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Unbeknown

This is a provincialism that should be avoided. Use unknown.

Underhanded

Often incorrectly used for underhand; as "That was a contemptible and underhanded trick."

Calligraphy

This word means not writing, simply, but beautiful writing; hence, to say, "His calligraphy is wretched" is equivalent to saying, "His excellent writing is poor," which is a contradiction of terms.

Can but, Cannot but

These expressions are sometimes confounded. "If I perish, I can but perish," means "I can only perish," or "I can do no more than perish."

"I cannot but speak of the things I have heard" means that I am under a moral necessity to speak of these things. The past tense forms could but and could not but should be, in like manner, discriminated.

Casualty, Casuality

The latter word is sometimes used in place of the former. The first is legitimate; the second is without authority. The words specialty and speciality have a termination similar to the above. They may generally be used interchangeably and are both legitimate.

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Complected.

"The lady is light complected, has blue eyes, and auburn hair."

Complected is a provincialism without sanction. "The lady is of light complexion, has blue eyes," etc.

Disremember

This word is obsolete. Use forget, or "I do not remember."

Lie, Lay

The verbs lie and lay are often confounded, even by intelligent persons. Lie does not take an object. We cannot lie a thing. It is therefore intransitive.

Lay, which means to place in position, requires an object. We lay a book on a table, or bricks on the wall. It is therefore transitive.

The principal parts of the first verb are lie, lay, lain; and of the second, lay, laid, laid. The word lay is found in both, and this is, in part, accountable for the confusion. The most frequent errors result from using laid, the past tense form of the transitive verb, when the word lay, the past tense form of the intransitive verb, should be used. The ear naturally expects the usual past tense ending of the d or t sound, and as that is absent in the past tense of lie, the past tense form of the other verb is substituted. For the same reason the participle form laid is often incorrectly used for lain.

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"He told me to lie down, and I lay down," not laid down. "I told him to lay the book down, and he laid it down." "The ship lay at anchor."

"They lay by during the storm." "The book is lying on the shelf." "He lay on the ground and took cold." "They lay in ambush." "Lie low or he will discover you." "The goods are still lying on his hands." "Time lay heavily on their hands." "We must lie over at the next station."

"A motion was made that the resolution lie on the table." "Now I lie down to sleep." "Now I lay me down to sleep."

The foregoing sentences illustrate the correct usage of these confusing verbs.

As, That

"Did your cousin go to town yesterday?" "Not as I know." Better, "Not that I know." Better still, "I do not know." "I do not know as I shall go." Use that for as.

Bad toothache

As it is a rare thing to have a good toothache, we scarcely need the adjective bad to distinguish between the two kinds of toothache. Say severe.

Beautifully, Beautiful

After verbs of seeing, feeling, tasting, and smelling, the adverb is often incorrectly used for the adjective.

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"The colonel looked handsomely in his military dress," "I feel splendidly to-day," "This peach tastes badly," "The rose smells sweetly," are incorrect. Use handsome for handsomely, very well or in good spirits for splendidly, tastes bad or has a disagreeable taste for badly, and sweet for sweetly.

Beg, Beg leave

"I beg to announce the sale of a collection of rare and costly rugs."

"I beg to acknowledge your kindness in sending me this handsome present." In each case say "I beg leave to," etc.

Due, Owing

His success was due to his honesty and energy." That is due which should be paid as a debt; that is owing which is referred to as a cause or source.

"The bill is now due and payable at the gas office." "His success was owing to his honesty and energy."

Each, Every

"I see him at his office each day of the week." In this sentence the word every would be better. Each refers to single days particularized.

Here reference is made to what occurs on all days without exception.

Both words refer to nouns in the singular, hence such expressions as the following are incorrect:

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"Every soldier and sailor stood at their post." "The prisoners were discharged and went each their several ways." Correct by saying, "The prisoners were discharged and went each his several way," "Every soldier and sailor stood at his post."

Each, Both

"Both parties maintained their original positions." As the parties are thought of separately, the sentence should be: "Each party maintained its original position." "Both parties strove to place their best candidates upon the ticket" is correct, because the parties are thought of collectively.

Both, Both of