Word Study and English Grammar Part 8

_Badly_ should not be used for _very much_. It should not be confused with the adjective _bad_. "He looks badly" means he makes a bad use of his eyes, say "He looks bad."

_Bank on_ is slang. Say _rely on_ or _trust in_.

_Beg_ is often incorrectly used in the sense of _beg leave_, not "I _beg_ to say" but "I _beg leave_ to say."

_Beside_, meaning "by the side of" should not be confused with _besides_ meaning "in addition to."

_Between_ applies only to two persons or things.

_Blame on_ as a verb should never be used.

_Both_, when _both--and_ are used be sure they connect the right words, "He can both spell and punctuate" not "He both can spell and punctuate."

Do not use such expressions as "They both resemble each other." Be careful to avoid confusion in the use of negative statements. Do not say "Both cannot go" when you mean that one can go.

_Bound_ in the sense of _determined_ is an Americanism and is better avoided. We say "he is _bound_ to do it" meaning "he is _determined_ to do it," but the phrase really means "He is under bonds, or obligation to do it."

_Bring_ should be carefully distinguished from _fetch_, _carry_ and _take_. _Bring_ means to transfer toward the speaker. _Fetch_ means to go and bring back. _Carry_ and _take_ mean to transfer from the speaker, e. g., "_Bring_ a book home from the library." "_Fetch_ me a gla.s.s of water." "_Carry_ this proof to the proofreader." "_Take_ this book home."

_But_ is sometimes used as a preposition and when so used takes the objective case. "The boy stood on the burning deck whence all _but_ him had fled." _But_ should not be used in connection with _that_ unless intended to express the opposite of what the meaning would be without it, e. g., "I have no doubt _but that_ he will die" is incorrect because his death is expected. "I have no fear _but that_ he will come" is correct, as the meaning intended is "I am sure he will come."

_But what_ is often incorrectly used for _but that_. "I cannot believe _but what_ he is guilty" probably means "I can but believe that he is guilty." "I _cannot but_ believe" means "I must believe."

_Calculate_ does not mean _think_ or _suppose_.

_Calculated_ does not mean _likely_. It means "intended or planned for the purpose."

_Can_ which indicates ability is to be distinguished from _may_ which indicates permission.

_Cannot but_ should be carefully distinguished from _can but_, e. g., "I _can but_ try" means "All I can do is try." "I _cannot but try_" means "I cannot help trying."

_Can't seem_ should not be used for _seem unable_, e. g., "I _can't seem_ to see it."

_Childlike_ should be carefully distinguished from _childish_.

_Childish_ refers particularly to the weakness of the child.

_Come_ should not be confused with _Go_. _Come_ denotes motion toward the speaker; _go_ motion from the speaker, "If you will come to see me, I will go to see you."

_Common_ should be distinguished from _mutual_. _Common_ means "shared in common." _Mutual_ means "reciprocal" and can refer to but two persons or things. A _common_ friend is a friend two or more friends have in common. _Mutual_ friends.h.i.+p is the friends.h.i.+p of two persons for each other.

_Compare to_, _liken to_, _compare with_, means "measure by" or "point out similarities and differences."

_Condign_ means "suitable" or "deserved," not necessarily _severe_.

_Condone_ means "to forgive" or "nullify by word or act," not "make amends for."

_Consider_ in the sense of _regard as_ should not usually be followed by _as_, e. g., "I consider him a wise man," not "_as_ a wise man."

_Contemptible_ is used of an object of contempt and it should be distinguished from _contemptuous_ which is used of what is directed at such an object, e. g., "He is a _contemptible_ fellow." "I gave him a _contemptuous_ look."

_Continual_ should not be confused with _continuous_. _Continual_ means "frequently repeated." _Continuous_ means "uninterrupted."

_Convene_, which means "to come together," should not be confused with _convoke_ which means "to bring or call together." A legislature _convenes_. It cannot be _convened_ by another, but it can be _convoked_.

_Crime_ is often used for offenses against the speaker's sense of right.

Properly _crime_ is a technical word meaning "offenses against law." A most innocent action may be a _crime_ if it is contrary to a statute.

The most sinful, cruel, or dishonest action is no _crime_ unless prohibited by a statute.

_Dangerous_ should not be used for _dangerously ill_.

_Data_ is plural.

_Deadly_, "that which inflicts death" should not be confused with _deathly_, "that which resembles death."

_Decided_ must not be confused with _decisive_. A _decided_ victory is a clear and unmistakable victory. A _decisive_ victory is one which decides the outcome of a war or of a campaign.

_Decimate_ means to take away one-tenth. It is not properly used in a general way of the infliction of severe losses.

_Definite_ which means "well defined" should not be confused with _definitive_ which means "final."

_Demean_ is related to _demeanor_ and means "behave." It should be carefully distinguished from _degrade_ or _lower_.

_Die._ We die _of_ a certain disease, not _with_ or _from_ it.

_Differ_ in the sense of disagree is followed by _with_. "I _differ with_ you." _Differ_ as indicating unlikeness is followed by _from_.

_Different_ should be followed by _from_ never by _with_, _than_, or _to_.

_Directly_ should not be used for _as soon as_.

_Discover_, "to find something which previously existed" should be distinguished from _invent_ something for the first time.

_Disinterested_ means "having no financial or material interest in a thing." It should be carefully distinguished from _uninterested_ which means "taking no interest in" a thing.

_Dispense_, "to distribute" should not be confused with _dispense with_, "to do without."

_Disposition_ is not the same as _disposal_.

_Distinguish_ which means "to perceive differences" should not be confused with _differentiate_ which means "to make or const.i.tute a difference."

_Divide_ should be carefully distinguished from _distribute_.

_Don't_ is a contraction of do not. _Doesn't_ is the contraction for does not. _I don't_, _they don't_, _he doesn't_.

_Due_ should not be used for _owing to_ or _because of_.

_Each_ is distributive and is always singular. _Each other_ which is applicable to two only should not be confused with _one another_ which is applicable to more than two.

_Egotist_, a man with a high or conceited opinion of himself, should not be confused with _egoist_ which is the name for a believer in a certain philosophical doctrine.