Chapter M (3)

~turn down~: Undesirable, though perhaps expressive slang for “reject”; “ignore”; or “dismiss.” In commercial circles, this expression has wide usage but is not the less inelegant and should be avoided. A proposition is quite as fully disposed of when it is “rejected” as when it is “turned down;” besides, “rejected” should be given preference if only by reason of its brevity.

~turn up~: Used in the sense of to “put in an appearance” this expression has been condemned. The remark of a barrister in a London County Court that a defendant had “not turned up” caused the Judge to exclaim: “Pray do not use such slip-shod expressions.” The barrister apologized. “These are high-pressure days,” he said, “and since your Honor’s days at the bar we have no longer time to indulge in perfect English.”

~twenty-three~: A slang term used as the equivalent of “fade away” in theatrical and sporting circles: a recent expression the origin of which has been variously explained. Compare FADE AWAY.

~two~. Compare COUPLE.

~two and two is~ (or ~are~) ~four~: As an abstract proposition or statement, _is_ is undoubtedly correct; for four _is_ two added to two, or twice two; but when two specific things are added to two others, the verb must be in the plural. In the former case we are saying that a certain single and definite result _is_ attained or total given by the combination of two numbers; in the latter we say that in a given body or number of things _are_ so many single or individual things. Two _men_ and two _are_ undoubtedly four; that is, four men _are_ (constituted of) two and two. Beyond doubt, twice one _is_ two; for it can not be that two (as a single and specific number) are twice one.

~two first~: Of this expression James Murdock says: “The only argument against the use of _two first_, and in favor of substituting _first two_, so far as I can recollect, is this: In the nature of things, there can be only _one first_ and _one last_, in any series of things. But--is it true that there can never be more than _one first_ and _one last_? If it be so, then the adjective _first_ and _last_ must always be of the _singular_ number, and can never agree with nouns in the plural. We are told that _the first years_ of a lawyer’s practise are seldom very lucrative. The poet tells us that his _first essays_ were severely handled by the critics, but his _last efforts_ have been well received. Examples like these might be produced without number. They occur everywhere in all our standard writers.... When a numeral adjective and a qualifying epithet both refer to the same noun, the _general rule_ of the English language is to place the numeral first, then the qualifying epithet, and afterwards the noun. Thus we say, ‘The _two wise_ men,’ ‘the _two tall_ men’; and not ‘the _wise two_ men’ ‘the _tall two_ men.’ And the same rule holds in _superlatives_. We say ‘the _two wisest_ men,’ ‘the _two tallest_ men’ and not ‘the _wisest two_ men,’ ‘the _tallest two_ men.’ Now if this be admitted to be the general rule of the English language, it then follows that we should generally say ‘the _two first_,’ ‘the _two last_,’ etc., rather than ‘the _first two_,’ ‘the _last two_,’ etc. This, I say, should _generally_ be the order of the words. Yet there are some cases in which it seems preferable to say, ‘the _first two_,’ ‘the _first three_,’ etc.” Compare FIRST.

U

~ugly~, which signifies the reverse of beautiful or want of comeliness (actual or figurative) is colloquially extended in the United States to uncomeliness of character or personal demeanor; as an _ugly_ fellow; an _ugly_ beast; anger makes him _ugly_. In polite speech this usage is not sanctioned. Say “irritable,” “vicious,” “quarrelsome,” as the disposition inclines or indicates.

~un-~: For the sake of lucidity the use of a negative prefix with a negative antecedent should be discouraged. Avoid such expressions as “He spoke in _no un_mistakable terms” which means, of course, “mistakable terms” the direct opposite of the speaker’s intention. “_Not_ an _un_kempt one among them” means that all were well kempt.

~unbeknown~: A vulgar provincialism used chiefly in the form _unbeknownst_.

~uncommon~: Used for _uncommonly_: a vulgarism meaning “to an unusual degree or extremely.” Do not say “Her eyes are _uncommon_ beautiful”; say, rather, “... _uncommonly_ beautiful.”

~unconscionable~: When used for _unconscionably_ is a bad provincialism. Used also by the illiterate instead of _uncommonly_; as, “She is an _unconscionable_ handsome girl”--this is bad English.

~under~: Much philological nonsense has been written in disapproval of the expression “_under_ his signature,” for which “over his signature”--that “preposterous conceit,” as Gould aptly terms it--is suggested as a substitute. But it is clear that the expression is elliptical, and means “under sanction or authority of his signature.” “_Under_ oath” is good enough to impress upon an unwilling and prevaricating witness the distinction between perjury and a lie, and that although he does not physically lie _under_ the oath.

~understand~ should not be used as an expletive with interrogatory inflection, as a contraction of “_Do you understand?_” There is no excuse for this nor for its objectionable iteration. Avoid such absurdities as: “Grammar, _understand_, is the science that treats of the principles, _understand_, that govern the correct use of language,” etc. _See_ is also misused in the same manner.

~unique~: As this word implies “being the only one of its kind” it should never be preceded by “very” which implies degree. On this subject the STANDARD DICTIONARY says: “We may say _quite unique_ if we mean absolutely singular or without parallel but we can not properly say _very unique_.”

~United States~: Under this designation the several states comprising the American Union are known collectively as one great nation. As such the expression is singular and accordingly is correctly followed by a verb in the singular.

~universally by all~: A common error. Where anything is done _universally_, it must be done _by all_, and these words being redundant should be omitted.

~universe~ should not be used where _earth_ is intended. If one desires to say of a certain person that he “thinks he owns the _earth_,” one should certainly be careful to limit his vast possessions and not extend them to the _universe_. The latter embraces all comprised in space. “No doubt, there is a _universe_; but the word means all created things, as a whole; not only our entire solar system, but all the other systems of which the fixed stars are but the centres.”--E. S. GOULD, _Good English, Misused Words_, p. 83.

~unless~. See WITHOUT.

~unwell~, owing to its common euphemistic application, should not be used for “ill.”

~up~: In general the word _up_, used in such a phrase as “Open up” or “He _opened up_ his sermon with a parable” is redundant and should be omitted. Compare OPEN.

~up against it~: A colloquial expression used as the equivalent of “face to face with” some condition or thing, usually of a discouraging or disastrous character. Though common in commercial circles it is an expression that it is best to avoid.

~upon~: Often used for _on_ in such phrases as “call _upon_,” whether meaning _visit_ or _summon_ and “speak (or write) _upon_.” The reasonable tendency now is to use the simpler _on_ whenever the idea of superposition is not involved.

~usage~. Compare HABIT.

~use~: This word is used in all sorts of incorrect and inelegant ways; yet the conjugation of the verb is positive and very simple--_use_; _used_; _using_. There appears to be no difficulty in applying it affirmatively but when used in a negative form one often hears such uncouth expressions as “You _didn’t use_ to,” “you _hadn’t used_ to” instead of “You used not to,” etc. It need scarcely be said that these expressions are vulgarisms of the worst type. “I usedn’t to” is not pretty, but is less formal than “I used not to,” and can not be objected to on grammatical grounds.

~usually~. Compare COMMONLY.

~utter~ as a verb should be distinguished from _say_, as articulate expression is differentiated from written. To _utter_, save in the legal sense, is to emit audibly. Adjectively the word can be used only in an unfavorable sense for “complete.” _Utter_ discord there may be, but _not_ utter harmony; _utter_ silence, but _not_ utter speech.