Chapter I

~I~, ~and me~: “They had come to see _my sister and I_” is a common error. In this sentence “they” stands in the nominative case, and “my sister _and I_,” being the objects of the action of the nominative “they,” should be noun and pronoun in the objective case. To be correct the clause should read “my sister _and me_.” “They have come to see _my_ sister _and me_.”

~ice-cream~, ~ice-water~: Common English idioms sometimes condemned as incorrect. The STANDARD DICTIONARY recording usage recognizes the forms _ice-cream_ and _ice-water_ as correct. Inasmuch as _iced_ means “made cold with ice; as _iced milk_ or _iced tea_,” it would seem that by analogy the correct phrases should be _iced cream_, _iced water_, for one would not think of asking for _ice tea_ or _ice milk_, but these idioms are so firmly established that it is doubtful if they will ever be changed.

~idea~. Compare OPINION.

~ie~, ~ei~: The rule governing the use of these letters in spelling is commonly expressed “I before E except after C.” Therefore, remember _believe_ is correct, not “beleive”; _receive_ and not “recieve”; _brief_, and not “breif”; _reprieve_, not “repreive”; _retrieve_, not “retreive.”

~if~, ~or~: Do not say “seldom _or_ ever,” say, rather, “seldom _if_ ever,” or “seldom _or_ never.”

~if~, ~whether~: Sometimes _if_ is incorrectly used for _whether_. It is used correctly when supposition or condition is implied; _whether_, chiefly when an alternative is suggested or presented. “If he sends the money I shall then decide _whether_ or not I will go.”

~ill~: The STANDARD DICTIONARY says: The use of _ill_ and _sick_ differs in the two great English-speaking countries. _Ill_ is used in both lands alike, but the preferred sense of _sick_ in England is that of “sick at the stomach, nauseated,” while in the United States the two words are freely interchangeable. Still Tennyson and other good writers freely use _sick_ in the sense of _ill_. The tendency of modern usage is to remand _ill_ and _well_ (referring to condition of health) to the predicate. We say “A person who is _ill_,” rather than “An _ill_ person”; “I am _well_,” but not “I am in a _well_ state of health.” _Ill_ in the abstract sense of _bad_ or _wicked_ is obsolescent, or rather practically obsolete except in poetic or local use. Compare ILLY.

~illusion~. Compare DELUSION.

~illy~: This word should never be used for _ill_ since ill is both an adverb and an adjective. Say, “He behaved _ill_”; not “he behaved _illy_.” Illy is now obsolescent.

~immerge~. Compare EMERGE.

~immigrant~. Compare EMIGRANT.

~imminent~. Compare EMINENT.

~immunity~ and ~impunity~ are sometimes confounded. They are both from the Latin, the former being produced by _in_, not, + _munus_, service, and the latter by _in_ + _pœna_, punishment. Freedom from any burden, or exemption from evil, duty or penalty has perhaps not unnaturally, been associated with freedom from punishment. A boy may insult his brother with _impunity_ but can not expect to enjoy a like _immunity_ from strangers.

~impending~. Compare EMINENT.

~imperative~, ~imperious~: Discriminate carefully between these words. That which is _imperative_ may be either mandatory or authoritative; while that which is _imperious_ may be domineering or overbearing.

~implicate~. Compare INVOLVE.

~inaugurate~: Phelps declares that this word in the sense of “introduce” is improper and restricts its meaning to “investiture in office.” But lexicographers disregard this distinction and declare that _inaugurate_ may be correctly used to mean also “to set in operation; to initiate; to originate; as to _inaugurate_ reforms.”

“~Indeed!~” “~Is that so?~” Discriminate carefully between these terms. “_Indeed_” expresses surprise. “_Is that so?_” like “you don’t say?” implies disbelief and calls for the reiteration of the statement made. As these interrogations are used chiefly to discredit or disconcert the speaker they may be characterized as specimens of “refined” rudeness.

~indentation~, ~indention~: An _indentation_ is a notch in an edge or border; it is also a dent; and _indention_ is a setting of type in such manner as to leave a blank space on the left side of a margin of type-matter as at the beginning of a paragraph.

The printers’ _indention_ is not (as it is often said to be) a shortened form of _indentation_, but an original word from _dent_ (_dint_), “a denting in, a depression,” and hence is the proper word, rather than _indentation_, to express the idea.

~indices~: A plural form of _index_, generally and more properly reserved for use in science and mathematics. In other cases the plural _indexes_ should be used.

~indict~, ~indite~: Although the pronunciation of these words is identical their meanings, in modern practise, differ materially. Both words are from the Latin _in_ + _dico_, say. The first means to prefer an indictment (or formal written charge of crime) against. The second means “to put into words in writing” but it does not carry with it, the legal signification of the preceding.

~induction~. Compare DEDUCTION.

~inferior~: In constant and approved use in such expressions as “an _inferior_ man,” “goods of an _inferior_ sort”; corresponding to such expressions as “a _superior_ man,” “materials of _superior_ quality”--all of which may be regarded as elliptical forms of speech. In reply to Dean Alford’s challenge of this usage (_Queen’s English_ ¶ 214, p. 82), it is enough to say that life would be too short to admit of all such ellipses, being supplied, even if such supply would not make speech too prolix for common use.

~inform~. Compare POST.

~ingenious~, ~ingenuous~: Words sometimes used erroneously. _Ingenious_ characterizes persons possessed of cleverness or ability; ready, skilful, prompt, or apt to contrive. _Ingenuous_ means free from guile; candid; open; frank.

~in~, ~into~: Discriminate carefully between these words. _In_ denotes position, state, etc.; _into_, tendency, direction, destination, etc.

~inkslinger~: A vulgar term for a journalist, writer, or literary worker, and as such one to be avoided.

~innumerable~ means “that cannot be numbered.” Therefore, avoid such a locution as “an _innumerable_ number,” as absurd.

~in our midst~: An undesirable and ambiguous phrase for “among us” due to the misinterpretation of “in the midst of us,” “in the midst of them” (_Matt._ xviii, 20) but with some literary authority for its use.

~in so far as~: In this phrase the word _in_ is redundant and meaningless. Do not say, “_In so far as_ I dared, I spoke the truth.” Omit the _in_.

~in spite of~: A phrase which some persons declare not synonymous with _notwithstanding_, yet the STANDARD DICTIONARY authorizes its use and says, “formerly in contempt of; now, notwithstanding: used somewhat emphatically.”

~intend~, ~mean~: The use of _intend_ for _mean_, as in explanatory sentences, is not commonly approved although it has the sanction of literary usage, and is considered correct by lexicographers who in defining the words treat them as interchangeable. When explaining anything that has been said it is preferable to say, “By this I _mean_,” rather than “By this I _intend_.” Do not say “Do you _mean_ to come?” when you wish to know whether or not the person you address _intends_ to come. Compare CONTEMPLATE.

~in the street~, ~on the street~: Distinctions between these phrases are invariably wiredrawn. Both forms are permissible; the writer’s preference, which may be modified according to circumstances, is for the first. “His home is _in_ Eighty-seventh street” is preferable to “_on_ Eighty-seventh street.” One should not say “his home is _on_ Bermuda,” but “_in_ Bermuda.” “He lives _at_ Hamilton, _in_ Queen street.” Compare ON.

~invest~: Properly used only of considerable transactions, and always with a suggestion of permanent proprietary right. One does not _invest_ (except in a humorous sense) in a postage-stamp.

~invite~: Used in the sense of “invitation” this term, a colloquialism formerly in wide use, is condemned as illiterate and bordering on vulgarity.

~involve~ is to be distinguished from ~implicate~. The latter has a suggestion of wrong-doing or crime, whereas the former contains no such implication.

~irritate~. Compare AGGRAVATE.

~irruption~. Compare ERUPTION.

~I seen him~: Vulgar and incorrect; say “_I have seen_ him” or “I _saw_ him.”

~Is that so?~ One of a class of vulgar phrases of which other examples are “You don’t say”; “Don’t you know”; “You know”; “Well I never,” commonly used but all of which should be avoided as ill-bred and undesirable locutions.

~is~, ~are~: The correct use of these words depends in a measure on the intention of the writer or speaker. Therefore, the choice of a singular or plural verb in cases where either form would be proper is often influenced by the writer’s way of looking at the subject. “The purpose and conception of the scheme _is_ to do good.” Now the mistake with this sentence is that either “purpose and conception” represent a single idea (in which case they may, in combination, take a singular verb), or they do not (in which case they require a plural verb), and that in the former case, where the nouns express a similarity of sentiment, one of the words is superfluously used. “Jones and Smith _is_ solvent”: yes, as a firm, though as individuals they _are_ solvent.

~it~: Used sometimes in such manner as to violate the principles of grammatical and rhetorical construction, as when referring to any one of several words or clauses preceding, or perhaps to some idea merely implied or hinted at in what has gone before, as in the following: “A statute inflicting death may, and ought to be, repealed, if _it_ be in any degree expedient, without _its_ being highly so.” In this sentence “if _it_ be” should be replaced by “if _such repeal_ be,” and “_its_” should be omitted.

In general, personal and relative pronouns with ambiguous reference to preceding words or clauses in the sentence are stumbling-blocks of inexperienced or careless writers.

~ivories~: A slang term used to designate the keys of a piano; hence, the phrase, ~tickle the ivories~, a coarse way of expressing ability to play the piano.

J

~jag~: Formerly a provincialism for “a load of hay”; now a euphemism for “drunk”; but as such a term to be avoided in polite society.

~jar~: Used in the phrase “Doesn’t (or wouldn’t) it jar you” is an erroneous use of the word _jar_ in vogue among persons addicted to using the vulgarisms of the street. To jar is “to cause to shake as by a shock or blow; to jolt”; _not_, to disconcert or discompose.

~jaw~ should not be used as a synonym for “mouth” or “talk.” Such expressions as “Hold your jaw”; “Shut your jaw,” and “What are you jawing about?” have no place in the vocabulary of persons of refinement.

~Jew~, ~Hebrew~, ~Israelite~: These terms are sometimes incorrectly used as synonyms. _Hebrew_ is the ethnological and linguistic name, _Israelite_ the national name, and _Jew_ the popular name of the people; as, “The Egyptians oppressed the _Hebrews_”; “David was the typical king of the _Israelites_”; “The _Jews_ revolted under the Maccabees.” The three names have their special application to the people in the premonarchical period (_Hebrew_), in the monarchical period (_Israelite_), and in the period subsequent to the return from the Babylonian captivity (_Jew_).

~jewels~, ~jewelry~: Words, sometimes, but mistakenly, used interchangeably. _Jewels_ forming the stock in trade of a jeweler are termed collectively _jewelry_; the articles of adornment, as gems and precious stones, worn by a lady are her _jewels_.

~jiggered, to be~: A form of minced oath sometimes used as an equivalent for “to be hanged”; as, “I’ll be jiggered if I do”: an inelegant form of oath common among Englishmen.

~join issue~: Not to be confounded with to ~take issue~. To _take issue_ means “to deny”; to _join issue_, in strict usage, “to admit the right of denial,” but not also “to agree in the truth of the denial.” In the example “In their career father and son meet, _join issue_, and pursue their nefarious occupation in conjunction,” _join issue_ is improperly used for “agree” or “come to an agreement.” To _join issue_ is properly “to take opposite sides of a case,” etc.

~jollier~: A slang term used to designate a person who treats another (from whom he expects a favor, or with whom he desires cordial relations) pleasantly and good-humoredly, or in an agreeable way so as to obtain his end. In its English sense a _jollier_ is one given to chaffing and joking at another’s expense.

~jolly~. Compare NICE.

~jolly, to~: The occupation of a jollier: slang of widespread usage. Compare JOLLIER.

~josh~: A vulgarism for “chaff,” “hoax,” or “banter,” which are more refined terms.

~journal~: From the French, properly means _daily_. Therefore to speak of a “daily _journal_” is absurd. Say, rather, “daily _paper_.” Likewise avoid “weekly _journal_,” “monthly _journal_,” “quarterly _journal_” which mean weekly daily, monthly daily, quarterly _daily_, and are forms of expression in popular use as examples of violent catachresis. Say, rather, “daily newspaper,” “weekly newspaper,” “monthly” or “quarterly magazine” or “review,” or simply “monthly” or “quarterly.”

~jump at~ or ~to~: To embrace eagerly, as an offer or opportunity. In this sense never “jump to,” but one may _jump to_ the floor, as from a chair.

~just going to~. Compare GOING.

K

~kettle of fish, pretty~: A colloquial phrase for “a perplexing state of affairs,” or “a muddle,” both of which are preferable expressions.

~key~, ~quay~: Exercise care in the use of these words. A _key_ is that with which something is opened or disclosed; also, a small low-lying island; a _quay_ is a wharf or landing place where ships discharge passengers or cargo. These words are pronounced alike. Compare DOCK.

~kibosh~: A slang term for “humbug.” ~To put the kibosh on~, a slang phrase for “to put an end to or stop anything.”

~kick~ is not used instead of “protest” by careful speakers, notwithstanding the fact that George Eliot introduced it into literature (see _Silas Marner_, ch. iv. p. 52). The term is slang.

~kid~: A common vulgarism for “child” and as such one the use of which can not be too severely condemned.

~kid on~: A vulgarism used in England for “humbug; hoax; or, try to induce one to believe something that is not true:”--~no kid~, ~no kidding~: Vulgar terms for “without any humbug.” Undesirable locutions.

~killing~. Compare PERFECTLY.

~kinder~: For _kind of_, pronounced as one word, is merely a low vulgarism. The same remark holds of ~sorter~ similarly used for “sort of.” See KIND OF.

~kindness~: When used in the plural is sometimes objected to on the ground that _kindness_ is an abstract noun. “He wishes to express gratitude for many _kindnesses_.” Nothing is commoner than the making of abstract nouns into concrete in this way; “affinities”; “charities”; “His tender _mercies_ are over all His works.” Besides, by “many _kindnesses_” is meant, not “much kindness,” nor “great kindness,” but “kindness manifested in many forms or shown on many occasions, many acts of kindness.”

~kind of~ is an American provincialism for _somewhat_ and has no literary authorization. “I am somewhat tired” should be substituted for “I am _kind of_ tired.” Again, after _kind of_ do not use the indefinite article. “What _kind of_ man” is preferable to “what _kind of_ a man.”

~kind of~, ~sort of~: Indefinite phrases used by some lexicographers to introduce definitions; as “a _kind of_ bird”; “a _sort of_ box.” If the subject treated be a bird of some species or a box of a specific make it is best usage to describe first what it is and then to follow with the characteristics; as, “a bird of the swallow family,” “a cage-like box,” etc.

~king-pin~ is not a desirable substitute for “chief man” or “person in charge.” As a colloquialism it should be avoided.

~kinsman~. Compare RELATION.

~knife, to~: This term should not be used as a substitute for “stab” or “defeat.” Although widely used by politicians in the United States the term has no justification outside of ward politics.

~knock, to~: Slang for “to harass or find fault with continually;” a similar and more recent word used also in this sense is ~hammer~. Both should be avoided.