al experience." What is predicated of something is affirmed as
an attribute of it, as omnipotence is predicated of the Deity.

_Prejudice_ for _Prepossession_. Literally, a prejudice is merely a
prejudgment--a decision before evidence--and may be favorable or
unfavorable, but it is so much more frequently used in the latter
sense than in the former that clarity is better got by the other word
for reasonless approval.

_Preparedness_ for _Readiness_. An awkward and needless word much used
in discussion of national armaments, as, "Our preparedness for war."

_Preside_. "Professor Swackenhauer presided at the piano." "The
deviled crab table was presided over by Mrs. Dooley." How would this
sound? "The ginger pop stand was under the administration of President
Woolwit, and Professor Sooffle presided at the flute."

_Pretend_ for _Profess_. "I do not pretend to be infallible." Of
course not; one does not care to confess oneself a pretender. To
pretend is to try to deceive; one may profess quite honestly.

_Preventative_ for _Preventive_. No such word as preventative.

_Previous_ for _Previously_. "The man died previous to receipt of the
letter."

_Prior to_ for _Before_. Stilted.

_Propose_ for _Purpose_, or _Intend_. "I propose to go to Europe." A
mere intention is not a proposal.

_Proposition_ for _Proposal_. "He made a proposition." In current
slang almost anything is a proposition. A difficult enterprise is "a
tough proposition," an agile wrestler, "a slippery proposition," and
so forth.

_Proportions_ for _Dimensions_. "A rock of vast proportions."
Proportions relate to form; dimensions to magnitude.

_Proven_ for _Proved_. Good Scotch, but bad English.

_Proverbial_ for _Familiar_. "The proverbial dog in the manger." The
animal is not "proverbial" for it is not mentioned in a proverb, but
in a fable.

_Quit_ for _Cease_, _Stop_. "Jones promises to quit drinking." In
another sense, too, the word is commonly misused, as, "He has quit the
town." Say, quitted.

_Quite_. "She is quite charming." If it is meant that she is entirely
charming this is right, but usually the meaning intended to be
conveyed is less than that--that she is rather, or somewhat, charming.

_Raise_ for _Bring up_, _Grow_, _Breed_, etc. In this country a
word-of-all-work: "raise children," "raise wheat," "raise cattle."
Children are brought up, grain, hay and vegetables are grown, animals
and poultry are bred.

_Real_ for _Really_