Enquire Within Upon Everything Part 27

22. Instead of "After _which_ hour," say "After _that_ hour."

23. _Self_ should never be added to _his, their, mine, or thine._

24. _Each_ is used to denote every individual of a number.

25. _Every_ denotes all the individuals of a number.

26. _Either_ and _or_ denote an alternative: "I will take _either_ road, at your pleasure;" "I will take this _or_ that."

27. _Neither_ means _not either_; and _nor_ means _not the other_.

28. _Either_ is sometimes used for _each_--"Two thieves were crucified, on _either_ side one."

29. "Let _each_ esteem others as good as themselves," should be, "Let _each_ esteem others as good as _himself_."

30. "There are bodies _each_ of which _are_ so small," should be, "each of which _is_ so small."

31. Do not use double superlatives, such as _most straightest_, _most highest_, _most finest_.

32. The term _worser_ has gone out of use; but _lesser_ is still retained.

33. The use of such words as _chiefest_, _extremest_, &c., has become obsolete, because they do not give any superior force to the meanings of the primary words, _chief_, _extreme_, &c.

34. Such expressions as _more impossible_, _more indispensable_, _more universal_, _more uncontrollable_, _more unlimited_, &c., are objectionable, as they really enfeeble the meaning which it is the object of the speaker or writer to strengthen. For instance, _impossible_ gains no strength by rendering it _more_ impossible.

This cla.s.s of error is common with persons who say, "A _great large_ house," "A _great big_ animal," "A _little small_ foot," "A _tiny little_ hand."

35. _Here_, _there_, and _where_, originally denoting place, may now, by common consent, he used to denote other meanings; such as, "_There_ I agree with you," "_Where_ we differ," "We find pain _where_ we expected pleasure," "_Here_ you mistake me."

36. _Hence_, _whence_, and _thence_, denoting departure, &c., may be used without the word _from_. The idea of _from_ is included in the word _whence_--therefore it is unnecessary to say "_From whence_."

37. _Hither_, _thither_, and _whither_, denoting to a place, have generally been superseded by _here_, _there_, and _where_. But there is no good reason why they should not be employed. If, however, they are used, it is unnecessary to add the word _to_, because that is implied--"_Whither_ are you going?" "_Where_ are you going?" Each of these sentences is complete. To say, "Where are you going _to_?" is redundant.

38. Two _negatives_ destroy each other, and produce an affirmative.

"_Nor_ did he _not_ observe them," conveys the idea that he _did_ observe them.

39. But negative a.s.sertions are allowable. "His manners are not unpolite," which implies that his manners are, in some degree, marked by politeness.

40. Instead of "I _had_ rather walk," say "I _would_ rather walk."

41. Instead of "I _had better_ go," say "It were better that I should go."

42. Instead of "I doubt not _but_ I shall be able to go," say "I doubt not that I shall be able to go."

43. Instead of "Let you and _I_," say "Let you and me."

44. Instead of "I am not so tall as _him_," say "I am not so tall as he."

45. When asked "Who is there?" do not answer "Me," but "I."

46. Instead of "For you and _I_," say "For you and me."

47. Instead of "_Says_ I," say "I said."

48. Instead of "You are taller than _me_," say "You are taller than I."

49. Instead of "I _ain't_," or "I _arn't_," say "I am not."

50. Instead of "Whether I be present or _no_," say "Whether I be present or not."

51. For "Not that I know _on_," say "Not that I know."

52. Instead of "_Was_ I to do so," say "_Were_ I to do so."

53. Instead of "I would do the same if I _was him_," say "I would do the same if I were he."

54. Instead of "I _had_ as lief go myself," say "I would as soon go myself," or "I would rather."

55. It is better to say "Bred and born," than "Born and bred."

56. It is better to say "Six weeks ago," than "Six weeks back."

57. It is better to say "Since which time," than "Since when."

58. It is better to say "I repeated it," than "I said so over again."

59. It is better to say "A physician," or "A surgeon," than "A medical man."

60. Instead of "He was too young to _have_ suffered much," say "He was too young to suffer much."

61. Instead of "_Less_ friends," say "Fewer friends." Less refers to quant.i.ty.

62. Instead of "A _quant.i.ty_ of people," say "A number of people."

63. Instead of "_He and they_ we know," say "Him and them."

64. Instead of "_As_ far as I can see," say "So far as I can see."

65. Instead of "If I am _not mistaken_," say "If I mistake not."

66. Instead of "You _are mistaken_," say "You mistake."

67. Instead of "What _beautiful_ tea!" say "What good tea!"

68. Instead of "What a _nice_ prospect!" say "What a _beautiful_ prospect!"

69. Instead of "A _new pair_ of gloves," say "A pair of new gloves."

70. Instead of saying "_He_ belongs to the _house_," say "The house belongs to him."