“He is way down in Florida,” is incorrect. “He is away down in Florida” is better grammar. “He is in Florida” is still better. Down indicates the direction, and away magnifies the distance. As most persons know the direction, and as modern railway travel shortens long distances, the abbreviated sentence is sufficiently full.
Ways, Way
“He is a long ways from home” is a very common, but faulty expression. Say “Uncle Charles is now a long way on his journey.” “The boat is a good way off the shore.”
Whole, All
“The whole of the scholars went to the fair to-day.” “All of the school went to the fair to-day.” The sentences will be improved by transposing whole and all. “All of the scholars went to the fair to-day,” not half of them. “The whole school went to the fair to-day,” not a part of it. All refers to the individual scholars; whole to the school as a unit.
Without, Unless
“He cannot miss the way without he forgets my instructions.” “I will not dig the potatoes without Tom comes to help.” Use unless instead of without.
“He dislikes arithmetic worse than grammar.” Use more instead of worse.