The adjective previous is often incorrectly used for the adverb previously; as, “Previous to his imprisonment he made a confession of his crime.”
“I promise you we had a good time yesterday.” Promise relates to the future, hence “I assure you,” etc., would be better.
Propose, Purpose
To propose is to set before the mind for consideration; to purpose is to intend. “I propose sending my son to college” should be “I purpose,” etc. “I propose that you go to college, my son.” “Thank you, father, I accept the proposal.”
Sparrowgrass, Asparagus
The word sparrowgrass, which is a corruption of the word asparagus, illustrates how readily the uneducated mind associates an unusual term with another that is familiar, and as the mental impression is received through the ear, and lacks that definiteness which the printed form would give, the new idea, when repeated, often assumes a picturesque, if not a ludicrous, form. Many of Mrs. Partington’s quaint sayings furnish further illustration.
The following incident, from a Western paper, shows the successive stages in the farmer’s mental operations from the familiar terms skin, hide, oxhide, up to the unfamiliar chemical term oxide, through which he was obliged to pass before he succeeded in making known his wants:
The man was in a brown study when he went into the drug store.
“What can we do for you?” inquired the clerk.