Word Study and English Grammar Part 11

_Plenty_, a noun should not be confused with the adjective _plentiful_.

_Politics_ is singular.

_Post_ does not mean _inform_.

_Predicate_ should not be used in the sense of _predict_ or in the sense of _base_ or _found_.

_Premature_ means "before the proper time." It should not be used in a general way as equivalent to _false_.

_Pretty_ should not be used in the modifying sense, nor as a synonym for _very_ in such phrases as "pretty good," "pretty near," and the like.

_Preventative_, no such word, say _preventive_.

_Promise_ should not be used in the sense of _a.s.sure_.

_Propose_, meaning "to offer" should not be confused with _purpose_ meaning "to intend."

_Proposition_ should not be confounded with _proposal_. A _proposition_ is a statement of a statement or a plan. A _proposal_ is the presentation or statement of an offer.

_Providing_ should not be used for _provided_.

_Quality_ should never be used as an adjective or with an adjective sense. "Quality clothes" is meaningless: "Clothes of quality" equally so. All clothes have quality and the expression has meaning only when the quality is defined as good, bad, high, low, and so forth.

_Quit_, "to go away from" is not the same as _stop_.

_Quite_ means "entirely," "wholly," and should never be used in the modifying sense as if meaning _rather_ or _somewhat_. "Quite a few" is nonsense.

_Raise_ is a much abused word. It is never a noun. As a verb it should be distinguished from _rear_ and _increase_, as in such phrases as "He was _raised_ in Texas." "The landlord _raised_ my rent."

_Rarely ever_ should not be used for _rarely_ or _hardly ever_.

_Real_ should not be used in the sense of _very_.

_Reference_ should be used with _with_ rather than _in_. Say _with_ reference to, not _in_ reference to. The same rule applies to the words _regard_ and _respect_. Do not say "_in regards to_," say "_with regard to_."

_Remember_ is not the same as _recollect_, which means "to remember by an effort."

_Rendition_ should not be used for _rendering_.

_Researcher_ has no standing as a word.

_Reside_ in the sense of live, and residence in the sense of house or dwelling are affectations and should never be used.

_Retire_ should not be used in the sense of "go to bed."

_Right_ should not be used in the sense of _duty_. "You _had a right_ to warn me," should be "It was your duty to warn me, or you ought to have warned me." _Right_ should not be used in the sense of _very_. Such expressions as _right now_, _right off_, _right away_, _right here_ are not now in good use.

_Same_ should not be used as a p.r.o.noun. This is a common usage in business correspondence but it is not good English and can be easily avoided without sacrificing either brevity or sense. _Same as_ in the sense of _just as_, _in the same manner_ should be avoided.

_Score_ should not be used for _achieve_ or _accomplish_.

_Set_ should not be confused with _sit_. To set means "to cause to sit."

_Sewage_, meaning the contents of a sewer, should not be confused with _sewerage_ which means the system.

_Show_ should not be used in the sense of _play_ or _performance_. _Show up_ should not be used for _expose_.

_Since_ should not be used for _ago_.

_Size up_ should not be used for _estimate_ or _weigh_.

_Some_ should not be used for _somewhat_ as "I feel _some_ better."

_Sort of_ should not be used for _rather_.

_Splendid_ means _shining_ or _brilliant_ and should not be used as a term of general commendation.

_Stand for_ means "be responsible for." Its recent use as meaning _stand_, _endure_, or _permit_, should be avoided.

_Start_ should not be used for _begin_, e. g., "He _started_ (began) to speak."

_State_ should not be used for _say_.

_Stop_ should not be used for _stay_.

_Such_ should not be used for _so_. Say "I have never seen _so_ beautiful a book before" not "I have never seen such a beautiful book before."

_Sure_ should not be used as an adverb. Say _surely_.

_Take_ is superfluous in connection with other verbs, e. g., "Suppose we _take_ and _use_ that type." _Take_ should not be confused with _bring_.

_Take stock in_ should not be used for _rely_ or _trust in_.

_That_ should not be used in the sense of _so_. "I did not know it was _that_ big."

_Think_ should not have the word _for_ added, e. g., "It is more important than you _think for_."

_This_ should not be used as an adverb. "This much is clear" should be "Thus much is clear."

_Through_ should not be used for _finished_.

_To_ is superfluous and wrong in such expressions as "Where did you go _to_?"

_Too_ alone should not modify a past participle. "He was _too_ (much) excited to reply."

_Transpire_ does not mean _happen_. It means to come to light or become known.

_Treat_ should be followed by _of_ rather than _on_. This volume treats _of_ grammar, not _on_ grammar.