Awful

Few words among the many that go to make up the vocabulary of American slang have been in longer use and have a wider range than the word awful. From the loftiest and most awe-inspiring themes to the commonest trifle, this much-abused word has been employed. A correct speaker or writer almost fears to use the word lest he should suggest the idea of slang, and thus detract from the subject to which the word might most fitly be applied.

Even the grammatical form of the word is often violated in such expressions as "Isn't he awful nice?" "That hat of hers is awful pretty." To say awfully nice and awfully pretty would improve the grammar, but the gross vulgarism remains.

The word, when properly used, means "inspiring with awe or dread"

often accompanied with reverence, as when Milton says:

82

"The trumpet spake not to the armed throng; And kings sat still with awful eye, As if they surely knew their sovran Lord was by."

Back up

In the sense of support, this, and the shorter expression back, are doubtless borrowed from the commercial world. While they may be tolerated in conversation, they must be regarded as slang.

Bulk

This word is often incorrectly used for most or the greater part; as, "The bulk of the people opposed the measure." Bulk refers to size, not to numbers.

Burglarize

This word is often used by the more sensational reporters in their reports of crime. It should be avoided.

But what, But that

"I don't know but what I shall have to punish him." The sentence should read, "I don't know but that I shall have to punish him." It is equivalent to, "I think that I shall have to punish him." The omission of but will convey the opposite meaning. "I don't know that I shall have to punish him" is equivalent to "I think that I shall not have to punish him."

83

Calculate

A provincialism often used in the sense of think, deem, suppose, believe; as, "I calculate the train will be here in ten minutes."

Calculated, Liable

This word is often incorrectly used in the sense of likely, liable, apt; as, "His utterances are calculated to injure his cause." In the proper use of the word there is present the idea of purpose or intent.

Leave, Quit

Leave is often incorrectly used for quit; as, "That eminent actor expects soon to leave the stage." It would be a misfortune if he should take the stage with him. Say "quit the stage."

"Henry has quit smoking." Here left off or stopped would be better.

"The President gave me lief to speak with him." Say "gave me leave."

Let it alone and let me be are preferable to leave it alone and leave me be.

A 1

"I have just read an A 1 article on the currency, question in the last issue of the North American Review!" This is an expression from the vocabulary of business converted into the slang of the street.

84

Luck

Luck, like behavior, may be either good or bad. "The carpenter has met with luck; he fell and broke his leg." "The manager has met with luck; his salary has been doubled." The adjective lucky and the adverb luckily are used only in a favorable sense.

Make way with

This expression is often incorrectly used for make away with; as, "The Judge gave the boot-blacks a Christmas dinner, and the begrimed urchins quickly made way with the turkey and cranberry sauce." Say "made away with," etc.

To make way is to make room, to provide a way, to dispatch.

In our midst

"The doctor settled in our midst." Say "among us," or "in our neighborhood."

Indorse, Endorse

From the Latin dorsum, the back, these words have come to mean the writing of one's name across the back of a check or draft or other commercial paper to signify its transfer to another or to secure its payment. To indorse a man's arguments or opinions is an incorrect use of the word.

While both forms of spelling the word are in good usage, indorse seems to be coming into more general favor.

85

In, Into

In is often incorrectly used for into; as, "He hurried up the street and rushed in the store." We walk in a room when the walking is wholly within the apartment; we walk into a room when we enter it from some other room or from the outside.

Just going to

"I was just going to write you a letter." Say "I was just about to write you a letter."

Kind of

"James swallowed the dose, and now feels kind of sick." Use slightly or somewhat, or some other modifier, instead of kind of.

Knowing

Do not use knowing for skilful or intelligent. "He is a knowing artist." "See him prick up his ears; he is a knowing cur."

Clever, Smart

In England the word clever is applied to one who is bright, intelligent, ready, apt; in the United States it is often misapplied to one who is good-natured, kind, or accommodating.