1. Some students lack the ability of being able to spell.
  2. He seems to enjoy the universal esteem of all men.
  3. The mind rebels against the enforced discipline imposed upon it by others.
  4. This is the house that was constructed and erected by a young fellow who went by the common name of Jack.
  5. There are invariably people in the world who always want to get something for nothing. I saw some today crowding round a soap man who was giving away free samples gratis.
  6. Strawberries which grow in the woods or anywhere like that have a flavor that is better than that of those which grow in gardens.
  7. The people showed Jackson the greatest honor it is within their power to bestow by electing him president.
  8. It was an old man of about sixty years, and he carried a cane to support himself with when he took a walk. He pulled out his watch to see what time it was every few minutes.
  9. My favorite magazine is the one called Popular Mechanics. I like it because it appeals to me.
  10. There is a bird, and that bird is the cuckoo, that seems to think it unnecessary to build its own nest, and so it occupies any nest that it happens to find.
  11. It is a good plan to follow if one would like to be able to develop his memory to make it a rule to learn at least a few lines of poetry every night before going to bed.
  12. In the annals of history there is no historical character more unselfish than the character of Robert E. Lee.
  13. There are quite a few hotels in Estes Park, which is in Colorado, but the one that is the most picturesque and striking so that you remember it a long time on account of its unusual surroundings is Long's Peak Inn.
  14. It is often, but not always, a good sign that when one person is quick to suspect another person of disloyalty or dishonesty that he himself is disloyal or dishonest.
  15. The canine quadruped was under suspicion of having obliterated by a process of mastication that article of sustenance which the butcher deposits at our posterior portal.
[B. The Exact Word]

Substitute, for inaccurate words and phrases, expressions which carry an exact and reasonable meaning.

  1. Ostrich eggs made into omelets are a funny experience.
  2. A small back porch can be built which will enter directly into the kitchen.
  3. Ruskin uses a great deal of unfamiliar words.
  4. Reading will broaden the point of view of a student.
  5. To visit the plant in operation is indeed a spectacular sight.
  6. My plants grew and looked nicer than any I ever saw.
  7. I place little truth in that article, since it appeared in a strong partisan paper.
  8. The manufacturing of automobiles has gained to quite an extent.
  9. Emerson has some real clever thoughts in his essays.
  10. I do not mean to degrade our local street car system, for indeed, it is good along some lines.
  11. I want to attain a greater per cent of efficiency in my study.
  12. Imagination is an important part in the successful writing of themes.
  13. His employer praised him for the preparation he had done.
  14. I used water-wings as a sort of a "safety first" until I learned how to swim.
  15. In order to prevent infection from disease, two big things are necessary.
  16. The pastor delivered the announcements and after the collection had been obtained, he presented the sermon of the morning.
  17. Another factor in my career that winter was that I became a part of the orchestra.
  18. It was a mighty nice party that Mrs. Jones gave and everybody seemed to have an awfully nice time.
  19. The more general word socialism might be divided into three distinct classes, namely: the political party, the theoretical socialist, and last what might be called a general tendency.
  20. Starting with the pioneer days and up to the present time every energy was set forth to lay low the forests and to get homes from the wilderness.
[C. Words Sometimes Confused in Meaning]

Use the word which accurately expresses the thought.

  1. The climate of California is very (healthful, healthy).
  2. (Leave, let) me have the book.
  3. He is afraid that he will (loose, lose) his position.
  4. The (principal, principle) speaker of the day was Colonel Walker.
  5. I cannot run (as, like) he can.
  6. An hour ago he (laid, lay) down to sleep.
  7. I fear we are (liable, likely) to be punished.
  8. The scolding did not much (affect, effect) him.
  9. The light roller presses down the bricks so that the steam roller will break (fewer, less) of them.
  10. Whittier makes many (allusions, illusions) to the Bible.
  11. Bread will (raise, rise) much more quickly in a warm place than in a place where there is a draft.
  12. It hardly seems (credible, creditable) that a small child could walk ten miles.
  13. I can't write a letter on this (stationary, stationery).
  14. He (sets, sits) at the head of the table.
  15. He spoke to the stranger (respectfully, respectively).
  16. Did the president (affect, effect) a settlement of the strike?
  17. I cannot (accept, except) help from anyone.
  18. Are the guests (already, all ready) for dinner?
  19. Is the train moving or (stationary, stationery)?
  20. It is (apt, likely, liable) to be pleasant tomorrow.
[D. Colloquialism, Slang, Faulty Idiom, etc.]

The diction of the following sentences is incorrect or inappropriate for written discourse. Improve the sentences.

  1. I was kind of tired this morning, but now I feel alright.
  2. I should of known better.
  3. A young lady and myself went walking.
  4. He is out of town for a couple days.
  5. I feel some better now.
  6. He will benefit greatly from the results.
  7. The Puritans were a very odd acting people.
  8. I like camping because of many reasons.
  9. Cook your meal, and after you are finished eating, wash the dishes.
  10. He is a regular genius of a bookkeeper.
  11. It is hard to see how humans can live in such tenements.
  12. The soldiers destroyed property without the least regard of who owned it.
  13. She was crazy for an invite to the hop.
  14. It was up to me to get out before there was something doing.
  15. The Gettysburg Address is very simple of understanding though very strong of meaning.
  16. When we become located in a desirable locality, we intend to pay off some of our social indebtedness.
  17. Have some local glass dealer to mend the broken door, and send us the bill for the same.
  18. The first part of Franklin's Autobiography is different than the latter part, which he wrote after the Revolutionary War.
  19. In 1771 a fellow by the name of Arkwright established a mill in which spinning machines were run by water power.
  20. Each day has brought closer to home the truth that the condition of mankind in one part of the world is certain to effect the equilibrium of mankind in most all other parts of the world.