The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-06-22
DONT'S
For Speaker and
Writer
Ready Reminder Of Errors In
the Use of Common Words,
Arranged Alphabetically


practice This was exemplitied by the
teacher of language when he said 10 his
class: Never use a proposition to end
| q sentence with"
Many years ago began to be watchtul
Of errors. l noted them in little book;
the book grew as the years passed. l
profited much: shall profit more. l 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 "lots" for many" or sew
eral."
Example: "There were lots of people
there" should be There were many
Cor severaD people there"
| Don't say lunch" for luncheon"
Example: Have you had lunch?"
should be Have you had luncheon?' or
'Have you lunched?"
Don't say mad" for angry"
Example: He has been mad all
morning" should be He has been an
CRY all morning"
Note-I am aware that the word mad
IS sometimes defended because it Is used
in the Bible and in Shakespeare, but
there are many Biblical and Shakespeare
can words and terms that are now used
to convey a different meaning. The
word mad, however, is still in use, but
should not take the place of the word
angry. We speak of animals going
mad, but we signify thereby much more
than is contained in the word angry.
Il
Don't say man and wife" for "hus-
band and wife"
Example: Il pronounce you man and
wife," should be Il pronounce you hus-
band and wife"
Note.-A Biblical term; but 1t will not
bear analysis. If man, then woman. If
wife, then husband. To pronounce them
''man and wife" is to marry only the wo-
man.
Don't say marvellous for "wonder-
full"
Note.-Many things are wonderful
that are not marvellous; but all things
marvellous are wonderful. That which
Is wonderful appeals to or surprises the
senses; that which is marvellous appeals
to the reason.
Don't say "me" for 81"
Example,: ut is me-" should be 1T is
l."
Example: HE is better than me, -
should be ''He is better thanI."
Example: "They said more than me-
should be 'They said more than I"
(said).
Example: "Who are invited? You and
me?" should be 'Who are invited? You
and II"
Note.-You and are invited, not you
and me are invited. You are invited and
I am invited.
Don't say "modiste" for "milliner."
Note.-A modiste is a dressmaker.
Don't say more" for most"
Example: us bravery, courage or
strength the more desirable?" should be
els bravery, courage or strength the
most desirable?"
Note.-Comparative more, two OBJ
jects; superlative most. three or more.
| .
Don't say "most finished" etc.
Example: "He is most finished
speaker" ut is most novel invention"
cit was most rapid transit" should be
"He is finished speaker" ut is a novel
invention" 1T was rapid transit"
Note-The word most, like very, can
be dispensed with in the majority of
sentences in which it is used. II the ar
ticle "the" were used, the foregoing SEN
fences would be correct; i.e., HE is the
most finished speaker" ut is the most
novel invention" ut was the most
rapid transit, etc.
Don't say most" for almost
Example: "He comes most every
day." should be "He comes almost every
day"
Don't say "most" for more"
Example: els bravery or courage the
most desirable?" should be SIS bravery
or courage the more desirable?"
Note.-Comparative, more.
|
Don't say, "Mrs General -" "Mrs.
President -" MRS. Professor -"
Note.-The wife should not be ad-
dressed by the husbands title.
Don't say must first"
Example: Before going must first
be satisfied as to his intention" should
| be Before going must be satisfied as
| to his intention"
Don't say "near" for nearly"
Example: "He was r,t hurt near so
bad as he thought" Should be He was
not hurt nearly SO bad as he thought"
Note.-Near should not be used as an
adverb in the sense of nearly.
Don't say neither give" for give
neither"
Example: "They would neither give
meat or drink" should be "They would
give neither meat nor drink"
Note.-To say neither give" implies
that they desired to sell. The conjunc-
tion in all such cases should be placed
before and as near as possible to the OBJ
ject excluded.