tion of "Our Mutual Friend," put it into everybody's mouth; but it has never been in good use, and is not likely to be, for the reason that it does not say what the writer means to say. If A is B's friend and B is A's friend, they are mutual friends; for there is reciprocity in the relation. If friendship exists between A and C and between B and C, A and C are mutual friends, and so are B and C; but C is the friend whom A and B have in common. It is nonsense to talk of a mutual friend; for there must be two sides to a mutual relation.

"The distinction between the two words ["mutual" and "common"] is strongly marked in a sentence of 'The Saturday Review' (Dec. 16, 1865): Common enmities are said to cement friendship.' Substitute mutual here, and the sense is utterly destroyed, 'mutual enmities' meaning, not enmity borne to another by two or more persons, but enmity conceived by one against the other."1

tic.

I.

His raptures were partly poli

II.

His raptures were partly political.

"Politic" means shrewd; "political," having to do with politics. One may be politic in the management of a political campaign.

I.

He is very sensitive to cold.

II.

He is very sensible of cold.

"Sensitive to " means affected by; "sensible of," aware of.

I.

As if wholly unaware of the clouds outside, he remembered

that it was a fine day.

II.

He remembered as if wholly unconscious of the clouds outside that it was a fine day.

1 W. B. HODGSON: Errors in the Use of English. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1882. Dr. Hodgson gives many examples of the correct and the incorrect use of "mutual."

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"Conscious" and "unconscious" refer to what passes within us, "aware and “unaware" to what passes outside of us. This distinction is, however, often disregarded even by good writers.

I.

Swift's character has in it little that is worthy of admiration.

The view from the summit is

worth climbing to see.

II.

Swift's character has in it little worth of admiration.

The view from the summit is worthy climbing.

A man may be worth millions without being worthy of them. "Worth" does not take a preposition before the following noun; "worthy” requires "of."

The use of above as an adjective is gaining ground, and may, as matter of convenience, establish itself in the language.

I.

II.

Thus a reconciliation was al

most brought about.

Thus an almost reconciliation was brought about.

In the sentence as originally written, almost is incorrectly used as an adjective qualifying "reconciliation."

I.

The bells of a church near by

rang the hour of five.

This old man was at one time

the (or, was the former) servant of the king.

II.

The bells of a near-by church rang the hour of five.

This old man was the one-time servant of the king.

I.

She felt a little as she used to feel when she sat by him who was now her husband.

II.

She felt a little as she had used to feel when she sat by her now husband.

Now as an adjective is not in good use; adjectivee. g., "The then ministry" established itself in the language.

I.

The day of the mediocre man in poetry is almost gone by (or, almost over).

This was, of course, not known by the faithful party till afterward.

"then 99 as an

seems to have

II.

The day of the mediocre man in poetry has about gone by.

This was, of course, not known till after by the faithful party.

About for "almost" and after for "afterward " are so common in conversation and in ordinary prose that they cannot be severely condemned; but careful writers avoid them. They are not favored by the best use.

I.

This disgrace seemed to be the starting-point in his subsequently useful life.

As soon as she saw his face, she knew that there was but little matter for congratulation.

II.

This disgrace seemed to be the starting point in his afterward useful life.

Directly she saw his face, she knew that there was but little matter for congratulation.

Directly in the sense of "as soon as " is frequently used in England, but it is not in good use there. It has come into America with other damaged goods.

Other adverbs misused in a similar way are ·

I.

As soon as he had said this, his regret became apparent. After this was done, there was

no turning back.

II.

Immediately he said this, his regret became apparent.

Once this was done, there was no turning back.

Partially is common in the sense of "not wholly;" but good use restricts "partially" to the sense of "with partiality."

"Than" implies comparison, and requires an adverb or adjective of comparison before it.

In a negative declarative sentence, "so" is preferable

I.

I stayed long enough to hear several speeches.

They impressed me strongly.

This article disgusts Thackeray to such an extent that he dwells on it for some time.

II.

I staid long enough to hear quite a number of speeches. They impressed me quite a great deal.

This article disgusts Thackeray to such an extent that he dwells on it for quite a time.

"Quite" is properly used in the sense of "entirely" or "altogether," but not in the sense of "rather or "very," or as a means of vaguely indicating quantity or size. A recent English writer says that the misuse of no other single word is "more injurious to the effect of literary composition." In the United States, quite is so often employed in the sense of "not quite" that an insurance company which advertised itself as "quite safe” found difficulty, it is said, in inducing property-holders to take its policies.

I.

He wore a much (or, deeply) dyed mustache.

II.

He wore a very dyed mustache.

Few intelligent persons would deliberately say that a mustache was very dyed; but it is difficult to distinguish this expression from others that are less obviously incorrect.

I.

They were much respected.

Her daughters were much pleased to have her with them.

II.

They were very respected. Her daughters werc very pleased to have her with them.

We may properly say "very glad," but not very pleased, though the two expressions have nearly the same meaning. Very pleased is more common in Great Britain than in the United States.