Slips of Speech : a Helpful Book for Everyone Who Aspires to Correct the Everyday Errors of Speaking by John Hendricks Bechtel
page 84 of 253 (33%)
page 84 of 253 (33%)
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will not set the world on fire with his writings." "Having set my
affairs in order, I returned home." "I sit down." "I sat down." "I set him down." There are many intransitive uses of the verb set; as, "The sun sets," "The tide sets toward the south," "The fruit has set," "He set out for Boston." There is a difference of opinion as to whether we should say "The coat sets well" or "The coat sits well," with the greater weight in favor of sits. "The _________________________________________________________________ 81 hen sits on her eggs." "She is a sitting hen." When the verb is used reflexively use set and not sat; as, "I set me down beside her," not "I sat me down beside her." Anyhow This word can scarcely be regarded as elegant, and should not be used except in colloquial style. Awful Few words among the many that go to make up the vocabulary of American slang have been in longer use and have a wider range than the word awful. From the loftiest and most awe-inspiring themes to the commonest trifle, this much-abused word has been employed. A correct |
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