Enquire Within Upon Everything Part 30

170. Instead of "I am averse _from_ that," say "I am averse to that."

171. Instead of "I confide _on_ you," say "I confide in you."

172. Instead of "I differ _with_ you," say "I differ from you."

173. Instead of "As soon as _ever_," say "As soon as."

174. Instead of "The _very best_" or "The _very worst_," say "The best or the worst."

175. Instead of "A _winter's morning_," say "A winter morning," or "A wintry morning."

176. Instead of "Fine morning, _this_ morning," say "This is a fine morning."

177. Instead of "How _do_ you _do_?" say "How are you?"

178. Instead of "Not so well as I could wish," say "Not quite well."

179. Avoid such phrases as "No great shakes," "Nothing to boast of,"

"Down in my boots," "Suffering from the blues." All such sentences indicate vulgarity.

180. Instead of "No one _cannot_ prevail upon him," say "No one can prevail upon him."

181. Instead of "No one _hasn't_ called," say "No one has called."

182. Avoid such phrases as "If I was you," or even, "If I were you."

Better say, "I advise you how to act."

183. Instead of "You have a _right_ to pay me," say "It is right that you should pay me."

184. Instead of "I am going _on_ a tour," say "I am about to take a tour," or "going."

185. Instead of "I am going _over_ the bridge," say "I am going _across_ the bridge."

186. Instead of "He is coming here," say "He is coming hither."

187. Instead of "He lives opposite the square," say "He lives opposite to the square."

188. Instead of "He _belongs_ to the Reform Club," say "He is a member of the Reform Club."

189. Avoid such phrases as "I am up to you," "I'll be down upon you," "Cut," or "Mizzle."

190. Instead of "I _should just_ think I could," say "I think I can."

191. Instead of "There has been a _good deal_," say "There has been much."

192. Instead of "_Following up_ a principle," say "Guided by a principle."

193. Instead of "Your _obedient, humble servant_," say "Your obedient," or, "Your humble servant."

194. Instead of saying "The effort you are making _for_ meeting the bill," say "The effort you are making to meet the bill."

195. Instead of saying "It _shall_ be submitted to investigation and inquiry," say "It shall be submitted to investigation," or "to inquiry."

196. Dispense with the phrase "_Conceal from themselves the fact_;"

it suggests a gross anomaly.

197. Never say "_Pure and unadulterated_," because the phrase embodies a repet.i.tion.

198. Instead of saying "Adequate for," say "Adequate to."

199. Instead of saying "A _surplus over and above_," say "A surplus."

200. Instead of saying "A _lasting and permanent_ peace," say "A permanent peace."

201. Instead of saying "I left you _behind at_ London," say "I left you behind me at London."

202. Instead of saying "_Has been_ followed by immediate dismissal,"

say "Was followed by immediate dismissal."

203. Instead of saying "Charlotte was met _with_ Thomas," say "Charlotte was met by Thomas." But if Charlotte and Thomas were walking together, "Charlotte and Thomas were met by," &c.

204. Instead of "It is strange that no author should _never_ have written," say "It is strange that no author should ever have written."

205. Instead of "I won't never write," say "I will never write."

206. To say "Do _not_ give him _no more_ of your money," is equivalent to saying "Give him some of your money." Say "Do not give him _any_ of your money."

207. Instead of saying "They are not what nature _designed_ them,"

say "They are not what nature designed them to be."

208. Instead of "By this _means_," say "By these means."

209. Instead of saying "A beautiful _seat and gardens_," say "A beautiful _seat_ and its gardens."

210. Instead of "All that was _wanting_," say "All that was wanted."

211. Instead of saying "I had not the pleasure of hearing his sentiments when I wrote that letter," say "I had not the pleasure of having heard," &c.

212. Instead of "The quality of the apples _were_ good," say "The quality of the apples was good."

213. Instead of "The want of learning, courage, and energy _are_ more visible," say "Is more visible."

214. Instead of "We are conversant _about_ it," say "We are conversant with it."

215. Instead of "We called _at_ William," say "We called on William."

216. Instead of "We die _for_ want," say "We die of want."

217. Instead of "He died _by_ fever," say "He died of fever."