Write It Right - A Little Blacklist of Literary Faults by Ambrose Bierce
page 56 of 59 (94%)
page 56 of 59 (94%)
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_Ventilate_ for _Express, Disclose_, etc. "The statesman ventilated his views." A disagreeable and dog-eared figure of speech. _Verbal_ for _Oral_. All language is verbal, whether spoken or written, but audible speech is oral. "He did not write, but communicated his wishes verbally." It would have been a verbal communication, also, if written. _Vest_ for _Waistcoat_. This is American, but as all Americans are not in agreement about it it is better to use the English word. _Vicinity_ for _Vicinage_, or _Neighborhood_. "He lives in this vicinity." If neither of the other words is desired say, He lives in the vicinity of this place, or, better, He lives near by. _View of_. "He invested with the view of immediate profit." "He enlisted with the view of promotion." Say, with a view to. _Vulgar_ for _Immodest_, _Indecent_. It is from _vulgus_, the common people, the mob, and means both common and unrefined, but has no relation to indecency. _Way_ for _Away_. "Way out at sea." "Way down South." _Ways_ for _Way_. "A squirrel ran a little ways along the road." "The ship looked a long ways off." This surprising word calls loudly for depluralization. _Wed_ for _Wedded_. "They were wed at noon." "He wed her in Boston." |
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