" Say, "He leaned against the tree for support."
Could, Can, Will
Could is often incorrectly employed where can or will would be more
appropriate.
"Could you lend me a dollar this morning?" If the thought of the
inquirer is, "Are you willing to lend," etc., he should have used will
instead of could;
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but if his thought was, "Are you able to lend," or "Do you have a
dollar to spare this morning," he should have used can.
Bravery, Courage
Bravery is inborn; courage is the result of reason and determination.
The brave are often reckless; the courageous are always cautious.
Hate
Avoid the use of hate for dislike, and all other intensive words when
the thought is more correctly expressed by a milder word.
Pretty, Very
Pretty is often incorrectly used in the sense of very or moderately,
as "He was pretty badly hurt," "He is a pretty good scholar," "She is
pretty wealthy," "Thomas is pretty ugly." So common is this
provincialism in some localities that the incongruity of such an
expression as the last would pass undiscovered.
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