Gums, Overshoes

“Tom is outside, cleaning his gums on the mat.”  While a mat will do very well for overshoes, a tooth-brush and sozodont would be better for the gums.

Funny

“Isn’t it funny that Smith, who resided in Chicago, should have died the same day that his father died in Boston?” “Isn’t it funny that the murderer who escaped hanging on a mere technicality of the law
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should have been killed the next day in a railroad accident?” “How funny that these maples should grow so tall on this mountain top!” “It is funny to think that James, who now pays his addresses to me, should once have been in love with my youngest sister.”  The foregoing illustrations are not more incongruous than those we daily hear.  Odd, strange, peculiar, unusual, represent some of the ideas intended to be conveyed by that much-abused word.

Good deal, Great deal

This idiom is defended by some authorities as being in perfectly good use, and by others it is denounced as being incorrect.  Both good deal and greet deal are somewhat colloquial, and should be used sparingly in writing.

Had better, Would better

Like a good deal and some other idioms, this expression is denounced by some writers and defended by others.  Grammatical construction supports more strongly the forms would better, would rather, etc.  “I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.”  “I would rather read than drive to-day.”  “I would rather not go.”  Omit rather and the superiority of would over had becomes apparent.
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If, Whether

“I do not know if he sold his farm or exchanged it for city property.”  Use whether.

Illy, Ill

Do not use illy for ill.  The former is becoming obsolete, and the latter, as an adverb, is taking its place.  Say “An ill-ventilated room,” not “an illy-ventilated room.”

Implicit

This word means tacitly understood, resting on the word or authority of another.  It should not be used in the sense of unbounded, unlimited.

Individual

This word should not be used broadly in the sense of a person, but should always convey some thought of a single thing or person, as opposed to many.

Journal

As this word is from the French, jour, day, it should not be applied to a monthly or quarterly magazine.

Know as

“I do not know as I can see you to-day.”  Say know that.
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Last, Latest

“Did you receive my last letter?”

“I hope not.  I enjoy your letters very much, and I trust you may live to write many more.”

Cunning