Page:A Desk-Book of Errors in English.djvu/61

Rh fact designated for a specific purpose—that of doing good.

calligraphy and cacography respectively mean good and bad writing. It is therefore pleonastic to speak of excellent calligraphy or wretched cacography; and to describe the former as wretched would simply be to say that at the same time it was both excellent and the reverse.

cameo: The plural of the word is not formed by adding "-es" as in "potato" or "grotto" but by the adding of "-s "; as, cameos.

can: Misused for may. Can always refers to some form of possibility. An armed guard may say "You can not pass," since he has physical power to prevent; hence the question "Can I pass the guard?" is perfectly natural. But where simple permission is required may should be used. "May I (not can I ) use your ruler?"

can but, can not but: Discriminate carefully between these phrases. Both these sentences are grammatically correct, though they have not exactly the same meaning: "I can not but believe your proposition" means "I can not help believing," etc.; while "I can but believe your proposition" means "I can only believe," etc., a much less strong assertion.

canine should not be used for "dog."

cannon, a tubular gun, comes from Greek kanna, 45