Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1905-06-22
DONT'S
For Speaker and
- -. Writer
Ready Reminder OF Errors in
the Use Of Common Words
Arranged Alphabetically
BY EDWARD B. wARMAN, A. NJ.

(Author Of practical Orthoepy and Crit
ique," 1.-THE Voice: How to Train It;
How to Care for It," ETC.,
Copyright. 1905, by Joseph B. Bowles)
Authors Note.-It is one thing to record
errors, quite another to avoid them. HI
who waits for the faultless one to cast
the first critical stone waits in vain
therefore, as one Of many working fol
the betterment of the English language
I shall be pleased to receive kindly crlt1
ctsm If, perchance, I, too, have erred.
Ones theory often is better than ones
practice. This was exemplified by the
teacher of language when he said to his
class: "Never use a proposition to enc
sentence WITH
Many years ago I began to be watchfu
of errors. I noted them in little book
the book grew as the years passed.
profited much; shall profit more. l now
record them that may benefit others as
well as myself. Many Of them are re.
corded for the first time.
Don't say custom for habit"
Example: ''That is his custom.
should be ''That is his habit"
Note.-Wheh speaking of custom VI
infer national traits; but nabit has
reference to individuals.
Don't say ''cut on the bias"
Example: II had it cut on the bias,
should be II had it cut bias"
Note.-The words ION the" are
superfuous, the Webs. Int. to the con.
trary Notwithstanding. We would not
say "cut it on the square" or "cut II
on the round"
Don't say dangerous" for lin dan.
ger"
Example: "He is i'll, but not dan
gerous," should be "He is i'll, but
not in danger" or, "He is i'll, but not
dangerously So"
Note.-The first expression might be
true if said of an insane person.
Don't say "demean" for "debase.' -
Example: do not edemean your
SELF" should be "Do not debase your
SELF
Note.-Demean, like behave, signi-
fies conduct of any kind. Ones de-
meanor may be good or bad.
Don't say diagram that"
Example: Diagram that upon the
blackboard" should be make a dia-
gram of that upon the blackboard"
Note.-Diagram is not verb.
Don't say "Differ from" for differ
with.'
Example: IT differ from him in his
opinion of Chicago" should be 81
differ with him in his opinion of Chi
cago."
Note.-In matters of opinion we diff
fer with; in appearance we differ from.
Don't say "discommode."
Example: IT fear it will discom-
mode you," should be II fear it will
incommode you.''
Note.-The first is more common;
the second, correct.
Don't say "disremember."
Example: II 6isremember saying
It," should be II do not remember say
ing it," or, II have no remembrance
of it."
Note.-"Disremember is obsolete or
archaic. "-Webs. Int.
Don't say distinguish" for dis
criminate."
. Example: do you distinguish be-
tween the true and the false in elocu-
tion?" should be do you discriminate
between the true and the false in elo-
cution?" or, do you distinguish the
true from the false in elocution?"
Note.-We should distinguish the
one from the other, and then discrim-
mate between them. One may distin-
guish without discriminating. The
first sentence is indefinite in conse-
quence Of it's ambiguity.
Don't say donate"
NOte.-So say some of the authori-
ties; yet am inclined to favor the use
of donate and donation. They seem to
have~a special significance. Donate;
"a modern word. "-Worc.
Don't say "done" for "did."
Example: "Who done it," should
be "Who did it,"
Don't say "don't' for doesn't
Example: "He don't come to
school," should be "He doesn't or
does not come to school,"
Note.-"Don't" is a contraction of
do and not; therefore, to say he don't
come to school is equivalent to say
ing HE do not come to school,
Don't" should be used only with
you, they, we and I; doesn't with he,
she and II.
Example: You don't, they don't,
We don't, I don't; he doesn't, she
doesn't, It doesn't.
Rule.-Never use don't with he, she
and it.
Don't say don't think for think"
Example,: "He's not coming, 1 don't