This word can scarcely be regarded as elegant, and should not be used except in colloquial style.

Awful

Few words among the many that go to make up the vocabulary of American slang have been in longer use and have a wider range than the word awful.  From the loftiest and most awe-inspiring themes to the commonest trifle, this much-abused word has been employed.  A correct speaker or writer almost fears to use the word lest he should suggest the idea of slang, and thus detract from the subject to which the word might most fitly be applied.

Even the grammatical form of the word is often violated in such expressions as “Isn’t he awful nice?” “That hat of hers is awful pretty.”  To say awfully nice and awfully pretty would improve the grammar, but the gross vulgarism remains.

The word, when properly used, means “inspiring with awe or dread” often accompanied with reverence, as when Milton says: 
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“The trumpet spake not to the armed throng;
And kings sat still with awful eye,
As if they surely knew their sovran Lord was by.”

Back up

In the sense of support, this, and the shorter expression back, are doubtless borrowed from the commercial world.  While they may be tolerated in conversation, they must be regarded as slang.

Bulk

This word is often incorrectly used for most or the greater part; as, “The bulk of the people opposed the measure.”  Bulk refers to size, not to numbers.

Burglarize

This word is often used by the more sensational reporters in their reports of crime.  It should be avoided.

But what, But that

“I don’t know but what I shall have to punish him.”  The sentence should read, “I don’t know but that I shall have to punish him.”  It is equivalent to, “I think that I shall have to punish him.”  The omission of but will convey the opposite meaning.  “I don’t know that I shall have to punish him” is equivalent to “I think that I shall not have to punish him.”
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Calculate

A provincialism often used in the sense of think, deem, suppose, believe; as, “I calculate the train will be here in ten minutes.”

Calculated, Liable

This word is often incorrectly used in the sense of likely, liable, apt; as, “His utterances are calculated to injure his cause.”  In the proper use of the word there is present the idea of purpose or intent.

Leave, Quit

Leave is often incorrectly used for quit; as, “That eminent actor expects soon to leave the stage.”  It would be a misfortune if he should take the stage with him.  Say “quit the stage.”

“Henry has quit smoking.”  Here left off or stopped would be better.

“The President gave me lief to speak with him.”  Say “gave me leave.”