The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-03-11
GOOD ENGLISH.
Write and Speak Correctly When
You Can.

You Can.
From a paper read at q recent
meeting of the Chicago Trade Press
Association by Mr.. A. H. Lockwood,
we quote a list of hints to writers
regarding the meaning of certain
words in common use which have
synonyms, or words very nearly
synonymous -
Abortive means untimely in its birth
and so brought out before it is we'll ma
tured. A plan may be abortive, but an
act cannot.
Accord is a stilted substitute for give.
Ability and capacity are not exact
synonyms. The former is the power
of applying, the latter of acquiring.
knowledge.
Aggravate means to add to the
weight of, and is not equivalent to
irritate.
You can administer governments,
oaths, medicine, but not blows nor
punishment, they are dealt or given.
Adopt Is poor substitute for take in
such phrases as "What course will you
adopt?"
We write of an aggressive salesman,
an aggressive firm. The word doesn't
mean enterprising or even pushing,
but hitting first. making the first
attack.
Do not confound amateur with
novice. An amateur may be an artist
of great experience and skill, but he is
not a professional artist. A novice is a
beginner.
An audience is an assembly of
hearers.
There can be no audience at q
gymnastic performance, a pantomime,
a boat-race, sparring match, and the
like. Where only the eye is appealed
to use the word spectators.
Avocation is not synonymous with
vocation. A mans vocation is his
calling, his business; his avocatiops
are the things that occupy him
incidentally.
Do not use balance in the sense of
rest, remainder, residuum, or remnant.
The word is only permissible where
the simile of the scales will apply as in
q bookkeeper's balance.
Do not confound bountiful with
plentiful. Bountiful means liberal,
beneficent.
Distinguish character from reputa-
ton. Slander may harm reputation,
but not character.
Commence il called vulgar by many
authorities. Begin is far preferable,
because it is shorter and is Anglo
Saxon.
Consider means to contemplate, to
ponder. Do not use for think, suppose,
or regard.
Constantly is not Synonymous with
frequently. Constantly means uninter-
ruptedly.
Deprecate is wrongly used for disap-
prove, censure, condemn. The WORD
really means to beg or pray against.
Description should not be used for
kind or sort. Say, "His clothes were
of the nearest Sort" and not, "of the
meanes. description"
Dirt means filth. A thing that is
dirty is foul. Do not use for earth,
loam, gravel or sand.
Do not use expect for suppose, think,
or guess.
Farther should be used exclusively
with reference to distance. In other
connections use further.
Got is more misused than any word
in the language. Get expresses attain
ment by exertion; possession is
completely expressed by have. II
have got" is in nine CASTS out of ten a
vulgar error; as in, II have got a
book in my hand"
Gratutious should not be used for un-
founded, untrue, unreasonable.
Less relates to quantity; fewer
relates to numbers.
A man is liable to that to which he is
exposed, or obliged or subject; but he
is not liable to act. Do not confound
with likely.
Mutual is not synonymous with com
mon. Macaulay says: "Mutual
friend is a low vulgarism for common
friend"
Number is ofted used as a verb
where has is meant; as in "the lodge
nnmhars fOrty members.O