The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1891-02-20
CORRECT USE OF LANGUAGE.

CORRECT USE OF LANGUAGE.
There are now, we til link, 800, 900 worGs
in the English language; the possibilities
in the use of synonyms are remarkable,
and we should say hat to the study of
synonyms the young writer should apply
himself diligently. To the newspaper
writers we are looking with solicitude and
hope, for the reason that outside the col
umns OF the press our. literature does not
appear to be making any progress at all.
Our literature Of the press is, on the other
hand constantly improving. and in the
last ten years that improvement has been
marked. Still there is a chance for i'm
pro7ements, and it occurs to US that the
besetting sin of our newspaper writers at
this time is a devotion to absurd isms-fo-
example the too common usage of that
negroism ''like'' for ''as i'' 1T looks like
1t was going to rain" This absurdity runs
riot in prints south Of Mason and Dixon's
line and has crept across the line here in
the west to shock us with a sporadic APP
pearance in our diurnal publications.
There is no such word as s'wended' the
past of "wend" is "went." 4 man cannot
be said to have wendell his way. He either
went his way or he has went his way.
Likewise" is often enormously used for
'%'also"; likewise couples actions or states
of being; also classes together things or
quail tiles.
Commence should not be used when be-
gin can be instead.
Trsnspire is never a synonym of happen
Weary is a transitiye verb only; it is
therefore, highly improper to say Zone
wearies of life."
Do notuse sin cur midst when you
M can in the midst OF u.s."
Do not use anyhow" when you mean
anyway"
Be exceedingly careful in placing that
small but potent word "orly." Nine times
out of ten it is misplaced.
Do not confoand evidence with ties
timony."
Never use above as an adjective.
'The above extract is q barbarism. Nor
should you ever use Chen as 40 adj sctive
e. g. ''the then king awful!
Do not confonnd try with make"
You make-noe try-an experiment.
Acommon error is the use of excess
lively" when exceedingly is intended.
Do MT confound never and lever;
never is an adverb of time, ever may be
an adverb of degree.
The sun sets and a hen %"sits.
A proposal and a proposition are differ
ent things.
BE careful not to confouud "allude''
with "~refer" or advert"
So is an adverb of degree and such
is an adjective of kind.
There is no such word as 'pantaIoons'
in the English language" New York
Sun, July, 1885.
Webster j~ustiies the use of chan as
a preposition-ssThan whom no better man
lives" Webster means well enough.
There is no such word as 'jeopardize;"
the word is leopard
Woman" is Anglo-Saxon, lady" is
Anglo Saxon and female" is French.
'Lurid' means ghasty pale, gloomy or
dismal.
Graveyard" Anglo-Saxon: ''burying
ground" Anglo Saxon; cemetery, Latin.
"Restiye'' must not be COMPOUNDED with
''restless,"
"Say," speak" %"tell," answer
Anglo Saxon; estate, - %'recite, . "narrate,"
"allege," declare, y "afi rm, I" respond"
all Latin; "remark, '''reply," recount"
ALI French.
'Indices" are algebraic signs; indexes
are tables of contents.
Never say Sin this connection when
you mean Fin connection with this"
That is complete v hich has all its parts:
eutire which has not been divided; whole
from which nothing has been taken. Total
refers to the aggregate of the parts.
With denotes an instrument, and seby'
a cause. "He killed with a sword he died
by an arrow"
"Dead, Anglo-Saxon; deceased. I" old
English; 'demised, French: '~'defunet, =
Latin.
Never separate the infinitiye; example;
.'He promised to speedily comply"
Proceed" is French; ''go on is Anglo
Saxon.
Do not suffer Mr.. Addison or any body
else to bluff you out Of the use of that
noble word that"
Never use, except in a humorous way,
those hackneyed phrases and hoary words
of which notorious specimens are: Light
fantastic toe ''minc host,n 'his good
lady" beautiful and accomplished,
s.wee sma' hours" ''grosned with the
delicaeies Of the season. - ''speekled beau
ties y ''cleme de la creme, " dull sicken-
ing thud,' and recherche" = Eugene
Field, in Chicago Netps.
Cease your coughing and enjoy refresh
ing slumber, which DR.. Bulls Cough
Syrup will insure you.
'sAre you going to the races?' Yves,