“O Mary, go and call the cattle home.”“O God, whose thunder shakes the skies.”“Oh! say, can you see by the dawn’s early light”—“Oh! why should the spirit of mortal be proud?”
“O Mary, go and call the cattle home.”“O God, whose thunder shakes the skies.”“Oh! say, can you see by the dawn’s early light”—“Oh! why should the spirit of mortal be proud?”
“O Mary, go and call the cattle home.”“O God, whose thunder shakes the skies.”
“O Mary, go and call the cattle home.”
“O God, whose thunder shakes the skies.”
“Oh! say, can you see by the dawn’s early light”—“Oh! why should the spirit of mortal be proud?”
“Oh! say, can you see by the dawn’s early light”—
“Oh! why should the spirit of mortal be proud?”
open upis properly used to signify “explore; discover; as, toopen upa new country,” but not so in the sense of “introduce; as, toopen upa subject.” Here the wordupis superfluous; but in this, as in the majority of cases whereopen upis used, it would be better to substitute a more specific term. SeeUP.
opinionis sometimes more than animpression, being a conclusion or judgment held with confidence, though falling short of positive knowledge. The word should therefore not be used interchangeably withidea, which may be a mere conception, with or without foundation for its belief. One may have anideaof enjoyment, but hold anopinionon the result of a campaign.
or. CompareIF;NOR.
oralshould be differentiated fromverbal. The former applies to what is spoken by mouth, whereas the latter indicates that which has been reduced to words.
orate: A term to avoid when “speak, declaim, harangue,” or a like word will express what is intended. It may, however, be fittingly used meaning “to play the orator, talk windily in round periods”: it meets the canon of “supplying an antecedent blank,” and is a legitimate word, especially in humorous or contemptuous use.
ordinance,ordnance: These words have no relation in common. Anordinanceis a regulation ordained by some one in authority as a “municipalordinance.”Ordnanceis artillery, especially heavy guns, cannon of all kinds, mortars, howitzers, etc.
ornery: A barbarous dialectism for “ordinary” which can not be too severely condemned.
other: This word is often improperly omitted from general comparisons; for instance, “All men are better than he” obviously should be “Allothermen,” etc., as the person excepted of necessity belongs to the class embraced by “all men.”
other,otherwise: When these words introduce a clause of comparison they should be followed by theconjunctionthan, instead of which the wordsbutandexceptare often erroneously introduced.Thanis indeed the conjunction of simple comparison, and should be used after adjectives in the comparative degree. In better usageelseis also followed bythan, unless the word is introduced, as frequently, without appreciably adding effect to the sentence; as, “She did nothing (else)butweep,” though even here the introduction of the unnecessary word would makethanthe preferable sequence. “He knew noothercoursethanthis”—notbutorexcept. “It can not operateotherwise thanfor good”—notbut. “Noquickerdid he climb the ropethan(notbut) back he fell.”
ought. CompareAUGHT.
ought,hadn’t. SeeHAD OUGHT.
out of sight: An intense vulgarism for “superb.”
over and above, if redundant, is an undesirable expression. Avoid the addition of words to a sentence that fail to add to the sense. “Over and abovehis debts illness had now to be provided for.” It were better to say “Inadditionto his debts,” etc.
over,across:Overis sometimes misused for “across.” Do not say “gooverthe bridge” when you meanacrossit.
overflowed: The banks of a river may beoverflowed; they should never be spoken of asoverflown. There is no verb tooverfly, but there is one tooverflowthe participles of which areoverflowed,overflowing. Thetermination—flownused commonly by the illiterate is the past participle offly. Althoughflownoriginally meant “flooded” the word in the sense is now obsolete.
over,not over: Opposed by some writers when used as equivalent tomore than,not more than, but defensible as having a tinge of metaphor suggestive of overflowing quantity or overtopping height and having the support of literary usage.
overshoes. CompareRUBBERS.
over with: Avoid as incorrect all such sentences as, “When the game wasover with, we enjoyed a cold collation.” Here the word “with” is redundant.
owing. CompareDUE.
own: Some critics object to the use of this word in the sense ofconfess, but it is sanctioned by literary usage and dates from the seventeenth century.To own up, orto, in the sense of “to make a full confession” or “to admit unreservedly when challenged” is a colloquialism.
pack: A word sometimes misapplied especially in speaking of a number of persons; as, “the wholepack.” It is correctly used when applied to dogs or wolves, hence, from the latter application, also to any band of men leagued together for evil purposes; as, “apackof thieves”: sometimes, also, correctly styled agang.
pain. ComparePANE.
pair: Great care should be exercised in applying modifying adjectives to this word. Thus one may say “a newpairof trousers;” “a newpairof scissors;” but not “a newpairof shoes.” There is a distinction in the use—“a new pair” as applied to gloves or shoes implies exchange of one pair for another; here, “adifferentpair” would be preferred. In general, say, rather, “apairof new shoes”; “apairof new gloves.” This word remainspairin the plural when it is preceded by a number: otherwise it takes thes. “Twopairof gloves,” but “manypairsof trousers.”
pane: Sometimes confused withpain. The first designates “a piece, division or compartment, most commonly a plate of window glass”; the second denotes “a distressing or disagreeable emotion.” The spellings of the two words should never be confused, but occasionally are.
pants: A vulgarism or tailor’s cant forpantaloonsmeaningtrouserswhich should be the word used by preference.
paradox: Commonly used incorrectly in the phrase “a seeming paradox,”—a thing that does not exist, a paradox being a statement that seems to be at variance with common sense. A statement may, however, be characterized asparadoxical.
paraphernalia, from the Greekpara, beyond, +phero, bring, is properly applied to the personal articles, as jewelry, reserved to a wife over and above her dower or marriage portion, and should not be used in the sense of finery or regalia. Yet the application is common but savors of grandiloquence. The finery and regalia are not, or should not be, “over and above,” but should be as of right or of good taste. CompareOVER AND ABOVE.
pare,pair: Words the spellings of which are sometimes confused.Pare, to remove the outer covering from is from the Latinparoand means “prepare”;pair, designating two persons or things, is from the Latinpar, which means “equal.” SeePAIR.
parenthesis: The phrasein parenthesisincludes both signs, and an expression placed between these signs is therefore said to be “in parenthesis.”Parenthesesrefers only to two or more sets of parenthetical expressions. Due care should be exercised in using this word.
parson: Although a good word used to designate “the clergyman of a parish,”parsonis often used contemptuously, and from this use has acquired a sense that detracts from the dignity of the office; therefore, is one to be avoided. Do not say “Ourparsonis a popular man”; say, rather, “Ourminister....”
partakeshould never be used as a synonym for “eat” or “drink.” One maypartake ofa meal with other persons, that is, share it with them, but one does not partake a meal by one’s self.
partiallyshould not be used for “partly,” as, having the meaning “with unjust favoritism” it may be misunderstood.
party,person: Except in legal terminology,personis preferable;partymeans, in general, an entertainment. In the legal sense,partyis a person (or body of persons collectively) who (or which) takes a certain specified part in a legal transaction, as “A. B., the party of the first part.” From this application of the term, the word has been loosely extended to meanperson. Do not say “A certainparty,” etc., but “A certainperson”; party in such a connection is a vulgarism.
pathos. CompareBATHOS.
patronsshould not be used for “customers.” Apatronis one who fosters a person or thing; acustomeris one who deals regularly at one establishment.
peach: Used in the sense of “beauty,” possibly from the delicate and downy skin of the fruit, is a playful though undesirable expression used commonly by young men and boys, especially in referring to women; as, “Isn’t she a peach!” Lexicographers do not recognize this usage of the word.
peculiarly impressive: A phrase heard sometimes for “singularly” or “strikingly impressive”; but the word is from the Latinpeculiaris, “one’s own,” and it is in this respect that the individuality enters the case. What belongs exclusively to a person ispeculiarlyhis;and the sense of remarkable, as from singularity, intensity, or exceptionality, is better expressed by the word of this class best adapted to the case.
pecuniary. CompareFINANCIAL.
peelshould not be confused withpeal. The first designates “rind”; the second, “ring.”
pell-mell: This word etymologically implies a crowd and confusion and is not applied to an individual. Thus, “He rushed outpell-mell” should be “He rushed out hastily and excitedly.”
penny: In the plural this word is eitherpenniesorpence. In the one case it means a number of individual coins; in the second case it signifies a specific sum of money.
people: Where individual persons, or a number of such, are intended, this word should be discarded in favor ofpersons; as, “mostpersonsare of this opinion.” People meanspersonscollectively; as “Peoplesay.”
per: This is a Latin preposition, correctly joined only with Latin words; as,per centum, abbreviatedper cent.;per diem;per annum.Per headandper person,per year,per dayare common commercial locutions; use preferably the English formsahead,aperson,ayear,aday. If you must use a Latin phrase be sure you use all Latin.
perfectly killing: An inane expression used commonly by women for “in stylish attire,” and also,“intensely comic” or “absurd.” CompareSPLENDID.
performdoes not meanplay. Oneperformsmusicona piano orplays thepiano, but does notperformthe piano. To performonthe piano would rather indicate “to strum” upon it or (if you like)play uponorplay withit than toplay it.
perform. CompareASSUME.
permit. CompareALLOW.
perpetually; Distinguish fromcontinually. There is a difference between that which is done unceasingly and that which merely takes place constantly.
person. ComparePARTY.
personaltyis sometimes considered to mean articles of personal adornment. It does not. It is a legal term, now in contradistinction torealty, and includes therefore all movables, as money; personal property of any kind whatever, as household goods; chattels real and personal; things movable as distinguished fromrealtyor landed property in any form.
persons. ComparePEOPLE.
perspicacity,perspicuity; Terms often confused.Perspicacityis “acuteness, clear-sightedness or penetration”;perspicuityis “clearness of expression or style, lucidity”; and is applied to speech and writing.
persuade,convince: That whichpersuades, leads or attracts (Latinsuadeo, advise), that whichconvinces, binds (Latinvinco, conquer). A person whenconvincedthat he is wrong ispersuaded, by justice or interest, to amend his ways.
peruseshould not be used when the simplereadis meant. The former implies to read with care and attention and is almost synonymous withscan, which is to examine with critical care and in detail. A person is more likely toreadthan toscanorperusethe Bible.
petition,partition: Sometimes pronounced as if they were homophones, but they are not. Exercise care in their use. Apetitionis a request, apartitionis that which separates anything into distinct parts.
phenomenonis the singular ofphenomena, and the distinction should be observed in speech. Avoid as incorrect such locution as “A remarkable phenomena.”
piece, a: A provincial vulgarism used in such phrases as “We went along the roada piece”; “he followed mea piece,” etc.
pike: A vulgarism used as a verb for “to move away rapidly,” and as a noun, contemptuously, for “a shiftless class of persons.”
pillar,pillow: Discriminate carefully between these words. Apillaris a firm, upright, separate support; apillowis a head-rest. Note the difference in the spellings.
pile-in: Slang for “get to work.”
pipe-off: A vulgarism for to “take in at a glance.”
pity,sympathy: Not synonymous terms.Pityawakens a feeling of grief or sorrow in one for the distress of another;sympathyis a feeling kindred with that of another for his state or condition.Sympathyimplies a degree of equality whichpitydoes not. We maypityone whom we disdain but we can notsympathizewith him.
place: Used objectively without a preposition, or even adverbially, a provincialism common in parts of the United States; as, “She is always wantingto go places”; “Can’t Igo any place(correctlyanywhere)?” “I mustgo some place(somewhere)”; “I can’t find itany place.” Such forms are solecisms.
place,plaice: Homophones, so care should be exercised in their use and spelling. Aplaceis a particular point or portion of space; aplaiceis a fish.
plank: Used usually with “down” this term is commonly employed by persons careless of their diction for “pay out” or “lay down”: said especially of money, and a term to be avoided.
plead,pleadedorpled,pleading: The spelling ofpledfor the past is not warranted, and is a colloquialism. Careful speakers usepleaded.
pleasureis distinguished fromhappiness, although in common conversation the terms are frequently used as if they were synonymous. “Byhappiness,” says Hamilton, “is meant the complement of all thepleasuresof which we are susceptible.” Crabb says,“Happinesscomprehends that aggregate ofpleasurablesensations which we derive from external objects”: it is “a condition in whichpleasurepredominates over pain or evil; a continued experience ofpleasuresand joys.” “Pleasureis the accompaniment of the moderate and suitable activity of some organ or faculty of the mind.”
plentiful. CompareBOUNTIFUL.
plenty: The colloquialism by whichplenty, which is a noun, is treated as an adjective or adverb is altogether inadmissible. In such casesplentifulandplentifullyshould be used. “We haveplenty ofmoney.” “Cash isplentiful.” “We areplentifullysupplied”—not “We haveplentyenough cash.”
plunk: A vulgarism for a silver dollar.
polite,civil,polished:Civil, from the Latincivilis, fromcivis, a citizen, denotes that which is becoming to a citizen.Politeis the Latinpolitus, participle ofpolio, polish. Civility is therefore negative, the mere absence of rudeness, whereas politeness is the positive evidence of good breeding. Apoliteman is naturally so, but apolishedman is one who has, by art, acquired the smoothness which comes of having had the rough edges rubbed off.Politedenotes a quality;polisheddenotes a state.
politicsis a singular word of plural form. “His hobbyis politics”—not “Politics arehis hobby.”
polityandpolicyboth come from the Latinpolitica, (Gr.politeia, polity,polis, city); but they must not be confounded. “Polityis the permanent system of government of a state, a church, or a society;policyis the method of management with reference to the attainment of certain ends. The nationalpolityof the United States is republican; each administration has apolicyof its own.”
pore: ComparePOUR.
possessive case, the: A very unnecessary difficulty appears to be felt, even by educated men, in the use of the apostrophe in the possessive case. It is placed immediately after the noun under consideration. If, for instance, you are talking of a lady and refer to her glove, you say “thelady’sglove”—then the apostrophe should immediately follow the noun in question; viz.,lady, in the singular. If, however, there are two ladies or more, you say “theladies’gloves,” and the apostrophe should followladies; that is,lady, in the plural. In like manner, you write “theboy’sfather,” or “theboys’father,” when referring to one or to two or more boys, respectively. “Theman’shat,” “themen’shats,” with the apostrophe following the nounmanormen, will note the possessive in the singular and plural for the nounman.
The nearest approach to a difficulty is where a plural ends with an “s” or a sibilant sound; but here the rule is still the same—place the apostrophe afterthe noun referred to, that is, the plural, though for the sake of smoothness and euphony, omit the succeeding (or rather non-succeeding) “s.” Thus, “theboss’sdesk” in the singular, “thebosses’desks,” in the plural. When the singular ends in “s,” the possessive “s” is usually retained, excepting where the noun has three or more syllables and the word following commences with this letter. Thus, Charles’s uncle; Burns’s poems; Burns’s stanza; Damocles’ sword. The possessive “s” is also generally omitted before “sake”—as, “For conscience’sake” (conscience having the “s” sound); “for Jesus’sake.”
In speaking of a firm, where the partners constitute but one object of contemplation, the apostrophe is used but once—after the complete object of contemplation, that is, after the title or firm name; as, “Jones and Robinson’s store.” If Jones and Robinson, instead of being in partnership had independent businesses you would speak of “Jones’s and Robinson’s stores”—this being no exception to, but merely an exemplification of, the rule that the apostrophe immediately follows the noun or name (or firm name) under consideration.
Occasionally, the possessive appears in double form, the substantive being preceded byofand followed by the apostrophe withs. This occurs, however, only in idiomatic phrases, as, “He was a friend of my father’s,” which is equivalent to “He was one of my father’sfriends” or “He was a friend of (the number of) my father’s (friends),” when it may be supposed that the person spoken of possesses more than one object of the kind referred to, this double form of possessive is properly used. “It was a fault of my friend to be loquacious” would signify the one particular weakness of my friend: “It was a fault of my friend’s to be loquacious,” that is, “of my friend’s faults,” would signify that this was one of various faults.
The apostrophe is not used with the possessive personal pronouns. Write “yours (notyour’s) truly.” Compare’S.
post: A colloquialism, generally undesirable, forinform. It is derived from the bookkeeping signification of the term, where it means that the ledger is supplied, by transfer, with the information contained in the books of original entry.
pour,pore: Exercise care in using these homophones. The first is of Celtic origin and means “to cause to flow, as a liquid, in a continuous stream”; whereasporeis from the Middle Englishporen, and means “to gaze or ponder with close and continued application, as in reading or studying.”
power: In the sense of “a great number or quantity,” this word is an undesirable colloquialism that has gained ground especially in rural districts. One may say of a man “He was apoweramong the people,” but not “Apowerof people heard him.”
practical: Do not confound withpracticable. The former means “that can be put into practise or rendered applicable for use; as,practicalknowledge”; whereas the latter is perhaps best expressed by the synonym “feasible.”Practicalhas a general application, being governed by actual use and experience; as,practicalstatesmanship or wisdom:practicable, on the contrary, is particular, and signifies the suitability of the particular thing named to the desired end. Thus one may know apracticalman but not apracticableone.
pray,prey: Exercise care in using these homophones. Etymologically they are distinct.Prayis from Old Frenchpraier, to ask; whilepreyis from Old Frenchpreier, booty, probably from the Latinprœhendo, to seize. Note the difference in spelling.
precedent,president: Although almost homophones these terms have widely different meanings. Aprecedentis something that has occurred before in time and is considered as an established rule or an authorized example; apresidentis the head of a nation, society, or the like.
predicate,predict: Though these words are both derived from the same Latin source, the one must not be used for the other. Topredictis to foretell, whereas topredicateis to proclaim as inherent. In United States usagepredicate, withonorupon, issometimes treated as synonymous withestablish; as, “On what do youpredicatethe assertion?”
prefer: The act or thing preferred should never be followed bythan.Preferis properly followed by the prepositionto, or occasionally byaboveorbefore. Thus do not say “Ipreferto talk than to dance,” but “Iprefertalkingtodancing.”
preferable: If the preference is stated in terms, as “This ispreferableto that,” the word is followed by the prepositionto—never bythan. The preference may, however, be implied; as, “This ispreferable.”
prejudice: Sometimes erroneously used for “prepossess” or “predispose.” Aprepossessionis always favorable, aprejudicealways unfavorable, unless the contrary is expressly stated.Predisposemeans “to dispose or incline beforehand.” Therefore, we should not say that a person isprejudicedin any one’s favor but that he isprepossessedorpredisposed.
preposition: “The part of speech or particle that denotes the relation of an object to an action or thing; so called because it is usually placed before its object.” The correct use of these little words is often puzzling to persons of education. For the purpose of their guidance the following partial list is given. A comprehensive work on the subject of their correct use is “English Synonyms, Antonyms and Prepositions,” by Dr. James C. Fernald.
presentis to be distinguished fromintroduce. Introduction takes place among equals, but a presentation takes place by act of grace. Then the favored person is brought into the presence of some superior or other persons, be it lady or celebrity, who is graciously pleased to grant the privilege, which however does not permit the subsequent familiarity of an introduction. A man may bepresentedat court or to a reigning beauty, but he is merelyintroducedto the man who may afterwards become a college chum.
pretendis so commonly used in a bad sense that it becomes improper to use it (even in the sense of claim) forprofess; for a profession is made only of what one is happy or proud to profess. Therefore say, “Iprofess(not Ipretendto) skill in surgery.”
prettyas an adverb may properly be used to signify moderately, tolerably, fairly, somewhat (extensively), but the expression lacks elegance and definitiveness, as is shown by the following sentence: “He is aprettysick man, but isprettysure to recover, being at all timesprettyfortunate.”
prevail: In the sense of “triumph,” this word is usually followed by the prepositionsoveroragainst; as, “We haveprevailed overour enemies”; “None canprevail againstus.” In the sense of “to have effectual influence,” follow it withon,uponorwith; as, “Heprevailed onme to go.” In the sense “to have general vogue, currency or acceptance,” it should be followed bythroughorthroughout; as, “Mohammedanismprevails throughoutNorthern Africa.”
preventiveis preferable topreventative, which is a corruption of the former, has been described as a “barbarism,” and is said to stamp any one using it as lacking in common education.
previous: In higher literature, the adverbial use ofpreviouswithto, in the sense of “prior to” is not favored. The adverbpreviouslyor the expressionprior tois preferred.
prey. ComparePRAY.
principle,principal: Exercise care in the use of these homophones.Principleis a source or cause from which a thing proceeds:principal, first or highest in rank. Note the difference in spelling.
profess. ComparePRETEND.
promiseshould never be used for “assure.” Apromisealways implies futurity. Do not say “Hewas alarmed, Ipromiseyou;” say, rather, “Iassureyou.”
pronouns in the objective: Often the coupling of one pronoun with another leads a careless speaker into error, where had one pronoun only been used, no doubt or difficulty would have been experienced. “If he calls for (you and)I, we will go.” If the words in parenthesis be omitted no one would think of saying “forI,” but would naturally use the correct pronounme. This method of elision will generally elucidate the correct usage. “To talk like that before (you and)Iwas atrocious.” Sayme, as you certainly would if you omitted the words in parenthesis.
prophecy,prophesy: Discriminate carefully between these words. Aprophecyis a prediction, the foretelling of an event; toprophesyis to predict, or foretell an event. Note the difference in spelling.
proposal, as distinguished fromproposition, refers to the difference in treatment of the matter at issue. The one invites a plain “yes” or “no,” whereas the other suggests consideration or debate. Aproposalof marriage usually anticipates an immediate reply, whereas apropositionfor partnership involves reflection and discussion of terms.
propose,purpose: Words often used incorrectly. Toproposeis to offer; topurposeis to intend. Oneproposesto a young lady if one’spurposeis to marry her. CompareCONTEMPLATE.
proven: An irregular form of the past participle ofproveused correctly only in courts of law. The word should be restricted to the Scotch verdict of “notproven,” which signifies of a charge that it has neither been proved nor disproved. The modern pernicious tendency among reporters is to useproveninstead ofproved.
providing,provided: The first of these words, which is not a conjunction, is sometimes improperly used forprovided, which is. Say, “You may go,provided(notproviding) the weather be fine.”
provoke. CompareAGGRAVATE.
pullused to designate “influence” is a vulgarism of the street and the political arena that should be discountenanced. “Influence” is a better word.
pupil. CompareSCHOLAR.
push, the whole: A vulgar phrase used to designate all the persons that form a party: an Anglicism. In English slang “push” is used for “crowd” probably from the proverbial restlessness and crushing in which English crowds usually indulge.
put: Forrunorran; as, “You ought to have seen himput”; “Then heput(sometimes,put out) for home”: an archaic usage now appearing as a colloquial Americanism.Stay putin the sense of “remain where (or as) placed” is also an Americanism, never used (unless playfully) by correct speakers.
quantityis properly applied to that which is measurable, as is “number” to that which may be counted. “Aquantityof people”; “aquantityof birds,” are both incorrect; substitute the wordnumberin both cases.
quarter of: As applied to time this is incorrect. Such an ambiguity can be avoided by substitutingtoforof. For example, a quarter of seven is one and three-fourths not a quartertothe hour of seven; yet the phrase “quarter of” is often misapplied to time by persons of average education.
quitis sometimes used incorrectly forcease. You mayquitbusiness, but do not ask your companion to “quitfooling.”
quite: In generalquitemeans “to the fullest extent, totally, perfectly”; colloquially, it means “very, considerably.” It is from the Frenchquitte, meaning “discharged,” being the equivalent of the English “quits,” a word used in games to designate when the players are even with one another. Therefore such a phrase as “quite a number” is unjustifiable. “Number” is indefinite in its significance just as are also “few,” “little,” and “some.” As Richard Grant White says, “A cup or a theater may bequitefull; and there may bequitea pint in a cup orquitea thousand people in the theater; and neither may bequitefull.” Yet Thomas Hughes, author of “Tom Brown’s Schooldays,” wrote in a letter concerning an intercollegiate boat-race “quitea number of young Americans.” The local colloquialism “quite some” is wholly indefensible.
quite so: An undesirable locution, common in England and to some extent in America, and used to signify assent, which should be avoided. “He jabbers like an idiot.” “Quite so, quite so.”
quite the lady: A vulgarism for “very ladylike.”
rabbit,rarebit: The correct form of this term israbbit. AWelsh rabbitis toasted or melted cheese well-seasoned and served on toast. This term, probably of slang origin, is analogous toMunster plumsdesignating Irish potatoes, andGlasgow magistrate, designating a salt herring.
rag. CompareCHEW THE RAG.
raise: As a verb this is often misapplied to the bringing up of human beings. Onerearscattle,raiseschickens, butbrings upchildren.Rear, meaning “to nurture and train,” may also be used of children.
You mayraisea fund for rent because the rent has beenraised; but in speaking of this it were better to say “has beenincreased.” The colloquial use ofraisefor an increase in salary should also be avoided.
raise,raze: Discriminate carefully between these homophones. Toraiseis to cause to rise, elevate; but torazeis to level with the ground, as a building.
rare: In the United Statesrareapplied to meat is used to designate meat that is not well done; in England, the term is used to designate meat that is not fresh.
rarely or ever: Often incorrectly used for “rarelyifever”: the wordseldomis preferable.
rather: Superfluous with adjectives ending in-ish, when this impliesrather; as, “ratherwarmish,” “rathercoldish.” Charles Lamb jestingly made the error apparent in closing a letter with “yours ratherish unwell.” But with adjectives where-ishexpresses quality only, not degree,ratheris admissible, and may make a neat distinction; as, “ratherfoolish.”
rattle: In the sense of “to throw suddenly into confusion” this word is a colloquialism which has much currency.Disconcertis a preferable term though not nearly so expressive.
read. ComparePERUSE.
realused forveryis an undesirable colloquialism. Avoid such locutions as “realglad”; “realsmart”; “realpleased.”Veryis the correct word to use.
realizedshould not be used for “obtained.”
receipt. CompareRECIPE.
reciperefers to the thing—thecombined ingredients—directed to be taken, andreceiptrefers to what istaken,i. e., the identical thing prescribed. The two words have thus come to acquire the same meaning, though, strictly, the doctor gives therecipe(thing to be taken) or formula, and the patient acknowledges thereceipt(of the thing given).
reciprocal. CompareMUTUAL.
recollectis not the same as remember. You onlyrecollectafter making the effort to do so; yourememberbecause you have never forgotten, therefore without effort. Yourememberthe rent is due, butrecollectthe date of your friend’s birth.
recommend: As a noun used instead ofrecommendation, this word is a colloquialism the use of which should be discouraged.
recourse,resource: Two words often confounded.Recoursemeans a resort to, as for help or protection; the adoption of a means to an end. Aresourceis that which one resorts to, as in case of need; the source of aid or support; an expedient. In the plural,resourcesare one’s means, funds, or property of any kind, as distinguished from one’sliabilities.
reduce,lessen: Toreduceis to bring to a specified form or inferior condition; tolessenis to diminish. Do not say “toreducecases in which the death penalty may be inflicted”; say, rather, “tolessenthe number of cases, etc.”
regardlessis an adjective meaning “exercising no regard; heedless,” and should never be used as inthe common vulgarism “got upregardless” which is incomplete, and which to be correct should be rendered “got upregardless of expense.”
relation,relative,kinsman: The distinction between these words is not commonly known. Arelationorrelativeis one to whom another may be related by ties of blood or by law. Thus, a brother is arelationorrelativeby ties of blood; and a brother-in-law is arelationorrelativeby law. Akinsman, as the formation of the word shows, is a “man’s kin”; that is, one of his own blood, as a brother or cousin.
relic,relict; These words, though once interchangeable are no longer so;relictin the sense ofrelicnow being obsolete. Arelicis a fragment that remains after the loss or decay of the rest. Arelictis either a widow or a widower. In this sense the term, common in law, is archaic or humorous in general use.
relieve. CompareALLEVIATE.
remainder. CompareBALANCE.
remainsshould not be used for “corpse” or “body.”
remit: In commercial usage this word implies the discharge of an account by payment sent; and it should not generally be used as a synonym forsend. Toremitis “to send or place back.” Thus, to forgive, release, withdraw a demand for—any of which actions may replace the recipient of the favor in his former position—is properly spoken of asremit. It is in this sense only thatremitis permissible for discharge of an obligation, though by payment, as this procedure places the parties in the same state as that in which they were before the obligation was incurred.
rendering. CompareRENDITION.
rendition: Although this word has the meaning of “artistic interpretation or reproduction, as of the spirit of a composer,” the wordrenderingis preferably employed in referring to a delineation or interpretation in art and the drama. Describe an artistic version or a literary translation as arendering, and an amount rendered or produced, as a yield of cocoons, as arendition. The former specially signifies the act, the latter the thing produced by the act, though there is of course a blending point of the two which is none other than the whole.
replace: The use of this word with the sense of “succeed” has been subjected to criticism, usage decrees that toreplaceis to “take or fill the place of; supersede in any manner.” Tosucceedis to “come next in order especially in a manner prescribed by law.”
reply. CompareANSWER.
reputation. CompareCHARACTER.
requirement,requisite,requisition: Whereas arequisiteis that which can not be dispensed with, arequirementis rather that which is insisted on, if desired conditions are to be fulfilled. Fresh air is arequisiteof life; the apology you ask is a hardrequirement. Myrequirementsare few; myrequisitesbut clothing, food and air. When arequirementpartakes of the nature of a legal or authoritative or even popular demand, it then becomes arequisition; as, arequisitionfor accounts; to be inrequisition.
resemble. CompareFAVOR.
reside,residence: Somewhat stately words, not to be indiscriminately used forlive,houseorhome. In the legal sense, as affecting, for instance, the right to vote, a man’sresidencemay be in a cheap lodging-house; but commonly the word would be understood to designate a building of some pretensions. “Where does helive?” is ordinarily better than “Where does hereside?” and to call a plain little cottage “myresidence” is a bit of petty affectation.
resource. CompareRECOURSE.
respectfullyis often confounded by the thoughtless withrespectively. While the former means “in a respectful manner” the latter signifies “singly, in the order designated, or as singly considered.”Respectivelymust also be distinguished fromseverally, the meaning of which is “separately, or each for himself or itself.” For example, “The three menseverallyundertook to do the share of work allotted to themrespectively, that is, A, B, C, each promised for himself to do work in the following proportions—A, one-sixth, B, one-third, and C, one-half of the whole.”
restive: Objection has been made to the use of this word in the sense ofrestless, as commonly applied toa horse, on the ground that it formerly meant “stubborn, balky, refusing to go.” On this subject Fitzedward Hall (“False Philology,” p. 97) says: “The ordinary sense of the word has always been ‘unruly,’ ‘intractable,’ ‘refractory.’ Proofs are subjoined from Lord Brooks, Dr. Featly, Fuller, Milton, Jeremy Collins, Samuel Richardson, Burke, Coleridge, Mr. De Quincey and Landor. As concerns a horse, however, if he resists an attempt to keep him quiet, he shows himselfrestive.”
reticule,ridicule: Two words widely different in meaning but liable to confusion when spoken hurriedly. Areticuleis a bag-like receptacle used by ladies for carrying such articles as embroidery, needlework, etc.;ridiculeis speech or behavior intended to convey contempt and excite laughter; wit, as of the pen or pencil, that provokes contemptuous laughter.
reverend,reverent: These words are sometimes confounded. The one is objective and descriptive of the feeling with which a person is regarded; the other is subjective and descriptive of the feeling within a person. In explanation of the difference. Dean Alford offers the following instance: “Dean Swift might be VeryReverendby common courtesy, but he was certainly not veryreverentin his conduct or in his writings.”
Reverend, abbreviatedRev.as a title, should, likeHonorablebe preceded by the definite article, thephrase being adjectival; as, “TheReverendThomas Jones”; or, if the first name is not used, “TheReverendMr. Jones”; but “Rev.Jones,” used widely in the United States, is harsh if not rude. The title or distinction of a husband is not correctly applied to the wife. Never say The Rev. Mrs Smith or Mrs. General Brown, etc.
reverseshould not be confounded withconverse.Reverseis the opposite or antithesis of something; minus is thereverseof plus. The “converse” is “the opposite reciprocal proposition,” reached by transposition of the terms of the proposition, the subject becoming predicate and the predicate subject. Theconverseof the proposition, “If two sides of a triangle be equal, the angles opposite to those sides are equal,” is, “If two angles of a triangle be equal, the sides opposite to those angles are equal.”
revolts: The use of this word as a transitive verb, although supported by high authority, is not favored. “Thisrevoltsme” is far better expressed by “This isrevolting tome.”
ride,drive: Oneridesin a saddle ordrivesin a carriage; a distinction drawn by English people but condemned as “mere pedantry without a pretense of philological authority” by Gould (“Good English,” p. 84). CompareDRIVE.
rigged out. CompareTOGGED OUT.
right: In the adverbial sense ofin a great degree,is archaic or colloquial, except in some titles, asRightReverend. Say of a thing that it isutterly(notright) nonsensical. Again, the use of this adverb in the sense ofpreciselyandwithout delayis not approved by many purists, who suggest that some more suitable term be chosen. “Standrightthere,” for “Stand precisely where you are” or “stand just at that spot” is not approved; so is it also with “Do thisrightaway” for “do this instantly.”
rightas a noun should not be used for “just cause to expect” or the verb “deserve.” Thus, instead of “You have arightto suffer” say “You deserve (or have just cause to expect) to suffer.”
right away,right off: Common and undesirable colloquialisms for “at once,” “instantly.”
right back, to be: An unwarranted colloquialism for “to be here (or there) again in a moment.”
right man in the right place, the: It is claimed by some persons that it is impossible for the right man to be in the wrong place, or the wrong man in the right place—the result being in either case that right, or the thing desired, would not prevail. But the reverse, the exact thing not desired or the wrong, may be that which ensues—Why? Possibly because the man who was the very man to bring the transaction to a successful issue was wrongly placed, or because the thing desired, which could easily have been achieved with a certain man or type of man to do itwas attempted by a less efficient man—good perhaps for some things but not for that particular work. The poor fellows who rode so gallantly to death at Balaklava were the right fellows for the work in hand, but at that fatal moment were forced into a wrong place. The phrase expresses a felt meaning and is good, as is acknowledged when, in terms of pride and satisfaction, we refer to “the man behind the gun.”
rights and privileges: To be used with discrimination. Aprivilegeis “something peculiar to one or some as distinguished from others; a prerogative”; so that the term is to be employed relatively. “Therights and privilegesof the people,” as often used absolutely in political platforms, demagogical speeches, and radical newspapers, is incorrect, since the people in this sense can have noprivileges,i. e., “things peculiar to individuals.” Milton’s use is correct when he says “We do not mean to destroy all the people’srights 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 wordriseas a noun andriseas 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 aroostis a perch upon which fowls rest at night, then aroosterisanyfowl 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 aroosteras 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.
rubbershould not be used as a synonym for “crane”; norrubber-neckingfor “craning the neck.” These terms are slang which have been derived fromrubber-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 itconsists. Overshoes, for instance, should be so styled, and not called eitherrubbersorgums.
rugged,hardy: Rugged in the sense of robust, as in health, is an undesirable Americanism for it means primarily “superficially rough, broken irregularly; asruggedcliffs.”Hardymeans inured as to toil, exposure, or want.
’s: “The sign or suffix of the possessive or genitive case singular and of the same case plural when the noun ends inn; as, men’s lives; children’s books; shortened since the 17th century from Middle English-es. The apostrophe now replaces thee. Some words ending in a sibilant omit thesof 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 dentalge) add the apostrophe ands, except when the following word begins with a sibilant sound; as,James’sreign;Jones’shat; afox’skin. (2) Singular dissyllabic nouns ending in a sibilant sound add the apostrophe ands, unless the sibilant is followed by another sibilant or the last syllable is unaccented; as,Porus’defeat;Moses’face;Jesus’disciples;Laplace’stheory;Hortense’sfate. (3) Singular polysyllabic nouns ending in a sibilant sound add the apostrophe andsonly when a principal orsecondary accent falls on the last syllable; as,Boniface’smistake;Quackenbos’sRhetoric;Orosius’sHistory.”—Standard Dictionary.
same: This word should not be used, as it is in commercial correspondence—in substitution forit. If “the same” is correctly used, a noun is implied; as “it isthe same(referring to an illness) as he suffered from.” However, do not say, “Tell me what you wish, and thesame(meaningit) will be attended to.”Sameis also often used wheresimilaris the proper word. A gale blowing to-day with a velocity of 60 miles an hour issimilarto, but is not thesameas, one that blew with a velocity of 60 miles one year ago, although it has thesameamount of velocity.
sameness,similarity: Discriminate carefully between these words.Samenessis the state of being identically the same; absolute resemblance;similarityis likeness or partial resemblance. SeeSAME.
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. Asatireis a dramatic farce or medley; asatyris a woodland deity.
saw,seen: In popular use, in some regions, often carelessly and inexcusably interchanged.Sawis theimperfect tense ofseeand to be used as such only;seenis 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 “Iseenhim,” but “Isawhim”; not “I have (or had) neversawit,” but “I have (or had) neverseenit.”
say. CompareUTTER.
says I: A vulgarism sometimes heard from even the educated: entirely indefensible.
scan. ComparePERUSE.
scarcely,hardly: These words are not strictly synonymous.Scarcelyis applied to quantity,hardlyto degree; as, “Scarcelyan hour has passed since we parted”; “He ishardlywell enough to rise.”
scared ofshould 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-schoolscholar” 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 apupil, 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, “aschoolof 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. CompareCEILING.
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 isseasonableis in harmony or keeping with the season or occasion; that which istimelyis in good time. A thing may be timely in appearance that is not seasonable.
see,witness: These words are not synonymous.Seeis used of things,witnessof events. Thus, we mayseesoldiers, butwitnessa review;seea man, butwitnessan assault.
seem. CompareAPPEAR.
seldom or ever: A very common error for “seldomifever.” One may say “Iseldom if everspeak so,” meaning to imply doubt; thus, “Iseldomspeak soifindeed Ieverdo.” An alternative form is “Iseldom or neverspeak so,” which is more emphatic and implies personal opinion, as “I speak so veryseldom or(according to my belief) probablynever.”
semi-occasionally: A meaningless expression for “once in a while” which is decidedly preferable.
sensationshould not be used for “noteworthy event.”
sensual,sensuous: These are not synonymous terms. Asensualman is one who is given to the inordinate indulgence of his animal appetites; asensuousone 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. CompareCEREAL.
session. CompareCESSION.
set,sit: According to strict grammatical rule,sitwhen referring to posture is always an active intransitive, andsetan active transitive. “Tositon eggs” has been characterized as colloquial English, but is sanctioned by the translators of the King James version of the Bible. “As the partridgesittethon eggs and hatcheth them not” (Jer. xvii. 11). Shakespeare wrote “Birdssitbrooding in the snow” (L. L. L.act v. sc. 2). On a poultry-farm the farmhandsetsthe hen but the hensits.
settle: Do not speak ofsettlinga bill unless there is some matter in dispute concerning it that requiressettlement. Under ordinary circumstances youpayan undisputed account.
severally. SeerespectivelyunderRESPECTFULLY.
sewage,sewerage: These words are often confounded.Sewageis the waste matter which is carried off through drains and sewers;sewerageis 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 byshallin the first person andwillin the second and third, while determination is expressed bywillin the first andshallin 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 usingshallorwill, as if for the first person.”—Standard Dictionary.