Write It Right. A Little Blacklist of Literary Faults

Defalcation for Default

A defalcation is a cutting off, a subtraction; a default is a failure in duty.

Definitely for Definitively

'It was definitely decided.' Definitely means precisely, with exactness; definitively means finally, conclusively.

Deliver

'He delivered an oration,' or 'delivered a lecture.' Say, He made an oration, or gave a lecture.

Demean for Debase or Degrade

'He demeaned himself by accepting charity.' The word relates, not to meanness, but to demeanor, conduct, behavior. One may demean oneself with dignity and credit.

Demise for Death

Usually said of a person of note. Demise means the lapse, as by death, of some authority, distinction or privilege, which passes to another than the one that held it; as the demise of the Crown.

Democracy for Democratic Party

One could as properly call the Christian Church 'the Christianity.'

Depot for Station

'Railroad depot.' A depot is a place of deposit; as, a depot of supply for an army.

Deprivation for Privation

'The mendicant showed the effects of deprivation.' Deprivation refers to the act of depriving, taking away from; privation is the state of destitution, of not having.

Dilapidated for Ruined

Said of a building, or other structure. But the word is from the Latin 'lapis', a stone, and cannot properly be used of any but a stone structure.

Directly for Immediately

'I will come directly' means that I will come by the most direct route.

Dirt for Earth, Soil, or Gravel

A most disagreeable Americanism, discredited by general (and Presidential) use. 'Make the dirt fly.' Dirt means filth.

Distinctly for Distinctively

'The custom is distinctly Oriental.' Distinctly is plainly; distinctively, in a way to distinguish one thing from others.

Donate for Give

Good American, but not good English.

Doubtlessly

A doubly adverbial form, like 'illy.'

Dress for Gown

Not so common as it was a few years ago. Dress means the entire costume.

Each Other for One Another

'The three looked at each other.' That is, each looked at the other. But there were more than one other; so we should say they looked at one another, which means that each looked at another. Of two, say each other; of more than two, one another.

Edify for Please, or Entertain

Edify means to build; it has, therefore, the sense of uplift, improvement – usually moral, or spiritual.

Electrocution

To one having even an elementary knowledge of Latin grammar this word is no less than disgusting, and the thing meant by it is felt to be altogether too good for the word's inventor.

Empty for Vacant

Say, an empty bottle; but, a vacant house.

Employe

Good French, but bad English. Say, employee.

Endorse for Approve

To endorse is to write upon the back of, or to sign the promissory note of another. It is a commercial word, having insufficient dignity for literary use. You may endorse a check, but you approve a policy, or statement.

Endways

A corruption of endwise.

Entitled for Authorized, Privileged

'The man is not entitled to draw rations.' Say, entitled to rations. Entitled is not to be followed by an infinitive.

Episode for Occurrence, Event, etc

Properly, an episode is a narrative that is a subordinate part of another narrative. An occurrence considered by itself is not an episode.

Equally as for Equally

'This is equally as good.' Omit as. 'He was of the same age, and equally as tall.' Say, equally tall.

Equivalent for Equal

'My salary is equivalent to yours.'

Essential for Necessary

This solecism is common among the best writers of this country and England. 'It is essential to go early'; 'Irrigation is essential to cultivation of arid lands,' and so forth. One thing is essential to another thing only if it is of the essence of it – an important and indispensable part of it, determining its nature; the soul of it.

Even for Exact

'An even dozen.'