the intention of the writer or speaker. Therefore, the choice of a
singular or plural verb in cases where either form would be proper is
often influenced by the writer’s way of looking at the subject. “The
purpose and conception of the scheme _is_ to do good.” Now the mistake
with this sentence is that either “purpose and conception” represent a
single idea (in which case they may, in combination, take a singular
verb), or they do not (in which case they require a plural verb),
and that in the former case, where the nouns express a similarity of
sentiment, one of the words is superfluously used. “Jones and Smith
_is_ solvent”: yes, as a firm, though as individuals they _are_ solvent.
~it~: Used sometimes in such manner as to violate the principles of
grammatical and rhetorical construction, as when referring to any one
of several words or clauses preceding, or perhaps to some idea merely
implied or hinted at in what has gone before, as in the following: “A
statute inflicting death may, and ought to be, repealed, if _it_ be in
any degree expedient, without _its_ being highly so.” In this sentence
“if _it_ be” should be replaced by “if _such repeal_ be,” and “_its_”
should be omitted.
In general, personal and relative pronouns with ambiguous reference to
preceding words or clauses in the sentence are stumbling-blocks of
inexperienced or careless writers.
~ivories~: A slang term used to designate the keys of a piano; hence,
the phrase, ~tickle the ivories~, a coarse way of expressing ability to
play the piano.
J
~jag~: Formerly a provincialism for “a load of hay”; now a euphemism
for “drunk”; but as such a term to be avoided in polite society.
~jar~: Used in the phrase “Doesn’t (or wouldn’t) it jar you” is an
erroneous use of the word _jar_ in vogue among persons addicted to
using the vulgarisms of the street. To jar is “to cause to shake as by
a shock or blow; to jolt”; _not_, to disconcert or discompose.
~jaw~ should not be used as a synonym for “mouth” or “talk.” Such
expressions as “Hold your jaw”; “Shut your jaw,” and “What are you
jawing about?” have no place in the vocabulary of persons of refinement.
~Jew~, ~Hebrew~, ~Israelite~: These terms are sometimes incorrectly
used as synonyms. _Hebrew_ is the ethnological and linguistic name,
_Israelite_ the national name, and _Jew_ the popular name of the
people; as, “The Egyptians oppressed the _Hebrews_”; “David was the
typical king of the _Israelites_”; “The _Jews_ revolted under the
Maccabees.” The three names have their special application to the
people in the premonarchical period (_Hebrew_), in the monarchical
period (_Israelite_), and in the period subsequent to the return from
the Babylonian captivity (_Jew_).
~jewels~, ~jewelry~: Words, sometimes, but mistakenly, used
interchangeably. _Jewels_ forming the stock in trade of a jeweler are
termed collectively _jewelry_; the articles of adornment, as gems and
precious stones, worn by a lady are her _jewels_.
~jiggered, to be~: A form of minced oath sometimes used as an
equivalent for “to be hanged”; as, “I’ll be jiggered if I do”: an
inelegant form of oath common among Englishmen.
~join issue~: Not to be confounded with to ~take issue~. To _take
issue_ means “to deny”; to _join issue_, in strict usage, “to admit the
right of denial,” but not also “to agree in the truth of the denial.”
In the example “In their career father and son meet, _join issue_, and
pursue their nefarious occupation in conjunction,” _join issue_ is
improperly used for “agree” or “come to an agreement.” To _join issue_
is properly “to take opposite sides of a case,” etc.
~jollier~: A slang term used to designate a person who treats another
(from whom he expects a favor, or with whom he desires cordial
relations) pleasantly and good-humoredly, or in an agreeable way so as
to obtain his end. In its English sense a _jollier_ is one given to
chaffing and joking at another’s expense.
~jolly~. Compare NICE.
~jolly, to~: The occupation of a jollier: slang of widespread usage.
Compare JOLLIER.
~josh~: A vulgarism for “chaff,” “hoax,” or “banter,” which are more
refined terms.
~journal~: From the French, properly means _daily_. Therefore to
speak of a “daily _journal_” is absurd. Say, rather, “daily _paper_.”
Likewise avoid “weekly _journal_,” “monthly _journal_,” “quarterly
_journal_” which mean weekly daily, monthly daily, quarterly _daily_,
and are forms of expression in popular use as examples of violent
catachresis. Say, rather, “daily newspaper,” “weekly newspaper,”
“monthly” or “quarterly magazine” or “review,” or simply “monthly” or
“quarterly.”
~jump at~ or ~to~: To embrace eagerly, as an offer or opportunity. In
this sense never “jump to,” but one may _jump to_ the floor, as from a
chair.
~just going to~. Compare GOING.
K
~kettle of fish, pretty~: A colloquial phrase for “a perplexing state
of affairs,” or “a muddle,” both of which are preferable expressions.
~key~, ~quay~: Exercise care in the use of these words. A _key_ is that
with which something is opened or disclosed; also, a small low-lying
island; a _quay_ is a wharf or landing place where ships discharge
passengers or cargo. These words are pronounced alike. Compare DOCK.
~kibosh~: A slang term for “humbug.” ~To put the kibosh on~, a slang
phrase for “to put an end to or stop anything.”
~kick~ is not used instead of “protest” by careful speakers,
notwithstanding the fact that George Eliot introduced it into
literature (see _Silas Marner_, ch. iv. p. 52). The term is slang.
~kid~: A common vulgarism for “child” and as such one the use of which
can not be too severely condemned.
~kid on~: A vulgarism used in England for “humbug; hoax; or, try to
induce one to believe something that is not true:”--~no kid~, ~no
kidding~: Vulgar terms for “without any humbug.” Undesirable locutions.
~killing~. Compare PERFECTLY.
~kinder~: For _kind of_, pronounced as one word, is merely a low
vulgarism. The same remark holds of ~sorter~ similarly used for “sort
of.” See KIND OF.
~kindness~: When used in the plural is sometimes objected to on the
ground that _kindness_ is an abstract noun. “He wishes to express
gratitude for many _kindnesses_.” Nothing is commoner than the making
of abstract nouns into concrete in this way; “affinities”; “charities”;
“His tender _mercies_ are over all His works.” Besides, by “many
_kindnesses_” is meant, not “much kindness,” nor “great kindness,” but
“kindness manifested in many forms or shown on many occasions, many
acts of kindness.”
~kind of~ is an American provincialism for _somewhat_ and has no
literary authorization. “I am somewhat tired” should be substituted
for “I am _kind of_ tired.” Again, after _kind of_ do not use the
indefinite article. “What _kind of_ man” is preferable to “what _kind
of_ a man.”
~kind of~, ~sort of~: Indefinite phrases used by some lexicographers to
introduce definitions; as “a _kind of_ bird”; “a _sort of_ box.” If the
subject treated be a bird of some species or a box of a specific make
it is best usage to describe first what it is and then to follow with
the characteristics; as, “a bird of the swallow family,” “a cage-like
box,” etc.
~king-pin~ is not a desirable substitute for “chief man” or “person in
charge.” As a colloquialism it should be avoided.
~kinsman~. Compare RELATION.
~knife, to~: This term should not be used as a substitute for “stab” or
“defeat.” Although widely used by politicians in the United States the
term has no justification outside of ward politics.
~knock, to~: Slang for “to harass or find fault with continually;” a
similar and more recent word used also in this sense is ~hammer~. Both
should be avoided.
L
~lady~: The use of this word as “a mere distinction of sex is a sheer
vulgarism.” Never say “A man and his _lady_,” but “a man and his
_wife_,” or preferably, by name, “Mr. and Mrs. John Smith.” Where
woman, as indicative of sex, is intended, say _woman_--not _lady_ or
_female_. A female is equally female, whether person or beast. In
the United States “woman” is preferable; in England “lady” is used
chiefly when the term is not preceded by a qualifying adjective. The
word _woman_ best expresses the relation of the female sex to the
human race. Some ill-informed persons use _lady_ for _woman_ under the
mistaken idea that _woman_ is a derogatory term; such use is downright
vulgarity. As one never hears _salesgentleman_ but salesman, therefore
_saleslady_ should be avoided; say, rather, _saleswoman_.
~lambaste~ is slang and as such should not be used as a substitute for
“flog,” “whip,” or “beat.”
~lassitudinous~ is not a desirable substitute for “languid” or “weary.”
~last~, ~latter~: The first of these words is not properly used of
only two, since it is a superlative; the second, not properly of more
than two, since it is a comparative. Notwithstanding the fact that the
use of _last_ for _latter_ and of _latter_ for _last_ has had wide
sanction, the present tendency is toward strict construction.
~last two~. Compare FIRST and TWO FIRST.
~lay~, ~lie~: In discriminating the uses of these words the STANDARD
DICTIONARY says: _Lay_, _vt._, “to put down,” “to cause to lie down,”
is a causal derivative of _lie_, _vi._, “to rest.” The principal parts
of the two verbs are:
_Present._ _Imperfect._ _Past Participle._
lay, _vt._ laid laid
lie, _vi._ lay lain
The identity of the present tense of _lay_, _vt._, with the imperfect
tense of _lie_, _vi._, has led to the frequent confounding of the two
in their literary usage. _Lay_ (in the present tense) being transitive,
is always followed by an object; _lie_, being intransitive, never
has an object. _Lay_, in “I _lay_ upon thee no other burden,” is the
present tense of _lay_, _vt._, having as its object _burden_; in
“I _lay_ under the sycamore-tree in the cool shade,” _lay_ is the
imperfect tense of _lie_, _vi._, having no object; _laid_, in “I _laid_
the book on the table,” is the imperfect tense of _lay_, _vt._, having
as its object _book_. The presence or absence of an object, and the
character of the verb as transitive or intransitive, may be decided by
asking the question “_Lay_ [or _laid_] _what?_” The past participles
of the two verbs (_laid_ and _lain_) are also frequently confounded.
_Laid_ in tense-combinations is to be followed by a object always;
_lain_, never; as, “He has _laid_ (not _lain_) the book on the table”;
“He has _lain_ (not _laid_) long in the grave.”
The statement in present time, “The soldier _lays_ aside his knapsack
and _lies_ down,” becomes as a statement of a past act; as, “The
soldier _laid_ aside his knapsack and _lay_ down”; “The hen has _laid_
an egg”; “The egg has _lain_ (too long) in the nest.”
In poetic phraseology especially, the transitive _lay_ (in all its
tenses) is used reflexively as an equivalent of _lie_, _lay_, etc., as
in the following examples:
_Intransitive._ _Transitive._
_Pres._ I _lie_ down = I _lay_ me down.
_Imp._ I _lay down_ = I _laid_ me (myself) down.
_Fut._ I will _lie_ down = I will _lay_ me (myself)
down.
_Plup._ I had _lain_ down = I had _laid_ me (myself)
down.
~learn~, ~teach~: Once _learn_ was good English for teach, and
signified both the imparting as well as the acquiring of knowledge. An
example of this use may be found in Shakespeare (_Romeo and Juliet_)
and the Book of Common Prayer, but general modern usage restricts
_learn_ to the acquiring and _teach_ to the imparting of knowledge.
~least~: Grammatical writers have reason on their side in objecting to
the use of a superlative for a comparative. “Of two evils choose the
_less_,” is better than “choose the _least_.” A careful speaker will
observe this form. See MORE and MOST.
~leather~ as a colloquialism for “thrash” should not be used by persons
accustomed to refined diction.
~lease~ and ~hire~ are loosely used interchangeably. An agent says he
has property to _hire_ (= _for_ hire) while the tenant says he _leases_
it. Strictly, the former leases and the latter hires.
~leave~ is used transitively and intransitively, but critics have
objected to the latter use on the ground that the verb _to leave_ is
not expressive of any occupation--does not, in fact, of itself convey
any complete idea. It is true that if you speak you can speak only that
which can be spoken, whereas if you _leave_ you may _leave_ home or any
one of a thousand things; but as home (business or domestic) may be
regarded as the chief of a man’s possessions, it has been fancifully
treated as being the one all-important subject to which unqualified
leaving applies. One certainly may say with propriety “He has just
left”; “We _leave_ to-morrow.” Avoid such locutions as “Leave me
alone”; “leave her see it,” as illiterate. Use _let_ instead of leave.
~left, to get~: A slang phrase for “to be left behind; be beaten or
outdone.” Avoid such a vulgarism as “Did you ever get left?”
~legacy~. Compare BEQUEST.
~lend~. Compare LOAN.
~lengthen~, ~lengthy~: The verb means to “make or to grow longer.” Its
participle _lengthened_ no more means “long” than _heightened_ means
“high” or _strengthened_ means “strong.” It is correct to say “He
_lengthened_ the discourse, but it was still too short”; but not to
say “He quoted a _lengthened_ passage from the sermon.” In the latter
illustration _lengthy_ should be used. A sermon is _lengthy_ when
“unusually or unduly long” (with a suggestion of tediousness), not when
it is simply “long.”
~lengthways~, ~sideways~, ~endways~: Common but none the less
undesirable variants of _lengthwise_, _sidewise_, _endwise_.
~less~. Compare FEW.
~lessen~. Compare REDUCE.
~let her rip~: Farmer, in his “Americanisms Old and New,” says, this
“most vulgar of vulgarisms” is used to convey the idea of intensity of
action. The phrase is coarse and should not be used as a substitute for
“go ahead.”
~level, on the~: A vulgar intensive used to emphasize the fact that the
thing stated is stated truthfully, or that the person spoken of is, to
the speaker’s knowledge, upright and “on the square.” Compare SQUARE.
~levy~, ~levee~: Exercise care in the use of these words. _Levy_ is to
impose and collect by force; _levee_, a morning reception.
~liable~, ~likely~: The first of these words which is properly used as
expressive of “having a tendency” is improperly used in referring to a
contingent event regarded as “very probable.” Thus, though one should
not say “It is _liable_ to storm,” but “_likely_ to do so,” one may
say, “the building is _liable_ to be blown down by the storm.”
~libel~, ~slander~: These are not synonymous terms. _Libel_ differs
from _slander_ in that the latter is spoken whereas the former is
written and published.
~lick~: An inelegant term used colloquially as a synonym for “effort”;
as, “he put in his best _licks_.” Say, rather, “He put forth his best
efforts.”
~lid~: A slang term for cover, hat, etc., used especially in the
phrases ~keeping the lid down~, ~sitting on the lid~, political
colloquialisms for closing up places of business, as pool-rooms,
saloons, etc., or keeping a political situation in control.
~lie~. Compare LAY.
~lightening~, ~lightning~: The spelling of these words is sometimes
confused. _Lightening_ is to relieve “of weight”; as, “to _lighten_ a
burden”; _lightning_ is a sudden flash of light due to pressure caused
by atmospheric electricity. The shorter word designates the flash of
light.
~like~, in the adverbial sense of “in the manner of,” as, “He speaks
_like_ a philosopher,” is correctly used, but the tendency to treat
this word as a conjunction (which it is not) in substitution for _as_
is altogether wrong. Do not say “Do _like_ I do”; say, rather, “Do
_as_ I do.” It is also a colloquialism, not sanctioned by good usage,
to give the word the signification of _as if_, as “I felt _like_
my final hour had come”; and the use of the word as synonymous for
_somewhat_ is a vulgarism. Say “He breathed _somewhat_ heavily”--not
“heavy _like_.” When _like_ is followed by an objective case, as “Be
brave _like_ him,” the preposition _unto_ must be supplied by ellipsis.
For this reason as for the fact that _like_ here has the force of a
conjunction, introducing the implied phrase “he is brave,” it is better
to say “Be brave _as_ he is.”
~like~, ~love~: Discriminate carefully between these words, which are
often erroneously used interchangeably. A woman may _love_ her children
and _like_ fruit, but not _like_ her children and _love_ fruit.
~likewise~. Compare ALSO.
~limb~, ~leg~: There exists an affected or prudish use of the word
_limb_ instead of _leg_, when the leg is meant, which can not be too
severely censured. Such squeamishness is absurd.
~limit, the~: A vulgarism designating the extreme of any condition or
situation: used indiscriminately of persons or conditions.
~limited~: Often erroneously used for _small_, _scant_, _slight_,
and other words of like meaning; as, “He had a _limited_ (_slight_)
acquaintance with Milton”; “Sold at the _limited_ (_low_ or _reduced_)
price of one dollar”; “His pecuniary means were likely to remain quite
_limited_”--admissible if suggesting the reverse of unlimited wealth,
otherwise _small_ or _narrow_.
~lineament~, ~liniment~: The _lineament_ is the outline or contour of a
body or figure, especially the face. _Liniment_ is a medicated liquid,
sometimes oily, which is applied to the skin by rubbing as for the
relief of pain. Exercise care in spelling these words.
~lip~: A very vulgar substitute for “impudence.”
~lit~ in the sense of _lighted_ is not used by careful speakers. Do not
say “Who _lit_ (but ‘who _lighted_’) the gas?”
~lit on~: A common error for “come across,” “met with,” which should
be discountenanced. Do not say “I _lit_ on the quotation by accident”;
say, rather, “I came across the quotation.” Nor “I _lit_ on him at the
fair.” One does not _light_ on people whom one meets.
~little~. Compare FEW.
~loan~, ~lend~: One may raise (put an end to) a _loan_ by paying both
principal and interest, and another may _lend_ money to do so. The
use of _loan_ as a verb, meaning, “to grant the loan of or lend, as
ships, money, linen, provisions, etc.,” dates from the year 1200 and
is accepted as good English. Some purists, however, characterize it
colloquial.
~lobster~: A slang term used originally to designate a British soldier,
probably, in the phrase ~boiled lobster~, from his red coat: now
applied indiscriminately to gullible persons, perhaps on account of
the reputed gullibility of the British soldier.
~lonely~, ~solitary~: These two words must not be confounded, for their
meaning is not exactly the same, although the Latin _solitarius_ is
derived from _solus_, alone. _Solitary_ indicates no more than absence
of life or society; _lonely_ suggests the idea of being forsaken or
isolated. A _solitary_ person is not of necessity _lonely_, even though
he take a _solitary walk_ in a _lonely_ place. A man is not _lonely_ if
he is good company to himself.
~look~: In the intransitive sense of “seem,” this verb should be
followed by an adjective, not an adverb. Thus, “he _looks_ kind (not
kindly).” It is otherwise in the sense of “exercising the sense of
sight.” Here the adverb is used to the exclusion of the adjective. “He
_looks_ kindly (not kind) upon the fallen foe.” Actions are qualified
by adverbs, but adjectives qualify what one is or seems to be.
~lot~ or ~lots~: A slipshod colloquialism for “great many”; as, “We
sold a _lot_ of tickets”; “He has _lots_ of friends”; to be avoided,
as are all other vague, ill-assigned expressions, as tending to
indistinctness of thought and debasement of language. Compare HEAP.
~love~. Compare LIKE.
~lovelily~: To the general exclusion of this word, _lovely_ is now made
to do duty both as adverb and adjective.
~lovely~: A valuable word in proper use, as applied to that which is
adapted and worthy to win affection; but as a colloquialism improperly
applied indiscriminately to every form of agreeable feeling or quality.
A bonnet is _lovely_, so is a house, a statue, a friend, a poem, a
bouquet, a poodle, a visit; and it is even said after an entertainment,
“The refreshments were _lovely_!”--all examples of careless diction.
~low-priced~: Often confounded with _cheap_. A thing is _cheap_ when
its price is low compared with its intrinsic worth, it is _low-priced_
when but little is paid or asked for it. A _low-priced_ article may
be _dear_; a _cheap_ article may not be _low-priced_; as, “One horse
was _low-priced_ (he paid only $50 for it), and it was _dear_ at that
price; the other cost him $500, but was _cheap_ at that price.”
~lurid~ should not be used for ~brilliant~. _Lurid_ means “giving
a ghastly, or dull-red light, as of flames mingled with smoke, or
reflecting or made visible by such light.”
~luxuriant~, ~luxurious~: These words are not identical in sense. The
former signifies growth, as “hair of _luxuriant_ growth”; the latter
implies luxury, as “_luxurious_ ease.”
“But grace abused brings forth the fondest deeds,
As richest soil the most _luxuriant_ weeds.”
“And send the sentinel before your gate
A slice or two from your _luxurious_ meals.”
M
~mad~: Used for “angry” by the careless or the indifferent. A
colloquialism not in vogue among persons who use refined diction.
_Mad_ may, however, be used correctly to designate a condition of
overmastering emotion, intense excitement, or infatuation due to
grief, terror, or jealousy; as _mad_ with grief; _mad_ with terror.
Formerly used correctly as a synonym for “angry” it is now used only
colloquially in this sense. _Mad_, in the present day, denotes a
species of insanity.
~main guy~: A vulgar phrase derived from circus cant in which it
designates the chief guy-rope as of a tent. It is commonly used to
designate the manager of an establishment, or the person in charge of
an undertaking.
~make~: Often used incorrectly for “earn.” Do not say “How much does he
_make_ a week?” Say, rather, “How much does he _earn_ a week?”
~man~. Compare GENT.
~manifest~. Compare APPARENT.
~manner born, to the~: A phrase often incorrectly written _to the
manor_ from a faulty knowledge of its meaning--familiar with something
from birth, or born to the use or manner of the thing or subject
referred to.
~marine~, ~maritime~, ~naval~, ~nautical~: There are distinctions among
these words. _Marine_ and _maritime_, from the Latin _mare_, the sea,
signify belonging to the sea; _naval_, from the Latin _navis_, a ship,
signifies belonging to a ship; _nautical_ from the Latin _nauta_, a
sailor, signifies belonging to a sailor or to the sailor’s pursuit,
navigation. A _maritime_ nation must be well supplied with _marine_
stores, must have a large _naval_ force and be skilled in matters
_nautical_.
~marry~: Now used correctly of both acceptance in marriage and union in
matrimony: formerly condemned as incorrect.
~masses~: The _masses_, in the sense of the common people, the great
body of the people, exclusive of the wealthy or privileged, has
so entered into popular speech that the expression is now beyond
criticism, although exception has been taken to it, on the ground that
the subject of the mass should be specifically named. The _masses_ of
what?
~matinee~ from the French _matin_, morning, is strictly a morning
reception; and to talk of an “afternoon _matinée_” is therefore, if
not a solecism, a contradiction in terms. Still nowadays the word is
used to mean an _afternoon_ rather than a _morning_ reception, or
entertainment.
~me~: “It is _I_,” never “It is _me_.” And so with all personal
pronouns following the verb _to be_ and in apposition with its subject.
The same form of error is constantly made in such phrases as “She is
better looking than _me_,” where, if the elliptical verb were supplied,
the correct construction would readily be seen to be “She is better
looking than _I_ (am).”
~mean~: A word often erroneously used. Its generic meaning is “common”
and therefrom it has been accepted as meaning “of humble origin, of low
rank or quality, of inferior character or grade” and is used in England
as a synonym for “miserly in expenditure, stingy.” In the United States
it is commonly misused as a substitute for “ill-tempered; disagreeable.”
~mean~. Compare INTEND.