Couple, Several

The word couple is often incorrectly used in the sense of several; as, a couple of horses, mules, birds, trees, houses, etc.  The use of the word couple is not only limited to two, but to two that may be coupled or yoked together.  A man and wife are spoken of as a couple.  We speak of a span of horses, a yoke of oxen, a brace of ducks, a pair of gloves.
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Directly, Immediately, As soon as

A faulty English use of the above words has found some favor in the United States.  “Directly the whistle blew the workmen left the shop.”  Say “As soon as the whistle blew,” etc.  “Immediately he closed his speech his opponent rose to reply.”  Say “When” or “As soon as he closed his speech,” etc.

Directly denotes without any delay; immediately implies without any interposition of other occupation.

Agreeably disappointed

When our hopes are blasted, our plans balked, our expectations defeated, our intentions thwarted, we are disappointed.  We prefer the agreeable to the disagreeable, and plan and labor to secure it.  When our plans fail we are disappointed, but not agreeably disappointed.  If the new conditions, which are not of our seeking, prove agreeable, it is only after the sense of disappointment has vanished.

Allude to, Refer to, Mention

The word allude is often incorrectly used.  Allusion is the by-play of language.  It means to hint at by remote suggestions, to speak of figuratively or sportively.

Whatever is directly mentioned, or spoken of, or described, cannot be said to be alluded to.  The terms
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differ in degree, the first being the weakest.  An allusion is an indirect reference.

Among the rest

“Mary sat on the beach among the rest.”  Say “with the rest.”

Peruse

This is one of those high-sounding terms too often employed when read would be much better.

Emigrants, Immigrants

These words are sometimes confounded.  “Did you see the emigrants on the ‘Indiana,’ which arrived this morning?” “Did the immigrants go directly to Italy?” Exchange the italicized words in the two sentences and they will be correctly used.

Somewheres

The terminal s should be omitted in such words as anywheres, somewheres, nowheres, anyways, hereabouts, thereabouts, whereabouts.  In such cases as “Whereabouts did you find him?” and “We knew his whereabouts,” the s is properly retained.

Apart, Aside

“May I see you apart from the others?” It should be, “May I see you privately” or “aside”?

Fire, Throw

We fire a gun, but throw a stone.  To fire a stone, fire him out of the house, fire him out of our employ, may
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