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Make, Manufacture
These words may, in some cases, be used interchangeably, but make has much the wider range of meanings. The following story, related by Eli Perkins, will illustrate this fact:
I was talking one day with Mr. Depew, President of the New York Central Railroad, about demand and supply. I said the price of any commodity is always controlled by the demand and supply.
"Not always, Eli," said Depew; "demand and supply don't always govern prices. Business tact sometimes governs them."
"When," I asked, "did an instance ever occur when the price did not depend on demand and supply?"
"Well," said Mr. Depew, "the other day I stepped up to a German butcher, and, out of curiosity, asked:
"'What's the price of sausages?'
"'Dwenty cends a bound,' he said.
"'You asked twenty-five this morning,' I replied.
"'Yah; dot vas ven I had some. Now I ain't got none, I sell him for dwenty cents. Dot makes a repudation for selling cheab, und I don't lose noddings.'
"You see," said Mr. Depew, laughing, "I didn't want any sausage and the man didn't have any; no demand and no supply, and still the price of sausage went down five cents."
"Well, there are strange things in this world," I said. "Now, take the words manufacture and make. I always thought that both words meant the same thing."
"Why, they do, Eli," said Mr. Depew.
"Not always," I said.
"Now, when could they have a different meaning?"
"Why, this morning I came down from Albany on a Central car manufactured to carry fifty passengers, but it was made to carry seventy-two people."
"Yes, I dare say; but we'll now talk about the Behring Sea question."
Truth, Veracity
"The veracity of his statement is doubted." The sentence should be, "The truth of his statement is doubted," or "In making that statement his veracity is doubted." Veracity is applied to the person; truth to the thing.
Try the experiment
"They are trying the experiment of running railroad trains by electricity." This should be, "They are making the experiment," etc. The word experiment contains the idea of trial, hence, to try the experiment is to try the trial.
Little piece
"I will go with you a little piece." A short distance or a part of the way would be more appropriate.
Every confidence
"I have every confidence in his ability to succeed." Confidence is a unit; every implies several units considered separately. "I have the greatest confidence in his ability to succeed" is correct.
Ugly
This word properly applies to the appearance of a person or thing, hence such expressions as "He has an ugly temper," "This is an ugly customer," "That was an ugly rumor," etc., although common in colloquial discourse, should be avoided in dignified address.
Unbeknown
This is a provincialism that should be avoided. Use unknown.
Underhanded
Often incorrectly used for underhand; as "That was a contemptible and underhanded trick."
Calligraphy
This word means not writing, simply, but beautiful writing; hence, to say, "His calligraphy is wretched" is equivalent to saying, "His excellent writing is poor," which is a contradiction of terms.
Can but, Cannot but
These expressions are sometimes confounded. "If I perish, I can but perish," means "I can only perish," or "I can do no more than perish." "I cannot but speak of the things I have heard" means that I am under a moral necessity to speak of these things. The past tense forms could but and could not but should be, in like manner, discriminated.
Casualty, Casuality
The latter word is sometimes used in place of the former. The first is legitimate; the second is without authority. The words specialty and speciality have a termination similar to the above. They may generally be used interchangeably and are both legitimate.
Complected.
"The lady is light complected, has blue eyes, and auburn hair." Complected is a provincialism without sanction. "The lady is of light complexion, has blue eyes," etc.
Disremember
This word is obsolete. Use forget, or "I do not remember."
Lie, Lay
The verbs lie and lay are often confounded, even by intelligent persons. Lie does not take an object. We cannot lie a thing. It is therefore intransitive.
Lay, which means to place in position, requires an object. We lay a book on a table, or bricks on the wall. It is therefore transitive.
The principal parts of the first verb are lie, lay, lain; and of the second, lay, laid, laid. The word lay is found in both, and this is, in part, accountable for the confusion. The most frequent errors result from using laid, the past tense form of the transitive verb, when the word lay, the past tense form of the intransitive verb, should be used. The ear naturally expects the usual past tense ending of the d or t sound, and as that is absent in the past tense of lie, the past tense form of the other verb is substituted. For the same reason the participle form laid is often incorrectly used for lain.
"He told me to lie down, and I lay down," not laid down. "I told him to lay the book down, and he laid it down." "The ship lay at anchor." "They lay by during the storm." "The book is lying on the shelf." "He lay on the ground and took cold." "They lay in ambush." "Lie low or he will discover you." "The goods are still lying on his hands." "Time lay heavily on their hands." "We must lie over at the next station." "A motion was made that the resolution lie on the table." "Now I lie down to sleep." "Now I lay me down to sleep."
The foregoing sentences illustrate the correct usage of these confusing verbs.
As, That
"Did your cousin go to town yesterday?" "Not as I know." Better, "Not that I know." Better still, "I do not know." "I do not know as I shall go." Use that for as.
Bad toothache
As it is a rare thing to have a good toothache, we scarcely need the adjective bad to distinguish between the two kinds of toothache. Say severe.
Beautifully, Beautiful
After verbs of seeing, feeling, tasting, and smelling, the adverb is often incorrectly used for the adjective.
"The colonel looked handsomely in his military dress," "I feel splendidly to-day," "This peach tastes badly," "The rose smells sweetly," are incorrect. Use handsome for handsomely, very well or in good spirits for splendidly, tastes bad or has a disagreeable taste for badly, and sweet for sweetly.
Beg, Beg leave
"I beg to announce the sale of a collection of rare and costly rugs." "I beg to acknowledge your kindness in sending me this handsome present." In each case say "I beg leave to," etc.
Due, Owing
His success was due to his honesty and energy." That is due which should be paid as a debt; that is owing which is referred to as a cause or source.
"The bill is now due and payable at the gas office." "His success was owing to his honesty and energy."
Each, Every
"I see him at his office each day of the week." In this sentence the word every would be better. Each refers to single days particularized. Here reference is made to what occurs on all days without exception.
Both words refer to nouns in the singular, hence such expressions as the following are incorrect:
"Every soldier and sailor stood at their post." "The prisoners were discharged and went each their several ways." Correct by saying, "The prisoners were discharged and went each his several way," "Every soldier and sailor stood at his post."
Each, Both
"Both parties maintained their original positions." As the parties are thought of separately, the sentence should be: "Each party maintained its original position." "Both parties strove to place their best candidates upon the ticket" is correct, because the parties are thought of collectively.
Both, Both of
Both is used alone before nouns and both of before pronouns. "Both men have studied the currency question." "Both of them are well informed in matters relating to the currency."
Ever, Never
"Let him be ever so rich," says Emerson. "You spend ever so much money in entertaining your equals and betters," says Thackeray. "Though he run ever so fast, he cannot win the race." Writers and grammarians differ, some preferring ever, others never.
Every once in a while
This is a cumbersome, awkward expression that should be avoided. Occasionally, frequently, at intervals, are among the expressions that may be used in its place.
Exceptionable, Exceptional
"He enjoyed exceptionable opportunities for acquiring the Greek language." Say exceptional opportunities.
Female, Woman
The word female is often employed when woman would be better. Female applies to all of the feminine gender, including the brute creation.
Poet, Poetess
The tendency to increase the number of nouns with the feminine ending ess should be checked. Avoid poetess, authoress, doctress, and other newly-invented words of this kind.
Fewer, Less
Fewer refers to number, less to quantity. "He had less friends than I, and yet he was elected." Say "He had fewer friends." "There were no less than fifty cows in the field." Use fewer.
Right smart
In some portions of the South the expression right smart is employed in colloquial discourse to convey the idea of a large quantity or in large measure; as, "We have right smart of peaches this summer," meaning "We have a large crop of peaches;" "He knows right smart of Latin" for "He knows considerable Latin" or "He is well versed in Latin."
Little bit
"Will you have some of this pudding?"
"If you please. Give me a little bit."
"Did you injure yourself when you fell?"
"No; but I soiled my clothing a little bit."
A small portion or piece, in the first sentence, and slightly, in the second, would serve as good equivalents for a little bit.
Sight
"There was a sight of people at the fair to-day." In the sense of a large number, this word, like the word lot, should be avoided.
Crowd
A dozen persons may constitute a crowd if they push and jostle one another by reason of insufficient space. A thousand men will not form a crowd if all have ample room to sit or stand or move about.
Chuck-full
This word is not authorized. Chock-full and choke-full may be used, but are not elegant.
Contemplate, Propose
Contemplate is often incorrectly used for propose; as, "I contemplate going to the country."
Dispense, Dispense with
These expressions are not synonymous. To dispense is to give; to dispense with is to do without. The pharmacist dispenses medicines; we should be pleased if we could dispense with them.
Dry, Thirsty
Dry is often incorrectly used in the sense of thirsty; as, "I am dry; let me have a glass of water." To say, "I am dry; my waterproof and umbrella kept out the rain," is correct.
Dutch, German
Do not call a German a Dutchman. A Dutchman comes from Holland, a German from Germany.
Evacuate, Vacate
Evacuate means to make empty, and should not be used in the sense of to go away, to vacate.
Different than, Different to
"The school is conducted in a very different manner than it used to be." "This basket of roses is different to yours." The above and similar expressions are decided vulgarisms, and should be avoided.
"The school is conducted in a very different manner from what it used to be." "This basket of roses is different from yours."
Drive, Ride
Some confusion exists in the use of the words drive and ride. In England the distinction is made of applying ride to going on horseback and drive to going in a carriage, whether you ride or drive. That usage is not closely followed in this country. He who guides the horse drives; the rest of the company ride. The noun and participial forms are more excusable than the verb. "Jones asked me to drive with him this afternoon." But as Jones expects to do the driving himself, the speaker should have said, "Jones asked me to take a ride," or "go driving," or "take a drive," etc.
Couple, Several
The word couple is often incorrectly used in the sense of several; as, a couple of horses, mules, birds, trees, houses, etc. The use of the word couple is not only limited to two, but to two that may be coupled or yoked together. A man and wife are spoken of as a couple. We speak of a span of horses, a yoke of oxen, a brace of ducks, a pair of gloves.
Directly, Immediately, As soon as
A faulty English use of the above words has found some favor in the United States. "Directly the whistle blew the workmen left the shop." Say "As soon as the whistle blew," etc. "Immediately he closed his speech his opponent rose to reply." Say "When" or "As soon as he closed his speech," etc.
Directly denotes without any delay; immediately implies without any interposition of other occupation.
Agreeably disappointed
When our hopes are blasted, our plans balked, our expectations defeated, our intentions thwarted, we are disappointed. We prefer the agreeable to the disagreeable, and plan and labor to secure it. When our plans fail we are disappointed, but not agreeably disappointed. If the new conditions, which are not of our seeking, prove agreeable, it is only after the sense of disappointment has vanished.
Allude to, Refer to, Mention
The word allude is often incorrectly used. Allusion is the by-play of language. It means to hint at by remote suggestions, to speak of figuratively or sportively.
Whatever is directly mentioned, or spoken of, or described, cannot be said to be alluded to. The terms differ in degree, the first being the weakest. An allusion is an indirect reference.
Among the rest
"Mary sat on the beach among the rest." Say "with the rest."
Peruse
This is one of those high-sounding terms too often employed when read would be much better.
Emigrants, Immigrants
These words are sometimes confounded. "Did you see the emigrants on the 'Indiana,' which arrived this morning?" "Did the immigrants go directly to Italy?" Exchange the italicized words in the two sentences and they will be correctly used.
Somewheres
The terminal s should be omitted in such words as anywheres, somewheres, nowheres, anyways, hereabouts, thereabouts, whereabouts. In such cases as "Whereabouts did you find him?" and "We knew his whereabouts," the s is properly retained.
Apart, Aside
"May I see you apart from the others?" It should be, "May I see you privately" or "aside"?
Fire, Throw
We fire a gun, but throw a stone. To fire a stone, fire him out of the house, fire him out of our employ, may be graphic ways of presenting the thought, but good writers never use them and good speakers should avoid them.
The First, Single
"I have not found the first objection to his candidacy." Say "a single objection," or "no objection."
First two
Such has been the strong desire to continue to use forms of expression that we have long used that not a little time and effort have been expended in the endeavor to make the wrong appear right. It is an accepted fact, however, that a large majority of the best speakers and writers now say the first two, the last five, etc., rather than the two first, the five last.
Future, Subsequent
The word future is sometimes used instead of subsequent; as, "Until he was eighteen years old his conduct was marked by cruelty and malice, but his future life was characterized by kindness and generosity." Future looks forward from the present, and not from some point of time in the past.
Gent's pants
"Gent's pants scoured and pressed." Business signs and business advertisements are responsible for many vulgarisms. Never say gent's nor pants. Even pantaloons is not so good a word as trousers.
Sit, Set
Few words afford a more fertile field for grammatical blundering than the verbs sit and set. The important fact to remember in the use of the words is that sit, in modern usage, is an intransitive verb, and does not take an object, while set, which means to place in position, is transitive, and requires an object to complete its meaning. You cannot sit a thing, but you do set or place a thing.
The verb sit undergoes a slight change with the change of tense or time. "I sit at the window today." "I sat at the window yesterday." "I have sat at the window daily for many years." "Sitting at the window, I saw the storm arise." "Having sat at his table, I can testify to his hospitality."
The transitive verb set undergoes no tense changes. "See me set this vase on the table." "He set his seal to the paper yesterday." "Jones will not set the world on fire with his writings." "Having set my affairs in order, I returned home." "I sit down." "I sat down." "I set him down."
There are many intransitive uses of the verb set; as, "The sun sets," "The tide sets toward the south," "The fruit has set," "He set out for Boston."
There is a difference of opinion as to whether we should say "The coat sets well" or "The coat sits well," with the greater weight in favor of sits. "The hen sits on her eggs." "She is a sitting hen." When the verb is used reflexively use set and not sat; as, "I set me down beside her," not "I sat me down beside her."
Anyhow
This word can scarcely be regarded as elegant, and should not be used except in colloquial style.
Awful
Few words among the many that go to make up the vocabulary of American slang have been in longer use and have a wider range than the word awful. From the loftiest and most awe-inspiring themes to the commonest trifle, this much-abused word has been employed. A correct speaker or writer almost fears to use the word lest he should suggest the idea of slang, and thus detract from the subject to which the word might most fitly be applied.
Even the grammatical form of the word is often violated in such expressions as "Isn't he awful nice?" "That hat of hers is awful pretty." To say awfully nice and awfully pretty would improve the grammar, but the gross vulgarism remains.
The word, when properly used, means "inspiring with awe or dread" often accompanied with reverence, as when Milton says:
| "The trumpet spake not to the armed throng; And kings sat still with awful eye, As if they surely knew their sovran Lord was by." |
Back up
In the sense of support, this, and the shorter expression back, are doubtless borrowed from the commercial world. While they may be tolerated in conversation, they must be regarded as slang.
Bulk
This word is often incorrectly used for most or the greater part; as, "The bulk of the people opposed the measure." Bulk refers to size, not to numbers.
Burglarize
This word is often used by the more sensational reporters in their reports of crime. It should be avoided.
But what, But that
"I don't know but what I shall have to punish him." The sentence should read, "I don't know but that I shall have to punish him." It is equivalent to, "I think that I shall have to punish him." The omission of but will convey the opposite meaning. "I don't know that I shall have to punish him" is equivalent to "I think that I shall not have to punish him."
Calculate
A provincialism often used in the sense of think, deem, suppose, believe; as, "I calculate the train will be here in ten minutes."
Calculated, Liable
This word is often incorrectly used in the sense of likely, liable, apt; as, "His utterances are calculated to injure his cause." In the proper use of the word there is present the idea of purpose or intent.
Leave, Quit
Leave is often incorrectly used for quit; as, "That eminent actor expects soon to leave the stage." It would be a misfortune if he should take the stage with him. Say "quit the stage."
"Henry has quit smoking." Here left off or stopped would be better.
"The President gave me lief to speak with him." Say "gave me leave."
Let it alone and let me be are preferable to leave it alone and leave me be.
A 1
"I have just read an A 1 article on the currency, question in the last issue of the North American Review!" This is an expression from the vocabulary of business converted into the slang of the street.
Luck
Luck, like behavior, may be either good or bad. "The carpenter has met with luck; he fell and broke his leg." "The manager has met with luck; his salary has been doubled." The adjective lucky and the adverb luckily are used only in a favorable sense.
Make way with
This expression is often incorrectly used for make away with; as, "The Judge gave the boot-blacks a Christmas dinner, and the begrimed urchins quickly made way with the turkey and cranberry sauce." Say "made away with," etc.
To make way is to make room, to provide a way, to dispatch.
In our midst
"The doctor settled in our midst." Say "among us," or "in our neighborhood."
Indorse, Endorse
From the Latin dorsum, the back, these words have come to mean the writing of one's name across the back of a check or draft or other commercial paper to signify its transfer to another or to secure its payment. To indorse a man's arguments or opinions is an incorrect use of the word.
While both forms of spelling the word are in good usage, indorse seems to be coming into more general favor.
In, Into
In is often incorrectly used for into; as, "He hurried up the street and rushed in the store." We walk in a room when the walking is wholly within the apartment; we walk into a room when we enter it from some other room or from the outside.
Just going to
"I was just going to write you a letter." Say "I was just about to write you a letter."
Kind of
"James swallowed the dose, and now feels kind of sick." Use slightly or somewhat, or some other modifier, instead of kind of.
Knowing
Do not use knowing for skilful or intelligent. "He is a knowing artist." "See him prick up his ears; he is a knowing cur."
Clever, Smart
In England the word clever is applied to one who is bright, intelligent, ready, apt; in the United States it is often misapplied to one who is good-natured, kind, or accommodating.
"Do you believe in corporal punishment for stupid school-children?"
"Yes; a spanking always makes them smart."
To express cleverness, brightness, intelligence, aptness, the adjectives clever, bright, intelligent, apt, are better than the word smart.
Posted, Informed
"He is well posted on all matters relating to cattle-breeding." Say informed.
Perspire, Sweat
While all mankind belongs to the animal kingdom, and no person can feel offended at being called an animal, yet society observes certain distinctions in speaking of men and of beasts. To sweat and to feed are expressions that apply to the latter; to perspire and to eat to the former.
Empty
The Mississippi river flows, or discharges its water into the Gulf of Mexico, but it can not empty so long as any water remains in the river.
Enjoyed poor health
"Gold that buys health can never be ill spent,
Nor hours laid out in harmless merriment."
The negative form of expression, "I have not enjoyed good health," is not only correct, but is, at the same time, a polite way of modestly stating a fact. To say "I have enjoyed poor health for the past year" is to express a kind of enjoyment not generally appreciated. It is like being agreeably disappointed.
Aberration of intellect
"He is afflicted with a slight aberration of intellect." Simplicity would suggest, "He is slightly insane."
Above, Foregoing
"Let me call your attention to the above passage." The highest authority does not sanction the use of above as an adjective. Say "the foregoing passage."
Allowed, Said
"He allowed this was the best speech he had heard." This is a provincialism that should be avoided. Use said, or declared, or admitted, according to the meaning.
Alternation
This word is sometimes used in the sense of an unbroken series. It properly signifies a reciprocal succession, as "The alternation of summer and winter produces an ever-changing scene."
Alternative
Etymologically and by general use, this word refers to a choice between two; as, "If this demand is refused the alternative is war." But Gladstone is quoted as saying, "My decided preference is for the fourth and last of these alternatives."
Anniversary
From annus, a year, means recurring every year. Centennial means once in a hundred years. What then does centennial anniversary mean? Use centenary.
Learn, Teach
"I taught him grammar," not "I learned him grammar." "He taught us history."
Lease, Let, Rent, Hire
We may lease to or from. "I leased the farm to my neighbor." "I leased this house from Brown." We let to another; as, "I let my house to my cousin." We may rent to or from another. We may hire from another," as, "I hired a servant;" "he hired a boat." With out and reflexively we may hire to another; as," I hired out my horses;" "he hired himself to the miller."
Like, As
Avoid the use of like in the sense of as. "He thinks just as (not like) his father does." That Anthony Trollope, Hugh Conway and other writers are chargeable with this offence does not justify the use of like for as, but rather proves the need of constant vigilance in order to avoid such errors.
Lit, Lighted, Alighted
"He lighted the candle." "The crow alighted on the top of the tree." Avoid the use of lit in such cases, and also that slang form, as, "I lit on a beautiful passage in Browning," in the sense of met with.
Lend, Loan
"Will you lend me your book," is better than "Will you loan me your book."
Near, Nearly
"James is not near so good a scholar as his brother is." Use nearly.
Nasty, Nice
Nasty is a strong adjective, and should be used only in reference to what is offensively filthy, foul, or defiled. Such expressions as a nasty day, a nasty rain, mark a loose and careless use of the word.
The word nice once meant foolish, ignorant, weak, effeminate. It has now come to mean exact, fine, finished, exciting admiration on account of skill or exactness; as nice proportions, nice workmanship, a nice distinction in philosophy. It is loosely and colloquially used in application to what is pleasing, agreeable, delightful, good.
A bright young lady was once asked, "Don't you think nice is a nasty word?" She replied, "And do you think nasty is a nice word." The subject was abruptly changed.
Nicely
"How do you feel this morning?" "Nicely, thank you." The foregoing use of the word is as incorrect as it is common. Use very well instead.
No good, No use
"How does that new machine work?" "It's no good." "Shall I try again?" "No; it's no use." The answers should have been, "It is of no good, it is of no use."
O, Oh
While good usage is far from uniform, many excellent authors employ O only in cases of direct address and oh when strong and sudden emotion is to be expressed. O is always written with a capital letter, and should be followed by the name of the person or thing addressed, and the exclamation or interrogation point placed at the end of the sentence; as, "O Death, where is thy sting? O Grave, where is thy victory?" "O the cold and cruel winter!"
Oh in the body of a sentence may begin with a small letter, and is immediately followed by the exclamation point; as, "Oh! how terrible was his fate!" "The sad intelligence was gently given, but oh! the shock was almost unbearable."
Observe, Say
"He observed that the orphan pines while the oppressor feeds." To observe is to notice carefully, to attend closely to what one sees. In the above sentence said or remarked should be used instead of observed.
Of any, Of all
"This is the largest tree of any I have seen." The meaning clearly is, that of all the trees I have seen this is the largest. Hence, of any should be changed to of all.
Older, Elder
Elder and eldest are terms applied chiefly to persons, generally in speaking of members of the same family, while older and oldest are applied to persons of different families, and also to things.
"His elder brother died yesterday." "His eldest sister has gone to Italy on her wedding trip." "Our oldest neighbor was born in 1825." "This oak is older than that pine." The foregoing sentences illustrate the best usage as applied to the comparatives older and elder and the superlatives oldest and eldest.
When the direct comparison is made the word older is used, followed by the conjunction than; as, "My father is older than my mother." But when the comparison is assumed the word elder should be employed; as, "My father is the elder of my parents."
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