persons is due in part to its often being expressive and emphatic, but more largely to the fact that it enables one to piece out a limited vocabulary by making the slang word or phrase do service in a variety of cases. Its use indicates poverty of ideas and words, and interferes with clearness and accuracy; for it is impossible to express thought with completeness and make the fine distinctions as one can who has a rich vocabulary from which to choose.

Exercises

1. In a daily newspaper select new words that have not been accepted in literary English; foreign words not generally understood; technical terms; slang phrases; any other barbarisms which you may notice. Compare your list with those of your classmates.

2. Select in one of Shakespeare's plays obsolete words, and words that now have other meanings than when used by the poet. Review your list and try to substitute for these words others in present use.

3. Make a list of ten or more new words, explain the origin of each, and tell which ones you think may become established in the language.

4. Make a list of ten or more foreign words which you find in magazines and newspapers, and try to find a good English substitute for each.

5. Write a brief account of some recent event such as, a game of ball, an excursion, the coming of the circus, or any other occurrence about which you may wish to write. Read what you have written and if you find any barbarisms, or violations of good usage, correct them before bringing your composition to class for criticism,

SECTION XXVI

Improprieties

Certain words are often confused and hence incorrectly used through an imperfect knowledge of their meanings, or from carelessness in their use. Such misuse of words is called an impropriety. Improprieties most frequently result from confusing words which are similar in sound, as accept and except; or are related in meaning, as may and can. They may also be the result of confusing words used in an incorrect sense in vulgar English with the proper terms, as mad for angry, party for person.

The following gives some of the cases in which words are frequently confused.

Afraid for fear.

I fear you will be tardy. [Not: I am afraid.]

Advancement for advance. Advance is used in speaking of something that moves itself; advancement of something that is moved.

The advance of the army could be heard.

William's advancement to the position of salesman was expected.

Aggravate for exasperated. Aggravate means to make more grave, as in speaking of an offense; exasperate means to provoke or irritate.

The soldier's answer only served to aggravate his offense. The boy's teasing exasperated the animal.

Alright for all right. There is no such word as alright.

Any for at all is often heard in such expressions as, "Mary said that she couldn't sing any." [Say, "could not sing at all."]

N

The boat had not moved at all during the night.

As for that is often used in such expressions as, "I do not know as I can go." [Say, " I do not know that I can go."]

Balance for remainder or rest. Balance means the difference between the two sides of an account, and cannot be used for remainder or rest.

The remainder of the time was spent in the art gallery. I will tell you the rest of the story another time.

Between for among. Use between when two things are considered and among when more than two are considered. You must choose between the two courses the one which you will take.

It is difficult to make a choice among so many pretty things.

Capacious for large. Capacious is used in speaking of things that are capable of holding much.

Jack carried a capacious bag which he expected to fill with large nuggets of gold.

Couple for pair.

gether.

Couple implies coupling or tying to

The birds that built their nest in our apple tree are a happy couple.

We could see a pair of oxen plodding their way slowly up the hill.

Claim for affirm or declare. Claim means to demand what belongs to one. Affirm or declare means to say or assert upon one's knowledge.

He claimed the reward.

They positively affirm that they saw the meteor.

He declares that he found the book.

Deadly for deathly. Deadly implies something that will cause death, deathly means like death.

Knowing that the bottle contained a deadly poison, the physician turned deathly pale when he saw how much the sick man had taken.

Directly for soon. Directly means in a straight line, and does not refer to time.

I shall go directly to his house as soon as I receive the message.

Elegant for pleasing or pleasant. Elegant is used of that which indicates refined taste, or of persons that possess refinement, grace, or politeness.

He was a dignified old gentleman with the elegant manners of an earlier day.

We had a very pleasant day for the picnic.

Expect for suppose or suspect. Expect is used in the sense of "looking forward to." Suppose means to assume as true, to believe. Suspect means to mistrust.

I suppose you know that I expect a friend.

I suspect that he read the questions.

Fix for repair or mend. Fix means to fasten, and cannot be used for repair.

He had the broken shelf repaired, then he fixed it securely to the wall.

If the sled is mended, it can be used for some time yet. Further for farther. Further is used in the sense of addition to anything, farther is used in speaking of distance.

I can add nothing further to what has already been said. It is three miles farther to the village.

Got is often used incorrectly with have, as in "I have got it." Got is superfluous and should not be used in such cases. Say "I have it."

Gorgeous for pleasant. Gorgeous implies something that is superbly showy or brilliant.

The setting sun painted the sky with gorgeous colors. The party was a very pleasant affair. [Not: gorgeous.] Guess for think or believe. Guess indicates conjecture or surmise, and should not be used for think or believe. Can you guess the riddle?

I believe that the boy told the truth.

I think that I had better go at once.

Healthy for healthful and wholesome. That may be spoken of as healthy which is in good health; that which produces health is healthful or wholesome, as a healthful climate, wholesome food.

The physician said the patient must eat wholesome food and remove to a more healthful climate if he hoped to become healthy.

Home or to home for at home. Such expressions are often heard as, "He isn't home," or "He isn't to home." Say" He is not at home."

Horrid for unpleasant. Horrid should be used in speaking only of something that is frightful, shocking, or that causes horror.

The battlefield presented a horrid sight.

The weather was very unpleasant.

Hung for hanged. Hung should not be used in speaking of a person.

A tattered flag hung from the window.

Haman was hanged upon the gallows he had made for Mordecai.

In for into. In indicates presence within; into, motion toward the inside.

The animal moved around in his cage, but when we approached he went into his den.

Inside for within. Do not use inside to refer to time.