Words and Phrases.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20281, 16 April 1934, Page 6

Words and Phrases.

the number of grammatical inaccuracies in Michael Aden’s book, “ The Green Hat.” Will you comment on a few? (a) It reminded you of the scent tangled in the hair of she with whom you had last danced, (b) She was taller than me, too. (c) He would very much rather it had not been me. (d) For never were two men so different as Napier and me. (e) According to the promise sworn between Sir Maurice Harpenden, Hilary and me. (f) No one sat down, but everyone seemed at their ease, (g) His sentences are very often slovenly in construction. Here is one: “And so it came to pass that we bathed quite differently than in the river by playing squash racquets by electric light.” (h) I have heard it said that Bernard Shaw was a provocative man. What is the accepted pronunciation of provocative? Touchstone ” is much obliged to this correspondent for gathering some of the faulty he’s and her’s and I’s and me’s together in a form in which their «naccuracv may be easily noted. The oorrespondefft has also put his finger on the misuse of between, on which more may be said later. Note (f) introduces a difficulty that must be enlarged on later. The plural is coming into increasing use for words like everyone, nobody, and so on. “ Provocative,” primarily, means tending to cause anger or resentment, but it also means inciting to action, or calling forth, summoning, or challenging. This note will be extended to-morrow. TOUCHSTONE.