is “something peculiar to one or some as distinguished from others;
a prerogative”; so that the term is to be employed relatively. “The
_rights and privileges_ of the people,” as often used absolutely in
political platforms, demagogical speeches, and radical newspapers, is
incorrect, since the people in this sense can have no _privileges_,
_i. e._, “things peculiar to individuals.” Milton’s use is correct
when he says “We do not mean to destroy all the people’s _rights
and privileges_,” since he is speaking of the people relatively, as
distinguished from the magistrates and the king.--STANDARD DICTIONARY.
~rise~: Some lexicographers claim a distinction in the pronunciation of
the word _rise_ as a noun and _rise_ as a verb, making the noun rhyme
with “rice” and the verb rhyme with “prize,” but common usage sanctions
only one pronunciation, that rhyming with “prize.”
~roast~: A slang term used occasionally by journalists and members of
the theatrical profession as an equivalent for “banter” or “ridicule,”
as in a press notice.
~rooster~: A word often incorrectly restricted in its meaning. This is
due in a measure to usage as recorded by lexicographers. If a _roost_
is a perch upon which fowls rest at night, then a _rooster_ is _any_
fowl which perches on a roost, be it cock or hen. But the domestic fowl
is not the only bird that roosts, therefore any bird that does so, be
it what it may, is as much a _rooster_ as the male or female domestic
fowl.
~rope in, to~: A colloquialism for “to cause to participate in” or in a
bad sense “to swindle.” In the latter sense it is used especially when
the intention is to induce a person to invest in a scheme that is known
beforehand to be of questionable worth.
~rubber~ should not be used as a synonym for “crane”; nor
_rubber-necking_ for “craning the neck.” These terms are slang which
have been derived from _rubber-neck_, a playful expression said to be
current among the children of Nova Scotia and used by them on April 1st
instead of the more common “April fool.”
~rubber-neck~: Slang for one who cranes his neck so as to see things
that are none of his concern.
~rubbers~: As a rule an article of clothing should not be referred
to in terms of the material of which it consists. Overshoes, for
instance, should be so styled, and not called either _rubbers_ or
_gums_.
~rugged~, ~hardy~: Rugged in the sense of robust, as in health, is an
undesirable Americanism for it means primarily “superficially rough,
broken irregularly; as _rugged_ cliffs.” _Hardy_ means inured as to
toil, exposure, or want.
S
~’s~: “The sign or suffix of the possessive or genitive case singular
and of the same case plural when the noun ends in _n_; as, men’s
lives; children’s books; shortened since the 17th century from Middle
English _-es_. The apostrophe now replaces the _e_. Some words ending
in a sibilant omit the _s_ of the possessive to avoid the disagreeable
repetition of a hissing sound. The rules formulated for this work
are as follow: (1) Singular monosyllabic nouns ending in a sibilant
sound (_s_, _x_, _ce_, _se_, or dental _ge_) add the apostrophe and
_s_, except when the following word begins with a sibilant sound; as,
_James’s_ reign; _Jones’s_ hat; a _fox’_ skin. (2) Singular dissyllabic
nouns ending in a sibilant sound add the apostrophe and _s_, unless
the sibilant is followed by another sibilant or the last syllable is
unaccented; as, _Porus’_ defeat; _Moses’_ face; _Jesus’_ disciples;
_Laplace’s_ theory; _Hortense’s_ fate. (3) Singular polysyllabic
nouns ending in a sibilant sound add the apostrophe and _s_ only
when a principal or secondary accent falls on the last syllable;
as, _Boniface’s_ mistake; _Quackenbos’s_ Rhetoric; _Orosius’s_
History.”--STANDARD DICTIONARY.
~same~: This word should not be used, as it is in commercial
correspondence--in substitution for _it_. If “the same” is correctly
used, a noun is implied; as “it is _the same_ (referring to an illness)
as he suffered from.” However, do not say, “Tell me what you wish, and
the _same_ (meaning _it_) will be attended to.” _Same_ is also often
used where _similar_ is the proper word. A gale blowing to-day with a
velocity of 60 miles an hour is _similar_ to, but is not the _same_ as,
one that blew with a velocity of 60 miles one year ago, although it has
the _same_ amount of velocity.
~sameness~, ~similarity~: Discriminate carefully between these words.
_Sameness_ is the state of being identically the same; absolute
resemblance; _similarity_ is likeness or partial resemblance. See SAME.
~sappy~: An undesirable colloquialism for “weakly sentimental; silly.”
~sass~: Vulgar term for “impertinence”; “sauciness.”
~satire~, ~satyr~: Note the difference in the spelling of these words.
A _satire_ is a dramatic farce or medley; a _satyr_ is a woodland deity.
~saw~, ~seen~: In popular use, in some regions, often carelessly and
inexcusably interchanged. _Saw_ is the imperfect tense of _see_ and to
be used as such only; _seen_ is its past participle, and the form to be
used, with the proper auxiliaries, in the tenses formed with the aid of
the past participle. Not “I _seen_ him,” but “I _saw_ him”; not “I have
(or had) never _saw_ it,” but “I have (or had) never _seen_ it.”
~say~. Compare UTTER.
~says I~: A vulgarism sometimes heard from even the educated: entirely
indefensible.
~scan~. Compare PERUSE.
~scarcely~, ~hardly~: These words are not strictly synonymous.
_Scarcely_ is applied to quantity, _hardly_ to degree; as, “_Scarcely_
an hour has passed since we parted”; “He is _hardly_ well enough to
rise.”
~scared of~ should not be used for “fearful of.” It should be used only
when positive alarm, absolute fright is felt.
~scholar~: Alliteration is probably responsible for “Sunday-school
_scholar_” for although the word originally signified one who
attends school for instruction, it has now come to imply one who is
distinguished for the pursuit and possession of knowledge; and, as
such, it is a high-sounding title for a _pupil_, who may be a mere
beginner, and is supposedly under the close personal supervision of a
tutor.
~school~: A term which, apart from its use designating an educational
institution, formerly also described “a large multitude or company” but
is now restricted in its application to marine animals only; as, “a
_school_ of whales.”
~scrap~: A vulgarism for “fight” or “quarrel.”
~screw loose, to have a~: A slang phrase used sometimes as a substitute
for “to be irrational or mentally weak.”
~sealing~. Compare CEILING.
~search me~: A colloquialism used usually as a noncommital reply to an
interrogatory and best rendered by a decisive answer as, “I don’t know.”
~seasonable~, ~timely~: These terms are not synonymous. That which is
_seasonable_ is in harmony or keeping with the season or occasion; that
which is _timely_ is in good time. A thing may be timely in appearance
that is not seasonable.
~see~, ~witness~: These words are not synonymous. _See_ is used of
things, _witness_ of events. Thus, we may _see_ soldiers, but _witness_
a review; _see_ a man, but _witness_ an assault.
~seem~. Compare APPEAR.
~seldom or ever~: A very common error for “seldom _if_ ever.” One may
say “I _seldom if ever_ speak so,” meaning to imply doubt; thus, “I
_seldom_ speak so _if_ indeed I _ever_ do.” An alternative form is
“I _seldom or never_ speak so,” which is more emphatic and implies
personal opinion, as “I speak so very _seldom or_ (according to my
belief) probably _never_.”
~semi-occasionally~: A meaningless expression for “once in a while”
which is decidedly preferable.
~sensation~ should not be used for “noteworthy event.”
~sensual~, ~sensuous~: These are not synonymous terms. A _sensual_
man is one who is given to the inordinate indulgence of his animal
appetites; a _sensuous_ one is one who has a warm appreciation for the
beautiful and is keenly alive to sense-affecting influences.
~separate~: One of a class of words which are persistently misspelled.
Note that it contains only two “e’s”, one in its first syllable and one
in its last; and that “a” forms its second syllable.
~serial~. Compare CEREAL.
~session~. Compare CESSION.
~set~, ~sit~: According to strict grammatical rule, _sit_ when
referring to posture is always an active intransitive, and _set_
an active transitive. “To _sit_ on eggs” has been characterized as
colloquial English, but is sanctioned by the translators of the King
James version of the Bible. “As the partridge _sitteth_ on eggs and
hatcheth them not” (Jer. xvii. 11). Shakespeare wrote “Birds _sit_
brooding in the snow” (_L. L. L._ act v. sc. 2). On a poultry-farm the
farmhand _sets_ the hen but the hen _sits_.
~settle~: Do not speak of _settling_ a bill unless there is some matter
in dispute concerning it that requires settlement. Under ordinary
circumstances you _pay_ an undisputed account.
~severally~. See _respectively_ under RESPECTFULLY.
~sewage~, ~sewerage~: These words are often confounded. _Sewage_ is the
waste matter which is carried off through drains and sewers; _sewerage_
is the system of piping and draining by means of which the sewage is
carried off.
~shakes, no great~: An undesirable colloquialism for “not much good,”
“of no great importance.”
~shall~, ~will~: “Often erroneously interchanged. In general simple
futurity is expressed by _shall_ in the first person and _will_ in
the second and third, while determination is expressed by _will_ in
the first and _shall_ in the second and third. In interrogations in
the second and third persons the usage is not so simple, the speaker
often putting himself in the place of the one spoken to or spoken of,
and using _shall_ or _will_, as if for the first person.”--STANDARD
DICTIONARY.
~Sheeny~: An offensive appellative for a Jew used only by the
illiterate and vulgar.
~shire~: As this word means _county_, do not say “county” when speaking
of any “shire.” “Oxfordshire” and “the county of Oxford,” are correct,
but not “the county of Oxfordshire.”
~shoal~: In general this word is applied to an assemblage, a multitude
or a throng, but, specifically it designates a number of fish that
move together; as, “a _shoal_ of porpoises.” Compare SCHOOL.
~should seem~, ~would seem~: Terms used chiefly to soften requests,
orders or directions. The use of _should_ in such a remark as “It
_should seem_ so”--implying that something suggested was correct--dates
from pre-Elizabethan time. Here _would_ should be substituted for
_should_.
~should~, ~would~: These words follow in the main the usage of _shall_
and _will_, but with certain modifications required by their common use
in dependent sentences. In general, in indirect quotation, _should_ is
to be used after a historical tense where the speaker quoted employed
_shall_, and _would_ where the speaker quoted _will_. Thus:
{ ~Direct quotation~: “He said to me,’You _shall_ go.’”
{ ~Indirect „~ “He said that I _should_ go.”
{ ~Direct „~ “He said to me, ‘_Will_ you go?’”
{ ~Indirect „~ “He asked me if I _would_ go.”
The mixture of direct and indirect is always wrong; avoid, “He asked me
_would_ I go.”
~shut up~: A coarse expression often too commonly used instead of “keep
quiet.” Compare FORGET IT.
~sideways~ should not be used for ~sidewise~.
~siege~, ~seige~: Discriminate carefully between these words. A _siege_
is an investment as of a city by military forces; as, “the _siege_ of
Paris”; a _seige_ is a flock of birds; as, “a _seige_ of cranes.” Note
especially the orthography of these words.
~sieve~, ~seive~: Homophones of widely different meaning. A _sieve_ is
a utensil for sifting; a _seive_ is a rush or rush-wick.
~sight~: As a colloquialism meaning a very great quantity, number, or
amount; as, “a _sight_ of people,” the noun is to be avoided, as in the
still more objectionable expression, “powerful _sight_,” in which the
adjective is altogether misapplied.
~similar~. Compare SAME.
~sin~. Compare CRIME.
~since~, ~ago~: _Since_ is used generally to imply time only recently
lapsed; _ago_, to imply time long past. “How long _since_ did he call?”
“Nelson fought Trafalgar a century _ago_.”
~siree~; ~sirree Bob~: Vulgar and silly intensives of affirmation.
~site~. Compare CITE.
~skidoo~: Recent slang for “get out” which is to be preferred.
~skin, to~: A vulgarism for “to deprive by extortion or trickery; get
the better of,” either of which is preferable.
~skunk~: As applied to a person of mean disposition or of objectionable
character the term is to be condemned as unsuited to polite society no
matter how fittingly it may apply to the individual designated by it.
~slob~: A vulgar equivalent for “a careless, negligent and incompetent
person,” and as such one to be avoided.
~so~. Compare SUCH.
~soap~: A vulgar euphemism for “wealth”; used usually interrogatively
as, “How’s he off for soap?” A vulgarism for “How rich is he?” which is
to be preferred.
~so far as~. Compare AS FAR AS.
~sojourn~: This term formerly obsolete has recently been revived as
meaning to “have a residence, definite though temporary, in some place
that is not one’s home.” _Sojourn_ is better than _stop_, which may
imply merely cessation of motion and does not express even temporary
residence; more specific than _stay_, which may apply to a delay of an
hour between trains or the passing of a night.
~some~: This word should never be used for “somewhat.” In such sense,
_some_ is dialectal and provincial. Do not say “He has grown _some_”
but “grown _somewhat_,” that is “in _some_ degree” or “to _some_
extent.” “Is he better?” “Yes, _some_:” avoid such a locution.
~someone else~, ~somebody else~. See under ELSE.
~some place~. Compare ANY PLACE.
~somewhat~. Compare KIND OF and LIKE.
~soppy~: A vulgarism for “emotional”: expressive but inelegant.
~sorry~, ~grieved~: Distinguish between these words in their use. If we
are _sorry_, it is for a matter concerning ourselves; but when we are
_grieved_, another is in some way connected with the case.
~sort of~. Compare KIND OF.
~sparrow grass~ sometimes abbreviated ~grass~ are common corruptions in
domestic use for _asparagus_. There is no excuse but lack of education
or lack of intelligence and courage to use the right word when the
majority prefer the wrong for this vulgar provincialism.
~speciality~, ~specialty~: These words should not be confounded. The
distinction between them is clearly illustrated by the editor of
the STANDARD DICTIONARY as follows: “_Speciality_ is the state or
quality of being special; _specialty_ is an employment to which one
is specially devoted, an article in which one specially deals, or the
like.”
~spectator~. Compare AUDIENCE.
~spell~ should not be used for “period of time.” Do not say “I shall
stay a spell” if you mean you will “remain _a little while_,” the
latter is to be preferred.
~splendid~: Often used indiscriminately and inanely especially by
women; as in the expression “perfectly _splendid_,” to express very
great excellence. _Splendid_ means imposing; as, “a _splendid_ woman”;
shedding brilliant light or shining brightly; as, “a _splendid_ sun”;
“a _splendid_ diamond.” A heroic deed may be called _splendid_ but a
good story hardly so.
~split~ or ~cleft infinitive~: A form of expression in which the sign
of the infinitive “to” and its verb are separated by some intervening
word, usually an adverb, as in the phrase, “to quickly return”:
severely condemned by purists.
~spondulix~: Vulgarism for “money,” now passing out of use.
~spoonfuls~, ~spoons full~: These words have distinctive meanings.
_Spoonfuls_ means _one spoon_ filled repeatedly; _spoons full_ means
_several spoons_ filled once. Compare -FUL.
~spout, up the~: A vulgarism for “with the pawnbroker,” or “out of
sight.”
~spree, to go on a~: Formerly this phrase designated indulgence in
boisterous frolic and excess of drink: latterly the term has been used
to denote “going on an outing for the day.”
~square, on the~: A colloquialism for “with fair intention or with
reputation for fair dealing; honest.”
~stake~, ~steak~: Exercise care in the use of these homophones. A
_stake_ is a _stick_ or post, as of wood; a _steak_ is a slice of meat.
Note the difference in spelling.
~standpoint~ should not be used for “point of view.”
~stationary~, ~stationery~: Exercise care in the use of these words.
_Stationary_ is remaining in one place or position; _stationery_,
writing-materials in general. These words are pronounced alike.
~statue~, ~statute~: These words are sometimes confounded; a _statue_
is a plastic representation of a human or animal figure as in marble or
bronze. A _statute_ is a properly authenticated legislative enactment,
especially one passed by a body of representatives.
~stay~ and ~stop~: _Stay_ is sometimes used incorrectly for _stop_; do
not say “I shall _stay_ in Paris on my way to Berlin,” but “I shall
_stop_ in Paris” etc. Do not say “How long will you _stop_ there?” but
“How long will you _stay_?” etc. Compare SOJOURN and STOP.
~step~. See STOP.
~stiff~ is used for a “corpse” only by the very lowest type of humanity.
~stile~, ~style~: Exercise care in spelling these words. A _stile_ is
a step or series of steps on each side of a fence or wall, to aid in
surmounting it; _style_ is fashion.
~stimulant~, ~stimulus~: The first of these words denotes that which
stimulates the system, as coffee does the action of the heart. A
_stimulus_ is that which impels or urges on; as, “a _stimulus_ to hard
work is offered by the pecuniary reward it yields.”
~stinker~: A coarse term applied to an undesirable acquaintance only
by the vulgar. It is a term that unfortunately has some vogue in
commercial life.
~stop~: The word is frequently misused, both for _step_ and _stay_.
“_Stop_ in next time you pass” or “_stop off_ on your way down by
car” are colloquial but objectionable expressions. The latter clearly
means “_step off_ and call in” and would be met by a simple “call in.”
_Stop_ implies finality, and should therefore never be used in the
sense of a temporary _stay_. The true meaning of the word _stop_ was
well understood by the man who did not invite his professed friend to
visit him: “If you come at any time within ten miles of my house, just
_stop_.”--MATHEWS, _Words, Their Use and Abuse_, ch. xiv. p. 359.
~straight~, ~strait~: Exercise care in spelling these words. That which
is _straight_ lies evenly between any two of its points or passes from
one point to another by direct course; not curved. A _strait_ is a
narrow channel connecting two seas. In the plural, _strait_ denotes a
difficult or restricted condition; distress or perplexity.
~street~: According to law, land includes all above and all below. Thus
a house on the land or a gold mine beneath is covered by the word land,
and its possessor is entitled to both one and the other. In the same
way a _street_ includes the houses there built; and it is therefore not
strictly correct to speak of a certain house as being _on_ a certain
street: it is _in_ the street and is part of it. Compare ON.
~stricken~: As a past participle of _strike_, archaic in England,
except when there is an implication in it of misfortune; as, “He
was _stricken_ with paralysis.” In the United States _stricken_,
in general application, is not so distinctly archaic, and its use
in reference to the erasure of words is very frequent; as, “It is
ordered that the words objected to be _stricken_ out.” In the best
literary usage of both countries _struck_ is preferred to _stricken_
when no implication of misfortune is conveyed in it. _Stricken_ is
the appropriate participial adjective; as, “a _stricken_ man”; “a
_stricken_ deer.”--STANDARD DICTIONARY.
~string, to get on a~: A harmless but inelegant equivalent for “to
hoax,” which is to be preferred.
~subtile~, ~subtle~: “_Subtile_ and _subtle_ have been constantly used
as interchangeable by good writers but there seems to be a present
tendency to distinguish them by making _subtile_ an attribute of
things and _subtle_ a characteristic of mind.” A penetrating perfume
is described as _subtile_, whereas a wily sage’s predominating
characteristic is _subtlety_.
~succeed~ should _not_ be used now in the archaic sense of “to make
successful, promote”; as, “to _succeed_ an enterprise.”
~succeed himself~: An absurd phrase. A person who takes the place of a
predecessor _succeeds_ him; one who has occupied a public office for a
term prescribed by law and is reelected to that office _succeeds_ his
own previous term of office but _not_ himself.
~such~: This word is often erroneously used for “so.” Do not say “I
never saw _such_ a high building”; say, rather, “... _so_ high, a
building.”
~such another~. Compare ANOTHER SUCH.
~sucker~ for “sponger” or “parasite” is slang of the lowest type and
should be avoided by all persons of refinement.
~summons~: You _summon_ a person to court upon a _summons_. There is
properly no such verb as _summons_, the colloquial use of the term
being altogether unjustifiable.
~superior~. Compare INFERIOR.
~sure~: Often misused for “surely” in the sense of “certainly.” Do not
say “_Sure_ I’m going”; say, rather, “I’m _surely_ going.”
~surprise~. Compare ASTONISH.
~sympathize with~, ~sympathy for~: The verb _sympathize_ takes only
_with_; the noun _sympathy_ in its secondary sense of “commiseration,”
is often properly followed by _for_. We have sympathy _with_ one’s
aspirations, _for_ his distress; the sound man has sympathy _for_ the
wounded; the wounded man has sympathy _with_ his fellow sufferers.
~sympathy~. Compare PITY.
T
~take~: Often incorrectly used for _have_, especially in extending
hospitality, in such a sentence as “What will you _take_?”
~take on~ for _grieve_, _scold_, etc., like ~carry on~ for behave
sportively may both be tolerated as colloquialisms that are
popular because of their irrationality, or because they require no
discrimination in statement.
~takes the cake~. See CAKE.
~take up school~: An objectionable local Americanism for _begin
school_: used also intransitively; as, “School _took up_ at 9 o’clock”:
avoid this.
~talent~ should not be used for “talents” or “ability.”
~talented~: Inasmuch as adjectives of the participial form are
justified by strict grammarians only if derived from an existing
verb, this word has been caviled at by Coleridge (who denounced it as
“that vile and barbarous vocable”) and many literary pedants. Burke,
Hazlitt, Lamb, De Quincey, Macaulay and Newman have however, spoken
of “a _talented_ man”; and in the face of this array of learning
and authority we can raise but a modest protest in favor of the
contention of the grammarians. Such formations are, however, not to be
indiscriminately recommended.
~talk, back~. Compare BACK TALK.
~tasty~ in the sense of ~tasteful~ is without authority and is
considered an illiterate use. A person or his work may be _tasteful_,
but his food, however savory, can be no more than _tasty_.
~team~: Strictly a _team_ consists of two or more beasts of burden
harnessed together, but in the United States the word is extended
to cover “team and accessories,” the latter being the harness or
equipment, together with the vehicle to which the animals are attached.
~tell on~: A common expression with children used in the sense of “to
inform against a person,” is derived from Biblical use (I _Sam._ xxvii.
11). The phrase lost to literary English has now no equivalent.
~temper~, ~anger~, ~wrath~: Words in the use of which discrimination
should be used. _Temper_ is disposition or constitution of the mind,
especially in relation to the affections or the passions; _anger_ is
violence or vindicated passion aroused by real or imaginary insult or
injury. One may have an irritable _temper_ without being necessarily
angry. _Wrath_ is deep, determined, and lasting anger, usually
accompanied by outward expression of displeasure. _Anger_ may be only
inward feeling without the outward expression of passion.
~tender~ should not be used for “give.” You _tender_ a payment; _give_
a reception.
~testimony~. Compare EVIDENCE.