Persuade, Advise
“Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Paul had advised many persons to become Christians, some of whom, like Agrippa, were almost persuaded.
Wharf, Dock
These words are sometimes confounded. The wharf is the pier, or landing, upon which the vessel unloads her cargo. The dock is the artificial waterway, or basin, formed by the wharves. “The vessel came into the dock and was made fast to the wharf.”
Contemptible, Contemptuous
Contemptible is sometimes incorrectly used for contemptuous. A story is told of Richard Parson, an English scholar and critic. A gentleman being in dispute with him, angrily exclaimed, “My opinion of you is most contemptible, sir,” upon which Parson quickly retorted, “I never knew an opinion of yours that was not contemptible.”
Healthy, Wholesome
These terms are not synonymous. Toadstools may be healthy, but they would not be regarded as wholesome. Plants and animals are healthy when the conditions of their growth are favorable. They are wholesome when, as food, they promote the health of those persons who eat them.
In a fix
Many persons instead of saying “He is in trouble,” or “He is in an awkward position,” or “He is perplexed,” or embarrassed, employ the vulgarism, “He is in a fix.” Although Shakespeare may say, “This was the most unkindest cut of all,” and De Quincey may write, “Poor Aroar cannot live and cannot die—so that he is in an almighty fix,” we lesser mortals are forbidden such expressions.