A common newspaper fault is the coining of a verb or adjective from a noun, or a noun from a verb. Examples:
| locomote | suicided | derailment |
| pluralized | burglarized | refereed |
3. Avoid foreign words. A foreign word should not be used until it has become naturalized by being in general, reputable use. Since there are almost always English words just as expressive as the foreign words, the use of the foreign words usually indicates affectation on the part of the one using them. Examples:
| billet-doux (love letter) | conversazione (conversation) |
| ad nauseam (to disgust) | distingué (distinguished) |
| ad infinitum (infinitely) | entre nous (between us) |
4. Avoid provincialisms. Provincialisms are expressions current and well understood in one locality, but not current or differently understood in another locality. Examples:
| guess (think) | reckon (suppose) |
| near (stingy) | smart (clever) |
| tuckered (tired out) | lift (elevator) |
| tote (carry) | ruination (ruin) |
5. Avoid vulgarisms. Vulgarisms are words whose use shows vulgarity or ignorance. Such words as the following are always in bad taste:
| chaw | nigger | your'n |
| gal | flustrated | hadn't oughter |
| haint | dern | his'n |
6. Avoid slang. Slang is a form of vulgarism that is very prevalent in its use even by educated people. Slang words, it is true, sometimes come into good repute and usage, but the process is slow. The safest rule is to avoid slang expressions because of their general bad taste and because of their weakening effect on one's vocabulary of good words. Examples of slang:
| grind | swipe | booze |
| long green | on a toot | dough |
| pinch | peach | dukes |