formal writing. In formal writing
they are not appropriate. And do not let such expressions as _He
doesn't_, _We aren't_, _It's proved_, used in talk by careful speakers,
mislead you into expressions like _He don't_, _We ain't_, _It's proven_,
which violate even colloquial good use.

Exercise:

1. He confessed of his inability to comply to the demand.

2. Is he from Irish descent? Is humor characteristic with the
Irish?

3. She was not to home, but I was reluctant against leaving.

4. He dissented to the opinion of the committee's majority, for
his ideas were utterly different than theirs.

5. He got a few jobs as a carpenter that summer, but they
didn't pay him much, and so he went to loafing around, and he's
been at it ever since.

=Gross Violations of Good Use: Barbarisms, Improprieties, Slang=

=66. Avoid gross violations of good use, particularly (a) barbarisms, (b)
improprieties, and (c) slang.=

=a. Barbarisms are distortions of words in good use, or coinages for
which there is no need.= Examples: _to concertize_, _to burgle_ or
_burglarize_, _to jell_, _alright_, _a-plenty_, _most_ (for _almost_),
_performess_, _fake_, _pep_, _tasty_, _illy_, _complected_,
_undoubtably_, _nowheres_, _soph_, _lab_, _gents_.

=b. Improprieties are words wrenched from one part of speech to another,
or made to perform an unnatural service.= Examples: _to suspicion_, _to
gesture_, _to suicide_, _a steal_, _a try_, _a go_, _an invite_, _the
eats_, _humans_, _some_ or _real_ or _swell_ (as adverbs), _like_ (as a
conjunction).

=c. Slang is speech consisting either of uncouth expressions of
illiterate origin, or of legitimate expressions used in grotesque or
irregular senses.= Though sometimes (witness eighteenth century _mob_,
and nineteenth century _buncombe_) it satisfies a real need and becomes
established in the language, in most instances it is short-lived
(witness the thieves' talk in _Oliver Twist_, or passages from any comic
opera song popular five years ago). Vicious types of slang are:

Expressions of vulgar origin (from criminal classes, the prize
ring, the vaudeville circuit, etc.): _get pinched_, _down and
out_, _took the count_, _bum hunch_, _nix on the comedy
stuff_, _get across_.

Language strained or distorted for novel effect: _performed the
feed act at a bang-up gastronomic emporium_, _bingled a tall
drive that mad