Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-06-14
DO / S
For Speaker and
Writer - g
Ready Reminder Of: Errors In
IL tbs Use OF Common Words,
..> Arranged Alphabetically
Z BY EDWARD f. WARMAN, A. NJ.

the betterment Of the English language.
Ishall be pleased to receive kindly criti-
clsm. it, pcrchance, l, too, have erred.
ones theory often is better than ones
practice. This was eXemplifled by the
teacher of language when he said to his
class: 'Never use proposition to end
q sentence with"
Many years ago began to be watchful
OF errors. l noted them in little book;
the book grew as the years passed. I
proflted much; shall profit more. I now
record them that may benefit others as
well as myself. Many OF them are re-
corded for the first time
Don't say lots for many" or 'sev-
eral''
Example: There were lots of people
there should be There were many
Tor 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."
Motel 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
nf min 1~
mad, but we signify thereby much more
than is contained in the word angry.
Don't say man and wife" for "hus-
band and wife"
Example: Il pronounce you man and
wife," should be II pronounce you hus-
band and wife,
Note.-A Biblical term; but it will not
bear analysis. If man, then woman. II
| wife. then husband. To pronounce them
imam and wife" is to marry only the wo-
man.
Don't say "marvelous'' 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 IT,
, Example: ut is me-" should be "It is
| IT,
Example: ''He is better than me-"
should be He is better than l."
Example: ''They said more than me-
should be :'They said more than l"
| (said).
Example: who are invited? You and
me?' should be who are invited? You
and I?'
Note.-YOu and are invited not you
and me are invited. You are invited and
am invited.
E
Don't say "modiste" for "milliner."
Note.-A modiste is a dressmaker.
Don't say more for most
Example: els bravery, courage or
strength the more desirable?" should be
us 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, 1T is a most novel invention"
1T was a most rapid transit" should be
''He is finished speaker" 1T is novel
tnvention.' 1T was a rapid transit"
Note.-The word most, like very. can
| be dispensed with in the majority of
sentences in which it is used. If the ar
ticle "the' were used, the foregoing SEN
fences would be correct; i.e, He is the
most finished speaker 1T is the most
| novel invention 1T 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: us bravery or courage the
most desirable?" should be els bravery
or courage the more desirable?"
Note.-Comparative, more.
Don't say, Mrs. General Mrs.
President --,' Mrs. Professor -"
Note.-The wife should not be adj
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. r. :'.~...
-
Don't say near" for nearly"
Example: He was re- hurt near so
bad as he thought Should be HE was
not hurt nearly SO bad as he thought"
T. Note.--7Near 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-
ton in all such cases should be placed
before and as near as possible to the OBJ
ject excluded