lly vulgar or irreclaimably
degenerate--absolute proscription is possible as to serious
composition only; in other forms the writer must rely on his sense of
values and the fitness of things. While it is true that some
colloquialisms and, with less of license, even some slang, may be
sparingly employed in light literature, for point, piquancy or any of
the purposes of the skilled writer sensible to the necessity and charm
of keeping at least one foot on the ground, to others the virtue of
restraint may be commended as distinctly superior to the joy of
indulgence.

Precision is much, but not all; some words and phrases are disallowed
on the ground of taste. As there are neither standards nor arbiters of
taste, the book can do little more than reflect that of its author,
who is far indeed from professing impeccability. In neither taste nor
precision is any man's practice a court of last appeal, for writers
all, both great and small, are habitual sinners against the light; and
their accuser is cheerfully aware that his own work will supply (as in
making this book it has supplied) many "awful examples"--his later
work less abundantly, he hopes, than his earlier. He nevertheless
believes that this does not disqualify him for showing by other
instances than his own how not to write. The infallible teacher is
still in the forest primeval, throwing seeds to the white blackbirds.

A.B.

THE BLACKLIST

_A_ for _An_. "A hotel." "A heroic man." Before an unaccented aspirate
use an. The contrary usage in this country comes of too strongly
stressing our aspirates.

_Action_ for _Act_. "In wrestling, a blow is a reprehensible action."
A blow is not an action but an act. An action may consist of many
acts.

_Admission_ for _Admittance_. "The price of admission is one dollar."

_Admit_ for _Confess_. To admit is to concede something affirmed. An
unaccused offender cannot admit his guilt.

_Adopt_. "He adopted a disguise." One may adopt a child, or an
opinion, but a disguise is assumed.

_Advisedly_ for _Advertently_, _Intentionally_. "It was done
advisedly" should mean that it was done after advice.

_Afford_. It is not well to say "the fact affords a reasonable
presumption"; "the house afforded ample accommodation." The fact
supplies a reasonable presumption. The house offered, or gave, ample
accommodation.

_Afraid_. Do not say, "I am afraid it will rain." Say, I fear that it
will rain.

_Afterwards_ for _After