that is important for what it implies. The
bear's tail may be insignificant to a naturalist tracing the animal's
descent from an earlier species, but to the rest of us, not concerned
with the matter, it is merely small.

_Insoluble_ for _Unsolvable_. Use the former word for material
substances, the latter for problems.

_Inst._, _Prox._, _Ult._ These abbreviations of _instante mense_ (in
the present month), _proximo mense_ (in the next month) and _ultimo
mense_ (in the last month), are serviceable enough in commercial
correspondence, but, like A.M., P.M. and many other contractions of
Latin words, could profitably be spared from literature.

_Integrity_ for _Honesty_. The word means entireness, wholeness. It
may be rightly used to affirm possession of all the virtues, that is,
unity of moral character.

_Involve_ for _Entail_. "Proof of the charges will involve his
dismissal." Not at all; it will entail it. To involve is, literally,
to infold, not to bring about, nor cause to ensue. An unofficial
investigation, for example, may involve character and reputation, but
the ultimate consequence is entailed. A question, in the parliamentary
sense, may involve a principle; its settlement one way or another may
entail expense, or injury to interests. An act may involve one's honor
and entail disgrace.

_It_ for _So_. "Going into the lion's cage is dangerous; you should
not do it." Do so is the better expression, as a rule, for the word it
is a pronoun, meaning a thing, or object, and therefore incapable of
being done. Colloquially we may say do it, or do this, or do that, but
in serious written discourse greater precision is desirable, and is
better obtained, in most cases, by use of the adverb.

_Item_ for _Brief Article_. Commonly used of a narrative in a
newspaper. Item connotes an aggregate of which it is a unit--one thing
of many. Hence it suggests more than we may wish to direct attention
to.

_Jackies_ for _Sailors_. Vulgar, and especially offensive to seamen.

_Jeopardize_ for _Imperil_, or _Endanger_. The correct word is
jeopard, but in any case there is no need for anything so farfetched
and stilted.

_Juncture_. Juncture means a joining, a junction; its use to signify a
time, however critical a time, is absurd. "At this juncture the woman
screamed." In reading that account of it we scream too.

_Just Exactly_. Nothing is gained in strength nor precision by this
kind of pleonasm. Omit just.

_Juvenile_