Negligence, Neglect

Negligence is the habit, neglect the act, of leaving things undone.  The adjectives negligent and neglectful should, in like manner, be discriminated.

Never, Not

The word never is sometimes colloquially used for not, as “I never remember to have seen Lincoln.”  Say “I do not remember,” etc.  Never should not be used in reference to events that can take place but once, as “Warren never died at Lexington.”

Love, Like

We may love our parents, our children, our country, the truth; and we may like roast turkey and cranberry sauce.  “I love cherries,” “I adore strawberries,” are school-girl expressions that should be avoided.  Love is an emotion of the heart, and not of the palate.
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Cheap, Low-priced

These words are often used synonymously.  A picture purchased for ten thousand dollars may be cheap; another, for which ten dollars was paid, although low-priced, may be dear.

Mad, Angry

The frequent use of mad in the sense of angry should be avoided.  A person who is insane is mad.  A dog that has hydrophobia is mad.  Figuratively we say mad, with rage, mad with terror, mad with pain; but to be vexed, or angry, or out of patience, does not justify the use of so strong a term as mad.

Most, Almost, Very

Sometimes incorrectly used for almost, as “He writes to me most every week.”

It is often loosely used in the sense of very, as “This is a most interesting book.”  Aim to use most only as the superlative of much, or many.  Do not use the indefinite article before it, as “This is a most beautiful picture.”  We may say “This is the most beautiful picture,” for here comparison is implied.

Portion, Part

“Give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.”  “We traveled a part of the distance on foot.”  Portion is applied to that which is set aside for a special
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purpose, often as the share or allotment of an individual, as the wife’s portion, the portion of the oldest son, etc.  Part is a more general term.

Postal

Bryant would not have said, “I will send you a postal by to-morrow’s mail.”  Postal card or post card would be better.

Practical, Practicable

These words are sometimes confounded.  Practicable means “that may be done or accomplished,” and implies that the means or resources are available; as, a practicable road, a practicable aim.  Practical means “capable of being turned to use or account;” as, “The practical man begins by doing; the theorist often ends by thinking.”

Predicate

This word is sometimes incorrectly used in the sense of form or base; as, “He predicated his statement on the information he had just received.”  Neither should it be used in the sense of predict; as, “The sky is overcast, and I predicate a storm tomorrow.”