Bi&l JC-NRLF SB 257 fibl I OO O BLUNDERS IN ENGLISH or rO O ^C HAIDEOOK OF BUJPBSS DESIGNED TO PREVENT 1,000 COMMON BLUNDERS WRITING AND SPEAKING HARLAN H. BOLLARD, A.M. PRINCIPAL OF LE^OX ACADEMY LENOX, MASS. BOSTON LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO. Copyright, 1884, , % Bt t LEE AND All Rights Reserved. ELECTROTTPBD BY C. J. PETERS AND SOW. PKEFACE. IT is not the purpose of this book to offer much that is new in the line of rhetorical or grammatical criticism, but simply to give, in a form convenient for reference, a num- ber of such hints and suggestions as have been found useful in the experience of the schoolroom. This catalogue of blunders is by no means exhaustive, but it includes most of those in- elegancies and inaccuracies of speech that jar our ears with daily iteration. If every one were in the habit of con- stantly using the choicest English at his command, many of the grosser errors might have been^mitte^; hut as we have found Q^l-L 3 4 HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. that it is quite as necessary to remind as to teach, it has seemed best to call attention once more to expressions as common and as careless as " I have n't any I don't think;" and "Everyone should abide by their own convictions of duty." It is hoped that this volume may prove useful not only as a popular handbook, but also as a text-book in the schools. HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. A. A history, not an history. So before all ac- cented syllables that begin with the sound of h. A one, not an one. So always before the sound of w. A unit, not an unit. So always before the sound of the consonant y. A king and a peasant are alike mortal, not a king and peasant, unless both terms refer to the same man at the same time. That kind of man, not that kind of a man. The article is improper after the phrases kind of, sort of, etc. 5 J HANBBOOK 6F BLUNDERS. ability, capacity. Capacity is the power of y receiving ; ability, of using. above* a. Not well used in the sense of fore- going. b. More than 500, not above 500. Bryant. abridge, abbreviate. Words are abbrevi- ated; works abridged. accent, emphasis. We accent syllables and emphasize words. acoustics. Acoustics is, not are. Names of sciences in ics, originally plural forms, are now regarded as singular. admit, not admit of. advance, proceed. We advance further; we proceed farther. ( See farther.) again, not over again. ago, since. Ago looks backward from the present; since locks forward from a past time : It happened years ago. It is years since we met. agree. We agree, better than we are agreed. agreement. Rule. As the sense of a sub- HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. 7 ject is singular or plural, its verb is singular or plural: 1. Horses run. 2. A horse runs. 3. The president and the secretary were elected. 4. The scholar and statesman was elected president. 5. The Senate is adjourned. 6. The Senate are of different opinions. agriculturist, not agriculturalist. all. a. Best, worst, etc., of all, not of all others. (See others.) b. All that, not all who, nor all which. So in all restrictive clauses. allow, not allow of. all over. Over all the county is more logi- cal and emphatic than all over the county. almost. It is almost, not most, done. Most should never be used in the sense of nearly. also, likewise, too. Also means as well as. Likewise means in a similar manner. 8 HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. Too means in addition. Likewise is obsoles- cent. alter, change. To alter is to make a thing in some respect different. To change is to substitute one thing for another. am. I am not, or I'm not; not I ain't. an* An apple, not a apple. So before all vowel sounds. An hotel or a hotel. So before all unaccented syllables that begin with the sound of h. W. D. Whitney. and* Inelegant if used for to. Come to see me, not Come and see me. anguish, agony Agony is physical ; anguish, mental suffering. animalcula, or animalcules, not aniinal- culse. answer, reply. We answer a question; we reply to an accusation or objection. antique, ancient, old. Antique is old- fashioned; ancient is opposed to modern; old is opposed to young. HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. 9 any way, at any rate* Inelegant for in any case, in any event) etc. apostrophe* Rule. In the possessive case of nouns, an apostrophe should immediately fol- low the name of the owner or owners : boy's, boys'; man's, men's; Charles's, or Charles'; lady's, ladies'. Caution. The apostrophe is not used with pro- nouns to denote possession. Its, not it's. approve, better than approve of. approval, approbation. Approval is ex- pressed approbation. are. Are not, or are n't, not ain't. arrived. He has better than he is arrived. artiste, for artist, forbidden by Bryant. as* a. As large as, etc., not so large as; except in negative expressions : Brooklyn is as pleas- ant, but is not so large as New York. b. Sometimes incorrectly used for that; I can- not say as I will. c. Rule. As, when a conjunction, must unite similar constructions: (1.) I can do it as well 10 HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. as he; not him. The full form is, I can do it as well as he can do it. (2.) Invite him as well as me; i. e., as well as you invite me. So with all conjunctions. aspirant. Forbidden by Bryant. assent, consent* We assent to a wish or an opinion ; we consent to an act. at* He is at work, at home, at school, at Mr. Brown's, etc., not to. at best, etc. At the best, at the worst, not at best, etc. at length* Incorrect in the sense of at last. To hear from any one at length is to hear in detail. Ayres. ate. I ate my dinner, not I eat my dinner. avenge, revenge. We avenge others; we revenge ourselves. authoress. Author is better. avocation, often improperly used for voca- tion. An avocation is an "occasional diversion from one's regular business or vocation. awful, awfully. Vulgarly used for very. HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. 11 awkward, clumsy. Awkward characterizes an act; clumsy, a shape. B. backward. Preferable to backwards. So for- ward, toward, etc. backwardly. Obsolete. bad. Very often carelessly used in place of ill, unpleasant, etc. badly* Often erroneously used for greatly or earnestly, as, I wish to see him very badly. baffle, frustrate, defeat. To baffle is to check; to frustrate is to stop effectually, at least for the time ; to defeat is to frustrate absolutely and finally. ball. "Anything more brutal or more insolent cannot be imagined." De Quincey. bairn. Scottish and provincial English. Child is usually better. baking, n. Five loaves at a baking. Not in good use in this sense. balance* Away from the ledger, and in such 12 HANDBOOK OF BLUNDEKS. expressions as the balance of the evening, the balance of the company, this word, in the sense of remainder, is a gross vulgarism. balky. An Americanism, but well established. bamboozle. Low. bang. In the sense of to clip the hair, vulgar, and not in good use. banquet, in the sense of an ordinary dinner, is not good. bawl. In the sense of cry, not applicable to a child for whom you have affection. be. If I be, or If I am. There seems to be a ten- dency to drift away from the formal subjunctive, be, which is regretted by many careful writers. bears and bulls. " In cant language, persons engaged in the gambling transactions of the Stock Exchange." Webster. bearish. Dull, heavy. Slang. beastly. In such expressions as beastly weather, low cockney slang. beat, beat out. In the sense of exhausted* low. HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. 13 beau* There is no verb to beau. beautiful, beautifully. She looked beau- tiful, not beautifully, unless you mean that she used her eyes in a beautiful manner. This word is greatly abused, as in such expressions as I 've had a beautiful time. bee, in the sense of an assemblage of persons united in friendly labor, is an Americanism. begin, commence. Begin is usually the better, as it is the simpler word. beginner, not new beginner. be-gone ! More properly written as two words, Be gone ! behave. The command, Now behave or Be- have yourself, leaves it uncertain whether the person is ordered to behave well or ill. Be- have does not mean to act properly, but merely to act. bender. In the sense of frolic, vulgar. bequeatn, not bequeathe. beside, besides. To sit beside (not besides) a fountain. 14 HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. This is beside our present purpose (not besides). "Paul, thou art beside (not besides) thyself." (So always when used as a preposition with the meaning of aside from, out of, or by the side of.) But, Besides this there are other reasons (not beside). (So, whenever used as a preposition in the sense of in addition to. ) And, Hast thou any here, besides ? (So, when used as an adverb or elliptically. ) best. Strictly, better of the two; still there is authority for the use of the superlative in such cases, and many writers say the best of the two by preference. better. He had better go. (See bad. rather.) between, among. Between two; Among more than two. Between you and I. A phrase often carelessly used for between you and me. (See as.) bias. To cut on the bias is sometimes incor- rectly used for to cut bias. HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. 15 bigamy. The crime of having two wives or husbands at once should strictly he termed polygamy. Bigamy was originally applied to a second marriage after the death of one partner. biscuit* Often incorrectly used for rolls. Bis- cuit are hard, and we commonly call them crackers. bison, buffalo. The true buffalo belongs to the Eastern continent. Bison are shot in the Western territories. blab* Not to be predicated of any for whom we feel affection or respect. black* Negro is preferable as the designation of an African. blame. To blame it on me, vulgar. blasted, in the sense of cursed, is vulgar. blazes. Like blazes, low U. S. bleed* In the sense of to extort money, low. blow. Vulgar in nearly all of its metaphorical uses, as to blow out, to blow upon, to blow up, meaning to talk abusively, to tell about, and to scold. 16 HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. blues. The blues is a colloquial expression for low spirits. bogus. Not elegant. bolt, in the sense of suddenly to desert, is not good English. boost. Vulgar. boozy. Slang for drunken. bosh. Inelegant. boss, n. A master. Provincial. boss, v. To superintend. Low. brand-new, not bran-new. brass, in the sense of effrontery, slang. So brassy. brat. Happily obsolescent. broken, broke. Although broke, as the past participle of break, is sanctioned by the diction- aries, broken is now preferred by careful writers. breakdown, a riotous dance. Low. breeches, not proper in the sense of trousers. It is a different garment. brickbat* Often erroneously used in the sense of a brick. It properly means a piece of a brick less than one half its length. HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. 17 brochure. Often improperly used by young critics of any little book like this one ; properly used of a small pamphlet consisting of a few leaves stitched together. brothers, brethren. Brothers by blood. Brethren in a society or in solemn style. brethren, not bretheren. bruin. A bear. Colloquial. bruiser. A boxer. Low. buckeye. An inhabitant of Ohio. Cant, U.S. buffalo-robe. Incorrectly used for several different sorts of fur robes. bug. Carelessly used for many insects that are not bugs ; e. g. , beetles. builded, for built, antiquated. bull. (See bear.) bulrush, not bull-rush. bum, bummer. Low. bumble-bee, humble-bee. Either is cor- rect. buncombe, bunkum. Mere talk. Low. bunk. U. S. or nautical. 18 HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. burden of a song. Often erroneously under- stood to mean the sense or meaning of a song. It means the refrain or chorus. bureau, pi. bureaux. The use of the word in the sense of a chest of drawers is not English. burglarize. Not authorized. burst, not hursted. bus. Omnibus, not bus. bushwhacking. U. S. buster. Vulgar. but, however, still. But marks opposition with a medium degree of strength; however is the weakest of the three; and still is the strongest. by and by, not bye and bye. by the bye, not by the by. HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. 19 c. cactus, plural, cactuses or cacti. cad. An abbreviation of cadet. cahoot* Vulgar. calculate 9 in the sense of intend or purpose, is not correct. calisthenics, gymnastics. Calisthenics is the proper word for light exercises, such as are adapted for women. (See acoustics.) can but, cannot but. I can but means 1 can only; e. g., I can but perish if I go means that that is the worst that can happen. I cannot but means I have no choice but, etc., or, / must; e. g. I cannot but speak means I cannot refrain from speaking. To use can but in this sense would be a gross error. cannot, or can not. caption, in the sense of the heading of a page etc. , is avoided by careful writers. carpenter, joiner. The joiner begins where the carpenter leaves off. 20 HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. carry on, in the sense of to frolic, colloquial. case* A hard case, a bad case, etc., in the sense of a bad character, low. casket* Coffin is preferable if coffin is meant. catholic. Roman is more exact if the Church of Rome is meant. celebrity, in the sense of a person of note, is questionable. centre, middle. A centre is a point. The middle may be a lino. Certain, sure. Certain refers to absolute knowledge. Sure, to such a degree of con- viction as removes all anxiety. I am certain that I exist. I am sure that the sun will rise tomorrow. lhaff , in the sense of ridicule, is colloquial. jhallenge, to object to a vote. U. S. chance, in the sense of to risk, has no valid authority; e. g., I 9 II chance it. .chap. A man or boy. Low. chatterbox. Colloquial. chaw, for che.w, very vulgar. HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. 21 cherub, pi. cherubs or cherubim, not cher- ubims. chestnut, not chesnut. cliew, as a noun, is low. choker, a collar. Vulgar. chores, light work about the house. U. S. chorister, a singer in a concert or choir; in U. S. the leader of a choir. chosen, chose. As the past participle of choose, chosen is preferable. chrysalis, chrysalid. As the plural, chrysa- lides, is somewhat tedious, it may be avoided by using the plural of chrysalid, chrysalids. chuck, to pitch, vulgar. chuck-full. There is no such word; if you must have it, use chock or choke full. chum. The verb is not English. chunk, chunky, colloquial or provincial. church, as a verb meaning to discipline by a vote of censure, etc., is not authorized. classics. Classics are, not is. (This word not 22 HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. being the name of a science, but a legitimate, plural, does not follow the analogy of acous- tics, etc.) clear out, in the sense of depart, colloquial. Cleft, better than cleaved or clove, as imperfect of cleave, to split. clerk* As there is no verb to clerk, the expres- sions clerking it, he clerks for Mr. B, etc., are incorrect. clever does not mean good-natured in Eng- land. clip, a blow. Colloquial, U. S. clomb and climb, as imperfect of climb, obso- lete or vulgar. clumsy. ( See awkward. ) coach, to prepare for examination. Cant. coat-card, not court-card. come, in the sense of become, obsolete. comfort, comfortable, comforter. In the sense of a wadded quilt, these are all Ameri- can. The last two are objectionable. HANDBOOK OP BLUNDERS. 23 comfortable, in the sense of free from pain, used of a sick person, is also American. commence. In the usage of good writers, com- mence is never followed by the infinitive. G. P. Marsh. We begin to write ; we begin or commence writ- ing. (See begin.) committee-man. Unauthorized. commonwealth. Sometimes improperly used of an absolute government. compare witn, compare to. Things are compared with each other in order to learn their relative excellence. Things are com- pared to each other in order to show the re- semblance between them, usually for the sake of illustration; e.g., "Let us compare Wash- ington with Lafayette." "Burke compares the parks of London to the lungs of the human body." concern, in the sense of thing, provincial and low, e. g., " Take your wagon, I don't wish the old concern." 24 HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. conduct. As an intransitive verb meaning to behave, this word is best avoided. confounded, in the sense of abominable) collo- quial. connection. Better than connexion. So in- flection, etc. conquer, subdue. Subdue implies a more gradual and continued pressure, but a surer and more final subjection. conscience. In all conscience, colloquial. considerable. Often carelessly used instead of considerably; e.g., "Is he better?" "Yes, considerable." conversable, conversible. The former means disposed to talk ; the latter, capable of being reversed. cook up, in the sense of to tamper with or alter, is colloquial. corporal, not corporeal punishment. correspond with, correspond to. The former refers to the interchange of letters; the latter denotes agreement; e.g., "I correspond HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. 25 with a friend." " The event corresponds to the prediction." cosey, cosy, cozy. The last is the best. So cozily, etc. cotemporary. Not so good as contemporary. couple* Two united things of the same nature, as a couple of cars. Two (not a couple of) dollars. course* In course means in regular succession. Of course means as a natural result. The two are sometimes confounded. covetous, not covetious. crack, as an adjective, is colloquial; e.g., "A crack shot." crack up, in the sense of extol, low. crank* A half-witted person, or monomaniac. Colloquial. Creole. This word implies no admixture of African blood. crucifix. Sometimes incorrectly used of a cross alone. cud, for quid, low. cut, in the sense of to run, low. 26 HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. D. daily, as a noun in the sense of daily paper, colloquial, American. damned, damnable, in the sense of hateful, low. dander, meaning anger, low. dangerous. Dangerously ill, not dangerous. date* Properly the time at which any event occurs. In letter-writing carelessly used for the entire heading, including place of writing. deal. Great deal, not good deal. The expres- sion is inelegant at the best in the sense of muck. debut. Forbidden by Bryant. decease. The deceased is an expression to be avoided. decorum, dignity. Decorum is what is be- coming in outward appearance ; dignity springs from inward elevation of soul. defense, better than defence (so offense, etc.). demise. For ordinary mortals, death is better. HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. 27 depone, as a transitive verb, meaning to assert under oath, is rarely used by good English writers. depot. Station is strictly more accurate for a building for the accommodation of passengers. deuce* The devil, low; so deuced. diagram. There is no verb to diagram. dialectics. (See acoustics.) dicker. Obsolete or provincial. diction, style. Style refers both to thought and language; diction, to words only. die, plural dice, cubes used in gaming; dies, in- struments for stamping. differ witn, differ from. I differ with you in opinion; I differ from you in appearance. different from, not to. diligence, industry. Industry is habitual diligence. dip, for baptize or immerse, colloquial or con- temptuous. directly, in the sense of as soon as, is avoided by careful writers; e.g., "I will come directly I have written the letter." 28 HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. dirt. It is a mistake to speak of earth or soil as dirt or dirty, while it is in its proper place; e. g., " The children were digging in the earth," not necessarily " dirt." disapprove. The sentence was disapproved; better than disapproved of. dispatch, etc. Not despatch, etc. disremember. Obsolete or local. divers, in the sense of diverse, is obsolete. does n't, don't. " He, she, or it does not, or doesn't," not "don't." Don't is a contraction of do not ; doesn't of does not. donate. Avoided by careful writers. donation-party. A colloquial name for a method of eking out a clergyman's salary under the guise of charity. done* He did it, not he done it. done for, in the sense of ruined, is colloquial and low. doughty. Obsolescent. down in the mouth. Low. downs. " Ups and downs." Colloquial. HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. 29 downward. ( See backward. ) drank. Preferable to drunk as imperfect of drink. draw, for drawbridge, American. drowned, not drownded. dry. Thirsty is better if thirsty is meant, dumps. Inelegant. dynamics. (See acoustics.) . each. Let each man do his (not their) own work. (See agreement.) eager, earnest. Eager implies excitement. Earnest is always used in a good sense, and im- plies a permanent condition of mind. earth, world. The Earth is one of many worlds. eat. (See ate.) economics. (See acoustics.) education, instruction. Education trains the mind and forms the heart. Instruction furnishes the mind with knowledge. 30 HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. egoism, egotism. The former is preferred by George Eliot. either* Properly used of two things. elastic* There is no noun elastic; no such thing as an elastic. elder, older* He is the elder brother, better than older. Elder refers to priority of birth, without calling special attention to the per- son's age. elegant* This word should not be carelessly used. It is a choice word and will not bear constant handling. ambassador. Preferred to ambassador by Webster, from the analogy of embassy. employe. Preferred to employee, which is legi- timate. Workman is usually best. enclose. Inclose is better; e.g., Inclosed please find. endorse* Indorse is better. So indorsement, etc. engineer, a. , in the sense of an artful manager, is not authorized by its derivation. HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. 31 6., as a verb in the sense of to contrive, as to engineer a bill through Congress, colloquial. enthuse, enthused. Vulgar. epithet. The term epithet is now correctly used only of adjectives. Liar and rascal are not epithets, but appellations. equivocal, ambiguous. An equivocal ex- pression is made to have two possible meanings, with the intention of deceiving. An ambiguous expression is one whose meaning is, perhaps un- intentionally, uncertain. ethics. (See acoustics.) evaporate, vaporize. When artificial heat is employed, and the process is rapid, vaporize is more properly used. eventuate. Not in good use. execute. The law, not the criminal, is exe- cuted. every. Always singular. Let every man do his (not their) own work. (See agree- ment.) example, instance. An example illustrates 32 HAND BOOK OF BLUNDERS. a general rule. An instance stands by itself, and does not pove a rule. extra, either as a noun or adjective, is colloquial at the best, and, as an adverb, is inexcusable. Careful writers, therefore, avoid such expres- sions as "there were many extras," "they re- ceived extra pay," "she sang extra well." F. fall, in the sense of to fell, not in good use; e.g., To fall a tree. farther, further. Farther away from, fur- o ther on toward. As he advanced further on his way, he realized that he was getting farther from home. ( See advance. ) fast. In the sense of dissipated, recent. fear, terror. Fear is generic. Terror is vis- ible agitation. feet. It is incorrect to use the word foot in the sense of feet, except in such compound adjec- tives as two-foot ; e.g., a two-foot rule. So of all units of measure. HANDBOOK OF BLUNDEES. 33 female. Low, in the sense of ivoman. ferocious, savage. Ferocious is opposed to gentle ; savage to civilized. few. Say "Few are," not " There are a few who are." So in all similar propositions. fire. Nothing can be fired without fire. Not fire a rock, but throw a stone. E. G. White. first. First two, etc., not two first. Only one can be first. firstly. Improperly used for first. Webster. first-rate. Inelegant. fish, pi., fishes j individuals; fish, collection. NOTE. The names of several sorts of fish, as herring, shad, trout, etc., are used in the same way. Compounds of fish, as codfish, have the same form in both numbers. follow, not follow after. force, strength. Force is strength in action. forest, wood. Forest is the more extensive. v forgive, pardon. Small offences are for- given; serious crimes pardoned. Kindness forgives ; mercy pardons. 34 HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. forsaken, forlorn. Forlorn is the intensive of forsaken, and is used only of persons. frail, brittle. What is frail is liable to be broken. What is brittle is liable to be shivered. free to confess, etc. Vulgar. G. H. Cal- vert. \ freedom, liberty. Liberty implies previous restraint ; freedom does not. frozen. Is or has frozen, not froze. G. \general, universal. A general rule has ex- ceptions. A universal rule has none. genius, pi. geniuses, men of genius; genii, spirits. gents. Offensively vulgar. get. Do not say to get beaten, killed, cured, etc., but to be beaten, etc. Get is properly used with a following adjective or preposition; e.g., To get well, to get on. graduate. Students do not graduate, but are graduated by their teachers. HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. 35 Grecian, Greek. An imitation of what is Greek is Grecian. A Greek temple is a temple in Greece. A Grecian temple is one built upon the model of a Greek temple. guess should not be used in the sense of think or believe. gums . ( See rubbers* ) H. bad I been, not had I have been. bad ought. Vulgar; say "I ought not, ought I ? " not " I ought not, had I ? " bad ratber, bad better, etc. Good Eng- lish despite the critics. ( See would ratber. ) bandsome, pretty. What is handsome is striking and noble. What is pretty is small, regular, graceful, and delicate. Elms are hand- some, violets pretty. bardly. Not hardly, in the sense of scarcely, is incorrect. Omit the not. baste, burry. Both denote rapidity, but hurry implies confusion. 36 HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. v Jiatred, odium. Hatred is active; odium passive. have. I wished, or I had wished to go, not I wished or had wished to have gone. (The per- fect infinitive should not follow the imperfect tense, except in the case of such auxiliaries as oughty might, could, etc. have* I have it, not I have got it, except in the sense of I have obtained it. iiave. I have none, not have n't none. have* Neither you nor I have, not has. Neither of them has, not have. Iiave not, or fcaven't, not haint. (So has not or hasn't.) he. I knew it was he, not him. I knew it to be him, not he. The man said, not the man he said. (So with all pronouns.) hear, listen. We hear involuntarily. We listen that we may hear. heavenly, celestial. Celestial refers to the ^ physical heavens; heavenly to the moral. hence, better than from hence. HANDBOOK OP BLUNDEKS. 37 here. Strictly, come hither should be used in- stead of come here. So after all verbs of motion . ( See thither. ) hers, not her's. The apostrophe is never cor- rectly used with pronouns to denote possession. high, tall. That which attains height by x growth is tall. The reverse of high is low, of tall is stunted. highfalutin. A vulgarism unaccountably sanctioned by the "Verbalist." his. A child is known by his (or by his or her; not by their) doings. Every one should do his own (not their own) work. home, not to home, after verbs of motion. hour, not hour's time. humbug. Not used by careful writers. hundred, pi. hundred with numerals, as two hundred, in other cases hundreds; as several hundreds. (So with thousand, etc.) 38 HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. I. I. It is I, not It is me. idea* This word should not be used in the sense of opinion or view. idle, indolent. The idle do not do their duty. The indolent do nothing. Idleness is opposed to diligence; indolence to activity. if I were, if I was, if I am, if I be, etc. The subjunctive forms be, were, etc., are more elegant when the condition is not regarded as an actual fact. if or not. Whether or not is preferable in such expressions as "I do not know whether I shall go or not." So in all indirect questions. illy. Not in good use. inaugurate. Should not be used in the sense of begin. . index, pi. Indexes, tables of references; in- dices, signs. indorse. Should not be used in the sense of sanction or approve. HANDBOOK OF BLim.?EKS. 39 infinitive, to. Never separate to from the infinitive with which it belongs; say greatly to desire, or to desire greatly, not to greatly desire. is not. It is not, or it isn't, or, in poetry, 'tis not; not 'tis n't, nor it aint, nor 'taint. It is not true I think, not I don't think. item. Should not be used in the sense of article, extract, or paragraph. Its, not it's, in possessive case. (See ners.) J. jail. There is no verb to jail. jaw, used as a verb, is low. jibe, in the sense of agree or harmonize, is low. Bartlett. jiggamaree. Colloquial and low. Halliwell. joiner, carpenter. The carpenter frames and puts together roofs, partitions, floors, and other essential parts of the building. The 40 HANDBOOK OF BLTJNDEKS. joiner commences where the carpenter leaves off, by supplying and fitting stairs, cupboards, etc. Tomlinson. jug, for imprison, colloquial and low. just. Incorrect if used in the sense of now, as I havejwsi come in; and liable to excessive use in its proper meaning of precisely or exactly. juvenile. Should never be used as a noun. K. keel, in the sense of to turn over, is vulgar un- less applied to vessels. keep company, in the sense of to give or receive attention with a view to marriage, is a colloquial Americanism. kerosene, not kerosene oil. kick the bucket. Colloquial and low. kid, for child, low. kids, for kid gloves, vulgar. kidney, in the sense of kind or sort, is collo- quial. " Fools of that kidney." Burns. HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. 41 NOTE. This use of the word is probably an imitation and misapprehension of Shake- peare's use of it in the following passage: " Think of that, a man of my kidney. 79 But Falstaff s meaning is a man whose kidneys are as fat as mine, a man as fat as myself, not a maa of my character, qualities, or humor. Websttr. kill, for kiln. Obsolete or provincial English, and U. S. kind of, in ihe sense of rather, partly, or as it were, is incorrect; e.g., He kind of threw up his hands. He was kind of sick. (See sort of.) kitn. Obsolete. knock up, in the sense of fatigue, or exhaust, is to be avoided. L. lady, inelegant in the sense of wife, and in gen- eral inferior to woman. last* Carelessly used in the sense of latest, as "Your last letter has been received." Last 42 HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. two, etc., not two last. So with all superla- tives. lay* I lay me down, not I lie me down. I lie down, not I lay down. I lay down, not I laid down. I have lain down, not I have laid down. I have laid it down, not I have lain it down. (Lie, lay, lain, is intransitive; lay t laid, laid, is transitive. lease means to let to another, but is sometimes carelessly used in the sense of to hire from an- other. Rent has both meanings. least. At least is often carelessly used where at the most is meant; e.g., lean buy it for a hun- dred dollars at least. leniency, not so good as lenity. like, love. Like, to be fond of; love, to feel affection for. list, catalogue. A catalogue is a systematic list. loafer. Inelegant. loan. Not so good as lend. locate. Questionable. HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. 43 lot, in the sense of many, incorrect; e.g., a lot of lunch. Inelegant as a noun. Use luncheon. M. ma'am. An inelegant contraction for madam. malignant, malicious. Malignant is pos- sessing malice. Malicious is exerting it. Mali- cious seldom qualifies things. mathematics. (See acoustics.) measles. Always plural. metaphors. Too great care cannot be taken to avoid mixed metaphors. mighty. Vulgarly used for very or exceedingly. million. (See hundred.) Mrs. President, Mrs. Governor, etc. Forbidden by Bryant. mussulman, pi. mussulmans, not mtissulmen. So talismans. mute, dumb. Dumb denies the power of speech. Mute denies the act of speech. mutual. Not well used instead of common. 44 HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. N. near, nearly. Near should not be used as an adverb in the sense of nearly. need, necessity. Need is exigent and press- ing. Necessity is stern and unyielding. need nave, not need to have, etc. neglect, negligence. Neglect is an act; negligence a habit. negro, not darkey. neither, nor, not neither, or. "He was neither rich nor poor," not u He neither was rich nor poor." Neither is used of two, not more. new, novel. Novel is new and strange. news, tidings. Tidings means news in which we are specially interested. News is, not news are. no. "He is no better I think," not "I don't think." none. None is or none are. None (i. e. no one) is strictly singular, but has also a collective sense even among good writers. HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. 45 not* Not so great as, rather than as great as. So always after negatives. not, or; not, nor. He does not love his father or his mother. (The negative not is felt throughout the sentence, and need not be re- peated by nor. He was not well nor was he sick. The force of not is expended in the first clause. Reed & Kellogg. O. O, on. Used quite indiscriminately by best writers, with a tendency to prefer the former. off, not off of, nor off from. official. Should not be used for officer. once. At once, not to once. only. Carefully place this and other adverbs near the word or phrase to be qualified. optics. (See acoustics.) or, and. Man and woman are ; man or woman is. When the subject conveys the thought of plurality, the verb is in the plural form. 46 HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. o tliers. Best of all, or better than all others, not best of all others. One thing cannot be an- other thing, nor one of the others, therefore not the best of the others. So with all superlatives. otherwise than, not otherwise but, nor other- wise besides. ought, never had ought. ought not, not had n't ought. ours, not our's. over his signature. An unwarrantable innovation for the well-established idiom under his signature. [See Webster's Dictionary.] overflowed, not overflown. P. pair, pi. pair with numerals, as six pair ; in other cases, pairs, as many pairs. pants. Vulgar for pantaloons. partially. Incorrectly used for partly. B. G. White. party. Incorrectly used for person. HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. 47 passive. (See being.) past two weeks, etc., better last two, etc. Bryant. penny, pi. pennies, distinct coins; pence, quan- tity in value. ' persuasion, conviction. Persuasion affects the feelings and imagination. Conviction affects the reason. physics. ( See acoustics. ) piece, for article, forbidden by Bryant. pillar, column. Columns are round. pleasure, happiness. Pleasure is tempo- rary; happiness a continued state. Pleasure comes through the senses; happiness is an in- ward feeling. plenty, abundance. Plenty is as much as we need. Abundance is more than we require. poetess. Poet is better for both sexes. politics. (See acoustics.) portion. Part is simpler and better. possess. "He possesses" better than "He is possessed of." 48 HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. possessive case. Write an apostrophe after the name of the possessor or possessors in the possessive case, and add an s if necessary. posted, inelegant for informed. posture, attitude. An attitude is a posture which expresses some emotion. preposition. Rarely close a sentence with a preposition. prepositions. Do not use prepositions need- lessly; say off, not off of ; where have you been? not where have you been to ? etc. present. "Present a gift to one" better than " present one with a gif t." A gift is presented to one; one is not presented with a gift. * prevalent, prevailing. What usually pre- vails is prevalent ; what actually prevails is prevailing. There are many pairs of adjectives in English, the one preserving the Latin, and the other the Saxon participial ending, such as consistent, consisting ; different, differing, etc. The Latin form qualifies as to generals, and the Saxon as to particulars. HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. 49 preventive, not preventative. progress* Not so good as advance. Bryant. prudence, discretion. Prudence is fore sight; discretion, present wisdom. Q. quaker. Friend is more elegant. quit, leave. To say that a man has left a place signifies nothing as to his returning; but to say that he has quit the town is to say that this was considered, at the time, to be a final act. R. raid. Not to be used in the sense of attack. raise, rear. Human beings are reared, lower animals are raised. realize. Not good in the sense of obtain. . rebuke, reproof. A rebuke is prompted by indignation ; a reproof by a desire to cure one of a fault. V 50 HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. recollect, not recollect of. recovery, restoration. The former is our own act, the latter that of another. relation* Inelegant if used for relative. reliable* The propriety of this word has been questioned, but it will probably outlive its ene- mies. remember, recollect. To recollect is to remember with some exertion. rendition. Incorrect for performance. repudiate. Not so good as disown. retire. He has, not is retired. retire. Better go to bed. Bryant. It should not be used as a transitive verb. ridicule, deride. Derision is more malicious than ridicule. riot, tumult. A tumult is a general riot. rivulet, not little rivulet. So all diminutives. /robber, thief . A robber uses violence ; a thief, guile. role. Not good in the sense of part. rose. He rose up, not he raised up. HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. 51 roughs, rowdies. Inelegant, and to be avoided. round. More and most nearly round, not rounder and roundest. rubbers, for overshoes, U. S. S. scaly, in the sense of mean, etc., vulgar. set (= to sink). The sun sets, not sits. set. I set anything down, not I sit it down. Past. I set it down, not I sat it down. shall, will. I. If you wish to express your opinion merely with regard to a future occur- rence, say I, or we, shall ; others will. Ex., I shall not want; The Lord will provide. [Exc., If you desire to make the prediction more vivid, use shall for others as well as yourself; e.g., Yes, my son, you shall often see the rich- est men the meanest. Tattler.] II. To express your will, whether in the form of (a) a determination, (&) a promise, or (c) a 52 HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. command; say I, or we, will, others shall. Ex., (a) The cause is in my will; I will not come. [N. B. To express the determination of others, use will ; They will persist.] (&) I will never leave thee; thy brother shall rise again, (c) Thou shalt not steal. [N. B. To express a softened command, you will may be used; e. g., You will learn the next lesson to-morrow.] III. In reporting the words or thoughts of others, use shall if they said or thought shall ; and will if they said or thought will. Ex. Go tell them Caesar will not come. He thinks that he shall find it. (His direct thought is IV. In asking a question in the first person, use shall. Ex. Shall I do it ? Shall we succeed ? V. In asking a question in the second or third person, use shall if the question is to be answered by shall, but will if the question is to be answered by will. Ex. Will you go? ANS. I will. Shall he go ? ANS. He shall. HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. 53 shot, pi. shots = discharges; shot = balls. should, would. I. If you wish to express duty, say in all cases, should. Ex. I should love my neighbor; you should not do it; he should learn better. II. To express habitual past action, would may be used. Ex. She would sit for hours with- out lifting her eyes. As a guide in other cases remember that should is the past tense of shall, and would of will. (See shall.) , v silent, taciturn. Taciturnity is intentional or habitual silence. similar. Similar instances, not other similar instances. sit. I sit down. Present. The hen sits, the coat sits well, not set, sets. Past. I sat down, the hen sat, the coat sat well, not set. slake, quench. To slake is to lessen; to quench is to extinguish. slander, calumny. A falsehood originates with a calumniator ; it is disseminated by a slanderer. 54 HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. smart. The use of this word as a synonym of clever is unknown in England. snout* Excessively vulgar if applied to human beings. so, such. So long journeys, not such long journeys. Such is not an adverb. some. Say slightly, rather, or somewhat better, not some better. Some is not an adverb. sort of, in such expression as he sort of frowned, inelegant, if not incorrect. splendid. Indolently and inaccurately used for beautiful, grand, and many other words. stop, stay. When anything comes to a stop, the stopping has ceased. Then staying may begin. Ex. Come and stay with me, not stop. store, shop. In England shop is used almost exclusively, but in America store is likely to prevail. streamlet, not little streamlet. So with all diminutives. such after some. Some such, man, not some such a man. So no such, any such, etc. HANDBOOK OF BLUNDEES. 55 sure, certain. We are certain of the past and present; we may feel sure, but cannot be certain of the future. T. taboo, not so good as forbid or exclude. take. Is, or has taken, not is, or has took. talented. Forbidden by Bryant. tapis. On the tapis had better be avoided. teach.. I taught him, not I teached him, nor I learned him. temper, humor. Temper is fixed, humor transient. temperance, abstinence. Abstinence is i/ opposed to the use of a thing; temperance to its abuse. ten-pound, adj. A ten-pound note, not a ten- pounds note. than. As than is a conjunction, use the same case after it as before it. Ex., He is better than I, not me; it is easier for him than me, not I. So with all conjunctions. 56 HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. /thankful, grateful. Gratitude is the feel- ing; thankfulness its expression. Gratitude is sometimes too deep for utterance. tile* The first and the second verse, not the first and second verse. The first and second verses, not the first and the second verses. their. Every one has his, not their. them. Hot them things, but those things. (Them is not properly used as an adjective.) thence, better than from thence. there, they. "Are there many men?" not " Are they many men ? " this* This kind, this sort, etc., not these kind, etc. thither, there. Strictly, and in formal lan- guage, thither is preferable after words of motion, and there after words of rest. Ex. Go thither ; stay there. This usage prevails in the Bible, and in Shakespeare, Milton, and Wordsworth. (See here.) thou, thy. Thou canst not have thy (not your) way. Do not interchange the solemn and the HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. 57 common style. Thou hearest, not heareth. (The ending eth belongs to the third person in the solemn style.) Thy love has (not hast) ever been the same. thousand. (See hundred.) throw. He threw, not he throwed. thy, thine. Same principle of usage as gov- erns a and an, q. v. to. With infinitives use o, not for to. Try to understand clearly, or try clearly to understand, not try to clearly understand. (Do not put an adverb between to and its infinitive.) transpire. The use of this word in the sense of to happen is censured both by English and American critics. try. Try to do better, not try and do better. two-foot, adj. A two-foot rule, not a two-feet rule. So ten-foot, etc. ; but the rule is two feet, no t two foot, long. 58 HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. u. uncommon. Uncommonly good, not uncom- mon good. under. Under way, not under weigh. unity, union. Union is the state of being united ; unity of having one sentiment. Not ail that are united live in unity. up. Open up, eaten up, sewed up, mixed up, etc., vulgarisms. H. Alford. us. We boys will go, not us boys. Let us boys go, not we boys. V. v veracious, true. The person is veracious; his statement is true. vestige, trace. Vestiges are scattered; traces may be followed. 7ice, sin. Vice is an offence against morality, sin is disobedience of God's law. w vicinity, neighborhood. Neighborhood is more immediate. HANDBOOK OF BLUNDERS. 59 Victuals* Victuals is, not victuals are. The word seems to be obsolescent Visit. Pay a visit. This phrase is question- able. W. \Xtvarlike, martial. Martial qualifies the ex- ternal appearance or sound; warlike qualifies the spirit. wa'rn't cannot be defended. was. Not you was, but you were. Was not, or wasn't, not wa'n't; not it was a week ago to- morrow, but it will be a week ago to-morrow. way. Away off, etc., not way off. were not, or were n't, not wa'n't. wliat. What he said is true, not It is true what he said ; but, or but that, not but what. Ex. I do not know but I will go. whence, better than from whence. Which, that, who. Never use which as a relative relating to persons; not the man which, but the man that, or who. That should be used 60 HANDBOOK OP BLUNDERS. in all restrictive clauses; e.g., The best men that live, not who. whither, where. ( See thither. ) Who, whom. Whom, not who did you see ? For whom is it, not who is it for ? So after all pre- positions. Who do you think he is ? not whom. widow, not widow woman. Without. Should not he used in the sense of unless; " I will not go unless it is necessary," not " without it is necessary." wonderful, marvellous. The wonderful surprises our senses; the marvellous, our reason. would rather, better, etc. Correct modern substitutes for the more classical " had rather," etc. ( See had rather. ) write. Is, or has, written, not wrote, nor writ, Y. year-old. A two-year-old boy, not a two years old boy; but the boy is two years, not two year old. yours, not y cur's. Punctuation anil Other Typographical Matters, for the use of Printers, Authors, Teachers, and Scholars, By MARSHALL T. B1GELO W, Corrector at the Uni, Cambridge, for many years. CLOTH* Lenox Library, New York. DBAK MB. BICFSLOW, I sent for your " Punctuation and othei Typographical Matters " (having long groaned over bad pointing in authors and printers), and was glad to find an excellent manual which will contribute to the comfort of many. I cordially recoir mend it to all authors, printers, and men of letters. Faithfully yours, Alltbone's Dictionary of Authors. ' T. AUSTIN ^iiLiBONB. " Mr. Bigelow's book is a practical treatment of the subject, and enlarges the reading public's ob!5 Cations to him." Atlantic Monthly. "It is intended for the use of authors and teachers, while business men who have occasion to print circulars, advertisements, etc., cam hardly afford to be without a copy of it for reference." Schenectady Daily Union. Mistakes in Writing English, and How to Avoid TheE For the Use of all who Teach, Write, or Speak the Lan- guage. By MARSHALL T. B1GELOW, author of t( Punctuation and. other Typographical Matters.'* CLOTH, " This is an admirable little work; the more admirable for the use of busy people, because it is little, since it is also clear and compre- hensive. The errors pointed out are those to which nearly all writers are liable. . . . We commend it as the most convenient little manual of which we have knowledge." Christian Herald. " This is a valuable little volume. It is not a grammar, with rules and definitions ; but it takes up words and parts of speech, and shows, generally by example, their correct use. It is arranged sy sternal* aWy, and is adapted to the use of the home and the school.'* Thx. Current. " The matter is wtll arranged, and the points upon which \istrue Uon is desired can be readily found." Christian Union. " This is a useful book. A careful study of the several chapter* Srould be of great advantage to all who have to do much or lit** i- writing. " Gospel Banner. IBB BIGHT WOSD HI THE EI&HT PLAOli. CAMPBELL'S HANDBOOK OF ENGLISH SYNONYM* WITH AN APPENDIX, SHOWING THE CORRECT USES OF PREPOSITIONS This compact little volume contains abcmt 40,000 synonywCt? words, printed in clear, distinct type. It is a work which will substantially aid speakers, writers, teachers and students in fact all who would gain a more copious vocabulary and increase their power of expression. It includes the really important matter of the more bulky vol- umes which are commonly sold for two dollars or more. A great choice of words is here placed at the service of the writer and the speaker. The Appendix, containing " Prepositions Compared and Dis- criminated," and "A List showing what Prepositions to use after certain Words," is a trustworthy guide in a great number of cases of doubtful usage. A writer's knowledge of English idiom and his stylo are best sbown by bis use of these little binges of tlv? language. SAEHELD AND TEE PRONOUNCING HAKDBOOK. SOULE & CAMPBELL'S PRONOUNCING HANDBOOK OF WORDS OFTEN MISPRONOUNCED, AND OF WORDS AS TO WHICH A CHOICE OF PRONUNCIATION IS ALLOWED. 3000 Mistakes in Pronunciation Corrected^ A POCKET VOLUME. In the able article on "CHARACTERISTICS OF PRESI- DENT GARFIELD," in The Century Magazine, its author, E. V. SMALLEY, thus alludes to this little book: " He had a great love for linguistic knowledge, and would often make a half-game and half-study with his children of telling the meanings of words, or detecting errors in pronunciation. Drop- ping in at his house, one morning in the campaign summer of 1880, just as breakfast was over, I found the family lingering at the table while the General read from a little dictionary of words frequently mispronounced. He would spell the word, and then ask each in turn what the correct pronunciation should be. The elders were about as apt to make mistakes as the children, and a great deal of lively chat and merriment, and not a little instruc- tion, resulted from the exercise. This he kept up every morning after breakfast until the book was exhausted." "MOST BIDICULOUS MISTAKES" AVOIDED. KNQL1SH SYNONYMS DISCRIMINATED BY RICHARD WHATELY, D. D. f Archbishop of Dublin, While especially adapted to the use of writers and those who desire to express themselves in exact and discriminating terms, this book will be of interest to every one who may wish to gain more precision in the use of our language. In com- piling this valuable work, the accomplished author has de- parted from the customary methods, and has not contented him- self with giving merely the apparent synonyms in the lan- guage, but elaborates on the nice distinction in the meaning of common words, usually considered synonymous terms. In this feature Consists the especial importance of Dr. Whately's volume. / "Words apparently synonymous and really so in the great majority of instances have nevertheless each an ap- propriate meaning, which on certain occasions is made to appear. The propriety ofmeaning is known, a priori, by the scholar who is acquainted with the etymology of the word, but the person who has collected its meaning only from its use is ever liable to mistakes and the mogi ridiculous mistakes', be- cause perhaps in his experience, it has never been used in such & /nanner as to demonstrate its peculiar signification.' To "itch this book by a distinguished author will prove inva'uable THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW AN INITIAL FINE OF 25 CENTS WILL BE ASSESSED FOR FAILURE TO RETURN THIS BOOK ON THE DATE DUE. 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