The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-05-11
DONT'S
For Speaker and
Writer
Ready Reminder of Efrors In
the Use of Common Words,
Arranged Alphabetically


Arranged Alphabetically
By EDWARD Il. wARMAN, A. NJ
(Author Of Practical Orthoepy and Crit
iaue." The Voice: How to Train It:
How to Care for It. E,c)
Copyright. 1905. BY Joseph b. Bowles)
Authors Note.-It is one thing to record
errors. quite another to avoid them. He
who waits for the faultless one to cast
the frst 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 critl-
cism, il. perchance, l. too. have erred.
Ones theory often is better than ones
practice. This was exemplitied BY the
teacher of language when he said to his
class: Never use u proposition to end
q sentence with
Many years ago l began to be watchful
OF errors. noted them in q little book:
the book grew as the years passed. l
protited much: shall profit more. l now
record them that may benefit others az
we'll as myself Many Of them are r.
corded for the first time.
Don't say above for beyond"
Example: 1T was above his
strength" "It was above his expecta-
tions." should be ut was beyond his
strength" 1T was beyond his expecta-
tons"
Don't say above" for foregoing"
Example: THE above reason is suf-
ficient." The above paragraph is cor
rect" should be The foregoing reason
is sufficient" THE foregoing para
graph is correct"
Note-That which is above on the
written page does not always appear
above on the printed page.
Don't say above" for more than"
Example: cit was above the average
attendance" should be ut was more
than the average attendance"
Don't say abundance" for plenty"
Example: Il have an abundance
should be II have plenty"
Motel should be SO expressed in
the majority of cases. To have an
abundance is to have more than you
need; to have plenty is to have as
much rs you need.
Don't say acoustics are for "acous.
tics isl
Example: "The acoustics of the new
hall are. almost perfect" should be 1.-THE
acoustics of the new hall is almost
perfect"
Note-Names of sciences in lies, al
acoustics. mathematics. physics, etc.
are usually treated as singular.
Don't say afraid" for fear"
Example: II am afraid it is true,'
should be II fear 1t is true"
Don't say afterwards" for latter.
ward"
Example: "He did not arrive until
afterwards" should be "He did not ar.
rive until afterward"
Note-The same criticism applies to
the words downwards, earthwards, for.
wards. heavenwards, EDWARDS, up
wards. etc. am aware that the die
tionaries allow both forms. but dc
not know of an instance in which the
thought is strengthened by the addi-
tional letter.
Don't co say "A good cup of cot.
fee" "a new set Of harness" IA new
suit of Clothes" for "A cup of good
coffee" "a set of new harness." "a
suit Of new Clothes"
Note-So say many authorities. To
my own thinking the foregoing SEN
fences are correct. inasmuch as the
words. coup of Coffee" "set of harness.
and "suit of clothes" are phrase words.
] record them. however, for the bene-
At that may be derived from the con-
troversy they may cause.
Don't say "aggravate" for provoke
or "irritate."
Example: "He aggravates me-"
should be "He provokes me-" or "He
irritates me-"
Note-To aggravate is to increase;
hence. you may aggrayate one who is
already provoked or irritated. In any
other case it is used enormously.
Don't say "a hour" for IAN hour"
Example: "It was hour or more
ago." should be ut was an hour or
more ago"
Don't say "all over" for cover all"
Example: II have Travelled all over
the United States" should be II have
Travelled over all the United States"
. =
Don't say "alone" for only"
Example: at is known to him