Like, As

Avoid the use of like in the sense of as.  “He thinks just as (not like) his father does.”  That Anthony Trollope, Hugh Conway and other writers are chargeable with this offence does not justify the use of like for as, but rather proves the need of constant vigilance in order to avoid such errors.

Lit, Lighted, Alighted

“He lighted the candle.”  “The crow alighted on the top of the tree.”  Avoid the use of lit in such cases, and also that slang form, as, “I lit on a beautiful passage in Browning,” in the sense of met with.

Lend, Loan

“Will you lend me your book,” is better than “Will you loan me your book.”
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89

Near, Nearly

“James is not near so good a scholar as his brother is.”  Use nearly.

Nasty, Nice

Nasty is a strong adjective, and should be used only in reference to what is offensively filthy, foul, or defiled.  Such expressions as a nasty day, a nasty rain, mark a loose and careless use of the word.

The word nice once meant foolish, ignorant, weak, effeminate.  It has now come to mean exact, fine, finished, exciting admiration on account of skill or exactness; as nice proportions, nice workmanship, a nice distinction in philosophy.  It is loosely and colloquially used in application to what is pleasing, agreeable, delightful, good.

A bright young lady was once asked, “Don’t you think nice is a nasty word?” She replied, “And do you think nasty is a nice word.”  The subject was abruptly changed.

Nicely

“How do you feel this morning?” “Nicely, thank you.”  The foregoing use of the word is as incorrect as it is common.  Use very well instead.

No good, No use

“How does that new machine work?” “It’s no good.”  “Shall I try again?” “No; it’s no use.”  The answers should have been, “It is of no good, it is of no use.”
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90

O, Oh

While good usage is far from uniform, many excellent authors employ O only in cases of direct address and oh when strong and sudden emotion is to be expressed.  O is always written with a capital letter, and should be followed by the name of the person or thing addressed, and the exclamation or interrogation point placed at the end of the sentence; as, “O Death, where is thy sting?  O Grave, where is thy victory?” “O the cold and cruel winter!”

Oh in the body of a sentence may begin with a small letter, and is immediately followed by the exclamation point; as, “Oh! how terrible was his fate!” “The sad intelligence was gently given, but oh! the shock was almost unbearable.”

Observe, Say

“He observed that the orphan pines while the oppressor feeds.”  To observe is to notice carefully, to attend closely to what one sees.  In the above sentence said or remarked should be used instead of observed.