370. “Whenever I fall into that man’s conversation I am entertained and profited:” say, fall into conversation with that man.
371. “The lecturer spoke to several points:” say, “spoke on several points.” He spoke to his audience.
372. “I shall regard your strictures only so far as concerns my own errors:” say, concern; the phrase when filled out should read, “only so far as they concern my own errors.”
373. “I found him better than I expected to have found him:” say, to find him.
374. “I perceived that he was totally blind with half an eye:” say, “I perceived, with half an eye, that he was totally blind.” Otherwise, to a man totally blind you allot half an eye!
375. The word only is often wrongly placed in the sentence, and made to express an idea which is not designed to be conveyed. “Not only Chinese are superstitious,” implies that others besides the Chinese are superstitious. “Chinese are not only superstitious,” implies that in addition to being superstitious, they have some other characteristics. “Chinese not only are superstitious,” leaves room for something still further to be implied of the Chinese than superstition, and which is not necessarily the predicate of are; as, “Chinese not only are superstitious, but they persecute those who do not put faith in Confucius.”
376. Not the least and nothing less than, sometimes literally convey just the opposite of what is intended. “He has not the least excuse for going,” may mean that he has a great excuse, or none at all. “He seeks nothing less than worldly honor,” may signify that nothing inferior to worldly honor will satisfy his desire; or, on the other hand, it may mean that nothing is less sought by him than worldly honor. Such expressions, therefore, are to be used with caution, else they will mislead.
377. Care should be taken in the use of epithets. For instance, in the sentence, “A wise and good man should be respected,” the words wise and good may properly be applied to the same man; but if the sentence should be altered to read, “An old and young man,” it is obvious that both epithets could not relate to the same person.
378. Never say turkle soup, for turtle soup.
379. The word long should not now be employed to signify many. An example of this early usage is found in the Fifth Commandment, “that thy days may be long upon the land.” The following lines furnish an instance of the verb to lengthen, meaning to make many:—