The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-09-15
| DONT'S
For Speaker and
Writer
II Ready Reminder of Errors In
the Use of Common Words,
Arranged alphabetically

errors quite another 10 avoid them lie
who waits for the faultless one TO cast
the first critical stone waits In vain;
therefore. as one OF many working for
the betterment OF the English language,
l shall be pleased TO receive kindly criti-
eism IL, perchance l, too, have erred
ones theory often is better than ones
practice. This was exemplihed by the
teacher OF language when he said to his
class; Never use proposition to end
sentence with"
Many years ago l began TO be watchful
OF errors. / noted them in a little book:
the book grew as the years passed l
profited much; shall profit more. now
record them that l may benefit others as
well as myself. Many of them are re-
corded for the first time.
Don't say carpenter" for 'Joiner."
NOte.-One may be carpenter and
joiner, but a carpenter is not neces-
sarily joiner. The joiner begins
where the carpenter ceases.
Don't say casualty" for casualty"
Note-There is no word casualty.
Don't say center" for middle"
Note-The center is a point equi-
distant from the circumference; the
middle a point equi-distant from the
two eXtremities
Don't say certain" for "sure"
Example: Il am certain he will
come" should be Il am sure he will
come"
Noto Wa aro certain in raoard m
the past sure in regard to the future.
Don't say "chuck-full" for "chock-
full."
Note.-There is no word chuck-full.
Don't say "claim" for "assert."
Example: He claimed his rights"
should be "He asserted his rights"
Don't say clerks"
Example: "She clerks at Marshall
Fields" should be She is a clerk at
Marshall Fields"
Note.-The word clerk is not verb.
Don't say "close proximity" for
proximity"
Example: THE close proximity OF
the sentinel caused him TO halt"
should be The proximity of the SEN
tinel caused him 70 halt
Note.-As proximity means an i'm
mediate nearness, it is evident that
close is superhou5.
Don't say collecting bills" for "col-
Letting"
Example,: "He is collecting bills"
should be "He is collecting"
Note.-The word bills is superfous.
Bills are presented that money may be
collected One would not have the
same difficulty in collecting bills as he
would have in collecting money; there
fore it were better to say, He is col
lecting." or more truly, perhaps. He is
trying to collect"
Don't say comb my head" for comb
my hair"
Don't say comb out your hair" for
"comb your hair"
Note.-The word out is super
fous One may comb out a tangle or
comb the hair until the tangle is out; T
but it is not necessary TO comb the hair
out
Don't say combined together" for
combined"
Example: "They combined together /
as conspirators. should be they COM
bined as conspirators.
Don't say "comc in" for come"
Note.-The WORD in is superlous, il /
given as summons for one to enter .
and given by one who is within.
Don't say come" for came"
Example: she come for advice"
should be "She came for advice"
Don't say commence to-"
Note.-Commence should not be fol- I
lowed by the infnitive.
at is the practice of good writer's to
use the verbal noun Gnstead of the
infnitive with TO- after commence, as, /
"He commenced studying" not, "He
commenced TO study"-Webs. Int.
Good writers also use begin instead
OF commence We begin to read. We
commence reading.
Don't say Compare to" for" COM
pare with"
Examples: Compare Lincoln to
Grant" should be Compare Lincoln
with Grant"
Note.-To compare to is TO note the 7
resemblance; 10 compare with is to
note the relative excellence.
Example of resemblance: The many
wires of the Western Union Telegraph
company may be compared to the nerves
OF the human body.
Don't say consequence for i'm
portance.
Example: 1T is of no consequence"
should be 1T is OF no importance"
Don't say consider" for regard. 4" 4
Example, Il consider him just
man" should be 81 regard him a just