AWFUL, AWFULLY. These are two very much overworked words. Subst.i.tute other and more accurate expressions.
Wrong: We have had an _awfully_ good time. That is an _awfully_ pretty dress.
Right: We have had an _exceedingly_ nice time. That is a _very_ pretty dress.
BADLY. Do not use _badly_ in the sense of _very much_.
Wrong: She wanted _badly_ to come.
Right: She wanted _very much_ to come.
BESIDE, BESIDES. _Beside_ means _next to. Besides_ means _in addition to_.
Right: John lives _beside_ his mother.
Right: _Besides_ the daughters, there are three sons.
BETWEEN. Do not use _between_ when referring to more than two objects.
Wrong: There is bad feeling _between_ the members of the cla.s.s.
Right: There is bad feeling _among_ the members of the cla.s.s.
BLOWED. Do not use _blowed_ for _blew_ or _blown_. There is no such word.
BEST. Do not use _best_ when only two objects are referred to.
Use _better_. _Best_ should be used only when more than two are referred to.
Wrong: He is the _best_ of the two brothers.
Right: He is the _better_ of the two brothers.
Right: He is the _best_ of the three brothers.
BOUND. Do not use _bound_ for _determined_.
Wrong: He was _bound_ to go skating.
Right: He was _determined_ to go skating.
Right: He _bound_ himself to pay three hundred dollars.
BUT. Do not use _but_ after a negative in the sense of _only_. See --46.
Wrong: There _isn't but_ one apple left.
Right: There _is but_ one apple left.
CALCULATE. Do not use _calculate_ in the sense of _think, expect_, or _intend_.
CAN. Do not use _can_ to denote permission. It denotes ability or possibility. _May_ denotes permission. See --69
Wrong: _Can_ I speak to you for a minute?
Right: _May_ I speak to you for a moment?
CHARACTER, REPUTATION. Do not confuse these two words. _Character_ means one's moral condition. _Reputation_ means the morality that others believe one to possess.
CLUM. There is no such form of the verb _climb_.
COMPLECTED. Do not use _complected_ for _complexioned_. See --40.
CONCLUDE. Do not use conclude in the sense of _forming an intention._
Right: Finally, I _decided_ to go home.
Right: I was forced to _conclude_ that I had made an error.
CONSIDERABLE. Do not use _considerable_ in the sense of _very much_.
Wrong: This lesson is _considerable_ better than yesterday's.
CUTE. A much overworked word. Use some expression that is more accurate; as, _pretty, amusing_, etc.
DECEASE, DISEASE. Do not confuse _decease_ and _disease_. The first means _death_, the second _sickness_. _The deceased_ means a person who is dead.
Wrong: The _diseased_ will be buried at four o'clock.
Wrong: The property of the _diseased_ will be sold at auction.
DECEASE. Do not use _decease_ as a verb in the sense of _die_.
Wrong: His father _deceased_ last year.
DEMAND. _Demand_ should not have a person as its object.
Wrong: He _demanded_ John to pay.
Right: He _demanded_ payment from John. He _demanded_ that John pay.
DIFFERENT. Use the preposition _from_ after _different_, not _than_.
DON'T. Do not use _don't_ with a subject in the third person singular.
Tips: You're reading Practical Grammar and Composition Part 61,
please read Practical Grammar and Composition Part 61 online from left to right.You can use left, right, A and D keyboard keys to browse between chapters.Use F11 button to read novel in full-screen(PC only).
Practical Grammar and Composition Part 61 - Read Practical Grammar and Composition Part 61 Online
It's great if you read and follow any Novel on our website. We promise you that
we'll bring you the latest, hottest Novel everyday and FREE.
