The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-06-10

D
BY EDWARnR

Authors Motel is one thing to record
errors, quite another to avoid them. He
who waits for the faultless one to cast
the first critical stone waits IN vain:
therefore. as one Of many working for
the hetterment of the English language,
shall be pleased to receive kindly criti-
cism. if. perehanee, /, too, have erred.
Ones theory often is better than ones
practice This was exempIifled by the
teacher Of language when he said to his
class: Never use & proposition to end
a sentence with
Many years ago began to be watchful
Of errors I noted the1n il a little book
the book grew as the years passed.
profited much shall profit more now
record them that / may benefit others as
wei as myself. Many Of them are re-
corded for tie first time.
Don't say lots for many" or sew
eral.
Example: There were lots OF people
there, should be There were many
Cor sevefall people there
Don't say lunch for luncheon .
Example. Have you had luneh?',
should be Have you had luncheon?" or
| Have you 1unched?"
:
Don't say mad" for angry
Example: He has been mad all
morning should be ssHe has been an
CRY ali 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 Shakespear-
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
angry. We speak Of animals going
mad, but we signify thereby much more
than is contained in the word angry.
Don't say aman and wife, for ahus-
band and wife
Example: I pronounce you man and
wife" should be II pronounce you hus-
band and wife
Note.-A Biblical term; but it will not
bear analysis. II man. then woman. If
'man and wife is to marry only the wo-
man.
u
Don't say marvellous. 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 H.
Example: 1T is me" should be It is
II
Example: He is better than me-
Should be He is better than IT,
Example: They said more than me-
should be They said more than /"
(said}.
Example: Who are invited? You and
me-" should be Who are invited? You
and / 2"
Note.-You and / are invited, not you
and me are invited. You are invited and
am invited.
Don't say "modiste' for 'milliner."
Eote.-A modiste is a dressmaker.
Don't say more for most"
Example: is bravery, courage or
strength the more desirable?" should be
Is bravery, courage or strength the
most desirable2"
Note Comparative more, two OBJ
iects; superlatiTe most, three or more.
Don't say ostdnished, /" etc.
Example: tHe is most finished
speaker, Il 1t is a most novel invention,
| SIT was a most rapid transit" should be
"He is q finished speaker, !" 1T is novel
invention, It 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. !, IT was the most
rapid transit etc.
Don't say most for almost
Example: aHe comes most every
day" should be He comes almost every
day
|
Don't say most for more
Example: rs bravery or courage the
most desnable?" should be Is bravery
or courage the more desirable?'s
/ Note.-Comparative, more
I
Don't say, Mrs. General - Mrs.
! President Mrs. Professor 49,. =
Note-The wife should not be ad-
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.
Don't say near. for nearly.
Example: He was not hurt near SO
bad as he thought, should be He was
not hurt nearly 50 bad as he thought
Note.-Near should not be used as an
adFerb in the sense ofnearly.
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 ali such cases should be placed
Il bafpra 40 r,s.e nfesi 39ln IN the oh