APPENDIX II

WORDS AND PHRASES COMMONLY MISUSED

Say,

Above. Should not be used as an adjective or as a noun. "the foregoing statement" or "the statement made above," rather than "the above statement."

Affect

- Effect. Should not be confounded: affect means to influence; effect means to bring about.

Aggravate. Not to be used in the sense of irritate, provoke; it properly means to add weight to, to intensify.

Allow. Should not be used in the sense of think, assert, declare.

Alone - Only. The different uses of these two words should be carefully distinguished; alone should be used only when the meaning is solitary, unaccompanied.

Alternative. Not synonymous with course; should be used with reference to two things only.

Appreciate. The word means to estimate justly, to value at real worth; such an expression, therefore, as "I appreciate highly," should be avoided.

Apparent - Evident. Should be distinguished. That which seems to be so, is apparent; that which not only seems to be so, but really is so, is evident.

Apt - Likely Liable. Apt implies natural tendency, fitness; likely, mere probability; liable, exposure to unpleasant consequences. For example: "It is apt to be cold there in midwinter." "He is likely to meet his match if he challenges everybody." "He is liable to punishment." As. Wrongly used in such expressions as "I do not know as he will"; it should be, "I do not know that he will." Avocation. Not synonymous with vocation; properly means something aside from one's regular calling.

Balance. Should not be used in the sense of remainder. Beside Besides. Not properly synonymous; beside means by the side of; besides means in addition to, moreover. Between. Should be used with reference to two things only. Bound. Should not be used in the sense of determined, doomed.

But what - But that. Frequently misused. For example: "I do not know but what (should be but that) he is there." "I do not doubt but that (should be that) you are right." Can May. Not to be confounded. Can implies ability; may, permission.

Claim. Should not be used in the sense of say, assert.

Climax. Often loosely used in the sense of acme, highest point; it properly means ascent, gradual increase in height or intensity.

Complected. Wrongly used in such phrases as “light-complected"; the proper expression is "of a light complexion," or "light-complexioned."

Condign. Not to be used in the sense of severe; it properly means merited.

Connect to. Frequently misused for connect with.

Continual Continuous. The former means frequently repeated; the latter means uninterrupted.

Demean. Should not be used in the sense of lower, degrade. Depot Station. Commonly regarded as synonymous; but the tendency now is to restrict the former to the sense of place of deposit for goods, and to use the latter for the meaning waiting-place for passengers.

Different than

Different to. Write "other than," or

"different from."

Due Owing. The words should be carefully distinguished. When the idea to be expressed is indebtedness, or the result or effect of a cause, due should be used. For example: “A certain respect is due to gray hairs." "In the mind of a savage every effect is believed to be due to a special worker."

On the other hand, when the meaning is "on account of," owing should be used. For example: "It is owing to his daring that the enemy was checked."

Enthuse. A word to be avoided.

Emigrant Immigrant. Sometimes confounded. Persons leaving a country are emigrants; persons entering a country, immigrants.

tends to convince; testimony, evidence given by witnesses, either orally or in writing; proof, whatever establishes the truth of a proposition.

Get to go.

Common in some parts of the country, but to be avoided. Say, "I was unable to go," or "I was prevented from going," rather than "I could not get to go."

Healthy Healthful Wholesome. Healthy means in a condition of health; healthful means conducive to health; wholesome means that which is in itself sound and which promotes health.

Hung. Often misused for hanged when the meaning is executed on the gallows.

Ideal. Not to be used in the sense of perfect, beautiful; it properly means that which exists in idea only.

Illy. Should be avoided; ill itself is an adverb.

Implicit. Should not be used in the sense of unbounded; its original meaning is involved, whence it comes to have the meaning inferred, tacitly included though not explicitly expressed.

In.

Often misused with verbs of motion for into. Say, "He threw it into the fire," not "in the fire."

Inaugurate. Should be used only in the sense of begin with

ceremony.

Inside of. Often misused for within.

Lay. Often misused in an intransitive sense for lie.

Learn. Not to be used in the sense of teach.

Less. With reference to numbers, use fewer instead of less.

Like.

Often misused for as if. Say, "It looks as if the odds were against us," not "It looks like the odds were against us."

Loan. Not to be used in the sense of lend.

Locate. Should not be used in the sense of settle, fix one's habitation.

Lots of. The phrase should be avoided.

Mad.

Most.

Should not be used in the sense of angry.

Often misused for almost.

at home," not "most always."

Say, "He is almost always

Myself. Not to be used as equivalent to I. Say, "John and I went for a walk,” not “John and myself."

Near-by. Should not be used as an adjective.

Nice. Should be used only in the sense of delicate, discrimi

noting.

Nothing like as.

Sometimes used improperly for not nearly

So. For example: "It is nothing like as (should be not nearly so) bad as that."

Off of. The of is superfluous.

Onto. Often used where upon or on to would be better. Partake of. Not to be used in the sense of eat; it properly means to share.

Party. Should not be used, except in legal documents, in the sense of person.

Patron. Often misused for customer, as patronage is also for

custom.

Plenty.

Posted.

Should not be used as an adjective or an adverb.
Should not be used in the sense of informed.

Preventative.

Should be avoided; preventive is better. Privilege Right A privilege is a special advantage granted or conceded to the one who enjoys it; a right is that which is one's due, that to which one may lay just claim. Propose - Purpose. Sometimes confounded. Propose means to put forward for discussion or consideration; purpose means to intend, design.

Raise.

Real.
Referee.

Often misused for rear, bring up.

Not to be used adverbially in the sense of very.

Not to be used as a verb.

Section. Often misused for neighborhood, district, region. Set. Often improperly used in an intransitive sense for sit. Settle. Should not be used in the sense of pay; it means to fix, to establish, to adjust.

Sleeper. Very generally misused for sleeping-car.

Some. Often misused for somewhat. For example: "He is some (should be somewhat) better."

State. Should not be used as equivalent to say; it means to set forth, to set down in detail.

Stop. Often misused for stay. Say, "He is staying at the Sherman House," not "stopping."

Suicide. Should not be used as a verb.

Suspicion. Not to be used as a verb.

These kind. A common error.

Say, "People of this kind

irritate me," rather than "These kind of people."

This much. Thus much is better.

Through. Should not be used in the sense of finished.

Transpire. Should not be used in the sense of happen; it means to become known.

Underhanded. Underhand is better.

Unique. Often misused; properly means unlike anything else.

Verbal. Very frequently misused for oral. For example: "He would not trust himself to write her a note, but sent her a verbal (should be oral) message instead." Way. Often used improperly. Say "away back," not "way back" "a long way off," not "a long ways off."

While. Often misused for though; while as a conjunction should be used only where the idea of time comes in, either expressly or by implication.

Without. Often improperly used for unless. Say, “He would not go unless I went with him," not "without I went."