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healthy or unhealthy according as it possesses vigor. Food, surroundings and conditions are healthful or unhealthful according as they promote or destroy health.

Idea, Opinion

"Many persons think that the interior of the earth is a mass of fire; what is your idea?" Say, "What is your opinion?"

Alone, Only

"An only child" is one that has neither brother nor sister. "A child alone" is one that is left to itself. "Virtue alone makes us happy"

means that virtue unaccompanied by any other advantages is sufficient to make us happy. "Virtue only makes us happy" means that nothing else can do it.

Grow, Raise, Rear

"We grow wheat, corn, oats, and potatoes on our farm." "We raise wheat," etc., would be better. With the same propriety we might use sleep for lodge, and eat for feed, or supply with food; as, "We can eat and sleep fifty persons at one time."

The word raise is often incorrectly used in the sense of rear; as, "She raised a family of nine children." It is sometimes employed in the sense of increase, as, "The landlord raised my rent." Increased would be better.

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Has went

"He goes to school," "He went to school yesterday," "He has gone to the West." Avoid such ungrammatical forms as "He has went," "I have saw."

Badly, Greatly

Badly is often incorrectly used for greatly or very much, as, "I need it badly," "He was badly hurt."

"That fence wants painting badly, I think I'll do it myself," said the economical husband.

"Yes," said his wife, "you had better do it yourself if you think it wants to be done badly."

At you

"If you don't stop teasing me I will do something at you," meaning "I will punish you." That form of expression is very common in some localities, and it is even more inelegant than common. The use of the preposition to instead of at would be a slight improvement, but the sentence should be entirely recast.

Haply, Happily

In the reading of the Scriptures the word happily is sometimes used where the archaic word haply should be employed. In like manner the word thoroughly is substituted for the old form throughly. Both words should be pronounced as they are spelled.

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Thanks

To say "I thank you" requires but little more effort than to say "Thanks," and it will be received as a more sincere token of thankfulness.

Got to

This inelegant expression is often employed where must would serve the purpose better. "This work has got to be done." Say, "Must be done."

Hangs on

"The cold weather hangs on." Better, "The cold weather continues."

Under the Weather

"Are you well?" "No; I have been quite under the weather." Substitute sick or ill, for the colloquial expression under the weather.

Again, Against

Again is often erroneously used for against; as, "He leaned again the tree for support." Say, "He leaned against the tree for support."

Could, Can, Will

Could is often incorrectly employed where can or will would be more appropriate.

"Could you lend me a dollar this morning?" If the thought of the inquirer is, "Are you willing to lend," etc., he should have used will instead of could;

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but if his thought was, "Are you able to lend," or "Do you have a dollar to spare this morning," he should have used can.

Bravery, Courage

Bravery is inborn; courage is the result of reason and determination.

The brave are often reckless; the courageous are always cautious.

Hate

Avoid the use of hate for dislike, and all other intensive words when the thought is more correctly expressed by a milder word.

Pretty, Very

Pretty is often incorrectly used in the sense of very or moderately, as "He was pretty badly hurt," "He is a pretty good scholar," "She is pretty wealthy," "Thomas is pretty ugly." So common is this provincialism in some localities that the incongruity of such an expression as the last would pass undiscovered.

Lot, Number

The use of lot for number or many is a colloquialism that should be avoided. "He collected a lot (large number) of books on the subject."

"A lot of policemen were gathered there" "I ate lots of oranges while I was in Florida."

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Lead a dance