"John has been right sick, but is now some better." Somewhat, rather, or slightly may take the place of some. The sentence may be otherwise improved. "John has been quite ill, but is now somewhat better."

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Through, Finished

Unless you have fallen through a trap door and finished your career, do not say, "I am through," when you mean "I have finished." The school-boy says, "I am through with, that lesson," when he should say, "I have finished that lesson." The farmer asks the man in his employ, "Are you through with that field?" when he should have asked, "Have you finished ploughing that field?" You ask your friend, "Are you through, with Trilby?" when you should ask, "Have you finished reading Trilby."

Winterish

Do not say summerish and winterish, but summery, or summerlike, and wintry.

Wish

The word hope should be employed instead of wish in such cases as, "I wish you may succeed in your undertaking."

Right

This little word has many meanings and is put to many uses. In the following senses it should be avoided:

"Stand right here." In most instances the briefer expression, "Stand here," is sufficient. If it is necessary to locate the place more definitely or to emphasize the position, "Stand just here," or "Stand on this very spot," may be better.

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"The train came to a standstill right here." Better, "The train stopped just here."

"Do it right away." This is a colloquialism that should be avoided.

Immediately, instantly, at once, without delay, are expressions that may safely be substituted for right away.

"I heard of your misfortune, and came to you right away." "John, post this letter for me right off." Directly or immediately, in the place of right away and right off, is better English.

"James is right sick, and the doctor comes to see him right often."

The use of right as an intensive with adjectives and adverbs is very common in many quarters. Quite ill or very ill is better than right sick, and often or frequently is better than right often.

"We have a right good crop of wheat this year." Use very instead of right.

"You have as good a right to be punished as I have." The person addressed would gladly relinquish his right. "You merit punishment as well as I," or "You deserve to be punished," etc.

Shall, Will, Should, Would

Few persons can claim to be entirely free from slips of speech in the use of these auxiliaries. Simply to express a future action or event, shall is used with the first person and will with the second and third; as,

101 I shall read, We shall read, You will read, You will read, He will read, They will read.

But when I desire to show determination on my part to do a certain thing, or when I exercise my authority over another, or express promise, command, or threat, will is used in the first person and shall in the second and third; as, I will read, We will read, You shall read, You shall read, He shall read, They shall read.

Shall primarily implies obligation; will implies intention or purpose.

Will and would should be used whenever the subject names the one whose will controls the action; shall and should must be employed whenever the one named by the subject is under the control of another.

The difference between should and would is, in general, about the same as that between shall and will.

The foregoing suggestions cover the ordinary uses of these auxiliaries, but there are some special cases deserving attention.

Will, in the first person, expresses assent or promise, as well as determination; as,

"I will read this poem for you since you have requested it."

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"I will meet you to-morrow at the time appointed."

Will, in the second person, may express a command; as,

"You will take the places assigned you."

"You will report immediately at my office."

Will is sometimes employed to express a general fact, without conveying the idea of futurity; as, "Accidents will happen."

"Differences will arise."

Will is sometimes incorrectly used instead of shall; as, "Will I go?"

for "Shall I go?" This fault is common in Scotland, and prevails to some extent in this country.

Will is also used where may would be more appropriate; as, "Be that as it will."

Shall you? Will you?

The distinction between shall and will in the interrogative forms of the second person are not very clearly defined. Many writers and speakers use them interchangeably. The answer should have the same auxiliary as the question.

"Shall you go to town to-morrow?" "I shall."

"Will you attend to this matter promptly?" "I will."

Should, Would, Ought

Should is often used in the sense of ought; as, "Mary should remain at home to-day and wait upon her sick mother."

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Should and would are employed to express a conditional assertion; as, "I should go to college, if I could secure the necessary means." "He would have gone fishing, if his father had been willing."

Would is often used to express a custom, a determination, or a wish; as, "He would sit all day and moan." "Would to God we had died in the land of Egypt." "He would go, and his parents could not prevent him."

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