Few knights of the shire [in the 17th century] had librariessogoodasmay now perpetually be found in a servants’ hall.Macaulay,History, ch. 3.
Few knights of the shire [in the 17th century] had librariessogoodasmay now perpetually be found in a servants’ hall.
Macaulay,History, ch. 3.
That is, “not many knights of the shire,” etc. In a simple affirmative comparison like “Jane isasgood a cookasPolly,”so...asis not used.
In interrogative sentences, as in negative sentences, a consciousness more or less distinct of a considerable degree of the quality referred to is conveyed byso...as, but not byas...as. “Is JohnasoldasJames?” and “Is your unclesooldasmy father?” convey different impressions as to what the speaker means byold. In the question whereas...asis used there is no implication of considerable age inold.
as far as,so far as: Discriminate carefully between these terms.As far asexpresses distance;so far asexpresses limitation, as of one’s knowledge. Therefore, “so far asI know” is preferable to “as far asI know.”
as if. CompareLIKE.
as,so: Discriminate between these words;asis used in comparing persons or things of approximate caliber or size;sowhen the comparison is unequal.
as,that: Discriminate carefully between these words.Asis often improperly used forthat. Do not say “notasI know of”; “I do not knowasI shall go.” Say, rather, “NotthatI know of”; “I do not knowthatI shall go.”
ascentmust be distinguished fromassent, its homonym. The former is derived from Latinad, to, +scando, climb, and means the act of climbing; the latter is from Latinad, to, +sentio, feel, and means expression of concurrence in a proposition, acquiescence.
aside: An Americanism forapart. Not “auxiliary wordsaside,” but “auxiliary wordsapart.”
asparagus. CompareSPARROW GRASS.
assent. CompareASCENT.
assume,perform,discharge: Weassumeresponsibilities toperforma task and thusdischargeour duty. Duties are not performed.
astonish,surprise: Terms which some writers claim are not synonymous or interchangeable, but usage has made them so. Toastonishis “to affect with wonder andsurprise”; tosurpriseis “to strike withastonishmentby some unexpected act or event.”
Obviously, when one says, “I am surprised,” he uses an expression exactly equivalent to “I amstruck with astonishment,” which is the equivalent of “I am astonished.”
at: Commonly but erroneously used forto, as an intensive in such phrases as “Where have you beenat?” “Where are you goingat?” Used also occasionally to denote place: as, “Where does he liveat?” Wherever used in such connections the word is redundant.
at all: These words, supposed to have an intensive effect, are frequently unnecessarily introduced. “It doesn’t rainat all,” would be just as expressive if written “It doesn’t rain.”
at auction: In England this expression is known as an Americanism. There, goods are put uptoauction and are soldbyit—that isbyoffering them to the highest bidder. “Atprivate sale” also is peculiar to America.
at best: An erroneous form for “atthebest.”
at,in: Alwaysina country; eitheratorina city, town, or village;at, if the place is regarded as a point;in, if it is inclusive; as, “We arrivedatParis;” “He livesinLondon.”
at length: The assumption thatat lengthmeans the same asat last, and is therefore superfluous, is an error. Bothat lengthandat lastpresuppose long waiting; butat lastviews what comes after the waiting as a finality;at lengthviews it as intermediate with reference to action or state that continues, orto results that are yet to follow; as, “I have invited him often, andat lengthhe is coming”; “I have invited him often, andat lasthe has come.”
At lengthis used also of space; as, “He wrote meat length” (that is, fully or in detail).At lastis used of time; as, “He came backat last.”
at that: A vulgarism of speech, sometimes defended on the ground that the phrase is elliptical, the omitted word or phrase being computation, showing, or feature of the case. Avoid the usage, however.
at you: As a substitute forwith youthis is an unpardonable vulgarism, as in the sentence “I am angryat(forwith) you.”
audience,spectator: Anaudienceis a number of persons assembled to listen to a play, lecture, debate, etc.; aspectatoris an eye-witness as of a pageant, panorama, etc.
aught,ought: The former means anything whatever, any (even the smallest) part; the latter, as a noun, is a corruption ofnaught, a cipher.Naughtis of coursenot aught, that is, not anything, thus nothing, and hence the figure 0, a cipher. Careful speakers do not replace this word byought.
augur: With the sense ofbetokenorportend, this word must not be confounded withargue. The racecourse mayaugur, but certainly does notarguepoverty.
authentic,authoritative,genuine: Often misused as synonymous terms. That which accords with the facts and comes from the source alleged isauthentic; that which has the character represented and is true to its own claims isgenuine; that which possesses or emanates from proper authority and is entitled to acceptance as such isauthoritative.
Trench in “On the Study of Words” (p. 189), says: “Agenuinework is one written by the author whose name it bears; anauthenticwork is one which relates truthfully the matters of which it treats.” And anauthoritativework is one which contains the results of the observations and conclusions of an author of special ability in subjects of which he is an acknowledged master.
auxiliary: In this word the letter “l” is never doubled.
avails: An Americanism forprofitsorproceeds.
averse from,averse to: Originallyaverse fromwas commonly used to designate the turning from a subject, as from repugnance. Present usage prefersaverse to, denoting aversion in the sense of hostility toward the subject.
avocation,vocation: Discriminate carefully between these words. Anavocationis that which takes one from his regular calling. It is a minor or irregular occupation. The term is used loosely, sometimes by good writers, forvocation, which signifies the main calling or business of life. Anavocationis a diversion.
award. CompareACCORD.
aware. CompareCONSCIOUS.
awful,awfully:Awfulshould not be used of things which are merely disagreeable or annoying, nor in the sense of excessive, exceedingly bad, great, or the like. It is sometimes incorrectly used to designate surprise or distress, as, anawfulmouth, that is, a mouth of surprising size. Do not say “He created anawfulscene,” when you mean that the scene he created wasdistressing. Things cannot be “awfullynice” nor persons “awfullyjolly,” notwithstanding the sanction of colloquial usage. Phelps relates the following: “Two travelers at Rome once criticized Michael Angelo’s statue of Moses. ‘Is it notawful?’ said one. ‘Yes,’ answered the other, ‘it issublime.’ ‘No, no!’ rejoined the other, ‘I meantawfullyugly!’” That isawfulonly which inspires awe.
aye,ay: Meaning always, ever, and pronounced ê (e, as in eight), is to be distinguished fromaye, meaning yes, and pronounced ai (ai, as in aisle).
back on,go. CompareGO.
backorback up, with the signification ofupholdorsupporthas the countenance of high authority, butis still, except in the sporting sense, regarded as savoring of slang.
back down: A colloquialism forwithdrawas from an argument, a position or contest.
back out: A colloquialism for towithdrawfrom or refuse to carry out an agreement.
back talk: A vulgarism for any impertinent reply; as, “Don’t give me anyback talk.” Persons of refinement say, “Don’t be impertinent,” or, “stop your impertinence.”
bad: This word is the antithesis ofgoodand embraces various degrees of wickedness or evil as well as those of unsatisfactoriness.Badis a term often misapplied. One may say “abadboy,” “abadegg,” but not a “badaccident”; say rather, “aseriousaccident.” In referring to things which are necessarilybad, or the reverse of good, select some less pleonastic adjective. Anacute, asevereorgnawingpain would be preferable expressions to abadpain.
bad egg: An undesirable expression used colloquially to designate a worthless person: not used in polite society.
bad grammar: This phrase has been condemned as false syntax by some persons unfamiliar with the different meanings of the wordbad. The phrase is not only good English but is cited by theStandard Dictionaryas a correct example under the wordbadto illustrate the meaning “containing errors or faults; incorrect; asbad grammar.”
badly: This word should never be used forgreatlyor forexceedingly,very much, etc. Do not say “Your father will miss youbadly”; say rather, “... will miss you greatly.” Instead of “I wanted thatbadly” say “I wanted thatvery much” or “I was ingreatneed of that.” “The carpet needs to be beatenbadly” is a ludicrous blunder for “The carpetbadly(or very much) needs to be beaten”—the construction connectingbadlywithbeatingrather than withneedswhich it qualifies.
balance,remainder: These terms are not synonymous. A bookkeeper obtains abalanceas by addition or subtraction. A mathematician deducts a smaller sum from a greater and obtains aremainder. Do not say “Thebalanceof the evening was devoted to music,” but “therestof the evening....”
ball up (to), is slang for “confuse,” “embarrass” either of which is to be preferred.
baluster: CompareBANISTER.
band, beat the. CompareBEAT.
banisteris a corrupt form ofbalusterwhich is one of the individual pillars which unite to form abalustrade.
banquet: This word designating a sumptuous feast in honor of some person or event should not be used as the synonym of “dinner” or “supper,” which both designate less formal functions.
barein the sense of uncover must be differentiated from its homonymbear, to suffer or endure.
base,bass: Discriminate carefully between these terms.Basemeans the bottom or support of anything, that part on which it rests; also, that which is low.Baseis sometimes used in the sense offound; as, “hebasedhis argument on the evidence.” In chemistry it is a compound which unites with acid to form a salt.Bassis the name of various sea-fishes; also the name of a tree and of things made from its fiber. In music thebassconsists of the lowest tones in the scale, instrumental or vocal.
bat: Formerly a provincialism but now a vulgarism for “wink.” Do not say “Quitbattingyour eyes at me;” say rather, that is, if you must say anything of the kind, “Stop winking at me.”
bathosandpathosare sometimes separated by only a fine line, and it may be rather a matter of intelligence than of philology that fails to make use of the desirable term.Pathosis from the Greekpascho, suffer, and designates the quality that awakens the tender emotions, as compassion or sympathy;bathosis from the Greekbathys, deep, and signifies a ridiculous descent from the lofty to the depths of commonplace.
battalion: In this word the “t” is always doubled, as inbattle, from which it is derived; it is, however, correctly spelled with only one “l.”
bear. SeeBARE.
beastly: A British colloquialism expressive of disgust or contempt; as, “This isbeastlyweather”; sometimes even used adverbially; as, “I wasbeastlytired.” This locution, essentially in bad taste, though often affected by college students and others who should know better, seems never to be defensible except in the phrase “beastlydrunk,” and even this is objectionable as being a libel on the beast. CompareNASTY.
beatshould not be used for “defeat.”
beat itshould not be used for “go away” or “clear out.”
beat the band: A vulgarism for “to surpass or be immeasurably superior to.”
because: Although this word means “for the reason” it is often used in the same sentence with this expression—“The reason why I do this isbecause(= for the reason that) I please myself by doing it.” Substitutethatforbecause.
because why: A term common among the illiterate.Becauseis used correctly when it precedes the explanation of an act;why, when used interrogatively. Do not say “I did it,because why”; here omit “why” and continue with the reason for the act. Instead of “I did not come sooner;because why?” “I was delayed.” Say “I did not come sooner; why? I was delayed.”
beefis coarse slang for “boast” or “brag.”
begin:Commenceis frequently substituted forbeginwork where the change should not be made.Beginis applied to order of time;commencerelates to the work on hand with reference to its subsequent completion. The man who strikes the first blowbeginsa fight, but both parties to a law suitcommencelitigation at the moment when they severally undertake the first step.
begin by him: This is incorrect; say, “beginwithhim.”
behave: Strictly means “comport.” When used with a reflexive pronoun as, “Behaveyourself,” this word is correctly applied. When the pronoun is omitted as, “Will youbehave?” the sentence is incomplete and the expression a mere colloquialism.
being: The phrases “isbeingbuilt,” “wasbeingbuilt,” and kindred forms of English imperfects passive are condemned by certain critics as recent and unwarranted; Fitzedward Hall points out that they are neither recent nor unwarranted, and have been used by the best writers for a century. He says: “Prior to the evolution ofis being builtandwas being built, we possessed no discriminate equivalents ofædificaturandædificabatur;is builtandwas built, by which they were rendered, corresponding exactly toædificatus estandædificatus erat.”—Modern English, App., p. 350.
Is growing,was growing, indicate an activity from within; as, the treeis growing(from its own internal forces);is being grown,was being grown, the activity of some agent from without; as, the plantis being grown(by the gardener). So also, and strikingly,is bleeding(as from a wound), andis being bled(as by a surgeon).
belong: Used absolutely; as, “He doesn’tbelong,” “We allbelong” (sc., to this organization, society, community, or in the place, sphere, or associations where actually present): recent in the United States, and apparently rapidly spreading in popular use, though with no literary support.
beneficence,benevolence: Although formerly the meanings of these words were distinct they are not so any longer, andbenevolencenow includesbeneficence. “Beneficence, the quality of being beneficent or charitable:benevolenceis the disposition to seek the well-being or comfort of others; charitableness.” According to the etymology and original usagebeneficenceis the doing well,benevolence, the wishing or willing well to others; butbenevolencehas come to includebeneficenceand to displace it. We should not now speak ofbenevolencewhich did not help.
benefit. CompareADVANTAGE.
bequest,devise,legacy: These words are not exactly synonymous. Abequestis a leaving by will of personal property of any kind; adeviseis a gift ofland by a last will and testament; alegacyis personal property bequeathed.Deviseis sometimes used loosely for any testamentary disposition of property but, applied strictly, refers specifically to land, whereaslegacyapplies to any kind of personal property.
berth,birth: Discriminate carefully between these words.Berth, which is probably derived frombear, (Anglo-Saxonberan, carry), means a place of accommodation, whether as bunk or bed, apartment, or engagement.Birth, similarly pronounced and derived, means “a coming into existence.”
beside,besides: Much confusion exists, and has long existed regarding these words. Gould, who in his work on “Good English” explained the use of these terms in 1856, from which Webster borrowed in 1876, states that “besides is always a preposition and only a preposition.” This is not so. It is sometimes an adverb when used in its prepositional sense of “by the side (of).”
Ofbesidesas a preposition, Skeat, in his “Etymological Dictionary,” says:—“The more correct form isbeside; ‘besides’ is a later development, due to the habit of using the suffix -es to form adverbs; the use ofbesidesas a preposition, is, strictly incorrect, but is as old as the 12th century.”
Besideis also a preposition in the sense of “in comparison with” and “physically or mentally remote from.” “Besideyour work his is poor”; “Besidethe point at issue”; “The poor fellow isbesidehimself.”Besidesas a preposition means “in addition to” or “except.” “Besideswealth he had health”; “Besidesdeath he knew no fear.” As an adverb it means “moreover” or “other than.” “Besides, it is late”; “He was heedless of all the worldbesides.”Beside, then, conveys the idea of conjunction, separation or comparison; whereasbesidesimplies addition or exception.
between. CompareAMONG.
between you and I: This is incorrect. Both pronouns are objects of the prepositionbetweenand should be in the objective case; say “between you and me.” Compareyou and I.
bevy: A word sometimes misapplied. It is applied correctly to a company of girls, a flock of birds, as, quail, grouse, or larks; also to a small herd of deer or heifers.
big,great: Discriminate carefully between these words.Bigis not synonymous withgreat. A man may be physicallybigbut is not necessarilygreatmentally. Emerson was mentally agreatman, and although tall physically he was not abigman.Bigandlargeare synonymous, but whilebigis more emphatic,largeis a more refined or elegant term.
big-bug: A slang term used to denote a person of consequence, actual or self-imagined. Say rather, “A prominent” or, “an important man.”
big-wig: A slang term common in England for a person in authority or of prominence. CompareBIG-BUG.
bird: In the phrase “You’re a bird” an inane and, therefore, undesirable expression.
bit: Primarily abite, a smallpiece, or by extension a small quantity; as, abitof bread, abitof fun. By error, the word is sometimes applied to liquids; as, “there is not abitof water on the farm.” But when reference is to liquid to be drunk, it is more discriminating to say, not abit, but asip.
blame on: Indefensible slang. We blame a personfora fault, or lay the blameuponhim. Not, as in a New York newspaper, after the last Presidential election, “I do notblamethe defeatonthe President,” but “I do notblamethe Presidentforthe defeat,” or “I do notlay the blame ... upon,” etc.
blow: A colloquialism for boastful talk, which is expressed less coarsely but with as much force by “bluster” or “brag.”
blowhard: A coarse term for “boaster” synonymous with windbag; not used by persons of refinement. CompareWINDBAG.
boiled shirt: A slang phrase designating a white linen shirt. It originated in the Western States of America but its use is widespread among persons addicted to careless diction.
boost, to: A vulgarism for “to assist”; used also as a noun, as “He gave me aboostin business” for “He assisted me....”
borne, the past participle ofbear, must not be confounded with the adjectiveborn. “Man isbornto sorrow, which may or may not be wellborne.”
both: Whenbothis used in a negative sentence, the meaning intended is sometimes doubtful. “Bothapplicants were not accepted.” Were both applicants rejected? Or, was one rejected and the other accepted? Or, was neither applicant accepted or rejected? A similar confusion of sense occurs in some negative sentences containingall, whennotis misplaced; this practically contradicts the sense intended, or makes it ambiguous; as,allwill not go, that is,not allwill go—meaning some will and some will not go. “Allwere not of that mind” (probably)not allwere of that mind, or (possibly)allwere of a different mind or minds from the one spoken of. So, also, when all is used substantively. “Allthat glisters is not gold”—not allthat glisters is gold. A peculiarity ofbothis that it can not be negatived by connectingnotimmediately with it, except elliptically in sentences of unusual form that are obviously arranged for the prevention of misunderstanding—as in correcting the doubtful meaning of the sentence cited above, “Bothapplicants were not accepted.” If one asks, in order to clear its confusing impression, “Werebothrejected?” the reply may properly be, “Not bothwere rejected; one was rejected and one accepted”—a connection ofnotwithboththat is usually inadmissible. The confusion in meaning of a negative sentence containingbothwill be best avoided by making the sentence affirmative; “Bothapplicants were rejected,” “One of the two applicants was rejected and the other accepted,” etc.—Standard Dictionary.
both: As an adjective or pronounbothemphasizes the idea oftwo. It has been well defined as “the two, and not merely one of them”; it can not properly, therefore, be connected with or refer to more than two objects. As a conjunction, however,bothhas a more extended meaning and employment than it has as an adjective or a pronoun; thus, it is permissible to say, “He lost all his live stock—bothhorses, cows, and sheep.”Both, as so used, emphasizes the extent or comprehensiveness of the assertion. The use has been challenged, but has abundant literary authority, and antedates Chaucer.
both alike: A pleonasm. Two things may bealikebutalikeshould not be used as an adjective.Bothdaughters may beliketheir mother, but to say they areboth alike, meaning that they resemble each other, is incorrect.Bothshould never be used withalike.
bounce: A colloquialism for “discharge” or “eject forcibly,” an apt rather than an elegant term.
bound: This word may be the participial adjective ofbuā, prepare, or the past participle ofbindan, bind. The words should not be confused. “I amboundto have it:” yes, if constrained or compelled; but no, if merely resolved. It is true that in the United States a colloquial usage to this effect has become popular, but it is none the less an error of speech.
bountiful,plentiful:Bountifulwhich originally meant “generous in bestowing gifts” has gradually come to mean “showing abundance,” “yielding in plenty.” In the latter sense it is synonymous withplentiful.
bourne: From the Frenchborne, bourne (Latinbodina, limit), means that which marks the end, and hence the end or goal. It does not meancountrywhich it is so often supposed to mean—presumedly from Hamlet’s “undiscovered country, from whosebourneno traveller returns.” Readers who on this authority construebourneas country make the mistake of substituting the word “which” for the phrase “whose” bourne.
brand-newoften incorrectly writtenbran-new. The original and etymologically correct form of this word isbrand-new, frombrand, meaning “fire” or “burning,” andnewmeaning “fresh”—the “fire-new” of Shakespeare (Twelfth Night, act. iii., sc. 2) is best explained by his own words, “fire-new from the mint,” meaning “fresh and bright” like a newcoin, as being newly come from the fire and forge.Bran-newis a colloquialism.
brand of Cain: By a peculiar perversion of facts, this is invariably referred to as a stigma similar to the scarlet letter with which Hester Prynne was indeed branded. But the brand was an act of mercy and “a token of Divine protection,” for “the Lord set a mark on Cain, lest any finding him should slay him.”
bravery,courage: Inasmuch as the courageous may be withoutbraveryand the brave withoutcouragea careful discrimination should always be made in the use of these terms.Courageis rather a virtue of the mind, whereasbraveryis temperamental. Yourcouragemay ooze out, as it were, at the palms of your hands, but bravery which is instinctive, remains. For this reason bravery may often be misplaced, truecourage—which ever seeks to do the right thing at the right time, regardless of results—never.
bred and born: An erroneous sequence of words. One isbornbefore one isbred; therefore say “born and bred.”
brevity,conciseness: Words sometimes misused.Brevityis commonly applied to shortness of time, but it has the sanction of literary usage forconcisenessor condensation of language into few words. A speech may beconciseyet comprehensive; that is, it may cover the entire range of a subject in fewwords and as such be characterized byconciseness; another may be short in duration, the theme being one that does not permit of expansion and as such be characterized bybrevity.
bring,carry,fetch: Discriminate carefully between these words.Bringexpresses motion toward some person, place, or thing, and implies to bear from a distant place to one nearer;carryexpresses motion away from;fetchexpresses motion from a given place to another, as for the purpose of obtaining some article, and return to the given place with the article required.Go and fetchis pleonastic.
Britannia: This word is often misspelled “Brittannia.” It is from Britain and should be spelled with only one “t” but two “n’s.”
broach,brooch: Discriminate carefully between these terms. Although both are derived from the same source etymologically (Latin,broca, a spike) they are now widely different in meaning. Abroachmay mean “a boring into an opening, a spit, or a spire.” It is also the name of the boring bits or drills used in carpentering or engineering. It means also “to approach any one in conversation” on some particular subject. Abroochis “a breastpin or an ornamental pin or clasp used as for display or to fasten some part of a dress.”
broke: A word often misused for “broken.” Do not say “I’mbroke” say rather “broken”—To gobroke: A colloquial phrase common in commercial circles for “to become bankrupt.” These terms are avoided by persons who cultivate a refined diction.
brothers: Distinguished frombrethren. The one applies to those who arebrothersby birth, whereas the other indicates fraternal relationship in some order or society.
building,being built: There are advocates of either form. Fitzedward Hall has shown conclusively that “is being built” has been used by the best writers for a century or more, and now has universal literary sanction. Richard Whately, George P. Marsh, Richard Grant White, and other critics have strenuously objected to this use. In literature there is support enough for their views: Milton wrote “while the Temple of the Lordwas building.” Dr. Johnson, in writing to Boswell, of hisLives of the Poetssaid “My ‘Lives’are reprinting;” Macaulay followed the same style and wrote “Chelsea Hospitalwas building”; “while innocent bloodwasshedding.”Beinghas a special modern use with passive forms of verbs to express progressive action. For example, is, are, orwas beingbuilt, expresses what is expressed also by is, are, orwas building,a-building, orin building. Both forms are permissible, but “isbeing built” is more frequently heard and, perhaps, preferable.
building,construction: Alfred Ayres (Some Ill-used Words, p. 44) quotes the following example of the misuse of these words: “These two advisory bodies have recommended thebuildingof battleships. It is understood that Mr. Long is opposed to theconstruction[constructing] of any armorclads.” Mr. Ayres points out that ifbuildingis correct—and it is—thenconstructionis incorrect and the correct word to use isconstructing.
bum: A vulgar term for “an idle, dissolute fellow; a loafer,”—on the bum. A vulgar phrase used to denote that that to which it is applied is of poor quality, badly done, or has been subjected to careless treatment.
busted: A slang term for financially broken, not used by persons accustomed to a refined diction. CompareBROKE.
but,however: Discriminate carefully between these words. Do not say “He is suffering—not,however, acutely;” say rather, “He is suffering,butnot acutely.”
but that: Implies a negative, but when it follows another negative phrase (as “Idon’t know but thatI did it”) it suggests the positive or, as in the example given above, the likelihood or possibility that some act has been done. Locutions of this kind should be avoided as inelegant, say rather “I may have done it.”
but what: This is equivalent tobut that whichand is an incorrect expression forbut that. “I am not surebut whatI shall be there” should be writtenbut that, and indicates the possibility or even probability of being there; but note that if thebutbe omitted from the latter (and correct) usage, the indication is the reverse. CompareBUT THAT.
but yet: Should not be used when eitherbutoryetis sufficient by itself; as, “Wealth may seek us;butwisdom must be sought”; notbut yet. When, however, Archbishop Trench says, “But yetthese pains hand us over to true pleasures” (Study of Words, p. 232), each conjunction has its distinct adversative sense. This appears still more clearly in “Ye are but common men,but[on the contrary]yet[notwithstanding that fact] ye think with minds not common.”—ColeridgeWallenstein2, 3.
bute: A vulgar corruption of “beauty” used by illiterates; as, “She’s abute.” Correctly “She is a beauty” or “a beautiful woman.”
butt in, to: A vulgar although expressive phrase meaning “to interfere officiously or inquisitively with,” not used by persons accustomed to refined diction.
by: Properly used before the agent or doer;withbefore the instrument or means; as, “He was killedbythe assassinwitha dagger.” But active forces are often thought of as agents, so that we properlysay “The house was destroyedbyfire.” “His friends were displeasedbythe selection of another chairman” means that the action displeased them; “his friends were displeasedwiththe selection,” etc., means that the man selected was not their choice.
“A gentlemanbythe name of Hinkley.”
“Oh, no! You mean ‘A gentlemanofthe name of Hinkley.’ This is English, you know.”
One may say “I know no oneofthe name of Brown,” or “I know no onebythe name of Brown”; but the meaning is different. One might know a manofthe name of Brown, but know himbythe name of Smith. It is better to say simply “a man named Brown.”—Standard Dictionary.
cabbagefor “steal” or “crib,” as from a pony, is schoolboy slang.
cake, takes the: A slang equivalent for “wins the prize.” Used usually to designate that the person, act, or statement to which it is applied exceeds in impudence anything within the knowledge of the persons present.
calculate: The verb signifies to ascertain by mathematical or scientific computation; and the wordcalculatedtherefore strictly means adapted by calculation. It is then illogical to speak of “measurescalculatedto do harm” when the measures were infact designated for a specific purpose—that of doing good.
calligraphyandcacographyrespectively mean good and bad writing. It is therefore pleonastic to speak of excellentcalligraphyor wretchedcacography; and to describe the former as wretched would simply be to say that at the same time it was both excellent and the reverse.
cameo: The plural of the word is not formed by adding “-es” as in “potato” or “grotto” but by the adding of “-s”; as,cameos.
can: Misused formay.Canalways refers to some form of possibility. An armed guard may say “Youcannot pass,” since he has physical power to prevent; hence the question “CanI pass the guard?” is perfectly natural. But where simple permission is requiredmayshould be used. “MayI (notcanI) use your ruler?”
can but,can not but: Discriminate carefully between these phrases. Both these sentences are grammatically correct, though they have not exactly the same meaning: “Ican not butbelieve your proposition” means “Ican not helpbelieving,” etc.; while “Ican butbelieve your proposition” means “Ican onlybelieve,” etc., a much less strong assertion.
canineshould not be used for “dog.”
cannon, a tubular gun, comes from Greekkanna,reed, and must be distinguished fromcanon, a rule or law, which comes from the Greekkanon, rule.
capacity. CompareABILITY.
captionis not to be used in the sense of title, save as to a legal document “showing the time, place, circumstances and authority—under which it was made or executed.” “The affectation of fine big-sounding words which have a flavor of classical learning has had few more laughable or absurd manifestations than the use ofcaption(which means seizure, act of taking) in the sense ... of heading.”—R. G. White,Words and Their Uses, ch. 5, p. 98.
carnival, which comes from the Latincaro, flesh, +levo, take away, and alludes in Catholic countries to the pre-Lenten “farewell to meat,” which concludes with Mardi Gras, has been stigmatized by Dr. William Mathews as an “outlandish term” which “has not a shadow of justification” in the popular sense of a gay festivity or revel. Inasmuch as the pre-Lenten farewell is marked by festival, frolic and fun, the stigmatization is undeserved, and such expressions as “the crows are holding highcarnivalon the hill” are not merely permissible but good.
carry: Although formerly used with the meaning of “conduct,” “guide,” or “escort” the term in this sense is now archaic. Do not say “Mr. A.carriedMiss B. to the party;” say rather, “...escortedMiss B....” Compare alsoBRING.
case: Not to be applied to persons. The expression sometimes used of an eccentric or vicious person, “He is acase” or “a hardcase,” is an objectionable colloquialism.
casket, which is from the Frenchcasque, helmet, is frequently now used in the United States as a euphemism forcoffin, which is from the Greekkophinos, basket. Such innovations are not to be recommended. They savor of pedantry, or, worse still, of pride. Ifcoffinis not good enough for the worthy deceased or for his purse-proud relatives, why rest content with the simplecasket, when by a mere figure of speechsarcophagusmay save the reputation of both the living and the dead?
casualityis an obsolete form ofcasualty, and should be treated as such.
cataclasmandcataclysmare often interchanged. The Greekkata, down, is combined in the one case withklaō, break, and in the other withklyzo, wash. Where sudden overwhelming change is intended, as by revolution,cataclasmis to be preferred tocataclysm, which, though sometimes used to signify such a change, is strictly applied to an overwhelming flood of water, and, specifically, to the Noachian deluge.
catch on,to: A colloquialism having two distinct meanings, the first bordering on the vulgar, is used by persons with little sense of refinement in speechfor “to understand”; the second, used instead of “to suit the popular fancy” or “to please the popular taste.”
ceilingwhich in derivation is allied with the Frenchciel, Lat.cœlum, heaven, is to be distinguished from its homonymsealing, the act of attesting with a seal, which springs etymologically from the Latinsigillum, dim. ofsignum, mark.
celery,salary: Exercise care in spelling these words.Celeryis a biennial herb;salary, a periodical allowance made as compensation for services.
cereal, a word derived fromCeres, the goddess of corn. It has nothing in common, save the sound, withserial, which fitly describes a literary publication in parts issued successively (Lat.series,serejoin). Exercise care in spelling these words.
cession, from Latin ofcedo, yield, meaning surrender, must not be confounded withsession, from Latinsedeo, sit, as used in the expression asessionof court.
character,reputation: These are not synonymous terms.Characteris what one is;reputationis that which one is thought to be.Characterincludes both natural and acquired traits;reputationdesignates only those traits acquired as by contact with one’s fellow men. Holland inGold Foil(p. 219) makes the following distinction: “Characterlives in a man;reputationoutside of him.”
chargeable: Do not spell this wordchargable. Remember its components arecharge+ableand the “e” is retained before the second “a.”
cherubimandseraphim: Do not use these plurals as singulars. There is no such thing asa cherubim.
chew the rag: A low phrase sometimes used as an equivalent for “wrangle;” as, “stop chewing the rag,” meaning, “cease wrangling.” The use of expressions of this kind can not be too severely condemned.
childlike,childish: There is a distinction between these words. The one is used in a good sense, the other is spoken in derogation.
chin music: A low phrase sometimes used as an equivalent for “talk,” but not uttered by persons of refinement.
chuck-fullis the American colloquial form ofchoke-orchock-full, but this form finds no literary favor, and indeed the expression is far from elegant, both in sense and sound.
circus: This word should not be used as a synonym of “frolic;” as such it is a vulgar perversion.
cite, from the Frenchciter(Latincito, frequentative ofcieo, call), means “mention by name, summon” and has no relationship withsite, similarly pronounced, which means “local position,” and is derived from Lat.situa, pp. ofsino, put.
citizen: Not to be used forperson, except when civic relations are referred to. “Allcitizensare entitled to the protection of the law,” but not “Tencitizenswere walking up the street,” unless reference is had to some civic relation, as when opposed to soldiers, policemen, residents of the country, or the like.
claim: “Heclaimedthat the discovery was his,” “Iclaimthat this is true,” etc. Incorrect if the meaning is simplyassertormaintain; but correct if the meaning isassertwith readiness tomaintain, and confidence that the thingassertedcan bemaintained, with the added idea that it makes for the advantage or side of him whoassertsandmaintainsit.
clever: In American colloquial usageclevermeans “good-natured and obliging”; in English use it means “skilful.” The American synonym for the English meaning of “clever” issmart, and the English synonym for the American meaning of “clever” isjolly.
climax,acme: Discriminate carefully between these words. Aclimaxis a successive increase in force of language for the purpose of intensifying it. Theacmeis the highest point or greatest intensity attained.
climb down: Asto climbsignifies ascension, this colloquialism of the United States is apparently unwarranted. If, however, a descent be laborious, asthough by hands and feet,crawlshould be used as a substitute forclimb.
coeval,contemporary: Discriminate carefully between these terms.Coevalis said of things existing at the same time;contemporaryis applied to persons living in the same period.
coffin. CompareCASKET.
commence. CompareBEGIN.
commodious. CompareCONVENIENT.
common. CompareMUTUAL.
commonly: Do not confound this word withgenerally,frequently,usually. That iscommonlydone which is common to all; that isgenerallydone, which is done by the larger number; that isfrequentlydone which is done by a large number or by a single person on many occasions; that isusuallydone which is customarily done whether by many or one.
communityis not a common noun personified, and therefore should always be preceded by the article. Congress and Parliament, State and Church have been personified, and may accordingly be used definitely in the singular number without the article; but to permit such treatment to army, navy, public, orcommunitywould be a literary solecism.
compare toorwith: We compare one thingwithanother to note points of agreement or difference. Wecompareone thingtoanother which we believe it resembles.
“As a writer of English he [Addison] is not to becomparedexcept with great peril to his reputation,toat least a score of men.”—Richard Grant White,Words and their Uses, ch. 4, p. 79.
He should have saidwith. If Addison is to becompared tothe (presumably) able writers referred to, it can not be with “peril to his reputation.” Ifcomparinghimwiththese men is perilous to his reputation, then for his sake the comparison should not be made. The sentence is an attempt to combine two ideas incompatible in a single construction,viz., “If he iscompared withthese men, it will be to his disadvantage,” and “He is not to becompared tothese men.”—Standard Dictionary.
complectedforcomplexionedis dialectical in the United States, and not sanctioned in general usage.
complement,compliment: Discriminate carefully between these words.Complementmeans “full quantity or number; that which is needed to complete or fill up some quantity or thing; or a complete or symmetrical whole.” Acomplimentis “a delicate flattery, an expression of admiration or an act of civility or courtesy.”
complete: A speech may befinishedbut far fromcomplete. Tofinishis to bring to an end, but tocompleteis to bring to a state in which there is nothing more to do. Youfinishyour dinner, butcompleteyour toilet.
completion. CompareFINAL.
comprehend. CompareAPPREHEND.
conciseness. CompareBREVITY.
concludeshould not be used for “close.” Toconcludeis a mental process; toclosea physical one.
condignmeans “well-merited”; therefore, the common phrase “condignpunishment” is correct, but the phrase “Deserving (or not deserving)condignpunishment,” is absurd because tautological.
conduct: Although the dictionaries give both a transitive and intransitive place to this verb in the signification of “behave,” it should properly be used only reflexively, as a transitive. Say, “How did the débutanteconductherself?” rather than “How did the débutanteconduct?”
confess. CompareOWN.
congratulate. CompareFELICITATE.
congregation,corps: Exercise care in the use of these words. Acongregationis an assemblage of persons who meet as for religious worship or instruction; acorpsis a body of men associated in some specific work, as a marinecorps; acorpsof engineers. Acongregationembraces both sexes,corpsis restricted to the male sex.
con man: A vulgar term for a swindler’s decoy or “bunco-steerer”; aconfidence man: not used in polite society.
conscious, which relates to knowledge within one’s self, should not be used foraware, which implies being on the lookout. The one refers only to the past, or a present allied to the past, the other to the future. We areconsciousof suffering, butawareof imminent danger. One isconsciousof the inner workings of his own mind, butawareof that which exists without him.
constantlydoes not always mean “continually.” A man eatsconstantlybut he would soon cease to be a man if he were to eatcontinuously. In this senseconstantlymeans “regularly” andcontinuouslymeans “without ceasing.”Perpetually, which means “incessantly,” must also, and for the same reason, be distinguished fromconstantly. ComparePERPETUALLY.
construct: Although this verb formerly had the meaning ofconstrue, both words having the same etymology, being derived from the Latincon, together, +strua, pile up, it must no longer be used as synonymous therewith. Youconstruea sentence butconstructa theory.
construction. CompareBUILDING.
construe. CompareCONSTRUCT.
consul,counsel,council: Discriminate carefully between these words. Aconsulis an officer appointed to reside in a foreign port or city as the representative of his country’s commercial interests; acounselis a lawyer engaged to give advice or act as advocate in court; acouncilis a body of persons elected or appointed to assist in the administration of government or to legislate; acounciloris a member of a council; acounseloris one who gives counsel; or, who is an adviser or a lawyer.
contagious,contiguous: Discriminate carefully between these words. A disease may becontagious, that is catching; fear iscontagiouswhen it spreads from one to another.Contiguousis used chiefly of neighboring regions or places and means “adjacent or situated so as to touch.”
contemplate: May be used in the sense ofplan,intend, but unless the matter in question be somewhat doubtful and involves further thoughtful consideration, it is better to sayintendorpropose.
contemporary. CompareCOEVAL.
contemptible,contemptibly,contemptuous,contemptuously: Discriminate carefully between these words. Acontemptibleperson is one deserving of contempt as for meanness or vileness;contemptiblymeans “in a contemptible manner” or “in a manner deserving of contempt.” Acontemptuousperson is “a disdainful person.” One who speakscontemptuouslyof another speaks of him with scorn or disdain.
continual,continuous:Continualimplies the repeated renewal of an act;continuousmeans its unceasing continuity. The following sentence willserve to illustrate the correct use of these words; “Continualinterruptions impedecontinuouswork.”
continually. CompareCONSTANTLY.
controller, derived from the Frenchcontre rôleand indicating a person whose office it is to keep a counter roll or check in the accounts of others, should not properly be speltcomptroller, which word originates in a false derivation fromcompter, to count. Instead of the word being thus derived, the spelling has been accommodated by some to the imagined derivation.
convenient,commodious: These terms are not always interchangeable. A room may be “convenient” in that it is suitable for a required purpose and “commodious” because it affords ample accommodation for the purpose for which it is applied. A book may beconvenientin size or arrangement but notcommodious.
correspond. When the word means “answer or conform to” it is followed by the prepositionto; when it means “hold written communication” the preposition iswith.
cotemporarywhich implies “equally temporary” should not be used for “contemporary” which means existing at the same time.
cough up: Used as an equivalent for “pay up,” is vulgar and, therefore, not used in polite society.
council,councilor,counsel,etc.CompareCONSUL.
couple: Does not mean merely two, but two united, as it were by links. Thus a man and wife illustrate acouple; but to talk of “a couple of weeks” is an absurdity for were two weeks coupled so as to become one, the product (one week multiplied by two) would no longer be a week but a fortnight.
couple,two: Discriminate carefully between these terms.Coupleas an indefinite amount is a Teutonism common in America. Do not say “He has acoupleof dollars in the bank”; say rather, “He has some money in the bank.” CompareCOUPLE.
courage. CompareBRAVERY.
courier,currier: Discriminate carefully between these terms. Acourieris a special messenger sent express with letters or despatches; an attendant on a party of travelers. Acurrieris a man who dresses leather or combs a horse.
covey: As this word means “a brood or hatch of birds,” especially quails or partridges, it should not be applied to persons or things as is done by Thackeray in “The Virginians,” ch. 27.
creditableis sometimes confounded withcredible, but the one word means that which redounds to one’s credit, whereas the other signifies that which is worthy of belief.
crime,sin,vice: Exercise care in the use of these words.Crimeis an abstractly, flagrant violation of law or morality in general;sin, disagreement inword, thought, deed, or desire, whether by omission or commission, with the divine law;viceis the habitual deviation from moral rectitude.
crow, a colloquialism forexult.
crushimplies to force out of shape, therefore, it is pleonastic to say “crush out,” of a mutiny.
cultivation,culture: Discriminate carefully between these words. While one of the various senses ofcultivationis culture,cultureshould be used only of the development of the individual.
cunning, meaning “artful,” and by extension “innocently artful,” and hence “bright,” “amusing,” or “characterized by quaint and playful moods,” is often improperly introduced to imply “dainty,” “choice,” especially if applied to anything diminutive. Such usage is not permissible. A kitten may properly be said to becunning, but not a brooch, although (in archaic usage) that may exhibit thecunningor skill of the artificer.
curious, in such expressions as “It is acuriousfact” has been hypercritically censured. The propriety of the usage is unquestionable. “Curiousfirst ... denoted a state of mind, interest or diligence in inquiry or prosecution; then it was predicated of things which exhibit evident tokens of care (cura), dextrous application, ingenuity; and, as such things are out of the common and are apt to arrest attention, it naturally acquired the sense of ‘novel,’‘unusual,’ or more generally ‘novel and noticeable.’”—Fitzedward Hall,False Philology, p. 25.
cuss: A vulgar corruption of “curse,” designating a worthless or disagreeable person, and as such it should be avoided.—To cuss and swear, that is, “to use blasphemous language” is a phrase that also should be avoided by persons having pretensions to refinement.
custom,habit: It is thecustomof a person to do a thing until it becomes ahabit. From a voluntary act of the will it has grown into an involuntary practise. It will thus be seen that whereas acustomis followed, ahabitis acquired. Moreover, as involuntary acts are not predicated of bodies of people,habitsare of necessity compared to individuals, “Thecustomof social nipping tends to individualhabitsof dissipation.”
customs. CompareEXCISE.
cut it out, with the sense “eliminate,” is of recent introduction and may be characterized as expressive though inelegant.
cute, which is an abbreviation ofacuteand means “shrewd, smart, clever, or bright” is a colloquialism, and as such is not favored in certain literary circles.