oach is made to serve, figuratively; and being graphic, it
is not altogether objectionable.

_Appropriated_ for _Took_. "He appropriated his neighbor's horse to
his own use." To appropriate is to set apart, as a sum of money, for a
special purpose.

_Approve of_ for _Approve_. There is no sense in making approve an
intransitive verb.

_Apt_ for _Likely_. "One is apt to be mistaken." Apt means facile,
felicitous, ready, and the like; but even the dictionary-makers cannot
persuade a person of discriminating taste to accept it as synonymous
with likely.

_Around_ for _About_. "The debris of battle lay around them." "The
huckster went around, crying his wares." Around carries the concept of
circularity.

_Article_. A good and useful word, but used without meaning by
shopkeepers; as, "A good article of vinegar," for a good vinegar.

_As_ for _That_, or _If_. "I do not know as he is living." This error
is not very common among those who can write at all, but one sometimes
sees it in high place.

_As--as_ for _So--as_. "He is not as good as she." Say, not so good.
In affirmative sentences the rule is different: He is as good as she.

_As for_ for _As to_. "As for me, I am well." Say, as to me.

_At Auction_ for _by Auction_. "The goods were sold at auction."

_At_ for _By_. "She was shocked at his conduct." This very common
solecism is without excuse.

_Attain_ for _Accomplish_. "By diligence we attain our purpose." A
purpose is accomplished; success is attained.

_Authoress_. A needless word--as needless as "poetess."

_Avocation_ for _Vocation_. A vocation is, literally, a calling; that
is, a trade or profession. An avocation is something that calls one
away from it. If I say that farming is some one's avocation I mean
that he practises it, not regularly, but at odd times.

_Avoid_ for _Avert_. "By displaying a light the skipper avoided a
collision." To avoid is to shun; the skipper could have avoided a
collision only by getting out of the way.

_Avoirdupois_ for _Weight_. Mere slang.

_Back of_ for _Behind_, _At the Back of_. "Back of law is force."

_Backwards_ for _Backward_.

_Badly_ for _Bad_. "I feel badly." "He looks badly." The former
sentence implies defective nerves of sensation, the latter, imperfect
vision. Use the adjective.

_Balance_ for _Remainder_. "The balance of my time is given to
recreation." In this sense balance is a commercial word, and relates
to accounting.

_Banquet_. A g