New words and expressions, as well as new uses for old words, are being added to the English language daily. Likewise words and expressions once current are continually being discarded. The question that confronts any writer is, what words and expressions are now accepted as standard. In difficult cases only persistent consultation of the best dictionaries and a careful study of the practice followed by the best writers now living and by reputable publishing houses will furnish the correct answer. The practice followed by the majority of the leading writers and publishers of the present day determines good usage.
600. Consult a dictionary to determine the meaning of a word.
Be especially careful in using the following:
601. Distinguish accurately between words resembling each other in form, but differing in meaning.
602. Use words that exactly express your thought.
Do not be content with the first word that occurs to you. Strive for concrete and picturesque words—words that will convey an accurate and vivid image to your reader. The search for exactly the right synonym will be greatly facilitated if you will consult one of the standard books which list synonyms. Some of the good books of this sort are those compiled by Roget, Crabbe, Smith, Marsh, and Soule.
Instead of the word say, for instance, consider talk, utter, claim, affirm, shout, whisper, stammer, speak, lisp, giggle, maintain, state, answer, argue, laugh, preach, reply, respond.
Walk is not the only word to express locomotion under one’s own power. Consider, for instance, amble, fall, gambol, glide, leap, pace, prance, promenade, ramble, run, slink, slouch, steal, stagger, stride, stroll, stumble.
603. Avoid newly coined words.
Particularly atrocious examples of newly coined words are to burgle, to burglarize, and to enthuse.
604. Avoid using verbs as nouns and nouns as verbs unless such usage has been admitted into the standard language.
Examples of verbs that have not yet been accepted as nouns are combine, invite, steal, try, and win.
Examples of nouns that have not yet been accepted as verbs are suicide and suspicion.
605. Do not use slang in formal composition.
Bad. “Thank you for the ride in your auto.” “You bet.”
Better. “Thank you for the ride in your automobile.” “Don’t mention it.”
606. Use words that harmonize with the tone of the whole composition.
In ordinary writing avoid such words as said, same, thereby, therein, and hereinbefore.
Bad. Said rule is often broken.
Better. The rule just mentioned is often broken.
Bad. I received the watch and thank you for same.
Better. Thank you for the watch which has just arrived.
607. Avoid poetical words in prose.
Examples are amid, anew, dwelt, ere, eve, hence, hither, morn, ’neath, o’er, oft, ’tis, thrice, ’twas, whither.
608. Use unaffected expressions rather than trite or hackneyed ones.
Avoid: a good time was had by all; bolt from a clear sky; beggars description; beyond description; indescribable; a royal reception; checkered career; discourse sweet music; dull, sickening thud; doomed to disappointment; exception proves the rule; fair maidens; the grim reaper; hungry as bears; last but not least; method in his madness; nipped in the bud; render (a vocal solo); sought his downy couch; stood like sentinels; stage (for anything except a theatrical performance); too full for utterance; took to his heels; wended their way; where ignorance is bliss.
609. Use simple rather than pretentious expressions.
| Prefer | get up | to | arise |
| wife or husband | to | better half | |
| eat | to | partake of | |
| dog | to | canine | |
| cat | to | feline | |
| horse | to | equine | |
| clergyman | to | divine | |
| give | to | donate | |
| flowers | to | floral offering | |
| man | to | gentleman | |
| woman | to | lady | |
| letter | to | kind favor | |
| arm or leg | to | limb | |
| funeral | to | last sad rites or obsequies | |
| often | to | oftentimes | |
| body | to | remains | |
| live | to | reside | |
| house or home | to | residence | |
| go to bed | to | retire | |
| friend | to | boy friend, girl friend, gentleman friend, or lady friend |
610. Use uncontracted forms in dignified writing.
Conversational. I can’t and won’t go.
Dignified. I cannot and will not go.
611. Use I, me, or my rather than some form of we or the writer.
Insufferably modest. In the opinion of the present writer Locke should win.
Direct. Locke should win.
Direct. I think Locke should win.
612. Use simple personal pronouns rather than intensive or reflexive pronouns.
Affected. You would confer a great favor on my wife and myself if you would come.
Natural. You would confer a great favor on my wife and me if you would come.
Affected. Myself and brother are both members of the Capen debating society.
Natural. My brother and I both belong to the Capen debating society.
Affected. These tickets will admit self and guests.
Natural. These tickets will admit you and your guests.
613. Follow good usage in referring to a husband or a wife.
Vulgar. You will have to see Mr. about renting the garage.
Better. You will have to see my husband about renting the garage.
Vulgar. The dinner was in honor of J. A. Smith and wife.
Better. The dinner was in honor of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Smith.
Vulgar. Among the guests were Mrs. Capt. Johnson, Mrs. Prof. Healy, Mrs. Rev. Shaw, and Mrs. President Ford.
Better. Among the guests were Mrs. Ralph G. Johnson, Mrs. Lionel F. Healy, Mrs. Harry L. Shaw, and Mrs. Ferdinand L. Ford.
Vulgar. After John had been married two years, she left him.
Better. After John had been married two years, his wife left him.
614. Avoid illiterate usage.
alright. There is no such word. Use all right.
and. And does not mean or.
Wrong. He asks four and five dollars for a straw hat.
Right. He asks four or five dollars for a straw hat.
as. Use because as a causal conjunction rather than as.
Bad. I could not go to the game as I had to get the dinner.
Better. I could not go to the game because I had to get the dinner.
Use so after a negative rather than as.
Bad. He is not as bad as he is painted.
Better. He is not so bad as he is painted.
as though. As if is preferable to as though.
Bad. He talked as though he had a potato in his mouth.
Better. He talked as if he had a potato in his mouth.
at about. At about is a slovenly colloquialism. Omit at.
Bad. He left at about six o’clock.
Better. He left about six o’clock.
call attention. Attention is directed, not called.
certainly. Over use has made certainly unemphatic.
Bad. I will certainly be there.
Better. I will be there.
data. Plural, not singular.
did. Did is wrong if you mean have.
Wrong. I didn’t see him yet.
Right. I haven’t seen him yet.
each other. Each other applies to two persons or things; one another to more than two.
extra. Extra does not mean unusually.
falls. Plural, not singular.
first-rate. An adjective, not an adverb.
Wrong. You cook first-rate.
Right. You are a first-rate cook.
freshmen. The adjective is freshman.
held. Held should not be applied to a lecture, a meeting, or an initiation.
Bad. Our fraternity held initiation for eight men.
Better. Our fraternity initiated eight men.
Bad. The meeting was held in Robinson hall.
Better. The meeting was in Robinson hall.
Honorable. See Reverend.
if. Use whether if that is what you mean.
Wrong. I don’t know if I can.
Right. I don’t know whether I can.
in. Use into to express motion.
Bad. He went in the house.
Better. He went into the house.
liable. Use likely or probably unless referring to something undesirable.
Bad. He is liable to pass the course.
Better. It is likely that he will pass the course.
Better. He will probably pass the course.
like. Use as or as if to introduce a clause.
Wrong. Do it like I do.
Right. Do it as I do.
Wrong. You look like you were cold.
Right. You look as if you were cold.
lit. Use lighted.
line.
Loose. What line are you in?
Exact. What business are you in?
Bad. He can do anything in the line of athletics.
Better. He can do anything in athletics.
Atrocious. Would you like something in the line of music?
Better. Would you like some music?
one another. Each other applies to two persons or things; one another to more than two.
per. Per should be followed by a Latin word.
Wrong. His salary is $5,000 per year.
Right. His salary is $5,000 a year.
Right. His salary is $5,000 per annum.
Use according to or in accordance with instead of as per.
Wrong. He paid me Monday as per our agreement.
Right. He paid me Monday in accordance with our agreement.
per cent.
Wrong. What per cent will go to college?
Right. What percentage will go to college?
real. Real is not a synonym for very.
Wrong. I like him real well.
Right. I like him very well.
Reverend. Reverend should be preceded by the and should be followed by Father, Mr., Dr., given name, or initials as well as by the surname. A clergyman is entitled to be called Dr. only when he has a degree of Doctor of Divinity.
Wrong. Reverend Folsom offered prayer.
Right. The Reverend Mr. Folsom offered prayer.
Right. The Reverend Haskell J. Folsom offered prayer.
Wrong. The Reverend Sanders presided.
Right. The Reverend R. E. Sanders presided.
Wrong. I met Reverend Barlow on the street.
Right. I met the Reverend Dr. Barlow on the street.
phenomena. Plural, not singular.
Professor. Professor is used only for teachers of full professorial rank in a recognized college or university.
Wrong. The new high school principal is Professor Jones.
Right. The new high school principal is Mr. Jones.
Wrong. Professor Smith’s orchestra played.
Right. Smith’s orchestra played.
sideways. Sidewise is correct.
so. Incorrect for so that.
Wrong. I want the money so I can go home.
Right. I want the money so that I can go home.
So should not be used alone to modify an adjective.
Bad. College life is so stimulating.
Better. College life is the most stimulating life of all.
strata. Plural, not singular.
tend. Use attend or take care of rather than tend.
Bad. I’ll tend to your case, young man, after school.
Better. I’ll attend to your case, young man, after school.
Bad. It is hard for me to write while tending the baby.
Better. It is hard for me to write while taking care of the baby.
than, till, until. Not synonyms for when after hardly or scarcely.
Wrong. Hardly had he fired than the burglar fell.
Right. Hardly had he fired when the burglar fell.
Wrong. She had scarcely spoken until we arrived.
Right. She had scarcely spoken when we arrived.
United States. Should be preceded by the when used as a noun.
Wrong. France and United States have always been good friends.
Right. France and the United States have always been good friends.
ways. Plural, not singular.
while. While means during the time in which, or though. It does not mean but.
Good. While I was gone the house burned.
Good. While what you say may be true, it will not affect my action.
Bad. The men sit on one side while the women sit on the other.
Better. The men sit on one side; the women on the other.
615. Use reputable words.
all the.
Wrong. This is all the farther I will go.
Right. This is as far as I will go.
A.M., P.M. Use only after numbers, meaning the hour.
Wrong. We started early in the A.M.
Right. We started early in the morning.
and etc. Etc. is an abbreviation for et cetera, which means and other things.
Wrong. We bought flags, handkerchiefs, and etc.
Right. We bought flags, handkerchiefs, etc.
any place. The correct expression is anywhere.
anywheres. The correct expression is anywhere.
badly. Badly is not a synonym for exceedingly or very much.
Wrong. I wanted it badly.
Right. I wanted it very much.
company. Guest is a better word than company.
Wrong. We expect company for supper.
Right. We expect a guest for supper.
complected.
Wrong. He is light complected.
Right. He has a light complexion.
considerable. Considerable is not a synonym for much or many.
Wrong. We have had considerable trouble lately.
Right. We have had a great deal of trouble lately.
Wrong. There were considerable people there.
Right. There were many persons there.
drunk. Drunk is not in good usage as a noun. Use a drunken man.
every place. The correct expression is everywhere.
folks.
Wrong. I am going to visit the folks this week.
Right. I am going to visit my family this week.
Wrong. More than one thousand folks saw the accident.
Right. More than one thousand persons saw the accident.
gent. Use gentleman, or preferably man.
get-up.
Wrong. Did you ever see such a get-up?
Right. Did you ever see such a costume?
get up.
Wrong. We are getting up a straw ride for Thursday evening.
Right. We are planning a straw ride for Thursday evening.
got. To indicate possession use have rather than have got.
Wrong. Have you got a pencil?
Right. Have you a pencil?
hear to it.
Wrong. I absolutely refuse to hear to it.
Right. I absolutely refuse to consider it.
human. Human is not a noun.
Wrong. Humans are in many ways like animals.
Right. Men and women are in many ways like animals.
Right. Human beings are in many ways like animals.
in back of. Behind is better than in back of.
Wrong. We fought in back of the barn.
Right. We fought behind the barn.
inside of. Use inside or within.
Wrong. He went inside of the house.
Right. He went inside the house.
Wrong. Inside of ten minutes not a trace remained.
Right. Within ten minutes not a trace remained.
kind of.
Wrong. It was kind of cold.
Right. It was fairly cold.
leave. Use let.
lot. Not a synonym for many, much, or ample.
Wrong. We had lots of time.
Right. We had ample time.
meet with. With is superfluous.
Bad. He met with the committee.
Better. He met the committee.
military. Military is not a noun.
Wrong. The military confiscated all coal in the town.
Right. The military authorities confiscated all coal in the town.
no place. The correct expression is nowhere.
nowhere near. The correct expression is not nearly.
nowheres. The correct expression is nowhere.
of. Of should never be used for have. (See 338.)
Wrong. I could of won if I had of been willing to lie.
Right. I could have won if I had been willing to lie.
off of. Off is enough.
Wrong. She stepped backwards off of the car.
Right. She stepped backwards off the car.
only. Only is not a synonym for but or except.
Wrong. I would not be where I am today only for my wife.
Right. I would not be where I am today except for my wife.
out loud. The correct expression is aloud.
over with. Over is enough.
Wrong. The concert was over with at ten o’clock.
Right. The concert was over at ten o’clock.
overly. There is no such word.
Wrong. I think he is not overly particular.
Right. I think he is not very particular.
people. Use persons.
Bad. Thirty people applied for the position.
Better. Thirty persons applied for the position.
P.M. See A.M.
posted. Posted is not a synonym for informed.
Wrong. Keep me posted on what happens while I am gone.
Right. Keep me informed of what happens while I am gone.
providing. Providing is not a synonym for if.
Wrong. I can go providing it does not rain.
Right. I can go if it does not rain.
put in.
Wrong. I put in two years at college.
Right. I spent two years at college.
put up.
Wrong. He put me up for the night.
Right. He lodged me for the night.
remember of. Remember is enough.
Wrong. I do not remember of meeting him.
Right. I do not remember meeting him.
shape.
Wrong. He is in bad shape.
Right. He is ill. Or, He is in bad condition.
show. Show is not a synonym for a theatrical performance.
Wrong. It was the best show of the year.
Right. It was the best musical comedy of the year.
some place. The correct expression is somewhere.
sort of.
Wrong. He is sort of short for a high jumper.
Right. He is hardly tall enough for a high jumper.
stop. Stop is not a synonym for stay.
Wrong. We are stopping at the hotel.
Right. We are staying at the hotel.
sure.
Wrong. I should sure like to go.
Right. I should surely like to go.
Wrong. Sure I’ll come.
Right. Surely I’ll come. Or, I’ll be glad to come.
tasty. Use delicious or some similar expression.
Wrong. That is a tasty pudding.
Right. That is a delicious pudding.
through. Through is not a synonym for finished.
Wrong. I was through the examination at quarter of nine.
Right. I finished the examination at quarter of nine.
try and. Try to is preferable to try and.
Wrong. Try and do better.
Right. Try to do better.
up. Up adds nothing to such verbs as end, meet, finish, eat, and burn.
Wrong. It took the firemen an hour after the house burned up to finish up their work.
Right. It took the firemen an hour after the house burned to finish their work.
visit with. With is superfluous.
Wrong. My mother is visiting with relatives.
Right. My mother is visiting relatives.
where.
Wrong. Did you see in the paper where the minister has resigned?
Right. Did you see in the paper that the minister had resigned?
without. Without is not a synonym for unless.
Wrong. Without I say so, you will not be elected.
Right. Unless I say so, you will not be elected.
616. Use words current in present standard English.
Avoid such antiquated words as firstly, gotten, and proven.
but what. But that is preferable to but what.
Wrong. I cannot see but what you are right.
Right. I cannot see but that you are right.
cannot help but.
Wrong. I cannot help but think he is innocent.
Right. I cannot help thinking he is innocent.
different than. Use different from.
Wrong. Mabel looks different than Alice.
Right. Mabel looks different from Alice.
617. Use words and expressions nationally current.
forenoon.
Bad. The forenoon session began at eight.
Better. The morning session began at eight.
get.
Wrong. I am sorry, but I did not get to go.
Right. I am sorry, but I was unable to go.
going on.
Bad. He is six years old, going on seven.
Better. He is nearly seven years old.
gun.
Bad. He carried a gun in his belt.
Better. He carried a revolver in his belt.
like.
Wrong. You say George is in Boston. How does he like?
Right. You say George is in Boston. How does he like it there?
make of.
Bad. When Oscar came to town all the girls made of him.
Better. When Oscar came to town all the girls paid him much attention.
raise.
Bad. I was raised in the South.
Better. I was reared in the South.
smart.
Bad. He is a smart boy.
Better. He is a bright boy.
some.
Bad. Father feels some better.
Better. Father feels somewhat better.
stair steps.
Bad. I fell down the stair steps.
Better. I fell down the stairs.
stoop.
Bad. Every evening we sit on the stoop.
Better. Every evening we sit on the porch.
tote.
Bad. He was toting a barrel of flour on his shoulder.
Better. He was carrying a barrel of flour on his shoulder.
wait on.
Bad. If Mr. Brown will be back within an hour I shall wait on him.
Better. If Mr. Brown will be back within an hour I shall wait for him.
want.
Bad. Do you want in?
Better. Do you want to come in?
Bad. I want that you should go.
Better. I want you to go.
618. Use the correct form of nouns which have an abstract meaning in the singular and a concrete meaning in the plural.
Wrong. His preparations for the examination were inadequate.
Right. His preparation for the examination was inadequate.
Wrong. Anyone suspected of cowardice was killed by tortures.
Right. Anyone suspected of cowardice was killed by torture.