present.

Right: As _many as_ five hundred people were present.

MUTUAL. Do not confuse _mutual_ and _common_. _Mutual_ means
_interchanged_.

Wrong: John and William had a _mutual_ liking for Mary.

Right: John and William had a _common_ liking for Mary.

Right: John and William had a _mutual_ liking for each other.

NEAR. Do not use _near_ for _nearly_.

Wrong: He ran _near_ all the way to the station. I came _nearly_
making the same mistake.

Right: He ran _nearly_ all the way to the station. I came _near_
making the same mistake.

NERVE. Do not use _nerve_ in the sense of _impudence_.

NEWSY. Do not use _newsy_ in the sense of _full of news_.

NEITHER. Do not use _neither_ with reference to more than two objects,
nor follow it by a plural verb.

Wrong: _Neither_ of the three could come. _Neither_ of the two _are_
here.

Right: _No one_ of the three could come. _Neither_ of the two _is_
here.

NO GOOD. Do not use _no good_ in the sense of _worthless_ or _not
good_.

Wrong: The book is _no good_.

NO PLACE. Do not use _no place_ after a negative. See Sec.46.

Wrong: I am not going _no place_.

Right: I am not going _anywhere_. I _am going nowhere_.

NOTORIOUS. Do not use _notorious_ in the sense of _famous_ or _noted.
Notorious_ means of _evil reputation_.

Wrong: Gladstone was a _notorious_ statesman of England.

Right: Several _notorious thieves_ were arrested.

NOWHERE NEAR. Do not use _nowhere near_ for _not nearly_. See Sec.40.

Wrong: _Nowhere near_ so many people came as were expected.

Right: _Not nearly_ so many people came as were expected.

Right: James was _nowhere near_ the scene of the fire.

OF. Do not use _of_ for _have_ in such expressions as _could, have,
might have, should have_, etc.

Wrong: If I _could of_ been there.

Right: If I _could have_ been there.

ONLY. Guard against the improper use of _only_ after a negative.
See Sec.46.

Wrong: There _are not only_ four books on that subject.

Right: There _are only_ four books on that subject.

OUTSIDE OF. Do not use _outside of_ for _aside from_.

Wrong: _Outside of_ James, all had a good time.

Right: _Aside from_ James, all had a good time.

OVER WITH. Do not use _over with_ for _over_.

Wrong: I must write the letter and have it _over with_.

PANTS. Do not use the word _pants_ for _trousers_.

PHOTO. Do not use _photo_ for _photograph_.

PIECE. Do not use _piece_ in the sense of _way_ or _distanc