Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1905-06-01
DONT'S
For Speake1" and
Writer
Ready Reminder Of Errors In
the Use Of Common Words
Arranged Alphabetically
BY EDWARD B. wARMAN, A. M.

VINO waits IOr the 1duAtAeSS OA1o W So9N
the first critical stone waits In vain;
therefore. as one Of many working for
| the betterment Of the English language
I shall be pleased to receive kindly crit1-
| cism If, perchance, I. too, have erred.
Ones theory often Is better than one
| practice. This was exemplified by the
teacher Of language when he said TO ms
class: Never Xee proposition TO enc
a sentence with"
Many years ago 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 anticipate" for "appre-
hend."
Example: "The calamity was hourly
anticipated" should be ''The calamity
was hourly apprehended."
Note-These words are often used in
terchangeably. We anticipate joyful
occasions; we apprehend fearful ones
:
Don't say anxiety Of mind"
Example: HE has great anxiety OF
mind" should be "He has great anxi-
ety."
Note-An anxiety being Of the mind,
the words "of mind'' are superduous.
Don't say "apprehend" for "compre-
hend."
Note-One may apprehend that
which he does not comprehend.
1--WE may apprehend many truths
which we do not comprehend
French.
Don't say appreciation" for ZAP
prevail"
Note-The latter is the stronger
term. One may have the appreciation
of his friends, but lack the approval
of his conscience.
Don't say approved Of"
Example: "The decision was ap-
proved of by all" should be 1.-THE de-
cision was approved by ALL"
Don't say "apt" for 'liable" or
"likely."
Example: "He is apt to go astray''
should be "He is liable or he is likely
to go astray."
Note-One may be apt in mathemat-
les or in any special line of work or
thought. One may be apt in going
astray, but not apt to 60 astray.
Don't say "as soon as ever"
| Example,: Return as soon as ever
you can" should be Return as soon
as you can"
Don't say "as'' for 49,"
Example: "Th1s is not as long as
the other" should be This is not so
long as the other"
Note-The, negative in the sentence
calls for 80" instead of "as." In the
absence of the negative one should
use 'as."
Don't say "as'' for that"
Example: mot as I am aware"
should be mot that l am aware" Il
don't know as I would do so" should
be Il don't know that I would do so. "
Note-Also avoid the expression so
often used. mot thai am aware of. -
Don't say "as though" for "as it,"
Example: "He walks as though he
| were tired should be HE walks as
if he were tired
Note-The former reads, HE walks
as (he would Walk though he were
tired;" the latter reads as it should
"He walks as Che would walk) if he
were tired"
Don't say Eat" for "by."
Example,: you should see Yosem-
tie at night" should be "You should
see Yosemite by night"
Don't say cat ALL
Note-There are times when the
words Eat all' are allowable, but in
the majority of cases in which they
are used they are srperfuous.
Example: "He die not see me at
all" should be HE did not see me-"
Don't say "at BEST for Eat the best. ~
Example: '"They are at best but
poor specimens" should be "They are
at the best but poor specimens"
Don't say lat length" for "at last
Example: AT length we saw him
approaching" should be AT last we
saw him approaching"
Note-One might approach at
length; but this is not the meaning
the speaker intended to convey.
Don't say lat worst for Eat the
| worst"
Example: Even at worst, he is
grateful should be Even at the
worst, he is grateful
Don't say "authoress,' "editress,'