Kind, sort. Kind and sort are singular.
Singular: This (or that) kind (or sort) of car is a Toyota.
Plural: These (or those) kinds (or sorts) of flowers are roses.
Kind of, sort of. Colloquialisms when used in place of such adverbs as somewhat, somehow, rather, and the like.
Correct: I am somewhat (NOT kind of) tired this morning.
It is better to eliminate the article a or an after kind of or sort of.
Correct: He is the kind of (NOT kind of a) boy you want.
Lady, gentleman. These are words that refer to men and women of honor and good breeding. The words may be used as terms of politeness. They ought not to be used merely to identify men and women indiscriminately.
Incorrect: Some young lady has left her purse on the counter.
Correct: Some young woman has left her purse on the counter.
Incorrect: The gentleman who sent in this order forgot to sign his name.
Correct: The man who sent in this order forgot to sign his name.
Leave, let. Leave means to abandon; let means to allow.
Correct: Let him try it. Let the sale go through.
Correct: Leave the window display as it is. Let the window display stand as it is.
Liable, likely. Liable suggests a disadvantageous probability. Likely, expresses a desirable probability.
Correct: A vague statement is liable to be misunderstood.
Correct: A well-planned sales campaign is likely to bring results.
Lie, lay; set, sit. The verb lie means "to recline"; it is an intransitive verb and does not require an object. The principal parts of the verb are lie, lay, lain. The verb lay means "to place"; it is a transitive verb and requires an object to complete its meaning. The principal parts are lay, laid, lain.
Wrong: I (OR he, she) was laying down.
Right: I (OR he, she) was lying down.
Wrong: He had laid down.
Right: He had lain down.
The verb set means "to place"; it is a transitive verb and requires an object to complete its meaning. The principal parts of the verb set are set, set, set. The verb sit means "to take a seat"; it is an intransitive verb that does not take an object. The principal parts are sit, sat, sat.
Right: The machine that you set in the corner continues to sit there.
Loan, lend. Loan is a noun. It is used colloquially as a verb. It is desirable in one's letter, however, to use lend as a verb.
Colloquial: Loan me your pencil.
Preferable: Lend me your pencil.
Correct: The merchant obtained a loan at his bank.
Lot, lots, a whole lot. Colloquialisms. It is better to use such words as much, many, and a great deal.
May. See can.
Mean. (1) A colloquialism when used in the sense of ill-tempered, contemptible, or cruel.
Colloquial: The shipper was mean to hit the driver.
Correct: It was contemptible of the shipper to hit the driver.
(2) Slang when used to mean poor in health, low in spirits.
Slang: He was feeling mean that morning.
Correct: He felt bad, or He was dejected.
Met up with. A needless, inexcusable phraseology for met or became acquainted with.
Correct: He met (OR became acquainted with) many interesting people.
Most. Not to be used for the adverb almost.
Correct: Almost (NOT most) all the men have left.
Motor. Correctly used as a noun or verb. As a verb it means to ride in, to drive, or to travel with an automobile.
Correct: The motor was noisy.
Correct: We motored to Laguna.
Much, Many. Much denotes quantity; many number.
Myself. Should not be used where I or me is meant.
Correct: The sales manager and I discussed the matter.
Correct: He turned the matter to Bobby and me.
Correct: I reserved a ticket for my wife and myself. You will hurt yourself. Myself (himself, herself, itself, yourself, themselves, and so forth) may be used as intensive words.
Correct: I myself do not approve of his plan.
Nice. Avoid this general term for a more specific word such as pleasant, sunny, delicious, comfortable, and the like.
Nowheres, anywheres, somewheres. No such words. See Any place.
Nowheres near. An inexcusable vulgarism for not nearly.
Correct: I am not nearly (NOT nowheres near) finished.
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