The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-02-28
SOME AMERlCANISMS.
Words and Phrases Which Are Commonly
Misused.

words and Phrases Which Are Commonly
Misused.
Of course, the English language is
often incorrectly spoken in England as
well as in this country, but, to be profit
able, criticism, like charity, ought to
begin at home.
That we are improving, no one will
dispute whose memory goes back for a
generation, but it will do us no harm to
recall certain words and phrases still
current among us for which there really
is no justification. Why, for instance,
do we now inaugurate" whatever we
do not initiate" apparently without
any idea of what the words signify?
Why do we so often commence" when
we begin? Why do we give ''ovations''
to people, evidently not having rotten
eggs in mind? Why do we call an edi-
ton of newspaper an 'issue," as if it
were something that could be healed?
Why do we have 'recitals of music on a
piano-forte, when we do not speak of
| playing pictures on canvas?
Why do we say 'ain't'' for isn't" Z"
and don't for ''doesn't?" Why do we
Endorse" any thing except commercial
paper and legal documents2 Why do
we say square meal, when "round'
used to be the epithet for things that
are perfect and honest and admirable? =?
Why do we assert that we "have got'' a
thing, when ''have" will suffice, and
why do we make the pleonasm worse
by the affectation of correctness
''gotten?" Why for "station" or rail.
way station" do we substitute "depot,"
which is neither English nor French?
On what ground do we declare that
we do not feel like" doing something,
meaning that we are not inclined to do
it? One may feel like an ass, but how
can one feel like doing, or, worse, like
eating something? Sometimes one
even hears the phrase: do you feel
like beefsteak?" How, pray, does beef.
steak feel? Why should we use lever
so much" for 'very much" or describe
man as perfectly lovelyP"
In English, the adverb quite" means
entirely" ''completely;" but when we
say that some one is quite WELL" we
mean not that he is perfectly but only
tolerably well. We even see in Amer.
lea the phrase, quite a number of per-
sons" as if one number was not as
much number as another. We talk OF
prominent" citizen, intending to
describe him not as protuberant, but
| simply as eminent. Then, again, we
ask friend to come round" to-mor-
row, though he may have only to come
across the street. We say: "You are
hereby notified" instead off "Jt is here.
by notified to you," and we speak
of a fact ''transpiring, as If a fact
wero endowed with an apparatus for
breathing
Why do we deem it elegant to say that
thing was "intimated," when we
mean that it was said? And why do we
think it sounds fine to speak of thing
being definitely arranged" when we
mean that it was definitely or finally
settled? The answer to most of these
questions is obviously that such mis-.
takes are made by persons who do not
remember, or who have not reflected on
the etymology of the words mentioned.
which, of course, supplies the key to
their true meaning and right use.-N.
Y. Ledger.
-"Good morningl" said the Pump to
the Hydrant, cheerfully, 81 don't speak
to such as you," replied the Hydrant,
ungraciously. Perhaps it is better you
don't" retorted the Pump; ~ am well
connected, and you are not. t."--Inter
Ocean.
-Grindstone. = "Chugwater baldP
You are surely mistakenP" Kiljordan
HES as bald as new laid egg. I
have seen him without his wig. /
know hair-off affirm. Chicago Tri,
bune