108

noun instead of the infinitive with to; as, "I commenced writing at a very early age."

Beside, Besides

These words were formerly used interchangeably, but the best writers of to-day make a distinction. Beside means by the side of. Besides means in addition to. Besides is sometimes incorrectly used for except; as, "No trees will grow here besides the pine."

Bountiful, Plentiful

Bountiful applies to the giver; plentiful to the things furnished.

"The bountiful Giver of all good furnishes a plentiful supply of all things needful for our comfort and happiness." Do not say a bountiful repast, a bountiful harvest.

Attacked, Burst, Drowned

The incorrect past tense forms attackted, bursted, drownded, are sometimes heard; as, "The cashier was attackted by three of the ruffians," "The cannon bursted and killed the gunners,"" The fishermen were drownded off the bar." Use attacked, burst, drowned.

All

This little word is used in a great many ways, some of which are quite colloquial, and in some cases provincial. When the grocer's clerk has taken your order he is prompted to say, "Is that all?" Or if

109

he should say, "Is there anything else that you wish?" you are likely to reply, "No; that is all." Whether used in the question or in the reply, the word all should be avoided, or else the expression should be expanded so as to make a clear sentence.

A friend calls to see you, and, finding you alone when he expected to meet others with you, he says, "Good morning; I see you are all alone." All is not a good equivalent for quite or entirely, either of which words would be better than all. In truth, the sentence is as clear and as strong and more concise without the use of a modifier. "I see you are alone."

Inaugurate

To inaugurate means to induct into office or to set in motion with formality and serious ceremony. Pompous writers too often employ the word in referring to commonplace events. A new business is established. A new hall or library is opened. A new pastor is installed. A new order of procedure is adopted. In general, the word begin or commence would be more appropriate than inaugurate.

Came across, Met with

"I came across the passage quite unexpectedly." Better, "I chanced upon," or "happened upon,," or "met with the passage quite unexpectedly."

110

Expect

Few words are more frequently incorrectly used than expect. "I expect you went to town yesterday," "I expect you will hear from me to-morrow," "I expect the train has arrived," represent some of the uses to which this word is often put. Expect refers wholly to the future, and should not refer to present or past events; as, "I expect you to write me from Liverpool." "John expects to see his father to-morrow." Among the expressions that can most readily and appropriately be substituted for expect are suspect, suppose, think, believe, presume, daresay.

Over with

"After the supper was over with the guests departed." Omit with.

Overflown

"The lowlands along the river are overflown." Use overflowed. The perfect participle of overflow is overflowed, not overflown.

Good piece

"I have come a good piece to see you." Say "I have come a long distance to see you."

Stand a chance

"He does not stand any chance of an election." Say, "It is not probable that he will be elected."

111

No more than I could help

"As I was not in sympathy with the cause, I gave no more than I could help." So accustomed are we to hearing this awkward, blundering expression that we readily understand the meaning it is intended to convey, and should be sorely puzzled to interpret the correct form.

Let us analyze it. I gave five dollars. That much I could not help (giving). I gave no more. Hence, "I gave no more than I could not help." This last form appears to be correct. By changing the phraseology the sentence can be greatly improved. "I gave no more than I felt compelled to give." "I made my contribution as small as possible." "My gift was limited to the measure of my sense of obligation."

Above, More than, Preceding

"It is above a week since I heard from my brother." We may say "above the earth," "above the housetops," but in the preceding sentence it is better to say, "It is more than a week since I heard from my brother."

"In the above paragraph he quotes from Horace." Say, "In the preceding or foregoing paragraph," etc. The awkwardness of the use of the word above becomes very apparent when the line in which it occurs is found at the top of a page, and the passage

112

to which reference is made appears at the bottom of the previous page.

Climax

The Greek word climax means literally a ladder, and implies ascent, upward movement. The best authors use it only in this sense, and not to denote the highest point.

Factor

This word, from the Latin factor, a doer, an agent, signifies working, doing, effecting. Its frequent use in the sense of source or part should be avoided.

"All are but factors of one stupendous whole, Whose body Nature is, and God the soul."

Pope employs the better word parts.

Hung, Hanged

Pictures, signs, bells, and other inanimate objects are hung; men are hanged. While some writers ignore this distinction, the best authorities observe it.

Healthy, Healthful

A lady wrote to a paper asking, "Are plants in a sleeping-room unhealthy?" The answer came, "Not necessarily; we have seen some very healthy plants growing in sleeping-rooms."

Persons are healthy or unhealthy. A plant or tree is