Page:A Desk-Book of Errors in English.djvu/140

 not "much kindness," nor "great kindness," but "kindness manifested in many forms or shown on many occasions, many acts of kindness."

kind of is an American provincialism for somewhat and has no literary authorization. "I am somewhat tired" should be substituted for "I am kind of tired." Again, after kind of do not use the indefinite article. "What kind of man" is preferable to "what kind of a man."

kind of, sort of: Indefinite phrases used by some lexicographers to introduce definitions; as "a kind of bird"; "a sort of box." If the subject treated be a bird of some species or a box of a specific make it is best usage to describe first what it is and then to follow with the characteristics; as, "a bird of the swallow family," "a cage-like box," etc.

king-pin is not a desirable substitute for "chief man" or "person in charge." As a colloquialism it should be avoided.

kinsman. Compare.

knife, to: This term should not be used as a substitute for "stab" or "defeat." Although widely used by politicians in the United States the term has no justification outside of ward politics.

knock, to: Slang for "to harass or find fault with continually;" a similar and more recent word used also in this sense is hammer. Both should be avoided.