.” [_Another_
should precede _such_: “another such.”]
Do not use _superior_ for _able_. Say, “He is an _able_ [not a
_superior_] man.”
Do not use _supposititious_ for _supposed_ or _hypothetical_.
_Supposititious_ means _spurious_; and there is no necessity for using
it at all.
Do not use _settle_ for _pay_. Say, “He paid the account;” not, “He
settled the account.”
Do not use _such_ for _so_. Say, “So good a man;” not: “Such a good
man.”
Do not say, “_It storms_,” when it only rains or snows. [A _storm_ is a
violent movement in the atmosphere, with or without hail, snow, sleet
or rain.]
Do not use _splendid_ for merely _great_ or _good_. _Splendid_ should
be used of that only which is literally or metaphorically _brilliant_.
_E.g._: “A _splendid_ endurance of hardships on the march,” is
incorrect. “A _splendid_ charge upon the enemy, when the march was
over;” is correct.
Do not say, _a summer’s morning_, _a winter’s morning_; for, _a summer
morning_, _a winter morning_. [We should never think of saying, _a
spring’s morning_, _a fall’s morning_.]
Do not use _strata_ as a singular noun. _Stratum_ is singular; _strata_
is plural.
Do not speak of _a wider_ [or _more extended_] _point of view_ [_or
stand-point_]; as a point cannot be anything but a point. [_Point of
view_ is preferable to _stand-point_; as the latter expression is
logically absurd: one cannot stand on a point. If _stand-point_ is
used, do not say, “He _approached_ from the stand-point;” as _approach_
denotes motion, _stand-point_ rest.]
Do not use _sincere_ without its completing words. _E.g._: “He is
sincere _in his aims_, in his _means_;” is correct. [This necessity
arises from the two-fold or ambiguous meaning of _sincere_. One may be
sincere in one’s aims, but not sincere in one’s means of reaching those
aims.] _Honest_, on the other hand, may be used alone; as it means
straight-forward and sincere in every thing.
Do not use _scorn_ and _disdain_, as verbs, with the name of a person
as object. Do not say, “He scorns [or disdains] Mr. S.” Use _despise_,
_look down upon_, or some other expression.
Do not use _small_ of quantity. [_Small_ is applicable only to
dimensions. Thus, do not say, “The smallest assistance will be
thankfully received.” It should be, “The _least_ assistance” &c.]
Do not use _statu quo_ or _bona fide_ for _status quo_ or _bona fides_.
Say, “The _status quo_ remained unchanged, each party having preserved
_bona fides_.” A similar remark will apply to many other foreign
expressions. Of course, wherever there is a satisfactory English
equivalent, a foreign word or phrase should not be used.
Do not say, “Will you _take_ some meat?” Say, “Will you _have_ veal [or
beef, or whatever it is]?”
Do not say, “It is a quarter _to_ ten.” Say, “A quarter _of_ ten.”
Do not say, “The _taxes_ are levied on persons, and collected from
land.” The reverse is the case: taxes are levied on land and collected
from persons.
Do not use _though_ for _if_. Say: “I feel as _if_ [not _though_] I
could die.”
Do not say, “We _take_ dinner, tea,” &c. Use _have_.
Do not employ _thereabouts_, _hereabouts_, _whereabouts_ (with final
_s_) as adverbs. Say, “It was in 1859 or _thereabout_.” As nouns these
words take the _s_; _e.g._: “Do you know his _whereabouts_?”
Do not say, _that far_, _that much_, _that many_, &c., for _so far_,
_so much_, _so many_, &c.
Do not use the word _tea_ for _broth_, _medicine_, _solution_, unless
absolutely unavoidable. [_Tea_ is the plant itself or the beverage made
from its leaves.]
Do not say, “I prefer _to walk_ _to ride_.” Say, “I prefer _walking_ to
_riding_.”
Do not say, “I have been _to_ Paris.” [Use _at_. One can _go to_, but
_not be to_, a place].
Do not say, “Which do you _the_ more admire: him or her?” [Omit _the_.]
Do not use _underhanded_ for _underhand_. Say, “He made money by
_underhand_ [not _underhanded_] dealings.”
Do not use _utter_ as an exact equivalent of _say_ or _express_.
[_Utter_ is to speak, give forth, or pronounce, generally in a loud
voice.] Say therefore, “He uttered a sharp cry;” but, “He expressed a
noble sentiment.”
Do not use _ultimate_ of the _past_. Confine it to the _future_. Do not
say: “The _ultimate_ issue of the Thirty Years’ war was” &c. Say, “The
result [or, the issue, the end, the conclusion, the subsequent course
of the Thirty Years’ War was” &c.]
Do not use the adjective _utter_ indiscriminately for _entire_ or
_complete_. _E.g._: One may say, _utter nonsense_; but not, _utter
sense_. [A similar remark will apply to the adverb _utterly_.]
Do not use _valuable_ for _valued_. Say: “One of our most _valued_ [or,
_most highly valued_--not _valuable_] contributors has sent us a most
_valuable_ [not _valued_] article.”
Do not say, “I am _very_ pleased,” “_too_ pleased,” “_so_ pleased;”
for, “I am _very much_ pleased,” “_too much_ pleased,” “_so much_
pleased.” That is, with past participles used as adjectives or along
with auxiliaries, insert _much_ after _very_, _too_ and _so_. We say,
“He is very little [too little, so little] loved.” We ought, therefore,
to say, “He is very much [too much, so much] loved.” Strictly speaking,
_so hated_ means _hated_, not to a certain degree, but in a certain
manner.
Do not say Toronto and _vicinity_; but, Toronto and _its vicinity_.
[_Neighbourhood_ is generally a better word to employ than _vicinity_.]
Do not repeat unnecessarily the word _whether_. Do not say, “Whether he
was rich, or _whether_ he was poor.” [Omit the second _whether_.] As
has been said before, _whether_, _either_ and _neither_ ought properly
to be employed only of two persons or things. Therefore, where several
are mentioned, they should be grouped in couples: _e.g._: “Whether he
has gold or silver, whether he has stocks or bonds;” [or: “Whether
he has gold or silver, stocks or bonds” (the second _whether_ being
unexpressed).] This is better than: “Whether he has gold, silver,
stocks or bonds.”
Do not say: “Whether he _be_ right or wrong.” [Use with _whether_ the
indicative _is_, not the subjunctive _be_, unless the rules given for
the subjunctive apply to the sentence.]
Do not say: “Give it to _whomsoever_ asks for it.” Say: “Give it to
_whosoever_ [or _whoever_] asks for it.” [The object of _to_ is not
_whomsoever_, but some noun or pronoun unexpressed: _the person_,
_him_.]
Do not say, “Where have you gone _to_?” Say, “Where have you gone?”
Do not use the verb _witness_ for _see_ or _behold_. Say: “That
is the most beautiful scenery I have ever beheld [or _seen_; not
_witnessed_].” To _witness_ means to see or be present at the
performance of some act or at the occurrence of some event. So a
man _witnesses_ a fight, but does not _witness_ scenery. _Witness_,
moreover, generally carries with it the idea of giving testimony. Where
such idea is lacking, it is better to use _see_ or _behold_.
Do not use _what for?_ for _why?_ Say: “Why do you act so?” not: “What
do you act so _for_?”
Do not say, “_A widow woman_.” [Omit _woman_, which is superfluous.]
Do not confuse the “editorial _we_” with the ordinary _we_, as is
done in the following: “As a public journalist, _we_ must say that
when other men act in that way, _we all_ [_i.e._, _all persons_] feel
aggrieved.”
Do not say _whether or no_, for, _whether or not_, unless _no_ is an
adjective qualifying some noun unexpressed. Thus: “Whether he comes
or _not_ [not _no_];” but, “Whether he is a merchant or _no_.” In the
latter instance, however, _not_ would be quite correct. [“Whether he is
a merchant or is _not_ a merchant.”]
Do not use “_the whole of_” [before a plural noun] for _all_. Say: “All
the deputies were present;” not, “The whole of” &c.
Do not use _winsome_ for _winning_. _Winsome_ means joyous,
light-hearted. “His daughter was a winsome lass; she had a winning
smile.”
Do not use _worse_ for _more_. Say: “He disliked vinegar _more_ [not
_worse_] than pepper.” [A similar remark will apply to _better_.]
Do not use _want_ for _need_ [verb]. To avoid ambiguity, _want_ should
be restricted to its meaning of _wish_ or _desire_; _need_, to that of
_lack_ or _be under the necessity of_. Say, therefore, “I want to go
for a drive;” but not, “The man was so poor that he actually _wanted_
[lacked, needed] bread;” or worse, “You _want_ [need to, or must] go
away.”
Do not say, “_Yesterday’s Times_ has come.” Say, “The _Times_ of
yesterday has come.”
Do not end a letter with _Yours &c._, for _Yours truly_, _Respectfully
yours_, or some other expression.
GRAMMATICAL POINTS.
Avoid such constructions as, “The object of your brother’s writing
the letter was” &c. [Prefer, “The object your brother had in writing
the letter was” &c.; or, “Your brother’s object in writing the letter
was” &c.] The gerundial infinite ought to be used--if at all--but very
sparingly with a possessive case, especially when the possessive is
preceded by _of_. A similar remark applies still more strongly to the
noun form in _ing_; _e.g._: “His killing of the man was” &c.
Be careful about the position of _also_, _even_, _only_--in fact, of
all adverbs, prepositions and conjunctions. As a general rule, adverbs
precede the words they modify. Thus: “He only writes,” is correct; but,
say, “He does nothing but write;” or use some other expression.
Prefer: “In the works _of even_ great men;” to, “In the works _even of_
great men.” So: “_Of both_ ancient and modern times,” is better than,
“_Both of_ ancient _and of_ modern times.” [_Both_ would properly come
before _of_ in such a construction as: “Both of and from him.”] “Both
of ancient and modern times” [without the second _of_] is entirely
incorrect.
“Nobody’s else book,” is said to be preferable to, “Nobody else’s
book.” Custom has, however, firmly established the latter form. But it
is better to employ some other expression; _e.g._: “The book of no one
else;” “No other person’s book.”
“Thou canst not tell whence it cometh _or_ whither it goeth.” _Or_
should be used here, as the _not_ modifies (in meaning) all the
subsequent part of the sentence. We should never think of saying:
“Whence it cometh _nor_ whither it goeth, thou canst not tell.” In,
“We will not serve thy gods _nor_ worship the golden image which thou
hast set up;” _nor_ is correct; as _serve_ does not govern the rest of
the sentence. [Some grammarians, however, contend that _or_ would be
equally good: the effect of the _not_ extending over both subsequent
verbs. The soundness of this contention is questionable.] The most
elegant form to give the sentence is; “We will not serve thy gods, _nor
will_ we worship the golden image” &c.
In such an expression as, “I do not want butter or honey;” the strict
meaning is, “I do not want merely one of the two.” “I want neither
butter nor honey,” means, “I do not want either.”
When two nouns in the possessive case are in apposition, the apostrophe
and _s_ may be added to either noun. Thus: “This book is Virgil, the
Roman _poet’s_;” or: “This book is Virgil’s, the Roman poet.” [If,
however, the appositive enlargement is complex, or if it consists of
several terms, the apostrophe and _s_ should be added to the first
noun. _E.g._: “This book is Virgil’s, the great and renowned Roman
poet.”] Again, if each appositive noun is very emphatic, the apostrophe
and _s_ may be added to each. When any doubt arises as to the proper
form, employ another expression; _e.g._: “This book is one of the works
of Virgil, the great and renowned Roman poet.”
Avoid the use of such forms as, “John, William and James’s father.”
Prefer, “The father of John, William and James;” or, “The father of
John, of William and of James.”
_None_ and _any_, although originally singular, may now be used as
plurals.
Such expressions as, “While playing, the boy was killed,” are quite
correct. That is, the auxiliary may be left out, although the phrase is
introduced by a subordinate conjunction.
When the auxiliary verb used with a past participle consists of two
words (_i.e._, is compound), the adverb generally comes after the
compound auxiliary, not between its two parts. _E.g._: “Why he should
have suddenly renounced his faith,” &c.; is better than, “Why he should
suddenly have renounced” &c. The best form, perhaps, is, “Why he should
have renounced his faith suddenly” &c.
It is correct to say, “_This_ seven years has passed;” “This hundred
dollars is there:” the seven years being taken as forming one period
of time; and the hundred dollars, one sum of money. To avoid the
seeming want of agreement between the singular and the plural, use some
collective noun after _this_; _e.g._: _space_, _period_, in the first
case; _sum_, _amount_, in the second. [The forms, _these seven years_,
_these hundred dollars_, would draw attention to the individual years
and the individual dollars.]
As a general rule, collective nouns (that is, those nouns as which have
both the singular and the plural form, _number_, _crowd_) require a
singular verb with their singular form, and a plural verb with their
plural form. [However, the plural verb may be used with the singular
form when the idea of plurality is to be very prominent.] Nouns of
multitude, on the other hand, (that is, those which have no plural
form, as _clergy_, _nobility_) generally require a plural verb. _E.g._:
“The clergy _were_ assembled; there _was_ a large number present.”
Do not use such words as _mathematics_, _statics_, _physics_,
_metaphysics_ (_i.e._, words originally plural, but now used in the
singular), as subjects. So, say: “The study [or science, or practice]
of mathematics is useful;” rather than, “Mathematics is [or are]
useful.”
_Dare_, meaning _to venture_, and used with another verb, requires no
_to_ before this latter verb, and has in its past tense _durst_ and
in its third person singular present indicative _dare_ (not _dares_).
[The form _dared_ may, however, be used for _durst_, in the past tense.
_Dared_ will then take no _to_ before the infinitive.] _Durst_ is often
employed for the present _dare_, although the latter is preferable;
_e.g._: “He durst not do so.”
_Dare_, as a principal verb, meaning _to challenge_, has _dares_ in
the third person singular present indicative, and _dared_ in the past.
_E.g.:_ “He _dares_ me to-day, and he _dared_ me yesterday to fight.”