Page:A Desk-Book of Errors in English.djvu/173

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Errors in English
on
opinion

or some overlooking window, to the roof so as to be on it; but if we say 'The boy fell on to the roof,' there is no doubt that the latter is the meaning. The canons for deciding the eligibility of new words appear therefore to claim for on to the right to struggle for continued existence and general acceptance." So says Dr. I. K. Funk in the Standard Dictionary.

0, Oh: Although often used indiscriminately it is generally conceded that "O" is used to express exclamation or direct address while "oh" is used to express the emotion of joy, pain, sorrow, or surprise. See the examples.

"O Mary, go and call the cattle home."
"O God, whose thunder shakes the skies."

"Oh! say, can you see by the dawn's early light"—
"Oh! why should the spirit of mortal be proud?"

open up is properly used to signify "explore; discover; as, to open up a new country," but not so in the sense of "introduce; as, to open up a subject." Here the word up is superfluous; but in this, as in the majority of cases where open up is used, it would be better to substitute a more specific term. See up.

opinion is sometimes more than an impression, being a conclusion or judgment held with confidence, though falling short of positive knowledge. The word should therefore not be used interchangeably with idea, which may be a mere conception, with or with-

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