Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-09-25
The Obieotionable English.

Many respectable writers, yielding to a fond
ness of novelty put words to quite other uses
than ct matey belong to them and there
is strong tendency TO laxIty in the choice OF
language very annoying to a!I-who love exact
ness in English style Cham5erS' Journ7i
gives a number of specimens Of careless use
of words -
Aggruratc, in the sense Of irritate-
He aggravated me So Duch that at last
struck hun. The least reflection Oh the ETY.
mo'ogy as the word is sHfiicept to show how
enormously it is here used. A gentleman
might say -" His conduct toward me was
/ very iusoIent the offence was aggravated by
my having never shown him anything but
kindness. " 1t is probably from its use in such
a legitimate conn, cton OF ideas, that it has at
length come, in loose, common speech, TO re-
present the words insult and irrtate.
Some. " 1t took the counsel some two hours
to cross examine the witness. G The proper
wold to be used is " about" Its rcma. liable
that Raleigh, Bacon, Milton, Addison and
Prior use the word = some" in this objection
able way.
Progr5ss as verb We are progressing
fayorably" This is a barba.iSm recently in
proceed aud advance exist it seems pity 10
adopt ID pew one out of its old, accustomed
scuse Here, too, however. there is not want
ing CERTAIN classic sanction, for the word is
used as "a verb 10y Milton.
Antiquarian as uunn, Antiquarian being
the adjective, ii is surely best That We Use an
tiquary as the noun, seeing That it is at our
service. The language, being varied, is en-
richcd
Talented. "Talents," in the sense of mental
abilities is itself a scarcely legitimate term,
being only adopted 6guratively from the word
n the scrptura parable When used as above
it becomes unbearable Our language as ii
happens, exhibits poverty of words for men
tai ability, yet, gifted would be preferable
to talented"
"lou poorid IRISH ms 10 jnuile you; but I an
not goiag TO-" Mark caught the 1cOrds he
acaS not intended TO-" The sentences give eX-
amples of an elision which has become very
common in the familiar language of the mid
die classes, and is even creeping into print
Let it be condemned and avoided.
Directly, in the sense of when or as soon as
Directly the pot is boiling, take it off the
fire. The word is here manitestly used in
wrong relation
As rel, in the sense of also. He was
very angry, and | was hot as well.' This is
another growing grammatical evil much to be
depret at d.
'IHe question lays IN q nutShelL" This SEN
tance occurred few days ago in daily
journal of very high repute. 1t is an exam
pie of mistake very generalin conv' rsatioa
amongst the middle classes Of the English peo-
pie fit is unknown in Scotland the active
verb Ian substituted for the neuter verb lie
and which most frequently occurs in the pre-
terite, as I" | laid down in bed, for " lag
down. &c; or, " had scarcely laid down
in bed, for had scarcely lain down." &c.
Left for departed Thomas. left this morn
ing at six In using the word g left" the men
tion of the place departed from is strictly ne
cessaiy
IN this connection. ain this connection, we
may also advert 10 the present age" Mean
ing, in connection with this fact, or PROPOSE
tion or group of ideas. This is piece OF
corrupt phraseoogy, which seems to have ta-
ken its rise in the American pulpit, but is now
spread ding in Euglaud.
"7Aosc sort Of things" The proper express
sion to use would be, that sort OF things, or
things of that kind
"J0ha, schom she said 10aS looking another
ray" This is an example of direct breach ol