"Do you believe in corporal punishment for stupid school-children?"

"Yes; a spanking always makes them smart."

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To express cleverness, brightness, intelligence, aptness, the adjectives clever, bright, intelligent, apt, are better than the word smart.

Posted, Informed

"He is well posted on all matters relating to cattle-breeding." Say informed.

Perspire, Sweat

While all mankind belongs to the animal kingdom, and no person can feel offended at being called an animal, yet society observes certain distinctions in speaking of men and of beasts. To sweat and to feed are expressions that apply to the latter; to perspire and to eat to the former.

Empty

The Mississippi river flows, or discharges its water into the Gulf of Mexico, but it can not empty so long as any water remains in the river.

Enjoyed poor health

"Gold that buys health can never be ill spent, Nor hours laid out in harmless merriment."

The negative form of expression, "I have not enjoyed good health," is not only correct, but is, at the same time, a polite way of modestly stating a fact. To say "I have enjoyed poor health for the past year"

is to express a kind of enjoyment not generally appreciated. It is like being agreeably disappointed.

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Aberration of intellect

"He is afflicted with a slight aberration of intellect." Simplicity would suggest, "He is slightly insane."

Above, Foregoing

"Let me call your attention to the above passage." The highest authority does not sanction the use of above as an adjective. Say "the foregoing passage."

Allowed, Said

"He allowed this was the best speech he had heard." This is a provincialism that should be avoided. Use said, or declared, or admitted, according to the meaning.

Alternation

This word is sometimes used in the sense of an unbroken series. It properly signifies a reciprocal succession, as "The alternation of summer and winter produces an ever-changing scene."

Alternative

Etymologically and by general use, this word refers to a choice between two; as, "If this demand is refused the alternative is war."

But Gladstone is quoted as saying, "My decided preference is for the fourth and last of these alternatives."

Anniversary

From annus, a year, means recurring every year. Centennial means once in a hundred years. What then does centennial anniversary mean? Use centenary.

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Learn, Teach

"I taught him grammar," not "I learned him grammar." "He taught us history."

Lease, Let, Rent, Hire

We may lease to or from. "I leased the farm to my neighbor." "I leased this house from Brown." We let to another; as, "I let my house to my cousin." We may rent to or from another. We may hire from another,"

as, "I hired a servant;" "he hired a boat." With out and reflexively we may hire to another; as," I hired out my horses;" "he hired himself to the miller."

Like, As

Avoid the use of like in the sense of as. "He thinks just as (not like) his father does." That Anthony Trollope, Hugh Conway and other writers are chargeable with this offence does not justify the use of like for as, but rather proves the need of constant vigilance in order to avoid such errors.

Lit, Lighted, Alighted

"He lighted the candle." "The crow alighted on the top of the tree."

Avoid the use of lit in such cases, and also that slang form, as, "I lit on a beautiful passage in Browning," in the sense of met with.

Lend, Loan

"Will you lend me your book," is better than "Will you loan me your book."

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Near, Nearly

"James is not near so good a scholar as his brother is." Use nearly.

Nasty, Nice

Nasty is a strong adjective, and should be used only in reference to what is offensively filthy, foul, or defiled. Such expressions as a nasty day, a nasty rain, mark a loose and careless use of the word.

The word nice once meant foolish, ignorant, weak, effeminate. It has now come to mean exact, fine, finished, exciting admiration on account of skill or exactness; as nice proportions, nice workmanship, a nice distinction in philosophy. It is loosely and colloquially used in application to what is pleasing, agreeable, delightful, good.

A bright young lady was once asked, "Don't you think nice is a nasty word?" She replied, "And do you think nasty is a nice word." The subject was abruptly changed.

Nicely

"How do you feel this morning?" "Nicely, thank you." The foregoing use of the word is as incorrect as it is common. Use very well instead.