Mad, angry.—Mad means "insane;" in the sense of "angry" it is not in good use.
New, novel.—That is new which is not old; that is novel which is both new and strange.
Oral, verbal.—"Oral, in the sense of 'in spoken words,' is preferable to verbal, since verbal means 'in words' whether spoken or written."[126]
Pitiable, pitiful.—"Pitiable, in the sense of 'deserving pity,' is preferable to pitiful, since pitiful also means 'compassionate,' as, 'The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.'"[126]
Practicable, practical.—That is practicable which can be done; that is practical which is not theoretical only: as, "a practicable plan," "a practical electrician."
Prominent, eminent.—Prominent means "conspicuous," "standing out so as to be easily seen;" eminent means "distinguished in character or rank."
Real, really, very.—Real is properly an adjective, meaning "not imaginary or counterfeit," as, "real diamonds." Its misuse for the adverbs really and very, as, "This is real pretty," is a vulgarism.
Scared, afraid.—The participle scared means "frightened;" afraid is an adjective meaning "in fear." Before "of," the proper word is afraid: as, "She is afraid of horses." Scared of is not in good use.
Grand, gorgeous, awful, splendid, elegant, lovely, magnificent.—Grand properly implies "grandeur;" gorgeous, "splendid colors;" awful, "awe;" elegant, "elegance;" splendid, "splendor;" lovely, "surpassing loveliness;" magnificent, "magnificence."
"We talk, sometimes, with people whose conversation would lead you to suppose that they had lived in a museum, where all the objects were monsters and extremes.... They use the superlative of grammar: 'most perfect,' 'most exquisite,' 'most horrible.' Like the French, they are enchanted, they are desolate, because you have got or have not got a shoestring or a wafer you happen to want—not perceiving that superlatives are diminutives and weaken.... All this comes of poverty. We are unskilful definers. From want of skill to convey quality, we hope to move admiration by quantity. Language should aim to describe the fact.... 'Tis very wearisome, this straining talk, these experiences all exquisite, intense, and tremendous."[127]