Cute
This word is often used colloquially in the sense of clever, sharp, shrewd, ingenious, cunning. It is doubtless an abbreviation of acute. It is not found in good literary usage.
Favor, Resemble
The use of the word favor in the sense of resemble is a provincialism that should be avoided. “The son favors the father” is correct if the meaning be that the son shows favor or kindness to the father; but if reference to their similarity of appearance is intended, the verb resemble should be employed.
Balance, Remainder
This word, like numerous others, has been borrowed from the commercial world, and has had such a wide use that its faultiness is not noticed even by many who regard themselves as careful speakers and writers. “I cut down part of the timber this year, and expect to cut the balance next spring.” “My cousin will remain with us the balance of this week.” “James ate half of the melon to-day, and will eat the balance to-morrow.” In these and all similar cases the word remainder should be used. Balance is a term that applies to accounts, and signifies the amount necessary to be added to one side of the account in order to make it equal the other.
Behave
“Now, my children, you must behave while I am gone.” The mother intended to ask her children to behave well, but as behave is a neutral word, and may be followed by well or ill, her form of expression permits the children to supply whichever adverb suits them the better. Behave requires a qualifying word to make the meaning clear.
“He was determined to study medicine,” not “He was bound,” etc. Bound implies that he was under a bond or obligation to another, rather than impelled by the action of his own mind.