The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-07-27
DONT'S
For Speaker and
Writer

BIZ EDWARD B. wARMAN. A. M.

AVue, Inc voice: How to Train It,
How to Care for It." Etc.)
Copyright. 1905. b. Joseph B. Bowles.)
Authors Note.-It 10 one thing to record
errors. quite another to avoid them. He
VINO waits for the faultless one to cast
fhe nrst critical stone waits in vain:
therefore. a. one OF many working for
tne betterment Of the English language,
shal! be pleased to receive kindly critt-
eism. II. perchance. I. too. have erred.
ones theory often 10 better than ones
practice. This was exemplified by the
teacher Of language when he said to his
class: Never use proposition to end
sentence with
Many years ago began to be watchful
OF errors. l noted them In little book;
tne BOOK grew as the years passed.
prohted much: shall profit more. l now
record them that I may benefit others as
vel a. myself. Many Of them are re-
corded for the first time.
Don't say Ito" for at
Example: I've been to school," "I've
been to the OPERA" i've been to
church, 1--WE been to home" should be
"I've been at school," i've been at the
opera. 1--WE been at church" 1--WE been
at homs.'
.
Don't gay Ito" for "of."
Example: ut is twenty minutes to
four" (o'clock), should be 1T Is twenty
minutes of four" (o'clock).
Note.-Twenty minutes to four would
be twenty minutes toward four, /. e.,
twenty minutes after three; as time is
reckoned from the hour last passed.
Don't say Ito have come" for Ito
come"
Example: Il expected to have come
this morning," should be Il expected to
come this morning."
Don't say Ito have found" for ito
find"
Example: Il expected to have found
him here" should be Il expected to ind
him here"
Don't say Ito have gone" for ito 60"
Example: "They wished to have gone
yesterday" should be "They wished to
60 yesterday"
Donstsay took up" or taken up" for
"begun."
Example: "Has school took up?"
HAS school taken up?" should be HAS
school begun?"
Don't say "transpired" for Occurred"
Example: "TNe fight transpired yes
terday," should be 1.-THE fight occurred
yesterday"
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. than syno-
nym OF perspire-means to reveal, to
come to light. 1t should be used in such
instance only.
Example: 1T has just transpired that
Prendergast is the assassin"
Don't say 'try an experiment" for
make an experiment"
Example: "Ill try an experiment"
should be ''I'll make an experiment"
Note.-The experiment is the trial.
One does not try trial.
Don't say two first" for first two"
Example: "They occupied the two
first rows" should be "They occupied
the first two rows"
Note.-There can be but one row that
10 first.
Don't say "ugly" for "homely."
Note.-Ugly has reference to DISPOSE
ton, homely to appearance. One may
be homely and also ugly; such one is
not to be envied. LONELINESS is not to
be despised, but ugliness is to be
avoided.
Don't say "unbeknown."
Example,: HE is unbeknown to the
Others" should be "He is unknown to
the Others"
Don't say uncommon" for "uncom-
monty"
Example: 1T was uncommon good"
should be 1T was uncommonly good.'
Don't say universally by ALL"
Example: "They were universally be-
loved by all" should be "They were uni
versally beloved" or "They were be-
loved by ALL"
= Note.-Either universally or all II
superfiuous.
Don't say "upwdt ds" for upward"
Note.-The "s" is unnecessary: the
word should be upward. See after
wards.
Don't say upwards of" for more
thai"
Example: HE has been in Washing
ton upwards Of ten years." should be
"IIo has been in Washington more than
ten years."
The word upward is often understood
to mean up toward; hence it is in
definite. 1t is better to say more than"
II you mean more than"
II have been your wife in this obedi-
ence upward Of twenty years. Shake
spsare.
Note.-The foregoing is an illustra-
ton Of the words upward Of in the
sense Of more than"
Don't say Gus" for I'VE"
Example: us men were followers"
should be I'VE men were followers"
Don't say vast" for great"
Example: "He lost q vast amount Of
should be "He lost a great Tor
large, or enormously amount of money"
NOfo Tho uvnpd NOT oho,,l1 rovor ho