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Too is ordinarily not to be used with the past participle of verbs, unless followed by the word much.

Undesirable: He was too disturbed to speak.

Correct: He was too much disturbed to speak.

Ugly, in its strict sense, means ill-looking, or disagreeable in appearance. It ought not to be used for ill-tempered or vicious.

Incorrect: You had better keep away from that dog, for he is ugly [vicious].

Correct: That is an ugly [unattractive] vase.

Permissible: The ruffian was in an ugly temper.

Unique means alone of its kind; it should not be used for odd or unusual.

Incorrect: She is a very unique woman.

Correct: She is a very odd [or a most unusual] woman.

Correct: The unique copy of this work is in the British
Museum.

Uplift as a noun is not in good use. It is correctly used as a verb.

Bad: He is striving for the uplift of the masses.
Better: He is striving to uplift the masses.

> Very should ordinarily not be used with the past participle
of a verb unless in combination with the word much.
Undesirable: I shall be very pleased to see you.
Correct: I shall be very much pleased to see you.

Waiting on, meaning waiting for, is a provincialism.
Crude: I have been waiting on you for ten minutes.
Correct: I have been waiting ten minutes for you.

Want in is a provincialism for want to come in.

Way is not permissible as a substitute for away.

Bad: They could see the camp-fires way up on the mountain.

Better: They could see the camp-fires away [or afar] up on the mountain.

Which. See And which.

Win out is a slang term for win. The former expression should be avoided.

You, in the indefinite sense, is to be used only rarely.

"Beyond the orchard you can see the brook" is more suitably rendered, "Beyond the orchard one can see the brook." The application of this rule, however, depends upon the general tone of the discourse; in the familiar essay, colloquialisms are not objectionable.

Yourself and myself are properly used only as reflexives and as terms of emphasis.

Crude: Yourself and your friends are invited.
Correct: You and your friends are invited.

Bad: Myself and my mother had a narrow escape.
Better: My mother and I had a narrow escape.

17. VULGARISMS

The following expressions are to be avoided because they are in bad taste or actually vulgar: 1

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1 See also "The Bookman's Inferno": Bookman, September, 1908.

18. HACKNEYED EXPRESSIONS

the light fantastic
a goodly number
an enjoyable time
the fair sex
Old Sol

the briny deep

the rolling waves

the cradle of the deep

the demon rum

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eyes like stars marble brow

swan-like neck damask cheek alabaster brow furrowed brow

hoary head

silvery locks wondrous fair filthy lucre

the grim reaper

all that was mortal of the arms of Morpheus downy couch

a fish story
the broiling sun
a bashful swain

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dull thud

the table groaned

more forcible than polite single blessedness

a happy benedict brawny arms brave as a lion

ran like a frightened deer

nipped in the bud

flushed with pride poor but honest

hoping you are the same

a single tree stands like a sentinel the cottage nestles below the hill the rippling waves

the birds were singing their morn

ing songs

my childhood days

some one has said

in the words of the poet
a soft white mantle of snow
velvety grass

the lake stretched like a mirror

a river like a silver ribbon the moon in all its glory fair as a goddess

her queenly form

eyes of heaven's own blue

the contracting parties

the happy pair

the blushing bride
led her to the altar
almond-eyed Celestials
a distinguished Nimrod

Rich as Croesus

The bounding billow

Bated breath

Green with envy
Heartless wretch
A heated argument
The form of an Apollo
Driving like Jehu
In the snare of Cupid
Order out of chaos
A long-felt want
At one fell swoop
The proud possessor of
Tired but happy

No sooner said than done
Sadder and wiser

The worse for wear

Reigns supreme

A sumptuous repast
Caudal appendage
Launched into eternity
Too full for utterance
Applauded to the echo

The dreamy mazes of the waltz
The devouring element
Consigned to earth

Engaged in commercial pursuits
The dizzy heights of fame
My paternal ancestor
Tumultuous applause
Words fail me
Palatial residence
The fragrant weed
The festive board

A few well-chosen words
A daintily gloved hand

Gives the finishing touches to the Succulent bivalve

Conspicuous by its absence
In all its phases

picture

The finny tribe

19. HACKNEYED

QUOTATIONS

Time and tide wait for no man

Bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave

The bosom of his family

A consummation devoutly to be Darkness that could be felt

wished

There's the rub

My prophetic soul

More in sorrow than in anger

The sleep of the just

The cup that cheers

Patience on a monument

Lo, the poor Indian

From Dan to Beersheba

The king of terrors

Lick the dust

His name is Legion

Clothed and in his right mind

His better half

It is better to have loved and Thereby hangs a tale

lost

Method in his madness

A thing of beauty

Music, heavenly maid

A shocking bad hat
He that runs may read

The best-laid plans of mice and The head that wears a crown

men

Two heads are better than one

None but the brave deserves the Faint heart ne'er won fair lady fair

The green-eyed monster Kind words can never die Grave and reverend signiors

The last rose of summer

It smells to heaven

The ills that flesh is heir to

A woman scorned

Hell is paved with good intentions | Death loves a shining mark

The observed of all observers

A poor thing but mine own

A mute inglorious Milton
What's in a name?

The sturdy oak and clinging vine
The old oaken bucket

Arose as one man

A perfect woman nobly planned
Drown his sorrows in the cup
Making night hideous

Plain living and high thinking
Hitch your wagon to a star
Hold the mirror up to nature
There's no place like home
Honesty is the best policy
Hope springs eternal
"T was ever thus

Improve each shining hour
The wee small hours
To err is human
Human face divine
Human nature's daily food
Greenland's icy mountains
Where ignorance is bliss
Guide, philosopher, and friend
Foot-prints on the sands of time
Not wisely but too well
Love's young dream
Speed the parting guest
Not lost, but gone before

Take the good the gods provide
thee

Ring out, wild bells

Stolen sweets

Better late than never

Birds in their little nests agree

To the bitter end

Born to blush unseen

Nominated in the bond

Sermons in stones

Some have greatness thrust upon them

The staff of life

The straight and narrow way
A counterfeit presentment
The wheel of fortune
Passing rich

Passing fair

Frailty, thy name is woman
I could a tale unfold
Lend me your ears
A friend in need
The uses of adversity
Eat, drink, and be merry
Poor but honest

Full of years and honors
The fun grew fast and furious
The sound of revelry by night
A gay Lothario

Music hath charms

O, wad some power the giftie gie us
To see oursel's as ithers see us
The rose-bud garden of girls
Go where glory waits thee
A sight for gods and men
A daughter of the gods
Divinely tall and most divinely
fair

Night, sable goddess

The poet's eye in a fine frenzy rolling

As good as she was fair

Kind hearts are more than coronets

Chewing the cud of sweet and Pride will have a fall

bitter fancy

Heart whole and fancy free

In maiden meditation, fancy free
Araby the Blest

The wind blew great guns
Love is blind

How are the mighty fallen
A household word

In the spring a young man's fancy
The fatal gift of beauty
Faultily faultless, icily regular,
splendidly null

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