Page:A Desk-Book of Errors in English.djvu/85

Rh cise and a carriage drive are essentially exercises for pleasure and so not to be confounded with travel; but if there were no distinguishing expression for the two, we should have to add a qualifying term to "ride," to indicate the form of recreation enjoyed. Again, on the legal principle of Qui facit per alium facit per se (He who does a thing by another does it himself), the lady who commissions her coachman to drive, is herself the author of his driving, and drives.

drunk: In modern usage of the verb this word is confined to the past participle. It is therefore not now proper to say "They drunk his health," say, rather, "They drank his health." Do not say "I have drank" when you mean "I have drunk."

dry up! A vulgar imperative for "be quiet" or "stop talking" and as such not used in refined circles.

dubersome: Of a vacillating nature, doubtful:  an absurd corruption of dubious to be avoided.

due, owing: Words now often used interchangeably. Due should be limited in its use to that which has to be paid, the word owing being indicative of the source of the existing condition. An obligation may be discharged as being due to a man's estate or his character. A man's wealth is owing to inheritance, good fortune, toil or thrift.

Dutch: Often misapplied to the Germans from a mistaken idea of the spelling of the German word