Page:A Desk-Book of Errors in English.djvu/236

United States utter United States: Under this designation the several states comprising the American Union are known collectively as one great nation. As such the expression is singular and accordingly is correctly followed by a verb in the singular.

universally by all: A common error. Where anything is done universally, it must be done by all, and these words being redundant should be omitted.

universe should not be used where earth is intended. If one desires to say of a certain person that he "thinks he owns the earth," one should certainly be careful to limit his vast possessions and not extend them to the universe. The latter embraces all comprised in space. "No doubt, there is a universe; but the word means all created things, as a whole; not only our entire solar system, but all the other systems of which the fixed stars are but the centres."—, Good English, Misused Words, p. 83.

unless. See.

unwell, owing to its common euphemistic application, should not be used for "ill."

up: In general the word up, used in such a phrase as "Open up" or "He opened up his sermon with a parable" is redundant and should be omitted. Compare.

up against it: A colloquial expression used as the equivalent of "face to face with" some condition or thing, usually of a discouraging or disastrous 220