“He cannot miss the way without he forgets my
instructions.” “I will not dig the
potatoes without Tom comes to help.” Use
unless instead of without.
________________________________________________
_________________
42
Worse, More
“He dislikes arithmetic worse than grammar.” Use more instead of worse.
Rarely, Rare
“It is rarely that you hear of a prodigal youth growing into an economical man.” Rarely should be rare to form the adjective attribute of the verb.
Real, Really
Real is often incorrectly used as an adverb, especially by schoolgirls; as, “I think he is real mean.” The grammar will be improved by substituting really for real, but the expression, as a whole, being applied to all kinds and degrees of offenses, has become meaningless.
Real is often carelessly used in the sense of very; as real pretty, real bright, real kind.
Recipe, Receipt
A recipe is a formula for making some mixture or preparation of materials; a receipt is an acknowledgment of that which has been received.
Region, Neighborhood
Region is a broader and more comprehensive term, and
should not be applied to the narrow limits of a neighborhood.
________________________________________________
_________________
43
Remit, Send
The word remit is often used when send would be better. Remit means to send back, to forgive, to relax. In its commercial sense it means to transmit or send money in payment of a demand; as, “He remitted the amount by mail.”
Residence, House
This pretentious word is often used when house or home would be in better taste.
Deface, Disfigure
“The walls of many public buildings are defaced by persons who desire that their names shall remain when they are gone.” “They disfigure their faces that they may appear unto men to fast.” Disfigure applies more generally to persons; deface, to things.
Demean, Degrade
The word demean is often incorrectly used in the sense of degrade, lower. It should be used in the sense of behave, conduct, deport, and not in the sense of degrade.
Depot, Station
For many years the word depot was largely employed
in the sense of a railway station. Its primary
meaning is a warehouse or storehouse or military station.
As applied to a stopping place for railroad trains
the
________________________________________________
_________________
44
English word station is greatly to be preferred to the French word depot, and is rapidly coming into general use in this country.
Description, Kind
“Flowers of every description were found in his garden.” In the above sense the word kind or variety would be more appropriate.
Bring, Fetch, Carry
Bring implies motion from the object toward the person who issues the command or makes the request. Fetch implies two motions, first, toward the object; second, toward the person who wishes it. The gardener, who is in the garden, calls to his servant, who is at the barn, “John, bring me the rake. You will find it in the barn.” And if John is with him in the garden, he would say, “John, fetch me the rake from the barn.”


