Page:A Desk-Book of Errors in English.djvu/215

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Errors in English
sieve
soppy

slob: A vulgar equivalent for "a careless, negligent and incompetent person," and as such one to be avoided.

so. Compare such.

soap: A vulgar euphemism for "wealth"; used usually interrogatively as, "How's he off for soap?" A vulgarism for "How rich is he?" which is to be preferred.

so far as. Compare as far as.

sojourn: This term formerly obsolete has recently been revived as meaning to "have a residence, definite though temporary, in some place that is not one's home. Sojourn is better than stop, which may imply merely cessation of motion and does not express even temporary residence; more specific than stay, which may apply to a delay of an hour between trains or the passing of a night.

some: This word should never be used for "somewhat." In such sense, some is dialectal and provincial. Do not say "He has grown some" but "grown somewhat," that is "in some degree" or "to some extent." "Is he better?" "Yes, some:" avoid such a locution.

someone else, somebody else. See under else.

some place. Compare any place.

somewhat. Compare kind of and like.

soppy: A vulgarism for "emotional": expressive but inelegant.

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