Word Study and English Grammar Part 9

_Either_ is distributive and therefore singular and should never be used of more than two.

_Elegant_ denotes delicacy and refinement and should not be used as a term of general approval.

_Else_ should be followed by _than_, not by _but_. "No one else _than_ (not _but_) he could have done so much."

_Emigrant_, one who goes out of a country should not be confused with _immigrant_, one who comes into a country.

_Enormity_ is used of wickedness, cruelty, or horror, not of great size, for which _enormousness_ should be used. We speak of the _enormity_ of an offence but of the _enormousness_ of a crowd.

_Enthuse_ should not be used as a verb.

_Equally as_ well; say _equally well_, or _as well_.

_Every place_ used adverbially should be _everywhere_.

_Except_ should never be used in the sense of _unless_ or _but_.

_Exceptional_ which means "unusual," "forming an exception" should not be confused with _exceptionable_ which means "open to objection."

_Expect_ which involves a sense of the future should not be confused with _suppose_ and similar words, as in the phrase "I _expect_ you know all about it."

_Factor_ is not to be confounded with _cause_.

_Falsity_ applies to things, _falseness_ to persons.

_At fault_ means "at a loss of what to do next." _In fault_ means "in the wrong."

_Favor_ should not be used in the sense of _resemble_.

_Female_ should not be used for _woman_. The words _female_, _woman_, and _lady_ should be used with careful attention to their respective shades of meaning.

_Few_, which emphasizes the fact that the number is small should be distinguished from _a few_ which emphasizes the fact that there is a number though it be small. "_Few_ shall part where many meet." "_A few_ persons were saved in the ark."

_Fewer_ applies to number; _less_ to quant.i.ty.

_Firstly_ should not be used for _first_ although secondly and thirdly may be used to complete the series.

_Fix_ should not be used in the sense of _repair_, _arrange_, or _settle_.

_Former_ and _latter_ should never be used where more than two things are involved.

_Frequently_ should be distinguished from commonly, _generally_, _perpetually_, _usually_. _Commonly_ is the ant.i.thesis of _rarely_, _frequently_ of _seldom_, _generally_ of _occasionally_, _usually_ of _casually_.

_Funny_ should not be used to mean _strange_ or _remarkable_.

_Gentleman Friend_ and _Lady Friend_ are expressions which should be avoided, say "man or woman friend" or "man or woman of my acquaintance"

or even "gentleman or lady of my acquaintance."

_Good_ should not be used in the sense of _well_. "I feel _good_."

_Got_ is said to be the most misused word in the language. The verb means to secure by effort and should be used only with this meaning, e. g., "I have _got_ the contract." _Have got_ to indicate mere possession is objectionable. Mere possession is indicated by _have_ alone. Another common mistake is the use of _got_ to express obligation or constraint.

"I have _got_ to do it."

_Guess_ should not be used in the sense of _think_ or _imagine_.

_Handy_ should never be used to express nearness.

_Hanged_ should be used to express the execution of a human being.

_Hung_ is the past participle in all other uses.

_Hardly._ "I _can hardly_ see it," not "I _can't hardly_ see it."

_Healthy_ which means "possessed of health" should be distinguished from _healthful_ and _wholesome_ which mean "health giving."

_High_ should not be confused with _tall_.

_Home_ is not a synonym for _house_. A beautiful _house_ is a very different thing from a beautiful _home_.

_Honorable_ as a t.i.tle should always be preceded by _the_.

_How_ should not be used for _what_, or for _that_. It means "in what manner."

_How that_ should not be used when either one will do alone. Such a sentence as "We have already noted how that Tillotson defied rubrical order...." is very bad.

_If_ should not be used in the sense of _where_ or _that_.

_Ilk_ means "the same" not _kind_ or _sort_.

_Ill_ is an adverb as well as an adjective. Do not say illy.

_In_ should not be used for _into_ when motion is implied. You ride _in_ a car but you get _into_ it.

_Inaugurate_ should not be used for _begin_.

_Individual_ should not be used for _person_.

_Inside of_ should not be used as an expression of time.

_Invaluable_, meaning "of very great value" should not be confused with _valueless_, meaning "of no value."

_Invite_ should not be used for _invitation_.

_Kind_ is not plural. Do not say "These" or "those" _kind_ of things.

_Kind of_ should never be followed by the indefinite article. "What _kind of_ man is he?" not "What _kind of a_ man is he?" _Kind of_ or _sort of_ should not be used in the sense of _rather_ or _somewhat_.

_Kindly_ is often misused in such expressions as "You are _kindly_ requested to recommend a compositor." Undoubtedly the idea of kindness is attached to the recommendation not to the request and the sentence should be so framed as to express it.

_Last_ is often misused for _latest_. "The _last_ number of the paper"

is not the one that appeared this morning but the one that finally closes publication.