WORDS.—SPELLING.—PRONUNCIATION
188. To write and to speak good English, one must have a good working vocabulary. He
must know words and be able to use them correctly; he must employ only words that are in
good use; he must be able to choose words and phrases that accurately express his meaning;
and he must be able to spel and pronounce correctly the words that he uses.
WORDS
189. Good Use. The first essential that a word should have, is that it be in good use. A
word is in good use when it is used grammaticaly and in its true sense, and is also:
(1) Reputable; in use by good authors and writers in general. The use of a word by one or
two good writers is not sufficient to make a word reputable; the use must be general.
(2) National; not foreign or local in its use.
(3) Present; used by the writers of one's own time.
190. Offenses against Good Use. The offenses against good use are usualy said to be
of three classes: Solecisms, Barbarisms, and Improprieties.
191. Solecisms are the violations of the principles of grammar. Solecisms have been
treated under the earlier chapters on grammar.
192. Barbarisms. The second offense against good use, a barbarism, is a word not in
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reputable, present or national use. The folowing rules may be given on this subject:
1. Avoid obsolete words. Obsolete words are words that, once in good use, have since
passed out of general use. This rule might also be made to include obsolescent words: words Page 186
that are at present time passing out of use. Examples of obsolete words:
methinks
yesterwhiles
twixt
yclept
afeard
shoon
2. Avoid newly coined expressions or new uses of old expressions. There are a great
many words current in the newspapers and in other hasty writing that have not the sanction of
general good use at the present time, though many of these words may in time come into use.
A safe rule is to avoid al words that are at al doubtful. Examples:
an invite
an exposé
a try
enthuse
a combine
fake
A common newspaper fault is the coining of a verb or adjective from a noun, or a noun
from a verb. Examples:
locomote
suicided
derailment
pluralized
burglarized
refereed
3. Avoid foreign words. A foreign word should not be used until it has become
naturalized by being in general, reputable use. Since there are almost always English words
just as expressive as the foreign words, the use of the foreign words usualy indicates
affectation on the part of the one using them. Examples:
bilet-doux (love letter)
conversazione (conversation)
ad nauseam (to disgust)
distingué (distinguished)
ad infinitum (infinitely)
entre nous (between us)
4. Avoid provincialisms. Provincialisms are expressions current and wel understood in
one locality, but not current or differently understood in another locality. Examples:
guess (think)
reckon (suppose)
near (stingy)
smart (clever)
tuckered (tired out)
lift (elevator)
tote (carry)
ruination (ruin)
5. Avoid vulgarisms. Vulgarisms are words whose use shows vulgarity or ignorance. Page 187
Such words as the folowing are always in bad taste:
chaw
nigger
your'n
gal
flustrated
hadn't oughter
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haint
dern
his'n
6. Avoid slang. Slang is a form of vulgarism that is very prevalent in its use even by
educated people. Slang words, it is true, sometimes come into good repute and usage, but
the process is slow. The safest rule is to avoid slang expressions because of their general bad
taste and because of their weakening effect on one's vocabulary of good words. Examples of
slang:
grind
swipe
booze
long green
on a toot
dough
pinch
peach
dukes
7. Avoid clipped or abbreviated words. The use of such words is another form of
vulgarism. Examples:
pard (partner)
rep (reputation)
doc (doctor)
cal'late (calculate)
musee (museum)
a comp (complimentary ticket)
8. Avoid technical or professional words. Such words are usualy clearly understood
only by persons of one class or profession. Examples:
valence
hagiology
alonge
kilowatt
sclerosis
estoppel
193. When Barbarisms May be Used. In the foregoing rules barbarisms have been
treated as at al times to be avoided. This is true of their use in general composition, and in a
measure true of their use in composition of a special nature. But barbarisms may sometimes
be used properly. Obsolete words would be permissible in poetry or in historical novels, Page 188
technical words permissible in technical writing, and even vulgarisms and provincialisms
permissible in dialect stories.
EXERCISE 76
Substitute for each of the barbarisms in the following list an expression that is in
good use. When in doubt consult a good dictionary:
Chaw, quoth, fake, reckon, dern, forsooth, his'n, an invite, entre nous, tote, hadn't oughter,
yclept, a combine, ain't, dole, a try, nouveau riche, puny, grub, twain, a boom, alter ego, a
poke, cuss, eld, enthused, mesaliance, tolable, disremember, locomote, a right smart ways,
chink, afeard, orate, nary a one, yore, pluralized, distingué, ruination, complected, mayhap,
burglarized, mal de mer, tuckered, grind, near, suicided, calate, cracker-jack, erst,
railroaded, chic, down town, deceased (verb), a rig, swipe, spake, on a toot, knocker,
peradventure, guess, prof, classy, booze, per se, cute, biz, bug-house, swel, opry, rep,
photo, cinch, corker, in cahoot, pants, fess up, exam, bike, incog, zoo, secondhanded,
getable, outclassed, gents, mucker, galoot, dub, up against it, on tick, to rattle, in hock,
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busted on the bum, to watch out, get left.
EXERCISE 77
Make a list of such barbarisms as you yourself use, and devise for them as many
good substitute expressions as you can. Practice using the good expressions that you
have made.
EXERCISE 78
Correct the italicized barbarisms in the following sentences:
1. They can go everywheres.
2. He spends al his time grinding.
3. There ain't a sightlier town in the state.
4. He ate the whole hunk of cake
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He was treated very illy.
5. Smith's new house is very showy.
6. Not muchly wil I go.
7. Al were ready for breakfast before sun-up.
8. Do you like light-complected people?
9. I had never orated before.
10. Their clothes are always tasty in appearance.
11. He has money, but he is very near.
12. He left the room unbeknown to his mother.
13. If manners are any indication, she belongs to the nouvea riche.
14. I feel pretty tollable today.
15. I reckon al wil be able to get seats.
16. Do you callate to get there before noon?
17. If I had as much long green as he has, I wouldn't be such tight-wad.
18. He was the beau ideal of soldier.
19. John is a crazy cuss.
20. Let me say en passant we did not ask for the tickets.
21. Even at that time John had a bad rep.
22. That woman is the Countess of Verdun, née Smith.
23. Methinks you are wrong.
24. The teacher spake sharply to her.
25. I didn't go for to do it.
26. It wil be published inside of two months.
27. The duke and his wife were traveling incog.
28. I hadn't thought on that.
29. There is little difference twixt the two.
30. Come now, fess up.
31. It's a right smart ways to Wiliamsport.
32. You wot not what you say.
33. He bought a poke of apples for his lunch.
34. Brown runs a pretty classy store.
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35. I finaly got shut of him.
36. I could of jumped across.
37. That can't be done nohow.
38. You make such dumb mistakes.
39. I never saw such a bum show.
194. Improprieties. The third offense against good use, an impropriety, is the use of a Page 190
proper word in an improper sense. In many cases an offense against good use may be caled
a barbarism, an impropriety, or a solecism, since the fields covered by the three terms
somewhat overlap one another. Many improprieties have their origin in the similarities in
sound, speling or meaning of words. The folowing exercises deal with a number of common
improprieties resulting from the confusion of two similar words.
EXERCISE 79
Study the proper use of the words given under each of the following divisions. In
each group of sentences fill the blanks with the proper words:
Accept, except. See Glossary at end of book, under except.
1. I cannot —— your gift.
2. Have you no books —— these?
3. Cicero was not —— from the list of those condemned.
4. He —— the invitation.
Affect, effect. See Glossary under effect.
1. Wil your plan —— a reform from the present condition?
2. The sad news wil seriously —— his mother.
3. How was the bank —— by the indictment of its president?
4. The change of schedule was —— without a hitch.
Aggravate, irritate. See Glossary.
1. Her manner —— me.
2. The crime was —— by being committed in cold blood.
3. The children do everything they can to —— her.
4. His ilness was —— by lack of proper food.
Allude, mention. See Glossary.
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1. He —— (to) certain events which he dared not name directly.
2. The attorney —— (to) no names.
3. That passage in his book delicately —— (to) his mother.
4. In his speech the labor leader boldly —— (to) his recent arrest.
Argue, augur. To argue is to state reasons for one's belief. To augur means to foretell,
to presage.
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1. The reported quarrel —— il for the army.
2. He wil —— at length on any subject.
3. Her darkening looks —— a quarrel.
Avocation, vocation. A vocation is one's principal work or caling. An avocation is
something aside from or subordinate to that principal caling.
1. The young physician enthusiasticaly pursues his ——.
2. Law is his ——, but politics is his ——.
3. The ministry should be one's ——, never his ——.
4. While preparing for his life work, school teaching was for a time his ——.
Besides, beside. Besides means in addition to. Beside refers to place; as, He sits
beside you.
1. —— you, who else was there?
2. Is there nothing —— this to do?
3. John walked —— me.
4. —— me was a tree.
Calculate, intend. To calculate means to compute, to adjust or to adapt. Intend
means to have formed the plan to do something.
1. He —— to sel books this summer.
2. He —— that the work wil take ten years.
3. He —— to finish it as soon as he can.
4. The oil is —— to flow at the rate of a galon a minute.
Character, reputation. See Glossary.
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1. In this community his —— is excelent.
2. One's friends may endow him with a good ——, but not with a good ——.
3. Slander may ruin one's ——, but it wil not destroy his ——.
4. See that your —— is right, and your —— wil establish itself.
Claim, assert. To claim means to make a demand for what is one's own. It should not be
confused with assert.
1. I —— that I am innocent.
2. John —— the property as his.
3. They —— their right to the land.
4. The cashier —— the money in payment of a note.
5. Do you stil —— that you were born in America?
Council, counsel, consul. A council is a group of persons caled in to hold consultation.
Counsel means an adviser, as a lawyer; or advice that is given. Consul is an officer of the
government.
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1. In the colonies each governor had his ——.
2. The advisers gave him —— when he desired it.
3. The United States has a —— in every important foreign port.
4. In criminal cases the accused must be provided with ——.
5. The president's cabinet constitutes for him a sort of ——.
6. In Rome two —— were elected to manage the affairs of the state.
Emigration, immigration. See Glossary.
1. Foreign —— into the United States is greatly restricted.
2. The —— of the citizens of the United States to Canada is becoming a matter of
concern.
3. Our —— Bureau enforces the Chinese Exclusion Act.
4. The treatment of the royalists caused a great —— from France.
Good, well. Good is an adjective. Well is usualy an adverb, though sometimes an Page 193
adjective; as, Are you well to-day?
1. She talks very ——.
2. She prepares a —— paper, even if she does not write ——.
3. Do —— what you are doing.
4. Did you have a —— time?
5. Recite it as —— as you can.
House, home. House means only a building. Home means a place that is one's habitual
place of residence.
1. He thought often of the flowers about the door of his old ——.
2. They have recently bought a —— which they intend to make their ——.
3. Mr. Heim lives here now, but his —— is in Lewisburg.
4. He has several miserable —— that he rents.
5. Such a place is not fit to be caled a ——.
Most, almost. Almost is an adverb meaning nearly. Most never has this meaning.
1. I was —— injured when the machine broke.
2. It is —— time for him to come.
3. The —— discouraging thing was his indifference.
4. I —— missed the car.
5. —— of the books are torn.
Let, leave. See Glossary, under leave.
1. Wil his employer —— him go so early.
2. I shal —— at noon.
3. —— me help you with your coat.
4. —— me here for a while.
5. This book I —— with you.
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6. Do not —— that danger disturb you.
Like, as. Like should not be used as a conjunction in the sense of as. As a preposition it Page 194
is correct. It is wrong to say, Do like I do; but right to say, Do as I do.
1. He looks —— James.
2. Read —— James does.
3. Does she look —— me?
4. She thinks of it —— I thought.
5. Lincoln could do a thing —— that.
6. Other men could not do —— Lincoln did.
Likely, liable, probably. It is better to avoid using likely as an adverb; but it may be
used as an adjective; as, He is likely to come. Probably refers to any sort of possibility.
Liable refers to an unpleasant or unfavorable possibility; it should not be used as equivalent
to likely.
1. He is —— to arrest for doing that.
2. The president's car wil —— arrive at noon.
3. It is —— to rain to-day.
4. Is he —— to write to us?
5. Continued exposure makes one more —— to serious ilness.
6. What wil —— come of it?
Loan, lend. Loan should be used only as a noun, and lend only as a verb.
1. I wish to obtain a —— of fifty dolars.
2. Wil you —— me your knife?
3. A —— of money loses both itself and friend.
4. A —— is something that one —— to another.
Mad, angry. Mad means insane, uncontrollably excited through fear, etc. It should
not be used for angry or vexed.
1. His manner of speaking makes me ——.
2. It makes one —— to see such behavior.
3. The noise almost drove me ——.
Much, many. Much refers to quantity; many to number.
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1. Sometimes they have as —— as fifty in a class.
2. —— of the trouble comes from his weak eyes.
3. Do you use —— horses on the farm?
4. How —— marbles did the boy have?
Near, nearly. Near is an adjective; nearly an adverb.
1. Is the work —— finished?
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2. The man was —— the end of the porch.
3. It was —— noon when Blucher came.
4. They are —— insane with worry.
5. Mary is not —— so old as John.
Observation, observance. Observation means to watch, to look at. Observance
means to celebrate, to keep. Observation applies to a fact or an object; observance to a
festival, a holiday, or a rule.
1. The —— of the astronomer proved the theory.
2. Sunday —— is of value to one's bodily as wel as to one's spiritual health.
3. The —— of the sanitary regulations was insiste d upon.
4. The scientist needs highly developed powers of ——.
Respectively, respectfully. Respectively means particularly, relating to each.
Respectfully means characterized by high regard.
1. These three kinds of architecture were characterized —— as "severe," "graceful," and
"ornate."
2. Sign your letter "Yours ——," not "yours ——."
3. Their shares were —— two hundred dolars and five hundred dolars,
4. The class —— informed the faculty of their desire.
Suspect, expect. Suspect means to mistrust. Expect means to look forward to.
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1. I —— that he wil come.
2. He —— his brother of hiding his coat.
3. When do you —— to finish the work?
4. The man was never before —— of having done wrong.
Teach, learn. See Glossary under learn.
1. You must —— him to be careful.
2. He must —— to be careful.
3. To —— a class to study is a difficult task.
4. Who —— your class to-day.
Transpire, happen. Transpire does not mean to happen. It means to become gradually
known, to leak out.
1. She knows everything that —— in the vilage.
2. It —— that he had secretly sold the farm.
3. No more important event than this has —— in the last ten years.
4. It has now —— that some money was stolen.
Quite, very. Quite is not in good use in the sense of very or to a great degree. It
properly means entirely.
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1. The book is —— easy to study.
2. Have you —— finished your work.
3. The train ran —— slowly for most of the distance.
4. That is —— easy to do.
5. We were —— unable to reach the city any sooner.
EXERCISE 80
The following list includes some groups of words that are often confused. Far the
proper meaning of the words refer to a good dictionary. Write sentences using the
words in their proper senses:
practical, skiled
sensible, sensitive
couple, two
access, accession
future, subsequent
alusion, ilusion, delusion
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folk, family
conscience, consciousness
evidence, testimony
identity, identification
party, person, firm
limit, limitation
plenty, many, enough of
majority, plurality
portion, part
materialize, appear
solicitation, solicitude
invent, discover
human, humane
prescribe, proscribe
bound, determined
some, somewhat, something
fix, mend
mutual, common
foot, pay
noted, notorious
creditable, credible
wait for, wait on
exceptionable